𝐀 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐓 𝐒𝐎 𝐑𝐀𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐎𝐔𝐒

Chapter 39

Chapter Number/Total: 39/44
Chapter Title: The Sleeper

The twins were in their swing. Besides the gentle sounds of breathing, its rocking was the only noise in the room, well, that and the quiet, constant babbling from another man sharing the room with Draco. Almost three weeks had passed. Twenty days to be exact. Harry and the boys hadn't missed a day of those twenty. Faithfully, they came to see Draco in the hospital. Faithfully, Harry believed he would wake up. Tomorrow he will be awake. Tomorrow. Tomorrow. Tomorrow. He wasn't awake yet, but he would be.

Harry knew everyone thought it was hopeless. Even Narcissa, who still came to see Draco almost every day as well, was getting more and more depressed. The Healers had even said not to come in every day anymore, that Harry should stop with the hassle, but he refused. Once the Ministry had learned of what happened, he'd been given time off of work, but even that was starting to run out now. There was only so much he could miss before he fell too far behind to complete the program, but that hardly even crossed his mind. He came to see Draco every day, and would continue to do so. Only Draco mattered. Their family. Only Draco.

Harry kissed the ring on Draco's left hand, and then kissed his skin. "And you would think I'd say Corvus will be the Slytherin," he said, continuing his conversation with Draco. "But I actually think it might be Caelum. He's sneaky, and Corvus just spills everything out. Gryffindor recklessness. I'm sure you would agree." He smiled a little and sighed, rubbing Draco's hand with his thumb. "I love you," he whispered, looking down at the ring on his own hand and feeling the frustrated tears forming like they usually did. Most of the time he was able to hold them off, and he tried to do so right then.

He felt the smallest squeeze of Draco's fingers in his. His head snapped up. He hadn't just imagined that, had he? "Draco?" he said quietly, though it was clear in the silent room. He was almost afraid to hope.

This time, the fingers tightened and held on a little longer.

Harry's eyes widened; his breathing sped up. Chills of excitement and nervousness and awe raced through his body and his eyes watered from it. "Draco," he said again, more loudly. Long fingers curled around his and Harry would swear that Draco's mouth twitched.

He released an utterly mad-sounding laugh, springing from his chair and getting right up close to Draco's face. "Draco," he said yet again, kissing him. "Draco, can you hear me? I'm right here." He was tempted to run and find Healer Roderick if he was there, but he also didn't want to leave.

Draco made a small face, something between a smile and a grimace. His fingers in Harry's hand tightened again and he took a deep shuddering breath.

Harry's heart was beating so fast he thought he might pass out. "Baby," he said, voice filled with relief and, Merlin, such amazement he could barely think. "Baby, wake up."

Draco grimaced again but then his eyelids fluttered, finally blinking. He gasped, body shuddering before he managed to open his eyes fully. He was having trouble focusing, but he heard Harry's voice.

Tears flowed from Harry's eyes, but there was such a smile on his face he probably looked completely insane. He felt completely insane right then. "Oh, Merlin," he groaned, his voice still thick with relief and emotion.

Draco blinked again, trying to make his eyes focus. He saw Harry and gave him a little smile, fingers squeezing again. "Hi," he tried to say, but no sound came out, only the shape of the word on his lips.

Harry wanted to grab Draco. He wanted to grab him and squeeze him and never let him go, but he settled for another kiss, tears and tears streaming. "I knew you would wake up," he said. "I knew you would. I knew."