Sorry for the wait again... I found this chapter very hard to write =P

But again I'm thankful for reviews as they are my reason for writing! I'd like to say a HOOOGE thank you to everyone who has reviewed and also to darkprincesskatia who's been very supportive and has started writing a very unique story! I'd suggest you look it up!! =D

Anyhoo...

Chapter Thirty Two

Harry's POV

Pain.

That's what Harry woke up to.

He felt as though his insides had been pulled out and shoved back in their wrong places. His eyes felt heavy and he felt like going back to sleep or whatever peaceful state he had been in.

However, a low, silky voice grabbed his attention.

"But what if he doesn't wake up before tonight? There will be more investigations and I'm sure Poppy will tell the headmaster if she thinks it's anything serious."

That voice... Lucius!

"Then we shall have to – ahem – modify her memory." This voice was filled with contempt and Harry had no trouble in recognising the person; Snape. Why was he here?

Harry tried to recall what had happened: he remembered going to Snape's class after he and Lucius... well, after his detention. Then he'd argued with Snape (as usual) and then it was all a blur of pain.

Opening his heavy eyes, he looked around and found everything was a slight blur seeing as someone had removed his glasses but the white light told him it was the hospital wing. Snape and Lucius were two fuzzy figures talking at the foot of his bed, the former had sounded angry and fed up and the latter seemed tired and strained.

Trying to sit up a spasm of pain flared through Harry's insides. He let out a whimper as he slumped back down onto his pillows that were propping him up. However, he seemed to have alerted Lucius to his consciousness.

The man said nothing until he'd moved stealthily to Harry's side.

"Harry," he whispered. "How are you feeling?"

"Can't see you," he mumbled squinting his eyes trying to get Lucius' comforting face into view.

He felt the cold frame of his glasses being placed onto the bridge of his nose. Blinking a few times to get used to the sharpness of his vision, he looked into Lucius' familiar face.

"I'm so sorry, Harry," the man croaked.

"Sorry? What for?" Harry asked puzzled, his brain still foggy.

"This is all my fault! If I hadn't rushed you so much then..." Lucius sighed and Harry felt the man grab one of his hands.

"Please tell me why I'm in here on the second day back at school?" Harry asked groggily.

"It would appear Lucius precipitated your... preparation, Potter," Snape interjected.

"I...I don't –"

"I caused you damage, Harry," Lucius said, his hold on Harry's hand tighter than before. "I damaged your tissue and... caused internal bleeding. I'm so sorry."

Harry found it hard to take this all in; he'd guessed he'd been damaged but for him to actually end up in the hospital wing must have meant it was pretty serious.

"It's nothing severe; you'll be out in no time to get back to your classes and petty lifestyle," Snape sneered.

"Thanks, Professor," Harry said quietly in a sickly-sweet voice. He couldn't believe a man could be so unfeeling while talking to an injured sixteen year old in a hospital bed but Snape managed it. "So does my 'petty lifestyle' include Quidditch?"

"Ah, now that would be an exception; it would not be wise to play for another month or so," Snape said, and Harry could see a grin beginning to unfurl on the man's lips.

"So I can't play at all for one month?" Harry asked slightly annoyed. He was guessing Snape was just saying that so he couldn't practice for the first match of the season; even Snape couldn't deny that Harry was an exceptional Seeker.

"I wouldn't recommend it."

Harry decided not to argue, though he was definitely not going to give up his Quidditch sessions.

"I've healed you in the places that required attention, though you still might feel various aches and pains," Lucius said and Harry blushed.

"When you say you healed me..." he began, dreading the answer. "Where-?"

"I had to examine you down there," Lucius said quickly. "But I did it to save you and Severus the embarrassment."

Harry gave a feeble laugh but still felt thoroughly humiliated. Speaking of humiliation, what happened after he fainted?

"Who knows I'm here?" he asked nervously. "And what happened to your class, sir?"

"I told the class that you were poisoned after drinking a potion which you thought was water," Snape said shrugging. "You can tell Mr Weasley it was your scar and the Dark Lord was trying to get into your mind or body as I'm guessing the rest of the class don't know about your connection with the Dark Lord."

