I Think I Like Him

10. Enticing Breaths & Shame-Filled Glances

Word Count: 1205

_________________________

The moon illuminated the room dimly, the large hospital ward was cold and sanitary, and echoed whimpers bounced off the walls in deep, thundering wails.

Harry's head was lolled back as groans of pain escaped his fractured lips. Not long after Madam Pomfrey had retired for the night, his pain-relieving potions had lost their effect, leaving Harry a clammy mess. His eyes and limbs felt weighted down, but sleep was out of the question. The pulses from both his head and ribs radiated through him, and his hand trembled as he bit into his fist.

How had this even happened? He had told himself that he would never do this again, not after the train. He felt so weak, confined to bed rest after he had let his whole team down.

Harry instantly broke out of his thoughts when the low creak of the door grabbed his attention. He buried his teeth further into his fist as he desperately tried not to breath. The tapping of footsteps stopped outside his bed, of which was assumingly the only one with the curtains drawn closed.

"Potter?" A hushed voice spoke, cutting through the silence. Harry paused momentarily, "Ron?"

"I doubt that Weasley would refer to you as 'Potter' " Malfoy pushed the curtain aside and stepped through. Harry let out a groan "What are you doing here, Malfoy?"

"What? Not happy to see your saviour?"

Harry scoffed "If it wasn't you, it would have been someone else.."

Malfoy's eyebrows raised "hardly-"

"What?"

"If it hadn't of been for me, you'd be dead right now. You were inches from the ground when I stopped you"

"Yea, and because of that I'll be stuck in this bed for days." Harry retaliated, sharply.

"Better than what would have happened if I'd left it to your idiot friends!  ...ungrateful prat" Malfoy snarled.

"Self-entitled bastard.." Harry snapped, gripping his side tighter having had forgot his efforts to remain still in the myst of their bickering, resulting in his ribs ricocheting in pain. Malfoy's eyes darted up, glancing at his side before meeting his eyes. "You said you had to stay here for a few days" He started with noted caution.

"And?" He replied, leaning back in the thin mattress that smelled far too clinical for Harry's liking. "Why?"

"Why d'you think, Malfoy?" He rolled his eyes.

"Yea- I know, but.. you didn't hit the ground so I thought-"

Harry stared at him incredulously, as he watched him fumble over his words. How delightfully un-Malfoy like. He mused, a smile playing on his lips. The Slytherin grimaced when he caught sight of the smug look on Harry's face. "Madam Pomfrey said something about the pressure of the fall or- I dunno"

"So what did that do?" He said, Nodding to Harry's hand still relentlessly gripping his side, the skin concealed by a thick layer of tightly wrapped bandages. "Broke a few ribs" Malfoy nodded, looking down as if deep in thought.

"But why would that take days? Surly they can be fixed in an instant?"

"Madam Pomfrey said one of the ribs shattered, so she had to regrow the skin- or the muscle? And she said she wanted to monitor the regrowing just in case- Wait, why do you even care?"

Malfoy's eyes snapped up and he shrugged. "Just- making conversation"

"Why"

"Because it's polite, not that you would know, Potter"

"Why are you being polite, Malfoy?"

"Why are you asking so many questions, Potter?"

"I'll stop if you just answer just one" Malfoy huffed, crossing his arms over his chest. "Fine.. What?"

"Why did you save me?" Harry cringed inwardly at the word 'save' but didn't let it show as he stared at Malfoy intently.

...

Draco quieted, thinking through his response carefully. "Well.. it didn't look as if anyone else was going to.."  his own words struck him and his head bowed slightly, his sympathy for the Gryffindor made him want to sink into the ground. Potter's nostrils flared and he sat up quickly, seemingly ready to punch him, when he hissed loudly and laid back again, clutching his side like it was a lifeline.

"Wha- didn't Madam Pomfrey give you a pain-killer potion?!" Draco gasped in horror. When Draco was younger he had come into an unfortunate situation himself, involving a game of truth and dare, and a very uncooperative Pegasus in the stable of Malfoy Manor. Long story short, he knew the process of growing back bones was very painful.

"She did- but after she left they wore off-" Potter sucked his teeth harshly mid-sentence "the effect isn't as strong as usual, I'll blame it on the fact I've landed myself in here so often" He managed a laugh that was cut short by a strangled gasp, and he tucked his head into his neck.

Draco looked around wildly, not having the faintest idea of what to do. "I'll find some potions but just- breath"

"Christ I'm not in bloody labour Malfoy!"

Draco snorted, but Potter appeared not to notice as he squeezed his eyes shut tightly. The blond clicked his tongue awkwardly, and pushed the privacy curtains around Harry's bed away and set for the potions cupboard.

With a quick Alohomora on the foolishly weak wards for a potions supply closet in a school full of many mischief addicts, he Scowered the shelves until he found a strong enough pain-relief potion. Once he did, he rushed back down the ward and back to Potters bed, his groans of pain hurrying him along.

He held the purple liquid to his lips, and Potter looked down at it skeptically, before allowing the sticky, gel-like substance to drip down his throat. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, and looked at Draco.

It was then that they realised at the same time how close they were to each other. Neither moved. Neither breathed. Potters eyes switched between Draco's, his mouth slightly agape. The silence from not 20 minutes before was so lonely, as he had been walking the halls after hours.

But this.

His heartbeat was in his ears, and he subconsciously leaned closer, and Potter did the same. The ravens eyes lowered, and for a brief second he wondered why, but with an odd flutter he realised they had flicked to his lips. Draco could feel Potter's breath on his face now, and the warmth only enticed him further. Their lips brushed, and Draco marvelled at the softness.

Potter looked back up, eyes wide, and that was enough to break Draco out of his trance, and realise what they had just done. He got up quickly; standing awkwardly next to the bed. Draco swallowed and studied Potter. His hair was ruffled, and his cheeks were tinted a light shade of pink. His lips were parted slightly, and Draco could tell he was holding his breath. He cleared his throat "do you- er.. need anything else?"

Potter shook his head and leaned back in his bed, seemingly unable to speak. Draco nodded as he too, seemed short of words. "Well I'll be off then.." he eventually said lamely, casting Potter one last shame-filled glance before exiting the hospital ward.