While You Were Resting

I watch him rest. It seems that these days, the hospital ward is more like his dormitory. He spends much time here, resting, getting better. It pains me to see him like this; his pain becomes my pain, and mine his.

I look around the room, then I re-focus on his face. I smile. It is weird to think that we used to hate each other. It is even weirder to see us today. Here, together. No one would have guessed.

I try to remember what had happened, how he has ended up, yet again, in the hospital bed. I can only assume that the bed now has an indent in the shape of his body.

A small giggle escapes my lips. A quiet one, best not to wake him.

My mind returns to the previous night...

We had agreed to meet up during a visit to Hogsmead. There was a small corner booth at the Three Broom Sticks that was well hidden. We were to meet there.

I was already sitting at the booth, eating a small meal, If I remember right, it was a small salad. I was not really that hungry. I was nervous. I was seeing him again, but this time it was in a public place.

I saw him enter the Inn out of the corner of my eye. He quietly walked over and sat in the booth. We briefly locked eyes and greeted each other. By the look in his eyes, he was feeling exactly the same way I was, nervous and happy. Happy to be together, but nervous because it was public. I tried to give him a re-assuring look, but it looked like something else was worrying him.

The waitress came over and took his order, chicken sandwich and a small plate of hot chips. She smiled and said that it would be long.

After she left, I quickly grabbed his hand. Our fingers intertwined. His hand was cold. I asked why and he said that it was slightly cold and breezy outside. Being inside, I had not noticed.

He squeezed my hand and smiled. He looked around, and after making sure that everyone was too busy to notice, he quickly kissed me on the cheek. Naturally, his lips were cold.

"So, how have you been?" he asked.

I answered with a simple, "Can't complain. You?"

His beautiful smile faded slightly, his eyes became sad.

"I had a bad day...bad news I'm afraid."

I knew instantly what that meant; we'd been talking about it for weeks.

"So..." I continued, "they said..."

"Yeah," he finished, "they did."

I smiled. I loved the way we finish each other's sentences. It meant a lot to me.

I squeezed his hand again. While I looked into his eyes I said, "It will be okay. We'll work this out, I know we can."

His hand felt so thin. His constant worrying hadn't helped him much. He'd lost some weight. I could tell because his fingers were more bonier than they were last time.

The waitress bought over his order with a Butterbeer I had pre-ordered for him earlier. She smiled at us. She knew our secret, although not many did. She walked away, saying that she would catch us later.

As we ate, we talked little. Each other's company was enough for us.

The trip back to Hogwarts was noisy. Two Gryffindors talked hurriedly about an apparent fight at Zippo's on my right. On my left, my friends were talking about what they had done during my absence.

They asked me why I had gone off on my own. I simply replied that I had extra stuff to do. They took my answer for what it was, general.

I glanced at him quickly. He was laughing and talking with his friends. When he caught me looking at him, he smiled at me.

As we reached the Castle, one of my friends said that she had to go somewhere and that they would be back later. They refused to say where they were going, but it was easy to guess where they went. They always went there.

The walk back to Hogwarts was long and passed the Quidditch fields. Above, in the night sky, the Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw teams were holding their night practices. You could hear the captains, yelling out orders to their teams.

I started to drop back. At the same time, he dropped back to be in line with me. No-one seemed to notice.

"Want to know how they told me?" He offered.

"If its anything like I think it is," I replied, "it would be straight up and to the point."

"Pretty much." He sounded so sad. It hurt me to hear him like that.

After a few seconds I asked, "What will happen to...?"

"Me?" he offered, "The same old thing. I go home as per usual and ignore what is happening with us. I have to pretend that I hate you!" He sounded so disgusted, so disgusted that the last sentence was spat out like a vomit flavored Bertie Bott Bean.

I quickly, but firmly squeezed his hand.

"It will be okay."

We stopped and hugged. He thanked me and quickly kissed me.

Suddenly, it happened.

"WATCH OUT" came the cry.

Next thing I knew, he was on the ground. A trickle of blood slowly poured from his head and down his face.

The beater flew down and started to profusely apologize. I told her that I didn't think that he could hear her.

She took him to the nurse. If I had taken him, there might have been too many questions asked. Now was not the time for such things.

The Beater didn't ask why we were in the same place at the same time. She didn't ask only because she knew our secret too.

Which brings me to now...

I am still sitting at the side of the bed. It has been quiet, not many visitors. To be honest, it has only been me. I have been sitting here for most of the evening. I have bought up food from the feast for him, for when he wakes.

I note that I am still holding his hand. As I start to replay what happened in my mind again.

I am interrupted by a gentle squeeze of my hand. I look over and notice that he is awake and smiling.

Before he asks I answer, "You got hit in the head by the Ravenclaws bludger. You know, the one that likes to hit everyone?" His smile means that he knows.

He tries to speak, but I place my finger on his lips.

"The nurse said another day or two and you'll be fine, but no Quidditch for at least a fortnight."

As he moves his head, his hair falls over his face. I move the offending hair and tuck it behind his ears. His eyes, as gray as they are, shouldn't be hidden.

"Draco," I take his hand, "the Ministry was here today."

He frowns, "Why?"

"They just wanted you to know that your mother has been cleared."

He smiles weakly.

"That's great. So that means it's only him..."

I finish for him, "Yes Draco, he's gone. You're safe."

He squeezes my hand, "Then come to my place during the summer. You know my mother loves you. She understands."

I nod, "I can't promise anything, but I'll try to. Okay?" It's good his mother accepts our relationship. She is a beautiful person when she is not with him.

"My Father, he can't try to get back can he?" he asks softly.

"No he can't. The Ministry is keeping surveillance on the Manor as we speak. He wouldn't risk it."

He tries to get up. He grimaces as he moves. The bruises from the beatings his father gave him have yet to heal.

I move closer and rest our hands on my leg. I look into those beautiful gray eyes.

"We'll be okay won't we?" he softly asks.

I reply, "I'm certain we will. As long as you remember one thing..."

"What's that?"

"That I love you, Draco Malfoy."

He squeezes my hand gently.

"I love you too."

"Now now," it's the nurse, "It time to go young one."

I wave to him and he waves back.

As I walk towards the Common Room, I catch my reflection in the mirror. I stare at myself until someone taps me on the shoulder.

"Ready to go?"

I turn and look at the person whose talking to me.

"In a minute Oliver, I have to get changed."

"Alright Harry, I'll see you in a couple of minutes."

He starts to walk away but quickly turns around.

"How is he?" Oliver looks worried.

"He'll be fine, but Slytherin won't have a seeker for a while."

"Righty oh, see you soon." As Oliver walks away, I notice a slight spring in his step, which I guess is from my news.

As I enter the Common Room, I quickly set to the dormitory. I change and grab my broomstick. I walk toward the pitch and I pass the spot where he was hit. I smile.

I must thank that Ravenclaw girl. Without that 'planned accident', I might not have found out how he really felt about me.

As I enter the pitch, I hop on my broomstick. I fly up to meet the team and I have only one thought in my head; my relationship with him will only get better now, starting today.