Chapter 4
They sat there..
On the floor of the warm apartment.
Surrounded by the scent of sweet strawberries and fresh mint and that was all it took for Harry to start sobbing in Draco's arms.
"Shh, it's okay" Draco said holding Harry tight, he sobbed harder at that, the cries wracked his aching frame but he could finally let it out because in his heart he new he was safe in Draco's arms, in this apartment.
"You're okay, you're safe Harry" Draco whispered and held him closer so as to not let him fall apart, because it felt like he might in that moment had it not been from the warmth coming from Draco, he was even releasing calming pheromones enough that he eventually fell into dreamless, NOT drug induced sleep, the first in months.
Draco POV:
After Harry fell asleep, we just sat there for a while, I wasn't certain for how long, I just wanted to make sure he was real, that he was really here, that I hadn't in fact dreamt it and he was finally back.
I was inclined to stay there forever, that was until I felt how warm his body was pressed against mine, I pushed his messy hair out of face and glimpsed the flush of his cheeks and the sheen of his skin, I leant my forehead to his...'I was right' I thought pulling away to see his breathing wasn't steady 'he does have a fever'.
No surprise really, that basement and house was freezing, not to mention he looks underweight and pale, 'Merlin, what did they do to you?' my eyes roamed over his body seeing the bruises littering his skin. As I scanned for more injuries my eyes landed on his stomach once again, and the swell that was pressing against the filthy shirt he was in, there was no doubt, 'he's pregnant'.
Indescribable rage filled me at the thought of those monsters doing this to him and leaving in this state, he was weak, I could see it, his muscles from training to become an Auror had softened from lack of use and when I found him he couldn't even stand.
"Oh Harry, I'm so sorry we didn't find you sooner" I sighed quietly hoping not to disturb him, but his fever was doing that instead, he let out a weak cough and his brow furrowed.
"you need medicine, and to get clean" Draco said to the unconscious man as he stood and headed to his bedroom with a connecting bathroom, he gently layed him down on the bed and carefully ungripped his hand from where it was clinging to his shirt desperately, this seemed to distress him quite a bit, so Draco released more pheromones to let him know he was still there and not going anywhere, his body relaxed a little but then he let out another cough, 'he needs a potion'.
Draco quickly rushed down to his shop and went through his wares looking for the potions he needed, he wasn't conscious so he couldn't give him a strong potion that requires it be taken with a meal, but a mild fever reducer should help him feel more comfortable and sleep easier, when he wakes he can give him the stronger one with some food.
I rushed back to the bedroom upstairs not wanting to leave him alone to long in his condition, he was breathing harder now and his hair stuck to his forehead from the sweat, I gently pulled him into a seating position and supporting his head with my hand I tipped the fever reducer towards his lips, coaxing him to drink it, even while unconscious he seemed hesitant, almost pulling away but I urged him to drink it, "Harry please, I need you to drink this for me" his eyelids cracked open he looked at me warily until he recognized me, he looked back the potion but made no move to drink it, "it's a fever reducer potion, it'll help you feel better" he glanced at me again briefly before finally drinking the potion.
I knew it wouldn't work immediately but it still seemed to relieve him slightly when he sighed, I knew he wanted to sleep more but I had to get him clean and out of those clothes first, "Harry, I know your tired but you really shouldn't sleep in those clothes, you should take a bath first" he looked at me tiredly and my heart ached to see him like this but he wouldn't recover if he wasn't clean, he nodded slowly and then spoke quietly, "Don't think I can stand..just yet" I did fear he'd say that and almost dreaded what I knew needed to be done (if only for how incredibly awkward it would be) but I didn't have time to dwell on it and instead calmly asked "I can help you if you want, but only if your comfortable with it" truth is I'm not even sure Harry would want me touching him fully clothed let alone naked after what he's been through, but also wasn't comfortable letting him attempt it on his own.
He took hesitated a moment and looked almost fearful has he looked at me again and nodded weakly. This was going to be a very delicate situation, I nodded in kind to let him know I understood and picked him up once more and carrying him to bathroom, fearing if I left him the bed he'd go back to sleep, I used magic to turn on the faucet and start filling the tub with warm water, in the mean time, we started the delicate process of removing the dirty clothes, I faced Harry away from me to give him as much privacy as possible and when the tub was filled I helped him climb into the tub and settle in the water, I helped him wash his hair and back and while I combed my fingers through his hair as he washed the parts of himself I wasn't needed for, I heard soft sniffles, and his shoulders shook slightly, I slowly removed my fingers from his hair and moved to see his face better and as I suspected tears silently feel from his green eyes once more.
It broke my heart to see him like this, I wasn't sure if he wanted my comfort but I reached out slowly anyway to wipe his tears away, he flinched slightly at the movement of my hand but when he didn't say anything or tell me to stop I kept going until I was able to wipe a tear away, he grabbed hold of hand with his shaking one and silently cried for a minute before he asked my help in my getting out of the bath.
After he was dry and clothed in a pair of my pyjama's, I checked his temperature again with a spell this time, it was still high but not dangerously so, that being the case I felt it safe for him to go to sleep, he was nearly falling asleep while he was getting dressed after all, I helped him lay down again in my bed and said to him, "I'll write to Weasley and Granger and let them know your safe, they'll wa-" before i could finish he grabbed my wrist and said "NO, not yet please!" I was almost startled, after him being so quiet his shout shocked me slightly, "Harry, you've been gone for months and they've been worried sick, I have to tell them where you are and that your safe, and then we need to go get those scumbags wh-"
"I KNOW!" he squeezed my wrist tighter with his meager strength, "I know that, but...please" he looked up at me again but with fear in his eyes now, fear at what? I wasn't sure, I wasn't about to ask either not when he was clearly shaken, then he said "please, just wait till morning, I can't yet, not right now" then I looked outside and realized the sun was indeed setting, I hadn't even noticed the time, I sighed and looked back at Harry, "Alright, but I have to tell them tomorrow" he didn't say anything, just let go of my wrist and went to lie back down, I turned to leave before he spoke again, quietly this time, "wait" I looked back at him wondering if he'd changed his mind but instead he asked.
"please stay, I don't want to be alone" we looked at each other a moment and I wondered if this was his fever talking or just him but instead of pondering, my instincts told me to stay and watch over him, so I did.
All Night!