Ethereal

Harry withdraws from his position by Hermione's bedside and leans again the wall. His mood is suddenly shot, and he can't help the subtle glower that settles on his face. The expression is so unlike Harry, the guy seems to be friendly to anyone who crosses his way.

"Alex," Hermione asked as a small panic settled in, "uhm how did you know I was here?"

"I was bringing you dinner and then outside your office this medical wizard was informing your secretary. I overheard and immediately rushed over here."

Harry tried hard to keep a growl from ripping out of him. The raven had cooked for Hermione tonight and to think that this guy without even asking her was just going over to her office to have dinner with her.

Why does he get to do that?

The flame of jealousy blazed bright inside Harry as he tried to avoid any of his emotions reflecting in his face. Tried, and failed.

"What happened?" Alex insists, repeating his question.

"Oh nothing," Hermione said with a flicker of her wrist. Her dismissal of her own health has Harry shooting her a frown and a glare.

"She passed out in her office," Harry said as he pushed against the wall. He slowly started walking towards Alex. "Where were you when she was not sleeping for days?"

"Harry," Hermione eyed him in warning.

"I'm sorry?" Alex responds to the accusation, confused.

"When she wasn't eating and was working herself half to death, where were you?" Harry repeats, the sharpness in his tone intensifying.

Alex was taken aback and Hermione thinks its only natural. Nobody ever expects their first meeting with the saviour of the wizarding world to be anything like this.

"Alright, that's enough," Hermione demands weakly, involuntarily shuffling further into the sheets.

"Where was I?" Alex surprisingly stands his ground, refusing to be intimidated. "I was with her... you know, in town?"

Harry seems almost surprised at the man's defiance, at his implications.

"Why do you think she wasn't sleeping in the first place?" Alex continues, and the fiery glint to Harry's eyes disappears in a flash. "You should be asking yourself where you were."

Is... has he been the reason? Yes, Neville and Draco said the same. How could he blame someone else when he is the reason of Hermione's distress.

Harry concludes that he really can't help it. Turns out that Harry doesn't have to be close to hurt the people he loves, he can do it from a distance just fine.

"Granger, you're awake," Draco breaks the uncomfortable silence as he opens the door. "How are you feeling?"

Alex looks eagerly in Malfoy's direction, but Harry can't stop himself from looking pitifully to the floor. Hermione notices.

"I'm feeling fine Draco," Hermione answers. "How much longer do I have to stay here?"

"I'm keeping you for one more hour and then I'll come back to dismiss you. But don't even think about going back to work. I warned many guards in the to not let you inside."

"Hey! I'm the Ministress of magic," Hermione protests.

"For today, you're just a patient," Draco reprimands sternly, with an amusing glint in his eyes. "My patient by the way."

Hermione folds her arms and frowns in jest.

Draco looks at Alex, and with all the Malfoy pride he could muster he asks, "and who might you be?"

Alex coughs, "uhm Alex. Alex Blackweather, it's a pleasure to meet you."

"Okay" Draco drawls out, "what exactly are you doing here?"

Hermione's ears turn red and Alex flutters with an explanation along the lines of Hermione being a friend.

Draco registered the situation pretty quickly, and extremely accurately. He looked up at Harry and found the boy seething.

"Let's give Granger and her friend some space then, Potter," Draco suggests, tilting his head towards the door.

Harry walks silently behind him.

Hermione yells behind them as the door is about to close, "Harry is hurt Draco. He didn't go to any medic wizard."

Draco groans and Harry sheepishly rubs the back of his neck.

"Merlin! You're as obnoxious as always Potter," the offensive tone was majorly undermined by his gestures as he said, "sit down and let me have a look."

Harry pulls the hem of his shirt enough to reveal the scar, the bandages now soaked with blood.

"I'm guessing with Grangers skills she should have fixed you up just fine but you opened the wound again. Right?"

Harry thought of establishing that the wound opened cause he had to carry Hermione, but chose to stay quiet with just a nod to confirm Draco's assessment.

Draco focuses his magic, and Harry feels the burning and stinging lift. When the blonde was done, Harry looked at his torso. There was no sign of his injury, not even a remnant scar.

"Thank you," Harry says sincerely.

"Yea sure. You should get professional help for deep wounds like these anyway. I can help you, if you're not interfering with my busy schedule."

There is a light concern and a load of earnestness behind that, which Harry really appreciates.

"Well," Draco attempts to salvage the conversation. "What did you think of Granger's good news? Her and that Alex bloke. I hope I guessed their relationship correctly."

Good news? Harry thinks to himself. He supposes that's one way to describe Mione's new situation, though he personally thinks that viscious inhumane punishment is a more appropriate way of referring to whatever this was.

Harry's body stiffens at the thought, and Draco senses the sudden shift in his demeanour. He's not just stoic now - Harry seems unusually cold, guarded.

Draco doesn't know why the wizarding world is left at the hands of two morons who can't realise that the other loves them just as much as they love the other.

Though Draco doesn't say anything as Harry gives a stiff reply and goodbye before leaving.

Maybe one day somebody would enlighten them about their feelings. But for now? Draco just wants to see what would happen.