I am so so so so so so so SO SO SO SORRY! No excuse for how late it is. Just know that I am Sorry. Really Sorry. So incredibly Sorry. Sorry.
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Ch. 20
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Neville stared in shock at the majestic bird standing on his bed. What was a phoenix doing in their dorm? On his four-poster bed? He walked forward slowly, not wanting to startle the beautiful avian.
"Hello, Beautiful. What are you doing here?" Neville whispered, extremely aware of the heavy breathing coming from the three boys behind him who were frozen in surprise. Fawkes trilled lowly and Neville felt a soothing calmness sweep through him.
Fawkes hopped forwards until he was right in front of Neville and tilted his head to the side with another soft trill. Neville stared into the bright eyes of the phoenix and raised his hand to slowly stroke the deep red plumage on its chest. Fawkes stared back at Neville and blinked once, delving into the young Gryffindors mind and showing him what had happened with his last bonded. After the memories finished their playback he chirped questioningly and showed Neville an image of them bonding. Neville gasped.
"You want to bond? With me? Why? I'm not brave, smart or strong. Why chose me?" Neville whispered soft enough that Ron, Dean and Seamus wouldn't hear. Fawkes let out for musical chirps and Neville felt confidence rise up in his chest. He looked down at the phoenix and weighed his options.
"Are you sure you want to bond with me?" Neville asked seriously. Fawkes dipped his head in a regal nod and Neville smiled brightly. "Well alright then. What do we do?" Fawkes stretched forward and touched the tip of his beak to Neville's forehead and then lowers to his heart. Fire seared through Neville's body before concentrating as a band around his chest, squeezing tighter and tighter until he couldn't breathe. Neville fell to his knees, gasping for breath.
"Harry. Help." He managed to gasp out, looking pleadingly up at Dean and Seamus before his world turned black and he tipped over into unconsciousness.
The last thing he saw was two figures racing from the room.
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Fred and George stepped through the portrait hole just in time to miss being bowled over by two frantic boys.
"Oi! Watch where you're going!" Fred called out after them as he pulled George swiftly out of their way.
"Was that Dean and Seamus?" George questioned, leaning out of the hole to watch them practically fly down the staircase. George looked to his twin who shrugged uncaringly.
"I don't care. The little snots have been hanging out with Ronald lately. Probably coming up with new rumors to spread about Harry. Speaking of rumors, we need to get back at some people. Our prank revenge has been long overdue." Fred smirked at his brother who smirked back.
"Too true, brother mine." George agreed as he dragged his brother to a secluded corner in their common room and cast privacy wards to keep people from eavesdropping or seeing what they were doing. Fred pulled George down into his lap and wrapped his arms loosely around his waist.
"So first things first. What do we do about Ron?" Fred asked. George leaned into his brother's hold and sighed.
"I don't know. No matter what we do he won't leave Harry alone. He's always been a jealous prat."
"I know. How about we start of small? Turn all his clothes into dresses? Make everything he eats turn into dirt?" Fred suggested.
"Turn his food into dirt? You know how Ronnikins loves to eat. That's positively evil of you." George snickered. Fred tilted George's head back slightly to capture his lips in a heated kiss. George immediately twisted around in Fred's lap and wrapped his arms tightly around his twins neck.
Fred swiped his tongue over George's bottom lip, plunging his tongue in when George gasped in pleasure. They moaned softly, clutching each other tightly as they kissed passionately.
"We need him." George panted once his brother had finished properly ravishing him. Fred nodded and leaned his forehead against his twins. Fred knew instantly who his brother was referring to. A tall, dark and mysterious handsome man, Severus.
"I know. We'll have to seduce him." Fred spoke confidently. "We won't give him the chance to push us away. We know he loves potions so we'll start from there. Get him ingredients that would be hard to come by, fill his potions closet. We'll be the best potions students he's ever had and he'll have to notice us."
"Of course he'll notice us. With flaming red hair like this we'd be hard to miss."
