A Fine Line

Warnings: H/D Slash, substance abuse

Disclaimer: These aren't my characters, but they feel like friends. JKR owns them, I just love them.

Chapter Five

Harry awoke the next morning in Hermione's spare room with a terrific headache, as though his head was full of fire, though the rest of him felt hollow and empty, exhausted from the events of the night before. He put on his glasses, mended easily by Hermione, and saw his clothes lying on a chair. Hermione had obviously given them a once-over with a cleaning charm after she had ushered him into the shower and then into bed. He looked critically in the mirror on the wall. His cheek and around his eye were bruised, and the cut at his temple was now a thin, fine line, no longer bleeding, but still very swollen. He dressed slowly, and then went through to the cheery yellow kitchen where he found Hermione sitting with the morning paper and tea. "Let me fix you a cup," she said, standing up to hug him. "Maybe some breakfast...toast?"

He shook his head. "I think I'll just go home...I need to see Draco." His lower lip trembled, and he looked away. "I need to make sure he's okay. I said terrible things." He allowed her to hug him tightly, and laid his head on her shoulder, squeezing his eyes shut to fight the tears he felt prickling behind his lids. "Thank you, Hermione. I can't tell you what this means to me, you being here for me."

She smiled at him, and touched his cheek. "You just take care of Draco, and of you. I love you, Harry." She stood on tiptoe to kiss him, and then smiled again. "You call me, if you need anything, okay? Either of you. I mean it, absolutely anything." He nodded, then turned and walked out the door. When he reached the gate, he looked back at the house. Hermione was standing on the porch, wrapped in her dressing gown and hugging her arms. He lifted a hand to her, and blew a kiss. She waved back, and stood, biting her lips, to watch him walk away.

He decided to walk the distance home, allowing him time to gather his thoughts. What am I going to say? he thought. I left him last night. I was beastly, accused him of being high, and then just left him when he needed me. He wrestled with his thoughts as he approached the house, and his hands trembled as he drew his wand to drop the wards. He stepped into the empty kitchen and put his things down on the table. There was evidence of a solitary meal, a plate and fork in the sink, a glass on the table, and a box of tissues. He went through into the living room and saw Severus' cloak on the back of the squishy armchair, and his shoes neatly lined up beside it.

"Severus?" he called out, and walked through the downstairs rooms, looking for signs of someone. Finding no one, he headed up the stairs to the bedroom. He placed his hand on the knob, and then rested his head on the door. How can I go in there and talk to him? he wondered, desperately. I left him alone... He took a deep breath and tried to summon some of that old Gryffindor courage, then turned the knob and opened the door.

Severus Snape sat in the chair at the side of the bed, and looked up, simultaneously exhausted and furious, turning his head to watch Harry come into the room. His anger seemed to lessen, however, as Harry approached slowly, and the morning light from the window fell across his pale face.

"Severus...thank you so much for coming..." Harry said, hesitantly, and held out his hand. Severus stood and took it in his own, and pulled Harry into an embrace. "I didn't know what else to do..."

"You did the right thing to call me," he replied. He put his fingers to Harry's chin, lifted and turned his face to look at the swollen bruise, and muttered an oath. "Draco did this?" Harry nodded, briefly. "Why didn't you tell me that vial belonged to Draco when you had me identify its contents?" He touched the laceration gently with his thumb and Harry winced.

Harry swallowed past the lump in his throat, and replied, "I didn't think Draco would want me to tell you. He didn't want me to call you when he had a horrible nosebleed a few nights ago, he seemed afraid for you to know. When you told me what was in the vial, I figured he wouldn't want you to know that, either. I know I should have, but we've been so at odds, Draco and I, that I didn't want to give him another reason for a row." He took another deep breath to steady himself, and whispered, "I'm so sorry, Severus. I know you have Draco's best interests at heart, and that you love him like a son."

"It's all right, Pot...Harry." Severus placed his hand on Harry's shoulder. "Go sit with him a while, why don't you? I could use some coffee, if you have any in that thing you call a kitchen, and I'll bring up some ice for that eye."

Harry nodded. He approached the bed hesitantly, and then pulled the chair a little closer, and perched on the edge. He reached out and touched Draco's hand, marveling as he always did how long and fine Draco's fingers were. Regal hands, he thought, tracing Draco's ring with his fingers. He put his forehead down onto his own clasped hands, realizing how tired he still was. He felt Draco stir slightly, and looked up quickly, his loose hair falling into his face. He pushed it back in an annoyed gesture, meeting Draco's gaze.

