Pulling Him Up

"I did not say that aloud. No, I did not."

Severus watched and listened as Harry continued to mutter. He misses talking with me? Then Harry started to swear in a language Severus could not understand. The older wizard raised his eyebrow and used the mildest of his tones when he spoke. "If you wish to make something known to me, Harry, I suggest you do it in English."

Harry's reply was a mixture of hisses and growls. It finally ended with, "I was talking in snake language because I was scolding myself and I did not want you to throw back what you might hear to me someday."

The Potions Master gave a slight smirk and stood up. Then he serenely made his way to the bed, to the side closest to the window and sat down. He looked over his shoulder.

"If you're done with your self-chastisement, bring me that tray."

"You could have taken it along with you when you had gotten up," Harry said sourly.

"You wanted the responsibility. Now fetch," Severus replied in a calm tone.

Harry flushed and lowered his eyes before taking hold of the tray and getting to his feet. Severus was not certain whether he should connect the blush with shame or with pleasure. When Harry came to him however, his trivial thought vanished when Harry's voice filled his mind with details of the potions.

"You. Stop talking."

"Okay. Right. You know potions." Harry's face was incredibly red.

"Why, Mister Potter," Severus said mockingly, "I believe you are correct."

"You. Sir. Stop talking like that."

Black eyes flitted over to the silver-haired teenager behind the desk.

"You are making my hair stand," Draco continued.

Severus snickered, and still with a light smirk, he started to drink his medicine. Harry insisted on feeding the last one to him and since Severus felt a little drowsy, he allowed it.

"There," Harry said once Severus had the spoonful of aged red wine with rosemary. "Lie down and rest now."

"You really are making me share the bed."

Severus heard Draco speak but his fuzzy mind prevented him from understanding the young man's words. He looked up and saw Harry's eyes looking at him with tenderness. When Harry's hand came up and cupped the left side of his face, Severus stilled and stared at the Gryffindor with wide eyes.

"Sleep now, Severus."

The thumb that caressed his cheek slowly felt rough on his skin - no doubt callused by holding his wand and broom.

"Sleep."

~oOo*oOo~

Harry watched with a satisfied expression as Severus dozed off and took the tray of potions to the desk. "Yes?" he asked Draco innocently.

"It's not exactly comfortable," Draco mumbled.

"What? Don't tell me you're intimidated by him." Harry grinned.

"Bloody Gryffindor. Don't you know him?"

"Stop sulking, Draco. Go sit on the bed and start massaging his left foot," Harry said as he carried a stool over to the bed. As soon as he sat down, he took hold of Severus' right foot and began to examine it. He was surprised to find that Severus' toenails were well trimmed. Truthfully, when Harry spied on the foot that Draco held reluctantly, he thought Severus had very nice feet.

"Nice," Draco murmured.

Harry's head snapped up and he saw that Draco was blushing.

"If you ever tell him, Harry, I'll charm away all of your hair," Draco said threateningly.

"All of it?" Harry inquired mildly.

"I'm serious." Draco looked serious indeed.

"All right, all right. I won't tell. Don't get excited," Harry mumbled and tried not to think about losing his pubic hair.

Both became quiet as they concentrated on their tasks.

Harry was rather experimental with his touches. He noticed straightaway that Severus was in fact, ticklish, given his unconscious response to jerk each time Harry ran his finger lightly on the middle of his sole.

"Harry, stop that," Draco scolded. "You might wake him."

"Sorry." Harry grinned sheepishly and applied more pressure to his massage - not enough to hurt but hard enough not to give ticklish sensations. Nice toes, Harry thought as he carefully rubbed in between Severus' toes.

"Are we going to massage Severus all day?" Draco asked softly.

"Not if you don't want to," Harry answered.

"Let's just take it I don't want to do this all day. What are we going to do?"

"You could sleep."

Draco frowned and shook his head. "I'm not the type of person to waste the day doing that. I - oh."

"What's up?" Harry stopped and looked at Draco's face inquiringly. "Draco?" He touched the Slytherin's hand briefly.

"I forgot that Severus wants me to write down several protocols," Draco said slowly. "I've only done the potions of the first and second years."

"You know that Severus gave you that task to keep you busy." Harry smiled crookedly.

Draco chuckled softly. "It's better than not doing anything at all. We don't even have classes anymore."

"That's true. But if you do that, then what am I going to do?"

"You could sleep."

"Ha ha. Very funny, Draco," Harry said sarcastically. "I can't do that. It'll be rude."