Harry didn't realise his mouth was open in shock until Lucius gently pushed his jaw up.

"So now the class thinks I'm a dunce?" he asked dully.

"They already knew you were one," Snape said coldly.

"Severus, please!" Lucius snapped. He then turned to Harry. "Think about it, Harry; would you prefer the class knew the truth?"

Harry lowered his gaze and fiddled with a loose strand on his sheet cover.

"No," he mumbled.

"So wouldn't you say this excuse is for the best?" Lucius asked bending down to Harry's level. Harry felt like a little child being scolded and patronised.

"I'm tired," he said robotically. He didn't want to see Lucius now that the man was treating him like a child. Hopefully the two men would get the hint.

He looked up at the two men expectantly. Snape nodded and said, "I expect you to be out of here by this evening, otherwise Madam Pomfrey may do a thorough examination of you which is what we don't need."

"Yes, we don't want to cause any commotion about your whereabouts," Lucius said gently.

Harry felt even angrier at that. Just because he had been taken too roughly by a man two-three times his age and at least twice his size meant that he had to lie to his friends and walk around the school as though nothing had happened.

Harry realised he was glaring at Lucius so he turned his head away and snuggled deeper into his bed.

"Harry?"

"I'm very, very tired," he said hoping his voice portrayed his bitter thoughts.

"There's a potion you'll need to take soon if you want to be able to walk today. I'll see you at the feast then, Potter," he heard Snape say before the man left.

There was a silence while Harry felt Lucius staring at him.

"Goodbye, then," the man whispered, and Harry felt a hand gently pull his face round so he was looking at Lucius. The man then kissed his lips, passionately yet softly.

Harry let himself dissolve into the kiss; he found it extremely hard to remember why he was annoyed at Lucius, especially when the man would kiss him like this and make him forget everything.

Harry closed his eyes as Lucius' talented tongue investigated his oral cavity. Harry never knew his mouth was so sensitive towards gentle touches.

When Lucius pulled out of the deep kiss, Harry sighed.

"What was that sigh for?" Lucius asked resting his hand over Harry's heart.

"I feel like I should be annoyed at you... but I can't be. Not when you do that to me." Harry moved his hand up to entwine his fingers round Lucius'.

Lucius chuckled deeply sending shivers up Harry's spine.

"You have every right to be annoyed at me; what I did was unforgiving."

Harry then realised that Lucius hadn't meant to be patronising, he hadn't meant to offend Harry earlier or cause any kind of humiliation. He'd stuck up for Harry when Snape had a jab at his lack of Potions skills and had looked majorly relieved when Harry had woken up...

Harry tried to heave himself up so he could embrace Lucius and bury his face in the man's familiar smell, but his injuries prevented movement. Lucius seemed to have recognised what Harry was trying to do because he leant in to hold Harry in his wide arms. It was hard to explain but Harry felt... safe when Lucius was holding him. So, when Lucius let go Harry felt exposed and bare.

"Here, take this," Lucius said picking up the cup with Snape's potion in.

"It's most probably poison," Harry said jokingly. "I wouldn't put it past Snape..."

"And would you put it past me to destroy him if he laid a finger on you?" Lucius asked, pressing the cup to Harry's lips and tipping the potion into Harry's mouth.

Harry felt a warmth spread through his chest that had nothing to do with the potion. It was the words Lucius had spoken to him.

Grudgingly he swallowed the disgusting stuff and almost immediately his aches and pains had gone.

He wanted to express how he felt to Lucius: why can't I stay mad at you? Why is it I'm the one who feels guilty when it was your fault I'm in here? Why to everything that's happened?

"I'll see you at the feast," Lucius said ruffling Harry's hair.

Harry wanted to ask Lucius to stay but the potion had made his eyes feel extremely heavy and he couldn't resist sleep.

Lucius' POV

Lucius watched as Harry's green eyes closed and his breathing became slower and deeper indicating he'd fallen asleep instantly.

