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.

Epilogue

Draco remained in hospital eight days, then transferred to a Muggle rehab center in London. The wizarding treatment options were limited for Muggle drugs, and they agreed that a Muggle center would be best, but Harry found it very difficult to abide by the rehab center's rules of no contact for a whole fortnight, becoming very grumpy and unpleasant to be around. He had written Draco several letters, and ranted when Hermione took them away. "NO contact, not even by mail!" she reminded him firmly. "You'll distract him from what he is supposed to be doing." He had yelled and stomped, and she had taken entirely no notice.

After the second week Harry was allowed by Hermione to send off a package, via muggle post, with her homemade chocolate chip cookies and a letter of encouragement and love. He was thrilled to receive a return letter from Draco as well, but it was strange to see a letter in his elegant script with muggle stamps on it, not being delivered by his eagle owl. With trembling fingers he opened the envelope...

Dearest Harry,

Well, here I am, in paradise.

The counselors say that I'm doing well, although I feel like crap.

I still want, everyday, but it's getting better everyday too. I miss my

life, I miss you.

I have therapy groups about sixty times a day, and therapy alone, as

well. I have one group leader who looks like Umbridge, and she's about

Hagrid's size. A real charmer, to say the least. But, there are a lot

of people here who are worse off than I am, who have real, physical

symptoms, and they say there's hope for me, yet.

Thanks for the cookies; I've shared them around and the others here

seem very grateful for chocolate, I guess it's the only safe drug left.

(sorry, that was poor humor, I know) Frederick, my 'cellmate' here,

says to tell you that you forgot to bake the file into his cookie. (That's

a joke too, love)

I can't believe that I am here. I can't believe that I'm alive. This seems

like a nightmare. I remember things from hospital that I can't identify

as truth or dreams. I remember so much blood, tubes in my throat,

you screaming at me...I really fucked up. I miss you desperately, and

can't wait to be able to see you, and hold you, but I know that I'm in the

right place, and doing the right thing. I couldn't expect you to continue

living the way I was living, and I didn't even realize that it was hell.

I'm so sorry, Harry, and I don't know how I'll ever make it up to you,

but I promise to spend the rest of my life trying.

Say hello to Hermione and Severus for me. I know they are taking

care of you. They love you so. (Yes, he does so.) And thank them for

me.

Can't wait to hold you, and kiss you properly. Only three more weeks

to go. Get your lips ready, and make your eyes beautiful for me.

I want to drown in them...

xxxx

your Draco

p.s. I have no idea about this Muggle postage rubbish, so I'm giving

this whole thing to Fred to post. Thought you would get a laugh

out of that...

D.

.&.

Draco was waiting, fidgeting, on the hospital steps when Harry stepped across the street from the apparition point, and nearly knocked Harry over with the force of his running hug. "Oh, Harry..." He had taken one look at Harry's beautiful eyes, with that fine line of kohl, and kissed him breathless, right on the steps. "I thought you would never get here," he murmured, kissing Harry's neck and chin, wherever he could reach. Harry could not speak, but held him tightly and thought, Please, please don't ever take this from me...I love this man more than anything.

Harry looked at Draco, who was so thin and tired, but alive. These had been stressful weeks while Draco was in rehab, but he had worked very hard, and had done well. As they walked into the center so Harry could sign Draco's discharge forms, he said, "I am so proud of you, Draco. I know this hasn't been easy."

Draco's eyes were somber as he looked back at Harry. "I couldn't have done it if I hadn't known you were behind me. I thought of you everyday."

"I thought of you, too." Harry laughed softly. "Hermione was your warden, though. She wouldn't let me write to you before the fortnight was up. Actually I did write, but she took the letters, and put them up, saying you could read them later. Then when you could have post, she nagged me constantly to write, even as I was walking back from posting a letter..." He bit his lower lip thoughtfully. "Are you nervous about going home?"

"Hell, yes," Draco answered, swallowing hard. "But, let's see," he said, counting on his fingers, " I've been nearly dead, spent a week in hospital with drips up my arms, had hallucinations, seizures, practically vomited out my toenails, took endless potions to try to save my organs, not to mention my sodding mind, and spent five weeks in rehab with Muggle counselors that look like Umbridge." He paused, thoughtfully. "Indeed, they act like Umbridge, with all the personality of the giant squid. I nearly lost the one person who ever really loved me for me," and at this he picked up Harry's hand and kissed his fingers, "and now I've got to face the only two people besides you that matter to me, admit that I really fucked up, apologize, and hope they will find something in my eyes that will make them believe me." He squeezed Harry's hand tightly. "After that, what could be difficult? Cheers!"

Harry finished signing the necessary forms and picked up Draco's bag, then pulled him into his arms so they could apparate together. They appeared at the end of the driveway, near the car, and made their way toward the porch steps where Severus and Hermione waited anxiously. Draco stopped suddenly at the bottom step, however, a stricken look on his face. "I can't do this, Harry. I've hurt them. I can't face them."

Harry dropped Draco's bag at his feet, and turned Draco to face him, pulling him close. "You can do this. This is Severus, your godfather. He loves you desperately. And Hermione, she's about crazy for both of us, and would do anything for you because I love you, but also because she loves you. They are your family, our family. You can do this."

Draco nodded, gripping Harry's waist with both hands, and took a deep breath, steadying himself. Harry rubbed his arms reassuringly, and turned Draco to direct him gently up the steps. Hermione and Severus took a nervous step forward each, and tentatively reached out for Draco, who moved into their arms and embraced them tightly. Hermione was openly crying, and Severus was blinking a little too often for Harry to believe he was not crying too. "Welcome home, honey," Hermione whispered.

"Look, umm..." Draco fumbled, stepping back from their embrace, "I want you to know that I'm clean. I've been sober for forty-two days. It's been hell, but I couldn't have done it, if not for both of you, and Harry." He bit his lower lip nervously, and a tear ran down his pale cheek. "I'm alive, and I don't think I would be if it weren't for all of you. I couldn't have done this alone, and I know I wouldn't have. I would still be using or dead. I don't know what else to say, except thank you." He took Harry's hand, and then added, "And that I'm home to stay. The old me. That is...if you'll have me."

Harry replied, "Draco, we wouldn't have it any other way."

Fin