Fic: "Precipice," Pt. 2 [H/D]
Pairing: Harry/Draco
Rating: PG-13
Category: Futurefic/War, Angst, Established Relationship, mpreg, hurt/comfort
Disclaimer: So very much not mine.
Summary: You can only go so far before you fall.
This is a sequel to In Those Days, but works as a standalone as well, I think.
Thank you to amchau for britpicking and a quick beta.
Part 1.
~*~*~
Listening to the rain beat against the window, Harry was glad that he and Draco were no longer at the cottage with its leaky roof and damp walls and lack of…well, everything, that-
The rain. He could hear the rain. Harry’s eyes came back into focus, falling on Hermione, who was no longer murmuring spells, or turning pages, but looking at Draco, arms crossed over her chest.
"What is it?" Harry asked. "D'you know what’s wrong with him?"
Hermione nodded. "We should…sit down and talk, but first-"
Harry stood up and walked over to her. "Talk? What…Hermione?"
"I need to explain a few things to you. It’s complicated-"
There was this feeling in Harry’s throat again, as if he couldn’t breathe. "Please. Just. Please tell me what…"
"I will," Hermione replied, voice even. "But there’s a potion we need to give Draco first. Can you help me with that?"
She picked up a small bottle from the drawer and held it out to Harry.
"Okay." He couldn’t keep his hand from shaking when he accepted the bottle.
Hermione’s fingers closed around his, a firm, reassuring touch. "Okay?"
Harry waited a few moments, taking in the calmness in Hermione’s eyes, the warmth of her hands, realising how much he’d missed her, had missed her way of providing something to hold onto when things were falling apart. "Yeah."
Hermione uncorked the potion. "It doesn’t have the most pleasant taste, but it’s effective against such a high fever." She let go of Harry’s hands, and pointed her wand at Draco. "Ennervate."
Draco slowly opened his eyes, fingers stretching out on the duvet in Harry’s direction.
Taking Draco’s hand, Harry sat down on the edge of the bed. "Hermione brought a potion that’ll help with the fever. It tastes a bit horrible, but it’ll help you, all right?"
Harry slid an arm around Draco’s shoulders, lifting him off the bed, and tipped the bottle at Draco’s mouth. Almost instantly, Draco pulled away, gagging and coughing, causing the potion to spill all over his lips and chin.
"Draco, please, I know it’s awful, but…" Harry wiped Draco’s face with the back of his hand, carefully balancing the bottle so as not to spill even more. "Come on…"
"Nnggghh!" Draco flinched away, his movement so abrupt that his shoulders slipped out of Harry’s grasp.
Harry felt Hermione’s questioning eyes on him, but ignored her, sitting behind Draco so he could rest against him. "Just a few sips, love, okay?"
Draco shook his head, turning sideways to burrow into Harry’s neck.
"Oh, honestly!" Hermione snatched the bottle out of Harry’s hand, pinched Draco’s nose, barely waiting for Draco to gasp for air before pouring the entire bottle down his throat in one swift move, releasing his nose and holding Draco’s mouth shut until he swallowed, paying no heed to the renewed gagging.
Harry glared at Hermione, a string of obscenities at the tip of his tongue when Draco started clawing at his jumper, fingers tightening around fabric. Draco’s wrist trembled against Harry’s chest. Breaking away from Hermione’s challenging gaze, Harry turned his attention to Draco, gently tugging at his hand until it came loose.
"Shhh, it’ll be okay," Harry whispered, lacing his fingers through Draco’s, surprised at the strength behind Draco’s grasp.
"I’ll get some water," Hermione said. She stopped at the doorframe, half-turning towards Harry, her eyes fixed on the carpet. "Sorry."
"'s okay," Harry replied, finding it difficult to stay angry with Hermione when she’d only done what he couldn’t have brought himself to do.
Hermione took a step forward, then halted, as if she maybe wanted to say something in return, but she only shook her head, and continued on towards the kitchen.
Draco shifted in Harry’s arms, his forehead coming to rest against Harry’s neck. "Hmm, cold," he mumbled, pressing closer.
"You want the towel again?" Harry asked, concerned about how hot Draco’s skin felt.
"Don-" Draco coughed, "Don’t leave."
"I won’t." Harry wrapped his arm around Draco’s waist. "I won’t."
"Hurts."
