FIC: Hope, Chapter Twelve (12/18)
Hi All,
I've fully finished all the writing of this story now, so I'm posting up one a day til it's all up.
Hope you enjoy. Geddit. Hope.
Title: Hope
Author:
g_bowneyes
Rating: NC-17 (each chapter will contain appropriate warnings for strong themes)
Pairing: Harry/Draco, side Ron/Hermione
Disclaimer: All characters are the property of JK Rowling, I do not make any money from this and it's purely for entertainment's sake.
Warnings (for all chapters): infidelity, attempted suicide, angst in the extreme, dealing with pregnancy (not mpreg), an actual plot, angry!sex, potentially non-con and definitely dub-con sex, established relationships
Summary: What started as a family gathering for Christmas at the Burrow will end in dire consequences. Harry's life will change forever, for better or worse. Draco makes a life-changing mistake. And what's Ginny really up to anyway?
You can find Chapter One here should you wish to start from the beginning.
Chapter Twelve
-
And then, the stars started to shine once more. The moon glowed softly, pale milky white. Like his hair. The sun rose again, and burned with a heat that could start a thousand fires. Like my heart.
But a shadow was cast, and what form it would take, we didn’t yet know.
-
They stayed in Draco’s room for an hour longer, talking around and around in circles, analyzing everyone who was there on the days in question, but they didn’t seem to get any further.
It just didn’t seem to make sense. Why would someone want to break up Ron and Hermione’s marriage? To make Hermione unhappy? But why target her in the first place?
Suddenly, every single person they knew was a suspect, more so now than when they had first found out a drug had been used, and they were glancing over their shoulders and around every bend with suspicion. Harry had even jumped when Ginny had asked him how he was doing, when he had stepped outside the room for some air. He laughed at himself later, it was only Ginny after all.
Back inside the room, Ron had packed away the whiteboard and their notes, and Hermione and Neville were standing to one side, talking quietly about the properties and ingredients of the potion.
Harry retook his seat next to Draco and picked up his hand. He stroked the back of Draco’s palm lightly with his thumb.
He looked up suddenly as Healer Periwinkle entered the room.
“Mr Potter,” she said, nodding to the others. She came and sat next to Harry.
“We’ve analysed Mr Malfoy’s medical records,” she started. “I’m afraid I don’t have good news.”
Harry’s breath caught. “What do you mean… please. Don’t leave me hanging. Just tell me.”
“I’m afraid his reaction to Wiggentree bark is severe. We cannot administer Wiggenweld potion without extreme risk of compromising Mr Malfoy. It may prove to be more harm than good. However, my colleagues and myself are divided. Some argue that we should administer it, allow just enough time for him to regain consciousness, and then counteract his allergic reaction to the potion.”
“Of course! Let’s do that, anything, please,’ Harry jumped in.
“But, my counter argument is that his body is already so weakened, he may not even regain consciousness before his allergic reaction takes over. If that happens, his body is already so weak, administering the antidote may push him further into this comatose state, or could potentially prove fatal.”
Harry stared at the Healer in shock.
“So, you’re saying you have no way of knowing whether it could save him, or kill him,” Harry stuttered out.
“It’s a very individual case, I’m afraid.”
“Are you asking me to choose?” Harry whispered.
“As his next of kin, what steps we take next are your choice.”
Harry sobbed suddenly, his whole body heaving. “I think I’m going to be sick,” he said, bending over and putting his head between his knees.
Hermione rushed over to him and pulled him to her in a tight hug. “You don’t have to do this alone,” she hushed. “We’re here for you.”
“What if we do nothing?” Ron asked, stepping over to the bed. “How likely is it he can come out of this on his own?”
Healer Periwinkle looked to Harry, who nodded, and then answered. “We have no way of knowing for certain. However he’s been unconscious for over a week now. He’s had one seizure already, which nearly stopped his heart. We have no way of knowing if he will continue to seize, and if so, how much damage that will do. I think if he was going to come out of this on his own, he would have done so by now. I think you could give him another day or so to recover on his own, but any longer and it will just be complicating things further for if we wish to administer the Wiggenweld. His body will get weaker and weaker the longer we leave it.”
“And if you administer the Wiggenweld?” Hermione asked.
“Wiggenweld can take anywhere between thirty seconds and twenty-four hours to reawaken the patient. Most often, it activates within five minutes. Mr Malfoy’s allergy presents symptoms within one minute of consumption, restricts his breathing within ten minutes, and has taken him close to death on one occasion within fifteen minutes. There is a strong chance the Wiggenweld potion will reawaken Mr Malfoy within the first five minutes, allowing us at least another five minutes to administer an antidote to the Wiggentree bark before he starts to present any severe symptoms.
“However, these are just our best estimations. Once administered, there’s no knowing what will happen. If his breathing starts to be severely impacted before reawakening, we would need to administer the antidote, which would nullify the Wiggenweld potion as well. The whole process would leave him extremely weakened, and still unconscious. Or it could go exactly to plan. There really is no way of knowing. It’s up to you if you want us to try.”
“And you said he could die?” Harry gulped.
