"Is anyone coming to the library with me?" Draco asked desperately
Ron, Harry, Hermione, Pansy and Neville we're all seated around him in the great hall, finishing their evening meal and avoiding the rather boring invitation to spend the rest of the day in the library of all places
"I completed all of my work this morning, so I don't really have a need to go" Hermione answered, feeling guilty
"You don't have a reason to be in the library? Are you feeling alright?" Ron joked
Hermione glared at him and turned back to her meal "Perfectly well thank you, Ronald"
Ron swung around to Harry who was just about to bite into a large chunk of caramel cake on his fork
"Really, if anyone's going to join him it should be you, Harry" Ron pointed out matter-of-factly as the rest of the group turned to face him, hoping he'd take the invitation
Harry lowered his fork looking pained "But... but it's caramel cake night... I'm not leaving until I've had at least three slices" he chomped onto his forkful and a satisfied smile melted onto his face
"Gee thanks, Harry. Nice to know cake is more important than your own boyfriend" Draco scoffed
"You're welcome!" Harry grinned, spraying cake crumbs everywhere, Ron snickered and nudged him playfully
"Bloody Gryffindor" Draco muttered to himself "Fine. I'm going to head there now so I can make some headway in this work, I'll meet you guys back at the common room later on?"
"Sure"
"Of course"
"See ya"
Harry looked across as Draco climbed out of his seat and gave a solemn smile, worried that Draco was annoyed at him until the Slytherin winked and headed off toward the door. He would make up for it later on tonight for sure
Draco made his way up the staircases and along the corridor, feeling very underwhelmed at the boring night ahead he was about to endure buried in his textbook. As he turned the last corner, he saw Cole Daggart and his cronies huddled against the stone wall, chatting amongst themselves
Fuck
Draco hesitated, hiding back around the corner. He had to go past them, there was no other way around, only he really was not in the mood for more confrontation, especially after last time
Come on, Draco. You're older than them, just keep your head down, walk past, ignore them
He took a moment to gather himself, ashamed at how vulnerable he felt, being threatened by a bunch of school kids. It was ridiculous. He's stood at the hands of the Dark Lord before and came out alive, he knew he could certainly handle these boys
He held his breath and turned the corner, looking down at the floor and hurrying along. He could see in his peripheral vision that Daggart, the leader of the gang had his back to him. Hopefully he could go past this unscathed
He continued past them, desperately looking towards his feet and made his way to the other side, relief flooding over him ready to bound around the corner until he heard a voice
"Evening Malfoy"
It was Daggart, and his tone sounded nastier than usual
Draco froze and dropped his head back in frustration, tongue in cheek, trying to remain calm. He twisted around on his feet to face him, but kept well aware of the distance between them both. He didn't want a repeat of last time
"Yes?"
"Going somewhere?" Daggart asked, a malicious smile twisting his words
"Does it matter?" Draco huffed, truly fed up of his games
"I don't like seeing you around these halls, Malfoy-"
"Then go outside"
Daggart's smile snapped away as he clenched his jaw and flared his nostrils
"Are you getting funny with me?" he spat
"Am I laughing?" Draco bit, taking a step back as he felt his hands shaking at his side. His heart was beating rapidly in his chest and he could feel Daggart's broad chest looming over him even from afar, he was roughly the same height as Draco, but twice as wide. His friends weren't much either. One constantly laughing at everything he said - a yes man. The other with a face like a screwed up bulldog. Alone they weren't intimidating in the slightest, hence why they cowered behind him
Daggart lunged forward to grab Draco's collar but he dodged him, darting to the side. He avoided the first punch thrown and caught himself grinning smugly at finally slipping past him but he celebrated too soon as he felt a hand grab the back of his arm and twist him uncomfortably.
Daggart crushed Draco's wrist in his hand and twisted his arm back, pushing his head against the wall and pinning his body with his own leaving him unable to move. Draco's cheek was pressed up against the cold stone feeling the rough brickwork scratching at his skin. The sharp pain was running through his arm, desperately trying to break free of his tight grasp
"Try being funny with me again and see what happens!" he roared directly into Draco's ear, causing him to wince at the sheer volume. Daggart pulled his wand from his back pocket and pressed it into Draco's neck. He flinched at the stabbing against his veins. His friends we're spectating from the other wall, egging him on and shouting more threats at the blonde who was rendered helpless underneath Daggart's strength
Draco felt sick. His current position triggering painful memories of being bound and helpless at the mercy of Voldemort. Having his throat crushed in his hands, wand pointed at him wondering if the next spell to hit him would kill him. The panic set in and he couldn't breathe, it was happening all over again
Daggart leant in closer, twisting Draco's arm back further causing him to cry out in pain
"Fuck! Stop! Please!"