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Draco made his way to the Owlry after he had threatened and frightened Granger to his satisfaction. He had promised to write his mother about how Harry was progressing and figured he could write his letter in there. He also needed to start searching for a cottage near an ocean like Harry had described. He remembered the excited look on his mates face as he rambled on in detail about all the things they could do and smiled fondly. He wanted to give Harry what he wanted and was determined to find the perfect place by the Christmas holidays so could give his mate the perfect present. Draco quickly wrote a letter to his mother about their time at Hogwarts and wrote another to the realtor the Malfoy's employed when they bought their many estates, asking her to look around and see if there were any seaside cottages that would meet his standards. He held both letters in his hand as he looked for his owl, Hermes. He whistled twice and an owl detached itself from the rafters and flew down to him. He stroked Hermes softly and tied the letters to his leg.
"Go to mother first, Hermes. I'm sure she is getting rather impatient. When you go to out realtor I want you to wait for a reply. Make sure you deliver it to me when Harry isn't nearby. I don't want to ruin the surprise and I wouldn't be able to lie to him if he asked." Draco snorted. Hermes hooted his understanding before nipping Draco's fingers lightly and soaring out through the wide window.
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Harry screamed as he jerked awake. He looked around frantically for his dominant, the image of Lucius being tortured seared into his brain and jumped out of bed racing from the bedroom in search of him.
"Draco!" Harry shouted as he searched their private rooms for his mate. Once he determined that Draco was not in their rooms he left, the portrait entrance slamming against the wall as he violently shoved it open. Harry knew he could go to only one person for help and despite his current fear of the potions professor he would go to him. Lucius was Draco's father which made him part of Harry's family, no matter how reluctant the blond patriarch was about the fact. He needed to help him and warn Draco about what was happening. He rounded a corner at a dead run only to slam into another person, sending them both toppling to the ground.
"Sorry!" Harry gasped.
"Watch it you little-" Emerald eyes stared into the deep blue of his former friend. A vicious smirk curled Ron's lip as he stood and pulled his wand. "Well, well, well. If it isn't the Malfoy Slut. Where's your master, Potter? Did he get tired of you already and cast you away like the trash you are? Expelliarmus!" Ron shouted as Harry reached for his own wand. Harry scrambled as far back as he could get before he ran into the wall on the opposite side of the hallway.
"Leave me alone, Weasel. I've got important problems to take care of. I don't have time to waste on filth like you." Harry snarled even as he peered around the towering red head, hoping for someone to come and help him.
"That's rich coming from you. Who here is the one who claims he's been raped? It seems you're plenty filthy." Ron snickered. Harry glared and started to stand only to be knocked back down by a blow to the face. "Did I tell you you could move?" Ron hissed.
"I don't take orders from inferior people so even if you had I wouldn't have listened." Harry hissed back. Ron smirked and lashed out with his foot, kicking Harry in the stomach. Harry curled into himself trying to protect his vital organs as blow after blow rained down on him.
"I'll show you-" Ron snarled.
"Fucking freak!" Vernon's voice echoed in his head, mixing in with Ron's insults.
"Traitorous bastard!" Ron shouted as he slammed Harry's head into the floor.
"Should have died with your no-good parents!"
"No one will ever love you. You're used, Potter. Trash. You're nothing." Ron hissed in Harry's ear as he rolled him over. Harry was barely conscious and was unable to struggle as Ron tore at his clothes, stripping off his pants before undoing his own.
"Whore. Freak. Unwanted. Useless."
"Whore." Ron sneered as he leaned over Harry, lining his erection up with Harry's entrance, easily pinning him down as Harry struggled frantically. "Freak. Unwanted. Usele-"
"Obfoco!" An infuriated voice snapped. Ron choked above Harry and collapsed rolling to the side as he clawed at his throat and gasped desperately. Harry closed his eyes pain, fear and humiliation sweeping through him. 'I'm weak. Useless. I can't protect myself from a classmate let alone an overweight muggle. I can't defeat Voldemort and I can't defeat Dumbledore. I'm useless.' Harry let the self-loathing and disgust wash over him, ignoring the voice that was asking him questions, begging him to stay awake.
"Useless." He mumbled before he let the darkness claim him, all the while wishing desperately that he wouldn't have to wake back up.
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Severus finally, after fruitless hours of searching found his godson in the owlry sending off a letter.
"Draco," He greeted the blond softly. Draco turned and smiled politely at him, silver eyes hard as steel.
"Severus," Draco murmured lowly. Severus sighed softly. This was going to be harder than he had thought.
"I need to talk to you about Harry." Severus began only to be interrupted.