Draco's gray eyes widened as he saw the ugly bruise on Harry's face. He reached over and touched him, softly. "Did I do that...to you?" he whispered. Harry closed his eyes, and nodded. Draco moaned softly, "Fuck. Harry, I'm so sorry...I know that doesn't help...oh, damn. I don't know what to say, Harry, except I'm sorry." He looked absolutely miserable and for a fleeting moment, Harry was glad. Then his heart took over, and he reached for Draco's hand. "I don't want to lose you, Harry," Draco whispered.

Harry shook his head. "You haven't...yet. But you have to stop this. You can't live this way. I can't live this way. I want the old you back. The you that laughs at me because I like to eat outside. The you that kisses me for no reason. The you who dances with me in the kitchen, and doesn't mind when I step on his toes. The you I fell in love with. I feel like that person has been stolen from me, and I don't know how to reach him...how to get him back."

"Harry," Draco whispered, as he lifted Harry's face, "open your eyes, look at me." Harry opened his green eyes and focused on Draco's gray ones. "I promise, I want us to be right again. I really fucked things up. I know I scared you, and I really scared myself..." He shook his head. "I was out of control. I already told Uncle Sev where my stuff was, and he's gotten rid of it. I'm done, Harry. I'm done."

Severus appeared at Harry's elbow and handed him a small towel filled with ice. "Put this on your face, Potter." Harry took it without looking and pressed it to his temple. "I'll be downstairs, if you need me." Harry nodded his thanks.

He moved over and patted the bed beside him, and Harry crawled in beside him. Draco snuggled up to his back, pulling him closer, and wrapped his arms around him. "I'm done, I promise."

.&.

The next few days were peaceful, and Harry was starting to actually believe that things could get back to normal. Draco had nearly finished his part in Lucius' case, and was able to leave the project, at least temporarily, in Dean's capable hands. He took next few days off, and promised they would spend them together. He even agreed to accompany Harry to St. Mungo's on the day that Lani was to be discharged home, bringing her a bouquet of the loveliest flowers Harry had ever seen. She was delighted to meet 'Drake' and hugged him, saying she felt as if she knew him. She admonished him to take good care of her friend, Harry, and laughed merrily when he nodded, blushing at being hugged. "I'm sorry, Harry," he had said, on the way out of the building. "I didn't realize what your work really meant to you. I apologize for not taking it, and your feelings more seriously."

He surprised Harry day or so later with a picnic in the little park where Harry liked to run, in view of the fountain. He had packed the hamper with ham pies, chocolate mousse, and a bottle of Harry's favorite wine. He had even packed a red checked cloth for the ground, and they sat in the grass and ate everything with huge appetites, drinking the wine from plastic cups (which amused Draco to no end). They lay in companionable silence on the ground for a while, holding hands and pointing out the odd cloud shapes in the blue sky, and then got up to pack the hamper.

On the way home Harry tried to get him to come play the hopscotch grid, picking up a small stone and showing him how, but Draco drew himself up to full height indignantly. "Malfoys do NOT hop, Potter." Harry burst out laughing at this pronouncement, given with typical Malfoy grandeur. Draco did consent to push Harry on the swing however, and smiled in spite of himself at the sight of Harry leaning backward in the seat to look at him upside down, with his hair hanging down to brush on the grass, picking up leaves and twigs. Harry pulled up in the swing abruptly and jumped to the ground, landing like a wild creature, and took chase after Draco who ran for just a moment and then allowed himself to be tackled and thoroughly kissed.

Later as they walked toward their house holding hands, Draco asked thoughtfully, "Want to have Hermione and Uncle Sev tomorrow for dinner? I'd love to have them around, you know, sort of a thank you for all they've done."

"I think that would be wonderful, if you feel up to it. You know they'll want to talk about...you know, things." Harry said, slowly. He had carefully avoided the subject since that night, thinking that Draco would bring it up when he was ready. He stopped and set the picnic hamper down on the ground. Draco looked at him, questioningly. Harry leaned against a tree and folded his arms. "You know it won't be easy, both of them are so opinionated regarding you. They may have things to say that you don't want to hear."

Draco considered this, gnawing on his lower lip, and then nodded. "I didn't want to hear the things you and Severus said to me that night, either. But I deserved them. There was no excuse for the things I've done and said, or for hurting you, and I want to make things right. I hope they can believe that, and support me, because I don't think I can do it alone."

Harry picked up the basket and took Draco's hand. "You're not alone, love."

.&.