“That is a risk, yes. His reaction to the Wiggentree bark could be so severe in his weakened state that it could cause fatality. Or, he may be so weakened from the dosage of Wiggenweld plus the antidote that his body can’t continue as it is now, and he may just slip away. Or it could cause more seizures.”
Harry looked at Ron, Hermione and Neville. “Help me,” he whispered.
“You don’t have to decide right this minute,” Healer Periwinkle said. “I can give you an hour to think about the options. I know this is tough, but you need to think about whether you want to try it or not. Leaving it too long to decide will only mean he’s weaker if we proceed. Or he might be too weak to try it at all.”
The Healer took Harry’s hand in hers. “I know it’s tough. Whatever you decide, just remember there is no right or wrong answer.” With that she left the room.
-
Harry was staring into space over Hermione’s shoulder, when Ginny walked into the room.
“I saw the Healer, is everything okay?” Ginny asked. “What’s happened? Can I do anything?” She walked over to Harry’s other side and wrapped him into her arms, so Harry was held on both sides by Hermione and Ginny.
“I think, actually, Harry might need some time alone to think,” Ron said.
Hermione nodded her agreement. “Come on Ginny, let’s go get some tea and some fresh air.” Hermione let go of Harry, but couldn’t quite separate herself because Ginny was still holding tight.
“C’mon, Gin, give Harry some space,” Ron said, tugging his little sister’s arm.
“No, Harry needs our support right now!” Ginny exclaimed, holding tighter.
Hermione had managed to wriggle her way free of Ginny’s embrace and looked at Ginny, desperately clinging to Harry. Harry looked so downcast, almost like he didn’t even recognize his surroundings.
“Harry, do you want us to stay?” Hermione said gently.
Harry didn’t respond.
“See, he’s incoherent! He needs us to stay.”
“Harry, do you want us to stay and help?” Hermione tried again.
Finally he blinked and looked up at her. He glanced around at Ginny, who was still pinning him tightly to her.
“No, no,” he said finally. “I’d like to be alone with Draco for a while, please.”
“Okay Harry,” Ron said, and moved to manhandle his little sister off of his best mate.
“Ron!” Ginny exclaimed as he pulled her from Harry.
“You heard him. Let’s give him some space. We can go for a stroll and get a cup of tea, okay?”
“Fine,” Ginny huffed. “Harry, we won’t be too far if you need me, okay?”
Harry just nodded.
Everyone exited the room, and finally it was just him and Draco. Silence, except for the soft beeping of the magical life support and monitoring equipment.
He toed off his shoes and climbed into bed next to Draco. He felt like he hadn’t been nearly close enough to Draco throughout this whole ordeal. He held him close and breathed in his scent. He smelled mostly of hospital soap, but there was still something uniquely Draco.
Harry shut his eyes and tried to sync his breathing to Draco’s. He had to listen closely to hear his weakened breathing, it was so soft and shallow. Harry could barely believe Draco was surviving, he was breathing so slowly.
But Harry matched his breathing anyway. He calmed his whole body down so that he could breath steadily in time with his lover.
It was so peaceful.
Gradually, Harry drifted off to sleep.
Deep in his sleep, Harry dreamed of Draco. Of the time they first met as eleven year olds on the train. Of all they had been through together at school. Following a scheming Draco through Hogwarts in sixth year. The night at the top of the Astronomy Tower. Malfoy Manor, when Draco refused to identify Harry. Even then, their connection seemed be drawing them closer together.
He dreamed of when they first saw each other again after the war, at Snape’s hospital bedside. Snape had been found just in time before the poison could take his life, but had been unconscious in St Mungo’s for months. Harry had visited frequently, and apparently, so had Draco.
At first Draco would leave the room the minute Harry entered. Finally, Harry had ran after him one day. He didn’t say anything, but handed him a wand. Draco had looked at it and recognized his own Hawthorn wand. He had refused to take it.
Harry argued with him for weeks about it, nagging him to take it back. Draco finally snapped and said the only way he would have it back is if he won it fair and square in a dual with Potter. Otherwise it would never be his again.
Harry had smirked. “Trophy room, midnight?”
Draco had just glared at that.
But they did duel in the end. Harry wore him down until he agreed to a time and place. It may not have been the middle of the night at Hogwarts, but it still felt like they were up to no good. They were in a field in the middle of the English countryside, at place Draco had specified. Harry was guessing Wiltshire since Malfoy Manor was located in that general area.
Harry had decided not to try too hard, as he wanted to lose after all. He wanted Malfoy to have the wand. It turned out that Malfoy was determined to win, and he had to give it his all just to avoid being slammed on his ass.
Finally, a well-timed Expelliarmus from Draco sent Harry exploding backwards and the Hawthorn wand flying out of his hand. Draco caught it, and then walked over to help Harry up.
“Fair play, Malfoy,” Harry said, taking his hand and standing up. They had both looked down at their clasped hands in shock. If only they had done this all those years ago, maybe things would have been different.
Their eyes had caught, and a weird tension pulsed between them. Draco stepped back suddenly, breaking the accidental handshake and whatever it was that had come over them.
“See you tomorrow, at St Mungo’s?” Harry had asked.
“Maybe,” Draco said, and then disapparated.
Harry smiled. Draco would be there, he could tell.
