11. The Greatest Strength

Draco awoke, bolting upright and shoving the covers back. His heart was beating wildly and for just a moment he couldn't remember what had happened. Then it all came back and if it was even possible he began to panic even more. He didn't know where he was or where Harry was or if Harry was ok. If Harry was alive. He jumped off the bed and looked around for just a moment; white everything was white and smelled like sickness. He was in a hospital of some sort but had somehow avoided the dressing gown that they put on patients. He quickly went to the door and peered outside. Doctors and nurses moved down the hall and out of the corner of his eye he saw Dumbledore and two aurors appear around the corner of the hall and head towards him.

He bolted or at least he tried to but strong, unfriendly hands grabbed him and stopped him. They had had guards outside his door. Of course they did but was it to protect him or imprison him. He didn't care; it didn't matter. Draco struggled for a moment but it was pointless.

"I'm glad to see you're up, Mr. Malfoy." Dumbledore said flatly, his face was grim and drawn.

Draco snarled, "Don't call me by that name! I'm not a Malfoy! I refuse to be! Now tell me about Harry! Is he ok?" He tried to jerk away from his captors again and nearly fell when they let go.

Dumbledore's closed his eyes and rubbed them tiredly. When he opened them he looked down to at the floor.

Draco's body went cold and his legs suddenly gave out and he collapsed upon the floor, "Tell me he's ok. Please tell me he's alive." He whispered, his eyes burning with building tears.

Dumbledore looked at him in vague disbelief and spoke with a hard voice, "He's really none of you concern any longer, Draco. You're father was convicted and sentenced to death. They haven't scheduled the date yet I have no doubt it will be soon so you can stop your play-acting. You will be provided a body guard for as long as you desire."

Something in Dumbledore's manner, the look in his eyes, it gave Draco no hope. There was something empty inside of himself that for a little while had been filled. He tried to blink back the tears but it was to no avail. He looked up at Dumbledore through tear filled eyes, "I just want him! Can't you understand that? I don't want anything else! He-he's my reason for living…" His voice trembled as his hands did. A tear escaped the corner of his eye and ran down his cheek, dripping off his chin. The sound as it hit the floor was that loudest sound in the hallway in that moment.

Dumbledore shook his head and pressed his lips together, "You actually mean it, don't you? Both of you…" He didn't wait for an answer, caught up in his own thoughts, "Very well then, Draco, he's alive. He's recovering in a room not far from here actually. You've been out cold for three days now. We had to knock you out after pulling Harry away from you, you were quite hysterical."

Draco let out a breath he didn't no he had been holding. He gripped the floor as if it was the only thing holding him up, "….tell me where he is….please, let me see him." He begged quietly, trying to qualm his shaking.

Dumbledore sighed, his voice softening slightly, pity entered his tone, "He's in a coma, caused by the blood loss and shock, among other things….The doctors are doubtful he will ever wake up."

Draco squeezed his eyes shut, "Just tell me! Please!" he hit the floor with a balled fist.

Dumbledore nodded and he pointed to the door three down on the right. Draco had to stop himself from sprinting there but it wouldn't do any good to be thrown. He walked as quickly as he could, wiping his eyes roughly with the edge of his sweater. Once inside the room he paused nervously then edge into the room.

Harry's eyes were closed, his chest rising up and down slowly. He looked pale and thin but relaxed and not in any pain. There were so many machines attached to him, all of them humming and beeping softly. Draco moved to his bedside as quietly as he could and sat down in the single chair in front of the bed. He bit his lip in a desperate attempt to stop himself from starting to cry again. He reached out and hesitantly took Harry's hand, it seemed so wonderfully warm.

"I'm so sorry I did this to you…" Draco whispered, "It's all my fault isn't it? I'm so sorry…for everything….I should have trusted you but I didn't know how…" His voice broke and stopped to wipe his eyes again, "…I'm such a girl. You're the only one that makes me cry like this…I'm such a stupid little girl," He leaned onto the edge of the bed, laying his head next to Harry's hand, "I want you to wake up…" he breathed, "I want to see your smile again and until I can I'm going to stay here. I'll never leave your side again…unless you wake up and tell me yourself." He laughed weakly and started to cry again, "Please…please Harry…I love you, I love you so much, I just wish I had told you before…now I'll never get to tell you." He gripped the sheets with his free hand, squeezing so hard his knuckles went white. He pressed his face hard into the mattress to try and stifle the sobs.

"…I think you just did." It was the softest whisper, a breath of air with a voice clinging weakly on.

Draco jerked up and looked over at Harry, his eyes opened slightly and he looked over at Draco.

This time he didn't try to stop them; he just smiled and cried and wiped his eyes absently, "You-you stupid ass. Do you have any idea how you much you worried me?"

Harry closed his eyes slowly with a sigh and then just as slowly opened them again. He squeezed Draco's hand and gave a weak smile, "I'm sorry…I promised myself after the trial that I would never make you cry again."