"I know," Harry whispered, keeping his voice low, afraid it might crack otherwise. With Draco so close now, he could hear how painful breathing alone had to be for Draco, every inhalation and exhalation just a wheeze. "Anything I can do?"
Draco pressed the palm of Harry’s hand against his chest. Harry smiled, and started to lightly rub back and forth across Draco’s chest, something that, over the past few days, had become a habit after particularly vicious coughing fits. Despite the rather alarming thought that Draco apparently was in enough pain to ask for this even without any serious coughing, Harry was nevertheless glad for whatever comfort he could provide.
Harry closed his eyes, letting the world fall away for moment. Not for the first time, he pondered why they hadn’t chosen a bond allowing a more active transfer of thoughts or magic; he knew that they were connected on a very fundamental level, but Harry wished he could simply give some of his life force to Draco right now instead of being confined to holding and touching him.
"Harry."
Opening his eyes, Harry saw Hermione stand in front of him, a glass of water in one hand and a cup full of ice chips in the other. "I brought ice, too. I thought that Draco might like it."
"Can hear you…perfectly well, and yes," Draco observed, pushing away from Harry to take the water from Hermione.
"Let me-" Harry began.
"'m not five, thanks," Draco retorted, slapping Harry’s hand away. The glass trembled in Draco’s hands, but he managed to drink about half of its contents without spilling anything. He sat the glass down on the drawer with a loud clunk, immediately sagging back against Harry.
"Will you be okay by yourself while Harry and I…make something to eat?" Hermione asked Draco.
"Of course."
Harry thought he saw Draco’s chin rise a little higher. "I’d like to sit with Draco for a bit if you don’t mind? I’m sure the…food can wait."
"Well…I suppose," Hermione said. "I’ll be in the kitchen."
Harry nodded and watched her leave.
Draco squeezed his hand once.
"Ice?" Harry asked.
Draco nodded.
"Here."
The ice chips kept slipping through Draco’s fingers when he tried to fish them out of the cup.
"Please, let me?" Harry asked softly.
"'Kay."
Harry set the cup down on the duvet, and picked up one of the larger chunks. Draco sighed as Harry brushed the ice over his lips. "Good?"
"Mmmm."
Draco’s tongue sneaked around Harry’s fingers, trying to dislodge the ice chip and pull it into his mouth.
"Don’t," Harry warned. "If you cough, it might slip down your throat."
"Suck…but…no swallowing? So unlike…you," Draco wheezed.
Harry rolled his eyes and pushed the last bit of the ice chip past Draco’s lips. "Never say I told you not to swallow."
"Hmph," Draco protested, but a smile tugged at the corners of mouth.
"More?"
"Always."
"I suppose that was an unnecessary question," Harry replied, taking a hold of a particularly small piece of ice. "Here." He let the ice slip into Draco’s mouth. "But do try to just let it melt."
"Hmmm."
Harry let a few ice chips melt over his hand until the cold shot sharp pain through his fingers. Starting with Draco’s temple, he ran his fingers downwards, over his cheeks, and neck, lingering a few moments in each spot.
"Oh." Draco shivered.
"Too cold?"
"No. Again."
Harry repeated the gesture. His hand closed over Draco’s pulse point, the erratic rhythm both reassuring and troublesome. The third time, Harry’s fingers wandered under Draco’s shirt, resting over the small of his back for a few moments before moving over his side, finally curving against his belly.
Draco sighed.
"Have you…can you feel her now?"
"Always feel her," Draco mumbled. "But she’s not-"
"Not moving?" Harry finished quietly.
"No."
Draco’s breathing became more rapid, and Harry knew that would lead to a coughing fit if he didn’t relax again. "Wanna hear her heartbeat?" Harry asked quickly.
"You know…how?"
"I think so." Harry went over the incantation and wand movement in his mind, certain he could repeat it. It wasn’t a particularly complicated spell. "Yes, then?"
"Please."
"I need to get my wand." Harry stood up slowly, holding Draco up while he reached for the pillows under the duvet, which he stacked against the headboard. "Lie back."
Assured that Draco was comfortable, Harry crossed the room to retrieve his wand from his coat. Gathering his focus, Harry cast the spell.
A soft thump-thump-thump filled the room.
"C'mere," Draco whispered.
Laying his wand on the locker, Harry sat down on the bed, and found himself being immediately drawn into Draco’s arms.
"Thanks."
"No, thank you, love. Thank you for having her."
Draco made a choked sound, his eyelashes fluttering against Harry’s neck.
