Memories of Us

Chapter 3

"Hi, I - I'm here for Potter. Harry Potter. What room?" His white-blond hair was already a mess from being tugged at. He was frantic. This was his worst nightmare.

The receptionist didn't even look up at him. "So is everyone else. Take a seat. You can see him once he is cleared like every other reporter." It hadn't dawned on Draco that this would already be in the press's hands. The injured man was still a war hero. He was still constantly followed by people begging for interviews where they would ask questions that would only reopen old wounds. People were constantly analyzing everything that happened. When reporters finally figured out the men were sleeping together, it was simply based on the fact that the men both looked tired at their jobs the next day and Draco was supposedly 'beaming'.

"No you don't understand. I'm not a reporter or press—"

"Are you family?" She still did not bother to look at him.

"Well no, but—"

"Then no access. Sorry."

Draco did not like being interrupted. He also didn't like being disrespected. He sure as hell didn't like anyone standing between him and his boyfriend. "I. Am. His. Boyfriend." he said through gritted teeth. "You will give me a room number or I will walk up and down every hallway in this hospital until I find his room. Do I make myself clear?" He hated using the demanding tone. It made him sound too much like his father, he thought. 

She looked up at him finally and the recognition shown in her eyes. Harry Potter was not the only one from the war the press ate up. "Yes sir. I'm sorry, Mr. Malfoy." He hated the look of fear in her eyes. Everyone knew him as ex-Death Eater or as his father's little minion. He wished they'd understand how much he'd changed the way Harry understood.

•••

"Harry, my love," he whispered as he saw his boyfriend lying there in a magically induced coma. He quickly pushed the man standing between the bed and the door out of his way so he could get to Harry's side. "What's wrong with him?" He asked the man he recognized as one of Harry's colleagues.

The man didn't seem to be offended by Draco's urgent shove. He Levitated the chair on the other side over to Draco so he could sit closer to the bed. "They aren't entirely sure yet. The wizard immobilized him and injected him with an unknown potion. He bled. A lot. Mostly coughing it up, but some coming from the injection site and a deep cut in his stomach that they've already closed. They've been running test after test, but Harry is so weak that they had to take a break. I'm sorry, Mr. Malfoy. I'm sorry I couldn't stop it." He never made eye contact with Draco.

Now seated and holding Harry's limp hand in both of his own, he nodded. "I know you guys would never purposefully put him in any danger. And he doesn't help by constantly seeking it out." There was a pause just long enough for Draco to notice the bandages around Harry's abdomen and pull the blanket up to his chest. He couldn't help but think back to his own scars on his chest. "You know, he thinks he owes the world something. He thinks that he didn't save enough lives in the war and that maybe if he hadn't been so focused on keeping himself protected, he could've protected others. He's always trying to make up for that.

"But none of it is his fault and I wish I could just explain that he is such a good person who has already given so much. The man died when facing Voldemort the second time. He saved me in a fire after I almost had him killed so many times. The world will always owe him more than he will ever owe the world, but - but he just doesn't see it that way. I have no idea how to explain to him how wonderful he is. How much he has already done."

The man dared to look up now and saw Draco staring at Harry with tears in his eyes. He wasn't sure how to answer so he simply nodded. He wasn't sure why Draco needed to get this out any more than Draco was, but he thought it best to let him do so anyways.

"And I know," Draco continued, "that he is wonderful at his job and that he is needed out there with his wandless magic and his great power and strength. I know that the world needs him. That you guys need him. But I just can't help but be so selfish. I need him too. I couldn't go on without him. He's saved me so many times. From the fire, from myself, from all of it. I was in such a dark place before he forgave me. I didn't think there was a way I'd ever forgive myself for what I did during the war, but once Harry showed me that I was worthy of love, it wasn't so hard to find a way. If I lose him, I - I—" He swallowed against the lump in his throat. "It'll be like none of it ever mattered. Like I never mattered and I know it's so selfish. I know he is doing great things. But I just wish that he didn't have to be in such danger every time he did great things. I wish he knew that he's great even without being an Auror and proving it every month. I wish he knew that he's great even when the only person he's saving is me." He had no idea why he was unleashing all of this onto a man he'd only met once or twice at Harry's work events. Typically, Draco would only show this much emotion to Harry, and even then it would be in the privacy of their own home. Once the words were out, however, Draco felt like weights had been lifted from his chest. He kissed the knuckles of his unconscious Auror boyfriend while thinking fondly on times that he felt that he and Harry were the only two people on the planet.

•••

What'd ya think of Chapter 3? So sorry for another short chapter. After this one the chapters should get a bit longer. This one isn't much but it is a fountain of emotions from Draco. He's just a wreck this week. My poor baby boy :(