A mediwizard appeared in the doorway of the wing where Harry was staying.
"I need Draco Malfoy, and someone Harry Potter calls 'Angel'," he announced.
Draco looked up from his parchment in surprise, but got up and approached the mediwizard. "What's going on?" he asked.
"Harry keeps asking for you," he replied, shifting uncomfortably under Draco's gaze. "Angel?" he called again.
"I'm Angel," Draco said. The mediwizard frowned.
"He is," Hermione called helpfully. She was gripping Ron's hand tightly. Both were anxious to know what was happening too.
He conceded, and led Draco to Harry's room.
---
Harry was flailing about nervously. He wasn't fully aware of what was going on, and calming potions seemed to be having no effect on him. There were tears in his wide green eyes. Draco rushed over and took his hand. "Harry, I'm here."
"Angel?" The voice was stronger than yesterday.
"Yes, love," Draco said. He looked intently at his boyfriend, and Harry calmed down. Draco lowered himself to sit on the edge of the bed.
The mediwizards watched as Draco kissed Harry's hand, his scar, his lips. They watched in amazement as the boy who had been so unresponsive to all their efforts to help sank serenely into the arms of the other.
"Do you know what happened?" Draco asked his boyfriend.
Harry shook his head, no. One of the mediwizards gave Draco a warning look that said, i Don't upset him /i . Draco glared at him over Harry's shoulder.
"You're at St. Mungo's. You killed Voldemort. Hear that, love? You really did it. You saved us all," Draco said. He kissed the top of Harry's head. "But you got hurt. So I need you to stay calm so the mediwizards can help you, okay?"
Harry nodded, and clung tighter to his boyfriend. "Love you, Angel," he said.
"Love you too, Harry," Draco replied.
The mediwizards were amazed, not only at the change in their patient, but also that Draco had been telling the truth about their relationship. They let him stay while they worked with Harry, afraid that Harry's calm demeanor would vanish once Draco had left the room.
---
In the waiting area, Hermione sat in Draco's chair. She picked up the stack of parchments from where Draco had dropped them on the floor, and re-organized them into a neat pile. She placed it on the plastic chair next to her, not intending to read them. Their contents were private, after all.
Her name caught her eye.
i Granger insisted on having lunch with me today. She took me out to a little Muggle café down the street, and we got sandwiches and coffee. We sat in silence for a while, and then she suddenly started talking about you. /i
She started skimming through.
i I shouldn't do this! /i She thought.
But her curiosity got the better of her, and she flipped through to find the first page.
i Harry,
You will probably never read this letter. If you live, I will have no reason to give it to you, and if you don't- oh, Merlin, I can't think about that… /i
---
After a few hours, the mediwizards gave Harry a Sleeping Potion, and told Draco to get some fresh air. He didn't want to leave Harry, but figured it would be better to stay on their good side by not arguing.
When Draco returned to the waiting room, Hermione was sitting in his chair, a stack of papers in her hands. Her head was lowered, her hair covering her face.
Wait. That was his stack of papers. His letter.
He stalked over and grabbed it away.
She was crying.
"You filthy little - that's private!" he yelled at her.
She cried harder.
"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to read it… it's just… you dropped it and I…" she tried.
"What the hell kind of excuse is that?" Draco demanded.
Then Ron was behind him. "Leave her alone, Malfoy," he said in a low, threatening voice.
Draco reeled on him. "She took advantage of my absence to peruse my private property! It's-"
"It's beautiful," Hermione interrupted. "When he's better, you should show it to him."
Draco frowned. "What?"
"You love him so much," she said. "I'm sorry, you're right. I shouldn't have read it, but I was afraid you'd never really let me get to know you."
Draco was at a loss for words, for, apparently, the first time in ten days.
Hermione stood up and hugged Draco, who didn't know what to do. She pulled back to look into his gray eyes.
"Meet us for lunch tomorrow," she said.
"Us?" Draco frowned again.
"Me, Ron, and whoever else would like to know you better. Same café, noon. We'll talk," she said, placing her hand on Ron's arm.
Draco nodded, and Hermione walked away with her boyfriend in tow. He collapsed into his chair in disbelief.
Harry was going to be okay.
His friends would support them. Well, Hermione would, anyway, and hopefully she could convince the others.
Draco looked through the stack of parchment. He picked up his quill, and to the last page he added,
i Love always,
Draco. /i