Pulling Him Up

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CHAPTER FOUR: SECRET HEALER
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It was about three in the afternoon when Severus finally could not stand working in his office. Grumbling slightly to his own self, he went up to Draco's room. It was frighteningly silent when he stood before the door. Even as one part of him was worried about Draco, another part of himself was just as anxious for Harry's safety.

He opened the door slowly and saw Harry taking his shirt off. It was on the tip of his tongue to demand Harry what in the hell the Gryffindor thought he was doing, until he finally saw the wound on Harry's shoulder. Severus entered and as he pushed the door close, Harry turned around immediately.

Harry paled quickly. "Severus, I know how much you love having an opportunity to yell at me, but this is not the time. Draco just fell asleep."

Severus did not speak, and while he remained stonily silent, his eyes drifted over to the bed to look at the sleeping wizard. Draco looked calm and relaxed, as well as cleaned and refreshed. His eyes narrowed and looked carefully at the white shirt Draco wore. Yes, it was definitely a fresh set of clothing.

"Explain yourself," Severus ordered.

"You know what happened to my shoulder," Harry said diffidently. "I just overworked it, that's all."

"You know that you have to visit Pomfrey, Harry." He scowled.

"It's fine, really."

"That is not fine, Gryffindor," Severus hissed, staring pointedly at the bleeding wound.

"I'm not going back to the hospital wing and trouble her." Harry shuddered.

"If she screams at you, it's because you deserve it."

"Tell me something I don't know," Harry snapped. Draco made a soft sound and the Gryffindor swore softly.

Severus frowned a little when Harry caressed Draco's cheek. However, he was not prepared to admit to himself that he was jealous. What made it even worse that he was also envious that it was Draco that Harry was touching.

Draco quieted and slept again.

Still frowning, he ordered Harry not to move. He walked over to the young man and started to examine the wound. It had only just started to heal. Severus sighed. "What happened earlier?"

"Well, bumping into you started it," Harry answered. "Then Draco pushed me away, when I first started talking to him. And then Draco nearly slipped in the bathroom and I had to catch him."

"You should have been more careful," Severus said finally.

"I guess one can't be careful enough," Harry said softly.

Severus winced at the truth that lay hidden in Harry's words. If he had been more careful, he would not have developed any feelings for the two wizards, who had somehow become close to him. "Come away," Severus finally said.

He conjured two stools in one corner of the room and motioned Harry to sit on one. "Face the drawers," he ordered.

He saw Harry frowning slightly at his instruction. "Why?"

"Do you want me to march you off to the hospital wing?" Severus scowled.

<>Draco sighed softly and sleepily reached for the pillow near his leg. He brought it up close to his chest and buried his face in its softness. He could distantly hear voices - soft, gentle murmuring that was somewhat soothing to listen. Draco wanted to hear more; he wanted to see who were making those calming noises.

Silver eyes opened with deliberate slowness. He could see two forms sitting on what appeared to be stools. Draco blinked and watched the figures contemplatively. The voices became clearer as sleepiness faded from his body.

"This will hurt slightly, Harry," said the wizard sitting behind the Gryffindor.

"I will never know the difference, Severus," Harry replied drily. "I hurt everywhere."

"You're an idiot."

"I hadn't counted on doing anything physical when I came here."

He could feel it; he could see it. There was something special about the two. Draco pulled the pillow further up to cover half of his face. He did not want them to see that he was blushing and have them inquire him as to why he was. A part of his mind reminded him that he should feel sick about thinking that Harry and Severus made a pretty picture, but his heart ignore it.

"I didn't know you could heal, Severus," Harry said softly.

"I don't make it a habit of letting everyone know what I'm capable of," Severus replied in the same sarcastic voice Harry had used earlier.

Draco smiled. He knew that Severus was capable of bantering in a friendly kind of way. "So that's why Madam Pomfrey was surprised that I didn't have any physical injuries," he murmured softly. Two heads turned to look at him immediately. Draco was glad that he had the pillow close to his face.

Severus looked seriously at him. Draco knew the wizard well enough to know that it should remain a secret. Gray eyes flickered to watch Harry.

"I'm sorry," Draco whispered after several minutes of staring at his schoolmate.

Harry smiled and Draco felt warm all of a sudden. "This was not your fault. I should have agreed to let Madam Pomfrey mummify me. And I suppose I should have conjured some carpeting on the bathroom floor or something."

Draco's lips quirked into an involuntary smile.

"Ah, let's add one more thing. You're Draco Malfoy who can smile without it turning into a malicious smirk."

His eyes widened. "How did you know?"

"I wasn't looking at your lips, Draco. Your hair isn't quite covering your eyes," Harry answered.

That gentle voice that was almost smiling stirred something within him, and it was blooming, almost lazily. Draco looked at the wizard sitting behind Harry, and he wondered at the look of astonishment in Severus' face. Severus seemed to be asking what that was all about.

Therefore, Draco answered the Potions Master's silent question. "I want to know who I am."

Severus jerked slightly and looked at him curiously. "You're Draco Malfoy," Severus answered, looking at Draco as though the latter had asked a ridiculous question.

"But who is Draco Malfoy?" Draco tilted his head to one side and gave the obsidian-eyed wizard a somewhat challenging gaze. Severus appeared mildly startled and Draco waited patiently for the wizard to answer.

"You're also quite patient, Draco," Harry said.

"Shut up, Harry," Severus said absently.

Draco smiled as Severus' eyes narrowed thoughtfully.

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To be continued on to Chapter Five