"You're going to wish you were dead" he whispered with a wicked grin
"Expelliarmus!!"
Harry appeared at the end of the hall looking furious. He disarmed Daggart and ran toward him, his wand stretched out ready to fight. Daggart shot backwards, dropping Draco's arm and instead turned his anger to Harry
"Harry! I'm doing you a favour, teaching this little weasel a lesson-" Daggart explained as he scampered to the floor to retrieve his wand but Harry came charging up to him
"Get off of him!" Harry roared, aiming his wand up at his neck
"Or what?" Daggart bit, sneering down at Harry as he climbed back to his feet. Draco remained back against the wall still rubbing his wrist which had bruised considerably
"You don't want to know" Harry growled
"He's a filthy death eater! HE'S SCUM!" Daggart was furious now, his face had turned totally scarlet. It was like watching a raging bull unleashed ready to fight anyone who stood in his way
Harry tried to control his words though he was shaking to the core "Leave him alone" he ordered
"You should've murdered him along with the Dark Lord!" Daggart growled with wild eyes and in the same breath he grabbed Draco harshly by the back of the neck and slammed him headfirst against the wall, smashing his skull into the stone where blood sprayed up the brickwork. Draco screamed out in pain and collapsed to the floor
"Stupefy!!" Harry yelled, sending Daggart flying back into the air with a sickening smack as he too hit the back wall and slid to the floor
Harry ran over to Draco who was twisted on the floor in agony. Blood was pooling from the side of his head, running down his cheekbone and neck and staining his shirt
"Fuck, Draco! Fuck!" Harry cried, on the edge of tears but the fury inside of him held him back from breaking "You're gonna be okay! We can heal you I promise-"
"Expelliarmus!" Daggart yelled, causing Harry's wand to fly from his grip and crash onto the floor behind him. Harry froze for a second, so familiar at the hands of his wand, he suddenly felt lost without it as the boy came charging towards him. He got to his feet and scrambled against the wall but was cornered and felt the sickening crunch of a fist meeting his nose
"Who the fuck do you think you are?!" Daggart screamed "Standing up for a death eater! You're a traitor!"
Another punch met Harry's stomach which winded him and he dropped to his knees. Even Daggart's friends had now retreated back, scared of what had been unleashed
Daggart smiled as he towered over Harry who was regaining his breath. He turned back to Draco and pulled him up by his arm, which made Draco cry out, feeling his already swollen wrist crushed under his monstrous grip, blood was still dripping off his face
"Let him go!" Harry hissed, still disorientated from the punch
Draco writhed against his grip but struggled to get away "Please... Daggart... arghh!... let me go... please" his tone dropped and became desperate as he begged him, on the verge of tears, pleading with him to stop this
Daggart faltered, studying Draco's face while he held him close in a painful grip. He was face to face with him, while his nails dug into the skin of his arm, Draco could feel the anger vibrating off of him, hate seething through his eyes
"Please... you've done enough..." Draco whimpered, inches from his face
He expected another hit, or a slam against the floor but nothing came and the tension was breaking him, surely Harry would be able to get up now? He would come and pull him away?
But Daggart stared down at him, shaking with anger. He looked Draco up and down with the most detestable sneer across his face, then spat at him in disgust
Draco gasped and froze, his own blood boiling inside of him wanting so desperately to fight back and hex him into the ground but he was weak, the pain in his head tearing him down but didn't have time to process what he'd just done as he was thrown to the floor and kicked in the stomach
Harry felt sick watching his boyfriend being abused, he felt fury like he'd never known before. He clasped the end of his wand with his fingertips and threw the first spell from the floor
"Stupefy!" he threw at Daggart who flew back once more and landed on his side, groaning in pain
"Confringo!" Harry aimed another at the wall beside Daggart causing the bricks to explode and crash down near him, leaving a hole in the wall. The noise was enough to throw him off giving Harry a chance to get to his feet and close in on him
"Don't you dare touch him again, you understand me?" Harry growled through his teeth, seething with anger
"What is he? Your boyfriend?" Daggart spat, followed by laugher from his cronies and a malicious smirk
Harry didn't answer. He couldn't tell him, anyone of them. He couldn't risk people like him finding out about their relationship, he knew if word got out that he'd make their last month at Hogwarts a living hell
He darted a look across to Draco who was curled on the floor, red and bloodied.