-
Hermione decided to poke her head into Draco’s room to check on Harry after they got back from their walk outside. She wasn’t going to stay long, but the shutters were closed and she just wanted to be sure Harry was doing alright.
What she found took her breath away.
“Ron,” she called out softly, gesturing he should come to her.
He moved to her side, alarmed at the shocked look on her face.
She just pointed into the room.
Harry was lying next to Draco on the bed, holding him in his arms. But that’s not what had shocked Hermione.
A pale white light was surrounding the two, wrapping them in a cocoon. It was twisting softly around them, holding them close.
“I’m going to get the Healer,” Ron said. “Don’t let anyone disturb them!”
-
Harry was dreaming about their first “date”. He’d asked Draco if he wanted to get some food one day, after they had both been at St Mungo’s watching over Snape.
Draco had agreed, although Harry didn’t think he’d thought of it as a date at the time.
Harry took him to a Muggle burger joint in London.
“Dirty Bones? What kind of place have you taken me to?” Draco had demanded.
“Relax, it’s just burgers. It’s trendy!” Harry laughed.
Draco had grumbled all the way down the stairs into the dark basement. “Honestly, anyone would think you’re taking me to a torture chamber!”
Harry just laughed and opened the door to a hip anti-room with a bar, pool table and old school juke box. Once Draco had seen it was in fact a restaurant, he calmed down somewhat. They were seated and served in no time. Draco would admit much later on that it was probably the best burger he’s ever had, but at the time he had feigned cool indifference.
When they had left the restaurant, they ended up wandering around the streets of Kensington for quite some time. It had seemed once they had started talking, they couldn’t shut up. Every topic imaginable, from burger joints being “hip”, the care Snape was receiving, the dive the Galleon had taken on the international wizarding currency exchange, and even to what both had been doing with their lives in the last few months. The one topic they stayed well away from was the war, and anything to do with their history growing up.
They finally stopped and looked around.
They had found their way into Notting Hill, and what would have usually been the Portobello Road Market, except for the fact that it was quite late at night. The high street was still very busy, as London always is.
“I have a flat near here,” Harry admitted. “Did you want to come over for a nightcap?”
Draco looked at him then, and suddenly clued on.
“I…” Draco was never one to stutter or be lost for words, but he didn’t quite know what to say, and there was always a first for everything. He ran a hand through his hair. “Stuff it,” he finally said, and suddenly pulled Harry to him, meeting his lips in a fiery kiss. The world seemed to stop when their lips met for the first time, and something seemed to click into place. Old wounds from their complicated past seemed to heal just a little, and not to matter quite so much.
When the kiss finally broke, Draco stepped back and looked into Harry’s eyes.
“Thanks for the offer, but I think I’m going to go home alone tonight. I think you need to work for it a bit harder first.” He flashed a cheeky grin at Harry, who’s eyes had been glazed over with lust, and then stepped fully away.
Harry rolled his eyes. “When can I see you next?”
“Tomorrow?” Draco suggested.
“Someone’s not eager,” Harry teased.
“Tomorrow it is then.”
-
Neville saw the commotion at the door to Draco’s room, but luckily Ginny did not. They had been having an intense conversation about the Montrose Magpies and how dismally they had been playing this season, which was so unusual for them, and so luckily Ginny had been facing the complete opposite way. She had become so clingy and overprotective of Harry recently that she was almost getting in the way, and it had been an unspoken agreement between Neville, Hermione and Ron to help keep her away from Harry so he could have some space.
“Lennox Campbell needs to retire already,” Ginny was moaning, “he’s getting much too old to play seeker for such a prestigious team. He’s dropping the ball, literally, and letting the whole team down.”
Neville just nodded, watching as Ron moved swiftly away from Draco’s room and to the Healer paging point.
“The only reason he’s still there is because his uncle’s the manager. Just because he’s family doesn’t mean he’s what’s best for the team anymore!”
“That doesn’t mean he’ll get replaced though,” Neville said non-committedly.
“Not until they’re out of the top three,” Ginny agreed. “Maybe once they drop out of the leaderboard, they’ll start thinking logically.”
Neville nodded again, as he saw Healer Periwinkle meet Ron in the hallway and enter Draco’s room, disappearing out of sight with Ron and Hermione.
He shifted his attention back to keeping Ginny occupied.
“Can you believe the Kenmare Kestrels though? I can’t believe they beat Puddlemere and the Magpies and are at the top of the league! Basically unheard of!” Neville exclaimed.
Ginny nodded and launched into yet another Quidditch theory.
-
Draco’s resolve lasted a whole two weeks.
Harry took him out practically every night, always to places in Muggle London, which were new and exciting for Draco. Secretly, Harry was starting to run out of ideas and was having to research new places, but Draco didn’t need to know that.
They went through a string of burger joints that Draco had never seen or heard of. Byron, GBK, Patty & Bun, Burger and Lobster, Honest Burger. Draco didn’t think he’d had nearly so many burgers in his entire life. He also didn’t know there were so many different clever names for a burger shop.
“Honestly, it’s like you’re trying to make burgers our thing,” Draco said one day.
“You want us to have a thing?” Harry said, winking at him.
“Well, if there was an ‘us’ and if we had a thing.”
