Author's Note: Thank you once again my totally awesome reviewers :D for some of you worried about the outcome of the story, I'll TRYYYY not to make it too fluffy ;x and about Draco chasing Harry away…here's your answer! Just read this chappy to find out~ And my SAT is coming up in November so…I guess I might take longer to update unless you guys are really bent on rushing me xD nono really, the pressure might spur me to update. Oh and my birthday just passed awhile ago, OCTOBER 17! It was a fun celebration~ Anyway, here's chapter 31 of Acceptance~ R&R as usual please
Acceptance
Chapter 31
You and I
Draco stretched his arm as far is it could go. He needed water, he was dying of thirst and what made it worse was that the glass of water was just a few centimeters away from him on the desk next to the bed…taunting him because he couldn't even reach something so near. The irritated Slytherin, annoyed with his own incompetency, imagined the look of disgust on his father's face should he see him in this condition; "Malfoy's are never weak. You disgrace our family." He would have spat in his son's face. Draco didn't want that. So, he made an attempt to roll over on his side to bring himself somewhat closer to the edge of the bed. "Almost there…" he muttered. But damn, this was harder than he thought. He was beginning to feel the strain on his stomach. Determined not to pull back, he finally clasped one hand around the glass. The Malfoy heir grinned at his achievement, but too soon. He let out a groan as his stomach began to feel terribly strained. He released the glass of water onto the ground, breaking it.
I happened to push open the door just at that time. "Draco!" I cried, running towards him. I avoided the glass particles and spilt water on the ground and gently attempted to lay the poor boy on his back again. Draco's panting had died down, but every few seconds he would let out a groan. His eyes remained shut the whole time, making me wonder if he realized it was me here with him. Did I want him to know it was me…?
I was lost in thought again. I hadn't seen Draco for what seemed like eternity, but now that I did, it felt somewhat different. I was battling the urge to pick him up and hug him. This boy who was once my little baby Draco, was now a grown teenager in my grade. Somehow I still felt that I had a responsibility to upkeep for him, especially now that he was in a weakened state. Then again, the Malfoy I remembered from the past never looked like a fit and healthy person. He always looked so pale and undernourished. What the hell were his parents feeding him at home… The memory of my little Draco being fed with countless delicacies when he was in the care of us, Gryffindors, pushed its way into my chain of thought. Damn, we were way better guardians than his parents were. At least he was given sufficient food when he was with us! Actually…maybe TOO much food haha… His tummy would always feel a hell lot rounder after eating. It was freaking adorable and everyone would start tickling him there…
Now, looking at the Draco in front of me in pain, I felt the urge to rub his painful tummy like I used to. I wanted to tell him "It's okay, the pain will go away," just like I did before. I wanted to cradle him in my arms like before, keeping him safe, giving him comfort…
"Har-Potter…What you doing here?" I heard Draco's voice. Although his eyes were barely open, I could see the silver irises fixing a steady gaze on me. We hadn't made eye contact for quite a while. It felt kinda awkward…Nevertheless, I was determined to try lightening up the mood. But I was still damn curious whether he remembered anything or not.
"I…um…just wanted to see how you're doing, Dray." I stammered. Draco tilted his head and looked at me in what seemed to be confusion. Well, I guess you wouldn't expect your worst enemy of all people to visit you…
"Oh…okay. Thanks…H-Harry."
"Well it's no big deal, really- wait, what did you just call me?"
"Um…I called you Har- Never mind, I'm just confused as hell. Just…leave me the fuck alone, Potter."
"NO!" I flared up, jamming my hand into the mattress, stunning the Slytherin. He called me Harry! I knew it! He must have remembered what happened during his three year old period! Why else would he not call me Potter all of a sudden? It would be extremely unlike teenage Draco Malfoy to call me that UNLESS-
"Tell me, Draco. You remember, don't you? You remember!" I yelled, grabbing his shoulders. Draco jerked backwards, "Remember what? You're retarded, Potter, don't touch me." Unsatisfied with his response, I began shaking him violently. No! He has to remember! He has to!
"You called me HARRY! The Draco Malfoy I used to know would never, under any circumstances, call me that. But your three year old self would! You did! You used to call me Harry! Don't you remember, Dray? I was there with you, taking care of you, playing with you, bathing you, cleaning you, feeding you… Every day you would follow me to class and we were together for a hell long time until Snape created the de-ageing potion that turned you back to normal. Remember all that? The…the…the Gryffindor common room…the parties…playing in the snow…you…don't you…"
I stopped abruptly, lips trembling. My hands kept a firm grip on Draco's quivering shoulders, his eyes were now watery and he was scared. He looked traumatized in fact. Something at the back of my mind told me that he remembered. Now if he would only confirm that with me…
"I…" Draco muttered. I awaited intensely.
"I have no idea what you're talking about, Potter."
At that moment, all form of hope I had vanished in the blink of an eye. My heart was breaking…cracking…falling apart…was what he said really true?
"Look, the only reason I didn't chase you out immediately was because unlike what most people think, I barely had visitors. It would do me some good to have one more visitor each time so my image isn't ruined and I know that I haven't been forgotten by everyone."
Is that truly how you feel…?
"I…I don't know why I called you by your first name…Just don't get used to it…"
No, there has to be a reason…
"And…and…stop trying to put stupid memories into my mind…I obviously don't remember any of that because here's a newsflash for you, Potter; IT NEVER HAPPENED!"
Draco looked as if he was about to go insane. But why…? If he was telling the truth, why wasn't he firm and confident in his speech like how he used to be? But if he was lying and he really DID remember…why was he denying it?
Once again, my irrational tendency to space out led me to shriek when Draco hurled a pillow at me unexpectedly.
"Get out, Potter…Quit messing with my head…"
"Draco…please don't do this…"
"I'm going to say this again VERY nicely. I don't remember a single piece of bullshit about what you said earlier, so kindly leave the infirmary. I need some rest. I think…you shouldn't come visit me again. Just don't talk to me, stay away from me, get as far away from me as possible. You don't need to stick around with me any longer. Just…leave, Potter…Go away…Get out of my life!"
That did it. He dropped the bombshell on me. My heart had died upon every stab his words gave me. He didn't want me around him…He obviously doesn't remember, I guess…But he's changed somehow…He's somewhat nicer…But still…why is he…
I was confused as hell. I didn't know what to think or feel anymore. All I knew was that the only boy I ever loved and cared so much about, whom I had protected for the past few months, who clung on to me lovingly during that short lived period…the boy I loved to death…was in a sense rejecting me, rejecting the mere memory of me. Yes, it tore me apart…but if it was what he wanted…
"Okay, Draco. I'll go…Um, take care of yourself, okay? Don't…do anything stupid…and…remember to get lots of rest and…"
Draco stared at me with a weird expression on his face; one I couldn't decode.
"And…well…" I sighed, realizing I didn't have the right to keep going on and on about something I wouldn't have cared about in the past. "Good…Goodbye, Draco…"
With that, I turned and left. I loved Draco Malfoy…so much…But…heh, you know, when you love someone, you'd want him to be happy. If I was doing him a favor by staying out of his life, then…I'm glad I did it…
What I missed though, was that the moment the doors of the infirmary closed behind me, the Malfoy heir had unconsciously muttered the words:
It's for your own good…