"He's not a death eater, not anymore"
"He's the reason so many people in this school died! He let those death eaters in the school, he lead them to Dumbledore-"
"and he protected me from Voldemort, so if it weren't for him, I'd be dead and you'd have followed close behind" Harry bit
"He deserves to rot in hell for all I care!" Daggart yelled
Harry glared at him, seething with hate. His chest was heaving and eyes were bloodshot, dust still lingering in the air around them
Daggart pulled himself off the floor slowly, his eyes remaining fixed on Harry with a malicious smile "You think you're protecting him now? You just wait until you leave this place. He'll be dead within a week"
Harry threw a wordless spell at him, which hit directly in the shoulder knocking him back against the wall. He didn't fall this time, but he was tiring
Draco looked up at Harry, seeing the rage boiling inside of him. He was on the edge, his wand pointing fiercely at Daggart, ready to strike him over and over. Harry's hand was trembling with fury, the adrenaline was coursing from his panting chest and wild eyes
Despite the pain writhing through his body, Draco managed to stand and lunged at Harry, gripping his wand and holding him back. He stood at Harry's side, looking at the boy who was ready to cause pain, ready say those unforgivable words
Harry, still shaking, gritted his teeth, heightening his aim at Daggart but Draco grasped his wrist, yanking his arm down
"Harry, no." he begged "I know what you're about to say, and it's not worth it, please"
Draco's eyes were desperate, wildly imploring Harry to see sense. Gradually, Harry lowered his wand and exhaled, at the same time Daggart found his feet and mustered the energy one last time to launch himself toward Draco, his fist colliding with his already blood covered cheek.
Harry was too late to defend him, watching in shock as the sickening thud echoed off the walls and Draco collapsed to the floor at his feet while Daggart loomed over him wiping the blood off his knuckles
Draco was on the ground, staring up at the ceiling feeling the world caving in on him. He heard the sound of Harry yelling and laughter from across the hall. Everything span and warped into one fluid motion as a wave of blackness swallowed him, falling into darkness and finally blacking out
_______________________
Draco woke the following morning in the hospital wing, slowly regaining consciousness and allowing the early rising sun to creep into his vision as he lay in the bed at the far end of the room.
"Draco! You're awake!" it was Pansy who got to him first, perching softly on the side of his bed and stroking the hair from his eyes "I was so worried about you!"
"Hey Pans" he muttered with a weak smile
"How are you feeling?" she asked, Blaise approached closely behind her, and Draco noticed Ron and Hermione on the other side of the room, tending to Harry
"I feel fine now. I suspect Madam Pomfrey has worked her usual miracles and cleaned me right up" Draco looked down at his previously swollen wrist to see it had returned to its normal size and was almost back to his usual pale complexion
"You'll be happy to know that Daggart has been suspended. McGonagall was furious and said there will be further investigation"
"I don't even care anymore I just never want to see his smug face ever again" Draco rubbed his eyes and slumped back into the pillow but perked back up as he saw Harry approaching him. He looked irritated. His white shirt was still stained with Draco's blood
"Draco" he sighed, pushing past Pansy and grabbing Draco's face, crashing their lips together in a hungry kiss. He caressed the back of his head holding him close, feeling so relieved that he could kiss him again. The others stepped back, which shielded their kiss from anyone else in the room until they broke apart. Pansy, Blaise, Ron and Hermione decided to give them some space and made their excuses to leave the two alone for a while
"Mr Malfoy, I need to check you over once more before you can leave" Madam Pomfrey stated, charging back over to him with a vial of medicine and a cloth. She tilted his head to one side, inspecting the bruising across Draco's forehead which was fading gradually
Harry watched as she dabbed more fluid onto the affected areas as he winced in pain
"Mr Malfoy, I have no choice but to report this incident to Professor McGonagall. This is the third time this year you've been in here due to violence with other students" she explained. Draco decided not to mention the last beating he received which had been tended to by Hermione instead
"I think McGongall is already aware of this one, Madam Pomfey" Harry stated "There may have been an explosion in the wall that caught her attention..."
"Well, in that case I shall update her on your condition and hope to never see you in this hospital wing again. Now, pardon me while I retrieve the medication that you will need to ease the concussion. I'll be back shortly" and with that she darted off out of sight leaving the boys alone on the hospital bed
They remained silent for a while, Draco felt sick with guilt and couldn't quite pin how Harry was handling this
"I'm so sorry, Harry" Draco muttered eventually
"I don't need your apologies" Harry answered back. He was irritable, still angry from the fight. He pursed his lips and looked off to the corner of the room
"You're upset with me aren't you?" Draco asked
"No. I'm not."
"But you're-"
"I'm angry, Draco! Of course I'm angry, that bastard beat you half to death!!"
Draco sat up on his elbows "I told you this would happen! I warned you! He's just a seventeen year old with a grudge, what's going to happen when we leave school? Who's going to pick a fight with me next? People who practice dark magic? or have no problem using unforgivable curses? He said he wanted to see me dead, Harry! Everyone wants to see me dead!"
