Stand By

    Silently, Harry slid into the abandoned classroom. A glance at the dusty clock on the wall told him he was late. It was nearly 10:30 and Malfoy’s note had said ten. Chances were the other boy had gotten sick of waiting and left. The room looked deserted.

    Angrily, Harry threw off his robe. It wasn’t his fault Filch was wandering outside Gryffindor tower at the exact moment Harry had tried to leave. The man just had it out for Harry.

    “Adflicto affligo.” The whispered curse hit him before Harry could even process that he was not alone.

    In an instant, Harry found himself on the ground, waves of dry, throbbing pain pulsing through his muscles, leaving him feeling weak and useless. Malfoy stepped out from the shadow that had kept him hidden, smirking slightly as he glanced down at the boy.

    So he hadn‘t left. Hmm. “Tests?” Harry tried to ask, but it came out as, “Tsss?” For some reason, his mouth and lips seemed unable to move together. He felt heavy and clumsy, and in entirely too much pain to concentrate.

    “Hello Potter,” Malfoy said conversationally, kneeling beside Harry, who made a soft noise in the back of his throat. “You won’t be able to speak right now. Effect’s of the curse.”

    Harry groaned, both from frustration and the pain building in his muscles with every wave. Smiling softly, Malfoy carefully pulled Harry into a sitting position, leaning him against a wall, trying not to jolt the boy’s sore muscles more then necessary.

    “Potter, this test is simple. It is an endurance test. Every time you tighten your muscles under this curse, the pain increases. When you relax, it decreases. I want you to lift weights.” Malfoy gestured towards a small, two pound weight by Harry’s side.

    Groaning again, Harry painfully bent forward to rest his hand on the cold metal. Suddenly, two pounds seemed like two million. His entire body began to throb painfully as he slowly lifted the weight from the floor, fingers going white from the intensity of his grip. Black spots began to dance across his vision.

    “No!” Malfoy cried when Harry tried to lower it. “Hold it up for as long as you can.” Glaring in disbelief, Harry struggled to remain upright. Malfoy simply shrugged and, with a noise of defeat, Harry complied, his body shaking with effort and pain.

    Minutes passed. The world around Harry began to blur and run. He wondered dimly if perhaps his glasses had fallen off. It certainly felt like they had. He tried to ask Malfoy, but his mouth still wasn’t working.

    “Thirteen minutes, Potter,” Malfoy said softly. Harry moaned in response. “Just a bit longer.”

    The pain was becoming excruciating, reminding Harry eerily of the Cruciatus Curse. A hot sob rose in Harry’s throat. He could feel his skin, his muscles splitting. His blood was spilling onto the cold stone floor, draining him. He was dying.

    “Potter?” A cool hand on his forehead brought Harry back into consciousness, chasing away the blurry edges of his mind.

    Opening his eyes just enough to glance around him, Harry mumbled, “Where’s the blood?”

    Malfoy’s brow furrowed. “What blood?”

    “I was bleeding,” Harry said weakly.

    “Potter, what are you talking about? You weren’t bleeding.” Malfoy gestured at the floor. “Look for yourself.”

    “But…I felt it. I was dying.” Harry shook his head, trying to clear his muddled thoughts. It didn’t make sense…he’d been bleeding…dying.

    “Oh,” Malfoy nodded, understanding flooding his face. “It’s a side effect of the curse. When you pass out, you tend to have some pretty odd thoughts. I suppose yours were more extreme. After all, you lasted nearly 25 minutes. Only records on the curse had the person under for five at the most. All the pain and physical stress is played out in your subconscious.”

    “Lovely. I dream death,” Harry groaned.

    “What’s new there?” Malfoy asked with an mocking smile.

    “Oh, stuff it,” Harry growled, “Help me sit up.”

    Malfoy‘s eyes narrowed. “And here I thought I was in command of this little arrangement. Silly me,” he said, making no move to help Harry. Instead, his smirk widened, enjoying Harry’s discomfort.

