Pulling Him Up

"But who is Draco Malfoy?"

That question made Severus feel as though a thunderstorm had just broken over him. Who is Draco Malfoy? Severus repeated the question in his mind.

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

Severus was not annoyed by the interruption, but he had to say it anyway, out of habit. "Shut up, Harry."

He did not see the younger wizard making a face at him.

"You're Draco Malfoy," Severus said softly. He became acutely aware that whatever he had to say had to be given a lot of thought beforehand. Draco had been ripped of his identity when he was violated. It was a chance for him to gain a new life, one without masks and illusions. Without really knowing what he was asking, he turned to Harry.

"Draco Malfoy - seventh year Slytherin, has a hesitant truce with Harry, very thoughtful and patient, loves chocolate, and-"

"You fed him chocolate?" Severus interrupted.

Harry blinked. "Er, yes. I believe I did."

Severus glared at Draco. "What did I tell you about chocolate?"

He felt quite indignant when Draco just shrugged at him.

"I haven't developed rashes, Severus. I don't understand why you forbade me to eat chocolate. I don't have any allergies."

"And it will help replenish his energy, Severus," Harry added. Black eyes glittered with unfriendliness. "Where were we? Oh, Draco loves chocolate and ice cream-"

Ice cream? Severus screamed in his mind.

"- and he can smile without giving me the feeling as though I want to smack him. Anything to add to the list, Severus?" Harry had said it so meekly that an alarm went off in Severus' mind. He looked at the Gryffindor suspiciously.

"Draco Malfoy is an extremely talented potion maker, unlike some, who can't even follow instructions that's already written on the blackboard," Severus said with a small frown. Harry looked at him innocently.

"Keep it short, Severus. You don't have to add additional details that isn't related to him."

A soft trill of laughter came from the bed.

"And he is someone who can laugh as well." Severus heard Harry's soft words. "So," Harry's voice was louder, "what else?"

Severus' expression became thoughtful again and he licked his lips. Should he say it?

Not yet.

Then what could he say? Did he really know the silver-haired wizard resting on the bed well enough to say anything further?

"No one is perfect. No one can be purely good," Draco said suddenly. "But ... you have only said good things about me."

"This is not the right time to demoralize you, Draco," Harry answered swiftly. "We'll point out your bad characteristics when you are more stable."

"We will?" Severus arched an eyebrow as he questioned Harry.

"You want to do it alone?"

Impudent brat. Those words floated in his mind when Harry mirrored his expression.

Harry almost knew he could not respond to the questions and he started to talk again. "I still have four hours of free time, Severus. Why don't you use the time to catch up on your sleep?"

Severus frowned and shook his head slightly.

"Severus, I'm sorry," Draco whispered then. "I'm sorry for being a burden."

He stared hard at the silver-haired Slytherin, as if daring his student to repeat that statement. Draco's cheeks turned pink at his gaze.

"I can stay with Draco for another few hours. Go ahead and rest. Bathe, eat, take a walk..." Harry blinked when Severus continued to glare at him. "Uhmmm." Green eyes flitted over to the bed. "Oh," Harry said, as though he finally perceived that Draco felt guilty. "Uh, don't feel bad, Draco."

"Severus, you should sleep. I'll be fine, with Harry," Draco said demurely.

An upholstered divan appeared nearby and Severus looked at it with amazement.

"If you feel better sleeping in this room, then by all means," Harry said without any signs of mockery. "It's more comfortable than falling asleep in that chair anyway. You're not twenty anymore."

"Impudent brat," Severus muttered darkly under his breath.

~oOo*oOo~

<>Draco screened his smile by hiding his face behind his pillow once more. It was not a good idea for the greasy-haired Potions Master to know that Draco thought he was quite adorable, when he was angry and embarrassed at the same time. He pitied Harry however, who kept wincing as Severus continued to heal him.

"Mister Draco Malfoy, sir?"

Draco blinked and craned his head up. There was a very small house-elf holding a saucer of chocolate cake. His mouth watered upon seeing the delicacy.

"No."

Draco groaned in disappointment and looked pleadingly at his Head.

"But, sir, Headmaster Dumbledore ordered Draco to take it," the house-elf insisted.

"No."

"Why not, Severus?" Harry asked with a small sigh. "Surely you aren't keeping him from eating anything to do with chocolate because it's unhealthy."

When Severus started to explain why Draco should refrain from eating chocolate to Harry, Draco swore silently and took the saucer from the house-elf. Eighteen years of his life had been dedicated to eating cakes at least once a day. It was no wonder why Severus had thought he was addicted to it.

"I'm not addicted to chocolate, Severus," Draco grated. "I'm not addicted to sweets. I just have a liking for them."

Severus stopped in mid-lecture and his jaw dropped the moment Draco started eating the cake. Draco could not help the smile that tugged at the corners of his mouth. Severus looked utterly ... dumbfounded.

"Ouch! That hurt, you greasy snake!" Harry yelped.

Draco watched the emerald-eyed Gryffindor curiously and listened intently to the hisses Harry produced. He had never heard Harry swear in snake language before - it was peculiarly smooth. He smirked - he had never heard anyone call Severus a snake so boldly before.

"Something amusing, Draco?" Severus snapped and Draco looked away from Harry immediately.

"Not at all, sir."

"I think you really need to sleep. Your tongue ought to be sharper. You ought to be more verbal," Harry said. However, Draco found it strange that Harry had said it with a very somber expression. "The younger students are quite used to see you as a figure with absolute authority. You'll get into trouble with them next year if they think you're not so bad after all."

Severus getting along with the students? Draco snorted at the very idea.

"And instead of trying to think of something clever to reply and wasting away precious minutes, you should lie down. Draco and I will keep our conversation soft so as not to disturb you."

"I don't need you to tell me what to do, Potter," Severus said harshly.

"I think you do, Professor," Harry said just as sternly. "I really want to say this, but I won't. You aren't ready to hear it, from a bloody, barely fledged wizard."

What is going on? Draco looked at Harry and Severus curiously. He could feel tension brewing between the two and Draco only understood the edges of it.

Then Harry broke eye contact and stood. Draco was glad that he was somewhat preoccupied with the taste of chocolate exploding in his mouth to think about Harry's naked torso. A slow blush crept to his cheeks when his mind connected the taste of chocolate to Harry's chest.

I am sick. How can I think about such a thing in my current state? Maybe I'm going mad.

Draco had a splendid view of Harry's thorax as the Gryffindor leaned forward slightly to reach for the shirt he had left on the stool near to Draco's bed. Chocolate, Draco thought as he studied Harry's nipples. He blushed even harder and wrenched his eyes away. He focused on the cake instead.

---

To be continued on Chapter Six