"Well, not me!" Harry shouted. He stood up from the bed to pace the room, his anger boiling up inside him again and he didn't want to be close to Draco when he exploded
"I don't think you have a choice! I said that this was how my life would be now and you told me you we're fine with it. We've not even left school yet and you're already blowing up corridors and hexing people!"
"People who deserve it! Draco, he smashed your skull against the wall and spat in your face... he can rot in hell for all I care" Harry snapped
"Harry-"
"No, Draco. If I leave you then I'll be miserable and heartbroken and If I stay with you and watch you get hurt again I'll be miserable and heartbroken too so either way it doesn't matter I would rather stand by your side and fight with you and protect you because you're my bloody boyfriend and I'm in love with you!" Harry snapped, staring at Draco furiously
But Draco faltered, his gaze shifting from Harry to Madam Pomfrey who had appeared behind him, stopping dead in her tracks as she overheard what Harry had just said
Harry noticed Draco's attention pass behind him and twisted around, locking eyes with her uncomfortably. She looked back and forth from Draco to Harry, her mouth half open in surprise. She stifled an awkward cough and walked forward, placing the medicine down on the bedside table, then she straightened her apron, gathering her thoughts
"You two boys are... in a relationship?" she asked
Draco looked down at the sheets as his cheeks flushed but Harry swallowed and nodded, sliding his hand over Draco's and squeezing it
"Yes. We are" Harry answered, feeling so awkward that even another punch in the face from Daggart would have been more bearable than coming out to a member of staff about his love life
"I see" she nodded "Please tell me that your current injuries we're not the result of a homophobic attack?"
"Oh no, they weren't" Harry reassured her "Just a bully picking fights"
"Good. Well, not good. I never wish to see students coming to me in a condition like yours but as I'm sure you're aware, discrimination of any kind will never be tolerated at Hogwarts. Anyway, I'm glad you two have found each other" she smiled
"Thank you, Madam Pomfrey" Draco said
"Now Mr Malfoy, you must take your medicine daily and get plenty of rest, your injuries have healed substantially but you will still need to take extra care, especially from the concussion"
"Don't worry, I'll take of him" Harry smiled and kissed Draco softly on the forehead and she nodded with a smile, turning to make her way to her office
"Excuse me, Madam Pomfrey!-" Harry suddenly called out. She turned to face him "Um... please could you not tell anyone about us..."
"It's not my business to tell, Mr Potter" she gave a reassuring look at them both and left the room
"Well, that's another person we can tick off of the 'come out to' list" Harry joked
"At least she handled it well, can't say the same for many others" Draco still looked miserable
"Well screw them If they don't like us being together"
"Harry, I don't want another attack like that-"
"Nobody is going to attack you, Draco"
"But what if they attack you? It wasn't easy for me either you know, seeing Daggart punching you like that!"
"Draco, stop. Please" Harry's tone had dropped and he felt irritable again
Draco sighed, closing his eyes. He was tired of having this argument with him "I just... don't want this to be our future. Constantly running from people who want to harm me, seeing others abuse you for standing up for me"
"I don't care!" Harry shouted, turning back to Draco. He took some time to control his breathing but the tears started forming as everything came crashing down on him, every emotion, every memory. His voice began to crack "Draco, when he threw your head against the wall... and-and the bl-blood... came... gushing down... and you were c-covered... I-I-" Harry broke into sobs, burying his face in his hands
"Hey, hey, it's okay. Please don't cry, Harry. I'm healed now. Shhhh, I'm here, I'm safe" Draco cooed, pulling Harry into his chest, his heart aching seeing him break down like this. He spoke softly while Harry remained crying into his hands
Harry tried to speak but the lump in his throat restricted any sound from coming out. He dropped his hands and wiped his eyes while Draco wrapped his hands around his head and kissed him gently
"This was just one arsehole who wanted to pick a fight, I promise you we won't be dealing with this anymore" Draco assured, pulling him close into his chest, feeling Harry sobbing quietly "I'm healed now, I'm here"
Harry straightened up and coughed back the tears, he nodded and trailed to a soft cry "I can't.. get that image... out of my m-mind..." Harry sniffed "The sound of... of... your skull hitting the stone... just... makes me feel sick to my stomach.. and... the b-b-blood..."
"Shhh, Harry. We're together now and that's all that matters"
He held Harry close to his chest, saying no more. Harry's quiet sobs slowly falling to shallow breathing, where he closed his eyes and relaxed into Draco's body, feeling his warmth wrap around him like a protective blanket
"I love you, Harry" Draco whispered, kissing his cheek
"I love you more"
"Not possible"
They shared a smile and made their way back to the common room, desperate to spend the night in each others arms and to fall into a blissful sleep