Time to Kill

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Time to Kill Ch. 11

By Johnny Doggspitt

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Draco woke to find that someone had covered him with a blanket while he slept. He snuggled deeper into the warmth and buried his nose in Harry's side. The boy's heart sounded stronger this morning, but that could just be wishful thinking.

"Draco, I suggest you wake up," Severus spoke from behind him. "The Headmaster has just gone to get Weasley and Granger, and I'm sure they'd like some time with him."

"Then that's just too bad for them, isn't it?" Draco growled territorially. "I'm not leaving him." Draco could sense Severus rolling his eyes, but instead of admonishing the boy, he placed a comforting hand on his arm and squeezed gently.

"I know how you feel, Draco, but he does have other friends who love him just as much as you do. You must give them some time with him."

Draco had never heard the man's voice softer or gentler. At a time when all he could feel was guilt, it was nice to know that there was someone who understood. "How do you know how I feel?" he asked sleepily.

His godfather was silent for a second. "I just do," he said finally.

Of course, it was at this time of peace and understanding between Draco and his godfather that Granger and Weasley chose to burst into the room. The curtain was obviously still up, but Draco heard their panicked voices from the hallway. If they didn't shut up, they'd make people suspicious! They could blow Harry's cover, and then where would they be? Draco sat up just before they threw back the curtain.

Ron was silent for a second before exploding, "What the hell are you doing here, Malfoy?"

Hermione was livid. "How dare you visit him? What right do you have to even think about him?"

"I have just as much a right to be here as you do!" Draco countered. "After all, I'm the reason he's here in the first place-"

"Oh, you admit that, do you?"

"-And I want to make sure he's alright! Hell, I drive my ex to slit his wrists, I think I'm allowed to make sure I haven't killed him!"

"Draco," Severus spoke up, "it is not your fault that Harry is in this condition."

"The fuck it's not!" Ron roared. "If he hadn't been so bloody stuck-up and full of himself, Harry would be awake right now!"

"You think I don't know that, Weasley?" Draco yelled. "You think I don't know what I put him through? It killed me to do that to him, but it was for his own good! If he had just listened to me for once, this never would have happened. I love him, and there was no way I was going to put him in harm's way just to satisfy a little crush of mine! That's the problem with him: he always thinks with his heart and never his head, and it's going to get him killed someday!" Draco, suddenly feeling dizzy, sank down onto the bed and buried his head in his hands.

"I think...I'd like to talk to Draco...alone," Harry's voice came from the bed.

Ron and Hermione jumped and Draco spun around to face the boy. "Harry! You're awake! Darling, I'm so sorry-"

"Draco," Harry said sternly. "I want to talk...to you alone." He was very weak and speaking was obviously a chore for him. Ron and Hermione looked at each other hurtfully, and Harry quickly added, "No, no, I want to talk...to you also, but...first I have to...beat some sense into...this idiot." He nodded at Draco and smiled weakly.

"Beat some sense into me," Draco muttered. "Like I'm the one who slit my wrists." Harry flinched and Draco took his hand softly.

"All right, Harry," Hermione consented. Ron opened his mouth to argue but she cut him off. "We'll be right outside if you need us." She dragged Ron off and Snape followed after a second, leaving the two boys alone.

"I really am sorry, Harry," Draco apologized, looking anywhere but in the boy's eyes.

Harry grimaced. "Stop talking about it...like it's your fault."

"How is it not my fault, Harry?" Draco asked softly. "We both know you wouldn't be...like this...if I hadn't broken up with you. And don't you dare deny it," Draco instructed firmly, cutting Harry off.

"I just...couldn't stand you...going out with Pansy."

Draco laughed coldly. "Neither could I; she's starting to drive me insane."

"Well then, why did you start...going out with her in the first...place?"

"I thought...I don't know, I guess I thought that you'd move on if I wasn't available anymore." He chuckled. "Seems as if I might have been wrong, huh?"

Harry smiled weakly and rubbed his thumb over Draco's fingers. "You're mental, Drake." Draco smiled, happy that the nickname had come out of Harry's mouth instead of Pansy's. "So...where do we go...from here?" Harry asked quietly.

Draco sighed. "You know, if I say I'm going to take you back, it'll just encourage this behavior..." Harry smirked sarcastically at him, and Draco chuckled a little. He raised Harry's arm and softly pressed his lips to the mangled flesh on the inside of the boy's wrist. God, how many cuts had he made? Some were old scars. They were too shallow and too far up on Harry's arm to be just from this suicide attempt. He ran his fingers along one particularly deep scar, and Harry quickly pulled his arm back and looked away.

"How long?" Draco asked softly.

Harry shrugged weakly, not meeting Draco's eyes. "A while."

Draco took Harry's chin firmly and turned his head to look him in the eye. "If I take you back, the cutting stops. Period." Harry closed his eyes tightly and tried to turn his head away. Draco's eyes softened and he ran a hand through Harry's silky hair. "Ok?" he asked gently.

Harry leaned into his touch and nodded. "Ok," he agreed, touching Draco's hand.

Draco sighed and stroked Harry's cheek. "Good. I'm going to hold you to it, though."

"I'm not going to need to...do that...anymore. I love you, Draco." Draco rolled his eyes and opened his mouth to speak. "Don't you tell me I don't!" Harry said suddenly with all the force he could muster. Draco sat back in surprise as Harry pulled himself into a sitting position. "I'm sick to death of you and your self-esteem problems! I love you!" Harry suddenly took a deep breath and lay back down, exhausted from just that little bit of activity.

Draco worriedly placed his hand on Harry's cheek. "Look, you're weak. I'm not going to argue with you right now, darling."

