Healing Draco Malfoy

Chapter 63

Published: November 5th, 2023

Harry's hands were shaking, but for once... it was with excitement. From the couch, he impatiently stared at the clock, willing it to go faster. Draco had his physical therapy at one, so there was nothing he could do but wait. They had been meeting every day for two weeks to do nothing but talk for five hours and hold hands. Draco had finally relented and let Harry massage them out. He missed healing so much, and Draco had nearly cried in relief. Harry actually did.

He loved touching Draco and wondered idly when he might be able to heal the rest of his body. He suddenly felt very hot. Touching, or rather healing, other people never used to elicit this response. With Draco, it was so much more. Harry wasn't sure that Draco had any misgivings about it. Draco never flinched from him... at least since Draco started to trust him enough.

Those first few weeks were so... brutal... seeing Draco like that. It took so much coaxing to get Draco to let him massage his hand, but Harry persevered. He won Draco's trust, and it wasn't too much later that Draco started talking. Harry remembered the indescribable feelings he had felt when that happened, and really, every time Draco made progress, mentally or physically. Months of moments that Harry will remember forever. The first time Draco threw that cylinder at him to break him out of his panic attack, the first he talked in front of Joel, when he ate food for the first time, when Draco took his first steps... Merlin... he loved him.

Harry treasured every moment with Draco, even the early days when Draco was basically nonverbal, and he would sneak glances at him, roll his eyes at his jokes, and smiled when Harry fixed his teeth. Harry remembered his own dark times when Draco asked him for his 온라인카지노게임, after he was outed in the courtroom, and all the shit with Higgs. Draco was there to help him through it. He wanted to tell Draco everything, and the clock was ticking so slowly, but in just over an hour, he'd be with Draco.

"Uncle Harry?" his niece said, jolting him out of his reminiscing and back into his body in Hermione and Ron's den. "You're... smiling?"

"Oh... I... umm... do that... sometimes..." he mumbled, unsure if he missed something. Hugo looked at him with his head tilted. He was supposed to be watching the kids while Hermione was in her office working. Harry hated how much time off work they were wasting watching him. He shouldn't have let his attention wander, but the kids looked alright. "Are you okay, sweetie?"

She nodded and said, "You don't smile... I mean normally... when you sit and stare at the wall."

Harry's eyes widened at her astute observation. Well, she was Hermione "junior". "I'm... umm... happy. I'm sorry I've been so out of it lately. I do love you and Hugo a lot."

She hugged him. "We know. We love you, too. Momma says you were sick on the inside."

He nodded. "Yeah... I was."

"Heartsick?" she asked, brazenly, and Harry froze, uncertain how to answer.

Hugo came close and giggled. "Is it Unca Dray-co?"

"I... umm..." he stammered, blushing.

"Aww... he's turnin' red!" Hugo exclaimed and jumped on him.

Rose followed and hugged him. "It is? Isn't it? That's where you go after lunch, right?"

"I-Yeah," he admitted.

"You wuv him? Like mum and da'?" Hugo asked, and Harry nodded.

"Awwww!" Rose squealed, loud enough for Hermione to come out.

"Kids? What's going on?" she said, a little worried.

"Unca Harry turned red!" Hugo exclaimed.

"What?" she said, looking at him.

"He's heartsick for Uncle Draco!" Rose said and ran around the room, practically screaming, with Hugo following her. "He's in love! He's in love! Just like the fairy tale stories!"

Hermione giggled but schooled her emotions. "Rose! Please stop yelling and tormenting your uncle."

"It's okay. Apparently, I was smiling too much," Harry said, still with a grin.

Hermione laughed and said, "It's a good look for you. Alright, enough playing, kids. Go get ready to go to your grandmother's house."

"Come on, Hugo! We have to get ready! We go to grandmum's house cause Uncle Harry goes to see Uncle Draco!"

Rose pulled Hugo down the hallway together into their rooms. Hermione sat next to him and took his hand.

"Your little bits are pretty smart, 'Mione," he muttered.