"Draco and I really want to thank you both for your help this week," said Harry, as he refilled wine glasses. Severus and Hermione had accepted their invitation to dinner, and having finished they were sitting in the living room enjoying another bottle of wine. "It's been a tough few days, and we couldn't have managed it without you." Draco nodded his agreement, and sat on the floor at Harry's feet, toying with the tassel on his loafer. He had not particularly enjoyed the dinner conversation, Harry had noticed, but had answered their questions honestly, and without avoiding the topics. He was taking responsibility for what he had done completely, Harry realized, with a new respect, and not trying to place blame or offer excuses.

Severus looked at the two of them critically, and then asked, "Have you made any plans for dealing with the temptations you might face at work, Draco?"

Draco nodded slowly, doodling on the carpet with his finger. "I'm not going to work with Sophia anymore, although I really want to stick around to help finish Father's case. I know it will just cause more problems in my relationship with him if I drop it now," he said, glancing at Harry. "Dean and I spoke about this and he is going to work with Sophia and I will be partnered with his assistant, Marie. She seems very nice, and seemed very understanding of the reasons for the swap. The Ministry has no objections, either. Hopefully that will eliminate most of the problem, but I know it's going to be tempting." He bit his lip, thoughtfully. "I just have to hope I can be strong enough. Harry is back on the day rotation, and he will be here with me in the evenings." Harry put a hand on his shoulder, and Draco turned his head to press his cheek against it.

"I'm surprised Sophia will be allowed to continue working," mused Hermione, sipping her wine. "I can't imagine that the Ministry would knowingly keep an employee who is using drugs."

"They don't know," said Draco.

"What? You haven't said anything?" Severus sounded astonished. "I can't believe it didn't come out when you asked for a change of assistant."

"It's not my business to tell," Draco replied, firmly. "I told her I was asking for the change, and she didn't object. I encouraged her to tell them herself, you know, to be honest. But if she doesn't care to, it's not my place to tell anyone."

"Draco, I don't mean this to sound horrible, or to offend you, but you've changed," said Hermione. "I mean, you've been my friend for a long time, but I admit that at first it was only because Harry loved you. I had agreed with Ron in the past that you were an insufferable waste. But... you supported me so completely once, and I've grown quite fond of you...it's just that I've noticed changes in you over the last two years and...well, I'm proud to know you, Draco." She chewed at her thumbnail, apparently embarrassed at what she had confessed.

Draco stood up and moved to sit beside her on the love seat. He took her hand away from her mouth, and kissed it, then pulled her into a hug. "I'm blessed to know you, Hermione." They all sat in silence for a few moments, no one wanting to break this spell.

"So," Harry said finally, standing and gathering wine glasses together, "anyone for a coffee?" He stood up and took them into the kitchen, and put them into the dishwasher with the other dinner things. He readied the coffeemaker and turned it on, then reached up for mugs in the cupboard.

He was humming softly and adding soap to the dishwasher when a hand touched his arm. He jumped slightly, and turned to see Draco holding out his hand, and saying, "Dance with me." Harry smiled and raised an eyebrow. Here? Harry gestured at the dishes, the kitchen, with a skeptical look. "Right here," Draco said, taking Harry's wet hand and pulling him into an embrace. Harry held up a hand, wait, then kicked off his loafers, and wiggled his toes. Draco smiled, "My toes thank you," he said and then, placing his other hand at the small of Harry's back, turned him and began to move. Draco waved his hand casually into the air, and soft music came from nowhere. I love wandless magic, Harry thought, dropping his dishtowel and sliding his free hand up onto Draco's chest. He laid his forehead on Draco's shoulder. They danced around the tiny kitchen, waltzing to Draco's magical music, until Draco let go of Harry's hand and slid his hand behind Harry's shoulders, dipping him low and capturing his mouth in a sweet kiss. He stood Harry up again, laughing at his flushed, breathless face, and bowed to his partner. "Thanks," he said, softly.

Harry bit his lower lip, and then smiled shyly. "No, Draco," he replied. "Thank YOU. I've missed you." He stepped back into Draco's arms and held him close, with a desperate tightness. How I've missed this Draco, he thought. "I'm glad you're back."

Soft applause brought them out of their embrace, and they turned to see Hermione and Severus standing in the kitchen doorway. Draco blushed, and waved his hand again, silencing the music. "If this was supposed to be a ball, I wish you had let me know earlier. I would have dressed more appropriately," Severus said, his eyes dancing. "And I'm sure Ms. Granger would have done something with her hair..." He flinched as Hermione hit him on the arm.

"And I'm sure Professor Snape would have done something with his," she replied, grinning.

.&.