"Is he hurt? What happened? He was sleeping when I left him!" Draco started immediately for the door.
"He is fine as far as I know." Severus informed the worried Veela quickly, sliding smoothly into his path. "I wanted to…apologize for my short temper earlier and wished to know what a suitable gift would be, that is all." Draco eyed him intently, looking for any signs of deceit and relaxed with a smirk when he found none.
"Why would I help you? You hurt him. You said he could always turn to you and trust you not to hurt or scare him and then you do just that. I will not tolerate that sort of behavior around my submissive." Draco folded his arms over his chest and narrowed his eyes dangerously. Severus took a calming breath and let it out slowly.
"That is why I wish to make amends you foolish possessive Veela. I am not used to being taken care of after a meeting with Him. I did not mean to sound so harsh. I will try to speak in calmer tones in the future but I can make no guarantees. Being put under the cruciatus curse for nearly fifteen minutes straight tends to make most people a bit snappish." Severus sighed. Draco watched him silently before nodding once.
"He loves books. Muggle books. A Tale of Two Cities is one of his favorites. I'm sure he would be ecstatic to have an original copy." Draco mused before stepping around Severus and walking from the owlry. He made it barely two steps down the staircase before stumbling with a gasp. He clutched his side where he could feel a bruise quickly forming and then gripped his head tightly when his vision blurred, a migraine rendering him helpless. Severus was at his side demanding answers.
"Harry." Draco managed to whimper as he passed out.
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Madame Pomfrey bustled around her infirmary agitatedly as she tried to figure out what was wrong with Draco, how to wake Neville, why Dumbledore's phoenix had decided to set up camp near the boy and why Harry Potter looked as if he had been beaten and Ronald Weasley had been strangled into unconsciousness.
She started with Neville, waving her wand up and down his body in intricate patterns. A spreadsheet appeared before her and she read it quickly before pointing her wand at the boy.
"Enneverate." She intoned and Neville jerked up with a gasp, looking around wildly. He looked from Madame to Dean and Seamus who hovered uncertainly and back in confusion.
"Wha?" He croaked. Madame conjured a glass of water which he gulped gratefully.
"I'm afraid you'll have to talk to your housemates, Mr. Longbottom. I haven't a clue what's going on." She rushed over to Harry running a scan on him before summoning pain relieving, bone mending, and bruise healing potions, spelling them into his unresponsive body. She watched in satisfaction as his injuries began to heal and disappear.
She turned to Ronald and prodded his throat harshly causing him to moan in discomfort. She poked him again and he flinched awake, glancing around groggily.
"Drink this Mr. Weasley." She snapped, shoving a mild healing potion at him. Ron swallowed with a grimace and rubbed his throat.
"Wha' 'appened?" He rasped.
"It would appear that you have suffered an injury, otherwise I would not allow you into my infirmary. Now do stop talking. You will only hurt your throat more. Although I'm sure none of us would like to hear you speak either." She grumbled the last part under her breath and Ron closed his eyes tiredly as she turned to the restless Veela next to Harry. Draco opened his eyes slowly just as she made it to his bedside. He immediately tried to shove the covers off his body and swing his legs around, attempting to stand.
"Mr. Malfoy you will remain in your bed!" Madame Pomfrey berated. Draco glared fiercly at her and she glared back. "You will not get up until I say you can and the longer you fight me the longer it will take and it will be that much longer until you can hold him. Is that what you want?" She asked slyly. Draco grumbled petulantly as she jabbed him in random spots, humming every so often. "You seem fine-"
Draco was instantly in Harry's bed, gathering his mate close as his eyes and hands wandered, categorizing every injury, committing them to memory. Draco growled harshly and glared venomously at anyone who got to close.
"Draco? What happened with Harry?" Neville asked from his bed. Draco glanced over at him before turning back to his mate.
"What happened to you?" He countered.
"Fawkes broke his bond with Dumbledore and bonded with me. It was intense and there was too much magic. I passed out." Neville shrugged, petting Fawkes absently.
"I don't know what happened to him." Draco admitted. "I was taking care of some business and I felt his pain. I passed out before I could get to him."
"Well it's a good thing I'm here!" Blaise announced loudly from where he, Pansy, Dean and Seamus stood at the foot of the two beds.