Harry just grinned and sipped on his shake.
But finally Harry was running out of new places to take Draco. Who would have thought, he could run out of burger joints in a place as big as London?
“Let me take you out tomorrow night,” Harry started.
“Don’t you always?” Draco parried.
“No, not after we visit Snape or something casual like that. I’m picking you up at eight, and I’m taking you to a nice dinner.”
“Like, a proper date?” Draco smirked. “Why, Potter, anyone would think you’re trying to wine and dine me.”
“Exactly,” Harry said, looking at Draco with intense eyes.
-
Healer Periwinkle stepped into the room and closed the door behind them.
She gasped somewhat in surprise at the sight she was presented with.
Harry was lying next to Draco, holding him in his arms. He was also fast asleep. A white aurora of twisting light was wrapping itself around the two. It had increased in size and brightness since Hermione had first noticed it.
She glanced at Draco’s vitals. If anything, they seemed to be getting stronger. His breathing was more regular, his pulse stronger.
“I don’t want any magic cast in this room,” Healer Periwinkle said. “I’m not sure what’s happening here, but I don’t want anything to disrupt it. We don’t know how volatile it will be, or what effect it may have on Mr Malfoy or Mr Potter if they are disturbed.”
Ron and Hermione nodded their agreement.
“What is it?” Ron asked.
“To be honest with you both, I don’t really know. I haven’t seen anything like it before.”
The Healer stepped closer to the two sleeping men, and attempted to determine where the light was originating.
“It almost looks like… It looks like the light is coming from Harry, and wrapping itself around Draco,” Healer Periwinkle said.
Harry’s friends stepped closer to look at what she was describing.
It did appear that the light would pulse outward from Harry, drift slowly across his body and over to Draco’s, where it would wrap around him, almost absorbed by him.
“I’m going to have to call in some additional advice on this,” Healer Periwinkle stated. “Don’t let anyone interfere with this,” she said, rushing back out the door.
-
“Good evening, gentlemen, and welcome to Lobster London. Have you a reservation?”
“Yes, under Potter,” Harry says, the picture of respectability.
“Ah, yes, of course. This way, please, gentlemen.”
Draco started to follow the maître d', but stopped short at the incredible view over London the restaurant offered.
It showed an incredible 180 degree view, directly looking out over the river Thames. They were seated directly facing the houses of parliament and Westminster, with the London Eye directly opposite.
“Potter, I must say, you’ve out done yourself with this one,” Draco remarked.
“There’s even a burger on the menu, if you felt like it,” Harry said with a wink.
“I can’t believe you’ve managed to find a restaurant with arguably one of the best views in London, and it so happens to be a bloody burger joint!” Draco laughed.
“I don’t know about you, but I’m having lobster,” Harry said, feigning high-brow attitude.
Draco suddenly catches his hand. “This place is incredible, Harry.”
Harry blinks at him. “You called me Harry?”
“I did,” Draco nods, and lifts Harry’s hands to his lips, lightly kissing the back of his hand.
Harry gulps.
“I think I’ll have lobster as well,” Draco says softly.
Harry just nods, and hunger spread across his face, one definitely not for food.
-
Healer Periwinkle returned with two more Healers following in behind her.
Harry and Draco’s condition hadn’t changed.
The two new Healers were incredibly intrigued by the situation, and got as close to the aurora as they could without actually touching it. Both made a full circuit of the sleeping forms, making notes as they observed.
Finally they withdrew to a corner of the room to discuss with Healer Periwinkle.
Ron and Hermione couldn’t hear what was said, but the conversation looked quite heated.
Finally, they seemed to reach some form of agreement, and Healer Periwinkle looked up and approached them.
“Mrs Weasley?” Healer Periwinkle said, addressing Hermione.
Hermione nodded and stepped forward.
“I understand you’re listed as Mr Potter’s next of kin, if Mr Malfoy is not available?”
“That’s correct,” Hermione confirmed.
“Therefore I feel confident discussing this matter with you and your husband. To be frank, we don’t know what this is. None of us have seen it before.
“However, it seems to be improving Mr Malfoy’s health. We also think it’s starting with Mr Potter, and crossing over to Mr Malfoy. We’ve heard stories, nothing more than fables, really, of a magic bond forming between lovers in times of need, to help restore one of the pair to good health. But nothing like this has happened in living memory. The only recorded history of something similar is generations old. We’d only be guessing to tell you what this is or what it’s doing.
“The only thing to do really is let it run it’s course, and see where we stand when it stops. We just need your consent that you agree to this course of action.”
“It seems more than logical to me,” Hermione nodded. “Harry always has attracted… extraordinary circumstances.”
“In that case, I think it wise that a Healer monitor them at all times. You can remain in the room, but no one else is to enter. You also need to ensure neither of you do any magic, so as not to interrupt whatever this is. Is that clear?” Healer Periwinkle asked gently.
“Perfectly,” Hermione agreed. Hopefully, whatever this was, would bring about something good.
-
AN: The London restaurants mentioned in this are all real places. If you're interested in the view from Lobster London, the below is a picture I took when I went there a couple of years ago. For those familiar with London, It's at the top of Millbank Tower in Pimlico and I highly recommend.
