Draco avoided Potter entirely after learning about the poisoning. He only went to the Room of Requirement once, knowing that Potter might be checking for him there. Regulus hoped that he'd finally gotten the charm on the back of the vanishing cabinet right, so they transferred a letter via the cabinet and waited to see if Burke would write a response.

Generally, Draco stayed around other students to discourage Potter from talking to him. Regulus thought he was overreacting but considering Potter would and had faced the Dark Lord to protect his friends, Draco knew Potter would come at him with a vengeance. He'd probably do just about anything for Weasley.

And it was looking like he'd do just about anything for the whole Weasley family. At meals, he was always sitting with the younger Weasley girl. Draco only snuck a few glances, but couldn't help the way his stomach twisted at the familiarity between them. He wondered if things would've been different had they been friends from the start. If Potter hadn't thought he was such a prick when they first met, maybe Draco wouldn't be avoiding him like a coward.

The glares Potter kept shooting his way only got more hostile as the days passed. He was pissed, and Draco had no idea what to do about it, so he tried his best to ignore it. By midweek, his housemates had started to pick up on it.

"Why is Potter so obsessed with you?" Zabini whispered in Transfiguration.

"Who knows?" Draco groaned at how obvious Potter was being.

"Does he think you poisoned Weasley?"

Potter didn't think, he knew Draco had. "Probably."

"Did you?"

"What's it matter?" Draco said dismissively. He didn't want to think about it anymore.

"I mean that's a bit extreme even for you."

"Whatever," Draco snapped and started packing up. He wanted to leave before Potter had a chance to corner him.

Zabini gave him an odd look but dropped it. Potter's glares only intensified throughout the day; it seemed like he had made his mind up about something. Draco just hoped it didn't involve him getting maimed. He stayed unusually close to his housemates, knowing Potter wouldn't be bold enough to confront him when he had .

That afternoon, he decided to check for Burke's response before dinner. Potter had never found his way to the room during the day, only the evenings, so Draco figured he should be able to keep up his avoidance a little longer. It seemed like Potter always had a way to track him down though.

Regulus had just congratulated Draco; the letter from Burke had come through. It contained a string of complaints about how terrible the retrieving charm must be, and how there were plenty of adjustments that needed to be made. Draco was skimming the letter when Regulus spoke.

"How does he always have a freaky sense for finding you?"

Draco whipped his head in the direction Regulus was looking. Potter was stalking towards him, face determined.

"I've got to make it for dinner," Draco said hastily, shoving the letter into his pocket and trying to weave around Potter. Potter stepped out, blocking the exit.

"Why are you still trying to kill Dumbledore? We have a vow. I was trying to get you out, so why are you poisoning bottles of mead!" Potter's eyes flared.

"I - " Draco started, but Potter kept going.

"Don't even try to deny it. I know it was you. Slughorn said he meant to give it to Dumbledore as a gift. And I only know one person dumb enough to try and poison Dumbledore!"

"He - " Draco tried again.

"It was such a hair-brained idea! Anyone could have accidently drunk it! Did you really trust Slughorn? It was just as likely that he'd poison himself than actually give it away."

"Let me talk!" Draco yelled. Potter glared but stopped his tirade.

"He is going to kill me, Potter. I don't have any doubts about that. I do have doubts about your ability to get this thing off of my arm." He gestured bitterly. "As you have pointed out, killing Dumbledore is an impossible task, so I am taking any chance I have. Any risk is worth my life."

"But why didn't you tell me?!"

"Because you'd try to stop me!" Draco said, exasperated.

"Obviously! Two students have almost died because of you!" Potter yelled.

"And at this rate, I'll be next!" Potter stiffened at that, but his anger didn't dissipate.

"Don't tell me you are that heartless, that you don't care about them," Potter challenged. He saw Potter grip his wand, so Draco did the same.

Draco did feel guilty, but he was put in an impossible position. He wanted to live. He couldn't afford to care right now.

"I don't care," Draco said through gritted teeth.

"Expelliarmus!" Potter shouted, sending the spell right at him.

It was unexpected, but his training with Bella let him dodge it mostly. The red sparks grazed his right shoulder, but he was easily able to keep hold of his wand. Alarmed, he instinctively threw a stinging hex back. Potter dodged and immediately got his feet under him again. Potter was in full fight mode now.