"Us too!" Seamus shouted. "You wouldn't have gone looking for him if it wasn't for us!"
"No one asked for your input, Finnegan." Pansy sneered, tossing her hair over her shoulder.
"Someone needs to tell me what happened before all of you wind up with serious, life-threatening injuries." Draco interrupted.
"We'll start." Dean said quickly. "Neville, Seamus, Ron and I were in our dorm and that phoenix just appeared out of nowhere. It had a staring contest with Neville and a few minutes later Neville collapsed, screaming and shaking. It was crazy and we didn't know what to do. He said to get Harry so we ran out to search for him. We forgot that Ron had heard to and-"
"These two ran up to us and started babbling like the uneducated cretins that they are." Pansy interrupted. "We wouldn't have helped them at all only they said that Ron was looking for him too and that he would most likely hurt him. We found them a few corridors from your room. Harry was…not in good shape." Pansy gripped Blaise's hand as she thought about the condition they had found the Gryffindor in.
"Weasel had beaten him, probably cursed him. He had taken their trousers off and was-" Draco snarled, cutting Blaise off as his eyes slowly turned the pure silver of a fully enraged Veela. Draco carefully unwound his arms from around his mate and launched himself onto Ron's bed where he proceeded to wrap his hands tightly around the red heads neck. Ron's eyes snapped open and he beat at Draco, scratching his hands and trying to push the blond off him.
"Mr. Malfoy! What are you doing?!" Madame Pomfrey shouted, yanking Draco off of Ron.
"I'll kill you!" Draco roared, struggling as Blaise and Dean held him back. "I'll fucking kill you, you bastard! Don't you ever touch him again!"
"Mr. Malfoy!" Madame gasped in shocked outrage.
"He tried to… He almost…raped my Harry." Draco forced the words through gritted teeth. Madame Pomfrey blinked at him in surprise before turning to Ron, flicking her wand at him. Ron was held immobilized on the bed.
"We will get this taken care of but you cannot hurt anyone. understood?" Madame asked Draco. Draco didn't answer, instead turning back to his mate. He scooped Harry up and walked silently from the hospital wing. He wouldn't have his submissive stay near that soon-to-be-dead arsehole. Pansy, Blaise and Neville followed silently behind him. They had just made it past the doors when Dumbledore appeared, whistling merrily. Draco tensed, glaring at the older wizard suspiciously.
"Mr. Malfoy! I heard about what happened to poor Harry. I came to check up on him. May I ask why he is not resting peacefully in the hospital wing?" Dumbledore questioned.
"No you may not. Now if you'll excuse me I need to get him to our room." Draco sneered.
"I'm afraid I must insist that young Harry stay in the infirmary until he is fully healed." Dumbledore sighed sadly. Draco stiffened. As Headmaster Dumbledore still had a small amount of power over them and he could keep Harry in the infirmary and forbid Draco seeing him if he went against him.
"Fine." Draco snarled before turning and walking back into the infirmary. He gently placed Harry down and stood protectively by his side, glaring at Dumbledore.
"Poppy! What is your opinion of young Harry's health?" Dumbledore asked brightly.
"He was attacked, Headmaster. He has various injuries, cuts, bruises, and a broken rib. He was almost raped, would have been if these four hadn't reached him in time." She nodded towards the two Slytherins and two Gryffindors huddled together.
"I see." Dumbledore stared at them for a second before clapping his hands. "Well, seeing as Harry is currently unconscious it would seem that there is no reason for you all to be inside on this beautiful day. I'm sure Madame Pomfrey will call for you if anything changes." Dumbledore said as a clear dismissal. Pansy and Blaize looked to Draco who nodded slightly before they glared at Dumbledore and swept out of the infirmary, Dean and Seamus trailing nervously behind them.
"You too, Mr. Malfoy." Dumbledore said calmly. Draco sneered.
"No. I will remain here for as long as my mate does. He needs me." Draco snarled.
"I'm afraid, as your Headmaster, I must insist that you leave and allow Harry the chance to get the rest he needs. If not I will be forced to…punish you."
"So give me detention." Draco snapped, still unmoving.
"Oh, no. I think expulsion is a much more suited punishment, don't you?" Dumbledore smirked slightly and Draco stiffened. He couldn't leave Harry here with this maniac but if he was expelled Harry would have no protection. With a dark glare of hatred Draco nodded once. He turned to Harry and gently stroked his cheek.
