Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.

Dose of Your Own

By: OurLoveIsForever

Chapter Twenty-Seven: Alone

I would like to say that the day was beautiful with fluffy clouds and blue skies, but I would be lying and while I do not think lying is all that bad, it would not serve a larger purpose. No, the weather was absolutely appalling to all but I. Thunderheads rolled in, building to immense heights, casting a dark shadow upon the hospital. The bottom of the clouds were an eerie green color as the sun was beginning to fade, leaving the world in darkness.

I had never been fond of hospitals. Sick people, cursed, bleeding (though I had seemed to recover from my aversion to blood), and the elderly were never my strongest suit. It could be argued that I am a callous person. If one is able to walk and has capable thought,one doesn't need a hospital bed any longer. Of course, my reasoning was biased. Even as a child, whenever I would come down with some cold or stomach issue, any sign of sickness, I would be quarantined to my room until better. The risk that a sickness might pose to a pureblood heir would be devastating if realized. I always learned to deal.

Regardless for my experiences, I found that Saint Mungo's was quite the experience.

I spent a majority of my time in Narcissa Malfoy's room, tending to her whenever the need was presented. Though she swam in and out of consciousness, her internal injuries were severe. As a plump medi-witch had explained later the night I had arrived: Lady Malfoy's lungs were bruised and her spleen had been ruptured. With that injury, she had lost a large amount of blood. As I sat watching the woman sleep soundly in the bed, I shook my head. Narcissa Malfoy was a fighter.

My head lolled back onto the rest of the chair. I had been in the same chair for little over five hours. Draco had disappeared early in the morning citing the fact that 'the Ministry didn't know how to do its damn job' which sounded an awful lot like 'I can't stand being here anymore.' Sighing, I rolled my head around to get more comfortable.

Three days.

Three days had passed and still they had no captured my sister and her husband.

Three days and I was close to losing my mind.

Nott had been released on Day Two of our stay. I had seen his form down the hall as he followed after two irritated Aurors before obviously getting the feeling he was being watched. We stared at each other a moment before he smirked slightly, disappearing down another hallway. Draco was still angry. When was he not honestly? He seemed to be more and more frustrated with every passing time that I saw him, whenever he decided to stop bothering Demidov and grace us with his presence.

In the meantime, I sat quietly.

"Knock, knock." I heard from the door. Languidly, I turned my head and opened my eyes. In the entryway stood the small form of Davis with Zabini by her side. I smiled slightly, sitting upright. "Don't bother with sitting up. We know you're exhausted." Zabini grinned, stepping out from behind his fiancée. "Draco has you here while he's off?"

"Is that so much of a shock?" I replied dryly, taking a small brown bag offered to me. Gently I eased the top open. Within were a small sandwich and a banana. "What—"

"We guessed that you hadn't eaten much." Davis motioned to the bag.

I rolled the top, sending a small smile toward them as they moved further into the room. Davis remained close to the door, examining the watercolor that hung on the white-washed walls while Zabini strode to the window, pulling the curtains wide, allowing the setting sunlight into the room. The beautiful rays broke over the white linens of the bed, making Narcissa seem warmer in color. "How did you know? We arrived and then moments later you both were there."

Zabini turned only his head, his dreds shining in the sun. I thought for a moment that he suddenly looked mature, compared to his usual innocent demeanor. "Draco and I are distantly related thus our distant, by distant, I mean generations upon generations back, grandfather was sent to get help at Zabini Manor, luckily enough my mother interrupted our—"

"Just to clarify—"

"All pureblood clans are interrelated." Davis cut me off, shaking her head. I smirked slightly. "We left as soon as word reached us." Her hands ran over her face as her eyes closed tiredly. "There is nothing more that can be done until she wakes, right?"