"Stupify!" he shouted and advanced on Draco.

Draco hauled himself behind a bookshelf, knowing he needed a barrier between them. He sent a leg-locking jinx, which Potter barely sidestepped. He was unsteady on his feet and Draco saw the advantage for what it was. He was about to launch another curse when Regulus interrupted, "Draco stop!"

He pulled back behind the books, breathing were they doing?Regulus's interruption brought him out of whatever fight mode he'd instinctively entered. He took a breath and readied himself to quickly jump up and surprise Potter with another leg-locking jinx. He just had to get Potter's wand away and then they could talk. Potter must have sensed his movement because as soon as he stepped out, Potter hit him right in the chest.

"Sectumsempra!"

Draco felt the curse before he knew the effect. His chest burned as he was thrown backward, air knocked out of him. He grabbed at the pain in his chest and found his hand wet, covered in blood. Draco didn't know if the room had gone silent or whether he was just in shock.

"What the hell?" Regulus shouted as Draco slumped, prone on the ground. Regulus leaned over him, hands hovering uselessly. His face looked horrified. It must be bad to make Regulus look that scared.

"I didn't mean - " Draco looked over at where Potter had frozen. His face was pale.

"Draco!" Regulus yelled Draco looked back over to his side where Regulus was kneeling, but his head spun, and it was hard to focus. He could feel other searing pains in his arms and legs. He wanted to find where, but it was hard to tell with all of the blood.

"Hey, focus, don't pass out yet."

"I'm not gonna pass out," Draco's speech came out a little slurred, and he started gasping for breaths. His chestreallyhurt.

"You need to spell these wounds closed."

Draco looked idly at his wand hand. That seemed like too much work. Suddenly, he felt pressure on his chest and the burning got worse. He choked and looked to find Potter pressing his hands into him.

"I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to. I didn't know." Potter kept muttering. He looked terrified too.

Regulus spoke over Potter's mutterings urgently, "Give the ring to Potter, I have some ideas for counter curses."

Ideas. That didn't sound right. Regulus was supposed to know everything.

"I don't know what to do!" Potter said.

"Draco! Give him the ring."

It took his mind too long to understand what Regulus wanted, but he tried to lift his hand. Potter pulled back and was trying to cast a spell. Draco didn't think it was doing any good, but he wasn't sure. It was nice Potter was trying. He didn't deserve Potter's help after what he'd done.

"The ring! Now!" Regulus bellowed.

Draco knew his sluggishness was a bad sign, but he tried to ignore that give the ring to Potter.

"Put on the ring," he told Potter through his gasps.

"What? What ring?"

Draco mustered some of the strength that was rapidly leaving him and lifted his hand.

"Regulus's ring."

"What are you talking about?"

Draco tried to say something, but it came out incoherent.

"Wait, don't pass out on me. Draco!" Potter yelled at him.

Pass out. That was a nice way to say die. Draco didn't want to die. He was trying so hard to live, but this was it, wasn't it? With one last surge of motivation, he reached over with his other hand and pulled off Regulus's ring.

Potter looked baffled. Draco's vision started to fuzz.

"Put it on." He focused on getting the words out clearly, but his vision was blackening. He didn't know if Potter was going to.

He heard Potter saying something, but couldn't make out the meaning. He was dizzy. The last thing he felt was a cold sensation, and he desperately hoped it wasn't the last thing he would feel.

Draco came to the middle of the corridor outside of the Room of Requirement. Dissorentied he, blinked trying to take in his surroundings, and noticed Snape kneeling and murmuring something over him. He immediately looked around for Regulus, hoping he could fill him in on what was happening. When he couldn't find him, he realised Potter must have the ring. He thought he remembered telling Potter to take it. He tried to sit up, he needed to find where Potter had gone. It would be a disaster if he ran his mouth to anyone about the ring.

"Stay. I am almost finished," Snape said, pushing Draco back to the ground.

He wanted to fight, but he felt so weak against Snape's hand. Even talking felt like too much effort.

"Will he be alright?" He heard Potter's voice ask nervously. He must be standing behind Snape since Draco couldn't see him. Snape ignored Potter, finishing whatever spells he was casting. Draco still couldn't find it in himself to say anything. He figured he was probably still in shock from thinking he was going to die.