"I won't let him hurt you. You'll be safe." He whispered to an unconscious Harry before he kissed his unresponsive mouth softly. Draco stood and turned to face the Headmaster. "If anything happens to him I will know. If he is harmed in any way I will kill you. It's my right as his dominant."
"I assure you, Mr. Malfoy, I will not harm him. I only wish to help." Dumbledore sighed.
"And I'm the bloody queen of England." Draco snapped before he stormed out of the infirmary. He couldn't risk making Dumbledore angry. Not when Harry was hurt. Dumbledore could do anything while he wasn't there so he needed to focus on a way to keep Harry safe.
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Dumbledore waited until he was sure the Malfoy spawn was well away from the hospital wing before he spoke again.
"Well here we are, Potter. You had to ruin my plans, didn't you? If you had listened to me none of this would be happening. Oh, well. There are still many ways around this…inconvenient business with the Malfoys. I already know of a way to break your bond. Of course, I'll have to brew it myself since Severus is the boys godfather. Maybe I can get Granger to do it. I'll tell her that Draco has bound you to him with Dark Magic and she'll happily make it. You do have such loyal friends after all." He smirked. Dumbledore waved his wand and a plush, throne-like chair appeared for him to sit in.
"Now, I think it's time we've had a little chat." He murmured. "Ennervate." He pointed his wand at Harry who gasped harshly and bolted upright in his bed.
"Harry, my dear boy! Calm yourself, it is only I." Dumbledore chuckled. Harry jumped and turned to glare at him.
"What are you doing here? Where's Draco? If you've hurt him…" Harry threatened and Dumbledore just twinkled at him.
"Relax, I haven't done anything to young Mr. Malfoy. He left a few hours ago, something about not wanting to waste his time here."
"Liar." Harry snapped instantly. "Draco wouldn't leave me and he wouldn't say that."
"Then where is your precious dominant now, Harry? When you need him most why is he not by your side?" Dumbledore asked.
"Something must have happened. Maybe he found out about Lucius and is waiting to see if he is okay." Harry said, hoping that was what had happened since he never had the chance to tell Draco himself.
"Are you sure of that?" Dumbledore smirked slightly and Harry narrowed his eyes.
"We're done talking. I would like you to leave." Harry snarled.
"We're done when I say we're done."
"Showing our true colors now, are we?" Harry commented. Dumbledore glared coolly.
"You've given me no choice, Harry. I see now that I should have been harsher with you and I will begin to be so immediately." Dumbledore threatened. Harry paled slightly.
"What do you mean?" Harry asked.
"If you do not comply with my orders from now on I will be forced to punish you. It seems that your uncle had the right idea when it came to keeping you in line." The Headmaster admitted, eyes glinting madly.
"I can take whatever it is you do to me. I've lived with abuse all my life and I can handle a few more years until I graduate and can get the hell away from you." Harry growled, eyes blazing furiously.
"Can you say the same for young Draco? I'm sure you would do anything to keep him from experiencing the same abuse, no?" Dumbledore asked slyly.
"Fuck you!" Harry hissed, his hands curling into tight fists as all the anger, desperation and fear he had been repressing came rushing up at him all at once. "You leave Draco out of this."
"I'm afraid I cannot do that. Not if I am to keep you on a tight leash." Dumbledore shrugged and leaned back comfortably in his chair.
"If you hurt him I will end you. I will help Voldemort tear down this world and I will force you to watch while we do, knowing that it is your fault. And after we have control of the wizarding world I will kill you slowly and painfully. Do. You. Understand?" Harry snarled menacingly. Dumbledore raised an eyebrow in surprise at the threat and then watched, stunned, as Harry's eyes became pure emerald.
'No! How is that possible! How can he be one! James and Lily didn't have any creature blood! I'll have to rethink all of my plans now. Damn you, Potter.'
"We shall see. Get some rest, Mr. Potter. You look absolutely dreadful." Dumbledore stood and swept out of the hospital wing without another word. Harry collapsed back onto his pillows and ran a shaking hand over his face.
'Dominant? Are you alright? Please tell me you aren't hurt!' Harry sent across his bond to his mate.
