Carry On

Chapter 16

A/n: This is back in Harry's POV. Thank you guys so much for 1K reads, I never thought I would get to 20 reads, let alone 1K!Comment suggestions!

   "Draco, when was the last time you slept?" I asked the boy, finally noticing how rarely he left my bedside. It had been only a day since I had woken up, and I hadn't seen the other boy move an inch.
   "A while, I suppose. It wasn't exactly easy, you know." He quipped, though the remark lacked any heat. At a glance, he seemed almost sheepish, looking up from his book.
"Draco-" I started, but he cut me off.
"No, Harry. I refuse to leave you alone." He said petulantly. I just glared at him, and his expression softened. "Harry, we almost lost you. I- I won't leave you alone so soon afterward." I was shocked at his rather open expression. Even after we grew closer, he was rarely ever so open with his feelings; an after affect of his upbringing.
"I'll stay with him." We heard, and both looked up to see Hermione walking over to my bed. I was relived to see Draco seeming to consider it. The boy really did look awful, sporting deep purple bags and mussed hair, clearly in need of rest. He seemed to have finally reached his desision and shook his head. I couldn't hold back the exasperated sigh that escaped my lips. "Malfoy! You need rest, anyone can see it. Now, to bed! Before I get Madame Pomfery!" She ordered, hands on her hips, looking eerily similar to Mrs. Weasley. Draco turned to me, looking almost pleadingly. I just shook my head, knowing very well how futile it was to argue with the bushy haired girl. The other boy sighed, but stood anyway. With one last look back, he left the Hospital Wing, muttering under his breath.
"Thanks 'Mione." I sighed, relieved that the other boy had left. Hermione took the seat Draco had just vacated. I looked at her, worried about what she had to say, after all, she was still staring at the door, a thoughtful look on her face. Was she upset with me? Of course she was upset with me, I just tried to kill myself. But then why did she send Draco away?
She hates you. She is tired of your whining, attention whore. The voice, which I hadn't heard since the incident on the Astronomy Tower, whispered. Hermione glanced at me.
   "He cares for you, you know." She stated carefully, though clearly implying she meant it in more than friendly way. I just gaped at her in surprise and disbelief.
   "'Mione- no. He couldn't- he doesn't-" I sputtered, struggling to form a coherent sentence. I cleared my throat, hoping to regain the ability of speech. "'Mione, there is no way he cares for me like... like that." I said, disbelief coloring my voice. She just chuckled slightly, taking obvious amusement at the situation.
   "Harry, you really are oblivious." She said. I couldn't stop the indignant noise that escaped my throat. "Harry, he was the one who ran after you. He found you, and brought you to the Hospital Wing. Harry, he refused to leave your side, despite Madame Pomfery's protests." She said seriously, her previous amusement disappearing. Thoughts of the strange feeling I would get in my chest came unbidden.
   I had known I was bisexual since fifth year, when I caught myself staring at Dean's arse. Merlin forbid if the boy ever found out about that. It had taken nearly the entire year to accept myself, which was not easy with that bitch Umbridge around, or when Sirius died. I felt the familiar feelings of guilt start to cloud my mind, but quickly pushed it away. I had more important things to think about, like how in Merlin's name did Hermione come up with this ridiculous idea!
   "Besides Hermione," I said after a moment of thought. "There is no way the 'Ice Prince of Slytherin' is bent." I used air quotes around the title most of Gryffindor had been calling him. Hermione simply shook her head, causing me to scowl.
   Madame Pomfery bustled over with a few potions in hand. "Now, Mr. Potter, you must drink these now. They're for the pain, and dreamless sleep." She said, handing me the first vial of potions. I swirled the liquid inside it, grimacing at the strange scent and awful colour. After a pointed look from both parties, I quickly downed the liquid, gagging slightly at the taste. Almost immediately, the Mediwirch handed me another vial, which I again downed. I felt the affects of the potion almost immediately, soon drifting off into a thankfully dreamless sleep.

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"Harry. You have to get up." I heard a light voice say from beside me. I groaned, enjoying my, for once, peaceful sleep. "Come now Harry, I'm sure you don't want to irritate Madame Pomfery." I groaned again, this time wiping my eyes groggily. I looked over and saw the blurry form of Hermione, Draco standing not too far behind her. Upon closer inspection, the sky haired boy looked much better that he had earlier. The bags under his eyes had lightened considerably, and his hair was now clean and attractively tossled. "Are you awake yet, Harry?" I heard the girl ask, a worried look on her face. I nodded, yawning into my hand.
"Are you sure, Potter?" I heard Draco ask sarcastically. I just scoffed, reaching for my contacts. When they were finally in, I noticed the Mediwitch standing rather impatiently off to the side. She handed me a potion, presumably for my wounds. When I handed her the now empty vial, she stayed. This was rather unusual, as Madame Pomfery would usually leave in order to give me some privacy. The Mediwitch looked down at me, a tense look on her face.
"Mr. Potter. I need to speak with you." I continued to stare at her until she continued. "Due to recent events, I feel the need to recommend a mind healer." She stated matter of factly.
"No." I stated simply, earning a groan from my two friends and a disapproving look from Madame Pomfery.
"Harry, please. We all agree it is a good idea. The war was hard on you especially. And even you didn't walk out of it unscathed." I snorted at the understatement. "Harry-"
"I said no." I interrupted rather calmly. At the frustrated glance the girl was sending my way, I explained. "'Mione, please. The Prophet will have a field day with that one. I can just see it now 'Boy-Who-Lived loses it on school grounds.' No thank you." I heard a snort come from where Draco was standing. I turned to him, a pleading look on my face. "Draco, please. You must understand why." I implored, hoping that the other boy would cave in. As hoped, he did.
"He has a point." He said to Hermione. "If the Prophet got their hands on this one..." He trailed off, only emphasizing his point. The Mediwitch finally spoke again.
   "Mr. Potter, you are unwell. I cannot, on a healthy conscious, let you walk out of here. I'm afraid I must insist. As for your concerns about the media, all mind healers are bound to keep everything confidential unless otherwise expressed by the patient."
   "With all due respect, Madame Pomfery, I'm afraid my answer is still no." I said, trying to hide my irritation. This was my problem. I would deal with it, on my own. Both women sighed at my stubbornness, Draco just looking at me in veiled concern.
   "Alright Harry, but this is not the end of this discussion." Hermione said, rather frustratedly. I nodded at her, ignoring the frown on her face.
   "Madame Pomfery? When will I be able to leave?" I asked, turning towards the Mediwitch.
   "If things continue this way, then you will be released within the next few days, well before break ends." She said. I let out a sigh of relief, I did not want other people to know about this. "Now, Mr. Potter, it is time for you to eat, you haven't been eating nearly enough." I groaned at the no-nonsense tone of her voice. Grumbling when I heard amused laughs coming from Hermione, and a similar snort that came from Draco.