Empty Spaces

Chapter 30

And Potter started talking. He shared stories of his childhood, growing up in the Muggle world with relatives who couldn't wait to get rid of him once he came of age. It was the exact opposite of how Draco was raised. And yet... so similar. The expectation to be something you're not, and the bitter disappointment of knowing what's being asked of you is something you're unable to deliver. Truths being hidden from you in plain sight. Never being in control of your own life. Some of it was heartbreaking, some was serious, some was funny.

'I'm sorry," Potter said after telling a story about accidentally setting a snake loose on his cousin, "I don't know why I told you all of that..."

"Does it matter why?" Draco asked, smiling at the mental image of eleven-year-old Potter unintentionally wreaking havoc at a Muggle zoo, "Because I'm glad you did..."

They were silent for a moment, but it was a comfortable silence. Potter was breathing calmly now, his body relaxed and at ease. After a while, Draco spoke again.

"I'm sorry for what those Muggles put you through. All these years, I knew, but I didn't know . And I never bothered finding out." He meant it, and hoped Potter would pick up on the sincerity.

"No, it's okay," Potter replied, "Really. I was angry at them before, when I was younger, but now... now, I don't know if I would have made it this far if I had been brought up any differently, you know?"

"Yeah, I do," Draco said softly. This was a feeling he understood.

"How are you feeling?" Potter leaned over and kissed Draco's forehead.

"Fine," Draco lied. He wasn't. But he was determined to stay up with Potter, and by this point, his body was aching so badly that he didn't think he could sleep even if he wanted to.

"No you're not," Potter said, stroking back Draco's hair, "Come on, what's the most comfortable position for you right now...?"

In your arms, Potter.

"Here..." Draco leaned back into Potter's arms, his body aching but at least he felt safe and warm...

He wasn't entirely sure if he actually slept; the pain in his body was growing slowly and steadily stronger, but the room was dark and Potter was there, and thus passed the long hours of the early morning. And then a light turned on in their room and Draco found himself face to face with a rather furious-looking rainbow.

"What happened to a good night's sleep??? What on EARTH have you been– you know what, I don't want to know, Mr. Potter, if you'll excuse me, I need to examine my patient."

And a rather embarrassed-looking Potter peeled himself away from Draco. If he'd been feeling better, Draco would have laughed, but it was taking everything he had not to be sick from the pain right then and there. Yamamoto fretted over him for a good long while before giving him another dose of her sleeping draught. Just before the velvety darkness took him once more, Draco caught sight of Potter being sent from the room as Healer Yamamoto continued to scold him– Draco was able to vaguely make a mental note to have a good laugh about it later before drifting off to a dreamless, painless sleep once more.

When Draco opened his eyes again, Potter was dozing in the chair at his side. Good, get some sleep. You need it too...

"Ah, much better," Yamamoto announced her presence, making no effort to be quiet for Potter's sake. "Alright, Mr. Malfoy, how are you feeling now?"

"Better," Draco said. It was the truth now.

"Good," Yamamoto said, sending a sleepy-looking (and still slightly mortified) Potter out of her chair with a chiding look, "Okay, think you can sit up for me? Yes? Good. Any pain with this? How about here? Now? Like this?"