Samsara's Curse (Drarry Slowburn)

SILVER LININGS

CW: This chapter contains recreational drug use.

Harry woke up the next morning with a searing pain in his shoulder—no doubt caused by his previous injury as an Auror.

When Draco came downstairs for breakfast, Harry put down his mug of coffee and called the Slytherin's attention, "By the way, Luna is coming over at around two o'clock."

"Lovegood?" Draco said, making sure he heard Harry correctly. He hadn't heard the name in years.

"Scamander, now," amended Harry. "And she's a Healer. She helps me with my shoulder when it gives me problems."

Something in Draco's expression was content as he retrieved a tea bag from the pantry, "I always wondered what happened to her. Is she at St. Mungo's?"

Harry winced a little, "No. St. Mungo's rejected her applications. Something about her bedside manner being . . . a bit off."

Draco nodded stiffly in the ensuing silence. There wasn't much else he could say. He understood St. Mungo's' reasoning, but he kept that to himself. Luna wasn't the type to change who she was to please others, which was all fine and well, but that entailed being less personable to each patient. She was more of a free spirit than a service worker.

Harry proceeded optimistically, "But that just means she can set her own hours, as a freelance Healer. She's always had a real knack for healing magic, even back at Hogwarts. She was the one who fixed my broken nose in sixth year. I'm sure I don't have to explain how that happened." Harry took a relishing sip of his coffee, the corners of his mouth curling up slyly.

Draco folded his arms, glaring, "You deserved it."

Harry laughed in a way that caught Draco off guard. He expected Harry to hold some sort of grudge against him, but he didn't.

"I was bloody obsessed," Harry recalled, shaking his head. "Hermione and Ron thought I had completely lost the plot."

"Oh, please. You lost your mind a lot sooner than that," Draco relished, stirring sugar into his tea. Obsessed with what, exactly? he thought but did not say.

"Maybe . . . but I don't have any regrets," Harry smiled softly.

Draco's playful expression vanished. He scoffed, longing to feel the same way yet knowing he would forever be unable to. Harry merely watched the blond wizard retreat back upstairs, not knowing how to assuage the somber air floating around him.

-x-

"Just once more will do," Luna chimed, twirling her wand beneath Harry's shoulder blade.

Immediately, he felt relief wash over him. The pain had subsided. "Thanks again." Harry beamed, "You're a lifesaver."

Luna's large blue eyes stared back in consideration. Luna the Lifesaver had a nice ring to it.

Just then, their attention shifted to the sound of approaching footsteps. Harry's heart caught in his throat. He already warned Draco that Luna was coming over, and he was certain that their voices were audible from down the hall. Wasn't he worried about another wizard being privy to the fact he was alive?

The Slytherin entered the kitchen hesitantly, the hem of his black pajama bottoms dragging on the floor. He seemed nervous, but Harry had no right to force him into solitude.

Luna's face brightened, "Draco!" She nearly knocked him over with the sheer force of her all-encompassing hug.

Harry was taken aback. Luna was no stranger to unconditional kindness, but this was just odd—even for her. Draco didn't quite know how to react, either.