He lightly kissed Harry's slightly parted lips.

"What on earth?" came a horrified voice.

Lucius looked around for the source of the shriek and saw Poppy Pomfrey stepping out of her office, her face in complete shock.

"What do you think you're doing?" she cried rushing over to Harry's bed.

Lucius didn't know what to say or do so he did the only thing he could think of.

Drawing his wand swiftly he said clearly, "Obliviate."

For a moment the matron looked dumbstruck and her blue eyes were unfocused.

Lucius then implanted some memories of Harry being healed of the supposed poison so she wouldn't have a blank mind of today's events.

While the elderly matron started coming back to reality Lucius made his way towards the exit and off to his classroom.

His free period was over so he had third years now. It was going to be hard to concentrate.

* * *

At last Lucius finished his last lesson of the day and it was time for the feast.

He hoped Harry wouldn't be under too much strain but if they were to avoid awkward questions and examinations then it would be for the best that the boy got used to walking again.

As Lucius made his way to the Great Hall he couldn't help but smirk as nervous students ducked out of his way. He still loved inflicting fear; it made him feel powerful.

Suddenly a blur of bright, blonde hair caught his attention; Draco. He still needed words with him.

"Draco!" he called, not caring about the sharpness of his tone or the students who where looking at him.

He saw his son cringe at his voice but ignored it. Slowly, Draco turned round and glared at his father. Lucius gestured for him to come over.

Once Draco had reluctantly reached his father, Lucius made his way to an empty classroom and waited for Draco to enter.

Shutting the door, Lucius rounded on his son.

"Would you care to explain your actions from yesterday?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," Draco said staring at his nails.

Lucius grabbed his son's collar and hissed, "Don't lie to me, Draco."

Draco pulled out of his father's grip and glared at his father.

"Is this about your little toy getting bloodied up on the train?"

The slap Lucius bestowed on his son echoed loudly in the empty room.

"How dare you speak like that?" he whispered dangerously and Draco actually looked scared; something Lucius hadn't been able to make Draco in a while.

However, seeing his son holding his reddening cheek he immediately regretted his actions. Not once in his life had he struck Draco like that.

"Draco, I –"

"Excuse me," he croaked and sped towards the door.

Sighing, Lucius gathered his thoughts together and slowly made his way towards the door his son had just exited out of.

Once he reached Great Hall he tried to ignore Draco who was sitting with the Parkinson girl on the Slytherin table. Looking purposefully ahead he saw Severus on the right of the staff table. He made his way over to the spare seat next to the man not intent on mentioning his talk with Draco.

"Have you seen-?"

"Yes, he came to see me after he woke up to say thank you," Snape said with a tone of surprise. "I wasn't expecting such manners from that attention-seeking, infamous –"

"Oh, hush, Severus," Lucius said impatiently. "You're always having a jab about Potter and his 'faults' which no one else seems to see apart from you."

His old friend seemed to thinking for a moment.

"I just can't see what you or any of the other teachers see in that boy," Severus said with a sniff.

"Suit yourself," Lucius said, and helped himself to a glass of wine that had just filled up.

Slowly students began filing into the hall and not once did Lucius look away from the door, hoping to spot that familiar mop of jet-black hair.

But it never came.

All too soon the plates were filling up. All too soon it was time for dessert and still Harry hadn't shown up.

He was forced to believe the boy wasn't coming, although he couldn't help his eyes from scanning the Gryffindor table.

"He's not there, Severus," Lucius whispered.

"Oh, yes, I forgot to tell you; he said he was skipping the feast because he felt slightly queasy."

"What? That boy will starve! There's not an ounce of fat on him!" Lucius shrieked as quietly as his whisper would let him.

"He won't starve from missing one meal," Severus said exasperatedly. "Just turn your thoughts off Potter for one night won't you?"

Though try as Lucius might he couldn't pull his thoughts away from the picture of a lonely Harry, perhaps lying on his bed or in the Gryffindor common room alone with his thoughts.

Thank you for reading!