Snape stood abruptly and addressed Potter. "I am taking him to the infirmary. Bring me your copy of 'Advanced Potion Making'."

"What?"

"Don't pretend with me. I'll return here after and youwillhave your school books."

Draco finally got a glimpse of Potter, the front of his robes were still doused with blood. His hands were clenched in front of him and he still looked too pale.

"Can I help, Professor?"

"You've done enough," Snape said angrily and vanished the blood from Potter's clothes. "Meet me back here."

Draco figured it was time to try and stand. He didn't fancy Snape levitating him through the castle. Snape thankfully seemed to understand. He grabbed underneath Draco's arms, holding most of his weight.

He noticed Potter stalling several paces away, eyes darting between Draco and something invisible off to the side. He hoped Regulus would keep Potter in line. He couldn't risk asking for the ring in front of Snape.

Snape had to practically carry him to the infirmary. Once there, he ordered Pomphrey to fetch Essence of Dittany and a blood replenisher.

"I'll be back," Snape growled, once Draco had been deposited in one of the cots. Draco knew he was going to reprimand Potter.

"I deserved it," Draco said quietly. "It's not his fault."

"He could've killed you!"

"I almost killed Weasley," Draco admitted under his breath so Pomfrey couldn't hear. Snape didn't look surprised; he must have already put it together.

"No. You don't deserve that curse because of some childish mistake. I would expel him if I could," Snape snarled furiously and left Draco to be fretted over by Madam Pomfrey.

After the second vial of the blood replenisher, his head was finally feeling clear, and realised he wasn't alone in the room. Weasley was lying propped up several beds away staring slack-jawed. Draco tried to make his best scowl but knew he wasn't convincing. He probably looked pathetic covered in his own blood.

Pomfrey noticed his stare and promptly closed the privacy curtain.

"I swear you can never just get along can you?" At Draco's scowl, she tutted and announced, "I'm going to apply the dittany now."

The wounds had been sealed by Snape but still looked an angry red. They were everywhere, lines across his chest, stomach, and limbs. Pomfrey attentively coated each one, causing them to fade to pink.

"I want to keep you overnight. You'll likely need a pain potion before bed, and I want to apply more dittany in the morning."

Draco didn't fight it. He didn't particularly want to go back to his housemates and tell them that Potter tried to kill him. He didn't fancy talking about it at all. Besides, it was validating that another person was taking it seriously. Pomfrey wanted to make sure he was going to be okay, and he desperately wanted to be okay.

Pomfrey finally left him to rest, but since Draco was feeling better, he had more energy than before. He felt restless. Potter had known a dark spell. Something Draco hadn't thought possible given his moral high ground. He was lonely without Regulus. He wanted someone to talk to him. He wanted to scheme and research and take his mind off of everything that had just happened. But instead, he was stuck alone, terrified that his wounds would open up again and he'd bleed out. He kept looking at the bandages for any sign of red.

Draco didn't know how much time had passed when other voices entered the infirmary.

"Took you forever to come! I was thinking you'd forgotten about me," he heard Weasley say.

"Shut up, Ron. You know we didn't." That was Granger.

"Pomfrey says I'm getting out tonight!" Weasley continued excitedly.

"That's great!" Granger said. She must be close to his bed now by the sound of it.

"I know." He could almost picture the dumb grin on Weasley's face. He wished he could smack it off.

Weasley dropped his voice lower, but not quite enough to keep Draco from hearing. "Did you know Malfoy's here?"

"How is he?" Draco tensed at the sound of Potter's voice. He should've guessed he was visiting his friend.

"Like I bothered to check," Weasly snorted. "The git probably faked the whole thing. Do you know any spells for fake blood?"

"Don't make assumptions like that," Potter said, angrily.

"Oi, Harry, are you good?" Weasley asked, taken aback by Potter's heat.

"I'm fine." The silence that followed that statement meant they didn't believe it.

They continued to chat for a while, filling in Weasley about the classes he had missed. Potter stayed unusually quiet. Draco listened attentively, waiting for the moment Potter would tell them the truth about how Draco had been the one to poison Weasley and how he'd gotten his revenge. He never did.

When Pomfrey bustled back in, she announced, "You're free to go Mr. Weasley. Straight to bed."

"Yeah, Yeah," Weasley said uncaringly. He could hear them headed towards the exit. Draco debated if he should try and trap Potter to get the ring back, but it seemed like Potter had the same idea.