"Yeah... well, you've done a 180 in just a few weeks, Harry," she pointed out.

He snorted. "Everything's different. We... I have hope... it's... weird."

She pulled him into a hug and said, "I'm so happy for you, Harry."

"I don't know where to go from here. It's easy to say at the end of the night... let's meet again tomorrow."

"You can go as slow as you want. But if this is all you want...."

"It isn't. I hate leaving every night... and I hate the buildup of anticipation of the mornings."

"Why don't you invite him over for dinner tomorrow, then?" she suggested.

Harry looked at her, surprised by her suggestion. "Can I?"

"Of course, you can. I can ask Molly to watch the kids for dinner, too, so it won't be so chaotic. You guys can start having dinner together with us. Here or there. It's a perfectly acceptable next step. Then maybe just by yourselves."

Harry hugged her. "Thank you... for everything."

She squeezed him gently. "I love you, you dolt. I want you to be happy. Now... go shower and put on some nice clothes. Draco will be happy."

Harry let go and gave her a look. "He will?"

"Trust me. Malfoy will be impressed. Did you even remember how pristine Draco's appearance was in school? Also, gifts are a good idea."

Harry stared at her with a raised eyebrow. "I'm dating him?"

She gave him a tap upside the head. "Duh."

Harry smiled. "Thanks. I'll go get ready."

Hermione had left with the kids before he got out of the shower. He scoured his wardrobe and couldn't find anything he deemed "nice clothes". All of his shirts were years old. He hated going out, but he grabbed his wallet with muggle money, put the old clothes on and, without hesitation, Apparated into muggle London. He found a clothing store and quickly tried on some new faded black jeans and a crisp, dark green, short-sleeve shirt. He'd have to come back and buy more as he was already running late. He paid and left his old clothes there.

He walked into the café, and nodded to Slater, who was quite familiar with their arrangement. He spotted Draco outside and rushed out onto the patio. Draco went to say hi, presumably, but he stopped and stared at him, his mouth slightly open.

"Sorry, I'm late," Harry said, nonchalantly, and sat down.

Draco was still staring at him. "Oh... it's okay. I just sat down."

"How was PT?" he said, with a smile, as Draco was still a little gobsmacked.

"I... umm... great... well... as good as it can be. My shoulder is sore. I think I slept on it wrong," he said and, finally, broke into a big grin. His eyes were still sparkling a little, and he was definitely checking him out. The thought did not unnerve him like it had before.

Maybe I should ask Hermione for more advice. She was right about the clothes, he thought. She might have ideas on what types of gifts he'd want, too.

"Do... you want me to loosen it up?" Harry offered, a little braver than usual.

Draco breathed a sigh of relief. "Would you? I mean... even just a little, would help."

Harry was thrilled for more contact with him. He stood up and walked behind him. He gently rubbed Draco's shoulder for a few minutes, letting his magic knead out the kinks. Draco just melted into the chair.

"There... oh, thank you, Harry," Draco whispered, and Harry let go. They were already getting a few looks. It was sensual enough. "Fuck, I miss that so much."

Harry considered inviting him home to finish it, but they weren't there... yet. He sat down. "Me, too."

Draco rubbed his neck a little and eyed him. "You miss healing in general," he stated.

Harry grimaced. "Yeah, but I do... you know... miss you... us."

Draco smiled. "Yeah... me, too. When... when are you going back?"

Harry shrugged. He wanted to... but didn't want to. "Susan said that I can take as much time as I need. I have five years of leave to use, if I wanted." Susan hadn't pushed at all, but had written to check on him, as he had been gone over a month and a half now. He probably should go back soon.

"So... a few more months?" Draco asked with a smile.

Harry wished, though he did have the leave accrued. "Yeah... I guess. I haven't thought about it too much."

Draco nodded and, thankfully, changed the subject. "Luna came over last night for dinner."

"Really? How was that?" he inquired, slightly surprised.

"Okay. She's nice. She wasn't upset about the war or anything. She just was concerned about me. I mean, she talked to me like we were friends."

"Luna's the best. She helped me... when I went on my... umm... bender."