Draco laughed weakly, "These are happy tears…I'm so-he said-the doctors said that you would never wake up….I thought I never- I love you…I love you, Harry."

Harry smiled; closing his eyes again, "I'm not sure that made any sense…I love you too, though…I heard you, you know." He licked his lips slowly, "You wanted me to wake up and smile for you. I had to fight it to get to you but I knew I had to get to you, you sounded so sad and…and I didn't want you to be sad."

Draco covered his mouth with his hand and closed his eyes for a second, then he shook his head and poured Harry some water.

"Here." He murmured as he held the straw to his lips.

Harry drank slowly, only a sip or two then pushed it away. He shifted almost imperceptible and winced in pain with a sharp intake of breath.

Draco quickly sat the glass down and stood anxiously, "Ah! Don't move or you'll hurt yourself and I'll never forgive you."

Harry looked up at Draco, lifting an eyebrow, "Sorry, your majesty, I'll try and be more careful next time."

Draco smiled softly and placed a hand over his chest, "You break it you buy it."

Harry's face saddened suddenly and he looked up at Draco with pleading eyes, "I'm so sorry…I never wanted to hurt you. I just knew that if I could get your father behind bars then you'd be safe. I just didn't think it out…I should've"

Draco covered Harry's mouth with his hand, shaking his head, "That's all in the past now…I should probably go get a doctor."

Harry nodded slightly, smiling. Draco made his way to the door and paused nervously at the doorframe, turning slightly to look at Harry.

"I'm not going anywhere." Harry joked softly.

Draco nodded and paused for only a second longer before leaving. He walked quickly down the hall to the nurse's station where he told them that had happened. They quickly called the doctor that was ministering Harry and he came rushing to the station where he practically dragged him along to the room asking him question after question. Draco answered them as best he could but was bewildered to be completely coherent. Inside the room the doctor quickly dropped Draco to rush over to Harry and hit him with many of the same questions he had asked Draco.

Draco was about to join the doctor when he was suddenly engulfed in someone's arms. They were the arms of a fragile and strong woman, arms he almost recognized. The woman let go and stepped back to look at him and that was when he recognized her.

"Mother?" He whispered, looking at her with disbelief.

She smiled so brightly and warmly and grabbed him and hugged him again even more fiercely.

"You're so big now. Oh, what happened to my little boy?" She let go, taking his hands and holding them tightly, "I' sorry I wasn't there for you, Draco. I really am…They blocked my memories so I can't remember what happened after that man cursed me but they told me things…they let me listen in on the trial." She let go of his hands and smoothed his hair absentmindedly, anxiously and touched his cheek, "They'll take me soon, I had to beg them just to let me come see you. They're going to help me prepare for the memories, counseling and all that." She smiled brightly again.

A man in white peered around the corner, "Mrs. Black?"

She nodded and touched his hair again, "They want me to go…my little boy…"

Draco swallowed hard, "Oh, mother…I missed you so much." He paused and then hesitantly reached out with one hand then stopped and pulled back.

She smiled knowingly and gently hugged him one last time. He buried his head into her shoulder, breathing her warm comforting scent. He had forgotten it.

The man at the door taped his foot impatiently, "Mrs. Black, we need to be going."

She rolled her eyes and Draco smiled, "Come visit me soon, Draco. Promise me you will. I'll be at Mugo's counseling center."

Draco nodded, quick and short, "I promise, mum."

"Good." She smoothed his hair one last time, "No go and attend to your boyfriend, he's starting to look neglected."

Draco flushed bright red, "Y-you knew?"

She smirked and raised an eyebrow, "You liked to wear dresses and put on makeup. It wasn't that big a leap." She laughed at his expression, and whispered in his ear, "He's a real keeper. Don't let him get away, ok?"

Draco nodded, trying desperately to stop blushing. His mother just laughed, winking at him as she left. Draco went back to Harry who was laughing at him, faint airy laughter.

Draco sighed and glared ruefully at Harry, "It's not funny."

"Was too and you know it." he chuckled.

Draco smiled, "Yeah it was -a little."

Draco started to sit when Harry suddenly said, "Kiss me."

He stopped and straitened up, his eyebrows knitting together, "What? Here, now?"

Harry pouted, "Come on, give your poor injured boyfriend a kiss. I did save your life you know."

Draco glared at him and crossed his arms over his chest; "I don't talk kindly to guilt trips."

Harry rolled his eyes, "Then how about I tell you a secret instead?"

Draco hesitated, blushing lightly then carefully leaned over the bed and kissed Harry gently.

Harry smiled his beautiful smile, "Thank you."

Draco stuck out his tongue at him, "Now tell me the secret. A deal's a deal."

"Fine. This is the secret." Harry reached out an took Draco's hand, "The greatest strength in the world is love. Nothing can stop love."

Draco laughed, "That is a terrible secret!"

Harry pouted, "I like it."

Draco smiled and shrugged, "I like it too."

The End.