Breath-Drarry COMPLETE

Chapter 61

—Draco POV—

"Well, you're going to have to give me time to look at it, Malfoy. I want Harry better just as much as you but, with all due respect, stop nagging me."

A sharp and witty reply died on my tongue as I forced myself to remember just where I was, and who I was with. Ron looked about ready to attack me if I kept pestering his brother. Hermione looked just as ready to hold him back. Harry was fiddling with his hospital bracelet, trying to stay in the background.

I backed away, nodding in understanding and placing my hands behind my back. Bill sighed, looking back at his charts.

"I'm going to take my observations and knowledge back to my office and see what I can find. St. Mungo's has been taking a more symptom-controlling approach, and they're going to have to keep that up before I can get to being able to access his magical core. He needs to be stable in order for us to even begin looking at possible ways to break this curse. Otherwise, his condition will be too risky."

I couldn't quite listen much past that. Something about coming in for a few hours every day and trying something new to figure out the best way to combat the curse. Something else about Harry needing to report every time something happens to him. A few other things I couldn't quite process at the moment. Two days of less than 2 total hours of sleep can put quite the damper on you, but I could care less if it meant helping Harry's situation.

Ron and Hermione tried to speak to me at some point after Bill left, but I wasn't quite listening. Something about politics and France and how Hogwarts was hoping to reopen in a few months' time with Neville Longbottom as headmaster. So he's been recovering well, then.

Soon, they left, too, saying something about the kids, which Mrs. Weasley was watching all of at the moment. Harry was watching me with wide eyes as I came forward.

"How're you feeling today?"

"I'm good. Fever's long gone."

"No impromptu vomiting? Seizures? Pooping?"

Harry let out a slight chuckle. "No, not today. I actually feel rather good."

"Perfect." I stalked over to the side of the hospital cot and nudged him, making to lay beside him, the cot creaking precariously below us.

"What if a healer walks in?"

I grunted, shifting to get comfortable. "The Healer can go stick it, for all I care." And as soon as I found myself in an okay-enough position, I turned to face Harry, shameless as I wrapped my arm around his waist and pulled him close. The tension I'd been holding for the past three days melted away like warm butter. I felt his hand come up around my shoulder and squeeze.

"I love you."

"I love you, too." His hand traveled up and into my hair, caressing softly. The distant hum of sleep began calling me.

"When was the last time you got proper sleep?"

"Don't know," I mumbled, scooting closer to him, reveling in the warmth, the softness. How had I gone so many years in my life without him by my side, just like this? Harry nuzzled into me and I did the same, sighing contentedly when I felt a kiss on my temple.

"You should rest, Draco."

"I am. Right now, with you."

"You know what I mean." But despite the open invitation to continue this back and forth, I refused to answer, only letting myself fall deeper into the sea of comfort I hadn't felt in what seemed like forever. I pressed my face into the crook of Harry's neck, feeling his pulse beating steadily beneath me. I took a deep breath. Harry kissed me again, hand carding through my hair, lulling me further towards sleep.