DISCLAIMER: I don't own anything to do with Harry Potter
Yeah, two chapters at once. I know, I'm awesome. I still think you should review so I can at least tell if you agree or not ;)
Harry Potter's point of view
-- --
My body felt like it was being torn in half. The feeling of my body being ripped in two wouldn't stop until I made my choice. I couldn't do it. I couldn't bring myself to utter the name. Two green flashes flew towards each other…
NO!
I sat straight up, hyperventilating. Low sunlight was streaming through the window. The stabbing pain in my back brought me back down with a groan as my throbbing head hit the pillow. I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to lessen the pounding in my ears.
"Woah easy there, love!"
My eyes snapped open to see a blurred figure walking across the room towards me. I scrambled to find my glasses on the nightstand. I jammed them on my face in time to see those beautiful pale features smiling down on me.
"Draco!"
I flung my arms around his neck, pulling him down on the bed with me. He chuckled and hugged me tightly, repositioning himself so he sat beside me. The pain I felt all over my body was searing, but I didn't care. Draco was here and with me again. We stayed like this for a few minutes, all our thoughts, questions and fears surrounding us in heavy silence. I pushed him away suddenly and slapped his arm as hard as I could, ignoring the sudden burning feeling in my wrist.
"What the hell were you thinking?" I shouted. He looked confused and slightly hurt.
"I couldn't sit back and watch him make you miserable anymore. Then I heard about what happened 4th year, and you had vanished…" he closed his eyes and I saw his jaw set as he checked his anger, "and I just couldn't take it anymore. I had to do something. I wasn't going to let Weasly walk away without a few…words…from me."
He had said "words" but I knew there was no talking involved in the plans he was thinking of. Then a thought crossed my mind and a bolt of fear went through me.
"Did you –"
He cut me off before I could finish. "No. I tried to track him for a few miles, but I got frustrated and gave up. I went back home and found the apartment empty. Then Hermione called and said I needed to get over here as soon as possible."
I sighed with relief and lay my head on his shoulder. He put an arm around me and held me close, planting a kiss on my forehead.
"I'm sorry." He murmured.
I looked up and our eyes met. He really did look sorry. I couldn't help but forgive him. How could I be mad at someone who cared that much to fight for me?
"It's ok." I whispered against his neck.
I nipped gently at the skin my mouth touched. I couldn't help it. The need to want to be close to him was overwhelming, especially after all of last night's events. I felt his embrace tighten around me and heard him inhale deeply. I left a long, slow kiss where my nibbling had left his skin pink, letting the tip of my tongue run over the area. He let out a small groan and ran his free hand slowly up my leg, sending chills through me. He stopped at the beginning of my thigh, massaging it gently. I moaned, his thumb caressing so close to the zipper of my pants. Something was different about the way he was touching me. It was…soft. Careful, almost. It was very un-Draco.
Why is he being so careful?
I swung my leg over to straddle his waist, but it buckled as hot pricks of pain shot through me. I gasped sharply and collapsed on top of him.
Oh…that's why.
I no longer had the cuts and bruises from last night, thanks to someone's skill with a wand (probably Hermione), but my body was still very sore from it.
"Harry! Are you ok?"
I sighed in defeat. I wasn't going to get as close to Draco as I had hoped…
"Yes," I grumbled into his shirt, "I'm fine."
Draco smirked at the frustration in my voice. We heard a knock at the door as it creaked open.
"Oh!" a suddenly embarrassed Hermione exclaimed, "I'm sorry I didn't mean to barge in!"
"S'ok Hermione." Draco laughed as he helped me sit up and propped me up against the pillows. He saw the pout on my lips and kissed me, lingering for a moment. Hermione brought a tray of food over to me and sat it on my lap.
I took a moment and looked around the room. I recognized it as the Weasly's guest room, the one I stayed in whenever I would visit. Then I remembered Percy.
"Hermione," I said quickly, "what happened last night? What was Percy going on about with his family?"
I felt Draco stiffen next to me. Hermione's eyes shifted to him before answering.
"Well, apparently the combination of so many spells aimed at the same person at the same time will knock him out for a few hours. I called Draco and he showed up before Percy woke up. When he finally came to, he told us everything."
Hermione pulled a chair up close to the bed and Draco picked up a piece of toast for me to eat. I ate it slowly as I prepared to listen to Hermione. Draco took a piece as well, probably to distract him from hearing this all over again.
"Ron came back here sometime after we left your apartment. He left my car and took his broom, telling his parents he had to leave and go somewhere far away where he could think and be away from people. He was really upset and didn't say anything more. He just got on his broom and flew off before his parents could do anything."
I flinched. I knew this was my fault. The guilt settled in my stomach and made me feel sick. I put down the toast, slightly in disgust with myself.
"Shortly after he left, Arthur got a visit from a guy from the Ministry. He told him that this was the last offence they could allow him, with Ron running off like that. They had to let him go. They only suspended Percy because of his connections in the Ministry."
I pulled my eyebrows together in confusion. "Wait, what would it matter to them what Ron does? He doesn't work for the Ministry."
Hermione glanced nervously at Draco. Draco was as still as a statue, his eyes watching my face carefully. Even though his face was calm, his hands were balled into fists at his side.
Hermione sighed. "He does work for the Ministry, Harry. After his father helped put Draco's father in Azkaban –" a low growl rumbled in the back of Draco's throat " – They asked for Ron's help in putting away…someone else." Hermione's eyes flicked back and forth between Draco and I. I looked at Draco and then turned back to Hermione.
"Who could they want that they would possibly ask for Ron's help?"
Hermione looked down at her hands. Draco cupped the side of my cheek and turned my head to face him, stroking the side of my face with his thumb and staring into my eyes.
"Me" he answered coldly.
-- --