"Rude?" Draco arched his eyebrow.

"It's just not polite. I'm supposed to keep you company," Harry explained.

"I fail to see why it would be rude for you to sleep when my attention would be on my work - not on you."

"It's still rude," Harry insisted stubbornly.

"I'm not a girl, Harry."

"No, you aren't. I just don't want you to feel lonely, that's all." Harry smiled gently. "I think I'll read a book."

To his surprise, Draco leaned forward to caress his cheek.

"Thank you," Draco whispered.

A goofy smile started to form on Harry's lips. "You're welcome."

~oOo*oOo~

Draco was fighting his sleepiness - Harry could see Draco jerking to alertness occasionally. He chuckled and shook his head a little. Draco glared at him.

"You shouldn't read after a meal, Draco," Harry said lightly. "It'd only make you drowsier."

"Huh."

Harry smirked but Draco ignored him.

The silver-haired Slytherin nodded off but righted himself almost instantly. However, a huge yawn escaped from him. Harry laughed and snatched the thick book out of Draco's hand. Then he gently pushed Draco back onto the mattress.

"Go to sleep, Slytherin."

"Oi!" Draco hissed when Harry muttered a charm to make the room dark. "I can't see - what if I lie down on Severus accidentally?"

"Don't be ridiculous." Harry rolled his eyes. He saw the faint outline of Draco's figure on the bed. I wish that more light is coming in ... but it's too cloudy tonight.

There was a moment of silence before Draco's voice filled the air.

"What about you?"

Harry smiled lopsidedly and without a sense of embarrassment, he caressed Draco's forehead and slid his fingers into the mane of silky hair. He continued to stroke Draco's hair. "I'm staying up for a bit."

Draco grabbed his wrist suddenly and his sudden movement caused Harry to feel a little alarmed. Had he offended the Slytherin?

"Are you," Draco paused for a second, "staying up because of me?"

Harry tilted his head and looked inquiringly at Draco. The other boy sounded very guilty for reasons unknown to him. Then it occurred to Harry that Draco could not see his expression in the dark room.

"Kind of," Harry replied softly.

"Why?"

"You don't have to feel guilty, Draco. It's not unusual for me to stay up when others are abed. I used to have precognitive dreams and during those times, I found that staying awake was better than getting any sleep."

"But ... now you could sleep without having those sort of dreams," Draco whispered.

"I know," Harry said quietly.

"Then ... why?"

"Because ... I like to watch you sleep," Harry said in a voice that was barely audible. He could almost feel the shock from Draco. "That's not all. It's because I offered my help to you and I gave you my word to keep you company."

"I did not ask you that, Harry. And you still don't have to stay awake."

Harry felt Draco releasing his wrist but Draco went on to lace his fingers with his own.

"Go to sleep, Draco," Harry said after several minutes of silence.

"You're stubborn."

Harry stayed in his sitting position near the edge of the bed and stroked Draco's hand with his thumb occasionally. He felt Draco shifting in the bed a little, probably trying to get into the most comfortable position.

"At least you aren't silly enough to sing me a lullaby," Draco said in a sleepy voice.

The emerald-eyed teenager snorted and he waited for Draco to fall asleep. Just as Draco's breathing deepened, Harry suddenly had the feeling he was not alone anymore. Someone else was conscious.

"Did you sleep well, Severus?"

"What time is it?" Severus asked in a quiet voice.

"It should be about nine," Harry answered and wordlessly conjured a candle. "Do you need me to do anything?"

"I need a drink."

"There's hot tea for you. I'll get that," Harry offered and gently freed his hand from Draco's grasp. Fortunately, Draco slept through his movements and Harry rose to his feet. He went to the desk and checked the tea.

I guess it needs a little warming. Harry concentrated on getting the teapot warm but a small part of him paid attention to the sounds coming from behind him. When the spout started to produce misty smoke, Harry stopped the spell and poured some tea into a cup. Then he turned around with the intention of calling Severus, but the sight of the wizard sitting on the bed and stroking Draco's hair stopped him.

A soft smile played on his lips and he waited until Severus looked at him. When Severus did, Harry asked him whether he wanted eat. The older wizard shook his head, stood up and slowly walked to the bathroom.

Another candle appeared with a pop and Harry saw Severus jerked a little in surprise. Severus flashed him a glare and he grinned.

"Sorry," Harry apologized quickly. "Severus, please-"

"-be careful." Severus shook his head and entered the washroom.