'I'm fine, Harry.' Draco answered immediately. 'I'm here.'
'I need you. Where are you? Why weren't you here? You left me with Dumbledore!' Harry snapped accusingly.
'I'm sorry. I am so, so sorry, Harry. I had to. He was threatening to have me expelled. I can't leave you in this school unprotected. I'm coming now. I'll be there in ten minutes.' Draco explained.
'No, wait. Have you heard from your parents today?' Harry asked.
'No, I sent them a letter earlier. I expect to hear from them tomorrow. Did you want to send them something?'
'No, your father was called to Voldemort. I was looking for you to tell you when Ron found me. He was crucio'd pretty badly. I don't know if he got home safely.'
'What? When did you find that out? Why didn't you speak to me like this! All of this could have been avoided!' Draco snapped at him through the telepathic link.
'I'm sorry! I forget sometimes that we can talk like this.' Harry apologized.
'And you just happened to remember our link when it suits you?' Draco asked harshly.
'What? No,I-'
'I'm going to see Severus now. I need to know if he knows anything.' Draco sighed.
'I…Of course. I hope he's okay. Will…will you come when-'
'I'll see you in the morning.' Draco cut him off. Harry winced and pressed a hand to his chest as it began to ache.
'Okay. See you in the morning.' He whispered softly. There was silence for a minute before he heard a soft sigh.
'I'm sorry, Harry. I'm not angry with you. I'm just worried about my father. The last time we were together we had a fight and I don't know what I would do if something happened to him before I could fix it.' Draco spoke softly, worry creeping into his tone.
'I understand, Draco. You see if he's okay. I'll see you sometime tomorrow.' Harry said understandingly. Again there was nothing from Draco for a few minutes. Harry sighed and rolled onto his right side, since it was free of broken bones, and closed his eyes, hands still pressed against his aching chest.
How could he be so stupid? Obviously he should have spoken to Draco through their bond. If he hadn't been selfish he would have remembered that instead of running across the castle like a mad wizard! Now Draco was upset with him and he didn't know how to fix it. He felt tears flood his eyes and blinked quickly to stop them from falling. When that proved to be useless he pressed his face into his pillow and allowed himself to cry out everything he was feeling.
He didn't hear the infirmary door open. He didn't hear the soft padding of feet walking towards him. He was crying too hard to notice the bed dipping with additional weight of another person. What he did notice is a familiar scent surrounding him. He noticed strong arms wrapping around him and pressing him protectively, comfortingly, against a strong chest. He noticed a soft voice whispering in his ear. Harry looked up to see his dominant above him.
"Draco? You said you were going to see Severus about Lucius. What are you doing here?" Harry sniffled. Draco sighed and wiped Harry's face gently.
"I hurt you. I was angry at Dumbledore, afraid for you, and worried about my father and I took it out on you. I hurt you and I am so sorry, Harry. I couldn't just let you think that you were stupid or useless or that I was going to get rid of you because you aren't and I won't. I had to apologize and show you that I was wrong. There is no excuse for snapping at you like I did. You've had a hard, long day. You would have been frantic and worried after a vision like that. It's okay that you forgot about the link." Draco spoke soothingly, running a hand through Harry's thick hair as he spoke. Harry blinked up at Draco and gave a shaky smile.
"You're not mad at me?" Harry whispered gripping Draco's shirt tightly in his still shaking fists.
"No, submissive. You've done nothing wrong." Draco promised. Harry choked back another sob as he wiggled as close as he could to his dominant.
"Don't leave?" He pleaded.
"Never." Draco whispered. He tilted Harry's head back until emerald eyes stared into silver. "I'll never leave you." Draco dipped his head to press his mouth against Harry's. They kissed slowly, pouring their feelings into it. Remorse flowed through their link flowed by forgiveness and love, so much love. Harry gasped and Draco slid his tongue into the warm cavern of his mouth, deepening the kiss until the heat in their stomachs turned into a burning inferno. Draco managed to find the strength to tear his mough away from Harry's so they could breath.
"Love you." Draco gasped out. Harry smiled brightly at him and he chuckled, rearranging them on the bed so that Harry was draped over him. "Sleep, submissive. You need to rest to get better. I'll still be here when you wake up."
"G'Night dominant." Harry yawned before drifting off to sleep, Draco following close behind him.