All Life Is Yours To Miss

Chapter 32

Draco isn't a bit surprised when his dreams for the next two nights are full of green eyes and challenge and the words 'whatever you want, Malfoy' being murmured against his ear by someone who has warm skin and smells of the outdoors. He doesn't blame Harry-at least not entirely-when he wakes up restless and uncomfortably aroused; there's no way he could know what his attempt at encouragement was going to do to Draco's head and heart and fuck-knows-what-else. He was just... trying to help, and the more Draco considers it, the more he thinks Harry might just have a point. It has been fourteen years-perhaps he doesn't have to hide any more.

Still, he is rather relieved when Surya turns up for her Friday evening lesson and forces him out of his thoughts. Now is most definitely not the time for carrying out experiments-not only do the two of them have work to do, but the November evening is far too cold for messing around with sleeves. In fact, as the lesson gets underway, he becomes convinced that the only thing preventing his arms from freezing right off is the tough exterior of his new coat, and it is staying exactly where it is.

Conditions remain arctic for his lesson with Winston the following morning, with teeth chattering throughout the session despite Draco's near-constant movement and barricade of wind-repelling charms. Winston, however, is undeterred; he is calm, if not completely relaxed, as they loop around the pitch at a moderate pace, and the moment Draco lands, he is desperate to demonstrate the fact that he can now summon his broom almost completely into his hand. He has clearly been working exceptionally hard in his spare time and Draco tells him so, in response to which he manages to grin and cringe and blush all at the same time.

In the Entrance Hall, they part ways. Winston heads for the Great Hall for lunch and Draco makes his way up to the hospital wing, grabbing an apple from the kitchens on his way. He fully expects Ron and Hermione to be in attendance at Harry's bedside, and there they are, standing on opposite sides of the bed and telling him they'll be back as soon as they can.

"Hello," Hermione says, picking up her handbag and slinging it over her shoulder as Draco comes to stand beside her. "We're just going down for some lunch."

Draco holds up his apple. "I'll stay with him while you're out."

Ron grimaces. "That's not lunch. Aren't you hungry?"

Hermione shakes her head with a half-laugh, half-sigh that seems particular to her.

"I appreciate your concern, but I'll be fine," Draco says, crunching into his apple.

As they exchange glances, a soft thumping sound draws their eyes down to Harry, who is moving his head around on the pillow, turning it this way and that, and lifting it several inches before flopping back down again. He lies there, breathing hard, looking to each of them in turn as if to say, hey, what about that, then?

"Show-off," Draco mutters, but he grins, and Harry grins back, and he's ruined.

Hermione stares at Harry for a second or two and then turns and throws herself at Draco, hugging him with surprising force. Eyes wide, he freezes and then slowly, tentatively puts his arms around her and tries not to get his apple tangled up in her hair.

"Nice one, mate," Ron says, drawing Draco's attention to the fact that both he and Harry are watching him with amusement.

Hermione draws back and looks up at Draco. "Sorry about that," she says, but the words do not match her shiny eyes and rather fierce expression.

"It's alright," he says, still rather startled.

"I know you're laughing at me, Harry," she says sternly, before ruining it with a smile of pure delight. "It's just so exciting to actually see something come unstuck, so to speak. It must be lovely to be able to move a little bit."