    “Fine, you bloody git. Least you could do is…” Harry broke off with a whimper as he attempted to move his aching body. Sharp spikes of pain racked his body suddenly, nearly knocking the air from his lungs. “Oh god, Malfoy, I can’t move,” he moaned, trying desperately to stay conscious as wave after wave of pain crashed over his body.

    “Then hold bloody still!” Malfoy cried, though Harry had long ago stopped moving. In a moment, he was gently leaning over Harry. “What’s wrong?”

    “Don’t know. Hurts everywhere. Can‘t really…oww…breathe.”

    “Hang on. I’m going to cast an all-over healing charm. It should take care of everything.” There was a flash of white light from Malfoy’s wand and Harry felt a warm, calming feeling spread across his body. “Did it work?” Malfoy questioned when the light wore off.

    “I think so.” Harry did a quick mental check of his body before nodding, turning to Malfoy. “Thank you.”

    “You know, you are quite skilled at resistance. You seem to take to Dark Magic. Perhaps you won’t have as quick of a death as I thought. Hell, you might give Voldemort a run for his money.” Malfoy smirked.

    “Why thank you. Now I feel just dandy!” Harry rolled his eyes. “Malfoy’s given me his…” He yawned widely. “seal of approval. Though is this really…preparing me for Voldemort? I mean, come on, he’s likely to…Avada Kedavra me rather then play with pain curses.”

    “That true, I suppose. Maybe I’m doing it for my own sadistic pleasure,” Malfoy shrugged.

    “Yeah, and I’m a masochist. I love the pain.” Harry rolled his eyes before yawning again.

    “You came back,” Malfoy pointed out. Harry started to answer, but another yawn caught him. Smirking, Malfoy said, “Come on. Up to bed before you pass out right here.” Malfoy gently moved to pull Harry up, careful not to strain his muscles. The boy nearly collapsed into the blonde’s arms as soon as he was on his feet.

    “That one…makes ya…” Another yawn ripped from him, “tired, doesn’t it?”

    “I’d say so,” Malfoy nodded, supporting Harry as they started for the door.

     After a moment, Harry sighed, “Too bad everyone’s back.”

    “And why is that?” Malfoy carefully guided Harry up a flight of stairs, noting the boy’s stumbling steps and steadying him before they both stumbled back down.

    “You can’t…” He yawned. “stay tonight.”

    Malfoy froze mid-step, turning to look Harry in the eye. “What?”

    Harry rolled his eyes in sleepy, but amused annoyance before explaining, “I wanted you…to stay with me tonight. I like it, you know? I like you.” At that, Malfoy nearly dropped Harry. The boy simply yawned again, moving closer so he could rest his head on Malfoy’s shoulder. “M’sleepy. We there yet?”

    “Nearly,” Malfoy managed to answer. Harry’s soft breath was tickling his neck, and he was having trouble processing the boy’s body so close to his. The situation had taken a very unexpected turn.

    “Can I sleep with you?” Harry asked softly. “I don’t wanna go back to my dorm.”

    “You know you can’t, Potter. That’s a ridiculous question,” Malfoy snapped. Feeling Harry wince, he added in a softer tone, “It’d be a disaster if you did. A Gryffindor in the Slytherin dorms? My roommates would kill you.” Harry simply sighed sadly in response. “Potter.” Malfoy himself sighed, unable to say anything more.

    “It’s just…they’re so fucking happy, Malfoy,” Harry sighed again. “And I’m…not.”

    “What would make you happy?” Malfoy asked quietly. He wasn’t entirely sure he wanted to know the answer to that. Not when Harry was still blowing little puffs of warm air against his neck.

    “You,” Harry mumbled, before his knees folded beneath him as he slipped into unconsciousness . Malfoy carefully cradled him, not wanting to wake the boy. With a grunt of effort, he lifted him completely, Harry’s head falling back against his shoulder.             “Me?” Malfoy laughed softly. “What makes you think I would do anything but hurt you, Potter?” He pulled Harry’s limp form closer, feeling some odd emotion stirring within. “Maybe just for tonight. To be honest, I don’t fancy being alone either.” With a long suffering sigh, Malfoy started for the dungeons.