Harry quietly adjusted the blankets around Draco's peaceful sleeping form, almost fretting about him just like his mother had been. The last three days felt like they had really passed in a blur, the hours blending together.
When Harry wasn't in class, struggling to focus on anything he was suppose to be studying for his N.E.W.T.s., he was in the isolation room talking or even reading with Draco. Spending as much time as he could with him, hoping that close proximity might begin the healing the man's core. It was the first and only suggestion medical texts had given him to work with.
On the second day of dealing with Draco's condition since Harry himself had woken up, Harry had been called to the the Head Mistresses office to identify those who had been involved in Draco's injury, mostly to just confirm what they already knew. Most of the kids had hung their head in shame, but seeing Justin had been the worst of the group.
"You don't understand! We did it because Harry deserved better than Malfoy! He got off so easy from the war then comes back to school and convinces Harry to protect him! Malfoy doesn't deserve the wizarding worlds hero! He is a spineless death eater and deserve worse than what he got." Justin was angry. He was looking at Harry, eyes wild. "You have to listen to me! Malfoy brain washed you into getting what he needed! He was suppose to die! No omega is suppose to survive what he went through!"
Harry stood there a long time, trying to remain calm as the Hufflepuff continued to rant and rave about Draco and how getting rid of him made him the real hero. That Harry should be thanking him for doing what he couldn't. He should be apologizing for not listening to him and that now Harry was free to find a better match.
Eventually, Harry had heard enough and with a bit of impressive wandless and wordless magic Harry had slammed Justin into the wall and approached him as if he was hunting prey. "Let me make myself perfectly clear, if Draco doesn't wake up from this pathetic sick game you played, I will be at your hearing requesting fresh blood. I will demand that each of you be turned over to me and left for me to tend to. If you think for one second, the ministry would dare to deny me anything I asked for you are mistaken. Azkaban is going to be a cake walk compared to what I will do to you. I think you take my kindness as weakness. Let me assure you, are mistaken." Harry released his magic and let Justin slump to the floor.
"Draco may have a shady past and made shitty choices growing up, but he isn't a bloody child anymore. He grew up. He got his karma. He was disowned and thrown the the streets. He was born into a second gender that makes him a human slave. He suffered enough. But now he is rebuilding his life and you tore him down to make yourself feel better." Harry stood over the crumbled boy, bending down, " I love that man. My entire life I've searched for someone to love me and want me as Harry. Not the boy who lived. Draco completes me in every single way And there is not a single person who could ever compete with him. Count yourself lucky that I don't end you this second. That my mate wouldn't want me to murder you. If it were up to me, I would let you bleed out here on the floor without a glance back." Harry stood up brushing himself off, the two Aurors standing back, not wanting to be in Harry Potters way.
"I will provide the minister with any memories and testimony he needs to lock them all up for as long as necessary. Right now I have to head back to my mate. It is dinner time and I refuse to let him sit alone." Harry glanced around and when no one argued with him he headed out of the office.
Ron was waiting outside the entrance, leaning against the wall ready to lead him back to his mate. "Did you kill him?" Ron asked only half joking as they fell instep besides each other that day.
Harry turned his head to his best mate and then focused again on their walk, "It was hard not to. Listening to him spout that evil shit of his ideas and why hurting Draco was the answer. I almost lost control... I'm finding it more and more difficult to control my magic when my emotions are running so high." Harry confided in him. "I just hope that maybe, maybe all this wild magic is just what Draco needs in order to get better."
Ron nodded, reaching out to rub his back in support. "Well Hermione's on the case, and Merlin I love that woman and what she's capable of. If there is even a whisper of an answer documented somewhere she will certainly find it. There's no doubt in my mind about that."
Currently, now that Draco was tucked in under the fresh blankets, Harry made himself comfortable in the arm chair beside him.
"You know, I always knew you were difficult and stubborn. Just wish it didn't have to be like this." Harry pulled Draco's cold hand pale hand into his warm tan one, loving the contrast of their hands together. "You would have been proud of me today. I made it through potions with no mishaps. My potion even came out fairly decent. You of course would have out shown me easily."
"Harry?" A soft knock sounded on the open bedroom door and in its opening stood Narcissa looking more worn than usual. "They arrested Lucius today. For providing the potion the students were able to slip you." She moved into the room taking up the other chair. Harry was growing quite fond of the woman. He never knew her to be too emotional but For her husband and mate being taken away she looked oddly... calm.
