Disclaimer: All characters and names ext belong to J.K Rowling! We don't own any of it except for the interpretation of the characters and stuff...yeah... stuff.
Warning: Slash in later chapters! WOO! SLASH!
Authors Notes: This is a collaboration (Woot! Spelled it right!) story between fanfiction authors Kylia Nahimana and Raei. They are not to be held responsible for any damage they may cause.
Enjoy!
Chapter 1
The war between Voldemort and the wizarding world was over, but for some the struggle for a new life was only just beginning. Many lives had been lost, both friends and family alike, snuffed out by Voldemort's vicious Death Eaters. Among the surviving few was a battered shell of a former self proclaimed Slytherin Prince, by the name of Draco Malfoy, who had lost all desire to reclaim his heritage. All that he had known or cared about was gone, even Snape, who he had trusted more than any one person at Hogwarts, a man that Draco had trusted with his life.
Dumbledore had sacrificed himself for the sake of saving all the lives; both muggle and wizards, which still thrived in the world. The Ministry of Magic was no more than burning wreckage. Voldemort had attacked the Ministry first, feeling that it was an easy target for success. Little did he know, the Ministry was one step ahead of him and prepared for the impeding disaster, setting up the strongest magical barriers they had to offer. Though the defenses were well planned and executed, Voldemort and his loyal followers were simply too powerful, and in the end, not a single soul at the Ministry was spared.
After that fateful day, Draco found a new source of strength to go into battle and instill honor to the people who fought bravely for the land that had given him so much. Up until that point he had remained undecided on which side he would fight for, having seen no reason as to why he should help either army gain victory. He hadn't cared who won, as long as he could continue to live his life the way that he wanted, free and with no restrictions.
Draco had always referred to the cliché 'good side' as "Potter's side". Potter was someone whom up to that point had always been a nuisance, always coming across as the hero, who time and time again sacrificed his own safety for the well being of others. Saint Potter. That had been the name that Draco had given to the dark haired boy in their second year at Hogwarts, a name that had stuck almost endearingly so through the years.
In the end, Draco had chosen Potter's side, simply because he couldn't stand to see his father control his life once more, even if he was Voldemort's servant. Lucius had one too many times crushed his confidence and ambition, leaving Draco feeling as if he was nothing more than a delicate child when he was in reality a mature man. Draco had never been one to follow orders or act upon other people's desires as he had done in the past – never really giving it much thought as long as it was to his advantage. Draco hadn't informed anyone that he was indeed on the side of good. He had instead permitted Voldemort and Dumbledore to believe that he wanted to follow in his father's footsteps and become a Death Eater. This allowed him to gain insight into what the enemy's next move was going to be. Not that he would have ever admitted this to anyone who might listen to him. Though he was tempted to declare to a few witches and wizards that the information he was gathering would eventually be used to bring his father and the rest of the Death Eaters down, sufficiently cutting the likelihood of more innocent lives being lost.
It had been three days since the tragic event had passed, and that third morning found Draco staring up at white washed ceiling in a large room that he was vaguely aware of as belonging to a hospital ward. His silver eyes followed a thin crack in the plaster as he suddenly heard a voice call out his name.
"Mr. Malfoy...?" an annoyingly soft and tentative voice found his ears.
Choosing not to look at the woman, he simply replied, "What?" As he was not in the mood for conversation.
"Mr. Malfoy, it's been three days. I need you to eat something." The woman pushed a tray onto his lap.
"I'm not hungry." His cold silver eyes shifted towards her, then to the tray, and back to the crack in the ceiling.
"Oh for the love of Merlin – Just eat! I don't want any malnourished patients on my watch." A gruff voice interrupted. "You may resume your need to starve yourself on the next Doctors watch."
Sitting up and crossing his arms, Draco scoffed, "The fact that I am not hungry at the moment, "allowing his usual scorn to enter his voice, "does not mean that I am intentionally starving myself. I simply don't feel the need to eat this slop you call 'food'," he poked at his plate with disgust, "if you call this food."
"Oh shut up and eat your damn food, Malfoy. The rest of us aren't in the mood to hear your bitching." Came a familiar voice.
Draco elegantly swiveled his head to the side, setting eyes on an unruly mess of black hair that slightly covered startling green eyes. "Potter? I didn't think you'd live," Draco looked up and down Potter's injured body. "Judging by the state you are currently in – you narrowly missed death."
"Have you looked in the mirror lately Draco? You defiantly aren't a pretty Prince anymore." Harry retorted smirking, as he knew he had just hit Draco's soft spot. "Though your hair does look much better when it isn't slicked back with gel."