Read Chapter Thirteen Now
I've fully finished all the writing of this story now, so I'm posting up one a day til it's all up.
Hope you enjoy. Geddit. Hope.
Title: Hope
Author:
g_bowneyes
Rating: NC-17 (each chapter will contain appropriate warnings for strong themes)
Pairing: Harry/Draco, side Ron/Hermione
Disclaimer: All characters are the property of JK Rowling, I do not make any money from this and it's purely for entertainment's sake.
Warnings (for all chapters): infidelity, attempted suicide, angst in the extreme, dealing with pregnancy (not mpreg), an actual plot, angry!sex, potentially non-con and definitely dub-con sex, established relationships
Summary: What started as a family gathering for Christmas at the Burrow will end in dire consequences. Harry's life will change forever, for better or worse. Draco makes a life-changing mistake. And what's Ginny really up to anyway?
You can find Chapter One here should you wish to start from the beginning.
Chapter Twelve
-
And then, the stars started to shine once more. The moon glowed softly, pale milky white. Like his hair. The sun rose again, and burned with a heat that could start a thousand fires. Like my heart.
But a shadow was cast, and what form it would take, we didn’t yet know.
-
They stayed in Draco’s room for an hour longer, talking around and around in circles, analyzing everyone who was there on the days in question, but they didn’t seem to get any further.
It just didn’t seem to make sense. Why would someone want to break up Ron and Hermione’s marriage? To make Hermione unhappy? But why target her in the first place?
Suddenly, every single person they knew was a suspect, more so now than when they had first found out a drug had been used, and they were glancing over their shoulders and around every bend with suspicion. Harry had even jumped when Ginny had asked him how he was doing, when he had stepped outside the room for some air. He laughed at himself later, it was only Ginny after all.
Back inside the room, Ron had packed away the whiteboard and their notes, and Hermione and Neville were standing to one side, talking quietly about the properties and ingredients of the potion.
Harry retook his seat next to Draco and picked up his hand. He stroked the back of Draco’s palm lightly with his thumb.
He looked up suddenly as Healer Periwinkle entered the room.
“Mr Potter,” she said, nodding to the others. She came and sat next to Harry.
“We’ve analysed Mr Malfoy’s medical records,” she started. “I’m afraid I don’t have good news.”
Harry’s breath caught. “What do you mean… please. Don’t leave me hanging. Just tell me.”
“I’m afraid his reaction to Wiggentree bark is severe. We cannot administer Wiggenweld potion without extreme risk of compromising Mr Malfoy. It may prove to be more harm than good. However, my colleagues and myself are divided. Some argue that we should administer it, allow just enough time for him to regain consciousness, and then counteract his allergic reaction to the potion.”
“Of course! Let’s do that, anything, please,’ Harry jumped in.
“But, my counter argument is that his body is already so weakened, he may not even regain consciousness before his allergic reaction takes over. If that happens, his body is already so weak, administering the antidote may push him further into this comatose state, or could potentially prove fatal.”
Harry stared at the Healer in shock.
“So, you’re saying you have no way of knowing whether it could save him, or kill him,” Harry stuttered out.
“It’s a very individual case, I’m afraid.”
“Are you asking me to choose?” Harry whispered.
“As his next of kin, what steps we take next are your choice.”
Harry sobbed suddenly, his whole body heaving. “I think I’m going to be sick,” he said, bending over and putting his head between his knees.
Hermione rushed over to him and pulled him to her in a tight hug. “You don’t have to do this alone,” she hushed. “We’re here for you.”
“What if we do nothing?” Ron asked, stepping over to the bed. “How likely is it he can come out of this on his own?”
Healer Periwinkle looked to Harry, who nodded, and then answered. “We have no way of knowing for certain. However he’s been unconscious for over a week now. He’s had one seizure already, which nearly stopped his heart. We have no way of knowing if he will continue to seize, and if so, how much damage that will do. I think if he was going to come out of this on his own, he would have done so by now. I think you could give him another day or so to recover on his own, but any longer and it will just be complicating things further for if we wish to administer the Wiggenweld. His body will get weaker and weaker the longer we leave it.”
“And if you administer the Wiggenweld?” Hermione asked.
“Wiggenweld can take anywhere between thirty seconds and twenty-four hours to reawaken the patient. Most often, it activates within five minutes. Mr Malfoy’s allergy presents symptoms within one minute of consumption, restricts his breathing within ten minutes, and has taken him close to death on one occasion within fifteen minutes. There is a strong chance the Wiggenweld potion will reawaken Mr Malfoy within the first five minutes, allowing us at least another five minutes to administer an antidote to the Wiggentree bark before he starts to present any severe symptoms.
“However, these are just our best estimations. Once administered, there’s no knowing what will happen. If his breathing starts to be severely impacted before reawakening, we would need to administer the antidote, which would nullify the Wiggenweld potion as well. The whole process would leave him extremely weakened, and still unconscious. Or it could go exactly to plan. There really is no way of knowing. It’s up to you if you want us to try.”
“And you said he could die?” Harry gulped.
“That is a risk, yes. His reaction to the Wiggentree bark could be so severe in his weakened state that it could cause fatality. Or, he may be so weakened from the dosage of Wiggenweld plus the antidote that his body can’t continue as it is now, and he may just slip away. Or it could cause more seizures.”
