𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐎 𝐄𝐃𝐄𝐍

Chapter 2

Two

Harry came around to an awful sound. He cracked open his eyes and glanced at the digital clock: 6:30 am. The sound of Draco retching drew Harry towards the bathroom and he came onto the pathetic sight of his ex-boyfriend clutching the toilet bowl and heaving.

Draco didn't notice his presence till Harry held a wet cloth to his neck, brushing his bangs off his sweaty forehead and giving him a reassuring smile. Draco smiled back thinly before his food came hurtling back again. He was clad in Harry's sweatpants but his bare torso glistened with sweat.

Harry rubbed his lean back, feeling his spine beneath the fragile skin. Draco had lost a frightful amount of weight. Harry knew cancer patients tended to lose weight, but he wondered what Draco ate-if anything at all.

After what seemed like an excruciatingly long time to Harry, Draco wiped his mouth with a shaky hand and sank on the cold tile.

"Alright?" Harry asked, wiping his lips gently.

"Yeah. 'M used to it." He chuckled weakly.

"What?" Harry smiled.

"Never thought I'd have you here to witness it." Harry helped him to his feet and Draco rinsed his mouth vigorously. Still as clean as ever, Harry thought before handing him a brand new toothbrush.

"Do you want anything to drink? Any breakfast preference?"

Draco rolled his eyes at his reflection. "Oh please Harry, you and breakfast? I doubt you even have anything in the kitchen."

Harry had the decency to blush. "Yeah, well, I mostly live off take-out. I work late. I have milk and eggs and...um carrots I think."

Draco made another face before he spit into the basin and washed his mouth. "That should do." He wiped his mouth on the towel Harry handed and gave him another sweet smile. "Freshen up. I'll put something together."

By the time Harry ventured into the kitchen, Draco had already set the table and was fumbling with some bottles behind the counter.

"Need some help?" Harry asked, holding out his hand.

Draco handed him the small bottle with a sigh. "I can't unscrew the bloody cap!. How do they expect me to take the medication?" he grumbled.

Harry snapped the bottle open with a quick twist of his wrist, holding it out to him with a flourish. Draco simply rolled his eyes before thrusting another bottle in his hands.

He popped two pills from the first bottle, washing them down with water, and two more from the second.

"What about that one?" Harry asked, pointing to a small white one that looked suspiciously like aspirin.

"Not now-that's a pain reliever for headaches, but my head seems fine today." He poked Harry playfully when he noticed his concern. "Must be the session we had yesterday. Maybe sex is therapeutic."

Harry laughed when Draco wiggled his eyebrows coyly. "We can make appointments anytime you want, lo-" he suddenly stopped and Draco froze.

They both blinked at each other and Harry could feel the blush rising on his cheeks the longer they stared. Finally, Draco found his voice to break the awkward moment.

"I-I made breakfast. We should eat it before it gets cold."

"Oh right, yeah..."

Harry followed Draco to the small circular dinning table and they both sat down to their egg omelets and steamed carrots.

"You've outdone yourself, Draco," Harry remarked as he dug in. "You should write a book: the Bare Minimum Recipes."

Draco smiled, but didn't comment. He was too busy cutting his food in small pieces. Harry watched him take a small bite and chew slowly. He didn't seem all that hungry.

They ate in silence, but each was aware of the other's every movement. What does Draco mean to me now? Harry thought. He had accidentally called him "love", an old endearment.Harry watched Draco shuffle the food around his plate, sipping his juice, but not taking another bite. He had finished less than half and didn't seem too keen on finishing the rest. Harry wished he'd eat more.

"Draco," Harry began, "If you don't want that I can go get anything you like."

But Draco shook his head. "Oh no Harry, it's not the food. I'm-I'm never really hungry."

"But you need to eat-"

"Yeah," he ducked his head and took a small bite, giving him a smile when he looked up. But Harry was too worried to smile back.

Draco sighed and pushed his plate away. "I try, Harry, but I don't want to spend the next hour puking my guts up."

"But isn't the medicine supposed to help?"

"It did at first, but not now-not anymore," he gave him a thin smile. "Don't fret over it. I drink fluids enough and they give me a IV whenever I go in for a checkup."

"An IV?" Harry's concern only grew. "You can't get all your nutrients that way. Just tell me what you like Draco-tell me what you want right now. I'll run downtown and grab whatever it is-"

"Harry," Draco softly cut in, reaching across to touch his hand. "It's ok. You don't think you're the first to try this do you? Mum's already failed that tactic. I ate whatever she brought me, but spent the next day retching my guts out. The nausea never leaves me and, given how weak I am already, the doctor doesn't want to risk pumping stronger drugs. I'll be fine. I usually eat small meals throughout the day. I won't starve myself."

Harry finally calmed enough to give him a tight smile. "Well you let me know whenever you're hungry."

Draco laughed. "How long do you think I'm staying here? I've got to go back to the hospital this afternoon. They'll make sure my stomach's happy."

Harry fidgeted nervously with his hands under the table. "Can I drive you there?"

Draco blinked. "What about your work? Don't you have to go?"

"No-I mean, yes but I can go in late-"

"Oh no, you're not skiving work for my sake. I don't want you to get in trouble because of me." Harry raised an eyebrow. "As if that's never happened."

Draco smirked, remembering all the mischief they had gotten up to in their college days. Oh, if only he could go back...He shook his head.

"Doesn't matter. I'll be in there for a couple hours-you never know how long it's going to take-bloody hospitals. And besides, I'd rather you didn't hover."

Defeated, Harry slumped in his chair. "Well alright, but what are you going to do after?"

Draco gave him a bemused look. "I have a place, Harry-well, technically I'm living with Mum."

"Who's going to drive you?"

"Harry Potter," Draco huffed, "I'm a twenty-five year old man who has a perfectly legal driver's license and a perfectly good car. I can drive myself wherever I want and I know the way home thanks."

Harry chuckled when Draco mocked him with a glare. He had never been intimidated by it, though he knew a few people who were. He thought it made him look rather cute.

"So you're going to go home," Harry said, "What about the evening?"

"What about it?"

"Do you have any plans?"

Draco didn't reply at once and Harry saw his eyes widen slightly. "Not really," he cautiously replied. "Why?"

Harry shrugged. "Mind if I drop by? We could go to the movies or something."

A slow smirk stretched his thin lips. "Are you asking me out to a date Harry?"

No, I'd rather just shag you again, he thought, but said, "Something like that. What do you say?"

"Have I ever said no to you?" and Harry swore Draco's cheeks darkened before he ducked his head.