Author's note: A big thank you to all my ~TOTALLYAWESOME~~! Reviewers :D Although I couldn't help but wonder why I'm getting lesser and lesser reviews… Is the story sucking? I apologize if it is. Either way, sorry for the wait, and also sorry for scaring you into thinking the dream in the previous chapter was real hehehe… Well, hope you guys enjoy chapter 17 and not realize that I somewhat slacked off when doing it! ^^;; R & R please, I'm hoping to get at least 10 reviews per chapter if you guys want guaranteed weekly updates next time~ Also, i've been making the effort to make chapters longer as some of you had requested. The least you guys could do is review, right? D: I knooooowwww more than 50 of u are reading this but soooooo few of u actually take the time to review. That's kinda sad for me... soooo yeah, u know what to do!

Acceptance
Chapter 17
Stay with me

It was already past midnight and we were still waiting outside the infirmary. I could tell that my friends were getting tired out from the wait, but struggling to stay awake for my sake. Ugh, now I feel even worse.

"Hey, you guys can go to bed if you want. You don't have to wait, you know?"
"My sentiments exactly, oh god, I thought you'd NEVER ask… Let's go Hermione!"
"RON!"
"Okay, okay, sorry!"

Well, now that THAT was pretty much dealt with, looks like the three of us would be spending a couple more hours here doing nothing. Just then, Madam Pomfrey stepped out, along with the other nurses, and told us that we could come in if we wanted to. I gulped, worrying whether I would experience a déjà vu the moment I entered. "Let's go," Hermione declared, taking Ron and I by the hand and marching into the infirmary.

We slowed to a stop when we found ourselves by the side of Draco's bed. He was fast asleep. I heaved a sigh of what seemed to be relief; I wouldn't have to worry about him chasing me out for now. But it's not like I didn't want him to wake up either. I wanted him to know that I was there for him, I wanted to be the first one he saw when he came to.

"Bloody hell…Those injuries don't look any better than before…" Ron shivered at the sight of the scars and bruises. Draco was wrapped in loads of bandages, I was wondering if his blood could even circulate with all those bandages tightly wrapped around him. I hesitated for a moment before placing the back of my hand on his face, stroking it gently. Good, he didn't flinch this time. Well DUH, of course he can't flinch, he's freaking ASLEEP… Well, can't blame a guy for worrying after such a nightmare, yeah?

"Madam Pomfrey, when is he going to wake up?" I asked, without taking my eyes off the sleeping Slytherin. She raised an eyebrow and replied, "you're not thinking he's in a coma, do you? Goodness, he's just resting after all that treatment. He should come to in a matter of hours. Not to worry, dear."

"But his injuries, they look terrible."
"We treated them as best as we could, it all takes time. We wasted a lot of medicine on this one little patient, it's by far the worst case I've seen this year. What on earth happened to the poor boy?"
"Abuse obviously…" I clenched my fist. "And I have yet to rip the culprit's heart out."
"You'll do no such thing!"
"You don't understand! Draco was obviously INNOCENTLY minding his own business and whoever attacked him has no right to get away with it that easily! I'm his guardian, and I'm going to get back at that goddamn bastard for doing this to him!"

Madam Pomfrey's eyes went wide for a moment before I heard her muttering 'language, Potter' and exited the room in a huff.

"That went well," Ron remarked.

I sighed and sat on the chair next to Draco's bed, gently holding his bandaged hand, fingers intertwining with his. Hermione nudged Ron and the two left the infirmary as well. "Thanks, guys," I smiled. Yup, they were my friends alright, they knew when I needed alone time. I leaned slightly on the bed and planted a kiss on Draco's forehead. I tried really hard to convince myself that he wasn't injured, but just sleeping soundly like all those other nights in my dormitory. I imagined him without those tubes and wires and bandages attached to him. It's just the same as before, I tell myself, the only difference is that we're in a different room on a different bed which probably won't fit the two of us if I scrambled on. Yes…That's what it was.

Suddenly recalling how Draco complained about the excruciating pain when his stomach was getting prodded, I slowly lifted his shirt to examine what sort of injuries lay below. I had expected to see a sea of injuries, but thankfully for my eyes, all I saw was a bunch of white bandages. Nevertheless, it must have hurt a lot and the injuries must have been terrible if there was a need to cover up his entire stomach like that. I stroked his stomach and wondered if he would have found it ticklish or something if he were awake now. That would be adorable… I haven't seen him smile or laugh for what seemed to be a hell long time.