"I have to ask Pomfrey something," Potter announced.

"Want us to wait?" Granger asked.

"Nah, I'll meet you later." Potter was so obvious, there was no way his friends didn't see right through that, but he heard their retreating footsteps all the same. Potter made his way to where Draco's bed was and pulled back the curtain. His face was written with concern.

"How are you?" He asked stiffly.

"How do you think?" Draco replied, trying to sit up further. He didn't have to look like a complete invalid.

Potter grimaced. "I'm so sorry. I didn't know what that spell would do."

"Then why did you cast it?"

"It was for enemies," He said nervously.

"So I'm an enemy?" Draco hated the way that stung.

"I don't think so. You just felt like one after what happened to Ron, but Regulus explained what's really been going on."What the hell was Regulus telling him?

"Give me back the ring," Draco demanded quickly.

"Sure." Potter looked to his side and waved hesitantly. He quickly pulled off the ring and passed it to Draco. He sighed in relief the moment Regulus appeared. Everything was right again.

"Thank Merlin and Morgana you're okay. Don't scare me like that again," Regulus said, walking closer to look Draco over.

"Tell that to Potter," Draco responded. It was strange talking to Regulus with an audience.

"I already did." Draco .

Draco looked back to Potter and asked, "Are we even now?"

"What?"

"I almost killed Weasley and you almost killed me? Are we even?" Draco desperately wished they were. He wanted things to go back to before. He was sick of hiding from Potter.

"That's not how I'd phrase it," Potter said slowly, still looking confused. "We both messed up. There was no getting even. We were both wrong."

"And there's a Potter for you," Regulus stated. It still didn't feel right to Draco.

"But I messed up first. You were justified in being angry."

"Don't try to excuse what I did." Draco tried to gauge whether Potter really meant it. When he didn't take it back, Draco supposed he could let Potter wallow if he wanted to.

"You can't tell anyone about Regulus."

"I won't."

"I mean it," Draco said firmly.

"I won't." Potter met his eye, "I know you can't trust me right now, but I won't."

But Draco did find himself trusting Potter. He doubted Potter could ever lie convincingly. "Okay."

Potter shuffled his feet. "I should go."

"Right."

Potter gave him one last concerned look and left. Regulus sat on the side of his bed. He looked tense still, like he still hadn't processed it was over.

"What happened?" Draco didn't need to clarify what he meant.

"Potter hit you with a . It's dark magic. It causes cuts that are very hard to heal."

"But you knew how?"

"No." Draco's stomach dropped. "I told Potter to cast a bandaging charm to try to stop the bleeding. When that wasn't going to work, I made him stasis you. Then he used a spell to get your blood back into you. I'll teach it to you after this. It's bloody useful."

Draco snorted at the choice of words, "Bloodyuseful?"

Regulus rolled his eyes, not in the mood. "We needed to get you to a proper healer though. He levitated you to the hallway as he called Kreacher to notify the nearest professor."

"And I assume that was Snape."

"We were lucky it was him. He knew the curse and the counter. If my suspicions are correct I think he invented it."

"What?" He hadn't assumed Snape was capable of that.

"Potter learned the spell from a potions book annotated by theHalf-Blood Prince. That's who created it."

"And you think that's Snape?" Draco asked suspiciously.

"Considering his mother's name was Prince and he told Potter to get the copy of 'Advanced Potions Making', the exact book he learned the spell from, I'd call it highly likely."

"Then what happened? After I came here."

"We talked," Regulus said hesitantly.

"About?" Draco prompted.

"You. The Dark Lord. Sirius." At Draco's shocked face, he continued, "Don't worry I didn't talk about the veil." Regulus didn't expand further.

"You don't want to tell me about it, do you?"

Regulus sighed. "I'll tell you if you want me to, but I want to keep it between us."

"You liked it didn't you?" Draco tried to keep the hurt out of his voice.

"It was nice to talk to someone else," Regulus admitted, "Terrifying, but nice. It was kind of like talking to James again."

Regulus looked so vulnerable at that admission. Draco knew how much he missed James. Swallowing his jealousy and telling himself it was a good thing for Regulus to have, Draco said, "I'm glad then."

"I was worried you'd be pissed at me," Regulus said, eyes betraying some surprise.

