Chapter Four:

Life with Muggles

Harry had been recovering from the stress and depression for almost two weeks. In that time no one, aside from Draco Malfoy and Severus Snape, knew where the dark haired teen had gone. The entire school was in a panic, students, teachers, and visitors alike were searching for the boy who lived but never found him.

Snape had asked Draco repeatedly to tell everyone were Potter was but the blonde refused every time; saying the school deserves to panic about and fear what happened to Harry. Snape told Draco that the headmaster needed to know where he was and the teenage wizard flipped out. He yelled at Snape saying Dumbledore didn't care enough to notice how much Harry was suffering.

Severus thought over what Draco had said for a few days. He decided that Malfoy had a very good point and promised his student he wouldn't tell anyone, at the moment, where Harry has been. Draco calmed down some and continued his care for the sick teen. Snape actually had to remake the fire colored potion twice; Harry's condition worse than the potions master first thought it was.

Malfoy found out; when Harry was able to stay awake for more than a few minutes, the cause of the serious illness was from intense physical and emotional stress topped with exhaustion. Draco explained this all to Snape, who checked up on Harry regularly, and the teacher was slightly surprised.

"It was all a result of the Triwizard tournament." Draco said angrily.

"So it would seem. There's really no other explanation." Snape agreed just before he left.

For the most part Harry slept while Malfoy took to pacing his room, cursing out everyone that he thought added to Harry's stress level. He rarely left his room and had made a request with the house elves that worked at the school to bring him and Harry food, just until the dark haired boy was better. The elves were happy to oblige and had been delivering breakfast, lunch and dinner to Draco's room, secretly.

Now, after two very long weeks, Harry was moving around more and Draco couldn't have been happier. He and Harry have become very close the past three days; talking and laughing about different things. Though Harry still slept quite often, the remainder of that time was spent lying beside Draco, talking, or playing a game of wizard's chess or exploding snap.

"Draco, how many classes have you missed?" Harry asked in the middle of a game of wizards chess, which he was still very bad at.

"It doesn't matter. Snape has been bringing me any work I might have missed…and now that I think about, he's been getting yours as well." Draco answered.

Harry groaned at the thought of all the work he's missed and would have to make up. Draco smiled at his friend as his pawn took down one of Harry's.

"Don't worry about it. I'll help you catch up with everything, I promise." Draco assured.

Harry remembered something then, from when he was barely conscious in Snape's office.

"I love you."

Harry gazed at Draco whose attention was currently focused on making his next move. Soon though, the blonde felt a gaze on him and looked up. He saw bright, emerald colored eyes staring at him, a small smile on the light pink lips.

"What?" Draco asked, blushing slightly under the intensity of Harry's gaze.

"I heard you." Harry said still smiling.

"Er, heard me when?" Draco asked, confused.

"In Snape's office, when you were waiting for him, I heard you whisper: 'I love you.'" Harry recited with a little blush.

"I…you were…I thought…" Draco stumbled out, incapable of forming a complete sentence in his surprise and embarrassment.

Harry chuckled at how bright Malfoy's blush was and leaned forward. He pulled Draco forward then and claimed the blonde's soft lips. Malfoy's misty silver eyes widened in shock but soon closed and kissed Harry back. They broke apart moments later, both bright red, and smiled at each other.

"Why don't we go get lunch?" Harry asked; he was getting very hungry and wanted to stretch his legs.

"Uh, yeah, sure." Draco replied, not really wanting anyone to see Harry.

The two made their way out of the Slytherin dorms, getting shouts of surprise upon seeing Harry from other Slytherins, and headed to the great hall. They didn't see anyone in the dungeon halls but neither cared. When they arrived in the entrance hall though, the two were surrounded by students, all asking the same things; "Harry! Are you alright?" and "Where have you been Harry?"

Draco glared angrily at everyone and pushed through the growing crowd, Harry right behind him. They were followed into the great hall where, for the first time, the teachers and headmaster saw Harry. They immediately went up to him and started questioning him. Getting annoyed, Harry held his hands up for silence. Surprisingly everyone stopped their talking.

"I was sick, that's all." Harry said and walked away with Draco to the Slytherin table.

The dark hared teen was being stared at more than usual. He ignored everyone but Malfoy who sat on his right side. The two ate lunch quietly and, when finished, headed out into the grounds. They were silent for a while when a sudden thought struck Draco.

"Harry, what's it like to live with muggles?"

"I think it'd be better if you asked Hermione that." Harry answered casually.

"Why?" Draco asked.

"My relatives aren't the nicest people in the world. Actually they make Voldemort sound sweet."

"How is that even possible?" Draco asked in shock

Harry sighed as memories at Privet Drive flew through his mind. He unwillingly decided to tell Malfoy about his life in the muggle world.

"The first ten years of my life were spent living in a cupboard under the stairs. If I did something to piss my aunt and uncle off, like unintentionally performing magic, they would lock me inside it. Sometimes they even starved me for it. Though the time I sent a snake on my cousin was worth the punishment later.

Dudley and his cronies would use me as a punching bag whenever they were bored. I was a faster runner than them so most of the time I got away. Well a while back they moved me into Dudley's spare room but not out of kindness. They were just afraid I'd turn them into something if they kept me in the cupboard. And during summer vacations they take all my school things and lock them up so I can't get to them. They really hate magic." Harry finished, his fists clenched in anger.

Draco couldn't believe how horrible Harry was treated by his own family. He grabbed the dark haired teen then and pulled him into a tight hug. Harry sighed, and hugged Draco back, never wanting to let him go. Malfoy pulls away slightly and looks into the emerald eyes he loved so much.

The blonde then claimed Harry's lips, feeling the younger wizard kiss him back. The two deepened their kiss moments later, their tongues entwining in peaceful bliss as they pulled each other as close as possible. After kissing for a few minutes they pulled apart and smiled at each other.

"You're mine." Draco whispered, his voice full of love.

"Always and forever." Harry answered as he kissed his love again.