"I remember. But she was a prisoner at my home for months, and she still..." Draco said, lowering his eyes and his shoulders in a clear display of guilt.

Harry couldn't stop the urge to reach out and take his hands, and he brought Draco's trembling hands closer to him, leaning over the table. "Hey... we all were hurt by the war. Luna knows that it wasn't your fault. You didn't deserve what happened."

"Yeah," Draco mumbled, still not totally convinced.

Harry was suddenly apprehensive about how Draco was doing. Luna's impromptu visit last night had shaken him. Draco looked exhausted. He probably had been beating himself up over it all night and needed reassurance.

"Look at me," Harry said, and Draco's grey eyes met his. "You paid for anything that happened. You paid for everything and then some. No one deserves what you went through."

He nodded but still looked sad.

Harry had to break him out of his dark thoughts, and subject change would work. "Hermione said... I was wondering if you'd like to come over for dinner tomorrow?"

Draco looked up and met his eyes, all morose thoughts gone. "Yes... I would love that. Would you... would you like to come over... tonight?" he asked, excited.

Harry nodded. "I would love to... I mean... if Blaise is okay with it?"

Draco snorted. "He's been asking me to invite you over since he showed you where his house was."

"Why didn't you say anything?" Harry asked, annoyed.

Draco grimaced. "Well, we were taking it slow."

"Too slow," Harry grumbled.

"Should have known your Gryffindor impatience would wear on you, eventually."

"Ha ha," Harry muttered, and ran his hand through his hair. It bounced back into position. Hermione had found a type of Sleekeazy's that actually worked on his hair.

Draco was staring him down again, clearly checking him out again, and Harry straightened up proudly, letting him look. He raised an eyebrow, making Draco chuckle.

"You look good, Harry. Any particular reason?" Draco whispered, almost shyly.

"Do I need a reason?" he asked, putting a sass into it.

Draco smirked and squeezed his hand. "No, but thank you, anyway."

Harry blushed and let out a breath. "Does it feel weird to be... happy?"

"It does, but I like it."

"I do, too, Draco," Harry whispered, realizing that he was going to start spending his evenings with Draco, too. More time with Draco... was all he ever wanted.

They talked about random things until Harry felt brazen enough to ask about his journal again. Draco didn't seem to mind. Some things he forgot, but others made Draco go quiet.

"I'm sorry," Harry said, when Draco tensed up asking about their sixth year.

"Don't be... it was dark times. I felt so trapped by it all, like I had no options but to follow the path."

"I'm sorry," he said, again.

"None of it was your fault. You saved everyone, remember? Including me. You were my only hope... my salvation."

"You wrote that a lot..." Harry whispered. "I wish things had been different. Like I noticed your suffering."

"You knew something was wrong. You knew, and you followed me."

"And I hurt you... I nearly killed you," Harry whispered.

"And I nearly Crucioed you... I nearly killed your friends... I let the Death Eaters into a school with the express purpose of killing someone."

Harry frowned.

"We've been over this, Harry. I don't hold it against you."

"I know. You were forced to do that, Draco. I wasn't," he whispered.

"Weren't you? Fight or die, Harry. I was your enemy, regardless of how I felt. That one time doesn't mean much. Some part of me wished you had killed me... then at least."

Harry raised an eyebrow. "You barely talked about it in the book."

"It hurt to even write about," Draco said, looking at the table. "You hated me... you weren't ever going to forgive me for... taking the Mark. I knew our chance at friendship was hopeless."

Harry's shoulders dropped.

"That's why I couldn't write out how I felt... and I realized that I was going to have to do it."

"But you didn't at the end," Harry said. "You didn't kill Dumbledore."

"I almost..." he whispered.

"But you didn't. Draco, you agonized for months about it. I read your words. I can't do it... I can't kill someone. You wrote that!"

Draco gave a smirk. "How many times have you read it?"

Harry blushed. "A few, but the point is... you're not a killer. You made the right decision when you had to... though it cost you so much."

Draco nodded. "I barely remember it all. Azkaban... was just so much more."