"I am sorry, I know that having your mate taken away must not be easy." Harry offered the best he could to the woman. Lucius deserved to rot behind bars if not worse for what he put his son through. It wasn't his place to tell her that thought.
"Harry dear, I feel that you and I are beyond the point of fake pleasantries. You and I both know that my husband deserves far worse than a cell in Azkaban. Luckily for me, I presented as a beta in my changing year. Im not required to keep a mate, nor is our bond as binding as yours and Draco's. An omega exists for their Alpha. Unlike Omegas, betas scents don't work or become as potent, we don't attract swarms of potential mates. Two betas could mate and be just as happy. I've already requested through the ministry to remove my bond from my husband. After this... I can't stand beside him. All these years and his crazy ranting I always stood beside him even when I didn't agree. No more. Though it appears too late." She smiled sadly.
"Draco would be proud. I know he is proud. " he smiled warmly at her. "Hermione is working with a few med wizards in the states, they had a case of a healed magical core about twenty years ago. She's hoping to get some information how it came about from them. She sounded hopeful."
Harry turned back to Draco, running his fingers down his mates perfect face. He needed him to come back to him. He couldn't imagine his life with another. Harry took a few moments to let the last several months was over him. Draco's heavy scent always luring him in, their first date, the piggy back ride out of the class room... the moment they bonded. Love had saved his life on more than one account, he was praying that same logic could apply here. That love could save him once more.
--
Harry hummed to himself quietly, using a damp flannel to wash Draco's face. Not being able to control himself, for the first time in what had become two weeks, Harry leaned down and let his lips brush against his mates surprised at how warm and soft they felt. Though it was faint, the smell of peaches assaulted his nose. It had been so long since the smell had over taken him.
Out of the corner of his eye he caught movement. It was barely there, maybe he was dreaming. He had seen Draco's fingers flex. He paused, head turned watching for him to move again. He knew it was impossible. The damage left Draco a shell, but he could have sworn he saw something.
Harry looked back at his mate and cupped the mans face searching it for an sign of activity. "I'm here Draco. I don't know if you can hear me, but I am here. I miss you so much Draco. Come back to me." He bent again kissing him once more before trailing the kisses over the man's closed eyes and up to his forehead.
Harry felt his magic reach out trying to connect with Draco's. As of late, his magic had almost taken on a life of its own. Harry was having a hard time controlling it. Using his wand had become almost foreign to him. It didn't feel right in his hands.
He had asked Hermione and Ron about wandless magic. Ron had told Harry that in very old pureblood families, they use to try and train everyone in the family to do basic spells with out a wand. There were very few powerful wizards that could control their magic enough to do all magic without their wand. When Harry slid in the fact that most of it was even wordless, Hermione had lost her mind at that.
Harry felt a tug inside himself. He had tried to tell Hermione that some days when he sat alone with Draco, he felt like his magic had been trying to awaken Draco's magic. Hermione had just looked at him funny and told him that was impossible. That magic didn't do anything on its own, that it wasn't a living thing. She had suggested that he go eat something and get some rest.
He didn't care that they thought he was crazy. He could feel the magic at work. Today was proof. He knew he saw Draco's fingers move. It hadn't been a dream. The man wasn't as broken as they all said. The man was healing, he wasn't out of his mind.
Harry set the flannel aside and stroked the pale cheek lovingly. "I hate to leave you when I think we are having progress. But my rut is coming, I can feel it. I won't be able to control myself if I stay here with you like this. Your mom will be here so you won't be alone. It should only be a few days." Harry now sat himself in the chair along side his bed, "I'm trying to keep positive you know? I keep imagining what it will be like when you wake up. I'm taking you away from here, the moment we graduate. I hope you are awake for it. This whole world is so messed up. Scream for equality unless it's reformed purists. I wish they could see the version of you that I get to see. How much you have grown."
Harry ran his hand down his mates arm, "I miss having you in my arms. Being able to hold you... touch you. God Draco I miss touching you. The chemistry we have when it comes to sex... fuck I miss it." The alpha in him let out a soft growl at the thought of his mate naked beneath him begging for more.
Harry let his hand wander down to pale fingers and laced them carefully. "You are so perfect Draco, honestly... I'm not sure how I got so lucky to claim you as mine." Just as Harry went to let go, he felt it. Draco squeezed his hand. There was no mistake in it. Draco was communicating. He could hear him. Harrys heart stuttered, there was real hope after all.