On to Part III.
.
Rating: PG-13
Category: Futurefic/War, Angst, Established Relationship, mpreg, hurt/comfort
Disclaimer: So very much not mine.
Summary: You can only go so far before you fall.
This is a sequel to In Those Days, but works as a standalone as well, I think.
Thank you to amchau for britpicking and a quick beta.
Part 1.
~*~*~
Listening to the rain beat against the window, Harry was glad that he and Draco were no longer at the cottage with its leaky roof and damp walls and lack of…well, everything, that-
The rain. He could hear the rain. Harry’s eyes came back into focus, falling on Hermione, who was no longer murmuring spells, or turning pages, but looking at Draco, arms crossed over her chest.
"What is it?" Harry asked. "D'you know what’s wrong with him?"
Hermione nodded. "We should…sit down and talk, but first-"
Harry stood up and walked over to her. "Talk? What…Hermione?"
"I need to explain a few things to you. It’s complicated-"
There was this feeling in Harry’s throat again, as if he couldn’t breathe. "Please. Just. Please tell me what…"
"I will," Hermione replied, voice even. "But there’s a potion we need to give Draco first. Can you help me with that?"
She picked up a small bottle from the drawer and held it out to Harry.
"Okay." He couldn’t keep his hand from shaking when he accepted the bottle.
Hermione’s fingers closed around his, a firm, reassuring touch. "Okay?"
Harry waited a few moments, taking in the calmness in Hermione’s eyes, the warmth of her hands, realising how much he’d missed her, had missed her way of providing something to hold onto when things were falling apart. "Yeah."
Hermione uncorked the potion. "It doesn’t have the most pleasant taste, but it’s effective against such a high fever." She let go of Harry’s hands, and pointed her wand at Draco. "Ennervate."
Draco slowly opened his eyes, fingers stretching out on the duvet in Harry’s direction.
Taking Draco’s hand, Harry sat down on the edge of the bed. "Hermione brought a potion that’ll help with the fever. It tastes a bit horrible, but it’ll help you, all right?"
Harry slid an arm around Draco’s shoulders, lifting him off the bed, and tipped the bottle at Draco’s mouth. Almost instantly, Draco pulled away, gagging and coughing, causing the potion to spill all over his lips and chin.
"Draco, please, I know it’s awful, but…" Harry wiped Draco’s face with the back of his hand, carefully balancing the bottle so as not to spill even more. "Come on…"
"Nnggghh!" Draco flinched away, his movement so abrupt that his shoulders slipped out of Harry’s grasp.
Harry felt Hermione’s questioning eyes on him, but ignored her, sitting behind Draco so he could rest against him. "Just a few sips, love, okay?"
Draco shook his head, turning sideways to burrow into Harry’s neck.
"Oh, honestly!" Hermione snatched the bottle out of Harry’s hand, pinched Draco’s nose, barely waiting for Draco to gasp for air before pouring the entire bottle down his throat in one swift move, releasing his nose and holding Draco’s mouth shut until he swallowed, paying no heed to the renewed gagging.
Harry glared at Hermione, a string of obscenities at the tip of his tongue when Draco started clawing at his jumper, fingers tightening around fabric. Draco’s wrist trembled against Harry’s chest. Breaking away from Hermione’s challenging gaze, Harry turned his attention to Draco, gently tugging at his hand until it came loose.
"Shhh, it’ll be okay," Harry whispered, lacing his fingers through Draco’s, surprised at the strength behind Draco’s grasp.
"I’ll get some water," Hermione said. She stopped at the doorframe, half-turning towards Harry, her eyes fixed on the carpet. "Sorry."
"'s okay," Harry replied, finding it difficult to stay angry with Hermione when she’d only done what he couldn’t have brought himself to do.
Hermione took a step forward, then halted, as if she maybe wanted to say something in return, but she only shook her head, and continued on towards the kitchen.
Draco shifted in Harry’s arms, his forehead coming to rest against Harry’s neck. "Hmm, cold," he mumbled, pressing closer.
"You want the towel again?" Harry asked, concerned about how hot Draco’s skin felt.
"Don-" Draco coughed, "Don’t leave."
"I won’t." Harry wrapped his arm around Draco’s waist. "I won’t."
"Hurts."
"I know," Harry whispered, keeping his voice low, afraid it might crack otherwise. With Draco so close now, he could hear how painful breathing alone had to be for Draco, every inhalation and exhalation just a wheeze. "Anything I can do?"