Harry looked at Ron, Hermione and Neville. “Help me,” he whispered.
“You don’t have to decide right this minute,” Healer Periwinkle said. “I can give you an hour to think about the options. I know this is tough, but you need to think about whether you want to try it or not. Leaving it too long to decide will only mean he’s weaker if we proceed. Or he might be too weak to try it at all.”
The Healer took Harry’s hand in hers. “I know it’s tough. Whatever you decide, just remember there is no right or wrong answer.” With that she left the room.
-
Harry was staring into space over Hermione’s shoulder, when Ginny walked into the room.
“I saw the Healer, is everything okay?” Ginny asked. “What’s happened? Can I do anything?” She walked over to Harry’s other side and wrapped him into her arms, so Harry was held on both sides by Hermione and Ginny.
“I think, actually, Harry might need some time alone to think,” Ron said.
Hermione nodded her agreement. “Come on Ginny, let’s go get some tea and some fresh air.” Hermione let go of Harry, but couldn’t quite separate herself because Ginny was still holding tight.
“C’mon, Gin, give Harry some space,” Ron said, tugging his little sister’s arm.
“No, Harry needs our support right now!” Ginny exclaimed, holding tighter.
Hermione had managed to wriggle her way free of Ginny’s embrace and looked at Ginny, desperately clinging to Harry. Harry looked so downcast, almost like he didn’t even recognize his surroundings.
“Harry, do you want us to stay?” Hermione said gently.
Harry didn’t respond.
“See, he’s incoherent! He needs us to stay.”
“Harry, do you want us to stay and help?” Hermione tried again.
Finally he blinked and looked up at her. He glanced around at Ginny, who was still pinning him tightly to her.
“No, no,” he said finally. “I’d like to be alone with Draco for a while, please.”
“Okay Harry,” Ron said, and moved to manhandle his little sister off of his best mate.
“Ron!” Ginny exclaimed as he pulled her from Harry.
“You heard him. Let’s give him some space. We can go for a stroll and get a cup of tea, okay?”
“Fine,” Ginny huffed. “Harry, we won’t be too far if you need me, okay?”
Harry just nodded.
Everyone exited the room, and finally it was just him and Draco. Silence, except for the soft beeping of the magical life support and monitoring equipment.
He toed off his shoes and climbed into bed next to Draco. He felt like he hadn’t been nearly close enough to Draco throughout this whole ordeal. He held him close and breathed in his scent. He smelled mostly of hospital soap, but there was still something uniquely Draco.
Harry shut his eyes and tried to sync his breathing to Draco’s. He had to listen closely to hear his weakened breathing, it was so soft and shallow. Harry could barely believe Draco was surviving, he was breathing so slowly.
But Harry matched his breathing anyway. He calmed his whole body down so that he could breath steadily in time with his lover.
It was so peaceful.
Gradually, Harry drifted off to sleep.
Deep in his sleep, Harry dreamed of Draco. Of the time they first met as eleven year olds on the train. Of all they had been through together at school. Following a scheming Draco through Hogwarts in sixth year. The night at the top of the Astronomy Tower. Malfoy Manor, when Draco refused to identify Harry. Even then, their connection seemed be drawing them closer together.
He dreamed of when they first saw each other again after the war, at Snape’s hospital bedside. Snape had been found just in time before the poison could take his life, but had been unconscious in St Mungo’s for months. Harry had visited frequently, and apparently, so had Draco.
At first Draco would leave the room the minute Harry entered. Finally, Harry had ran after him one day. He didn’t say anything, but handed him a wand. Draco had looked at it and recognized his own Hawthorn wand. He had refused to take it.
Harry argued with him for weeks about it, nagging him to take it back. Draco finally snapped and said the only way he would have it back is if he won it fair and square in a dual with Potter. Otherwise it would never be his again.
Harry had smirked. “Trophy room, midnight?”
Draco had just glared at that.
But they did duel in the end. Harry wore him down until he agreed to a time and place. It may not have been the middle of the night at Hogwarts, but it still felt like they were up to no good. They were in a field in the middle of the English countryside, at place Draco had specified. Harry was guessing Wiltshire since Malfoy Manor was located in that general area.
Harry had decided not to try too hard, as he wanted to lose after all. He wanted Malfoy to have the wand. It turned out that Malfoy was determined to win, and he had to give it his all just to avoid being slammed on his ass.
Finally, a well-timed Expelliarmus from Draco sent Harry exploding backwards and the Hawthorn wand flying out of his hand. Draco caught it, and then walked over to help Harry up.
“Fair play, Malfoy,” Harry said, taking his hand and standing up. They had both looked down at their clasped hands in shock. If only they had done this all those years ago, maybe things would have been different.
Their eyes had caught, and a weird tension pulsed between them. Draco stepped back suddenly, breaking the accidental handshake and whatever it was that had come over them.
“See you tomorrow, at St Mungo’s?” Harry had asked.
“Maybe,” Draco said, and then disapparated.
Harry smiled. Draco would be there, he could tell.
