Rolling my eyes, I look at my best friend in the driver's seat.
“Oh, c'mon Pans. I'll be fine. Harry’s only gone for a few days to be with his family. He'll be back on New Year's.”
Even as I say it, I flinch a bit. I know your family is important to you, but… I really wanted you here for Christmas.
Pansy catches my flinch and sighs. “Dray, you're a wreck.”
“Gee, thanks. Love you too, asshole.”
She reaches one arm over to shove me slightly. “You know that's not what I meant. How bad have your nightmares gotten?”
Running my hand over my face, I concede her point. My nightmares have gotten significantly worse around the holidays. Last year Mother died in a car crash a few days before Christmas, so I knew my nightmares would start getting worse around the anniversary of her death, but… I didn't expect them to be this bad. I downplayed them to you because I know how much you miss your dads, but I also know that you wouldn't have gone to see them if you knew about how much the nightmares were really getting to me.
Her yellow lab, Athena, nudges my arm with her nose and I turn slightly to pet her. Turning so I'm facing forward again, I scream as I see the shape of an animal in front of us. Pansy slams on the brakes, and the car starts to fishtail dangerously. We weren't going fast, but there's a huge snowstorm going on right now and the roads are covered with a thick layer of ice. She's trying to regain control of the car, but it's a losing battle and I brace myself for the impact as I see us heading toward a snowbank. We hit it and then fall into a small embankment about 10 feet down.
Catching my breath, I instantly turn to look at Pansy. She's unconscious, and I pull out my first-aid supplies. I'm not a doctor, but I have basic training, so I at least know that she's not in serious danger. Once I figure that out, I pull out my phone to try and call her wife, Hermione. The call doesn't go through, and I curse. Luckily the car is still running, so there's heat.
Athena.
Turning, my eyes land on Athena in the backseat. She's miraculously unhurt, and I sigh in relief. I know I have to go get help, but leaving Pansy like this is a really bad idea. Then again, not doing anything is worse. There's no way anyone will be able to find us in this storm. Pulling out a pen and paper, I jot down a quick note for Pansy in case she wakes up. I mean, I'm pretty sure she won't wake up any time soon, but I have no idea how long I'm going to be gone. Also, her diabetes might cause a problem. Luckily I have some food in my backpack, so when she wakes up she should be okay for a little bit. Plus, she has Athena. Athena’s trained to help her, so I'm not leaving her completely alone.
Pans-
Went to find help. There's food in my backpack, and I left my phone here in case you get a signal. Check your insulin levels. DO NOT LEAVE THE CAR.
-Dray
Knowing that she gets cold easily, I grab a blanket out of the backseat and tuck it around her. Wrapping my coat around me, I grab the flashlight in the glove compartment and quickly get out of the car. Athena instantly hops up front and rests her head in Pansy’s lap.
Smart dog.
The cold wind stings my face like a thousand knives, and I duck my head as I trudge up the hill. It's insanely hard, and by the time I reach the top, I'm shaking. I try to find a familiar landmark, but everything is covered in white, and the snow is still coming down. The flashlight scarcely cuts through the snow, and I can barely see even a few feet in front of me. It's getting dark fast, which only leads to my fear and anxiety. I'm insanely scared of the dark, but I know I don't have a choice. I have to keep going.
Taking a breath, I keep walking but I feel like I'm going nowhere. I didn't bring my really heavy coat to the get-together because I didn’t think I would be outside long enough for it to matter so I'm shivering like crazy and I'm soaked to the bone. I'm definitely going to get sick.
After what feels like forever, I see lights up ahead and I'm filled with a fresh surge of hope. I try my best to increase my pace, but it still seems like hours before I reach the doorstep of what I now realize is a house. Desperately hoping someone is home, I bang on the door with all the energy I have left.
It opens, and I'm face-to-face with an elderly woman. She blinks in shock, but then instantly steps aside and motions me in. Slowly, I stumble inside and then fall to my knees.
“Oh my! Sebastian! Sebastian, come quick!”
A man a bit younger than Uncle Sev, who I assume is her son, comes out of the living room.
“Yeah, mo- oh my god!”
He kneels beside me, and I shake. Opening my mouth, I try to speak, knowing that I need to get Pansy and Athena out of danger.
“Car… snowbank… dog… friend…”
He nods and picks me up. His mom sets a towel down on the couch, and he sets me on it. Crouching down, he looks at me.
“My name is Sebastian Vane, and this is my mom, Amelia Vane. Can you tell me where your friend and the dog are?”
The last names sound vaguely familiar, but I’m too dazed to focus on why. Shaking, I take a deep breath. “10th… 10th and Devonshire…”
He nods. “Is it before the turnoff to Wells Street?”
I nod, and he stands. “I'll go get them, don't worry. My mom is an ER doctor, and she'll take care of you.”
He leaves, and his mom instantly gets to work, trying to warm me up. She leads me to the bathroom, peeling off my clothes, and gently helps me into the bathtub. I'm barely focusing right now, so I'm not embarrassed or anything. Right as she wraps me in a blanket, I hear the front door open. After a moment, there's a knock on the bathroom door and Dr. Vane opens it. Athena pads inside, followed by Pansy. Both of them look much better than I do.
Pansy gasps and runs over to me. “Dray! Oh my god… hon…”
She unzips my backpack and pulls out the extra pair of clothes that I carry with me just in case. Noticing Dr. Vane, Pansy blinks.
“You’re Romilda Vane’s mom, aren’t you, Dr. Vane?”
Romilda Vane?
A memory surfaces in my mind, and I barely fight back a grimace. She was a classmate of ours who was obsessed with Harry for YEARS.