Draco subconsciously lifted his porcelain hand to his hair, glaring at Harry when he saw the familiar smirk of triumph, letting out a exasperated breath at the insufferable boy across from him. He tried not to show just how much Potter got under his skin, and failed miserably with every passing second. "As if you are someone that I'm going to listen to about style."
Harry laughed as he shook his head looking down at his food, something that could only be described as a congealed mess, and Draco saw the flash of distain on his rivals face. "What do you think this is...?" He poked at a piece of pink meat with his fork.
"I am not about to carry a conversation on with you, Potter." Draco sneered as he risked a glance at his food – hoping that it wouldn't jump off of the plate and bite him. "I think it's...err... Niffler pork?"
By that time both the nurse and the Doctor that had been threatening Draco to eat his food had left the room, and it was only now that Draco realized that he was in a ward with only Potter and himself. Glancing around nervously, Draco muttered, "Why must they leave me alone with you?"
Harry shrugged stiffly, "It isn't like I'm going to jump you the moment you go to sleep Draco..."
Blinking at the other boy, Draco felt his cheeks flush, and he cursed himself for allowing it to happen. Malfoy's did not, under any circumstances blush. "If I throw a stick, will you leave?"
Laughing loudly Harry replied, "Is it a big one?"
"Did you loose your mind when you fought Voldemort?"
Harry's face fell as Draco mentioned the war. His eyes lost their mirth as he looked down at his tray of food. He pushed the tray aside and turned onto his side – his back to Draco, who was not sure what just happened, but knew that somehow he had to make it right. Smirking, Draco speared a piece of 'mystery meat' on his fork and flung it across the room onto Harry, who jerked at the contact but didn't move. "Onto plan B I guess." The blond muttered as he swung his legs off the side of the springy hospital bed, shuffling over to Harry's.
Sitting down on the edge of Harry's mattress, Draco watched as Harry turned onto his back peering up into silver eyes.
"What do you want?"
"I wanted to apologize for what I said."
"Then why are you sitting on my bed?" Harry tried to sit up, but a gasp of pain forced him down again.
Draco frowned and placed his hands under Harry's armpits, helping him into a sitting position – ignoring the slight protest of the other boy.
"You really are useless."
Harry rolled his eyes and breathed irritably, "You're not helping."
"I did too just help, I helped you sit up."
"That's not what I meant, and you know it Draco." Harry replied as he crossed his arms and gave his best glare in Draco's direction. "I thought you were apologizing."
Draco sat back, his mouth opened and shut as Harry spoke. His left eye began to twitch slightly. Draco took a deep breath and looked down – now very interested in his fingernails, as his semi-long hair fell over his eyes. "I was... I-I mean I am... I'm sorry."
There was a stilled silence between the two self proclaimed rivals, in which neither one knew what to say. Draco lifted his eyes and found a pair of emerald orbs staring back at him, and he felt his stomach drop. Shifting uncomfortably, he found that his thigh was touching Potter's, but he didn't want to move it for he feared that it would only bring more attention to the fact that they were touching.
"Draco..."
"Harry..."
Just as it registered that Draco had called him Harry, his attention snapped to the nurse standing at the foot of the bed.
"Just what do you think you're doing out of your bed, Mr. Malfoy?" she said coolly.
"That sounds like English, but I can't understand a word you're saying." Draco felt his heart lift as a smile spread on Harry's lips.
"I've had just about enough of your snide remarks Mr. Malfoy. Please get off of Mr. Potter's bed and retire to your own before I call someone to make you move." She crossed her arms and sneered down at Draco.
Before he realized what was happening, Draco felt a warm hand on his own. He looked down at the hand only to realize that it belonged to Harry and he was surprised to feel that he was comfortable with the touch.
Harry stared at the nurse, still holding Draco's hand. "I think he's fine where he is."
"I think he needs to go back to his bed."
"I think he's fine where he is." Harry's grip on Draco's hand tightened slightly, causing Draco to smile faintly.
Throwing her hands in the air, she left in a huff. "Why do I even bother? Why do I get stuck with them? Spoiled brats."
Both boys snickered as they heard her leave the room muttering remarks about them acting their age, and the wrinkles that she was going to get after this job.
Strangely enough, this one little incident left the two boy's relationship as close as what could only be described as a tolerant friendship. There were still the occasional fights and tantrums, but none that lasted too long. After a few more days in the hospital, Draco realized that he liked having Harry as a friend, even if said friend got on his nerves for being an insufferable git.
A few days passed, and it was Harry's time to leave the hospital. Draco wouldn't admit to it, but he was sad to see Harry depart.
"See you on the outside." Harry smiled kindly. "Don't drop the soap."
By now Draco was used to the stupid remarks. In spite of it all, he laughed. "I'll only drop the soap if you're around."
