oakstone730

Time Period: 8th Year

Pairings: HP/DM GW/NL RW/HG

Warnings: Bonding fic, beware if you are tired of the cliche, Lime, EWE

Rating: R

Word Count: 2,800

Summary: Draco is forced to tutor Harry in potions. A slight problem occurs during their first lesson.

When Harry woke up and felt the all too familiar disorienting feeling as he looked around and remembered that he was in the Hospital Wing. He stole a quick glance over towards Draco and saw that he was writing in some kind of journal. Draco lifted his head suddenly as if he realized that Harry was awake, without saying a word he closed the book and slid it under his pillow.

There was a crack and two breakfast trays appeared on the tables next to the beds. Harry sent a grateful thank you to the elves in the kitchen for the food. Not only was he starving but it saved him from the awkward silence that had been hanging in the air since he’d refused to answer Malfoy’s questions.

“Finally, I can’t remember the last time I ate,” he said as he sat up and reached for the plate on the tray. His stomach growled in anticipation, eggs and rashers of bacon had never looked so good. It wasn’t until he was lifting the first forkful of eggs that he realized that the last time he’d eaten had been just moments before the fight with Draco in the bathroom when they’d bonded. He glanced at Draco to see if he was going to say anything but he was busy fussing with his tea.

Narcissa Malfoy slipped quietly into the Hospital Wing as they were finishing breakfast. Draco gave her a tentative smile as she sat on the chair near his bedside. Her face seemed less tense to Harry than the day before, although the dark circles under her eyes showed that she probably hadn’t had a good night’s sleep.

“Madam Pomfrey is researching to learn more about the implications of your bonds,” Narcissa said. “I told her that I would sit with you until I have to leave.”

Draco’s face grimaced as he pointedly turned to look out the window. Harry realized that she needed to talk to Draco about what had happened and Draco wouldn’t want to tell his mother anything with Harry a few feet away, hearing every word.

“I need to study my Potions homework, would it be alright with you if I cast a Silencio?” Harry asked, “I tend to mutter as I read.”

Draco rolled his eyes at Harry’s obvious lie but didn’t object as Harry cast the spell. Reaching for his Potions textbook from the stack that had appeared overnight on his bedside table Harry pointedly started reading, turning away from the Malfoys to give them more privacy.

Sometime later the bondmark tightened around his arm and Harry looked over to see that Narcissa had moved and was now sitting next to Draco on his bed. Even though they sat side by side on the bed with their backs to Harry they still had perfect posture, their heads bent together in obvious conversation. As Harry watched, Narcissa wrapped her arm around Draco’s shoulders and hugged him to her as she kissed the top of his head.

It was such a loving gesture that Harry’s breath caught and he felt a burning in chest that he realized with a flash of horror was jealousy. Draco Malfoy had his mother and Harry had no one.

After so many years he was accustomed to not having his parents but to see the motherly devotion and caring of that simple gesture shook him. Molly Weasley had hugged him and fussed over him yesterday. He knew she and Arthur loved Harry like he was their son but he was always keenly aware that he wasn’t truly part of their family. It stood out as obviously as his black hair next to the red-haired Weasley clan. Harry loved Molly but it had been a relief when she and Arthur had left the night before.

Forcing himself to look away, he stared out the window trying to figure why it had hurt to see Draco and his mother hugging. He had never been jealous of seeing Ron and his mother embracing. Narcissa’s devotion to Draco had been apparent by her actions in those woods. Was it because it was Draco who had someone to turn into in this disaster?

There was a poke on his shoulder and Harry turned and to see Draco looking at him, his lips were moving but Harry couldn’t hear what he was saying. With a flush he remembered the spell and hastily cast a Finite. Harry looked at Draco, “What’s wrong?”

“What’s wrong with you? The bond is doing its thing.”

Harry looked at his arm and cursed the bondmark that had somehow let Draco know that he was upset. He shook his head and lied, “Nothing is wrong. Do you need to talk more?”

Draco looked like he was going to argue with Harry but Narcissa put her hand on Draco’s shoulder to stop him as she stood up gracefully from the bed.

“Draco and I had a lovely chat, thank you for giving us that, Harry. I’m afraid I must go. Professor McGonagall is expecting me to stop by before I leave.” She reached down and kissed Draco on his cheek, “I expect regular Owls, Draco.”

