The Lion and the Snake

Part 8: Their Confession

"NO!" screamed Draco. Harry was still falling. 

Harry was lying on his back in the mud when everyone reached him. Draco had forgotten the Snitch and dived to the ground instead, jumping off when he was five feet above the ground. Harry's eyes were closed and his glasses were broken. His right arm and left leg were obviously broken. Draco ran to Harry and fell to his side, sobbing. He gently shook Harry, begging him to wake up. Madame Pomfrey ran from the school and pushed her way through the murmuring crowd. As she bent down to inspect him, Draco took Harry's hand and begged him to be ok. Ron and Hermione made their way through the crowd to see what everyone else saw; Draco was crying over Harry's body, clutching his hand and begging for him to wake up.

"Get away from him," Ron growled, stepping closer to Draco. Hermione pulled Ron back and shook her head.

"Harry, love, please, please don't do this to me. Please wake up. You have to be ok, you have to wake up. I love you, Harry, please wake up. I can't live without you..." Draco whispered to him but broke down in sobs again. His pale skin had turned pink and his eyes were red, tears still streaming down his face. His nice Slytherin robes were covered in mud and his hair was almost as messy as Harry's. Madame Pomfrey spoke to the crowd.

"He should be fine but I'll need to take him to the hospital. One person needs to help me carry him in." Draco immediately stood up and asked the woman if he could.

"Sure, just hurry up and make sure you're not hurting him anymore by picking him up."

"I would never hurt him," Draco said to himself. He picked Harry up, careful to hold him in a way where his broken limbs wouldn't hurt him. His limp head lolled against Draco's shoulder. Ron was glaring at Draco and everyone was staring at him, but he ignored them. He hurriedly followed Madame Pomfrey to the hospital wing, silently crying. His blonde hair hung limply in front of his eyes. Draco gently lay Harry down on a hospital cot. He then softly kissed him on the forehead. Tears still glistened in his eyes.

"He'll be ok, won't he?" He tried to speak clearly but his voice shook.

"Yes, I can mend bones quickly enough. What he needs is rest- and probably something to help with concussions," Madame Pomfrey replied.

"Can I stay?" Draco asked.

"For a little while," the nurse replied. Draco pushed Harry's black, wavy hair off his forehead. His eyes were still closed, but he was obviously breathing. Draco took a slow, shuddering breath, telling himself that Harry will be fine. He was still grasping Harry's hand when he fell asleep next to his bed.

An hour later, Draco was awoken by a familiar voice. Harry's voice, speaking quietly to Madame Pomfrey. He lifted his head and looked around to see Harry, his glasses mended, talking to the nurse about how long he would have to be in the hospital wing. Madame Pomfrey assured him it would only be a few days- 2 at the most. Draco watched Harry turn to him as the school nurse left to her office.

"Hey, Draco," Harry said softly.

"Hey, handsome," Draco replied. "How are you?"

"I'm ok. Madame Pomfrey mended the broken bones while you were asleep. She said you never here." Draco blushed and let go of Harry's hand to brush his blonde hair out of his eyes.

"Yeah, I suppose. Ron hates me now and everyone probably knows that you're my boyfriend." Harry raised an eyebrow.

"I'm your boyfriend now?" He asked, smiling. Draco blushed again. "And Ron doesn't hate you. He just doesn't understand. I told them, by the way." Draco's eyes widened.

"They know? About us? What did they think? When did you tell them? Who shouted that you're in love with me?"

"They know," Harry said. "They came in a little while ago. I just told them really quickly. Hermione was fine and Ron looked shocked, but he's my best friend. Even if it's you, I know he wants me to be happy. As for who shouted, I honestly don't know. Someone from Gryffindor. I've been writing letters- just to clear things up for myself. It's stupid, I know, but it helped. I was never going to send them. They didn't say any of our names. The only thing I wrote that might reveal who we are is that I would be facing you as Seeker for Slytherin. Someone found them and just connected the dots. I'm so, so sorry. I should have asked you first about telling Ron and Hermione and I shouldn't have written stupid letters. Please don't be mad."

"I'm not mad. It's alright. I'll beat up the fifth year who exposed yelled. I got detention with Filch but I don't mind. People were bound to find out anyway," Draco said, taking Harry's hand again and standing up.

"By the way Dray," Harry said. "They're right."

"About what?"

"I am in love with you." Draco grinned.

"I'm in love with you too," Draco mumbled and leaned down to kiss Harry on the lips. "And I don't care if anyone knows it."

The next morning Harry was allowed to leave the hospital wing. He and Draco walked into the Great Hall, their fingers intertwined. Harry was wearing Draco's green Slytherin sweater. Everyone stopped talking when they came in and the vast room fell eerily silent with all eyes on them. Draco turned towards Harry and leaned down, kissing him. Harry was surprised but smiled into it. People cheered. Draco let him go and they sat down at their tables opposite each other. Ron looked slightly suspicious but Hermione was grinning stupidly at Harry. Crabbe and Goyle were looking at Draco with a mix of surprise and terror. Draco smirked at them and blew a kiss to Harry. He blushed and Ron, who was watching, rolled his eyes. The noise level returned to the room and everyone continued eating. A comfortable mood fell over the room and Harry smiled to himself. Everything was as it should be. Finally.