Nodding, I turned my gaze to the woman in the bed. She was paler, her hair had lost its shine, and her face seemed gaunt, the cheeks losing a bit of their health. Shaking my head slightly, I leaned back with a huff. "Nothing much, truly. I wish there was more I could do, but seeing as though I am not particularly useful, I find that my best alternative to hunting my own sister down is to sit in this chair for hours at a time. Somehow, I respect that woman far more than I do my own mother. I can't bring myself to contact Nott." Neither of them responded, listening intently to my rant. After talking only to an unconscious woman, it was nice to have animate people to speak to. "I don't know what has happened honestly. I have no idea where Draco is—"

"He's right there." Blaise said with a grin, lifting his right hand to point at the door behind me.

Spinning around, my eyes connected with his wand first, held tightly in his fist. As he slid the piece of wood into his holster on his hip, I allowed my watch slid to his face. Every beginning of a wrinkle, every sparkle of sunlight in those pools of silver, and the smoothness of his lips as they turned down portrayed his irritation at something. Narrowing my eyes as he strode forward, I felt my heart rate rising.

"Finally chose to show yourself?" I bit out. "I hope you had a jolly good time."

"Zabini, Davis, leave."

"Leaving." Zabini exclaimed, moving quickly away from the window. His wand motioned to the curtains, closing them quickly. He walked out so quickly that I found myself shocked. I stared at Draco in shock, not knowing how to react. What in bloody hell was wrong with him? He seemed frustrated beyond belief as the door clicked behind me. I started to stand, but his hand rose. Sighing, I continued to my feet, my head swimming from sitting for so long.

"What in the world—"

He moved toward me, his hands coming up to my face quicker than I could react. Without any pretense of building, his lips landed on mine. Feeling the past seventy-two hours of little to no contact, I responded equally, his arms going around his neck. I squeezed my eyes closed, lightly flashing behind the lids. I had missed him the most. I had missed his kisses, his smell, his embrace. I had even missed the roll of his eyes, strange as that seemed. Pulling back, he heaved a great gasp, pushing me to arm's length. "I hate this."

"You hate a lot of things, Draco." I whispered into his shoulder as his arms wrapped around my torso. He said nothing, simply holding me for what felt like forever. We remained so close that it was difficult to say where he began and I ended.

"Take her home, darling."

I jerked away, nearly stumbling over the chair. It clanged loudly against the wall as I swore. Narcissa Malfoy watched me through heavy-lidded eyes. I blinked. "You're awake?"

"Only just." She responded, half-hearted. Her gaze turned to her son, who was approaching the bed quickly to grasp her hand. "Draco, take her home."

"Mother, I—"

"No, what you have done is unfair and you know it. Don't think that I am completely incapable of taking care of myself. You know full well that I am self-sufficient enough." Her eyes turned to me. "Although I appreciate your caution with me, Draco, I feel that you are neglecting your duties. No, there are men here on guard, are there not?" Draco seemed frozen in shock. To be completely honest, so was I. She turned her gaze to me, causing my eyes to widen considerably. "The two of you need to take care of each other. Why? Because in the end, that is all you are going to have." She lifted her hand to press her thin finger to a small button on the bed. "If you do not take your leave, I will have you escorted out. I am safe for the time being. Therefore, there is no sense in worrying." Draco's head swiveled around to face me. I shook my head, confused. I wondered just what she meant, just how she knew. "Draco, honestly, sometimes you are just like your father." Her head shook from side to side, tightening her hold on her son's hand. "Sometimes, you just need to let go."

Draco released her hand, taking two steps back. "I can't. It didn't work."

"Draco, if fear commands your life, you will never become the man you once dreamed of being. Nor will any other part of your dreams come true." Narcissa whispered cryptically, closing her eyes as one of the medi-witches entered.

"Lady Malfoy?" The thin little thing asked. Her tone quiet as if she didn't believe the woman to be awake.

"Two guards at the door, Astoria is leaving with my son. They will not be back until noon tomorrow." Draco's eyes were wide as tea coasters. "See that is taken care of." Nodding, the nurse motioned to the door. I gaped.