She walked around the beds and Harry was surprised when she came to his side. Holding out her hands to Harry, as he hesitantly took them in his own, she leaned forward and said softly into his ear, “Don’t be afraid to trust Draco, Harry,” She straightened and smiled at him, “And you are welcome to Owl me also, Harry.”

She walked silently down the corridor and out of the hospital wing without looking back. The faint scent of her perfume lingered. Roses? Lavender? Vanilla?

“It’s narcissus.”

“What?” Harry asked looking over at Draco puzzled.

“Her perfume. It is eau de narcissus with just a hint of jasmine.”

“Oh, thanks.” Harry flushed, “I just hadn’t noticed it before.”

“She rarely wears it. My father used to have it made especially for her.” Draco looked at Harry. “Are you going to tell me what that was all about?”

“What?” Harry feigned as he turned and flipped his Potions book back on the table next to the bed.

“What made the bond tell me that something was wrong with you and what my mother whispered in your ear.”

“It was nothing.”

“The fuck it was.” Draco’s words dropped to a hiss as Madam Pomfrey swept into the room.

“How are you both feeling?” she said primly, glancing between them.

“Fine,” they said in unison.

“I’m sure you are,” she said dryly, as if she didn’t believe them. They lay quietly as she cast the same multitude of spells that she had used on them the day before. This was followed by dozens of questions about how much they slept and how far they had been apart.

Finally, she cast the spell that showed the bondlines flowing between the two of them. Harry watched as the stream of light remained the same thickness as it traveled around both of their arms.

Pomfrey nodded with satisfaction, “Very nice, boys. Now I would like you to move your arms away from each other and let’s see what happens.” They both shifted on their beds and watched as the red stream of the bondlines remained steady as their arms drew farther apart.

“Good, very good. Why don’t you get out of your beds and we’ll see how far you can be apart.”

It had been only a few hours since Harry had stood away from Draco and felt the bond react. He turned to look at Draco who was still on his bed. There was nothing for it but to try he thought as he slid off his bed and waited for Draco to do the same on his side. His eyes didn’t leave the stream of the firebond as it sped around in its dizzying figure 8. As Draco stood up on his side the stream fluxed just a little and then steadied.

“That is good. Nearly six feet away. Much better than I expected. How does it feel?”

In honestly the bond was starting to burn but Harry knew that answer would not get them out of the Hospital Wing.

“It is fine. Doesn’t hurt at all,” Draco’s voice said firmly. Harry looked over at him and Draco lifted his chin as if daring him to contradict.

“Really? Why don’t you take a few more steps apart and we’ll see how that feels.”

Harry took a step backwards as Draco did the same. The red stream of light flickered and streaks of silver could be seen amongst the red.

“Still no discomfort?” Pomfrey asked.

“Not at all. It doesn’t feel any worse.” Harry said, forcing his voice to stay steady as the bond attempted to pull them back together.

Draco nodded in agreement although Harry could see his face growing even paler and beads of sweat were gathering on his forehead.

“Hmmphh,” Pomfrey said, as she waved them to move back to their beds. “Well, in that case I see no reason you can’t return to the eighth year dormitory. Your room is ready for you and your things arranged.”

“Our room?” Harry cursed as again they both responded in unison.

“Yes, you’ll of course be rooming together for the foreseeable future. You’ll need to talk to McGonagall about your class schedule. The bond won’t let you be more than six feet apart.” Pomfrey eyed them sternly, “No matter how hard you gritted your teeth, clearly ten feet was too far, but don’t worry I’ll let you go back to your dormitory on the understanding that you will return once a day to allow me to monitor your progress and that neither of you will do anything to harm the other.”

OOOooooOOO

Harry was glad that classes were in session and the corridors empty as they made their way back to the dormitory. Draco was silent next to him, his head uncharacteristically bent down, staring at the floor.

Their footsteps rang hollowly on the stone steps and Harry didn’t try to think of something to say. What could be said? They were going back to their room. It had the sound of finality about it.

They would be sharing a room, sharing meals, sharing classes. The bond would decide it for them. Harry glanced down at his right arm. It was surreal to think that they would be spending the rest of their lives together. The thought of that twisted Harry’s stomach into knots. How was that even going to work? Draco hated him, he always had. How could anyone expect them to do this...forever?