"You better wake up soon, Dray," I said, still drawing circles on his bandaged tummy. "I promise to still be here when you wake up. And…I want to say sorry…for letting you get hurt like this. It was…all my fault…I didn't get there in time to save you. Wake up and tell me who did it, okay? I'll go find him and kick his ass for you. Nobody gets away with injuring my little Draco."

I laid my head on the bedside and waited. Just waited. Because that's all I intended to do until Draco woke up. I wanted him to know that he was my top priority and I would want nothing more than to be with him every second of my life…

A couple more hours had passed and it was morning, in about an hour, I'd have to leave for potions class. My body clock woke me up around that time and I glanced sleepily at Draco. He still hadn't woken up yet. I sighed, contemplating if I should just skip classes today or leave Draco alone until I was through with them. Just as I stood up from the position I had slept in all night, which by the way I was getting stiff-necked from, I felt my hand being pulled.

"Morning, Harry," said the soft voice coming from the little patient. My eyes grew wide and I beamed, suddenly I wasn't tired anymore, but I was also freaking worried at the same time.

"Draco! Oh god, are you okay? Are you in pain? I'm so sorry I let this happen to you! If I had never left you in the first place-"
"Hush, Harry! Harry so noisy…Draco okay…Draco just tired…"
"I'm sorry, baby... But…you know it was my fault you ended up like this…and I'm terribly sorry…"

Even when his eyes were half closed, I could sense that twinkle of curiosity in them. "Why Harry sorry? Draco is…completely fine now!" He forced a smile. Then he paused and tried to sit up, but was rewarded with a sharp pain in his abdomen and he fell back on the bed, wincing slightly. It pained me to see him still in such agony. Without any hesitation, I wrapped my arms around the injured little Slytherin and gave him a hug, gently of course. Draco stopped faking his emotions and suddenly burst out crying.

"Harry! Draco heard everything Harry said when he was asleep, it's okay! Draco will never blame Harry, Draco love Harry! Draco just hopes that Harry love Draco and never…leave Draco anymore…"

As he said this, I could feel him shaking and somewhat vibrating from the crying and hiccupping. I stroked his back and tried to reassure him.

"Don't worry, Dray…I promise not to leave you. Heck, I love you too much, I can't risk anything like this happening to my baby again."
"Thank you…Harry…nnngghhhh"
"What's that?"
"Tummy hurt…"

I cradled Draco in my arms and did my routine of rubbing his tummy, I knew he liked it. He used to purr whenever I did that. Now, Draco was leaning closer to me and his bandaged arms were holding on to my free hand. Then came the purring… He was the cutest thing I'd ever seen. Never had I thought that the Malfoy I knew was so adorable as a kid. Then again, I had always found him secretly hot and err…sex-appealing…but I just blamed it on hormones. CRAP what am I thinking…He's just a child…no dirty thoughts…

Aside from that, this scene really reminded me of the first time I smuggled him into Hogwarts and Ron and I overfed him. Ugh, I've even hurt him back THEN… I wonder how long he'd actually survive in my hands…

"Ha-mfff-r-mmm-yy!"
"Ah, sorry, Draco!"

I was so absorbed in my thoughts that I didn't realize my hand had moved up to begin rubbing circles on Draco's face. He shivered slightly as I positioned my hand back on his tummy. "Does it still hurt really bad?" I asked in concern. Draco gave a weak smile and nodded. Ah, freaking Malfoys and their ability to hide their emotions like that. How could he still smile when he was in pain.

"I'll go get the nurse."
"No, Harry! Stay with Draco! Please?"
"But you're hurt…"
"Draco will be okay as long as Harry with him..." Draco's voice began to falter. I stole a glance at the door and decided against leaving. Hell yeah, I was going to stay here with my poor Draco until he felt better. Furthermore, his last statement had moved me. I smiled and gently lay him back on the bed, pulling the bed sheets on top of him. His eyes were squeezed shut for a moment. Instincts told me to stroke his little tummy again, so I did, and he immediately relaxed. Wow, I guess I SHOULD always trust my instincts. Well, what mattered the most now was Draco, and I couldn't wait for him to recover. Maybe then I'd reward him with ice-cream or something for putting up with living in the dreaded infirmary.