-
Hermione decided to poke her head into Draco’s room to check on Harry after they got back from their walk outside. She wasn’t going to stay long, but the shutters were closed and she just wanted to be sure Harry was doing alright.
What she found took her breath away.
“Ron,” she called out softly, gesturing he should come to her.
He moved to her side, alarmed at the shocked look on her face.
She just pointed into the room.
Harry was lying next to Draco on the bed, holding him in his arms. But that’s not what had shocked Hermione.
A pale white light was surrounding the two, wrapping them in a cocoon. It was twisting softly around them, holding them close.
“I’m going to get the Healer,” Ron said. “Don’t let anyone disturb them!”
-
Harry was dreaming about their first “date”. He’d asked Draco if he wanted to get some food one day, after they had both been at St Mungo’s watching over Snape.
Draco had agreed, although Harry didn’t think he’d thought of it as a date at the time.
Harry took him to a Muggle burger joint in London.
“Dirty Bones? What kind of place have you taken me to?” Draco had demanded.
“Relax, it’s just burgers. It’s trendy!” Harry laughed.
Draco had grumbled all the way down the stairs into the dark basement. “Honestly, anyone would think you’re taking me to a torture chamber!”
Harry just laughed and opened the door to a hip anti-room with a bar, pool table and old school juke box. Once Draco had seen it was in fact a restaurant, he calmed down somewhat. They were seated and served in no time. Draco would admit much later on that it was probably the best burger he’s ever had, but at the time he had feigned cool indifference.
When they had left the restaurant, they ended up wandering around the streets of Kensington for quite some time. It had seemed once they had started talking, they couldn’t shut up. Every topic imaginable, from burger joints being “hip”, the care Snape was receiving, the dive the Galleon had taken on the international wizarding currency exchange, and even to what both had been doing with their lives in the last few months. The one topic they stayed well away from was the war, and anything to do with their history growing up.
They finally stopped and looked around.
They had found their way into Notting Hill, and what would have usually been the Portobello Road Market, except for the fact that it was quite late at night. The high street was still very busy, as London always is.
“I have a flat near here,” Harry admitted. “Did you want to come over for a nightcap?”
Draco looked at him then, and suddenly clued on.
“I…” Draco was never one to stutter or be lost for words, but he didn’t quite know what to say, and there was always a first for everything. He ran a hand through his hair. “Stuff it,” he finally said, and suddenly pulled Harry to him, meeting his lips in a fiery kiss. The world seemed to stop when their lips met for the first time, and something seemed to click into place. Old wounds from their complicated past seemed to heal just a little, and not to matter quite so much.
When the kiss finally broke, Draco stepped back and looked into Harry’s eyes.
“Thanks for the offer, but I think I’m going to go home alone tonight. I think you need to work for it a bit harder first.” He flashed a cheeky grin at Harry, who’s eyes had been glazed over with lust, and then stepped fully away.
Harry rolled his eyes. “When can I see you next?”
“Tomorrow?” Draco suggested.
“Someone’s not eager,” Harry teased.
“Tomorrow it is then.”
-
Neville saw the commotion at the door to Draco’s room, but luckily Ginny did not. They had been having an intense conversation about the Montrose Magpies and how dismally they had been playing this season, which was so unusual for them, and so luckily Ginny had been facing the complete opposite way. She had become so clingy and overprotective of Harry recently that she was almost getting in the way, and it had been an unspoken agreement between Neville, Hermione and Ron to help keep her away from Harry so he could have some space.
“Lennox Campbell needs to retire already,” Ginny was moaning, “he’s getting much too old to play seeker for such a prestigious team. He’s dropping the ball, literally, and letting the whole team down.”
Neville just nodded, watching as Ron moved swiftly away from Draco’s room and to the Healer paging point.
“The only reason he’s still there is because his uncle’s the manager. Just because he’s family doesn’t mean he’s what’s best for the team anymore!”
“That doesn’t mean he’ll get replaced though,” Neville said non-committedly.
“Not until they’re out of the top three,” Ginny agreed. “Maybe once they drop out of the leaderboard, they’ll start thinking logically.”
Neville nodded again, as he saw Healer Periwinkle meet Ron in the hallway and enter Draco’s room, disappearing out of sight with Ron and Hermione.
He shifted his attention back to keeping Ginny occupied.
“Can you believe the Kenmare Kestrels though? I can’t believe they beat Puddlemere and the Magpies and are at the top of the league! Basically unheard of!” Neville exclaimed.
Ginny nodded and launched into yet another Quidditch theory.
-
Draco’s resolve lasted a whole two weeks.
Harry took him out practically every night, always to places in Muggle London, which were new and exciting for Draco. Secretly, Harry was starting to run out of ideas and was having to research new places, but Draco didn’t need to know that.
They went through a string of burger joints that Draco had never seen or heard of. Byron, GBK, Patty & Bun, Burger and Lobster, Honest Burger. Draco didn’t think he’d had nearly so many burgers in his entire life. He also didn’t know there were so many different clever names for a burger shop.
“Honestly, it’s like you’re trying to make burgers our thing,” Draco said one day.
“You want us to have a thing?” Harry said, winking at him.
“Well, if there was an ‘us’ and if we had a thing.”
Harry just grinned and sipped on his shake.
