Drarry - It Was All Just a Game (REWRITE - MATURE VERSION)

CHAPTER 72 - BONDING

"I can't believe that you made our professor shit his pants in front of the entire class for me," Draco said that night when Harry had cast Somnium Amica Mea. Harry burst out into laughter. "Apparently, he spent four hours in the bathroom and had to go to the Hospital Wing after. "

"Oh no, I feel so guilty." Harry kept a sarcastic tone. "I dunno how I'll sleep tonight."

"Cuddling me via a soulmate sleeping spell."

"Oh right, like a baby."

Draco snorted.

"I have good news. They're changing my schedule. I'll be at Hogwarts for four days and then I'll be at treatment over the weekend instead."

"Wow, you must be doing well if they're changing the amount of days you're in treatment."

Harry nodded. "Yeah, but at least one night here, I have to visit Dr. Valerie. I figured I would on Tuesdays."

"So Thursday nights are our date nights now?"

"For the time being, until I go down to only needing two days of treatment."

"How's your heart?"

"I'm hoping Madam Pomfrey will clear me by the end of the week. Fingers crossed. I'm sick of the flavor of bulking potion. It's gross, but it works exponentially, my nurses were saying. The more food I'm eating, which I am eating more and more each day, the more the bulking potion works. Like I said earlier, I feel better. Probably the best I think I've ever felt because I actually know how to eat food properly for what my body needs. It's wild, really because I feel good but then my disorder tries to make me feel bad about it and I've just started laughing at it because it's like, I feel good, I know it's good but it still tries to manipulate me. It's losing a lot of power really quickly. And like I said, I still struggle. But eating well and then all the therapy... how much fun we had over break. Feeling meaning. I'm just glad that I didn't die during the surgery."

Draco couldn't help but feel warm. "I'm glad you didn't either."

Harry licked his lips. "I get a little worried about relapse, though. Remember over break when I was really upset that one day. I had a day like that, but I thought I was going to completely stop eating again. But they said that it might be that way for a couple of years. And I might have a relapse. Peaks and valleys, they said. But I'm sure I'll be dealing with this for a long time. They said the psychology of it can be lifelong."

"Is it still loud?"

"Every meal is different. I'll have a really good one and then a really bad one and then an okay one. I feel like it's been forever since we were at the Weasley's but it's only been, what, two weeks. But maybe it's because I'm getting to the point of medical stabilization, which means my brain is much healthier and can actually process everything. I'm on an upside right now and I'm sure a downside is coming, so get ready for it."

"You'll survive it," Draco said. "You always do."

Following the weekend, Harry came home and spent his time catching up on classwork and dealing with adjusting to being in classes, which was more overwhelming than he thought. It did set him back, and he had to eat on his own, but he did it and continued his potion regimens. The only time Draco and Harry spent together was at night, when they shared a bed in Harry's room, doing face masks and sleeping.

But the next week when Harry came home from treatment, he handed Draco a small box.

Draco raised an eyebrow. He opened it, and inside was a golden snitch. The top of the inside flap read, I've been cleared.

Draco smiled wide, picked him up and spun him. He kissed his cheek; the snitch fluttering around them.

"I'm so proud of you."