Harry felt anger churning in him, again. "I'm sorry."

"Me too, but it's over. They can't hurt us anymore."

Harry nodded. "Higgs got life. It was better than Hermione had hoped. Since he just used potions and not Crucio, it was harder to get a life sentence."

"He deserves it."

"Draco... thank you... for... always believing in me, especially when I stopped."

Draco gave him a smile. "Thank you for always trying to help me. You were easy to believe in. You have the biggest heart of anyone I've ever known, Harry."

Harry blushed and looked over as Slater was making his usual rounds. He brought their favorites.

"Thanks," Harry murmured.

"You two are the cutest... I worry sometimes you guys seem so hurt and upset, and then two seconds later, you're happier than anything I've ever seen!"

Harry didn't know what to say, but Draco snorted. "We have a lot to work through."

"Well, you make a cute couple," he said and went back to the till.

Harry laughed, but Draco smirked. "Are we?"

"A couple? Ya know, Hermione whacked me upside the head this morning for asking nearly the same question."

Draco giggled. "Granger's growing on me."

"The kids also think I'm eerily happy."

Draco laughed harder. "I'm happy, too. I'm really, really happy, Harry."

Draco met his eyes, and Harry felt chills running down his back. Merlin, he loved this... loved Draco. He wanted to get closer but settled for taking Draco's hands.

He felt some courage form after so long. "Draco, will you be my boyfriend?"

Draco's grey eyes glistened a bit. "It'd be my honor, Harry." He brought Harry's hand up to his mouth and kissed the back of his hand.

Bliss ran through his core, and his heart felt like it was soaring. Harry was shaking with unbridled happiness. He had never felt so happy before.

"Oh Draco, you're such a hopeless romantic, aren't you? Don't think I forgot about our dance."

Draco gave him his classic smirk. "Maybe I am. You can't say that I haven't thought about this since school."

Harry subconsciously grabbed Draco's journal secured in his moleskin pouch against his chest. He would never leave it unattended. Draco's soul was poured out in those words, and he would keep it close to his chest.

"You have. We would have set the school on fire if we had gotten together in our school days."

Draco nodded. "We would have. Imagine the headlines and howlers, then."

"Oh Merlin... I don't want to think about it," he said, but asked, "Did you... did anyone send you any?"

"A few, mostly homophobic gits, but there were more in support of our... relationship."

Harry grimaced. "Hermione didn't let any in. I didn't look."

"Blaise put similar charms up."

"We definitely have good, over-protective friends," Harry said, and they quietly finished their pastries.

"Well... do you want to head Blaise off? I mean, if you still want to come over?"

Blaise had continued to come pick up Draco at seven every day. Harry hadn't been willing to take that next step and drop him off.

"Yeah, let's go," he said and went to the counter to overpay the bill to a surprised Slater. They had never left before closing yet.

They went to the alley, and Harry Apparated them to Blaise's manor. Zabini had no neighbors in sight and owned a beautiful two-온라인카지노게임 mansion. It was modern: bright windows, soft-colored bricks, and fancy swirled sidewalks. Harry was glad that Draco had such a wonderful place to convalesce.

"Draco?" Blaise called, as he came out. "Is everything okay?"

"Great, actually. Harry... can he join us for dinner?" Draco asked, and Harry seemed a little unsure that it was fine.

Blaise's expression changed instantly. He was practically jumping with joy. "Hell, yes, he can! About time, Potter. Come in! There'll be plenty. I'll tell Neville to come in from the garden. He's been replanting things all day. Neville! Boo, we got company!" Blaise yelled toward the gardens and went further into the house.

"They are madly in love. I've walked, or shuffled, in on them a few times snogging. Blaise takes him on long walks and picnics. Believe me, they are just as sappy as we are, Harry," Draco said with a smile, and went through the door.

Harry doubted that and followed him inside with a grin.

Remember, remember, the 5th of November... just a nod to my other 온라인카지노게임, lol.

There's more sappy goodness coming! Trying to write more frequently, but life keeps happening....