A New Chapter at Hogwarts [Drarry] ✔

Chapter 41: In the Chaos of Recovery

When Harry finally drifted back into consciousness, it was like emerging from a heavy, suffocating fog. His body protested immediately, every nerve flaring with a dull, aching throb that radiated from his ribs, his arm, and his leg. It was as if he had been pummelled repeatedly, leaving him feeling utterly wrecked. His left arm felt trapped, as though bound by some invisible force, and his leg tingled with an uncomfortable stiffness. His mind struggled to break free from the haze, but the pain tethered him to reality. The faint light filtering through the room brought him some clarity, and with it, awareness of his surroundings.

Blinking against the dim glow, Harry turned his head and felt the gentle weight of another's presence. Beside him, Draco was slumped over in an awkward position, his head resting on the edge of Harry's bed, strands of platinum hair dishevelled in a way that betrayed hours of restless vigil. His face, usually sharp with wit and guarded emotion, was softened with exhaustion, the dark shadows under his eyes a testament to the night he had spent by Harry's side. Despite the uncomfortable angle, Draco's hand remained wrapped tightly around Harry's, his fingers intertwined with Harry's as if letting go would be unthinkable.

For a moment, Harry just stared, his heart swelling with a mixture of emotions—relief, gratitude, and something deeper that he couldn't quite put into words. He hadn't expected to see Draco like this, not here, not so openly vulnerable. It stirred something inside him that went beyond the physical pain he was in. He watched the slow rise and fall of Draco's shoulders, his chest moving rhythmically with each breath. The sight of him, so peaceful and yet worn down by worry, made Harry's throat tighten.

As Harry shifted slightly in the bed, a sharp pain shot through his ribs, causing him to wince. The movement was enough to stir Draco from his slumber. His fingers instinctively tightened around Harry's, and his head jerked up, eyes bleary with sleep before they sharpened instantly, landing on Harry with a mix of panic and relief.

"You're awake," Draco breathed, his voice rough from sleep and thick with emotion. He leaned closer, his thumb tracing slow, soothing circles over the back of Harry's hand, the gesture tender and grounding, though his eyes still reflected the fear that had gripped him for hours.

Harry tried to smile, but it was a weak, lopsided thing that faltered under the weight of his injuries. His throat felt dry, and his voice came out as a rasp. "Barely," he croaked, attempting some humour to ease the tension. "Feels like I've been hit by the Knight Bus. Twice."

Draco's lips twitched into the faintest smile, but it didn't reach his eyes. He leaned forward, his gaze locked on Harry's face as if he were afraid that, at any moment, he might disappear. "You might as well have been," Draco muttered softly, his voice strained. Without hesitating, he leaned in and pressed his lips gently to Harry's, a brief kiss but filled with a quiet, desperate need. The kiss was soft, almost fragile, as though Draco was afraid of breaking him. When he pulled back, the tension in his shoulders had loosened just slightly, but the fear still lingered in his eyes.

"I thought I lost you," Draco whispered, his voice barely audible, but the weight of his words hung heavily between them. He reached out, brushing a stray lock of hair from Harry's forehead, his fingertips lingering as though needing the physical reassurance that Harry was still here, still alive.

Harry swallowed hard, feeling the emotion thick in his own throat. He squeezed Draco's hand weakly, his thumb brushing over the back of it in a slow, deliberate motion. "You didn't," he whispered back, though the words felt hollow in the face of how close it had been. "I'm still here."

Draco's gaze softened, but his jaw tightened, the weight of everything he'd been holding back evident in his eyes. His voice was quiet, trembling slightly as he said, "I've never been that scared in my life, Harry."