Harry placed the teacup on the desk and went back to sit on the bed when Draco made a soft noise of distress. "Shhhh." He stroked Draco's hair lightly. "I'm here. You're not alone," he murmured in a soothing voice.

The slight creak of a door opening signaled Severus' return and Harry fetched the tea for him. He handed the cup to Severus once the older man sat down and Harry went to the window to study the night sky.

"Why were you two laughing earlier?"

"Hmmmm?" Harry stopped surveying the scenery outside the window and gazed thoughtfully at Severus. "What did you say?"

"Why did you laugh?"

Harry frowned slightly as he tried to recall if Draco and he had laughed earlier. Did we laugh? Then he paled. Bloody hell ... if he knew that we made him laugh in his sleep, he'll kill us. The soft but rich chuckle played in his mind. Harry forced the image of Draco handling a feather on one hand and Severus' foot on the other out of his mind. But thank Merlin he did not kick at Draco.

He quickly thought of a lie.

"I think we'd been laughing about my preferences," he said glibly. "He was laughing at my doomed relationship with Cho Chang."

Severus' eyes narrowed a little. Harry shrugged and looked at the sky, as he prayed silently to the heavens that Severus would not pursue the subject.

"Did anything happen?"

"Uhmmmm ... are you asking whether something had happenned with me and Cho Chang or are you asking about Draco?"

"Draco, you idiot. Why would I want to know anything about you and the Ravenclaw girl?"

Harry pursed his lips thoughtfully, and that probably made Severus edgy. Harry was worried that if he told Severus, then Severus would feel guilty, but he still could not keep it a secret from the wizard.

"He had a nightmare last night," Harry said softly. "It was different because we had taken the places of the attackers." He walked toward Severus swiftly. He removed the empty cup from Severus' stiff fingers and set it on the small end table. Then he stared penetratingly into Severus' unblinking eyes. "Don't feel guilty. Okay?"

Severus was still frighteningly quiet.

"Severus?"

"I'm-"

"Don't be," Harry cut him off. He placed his hands on Severus' shoulders and squeezed them gently. "It wasn't your fault."

"I had neglected him," Severus whispered.

That's true.

"I haven't done anything to help you or Draco."

It was so strange for Harry to listen to Severus admitting something like that. "That's not true."

"I was running away."

"From what?" Harry knelt so that he was at eye level with Severus, who appeared slightly ashamed.

"From you," Severus whispered. "From Draco. I didn't want - it's not right. But I..."

Harry's heart swelled with sudden emotion and he raised himself slightly so that he could hug Severus. He half-expected Severus to hex him, but that never happened. Harry blushed when the older wizard returned the embrace. "I know how hard this is for you, Severus. I know how hard it is to be humble when you've been who you are."

The emerald-eyed wizard pulled away and bravely cupped Severus' chin. Then with his heart pounding heavily in his chest, he leaned forward and tentatively kissed Severus on the mouth. Severus did not hex him.

"Thank you. For all of the things that you've done for us," Harry said nervously. Severus had not removed his hands from his waist. Oh hell. I'm in trouble. "Severus, I'm sor-"

Green eyes flared in surprise when Severus claimed his lips in an ardent kiss.

Bloody ... hell....

His eyes fluttered close and his hand slid up Severus' neck and into the man's black hair. A shiver of delight overtook his body as Severus' tongue shyly caressed his own tongue. Then the Potions Master withdrew and pressed his lips firmly against Harry's once more before pulling Harry into his arms.

Harry took that as a chance to bury his face in the wizard's neck.

The kiss they shared was worlds different compared to the one he had shared with Cho. The kiss he had just received was ... mind-blowing - Harry had never felt so intoxicated with joy before in his life.

Draco.

Harry suspected that Severus had yet to disclose his feelings to Draco. "Severus," he whispered in the wizard's ear, "do you feel the same about Draco?"

Severus stiffened in his arms and Harry tilted his head back a little. Apprehension and guilt showed clearly in the eyes of the person before him. Harry pressed a finger on Severus' lips before the man could speak and he chuckled. Dark eyes gazed into him with bewilderment. "I feel the same way for him as well and he knows it." He smiled. "He feels the same for you and me, but he is still not certain if you’ll reciprocate his feelings."

"But that wouldn't be right," Severus protested weakly.

"What? For having feelings for you?"

"It's just that..." Severus looked somewhat helpless.