"Lady Malfoy, I don't think—"

"When I want your opinion, Astoria, I'll give it to you." Narcissa responded. I choked back a gasp. What in the world had gotten into her? She was fierce. Snapping to my senses, I gathered my bag onto my shoulder and started for the door. I stopped midway, looking back to Draco.

He had not moved, every muscle, even the tick on his temple when he was especially mad was frozen. I could still his mother's voice. "Draco, my love, do right by her." I could barely see his form tense and his eyes glance to me. "Go on." Without another moment, he turned on heel and nearly plowed me over in the doorway. His hand took mine seemingly without thought.

"Bloody woman!" He hissed ahead of me, his other hand dragging though his hair. "She just won't take 'no' as an answer! She is bloody infuriating and the best bloody person in the world." I stared at the back of his head as we made our way to the floo. Our hands sweated with our quick movements. I thought for a moment that I saw a smirk on his face before we disappeared, my mind reeling.

It astounded me that I just couldn't seem to properly walking out of floo. I always stumbled, it didn't matter the circumstances, it seemed. I just stumbled. As a general rule, I was not too much of a klutz, but - I fell forward, catching onto the hem of Draco's dark blue shirt. He spun slightly, catching me awkwardly in his arms. I felt a shiver down my spine. For some odd reason, the thought hit me as soon as his skin touched mine.

We were alone.

I glanced up to him to find that his cheeks were the barest hint of pink. Smirking, I stood upright. He had noticed as well, I guessed. Perhaps that was why he suddenly seemed to change auras. His previously irritable disposition faded into something deeper, something far more profound.

The entire house was dark, let desolate for nearly forty-eight hours in one go. It seemed so deserted, so lonesome. Draco moved first, pulling his wand out and waving it to light the room. I followed him as we moved, almost as if we could read each other's minds toward the staircase. At about the fifth step, I was pinned to the wall, either of my wrists held beside my head before his mouth came to my neck in a hot kiss. I closed my eyes and breathed deep. "Shall we continue… from what we started?" I nodded, my hair falling over my shoulders. He released one wrist so that he could fend off the attacking tendrils. My hand immediately raked through his hair. "You have no idea—" We moved up the stairs, though I was unsure how we managed it. It was a bit of a blur, but we arrived to the wall across from his bedroom.

All of my thoughts were of him, I couldn't think beyond the moment. Everything else: names, places, events, didn't matter, didn't exist. There was only him.

Slowly, he sank to the ground as I gasped slightly. I was breathing so heavily that I thought for sure I would pass out. When suddenly, the kisses and caresses stopped. I opened my bleary eyes to look down.

"I," he huffed, obviously winded. "I tried this once before. Everything had been perfect until it was ruined, as is the case with most things." I stared at him, my euphoria fading into slight shock. "You're something I never imagined. Something I never thought I would ever— You— I love you Astoria, more and more each day." Carefully, his hand came up a small object held between his forefinger and thumb, I stared, my heart racing in my chest. "I want you. I've wanted you since you slammed that door on my ass." I could feel his hot skin on took my left hand. "I want your hand in marriage."

Tunnel vision, that was the first thing I noticed in the moments following those words. I couldn't see anything else, not the darkness of the hallway or the beautiful solitaire diamond. I could only see his face. There was pride, in what he had just done, fear, that I would turn him away, and deep in his soul, for the eyes are the windows into that endless enigma, shone a love for me that I could have never imagined.

I felt the corners of my mouth quirking up slowly, tears invading my eyes before I could stop them. "Honestly," I sounded exasperated. He waited below me. "Do you see me running away?" I grinned widely through the tears spilling down my cheeks. "Yes."