"I am a bit," Draco admitted. Regulus waited for him to continue. "But I know what it's like to feel alone."

Regulus softened. "Don't worry, having you around is still better. I think Harry would have gotten me killed by now. Reckless is an understatement for what he is."

Draco smiled, starting to feel relaxed and not because of the blood loss.

"I'll let you rest. We can talk more tomorrow. We need to take a look at what Burke sent."

Draco nodded, having forgotten all about the response. He reluctantly took off the ring and tried to sleep. It was a pleasant surprise at how easily it came. However, he only got a few hours before he jerked awake thinking that all of his wounds had reopened. They hadn't of course, but he couldn't shake the feeling.

He kept thinking about how helpless he'd felt when he realised he didn't have the strength to save himself. It was a repeat of weeks ago, after the meeting when he couldn't even walk. It was finally sinking in how terrifyingly close he'd come to death, and he knew that he'd have to keep facing it. He only had months until he was likely dead for real.

Sick of the thoughts, he was about to nick a sleeping potion from Pomfrey's stores when he heard footsteps. Then the curtain around his bed was pulled back. No one was there.

"Potter?" Draco guessed hesitantly.

He revealed himself, still wearing the concerned face from earlier.

"I thought you'd be asleep."

"So what, you thought you'd watch me sleep? Creepy."

"No! I just wanted to make sure nothing had happened. I couldn't sleep." He gestured to a chair beside his bed. "May I?"

"Fine." Draco didn't want Potter to know how nice it was to have company.

"Is Regulus here?"

"No. Not when I sleep. It would be boring as hell for him." Potter looked satisfied with that response. Draco tried not to feel pleased knowing that Potter had come to talk to him.

"I keep replaying what happened. I feel so bad about it," Potter said miserably. "How have you lived with this?"

Draco bristled at Potter's accusation. "I don't need your judgement."

"That's not what I meant! I just - " Potter paused to find better words. "I think you are stronger than I realised for continuing despite everything that's happened."

Draco didn't know what to say. It was one of the nicest things Potter had ever said to him.

"I've never hurt anyone like that," Potter said, staring down at his hands, "and I just keep replaying it in my mind. I can't focus on anything else."

"You'll feel better tomorrow," Draco said. He had after the Bell incident. "It's not a big deal."

"It is! You could've died!"

"I didn't." Draco shrugged. He knew he was probably understating it, but he didn't want to see Potter so upset over him.

"Worst of all I did it because I was mad," Potter continued, frustrated.

"No, you didn't. You fought me because you were mad. You probably used that spell because you didn't know what it would do." When Potter didn't dispute it he continued, "It's a big difference. You didn't mean to hurt me that bad did you?"

Instead of agreeing, Potter just said, "Regulus said the same thing."

"Figures. He's usually right."

"He told me about what it's really been like. I shouldn't have blamed you for Ron. I'm sorry."

Draco stared, could Potter get over it so quickly? What had Regulus told him?Heshouldbe blamed for Weasley. And Bell. And whoever else was going to get hurt in the next few months.

Draco couldn't have that conversation right now, so he asked instead, "Are you going to spend all night there?"

"I feel better being around you. Knowing I didn't kill you."

"Come here then." Draco scooted over, hoping he wasn't being too bold. He felt better with Potter around too.

"What?" Potter was staring at the space beside Draco.

"Lie down, Potter. Keep the cloak close in case Pomfrey comes."

"It's fine. I've gotten good at sleeping in chairs after Binn's class."

Draco snorted. "Just lie down."

Potter hesitated, probably wondering if Draco was teasing him. He sat on the bed first, making sure Draco wasn't going to curse him for it, then slowly laid down. They both were on their backs, looking up at the ceiling, shoulders pressed together. The bed was smaller than Draco had realised.

"I keep seeing you dead," Potter said quietly.

"I didn't die." Draco swallowed.

"I know, but I can still see it."

Draco reached for Potter's hand and squeezed it. "I'm not dead."

Potter breathed out and squeezed back. "You're not dead."

When Potter didn't pull his hand back, Draco didn't either. He knew he shouldn't be letting Potter get this close to him. It was dumb and served no purpose other than making him feel better. He started to drift, focusing on the warmth of Potter's hand. It was a blessing Regulus wasn't here to analyse this.