Harry followed Severus' gaze and together, they stared at Draco. What is he thinking? No way. His eyes widened. He couldn't possibly think...

"Severus! I'm shocked!" he exclaimed, his expression aghast.

"Harry, this is Draco. Draco Malfoy," Severus said in a strained voice. "He might not want to share."

His scowl was almost instantaneous. "If he ever gets that idea, we'll have a cat-fight." Mercurially, his expression turned docile. "Severus," Harry moved his face closer to the man, "don't even think about the easiest solution to the problem, if it ever comes up."

There's no way I'll ever allow you to walk out on us before we try to make it work.

"But you can't force either of them," his inner voice reminded him.

I know, I know. But I love them both, and I'm trying to make them see that I love them. That'll be enough. For now anyway.

Harry leaned in to kiss Severus rather chastely for the second time.

So bloody soft. He sighed in contentment.

~oOo*oOo~

Draco knew the exact instant when his dreams took a turn for the worse. He was faintly aware of fear tugging at his heart and the chills that were traveling down his spine.

It's just a nightmare. I'm safe in bed with Severus, and with Harry watching me. It's just a nightmare.

He watched his dream-Severus nonchalantly. He did not react at all when a pair of strong arms squeezed him tightly. He did not listen to the murmur of words that blew behind his ear.

I trust Harry.

He did not see and he did not feel as he was forced down onto his knees.

Harry may have his faults but he's not a rapist. He's not a sadist.

However, Draco winced and whimpered a little when something shoved forcefully into his mouth. He gagged.

Severus - he cares for me. I believe him. I believe Harry. He may be snarky and warped, but he'll never do this to me.

"Fuck ... you have such a wonderful mouth..."

Draco let out an anguished moan. He might be successful at ignoring what his ghosts were doing to him, but their voices were still able to affect him. They were still able to make him feel unclean and afraid.

"Harry," he called in his sleep, and the next thing he knew, someone was shaking him awake.

Blearily, Draco opened his eyes.

"Harry?"

The Gryffindor's concerned face appeared above him. "Bad dream?"

He could feel another pair of eyes gazing at him. He turned to see and found himself staring into a pair of troubled eyes.

I didn't mean to make you worry. Tears stung his eyes and his lips started to tremble.

Then Severus stroked his cheek and Draco focused on the warm sensation instead of the fear building inside him.

"I'm..." His hoarse voice trailed off. He wanted to say that he was sorry but he realized that saying that would only make Severus feel more guilty and worried.

I can do this. I'm not going to remain as this pathetic person. I'll heal. I'll make him happy.

Therefore, he smiled. "I'm okay. It's just a nightmare." However, the troubled look still remained. "I'm okay," he said to Severus reassuringly. He glanced briefly at Harry before turning back to Severus. "Thank you, for everything." Draco closed his eyes and reached out blindly for Harry's hand.

Draco started to move and ignored their startled oaths. I'd better be careful or I'll push Severus over the bed. Draco winced inwardly when he imagined the consequences. "The bed is big enough for the three of us. It's slightly uncomfortable to have two pairs of eyes watching you while you are trying to sleep."

"But-"

"I'm sleeping, Harry, so it's quite impossible for me to deal with your protests." Draco laid his cheek against the smooth silk sleeve of Severus’ robe while he pulled Harry's arm and placed it on his waist. He breathed deeply and silently examined how his body reacted being so close to the two wizards.

The fear is still there ... that they might.... Draco shook his head a little. Bloody nightmares.

Resolutely, Draco pulled Harry even closer until he could feel the Gryffindor's chest against his back. The sensation was different from the one he had in his nightmare.

Protected.

Safe.

He smiled. "Thank you," he whispered.

Loved.

Severus stroked his face lovingly and Harry hugged him warmly.

"Attention seeker," Severus muttered suddenly.

"SEVERUS!" Draco opened his eyes and glared fiercely at the Potions Master, and then he sulked when he felt tremors from Harry. "You just know how to ruin a peaceful mood, don't you?" He huffed. "Just my luck to fall in love with inconsiderate fools."

"Fools?" Severus growled.

Draco closed his eyes and huffed. You're a bloody fool, Severus. Didn't you hear what I'd said? "I wish I could strangle you," he mumbled.

"What did you say?"

"I'm not saying anything." He sulked even more.

Behind him, Harry continued to laugh.

Just my luck ... I'm in love with two wonderful people. Draco sighed. Why in the hell am I even in love?

---