Harry joined in with the laughter, walking over to Draco's bed, sitting down on the side. "Well, good thing there's going to be soap then. Because it will get quite dirty if that ever happens."
Draco's eyes nearly popped out of his head as his jaw dropped. "I was only joking!"
Rolling his eyes Harry patted Draco's shoulder. "Yeah, I know. But I love the way you squeal."
Draco huffed incredulously, "Malfoy's do not squeal and they are not dirty."
"This Malfoy will be dirty if he is ever caught in a room alone with me." Harry smirked as he let his hand slide slowly from Draco's shoulder, down his arm and eventually to his own lap.
True to what Harry had just said, Draco let out an undignified squeak and pushed Harry off the bed. Harry landed in a heap beside the mattress, his glasses slightly crooked.
"What the hell?" Harry sputtered as he pulled himself up, resting his elbows on the side of the bed.
"It was a love push..." Draco smiled and raised his eyebrows, causing Harry to laugh suddenly.
"Really? So... what do I get when I'm really naughty?"
"Erm... I... You get..."
"A spanking?"
"Potter!"
"What? I can't help it if the vision of a flush Draco Malfoy spanking me while wearing leather pants causes me to get hot." He spoke with a straight face, trying to hide the impeding laughter.
All Draco could do was turn bright red and gawk at Harry as the black haired boy stood up. "Don't you have to leave?"
Harry glanced down at his watch. "Yeah..." He smiled positioned himself closer to the bed, leaning over Draco slightly.
"What are you doing?"
"...Giving you a hug."
"What for?"
"Because that's what friends do when they say goodbye?"
"Goodbye?"
Harry suppressed more laughter as he shook his head, closing the gap between them. Draco felt himself flinch as Harry wrapped his arms around Draco's slender frame, but at the same time he welcomed the touch, as he had never received hugs as a child. Timidly, Draco raised his pale arms and put them around Harry, holding him loosely around the other boy's waist. Resting his head slightly on Harry's shoulder, he smiled to himself.
"Well...I'll see you then." Draco heard Harry say into his ear.
"Uh huh..." the blond said softly, refusing to let go of his hold on Harry, fearing for some ridiculous reason that he wouldn't see Harry again for a long time if he let him leave.
"Uh... Draco... you kinda have to let go now."
Draco tightened his grip around Harry's waist before letting him go. He let his fingers travel down Harry's sides, enjoying the shivering response he received.
"Mr. Potter, your ride has been waiting for well over 20 minutes. Get a move on, I think it's time you take your leave." The nurse that Draco and Harry had so loved to call the 'Spawn of Satan' crossed her arms after looking at her watch.
"Yeah, I'm coming... don't get your knickers in a twist." Harry smiled as he winked at Draco, leaning forward and quickly placing his lips to Draco's porcelain cheek.
Draco's eyes went wide at the touch, but he soon found himself smiling at the sensation Potter's lips left on his cheek. As Harry leaned back, Draco caught his hand, gave it a gentle squeeze of reassurance, and then smiled.
"Take care of yourself, Harry."
"Same to you." Harry grinned and turned around, walking towards the volatile nurse.
Draco gave a small wave as Harry left the ward, never knowing that it would be the last time that he would see Harry for a long time.
Raei: So... That was... fun.
Kylia: WOOT!! We finally got this blasted story up and on the... thingy... (coughs)
Raei: You mean up and on Fanfiction? (narrows eyes)
Kylia: Shut-up. Anyway... we hoped you enjoyed this chappie (grins stupidly) ehe... why are you glaring at me? (looks at Raei)
Raei: Am not glaring, am staring lovingly at you. (grins widely) ANYHOOHOO... Enjoy the sexiness of it all. Mmm... Draco and Harry... doing things... Did I mention there will be leather involved? (shivers and grins) ...leather...
Draco: (raises his eyebrows)
Harry: (looks over at Draco and grins) Ehhe...
Draco: Leather...?
Harry: I wanna see you in leather you saucy MINX!!
Kylia and Raei: (both slap forehead)
Kylia: (groans) Whose idea was it to make Harry a horn dog?
Raei: (whistles and looks away) Not mine... Harry is like that naturally.
Draco: I beg to differ... (glares over at Harry who is now holding a wip grinning) OH GOD! (runs away as elegantly as he can)
Harry: Noo! Come back! I've got a present for youuu!
Draco: (Stops suddenly) Present?!
Kylia and Raei: END CHAPTER, END CHAPTER!!! (runs after Draco and Harry trying to take the wip away)
Kylia: WATCH WHERE YOU'RE PUTTING THAT!
Raei: Ohh! Oh owIEE...!!
Harry and Draco: Ehee...
-FADE TO BLACK-
Reviews wanted! At least 5 before next chapter is put up! Evil geniouses, we know.