He stared at me a moment, then a moment more. It seemed as if he couldn't believe what he was hearing. Shaking his head, the most beautiful smile dawned on his face as he gazed up at me. I found that I wasn't crying from the proposal at all, but from the emotions I felt with him smiling so happily. Slowly, he slid the ring up my finger, making the movement as sensuous as he could, he slid up my body as he did so, moving up with the ring.

My shirt rode up with his trek and this free hand came to rest on the bare skin of my abdomen. When the ring was in place, I felt magic surge through my body. The link had been completed. I felt his pecking kiss begin between my breasts and move upward, causing my entire body to coil. He murmured against my throat. "Let me…"

I nodded, giving my consent before he smirked into my skin. I felt a floating sensation as we began to move into his bedroom. The bed seemed so far away. One of his hands slid up my back, tugging and pulling at the shirt. It came off a moment later.

"Look," he huffed, jerking toward the bed. "We have a bed now."

"Indeed. I see your bed and raise you a—" His lips covered mine once more.

After that, the details began to blur into one long, albeit eventful, evening. I could remember screaming. He was panting, begging. I was begging as well. Strokes and kisses on every part, between my legs or otherwise. Multiple times. We lay in bed for what felt like days. His arm was draped over my bare abdomen while he lay on his stomach. I fiddled with his hair while he slept, winding it in and out between my fingers. Flashes of the night replayed in my mind.

He reared up, nearly there. His eyes were open as he watched me beneath him. "I'm going to make you happy, Astoria."

We lay entwined, barely a distinguishable space between us. I was curious as he pulled my left hand to his face, kissing the finger that held the ring of our promise.

I turned my head to see that his eyes were open. "Morning."

"Is it really?" He smirked slightly, pushing himself up. "Did the light in the windows give it away?"

"No," I replied, lifting my right hand to point toward the clock. "That, is rather handy at telling the time." We continued to argue, the battle of wits becoming nothing more than a game. An hour after awakening, a wave of magic ran through the house.

"Someone is here." Draco growled, setting himself on the edge of the bed, his wand rose to a defensive position. I reached for my wand as footsteps grew closer. The wood was in my hand when the door crashed open.

"Mother of Merlin, my eyes!" Nott shouted, aforementioned green eyes flying wide open.

"For the sake of everything Nott! Try knocking for once in your life!" Draco shot a hex at him as Theo dashed back outside once more. My fiancé, oh dear, that was weird to say, turned to look at me with a disbelieving glint in his eyes. "What in bloody hell could you want at this hour in the morning, eh?"

"They've fled the country. There's nothing more we can do. The authorities in Germany are going to take over, but it looks like they are running toward Russia." I couldn't tell if it was relief that was running through my veins or anger. I wanted revenge. I wanted them to pay for what they had done. "There is one bit of bad news:" I reached for Draco's hand. "Potter is getting all the glory for this one as well."

I felt laughter bubbling over. Draco chuckled to himself beside me while I could hear Theo's laughter just outside the door. There wasn't an end, of course, because as life goes on there is no such thing as 'an end'. There are partings and meetings, sorrow and exuberance, hate and love. While there was a chance that they could return to wreak havoc on our lives once more, it was something we were used to. The comings and goings of those that affected our lives adversely were just as often as those that affected our lives for the better. So, while I had that ring on my finger, regardless of my inheritance or resistance, my lack luster skills at spells, and a mouth that I simply couldn't control, I had a family. Just outside the door, was a best friend that would risk his life for me. And beside me…

I slid to my knees behind Draco, pulling my arms around his neck. I leaned around so that I could see his profile. "You know what I think?"

"I shudder to guess." He responded, eyeing me suspiciously.

"I think that I'm pleased with this ring on my finger." I smirked slightly, holding out my hand to watch the diamond sparkle in the morning light. "After all, what with your self-centered, pompous, pretentious, Great Prat," he coughed slightly. "attitude, when you met me it was high time that you got a dose of you own—" His lips cut me off before I could finish my thought. Outside, I heard Nott swear. We smirked into the kiss.