"What have you done now, Potter?" Snape asked, sniffing the air above Harry's disastrous cauldron. Harry was blinking slowly, staring down at Draco, wondering why he was on the ground, head feeling too light to still be attached to his body. Snape grumbled, pulling a vial from inside his robes. He uncorked it, and handed it to Harry.

"Drink," he commanded, and Harry was quick to obey. The antidote worked quickly; his heart deflated a bit, and his head seemed to come back to rest quite solidly on his neck. He licked his lips and dropped to his knees beside Draco.

The blonde wasn't unconscious; his body was twitching, and he looked up at Harry with glazed eyes. Harry pulled him into his lap, cradling his head against his chest. "I'm so sorry, Dray. I'm so sorry," was all Harry could stammer. Draco seemed to be having trouble swallowing and said nothing in return.

"He'll be fine," Snape said, voice as droning as ever. "You haven't poisoned him; it seems you can't even do that properly." Harry closed his eyes in gratitude, holding Draco closer, ignoring Snape's jab.

The professor came around their side of the table, kneeling beside the pair and tilting Draco's face toward him. He seemed satisfied by what he saw, and said to Harry, "Take him up to the Hospital Wing. I'll be up presently with an antidote for your disaster."

"Thank you, Professor," Harry said, standing and hoisting a trembling Draco up in his arms. The blonde managed to fling one arm around Harry's neck, catching it with his other hand. He pressed his face into Harry's chest as they made their way out of the dungeon.

"You could use a stretcher," Snape called after him, but Harry ignored his advice, wanting to be as close to Draco as possible. Draco groaned something into his sweater but Harry couldn't make out the words.

He had a wicked stitch in his side by the time he reached the Hospital Wing. Out of breath, he burst through the doors, almost running over a startled Madame Pomfrey.

"You two again?" she said, throwing her hands up in the air. "What is it this time?"

"Potions mishap," Harry said, in between gulps of air. "Snape's coming… with cure."

Poppy nodded, and told Harry to set his victim down on a bed. Harry wished he could keep holding him, but followed orders. Draco was still seizing slightly, his skin clammy to the touch. His hair was uncharacteristically mussed, and Harry instinctually smoothed it back into place. He summoned a chair, and sat at the side of his bed, clutching at the pain in his side.

"I'm so sorry," Harry repeated, unable to say anything more. Draco might have nodded, his eyes almost closed. Harry reached for one of his hands, holding it tightly. Draco squeezed his fingers weakly. Harry sat with him, in stillness and silence for half of an hour before Snape came through the door.

The professor was carrying a steaming goblet. Harry helped Draco sit up, supporting his back, so Snape could pour the potion into his mouth. Draco choked as he swallowed, slopping potion down his front. He leaned heavily against Harry for a few minutes before the brew could work its magic. His tremors abated, and he took in a deep shaking breath.

"Fifty points from Gryffindor for your inattention to detail," Snape said, voice sounding relieved. Harry wouldn't have cared if it was five hundred. As Snape retreated, he laid Draco back down, taking hold of one of his hands again.

Draco scrubbed his mouth with the back of his hand, and looked up at Harry. "Why do we always end up in the Hospital Wing?" he asked weakly, trying to smile.

"Because I'm an idiot. Draco, I am so unbelievably sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you. I don't know what I can do to make this up to you."

Draco squeezed his hand. "I think we're even now."

"Really?"

"Yeah."

Harry raised Draco's hands to his mouth, brushing his fingers with his lips. Draco blinked slowly, a small smile on his face.

"I don't think I can stay awake for much longer," he said, words slurring.

"That's ok. Go to sleep."

"Don't leave me?" Draco's eyes fell closed.

"I won't. Don't worry."

Draco nestled into his pillow, breathing deep.

Harry didn't leave. He sat watching Draco sleep for the next hour, until the blonde stirred.

"Good morning, sunshine," Harry whispered, as the blonde's eyes slid open.

"Morning," Draco said, stretching. He rubbed his eyes, and then lay staring at Harry.

"How're you feeling?"

"Good. Harry…"

"Yes?"

"I don't… I don't think we can be together."

Harry felt like his heart had stopped. He held on tightly to Draco's hand. "Why not?" he whispered.

"Harry, we're just…" His grey eyes were sad. He licked his lips before continuing. "We're on different sides. It would be too easy for You-Know-Who to use me to hurt you. To kill you. I couldn't risk that. I would never be able to live with myself, knowing it was my fault that he finally killed you."

"He's not going to kill me, Draco," Harry promised, ignoring the nagging in his head, the words of the prophecy bouncing around his mind. "I told you this: you can be good, too. There's so much good in you."

"I can't-"

"No, you can. You can! I'll be right here, every step of the way. And Dumbledore-"

Draco cut him off by wrenching his hand out of Harry's. "Listen to me!" His eyes were filled with tears. "I can't abandon my family. I can't put you at risk. I… I just can't."

Harry stared down at him for a moment, before standing and walking out of the Hospital Wing without looking back.

Harry spent the next month in silence. He barely spoke to Ron and Hermione, was rarely seen outside his room except for class or Quidditch practice. He was skipping meals and homework assignments. His friends didn't know what to do to help him, though it couldn't be said that they weren't trying.

The day dawned of the rescheduled match between Gryffindor and Slytherin. Harry made his way stormily down to the pitch, wading through the few inches of snow that had fallen the night before. He was grouchy, having not slept well, and not looking forward to the match. Anytime he and Draco had passed in the hallway or seen each other in the necessary classes, eye contact had not been made, cold indifference had been adopted. To anyone else, it looked as though their relationship was the same as it had been since first year.

Harry was early, and the stands still stood mostly empty, the rest of the school up in the castle, enjoying a warm breakfast. Adorned in his scarlet robe, he stood in the door of the locker room, staring out at the pitch, eyes tracing the hoops, mind far away.

He watched as the emerald clad team filed onto the field, counting their numbers. All seven members were present, but no pale hair shone among them. Harry swallowed, and before his heart could consult his mind, he was sprinting back up to the castle, dodging the crowd now making its way opposite his heading.

He mounted the main stairs, robes streaming behind him, and headed straight for the seventh floor corridor. He has to be in the Room. Where else?

Harry rounded the corner and stopped. Draco was seated on the floor, back against the wall, staring at the empty stretch of wall where the door into the Room of Requirement usually appeared. Harry took a deep breath and forced his feet to move, carrying him forward toward Draco.

The blonde was chewing on his lower lip, cheeks stained with the echoes of tears. He didn't look up at Harry when he drew closer, gaze stayed on the wall opposite.

"Dray?" Harry opened softly.

A long pause stretched between them.

"I don't want to be hated anymore."

Harry's heart leapt. "You don't have to be."

Draco looked up at him, hesitantly, "I'm terrified."

"I know. But I'll be right here." He held out his hands to Draco.

"Promise?" the blonde asked as he pulled himself up.

"I'll never leave you," Harry said, sealing his words with a soft kiss.

The end.

A/N

I was going for light hearted with this fic... Not sure that was entirely successful. Oh well.

Chapter titles are lyrics stolen from: Mumford & Sons, The National, Johnny Flynn, The White Stripes, The Beatles, Florence & the Machine, and Ingrid Michaelson.

Characters and the like are lovingly borrowed from J.K.R.

Thanks for reading! Much love.