"I don't...want you to...ever argue with me...on this subject," Harry said breathlessly. "I love you."

Draco sighed. "I love you, too, Harry." Harry smiled brilliantly and Draco leaned in to plant a gentle kiss on the boy's lips. "I love you so much. So don't you ever scare me like that again!"

"I won't!" Harry said exasperatedly.

"I would certainly hope not," Professor Dumbledore said, pushing back the curtain and closing it again behind him. Draco blinked. When had the Headmaster entered the room? "I certainly hope you realize the consequences of your actions."

"I do, professor," Harry said truthfully. "I-I'm sorry. It was stupid of me."

Dumbledore looked at him sadly. "It was a selfish and reckless decision, Harry, and I'm afraid I cannot let it go unpunished.."

Draco made an indignant noise. "Professor, can't this wait? He's very weak, and I don't think we should put this kind of stress on him until he's well again."

"No, Draco, I'm fine," Harry assured him, taking his hand. He looked at the headmaster. "Are you going to expel me?"

Dumbledore smiled fondly down on him. "Don't be silly, dear boy. How on earth would we protect you if we sent you away? The real question is what do we do about you?"

"What do you mean, sir? Couldn't you just punish me the way you might have in past years with other students?"

Dumbledore nodded thoughtfully. "I could do that, Harry. It has only occurred once in my time here, twice now, but that was under completely different circumstances. I simply could not discipline you in the same way."

"Why not?" Draco asked rolling his eyes. "I mean, what did you do, take points and give the person detention? I don't see why you can't do that in this situation."

The Headmaster smiled patiently at him. "If I were to deduct points from Gryffindor, surely the students would like to know the reason, wouldn't they? I couldn't very well take points from a dead boy. It might be grounds for mutiny!" he chuckled.

Draco thought for a second. "Well, how about a detention with Snape?" he offered, and Harry whacked him.

"Shut it, you git!" Harry hissed, but the damage had been done.

"I think that is an excellent idea, Mr. Malfoy." He looked at Harry and smiled mischievously. "Perhaps spending time with your professor will make you appreciate the good things in your life."

"Yeah, because Snape doesn't at all make me want to jump off a cliff," Harry said, rolling his eyes. "But I guess I can take one detention with him."

Dumbledore smiled sadly. "Unfortunately, Harry, I'm afraid that I do not believe that a single detention could possibly stress to you the seriousness of the situation."

Harry's eyes grew wide. "No! Really that's ok. It's...already being stressed! I'm appreciating my life much more!"

Dumbledore smiled. "I'm happy that you're feeling well enough to argue your point, Harry, but sadly, you have no say in this. You will find that there are times in our lives when, no matter how hard we try, nothing will work."

"No kidding," Harry grumbled,

"So, in spite of your efforts, you will serve detention with Professor Snape one night a week for no less than three months."

"Three months!" Harry exclaimed. "Sir that punishment is enough to make me consider slitting my wrists all over again!"

Dumbledore frowned and Draco glared at him disappointedly. "Mr. Potter, Professor Snape has saved your life time and time again, including this most recent time. You owe him your life, and making obscene remarks such as that one is no way of paying him back." Dumbledore sighed. "I just don't know how to get that through your head."

Draco was still looking at him disappointedly. "That joke wasn't funny, Harry. Considering...what you did last night, we have no choice but to believe you when you talk about suicide, joking or not."

Harry looked away from him. "I know. I'm sorry." Draco brushed a hand through Harry's hair gently, but the frown stayed on his face.

Dumbledore reached into a pocket of his robe and pulled out a large pocket watch, almost the size of his hand. Looking at it whilst holding it upside down, he said, "Mr. Malfoy, I believe we should allow Mr. Weasley and Ms. Granger to spend some time alone with their friend."

"But sir," Draco said worriedly, "I really feel that Harry needs me here right now..."

"I'll be fine, Draco," Harry said gently. "I'm not going anywhere."

Draco sighed indecisively and kissed his forehead. "Alright. But if you need me, just have Granger or Weasley come find me, ok?"

Harry smiled mischievously. "What would ever make you think I needed you?" He laughed softly and Draco rolled his eyes.

"I can't imagine," he said sarcastically. "Must have just been a feeling." He smiled. "Try to get some rest."

Harry raised an eyebrow. "What, with Ron and Hermione on my case? I'll be lucky if I can just get silence!"

Draco laughed, kissed his boyfriend's cheek, and strode out of the room after Dumbledore.

Outside, Ron and Hermione were worriedly sitting on the ground. Hermione seemed to be running through a list of the ingredients in a wart-removing potion, and Ron was chewing on his thumb. Draco grinned.

"What are you smirking at?" Hermione demanded, not even looking up at him.

Draco narrowed his eyes. "Just go in and see him."

Ron jumped up. "We can see him?" he asked excitedly and bolted through the door.

Hermione stood up more calmly and walked up to Draco. "You two had better have worked out your problems," she said coldly. "I won't let you hurt him anymore."

"You don't have anything to worry about, mother," Draco said, rolling his eyes.

She nodded. "Good." She smiled and slipped through the doors to the hospital wing, where Ron was heatedly berating Harry.

"Hermione!" Draco called her back. She turned around and Draco said, "Tell your boyfriend to keep it down, or he's going to blow the boy's cover!"

Hermione shook her head exasperatedly and turned back around.

"Come along, Mr. Malfoy," the Headmaster instructed. "We shall have to inform Professor Snape about our arrangement. I think he might take it better if his godson is there."

"I think he'd actually kill me," Draco grumbled, but resigned himself to facing his godfather's wrath.