The Dragon's Kitten

24 - Pain With No Gain

~*~*Draco's POV*~*~

I was irritated. My arm was burning. My head ached and I wasn't sleeping well. This was all that old man's fault. He had no right to take Harry away from me. No right to keep us apart and yet we were forced to sit apart for meals. Harry couldn't even enter my common room.

And My Fucking Arm Was Burning.

The goddamn mark on my arm that I hated. The mark Harry made me forget about. I started scratching at it again. Everytime Harry's words filled my ears. Harry. It made my arm burn more and I scratched more. Stupid Harry had made me forget about it and now he felt so far away from me.

One fucking week and four days. That's how long it had been since I was able to sleep next to Harry. It had taken no more than a day for it to affect my mood. Two days and I was ready to kill but I kept telling myself to think about what Harry was going through. He had a bigger issue than me.

A sudden sting in my hand made me look down. I was bleeding and there was a kitten laying on my other arm. I couldn't believe that Harry was a kitten again. I looked at his seat and it was empty. Everyone was staring at us. I tried to move him but he hissed at my hand. It took me a while to realize he didn't want me to scratch my arm.

He watched me carefully even after I said I wouldn't scratch. Merlin I missed him like this and I didn't even realize until now. My cute tiny little kitten all curled up on his stuffed dragon. A little stick of dynamite waiting to explode. I picked him up and held him, not wanting to let go.

I had to let him change back. I could tell something was wrong before he said my name. His eyes were dull and distant. It was like his body was rejecting him. My heart shattered when he asked for help and passed out. I immediately moved to pick him up. I needed to be the one he could rely on.

"Don't you dare fucking touch him Zabini." I growled as Blaise tried to help me support him.

I understood that he wanted to help but Harry was mine and I was pissed off enough as it was. I wouldn't let anyone touch him. I pulled Harry into my lap which made it easier to turn on the bench. I decided against taking my bag with me.

"Back the fuck off Weasley." I smacked Ronald's hand away. "I don't need anyone's help."

Blaise and Pansy basically acted as security keeping me from the other people. I lifted Harry and walked out of the Hall. Since we couldn't get into each other's houses I decided to go to the one place I had been avoiding. The Room of Requirement was the last place I wanted to be but the only place I could go.

I laid Harry down on the bed and sighed. I probably should have taken him to madam Pomfrey, but I didn't want people to know where we were. I brushed his hair from his face. He didn't look like he was in pain. I kissed his forehead and stood up. I paced around the room until I got tired.

"Harry, I'm so sorry. Please come back to me." I sighed and laid next to him.

I pulled Harry against me and he felt so cold. I would have thought he was dead if not for his steady breathing. My heart was racing as I held onto him. He was a human heater and I was the icey one. This was all that old man's fucking fault.

Harry shifted in my arms. I looked down at him. He was shivering from being cold. I pulled the blanket over us and kissed his forehead. I thought about taking him to madam Pomfrey again but decided against it. I knew that I was taking a risk by doing that but I couldn't risk being separated from him.

"I love you so much it hurts Harry. This year has basically gone by so fast and there's not one moment I'd change. Except for the last week and a half." I said softly.

I didn't know what talking to myself would do to help Harry. It kept me from freaking out though. Harry wasn't dead which was good and I didn't want to think about losing him.

*~*~*~*~*

Before I even opened my eyes I knew something was wrong. My arms were empty. I sat up and looked around the room. Harry was seriously gone. I had fallen asleep and they had taken...

Arms wrapped around my neck and a tail around my waist. I turned around slowly. A very dazed looking Harry smiled at me. I could tell it was a forced smile. He was in pain and that was obvious on his face. I gently pulled Harry into my lap and moved so that I could lean against the headboard.

"I didn't want to wake you." Harry said softly.

"It's okay love. I'm glad you're awake." I kissed his forehead.

I hadn't realized that Harry was shaking until he stopped. I ran my fingers through his hair and he leaned into my hand. The pain on his face temporarily disappeared. I wished I knew what was happening to him so that I could help.

"You're so warm." Harry sighed and snuggled closer.

I pulled the blanket up and covered us. His shaking and shivering came and went. When I did certain things he'd stop shaking for a moment and the pained look would go away. It only ever lasted for a moment. Harry eventually fell asleep in my arms again. I sat there thinking about it again.

"Dragon, I love you." Harry said softly.

"I thought you were asleep, Kitten." I said.

"It's too hard. I'm too cold and my body hurts."

I sighed. "I hate to ask this but... Can you turn into a cat again?"

Harry shrugged and closed his eyes. His body transformed and a kitten curled up in my lap. I lifted him and held him to my chest. I expected him to make a fuss. I thought I might be hurting him. Harry purred and was no longer shaking. It was the only thing I could think of at the moment anyway.

At least as a kitten I could cover his whole body. I could try and make the pain go away. I didn't care for food or classes. I only wanted Harry to be okay. I only cared about being there for him. About keeping him safe and...

"Harry?" I frowned.

I was feeling major deja vu. Harry was completely asleep and completely human again. I sighed and tried my best not to wake him. He finally looked at peace, warm and comfortable. I kept running through options and ideas in my mind. None of them made any sense as to why this happened.

A while later Harry yawned and stretched. I half expected him to become a cat again but he didn't. He flinched and curled into a ball. The pained look on his face returned but so did his colour. I placed a hand on his forehead, almost expecting him to have a fever. It would have made sense if he was.

"What's happening to me?" Harry asked in a whimper as he crawled back into my lap.

"I don't know love. But I'm not going to leave you I promise." I kissed his forehead and held him close.

A million ideas were running through my mind. Was it because he turned into a cat again? Or because we had been apart for so long? Did the goblin's solution cause this? Or is it some super super delayed response to the potion that started this? I didn't know enough about Neko's to pick the right option.

"Kiss me."

I raised an eyebrow at Harry.

"Please just kiss me, Draco."

I leaned forward and kissed him. Harry's arms wrapped around my neck and he pulled closer to me. The deja vu hit me again and I gently pushed him away. Harry whined and tried to kiss me again. I couldn't allow myself to take advantage of him. Not when I wasn't sure what was happening.

Harry cringed and gripped his head. I touched his hair and ears popped out. He flinched again and cried into my chest. All I could do was hold him. I silently cursed myself for being so useless and Harry passed out again. I continued to run my fingers through his hair as he slept.

"I'm really sorry Harry. I don't know how to help you." I sighed.

Whatever it was Madam Pomfrey couldn't do anything either. Harry seemed to be getting better and worse all at the same time. He wasn't as cold as before but his eyes still hadn't gained their shine. He was in a lot more pain but he was staying human - for the most part. My heart was aching as I watched him.

(1535 Words)