Brave As A Noun

Draco rested back in his chair and listened to Potter’s surprisingly soothing voice and once more he allowed himself to drift off.

________________________

Chirping birds and echoed voices stirred Draco awake, on top of him was a gryffindor robe, clueless to Draco, Harry potter sat across from him. Draco, still unobservant of his surroundings, got up and all tripped over the small table stationed in between the two chairs.

Alerted by a pained yelp and a crash, Harry abruptly woke up to find Draco who had fallen onto the ground, Harry’s robe seeming to have draped over the other head making the lad chuckle softly.

Draco huffed as he shoved off the robe that was blinding him, meeting eyes with Harry Potter.

“Malfoy you gotta stop falling for me.” Harry smirked whilst holding out his hand for the boy on the ground.

Clasping hands with the gryffindor Draco tried to regain his balance but let out troubled whine. He had injured his leg.

His leg? Ankle? God knows what it was but all Draco knew was that Merlin it hurt badly.

“Shit Malfoy, are you okay?” Harry said as he locked eyes with a pained Draco.

Draco bit his lip and nodded, looking away from Harry. Just then Harry grabbed under Draco’s arm and wrapped a hand around his waist, supporting Draco to stand.

“Let's get you to the hospital wing, madam Pomfrey will have something to help. Trust me I know, from experience you might ask.”

Draco shifted away from Harry, shaking his head stating that he was not wanting his assistance in the matter.

“Come on Malfoy you can’t get there on your own, look you’re in so much pain you're crying.”

Draco brought his hand up to his face and sure enough a few tears had escaped him, humming in acknowledgement he pivoted towards Harry and sighed in defeat.

Harry knew that if he was seen with Malfoy out in the open people would have questions, so to counter an irritating event of sorts Harry made sure to take care in transporting the quiet yet stubborn boy by taking the occasional detour.

Halfway there Harry’s arm grew tired, it was needless to say difficult supporting Malfoy to walk as they were.

“Malfoy, my arm is killing me, I'm just gonna carry you the rest of the way.”

Draco was quick to rebut Harry’s suggestion yet did not utter a word, instead he ferociously shook his Head and wiggled in Harry's grasp. You could basically hear him shouting no even with no effort of talking.

“Malfoy I swear to Merlin you are going to fall!” Draco made eye contact and stared in a way that antagonized Harry, a gleam of his once strong personality shining though.

“Nope not dealing with this.” Harry said as he hooked his arm under Draco’s legs, sweeping the pale boy from his standing position.

“There, all better.” Harry said as he smirked at the boy he held in his arms.

Draco thrashed around for a minute before giving up and huffing in defeat. Draco, afraid of falling, leaned closer to Harry, feeling the other's heartbeat along with the obvious physical form of the lad.

Albeit the walk was uneventful, Draco felt calm, even with the throbbing in his leg Draco felt that for now things were alright. Draco couldn’t pinpoint it, his former enemy/rival helping him in numerous ways, and now Draco felt at ease in his arms?

He felt…

Entering the hospital wing Harry walked over to an empty cot and carefully placed Draco down, being warefull of his injured leg.

Watching Harry walk away, Draco turned his attention to the window. Breakfast was passed by now and he’d ought to have missed the beginning of transfiguration class. Engrossed in contemplation Draco took note of his appearance, His robes a wrinkled mess and surely he thought his hair must also be in a most unkempt state.

Just as Draco was about to make another deduction towards himself, Madam Pomfrey and Potter stepped closer.

“Ah Mr. Malfoy what seems to be the issue?” She said questioning.

Draco winced and heaved his leg up onto the cot, pulling up his robes, his ankle red, raw and swollen before him.

“Oh dear that looks mighty painful, just one second let me grab some things.” Draco nodded as the woman strolled off.

“Does..” Harry started.

“Does it hurt badly?” He says feeling sorry for the other.

Draco makes a dulling face at Harry, accidentally stretching his injured leg.

“Ow! Fu-” Draco exclaims all then coughing so hard his lungs wail, while muffling the sound with his elbow Harry darts to his side, even more concerned for Draco.

“Hey hey take it easy” Harry says, laying a hand on the coughing boy's back.

Draco moved from Harry’s touch looking almost ashamed to be in such a state. Looking at Draco with a slightly hurt expression Harry politely backs off and sits awkwardly beside him.

If not a moment later madam Pomfrey returns with a few potions in hand.

“Here dear, this one for the pain, this one for swelling, and a recovery potion.” Draco gratefully took the vials and downed them, immediately feeling a surge of relief. Sighing and dropping onto the cot pillows Draco felt tired one more, dozing off and hearing voices conversing.

“He is going to be very tired because of the dosages and will need to rest the entire day, now Mr. Potter I think it's about time you headed off to class.” The woman hums looking at Harry.

“Ah yeah.. I’ll be going now.” Biting his lip Harry turns towards the healing professor.

“Do you think he’ll be awake by supper? I wanna bring him food, you know, to make sure he eats and all.”

The woman smiles at him and nods.

“Yes, I do believe Mr. Malfoy will be awake by supper, now off with you.”

Harry returns the smile and makes his way down the halls and to his current class.

________________________

The days passes and all Harry could think about was Malfoy, the boy entrapped his mind, the thought of him in pain made Harry deeply uncomfortable and yet another feeling he could not place, soon enough classes were over and Harry along with the rest of the golden trio made their way over to the grand hall for supper.

Harry had an appetite for sure but he had not forgotten about the boy in the hospital wing. His lack of attention to his friends was observed by Hermione, she watched as Harry filled up a separate plate with a variety of food.

Filled up on His own dinner Harry grabbed the other plate of food and got up to leave, just before he could Hermione pulled at his sleeves.

“Harry? Where are you going?” She inquired, wanting to know.

Remembering what Harry had talked with Draco about he turned to his friend.

“Oh that’s right, Mione, could you come with me? There's something I wanna talk to you about.” This caught the glance of Ron who spoke with a mouth full of food.

“What’d ya up to Harry?” Harry rebutted with a simple lie.

“I need Mione for some studying.” Glancing towards the plate of food in his hand,

“This is just brain fuel.” Ron didn’t question further and went back to eating as Harry and Hermione exited the hall.

Hermione looked at Harry.

“You don’t actually need me for studying do you?” she asked.

“No of course not.” Harry exasperated and puffed, as they made their way down the halls.

“I need to help Malfoy.”