Dr. Vane nods, smiling.
”Yes. And, please, call me Amelia.”
Relieved, Pansy sighs. “Thank god. My wife, Hermione, speaks very highly of you. I'm glad Draco stumbled in here.”
She raises an eyebrow. “Draco? Draco Malfoy?”
Pansy stiffens, putting a hand on my shoulder protectively.
”Yes. Why?”
She shakes her head quickly.
”Oh, I don’t mean any harm. I was merely curious because I know about his work in the neurological field and I’m fascinated by it.”
I smile, glad to have found someone interested in me for my work and not my past as a member of the Death Eater’s gang.
I'm still shaking, and starting to go back into the fog I was in before Pansy and Athena came. Pansy gently helps me put my extra clothes on, and then her eyes widen as she touches my forehead. “Shit, Dray, you're burning up!”
Instantly, she helps me up and leads me to the couch. Blankets are wrapped around me, and Pansy pulls out her phone. She puts it on speaker, and I hear Hermione’s voice.
“Pansy? Honey, where are you? Is Draco with you? Harry’s here.”
Harry?
“I'm okay Mi. The car got stuck in a snowbank, and I was unconscious-”
Hearing that, Hermione’s tone sharpens with worry. “What? Oh my god…”
“I'm okay babe. It was just the shock of the impact, mixed with the fact that my insulin levels were somewhat low. I was with Athena, and I never left the car. Draco was the one who went to get help.”
She sighs in relief. “Oh thank god. Is he okay?”
Pansy frowns at me. “No. Mi, he's burning up, but he's shivering. He walked at least 2 miles in that snowstorm, and even though he's been inside for about an hour now, his lips are still blue. We're at Amelia Vane’s house, by the way.”
“Can I talk to her?”
Pansy hands the phone to Amelia, and they start talking. Blinking, I look at her.
“H… Harry?”
She grins sheepishly. “Yeah. He landed today and wanted to surprise you at your guys' apartment. Mi was helping him get set up.”
Amelia returns and hands me the phone. My hands are shaking so bad that I nearly drop it and Pansy takes it from me, putting it to my ear.
“H…Harry?”
“Baby! I'm on my way, okay? Mione and I are driving to where you are right now.”
“O… okay. I… I'm cold.”
“I'll be there soon. I love you.”
“I love you too.”
He hangs up, and Amelia hands Pansy two cups of hot cocoa. Pansy helps me drink some and then sets one of the cups on the table. Closing my eyes, I curl up on the couch and Amelia wraps another blanket around me.
---
“Dray. Draco, they're here. Harry's here.”
My mind is all foggy, but your name penetrates my addled brain. Opening my eyes, I blink a little.
“Harry?”
The door opens, and I hear footsteps rush over to us.
“Baby!”
In an instant, your coat is wrapped around me, you're holding me in your arms and I'm resting my head against your shoulder. Your coat and body heat help abate the cold somewhat, and I whimper. Gently, you kiss me and pick me up.
Dimly, I register you thanking the Vane’s, and then we're in the car. We get to the hospital, and instantly we're surrounded by doctors and nurses. Being best friends with the wife of one of the best ER doctors in the county, along with being a relatively well-known neurosurgeon, has its perks.
When you try to set me on a gurney I panic and cling to you tighter.
“I'm not going anywhere, baby. I just need to set you down so you can get IVs and stuff.”
I nod and you set me down, instantly taking my hand and walking alongside the gurney. Vaguely, I remember answering questions, and then we're alone in the hospital room and you're lying next to me with me nestled into your side. I'm still shivering a little, and you wrap the blankets tighter around me.
“I was going to spend Christmas with my dads, but… I realized that I wasn’t totally sure why I was doing it. I talked to Dad and Pop and they helped me realize that I should spend it with you. I booked a flight yesterday, and I was going to surprise you today. Baby, when I saw you on the couch… I've never been more terrified. I thought-”
You take a breath and then hold me tighter. Knowing what you were going to say, I put your fingers on the pulse point at my neck and the tension drains out of your body.
“I love you, baby.”
Resting my head on your chest, I breathe in your scent. With the calming beat of your heart in my ears, I close my eyes.
~~~
IT'S CHRISTMAS!!!
Waking up, I check my watch. It's 7:04 in the morning, and I poke you. You groan a little bit, and I laugh softly. Getting on top of you, I kiss you softly and then trail a line of kisses down your neck. Suddenly you pull me up and roll so I'm under you. Kissing me deeply, you smile against my lips.
“Merry Christmas baby.”
After a few minutes of kissing, you sit up and pull me to my feet. I slip your hoodie over my head, and we walk downstairs.
Leaning against you, I hand you a present and then grab one of my own. Both of us end up with a pretty good haul, and I smile.
“We made out pretty good this year.”
You smile and kiss my forehead. “I have one more present for you, dragon.”
Confused, I look at you as you stand up. You walk over to the tree and grab a small box from under it. I unwrap it, only to find an empty Taylor & Hart box. Raising an eyebrow, I look at you. Suddenly, you get down on one knee and I gasp, dropping the box. Taking my hand, you open a dark blue box, revealing a beautiful diamond ring.
“Draconis Lucius Malfoy, I love you with everything that I am. Every day we're together I fall in love with you more and more. You're the best thing that's ever happened to me, and there's no one else I can imagine spending the rest of my life with. Marry me?”
Smiling so wide I feel like my face is going to break, I nod. “Yes. Yes!”
Putting the ring on my finger, you stand up and pull me into your arms, spinning me around. “I love you so much, Harry.”
“I love you too, my dragon. Forever.”