Pomfrey had said that the bond would determine what lay ahead for them. Again his life being controlled by forces beyond his control. At least Mal—Draco wasn’t Voldemort. The very thought of which reminded him of the earlier argument that he’d had with Draco. Draco hadn’t asked him about it again. Harry dared to steal a look at Draco as they started down the staircase. His mother had said that he could trust him, had Draco told his mother about their fight?

It was pretty clear that Draco was still angry or something, he hadn’t said anything but single word responses since Pomfrey had finally said they could go back to the dormitory. It was impossible to know what Draco thought about everything that was happening to him.

There was a sudden jolt and Harry felt Draco’s arm reach out and grab him.

“What--” Harry started to say but stopped as he felt the staircase start shifting under his feet. He gave a laugh and looked over at Draco, “All the years here and I still get tripped up by these bloody staircases.”

Draco gave a smile and nodded. The stairs came to a stop at the second floor landing and they both stepped off quickly. Without a word, they both turned to the right, heading towards the corridor that would lead them back to the nearest entrance to the dormitory.

Finally standing in front of the threshold to the eighth year dormitory, Harry took a deep breath and opened the door. There weren’t any passwords or riddles needed to enter, Harry didn’t know if it was because it was just temporary accommodations or because after the war and the battles fought that using such protections seemed juvenile to the eighteen-year olds who were living there.

The common room was empty, fortunately, and they headed up the stairs to his room. Their room. He put his hand on the doorknob and glanced at Draco. “Ron and I had to ward the door to keep people out. I’ll add you to the wards.”

“Don’t put yourself out, I’m sure sleeping outside the door would be close enough to keep the bond content.”

“Hah ha,” Harry said as he shoved the door open, “We warded it just because it was easier. Too many unexpected visitors.”

“Of course, your amorous fans,” Draco just stood in the doorway, “Shame your interests don’t lay in the direction of all the giggling girls that trail behind you.”

“It only takes once waking up to a fourth year trying to sneak into your bed to make you want wards on the door.” Harry said with a scowl as he walked to look out the window, the same window he had used to try to fly to his freedom just a few days before.

“Strangely, I haven’t had that problem this year.”

Harry quirked a smile, “What about previous years?”

“No comment,” Draco stepped into the room and looked at the two beds.

“Oh, that one was Ron’s but whichever--” Harry broke off as Draco nodded and went over to the bed he’d pointed at and lay down on it, toeing off his shoes as he did so and letting them fall on the floor. The motion was so un-Malfoy like that Harry laughed out loud.

Draco turned to look at him and Harry apologized, “I didn’t mean to laugh, I guess I always thought you were a neat freak. Having to everything in the precise place.”

“Precision has its place, and fortunately the house elves make it so,” Draco motioned towards his shoes lying askew on the floor. “You take a nap and the house elves straighten up everything.”

Harry winced, “Not here, I’m afraid.” Draco narrowed his eyes as Harry went on, “No house elves come in to make beds or the like. I pay them to do the laundry but as far as tidying, Ron and I did that.”

“Please tell me you are joking.”

“Nope. It was the only way to keep Hermione from going on and on about elves rights. Small price to pay to keep her from restarting S.P.E.W.”

“You really are serious,” Draco sat up and looked around, “The Savior dusts and clean toilets?”

“Don’t call me that,” Harry said quietly as he sat down on his bed. If there was one name that Harry hated more than all the rest it was savior. How could anyone call him that when so many had died? “I grew up having to clean and scrub floors. It isn’t any big deal and now I can use cleaning charms that make it no trouble.”

Draco was stretched out on his side, propping his head up with his hand as he stared over at Harry. “What do you mean you’ve had to clean?”

“It isn’t important,” Harry said, he restlessly grabbed his book bag and pulled out his potions book, “We should study. We’ve missed a lot of classes.”

“What do you care about classes? You were ready to throw it all away last week,” Draco didn’t make any move to reach for his own books that were stacked on the trunk at the end of the bed.

“That was because of the bond. I didn’t know what else to do.”

“And now you do?” Draco said with a laugh “Don’t really see what the point of studying at all.”

Harry looked over at Draco in surprise, “You don’t? You are top in the class with Hermione.”

Draco sat up and gave a little shrug as he went to look out the window, “Before it was because my father demanded it. And, to be honest, I wanted to be better than everyone. This year, until now, it was different. I had to prove to everyone that I deserved the chance to come back. Now, what is the point? We are stuck together.”