Draco pressed the palm of Harry’s hand against his chest. Harry smiled, and started to lightly rub back and forth across Draco’s chest, something that, over the past few days, had become a habit after particularly vicious coughing fits. Despite the rather alarming thought that Draco apparently was in enough pain to ask for this even without any serious coughing, Harry was nevertheless glad for whatever comfort he could provide.
Harry closed his eyes, letting the world fall away for moment. Not for the first time, he pondered why they hadn’t chosen a bond allowing a more active transfer of thoughts or magic; he knew that they were connected on a very fundamental level, but Harry wished he could simply give some of his life force to Draco right now instead of being confined to holding and touching him.
"Harry."
Opening his eyes, Harry saw Hermione stand in front of him, a glass of water in one hand and a cup full of ice chips in the other. "I brought ice, too. I thought that Draco might like it."
"Can hear you…perfectly well, and yes," Draco observed, pushing away from Harry to take the water from Hermione.
"Let me-" Harry began.
"'m not five, thanks," Draco retorted, slapping Harry’s hand away. The glass trembled in Draco’s hands, but he managed to drink about half of its contents without spilling anything. He sat the glass down on the drawer with a loud clunk, immediately sagging back against Harry.
"Will you be okay by yourself while Harry and I…make something to eat?" Hermione asked Draco.
"Of course."
Harry thought he saw Draco’s chin rise a little higher. "I’d like to sit with Draco for a bit if you don’t mind? I’m sure the…food can wait."
"Well…I suppose," Hermione said. "I’ll be in the kitchen."
Harry nodded and watched her leave.
Draco squeezed his hand once.
"Ice?" Harry asked.
Draco nodded.
"Here."
The ice chips kept slipping through Draco’s fingers when he tried to fish them out of the cup.
"Please, let me?" Harry asked softly.
"'Kay."
Harry set the cup down on the duvet, and picked up one of the larger chunks. Draco sighed as Harry brushed the ice over his lips. "Good?"
"Mmmm."
Draco’s tongue sneaked around Harry’s fingers, trying to dislodge the ice chip and pull it into his mouth.
"Don’t," Harry warned. "If you cough, it might slip down your throat."
"Suck…but…no swallowing? So unlike…you," Draco wheezed.
Harry rolled his eyes and pushed the last bit of the ice chip past Draco’s lips. "Never say I told you not to swallow."
"Hmph," Draco protested, but a smile tugged at the corners of mouth.
"More?"
"Always."
"I suppose that was an unnecessary question," Harry replied, taking a hold of a particularly small piece of ice. "Here." He let the ice slip into Draco’s mouth. "But do try to just let it melt."
"Hmmm."
Harry let a few ice chips melt over his hand until the cold shot sharp pain through his fingers. Starting with Draco’s temple, he ran his fingers downwards, over his cheeks, and neck, lingering a few moments in each spot.
"Oh." Draco shivered.
"Too cold?"
"No. Again."
Harry repeated the gesture. His hand closed over Draco’s pulse point, the erratic rhythm both reassuring and troublesome. The third time, Harry’s fingers wandered under Draco’s shirt, resting over the small of his back for a few moments before moving over his side, finally curving against his belly.
Draco sighed.
"Have you…can you feel her now?"
"Always feel her," Draco mumbled. "But she’s not-"
"Not moving?" Harry finished quietly.
"No."
Draco’s breathing became more rapid, and Harry knew that would lead to a coughing fit if he didn’t relax again. "Wanna hear her heartbeat?" Harry asked quickly.
"You know…how?"
"I think so." Harry went over the incantation and wand movement in his mind, certain he could repeat it. It wasn’t a particularly complicated spell. "Yes, then?"
"Please."
"I need to get my wand." Harry stood up slowly, holding Draco up while he reached for the pillows under the duvet, which he stacked against the headboard. "Lie back."
Assured that Draco was comfortable, Harry crossed the room to retrieve his wand from his coat. Gathering his focus, Harry cast the spell.
A soft thump-thump-thump filled the room.
"C'mere," Draco whispered.
Laying his wand on the locker, Harry sat down on the bed, and found himself being immediately drawn into Draco’s arms.
"Thanks."
"No, thank you, love. Thank you for having her."
Draco made a choked sound, his eyelashes fluttering against Harry’s neck.
On to Part III.
.