Draco woke up screaming. Draco didn't scream. This scared him almost much at what had made him scream. He lay in bed, panting, hot with sweat, yet cold with fear. In between gasps of air, he sobbed like he had when he was just a boy. He sobbed as the images of Harry filled the dark room. 'It was a dream' he told himself 'you're alive, he couldn't have killed you' his breathing slowed a little, but he was still crying.
He grasped his bed covers, and after reaching for his wand lit the fire. He trembled, and wished that he had someone to hold, someone to comfort him, someone fix him... he thought of Harry. 'NO. You won't get sympathy from him, he has a family to care for. Never mind the fact that he's in St Mungo's with a violently injured arm' Draco sighed. He just had to be strong. He'd tried everything. Potions, spells, books, coffee, fresh air, warmth, alcohol... nothing worked. A slight squirm in the man's stomach remained him that he hadn't eaten anything for over a day.
Draco peeled himself out of bed and inspected himself in the mirror. His hair was pointing in various directions from tossing and turning, and his too white skin only added to the darkness of his circles. His silk pajamas were baggy over his stick-thin arms and legs, but Draco hadn't the heart to buy himself a new pair. He reached the kitchen - but the only food there was apples. A bowl of apples, the only food the man could force himself to eat. He bit into one, and let the sweet juice distract him of his troubles.
When Harry woke, the ward was dark. He wondered what had stirred him, when he saw Ginny sat to his right, with a pained look in her eyes. "Ginny!" Harry whispered, and tried to reach for her hand; she pulled away. "Harry... I have something to tell you... can you promise me you'll be mature about this?" He nodded enthusiastically, and Ginny sighed. "I... Harry I'm in love with Dean" she whispered. The colour drained from Harry's face, and he slumped onto his pillows. "What?" "I'm so sorry... it just... happened... and... we're moving to Scotland... the kids and I..." "YOU'RE WHAT?!" Harry yelled, a muffled 'shh' was heard in the background. Ginny winced "I'm sorry, you can visit when you like, but..." she trailed off. "Goodbye Harry" As he watched her leave, angry tears formed and he wanted her back, kissing him, holding him, comforting him. But she was gone.
When he next woke up, it was light and his face was damp with salty tears. Draco walked up to his bed, and applied a potion to the wound. "Mr Potter it's been a week, and not once have you cried from the pain of this wound. What might it be that's upsetting you this morning?" He asked in a very indifferent way. Harry noticed the change from his old sarcastic drawl, and without thinking, grabbed onto the Healer's arm with his right hand, and cried into it. How could Ginny do this to him? He loved her! He loved their children! How could she be so selfish?!
When Harry finally pulled away and apologized, Draco sighed and reached for something on his desk. "Have an apple" he walked off to tend to a patient who was writhing in his bed and screaming from pain (he had only been there for a day).
Harry wasn't quite sure why he'd been given a piece of fruit, but he bit into the red apple anyway. He closed his eyes and resisted a moan as his mouth was filled with sweet juice, and suddenly it was all he could think about. How amazing it was, to take solitude within this magnificent fruit. His thoughts were interrupted by a quiet chuckle; Draco had returned. "How's that working for you?" "All my troubles... gone with one bite..." Draco grinned "you're the only person I know to have ever agreed with me on that. We could've been great friends back at school" Harry smiled back, remembering their feud "that we could."
Draco hadn't really thought when he handed Harry the apple. Apples had only ever helped him, so when he returned to find they had the same effect on his old enemy, he couldn't help but smile. Whatever it was that Harry was upset with, Draco no longer cared. He had made the man feel better for now, and that's all . If he would later want to talk about it, Draco would be there. That's his job. "Draco?" "Yes?" "Can you stay with me?" "... not during my working hours, no, but if you want I could make a visit..." Draco felt obliged to do as Harry wished; he did owe him after all. "Please do" the man went back to eating his apple, in a signal that the conversation had ended.
Draco wandered around the ward, tending to his patients, filling in forms, and eventually apparated home to change. He had time for an apple, then he apparated back to St Mungo's, but this time, a visitor.
He signed his name in the book, and wandered up to the ward he knew Harry was lying in.
Draco approached the bed, and slowly sat down in the chair. The dark haired man had his eyes closed, but sensed there was someone there and opened them. He smiled slightly when he saw Draco. "You came" Draco sighed "I said I would..." "Do you care about me? I mean... would you comfort me? I doubt anyone else will... even my closest friends..." he looked uncertainly into Draco's gray eyes. "I don't know why you think no-one will comfort you but go on." "Ginny's moving to Scotland with Dean - Dean Thomas. She's taking the children with her. I can't... I can't believe she'd..." he started crying once again. Draco reached out for the tearful man's hand out of instinct, and started to comfort him. Rubbing his hand, patting his back, and making shushing sounds as Harry cried into his shoulder.
He was shocked, not that Harry was upset, but that Ginny had done such a thing. A week ago she had been looking at him with such love, and now... Draco suddenly felt a great anger at the Weasley, and at the man who claimed to be Harry's friend. Harry didn't deserve this, he was a good man, who needed love and protection more than anyone. He had had such a rough life, no-one, especially that Weasley, had the right to hurt him again. "I'm sorry Draco..." Harry sniffed as he pulled out of the comforting embrace. "I just... I trusted both of them... I'm sorry for making you do this" he sniffed again. "It's fine, they both went wrong. They don't deserve you." Harry smiled sadly "she's selling the house too. My home. I could live with Molly but... that would be awkward. I guess I'll have to go house hunting once I' of here but-" "You could live with me!" The words were out of his mouth before he could stop them, and Harry was staring at him. "I-I mean... I've got loads of spare rooms... and you won't find a house straight away so..." Harry laughed "thanks Draco, I don't know what I'd do without you"
Draco spent another hour talking to Harry, before he went home to rest. Or rather, try to rest.