Alana Malfoy

Chapter Three

Author's Note:

Sorry it's been so long! I've been really busy with work. I will try to update Slytherin Adoption this week as well. Here's chapter three of Alana Malfoy. Let me know what you think!

          Harry was gasping for breath by the time he made it to the dungeons. His lungs felt like they were on fire, he was sweating profusely despite feeling ice cold, and it hurt his ribs to breathe. Finally, just when he thought he’d collapse, he made it to the Potions Classroom and slid into his chair. He lay his forehead on the cool surface of the table and closed his eyes. He couldn’t be bothered to move, even when someone sat next to him.

          “Potter,” a very familiar voice said softly. Harry forced himself to sit up, slowly, and looked at Malfoy. He tried to smile but it came out as a grimace. “Alana wanted...Potter, are you okay?”

          "I...I don’t feel good,” he whispered just before his eyes rolled to the back of his head as he fainted. Luckily, Draco was able to catch him before he hit the stone floor.

          "Sir!” Draco called out. Severus Snape turned from where he was writing instructions on the black board and raised an eyebrow at seeing Potter in his Godson’s arms. “He fainted, Professor, and he’s burning up.” Severus strode over to the two.

          “He’s just faking it!” Ronald Weasley suddenly shouted. “Like he doesn’t get enough attention already!” Severus and Draco stared at the redhead in shock.

          “You’re just mad because Potter wouldn’t let you bully Alana,” Pansy retorted as she stepped up next to Draco. Severus’s eyes narrowed.

          “Fifty points from Gryffindor for bullying a First Year, Mr. Weasley.” Severus hissed. “Another twenty for shouting in my classroom.” Without another word to the silently fuming redhead, the Potions Master turned to Draco and took Harry, cradling him gently and shocking all the students present. “Mr. Malfoy, you’re in charge. I expect everyone to work on the potion silently. If I’m not back when the bell rings, put your completed potion on my desk before you leave.” He turned and swept out of the classroom, headed for the Infirmary.

          “Madame Pomfrey!” he called, laying Harry on one of the beds. “Poppy!” he shouted when she didn’t respond. Pomfrey came out of her office and scowled when she saw Harry.

          “I swear that boy will do anything for attention,” she muttered. Severus blinked in shock. What the hell was going on? Poppy did a quick scan. “It’s just a fever,” she said and pointed her wand at Harry, waking him up. The boy slowly opened his eyes, blinking at the bright lights. He groaned when he realized he was in the Hospital Wing.

          Harry looked around until his eyes landed on Professor Snape. He tried to speak but his mouth was very dry. The man silently handed him a glass of water, which Harry gratefully took and gulped down half before handing it back and leaning back on the pillows.

          “W...what happened?” he asked, voice raspy and barely above a whisper.

          “You fainted,” Pomfrey replied before Snape could, causing the man to scowl at her. “Here’s a fever reducer.” She thrust the potion at him before disappearing in her office, clearly dismissing him. He went to drink it but the Potions Master stopped him with a frown. “That doesn’t look like a Fever Reducer,” he explained as he took it out of Harry’s hands and sniffed it. His frown deepened. “Consider yourself lucky, Potter,” he drawled. “She was in such a hurry that she grabbed Skelegro instead of a Fever Reducer.” Snape stalked over to the Potions closet, grabbed the right one, and walked back over to Harry, who quickly drank it. Harry then attempted to stand and very nearly collapsed. He would have, too, if Snape hadn’t caught him, holding him until he was steady. They slowly made their way into the hall.