Cold as Ice

Chapter 6.

Harry marched outside. He had seen a flash of red hair outside through one of the windows. Pulling out his wand, he began preparing himself to say those two infamous words. The two words that had taken his parents, and were now going to avenge the death of Draco.

Ron had seen Harry striding towards him, and he could tell something bad was going to happen.

'Hermione, get to Care of Magical Creatures. Harry's on his way, and he looks mad.' Hermione didn't move.

'Hermione, go!' Ron urged.

But Harry was already there. His eyes were blazing with emerald fire as he stepped in front of Ron.

'Murderer,' he hissed.

'What?'

'You're a murderer.'

'Harry, Ron didn't -'

'Stay out of this, Hermione.' Without taking his eyes off Ron, Harry turned his wand to Hermione and blasted her backwards, not caring about who he hurt anymore.

'Harry, you need to calm down,' Ron said, pseudo calmly, although his voice was filled with fury.

'Don't tell me to calm down,' Harry snarled. 'You killed Draco, and you're going to pay.'

'I didn't mean to kill him! Jesus, I didn't even mean to knock him out! He just went one step too far, and I was tired, and-'

'Excuses, excuses,' Harry growled. Then he delivered a sharp backhanded slap across Ron's face. Ron stumbled.

'Harry-' he began, but Harry grabbed his shoulders, dragged him upright, and drove his knee into the redhead's stomach. Ron fell, completely winded.

'You deserve this, you little piece of shit,' Harry said harshly, kicking Ron's shin. 'But you could at least stand up and take it like a man.'

Ron stood up gingerly. His nose was bleeding and his right leg was weak.

'You're no better than him,' he said in a low voice. 'You and Malfoy, you're as bad as each other.'

'I take that to mean you're tired of playing games,' Harry replied coolly. He gripped his wand. 'Shall I end it then?'

'If you're man enough,' Ron said, using Harry's own words against him. Harry smirked and pointed his wand at Ron's heart.

'Alright then.' He began to speak the curse. 'Avada...'

To his left, Hermione pulled herself to her feet.

'Kedavra.'

Ron closed his eyes. Hermione screamed and flung herself at him. They collided and fell, the curse passing over them and killing a tree.

'You stupid bitch!' Harry yelled at Hermione. 'What are you doing?'

Hermione glared at him through tear-filled eyes.

'No, Harry, what are you doing?' she sobbed. 'I know you're upset, and I know you think this is all Ron's fault, but this is ridiculous! You're grieving, you're hurting, but you can't let that drive you to do something you'll regret later. Listen to me, Harry. You're stronger than this, I know you are. Please don't give in to what seems right now, but is just an easy way out. Fight it, Harry. Be brave.'

Harry stared at her, then felt all his anger, his hate, his pain, dissolve into one raw emotion: grief. Then he did the only thing he could. He dropped to his knees and wept. He wept for the death of Draco, for his own temporary insanity, and for the fact that his two best friends may never forgive him for what he just did.

Hermione was the first to move. She crawled across the floor to Harry and put her arms around him.

'It's going to be Ok, Harry,' she whispered to Harry as he shuddered with great sobbing breaths. Her shoulder was wet with Harry's tears, but she carried on whispering to him and stroking his hair soothingly.

Ron joined them pretty soon. He nervously sat on the grass next to Harry and Hermione and pattered Harry awkwardly on the back.

'Harry, I'll never forgive myself for what happened. And I'll understand if you can't forgive me either. I deserved what I got,' he said eventually. Harry looked up at him with his tearstained face.

'No one deserves what I nearly did to you. I was out of my mind. I'm sorry. And, I forgive you. For...about...Draco.' Harry knew he was making little to no sense, but Ron got the message. He threw his arms around Harry and the hugged.

'Can we go inside now? I want to say goodbye to Draco,' Harry sniffed as they broke apart. Ron and Hermione helped him to his feet and they went inside. Harry's whole body was weak from crying, so Ron and Hermione had to half-carry him to the hospital wing.

'That's odd,' Hermione said as they reached the doors. 'Draco's still in his bed.'

As they watched, Madam Pomfrey bustled into the ward, took Draco's wrist for a second, then left again. Harry's heart leapt to his throat, and, pulling away from Ron and Hermione, he ran into the ward.

As if in a dream, Harry felt the pale skin of Draco's wrist and almost burst into tears again when he felt the gloriously strong pulse beneath his fingers.

'He's alive!' he cried to Ron and Hermione in delight. They smiled, but Harry had already turned back to gaze at Draco's perfect, porcelain-coloured face and didn't see them.

Suddenly, Draco's eyelids flickered. Harry held his breath as their eyes locked.

'Hi, honey, I'm home,' Draco grinned. Abandoning all dignity, Harry flung his arms around Draco's neck.

'I thought I'd lost you,' he whispered into Draco's silky blond hair. 'I thought you were dead.'

'I was, but I came back. I couldn't leave you,' Draco whispered back. Harry pulled away and looked deep into Draco's eyes, taking his face in his hands.

'Uh...we...we'll just leave now...' Ron stammered as Harry kissed Draco tenderly. Harry didn't even notice them go.

'I think we scared them off,' Draco smiled once they stopped kissing.

'Oh well,' Harry sighed. 'I guess they weren't quite ready to see that. But I'm sure they'll get used to it.'

'Why?'

'Because...well, because they'll probably see us kissing a lot...and do we have to start this argument again?' Harry was stammering badly, much to Draco's amusement.

'Harry, relax. I was joking,' he grinned. 'Then again...what if we don't want them to see us? What if we, say, never leave the bedroom or something?'

Harry laughed. 'Are you always this cheeky, or is the bump on your head still affecting your brain?' he snickered.

'I think it's the effect you have on me,' Draco growled, pulling Harry towards him again for another kiss.

'I have to go,' Harry said eventually. 'I have lessons. I'll be back later.' He planted one last kiss on Draco's lips and left the hospital wing.

Draco watched him go and snuggled down into his bed, hi mouth curving into a satisfied smile. He was so glad he hadn't died for long. Harry meant the world to him, and he appreciated that now he had come so close to losing him forever. And he realised that if he wanted to keep Harry, he would have to try harder at a solid relationship. So he would. He would do what he could to stay with Harry. Even...tell people about them. To hell with Slytherin pride and so on. And Malfoy traditions could sod off too. Draco was prepared to declare to the world that he loved Harry Potter.