But finally Harry was running out of new places to take Draco. Who would have thought, he could run out of burger joints in a place as big as London?
“Let me take you out tomorrow night,” Harry started.
“Don’t you always?” Draco parried.
“No, not after we visit Snape or something casual like that. I’m picking you up at eight, and I’m taking you to a nice dinner.”
“Like, a proper date?” Draco smirked. “Why, Potter, anyone would think you’re trying to wine and dine me.”
“Exactly,” Harry said, looking at Draco with intense eyes.
-
Healer Periwinkle stepped into the room and closed the door behind them.
She gasped somewhat in surprise at the sight she was presented with.
Harry was lying next to Draco, holding him in his arms. He was also fast asleep. A white aurora of twisting light was wrapping itself around the two. It had increased in size and brightness since Hermione had first noticed it.
She glanced at Draco’s vitals. If anything, they seemed to be getting stronger. His breathing was more regular, his pulse stronger.
“I don’t want any magic cast in this room,” Healer Periwinkle said. “I’m not sure what’s happening here, but I don’t want anything to disrupt it. We don’t know how volatile it will be, or what effect it may have on Mr Malfoy or Mr Potter if they are disturbed.”
Ron and Hermione nodded their agreement.
“What is it?” Ron asked.
“To be honest with you both, I don’t really know. I haven’t seen anything like it before.”
The Healer stepped closer to the two sleeping men, and attempted to determine where the light was originating.
“It almost looks like… It looks like the light is coming from Harry, and wrapping itself around Draco,” Healer Periwinkle said.
Harry’s friends stepped closer to look at what she was describing.
It did appear that the light would pulse outward from Harry, drift slowly across his body and over to Draco’s, where it would wrap around him, almost absorbed by him.
“I’m going to have to call in some additional advice on this,” Healer Periwinkle stated. “Don’t let anyone interfere with this,” she said, rushing back out the door.
-
“Good evening, gentlemen, and welcome to Lobster London. Have you a reservation?”
“Yes, under Potter,” Harry says, the picture of respectability.
“Ah, yes, of course. This way, please, gentlemen.”
Draco started to follow the maître d', but stopped short at the incredible view over London the restaurant offered.
It showed an incredible 180 degree view, directly looking out over the river Thames. They were seated directly facing the houses of parliament and Westminster, with the London Eye directly opposite.
“Potter, I must say, you’ve out done yourself with this one,” Draco remarked.
“There’s even a burger on the menu, if you felt like it,” Harry said with a wink.
“I can’t believe you’ve managed to find a restaurant with arguably one of the best views in London, and it so happens to be a bloody burger joint!” Draco laughed.
“I don’t know about you, but I’m having lobster,” Harry said, feigning high-brow attitude.
Draco suddenly catches his hand. “This place is incredible, Harry.”
Harry blinks at him. “You called me Harry?”
“I did,” Draco nods, and lifts Harry’s hands to his lips, lightly kissing the back of his hand.
Harry gulps.
“I think I’ll have lobster as well,” Draco says softly.
Harry just nods, and hunger spread across his face, one definitely not for food.
-
Healer Periwinkle returned with two more Healers following in behind her.
Harry and Draco’s condition hadn’t changed.
The two new Healers were incredibly intrigued by the situation, and got as close to the aurora as they could without actually touching it. Both made a full circuit of the sleeping forms, making notes as they observed.
Finally they withdrew to a corner of the room to discuss with Healer Periwinkle.
Ron and Hermione couldn’t hear what was said, but the conversation looked quite heated.
Finally, they seemed to reach some form of agreement, and Healer Periwinkle looked up and approached them.
“Mrs Weasley?” Healer Periwinkle said, addressing Hermione.
Hermione nodded and stepped forward.
“I understand you’re listed as Mr Potter’s next of kin, if Mr Malfoy is not available?”
“That’s correct,” Hermione confirmed.
“Therefore I feel confident discussing this matter with you and your husband. To be frank, we don’t know what this is. None of us have seen it before.
“However, it seems to be improving Mr Malfoy’s health. We also think it’s starting with Mr Potter, and crossing over to Mr Malfoy. We’ve heard stories, nothing more than fables, really, of a magic bond forming between lovers in times of need, to help restore one of the pair to good health. But nothing like this has happened in living memory. The only recorded history of something similar is generations old. We’d only be guessing to tell you what this is or what it’s doing.
“The only thing to do really is let it run it’s course, and see where we stand when it stops. We just need your consent that you agree to this course of action.”
“It seems more than logical to me,” Hermione nodded. “Harry always has attracted… extraordinary circumstances.”
“In that case, I think it wise that a Healer monitor them at all times. You can remain in the room, but no one else is to enter. You also need to ensure neither of you do any magic, so as not to interrupt whatever this is. Is that clear?” Healer Periwinkle asked gently.
“Perfectly,” Hermione agreed. Hopefully, whatever this was, would bring about something good.
-
AN: The London restaurants mentioned in this are all real places. If you're interested in the view from Lobster London, the below is a picture I took when I went there a couple of years ago. For those familiar with London, It's at the top of Millbank Tower in Pimlico and I highly recommend.
Read Chapter Thirteen Now