The game and love

10

After Draco had driven Harry back town his house, he circled the hospital three or four times, before he agreed with himself and went inside. Draco hated hospitals, all of his expiriences were bad. His nerves were eased as a doctor walked up to meet him. The man's warm smile and gentle look was a calming agent for Draco's nerves. "Hello Mister Malfoy, looking for your father I'd imagine." The doctor said while eyeing his clip board. Draco nodded. The doctor smiled and put an arm around his shoulders. "Good. He has just recived treatment, so he might not talk much." Draco nodded again. The doctor clicked out his ink pin and wrote something down. "By the way, good game on saturday." Draco winced a bit. "Thank you sir." After a few more pleasantries were exchanged, Draco started the walk down to see his dad.

He stood outside the door to his father's room for several minutes, unable to break the threshold of the doorway. He went over again and again what he wanted to say, hoping that this time, he'd say them. He sighed quite heavily, swearing to himself he would finally speak his mind, no matter how bad his dad looked. This never worked before, but this time he had Harry on his mind, hoping that might change the outcome. With one last deep breath, he turned and entered the room.

As soon as he saw his father, he knew he couldn't go on with his plan. His hardened face, turned soft and sad, his eyes which had carried fury, now only carried a hopless void. He approached the bed slowly and placed his hand on his father's, softly squeezing it to announce his preseance. The treatment the doctor refered to earlier was chemo-therapy, Lucius Malfoy had an advanced case of cancerous tumors throughout his body. He was thin and very very pale and the 20 operations to remove the tumors had taken alot out of his ability to heal. It was difficult for Draco to look on this man as the one whom he had feared.

"Hi dad." He said softly as he saw his father's eyes open. Lucius gave Draco's hand a weak squeeze and attempted to smile. Draco pulled a chair up to the side of the bed. His mind was jumbled, unsure what he should do, since his inital plan had blown up in his face, he felt like a fish out of water. He thought for a minute, "Dad, I have met someone." He started, but struggled to continue. "His name is Harry." His voice cracked and he felt like he was a little boy who had done something wrong. Lucius only nodded slighty, showing nothing of what he was thinking.

"He's very nice and kind." Draco continued very nervously. Lucius spoke softly, "I am dying Draco, you have no reason to fear me." His voice was soft and considerate. Draco cringed. 'Why can't you just let me hate you?' He thought as he stared at his father, who had now just changed their relationship from advisaries to father and son. "I would very much like to meet him." Draco raised his eyebrows in shock. "I don't know." Lucius squeezed his hand. "Son, it is your decision, I only spoke my wishes." This made Draco fume, his dad was now shifting the pressure on to him.

Draco's anger built up and he decided that he would tell his father exactly how he felt, it was too late, all his restrains snapped and he began to yell. "You know what Dad?! I'm fucking tired of fufilling your wishes! What about me, my feelings, my wants and my dreams!" His face was bright red. "And guess what else, I'm quiring fucking football! I never liked that shit anyway." By now, several nurses had entered the room to see what the problem was.

"I'm sorry sir, you'll have to leave now." One of the nurses said in a calming voice, as if she feared Draco being crazy. "Fine! I'm done here anyway, I'm tired of you, I hope you die tonight." Draco bit out and then left. He carried his angry composure all the way out to his car, where he broke down and began to cry. He slammed his fist into his dash and kicked the pedals and then rested his face on the wheel and cried. He'd have given anything to be with Harry right now, but he knew he had to make atleast one more stop before he could be with Harry.

Draco considered turning for Harry's a number of times as the inevitable visit with Coach Snape loomed closer. Snape had stepped in when Draco's father became ill, so Snape was like a dad to Draco, a dad he could love, and didn't want to disappont him. The fact was, Draco wasn't sure he could walk away from football. He didn't even really consider if he was just walking away to spite his dad.

He knocked on the door of a modest, paint worn white house and waited as he heard locks click. "Ah, Mr. Malfoy, come in." Draco was still not used to the casual coach, as he had more memories of a angry or focused Coach. He obediently sat down where Snape had directed. "so, what brings you here." Draco sighed and collected his thoughts. "Well sir, I have given it alot of thought." He paused and went over his next words very carefully. "And I would like to hang it up." Snape took a mug of coffee over to a chair across from Draco and took a small sip before he spoke.

In the enternity before Snape's response, he started to prepare for the worst. Snape looked at him quizzicaly. "Has this anything to do with the dance?" Draco looked at him in suprise. "Oh, it's all over the school." Snape said reading his expression. "So, is that what this is about?" "I don't know." "Was it your dad?" Snape pressed him. "Kind of." Draco answered honestly. "And the pressure is just too much, I'm not having fun." Snape seemed to catch on. "Ah, so Harry is the cause of this uncertainty." Snape said matter of factly.

Draco wasn't sure, he thought he had made his decision based on his love of the game and now it seemed it all lead back to Harry. "I'm not entirely sure." Snape nodded. "Look, I'll talk to Harry tonight, go to practice tomorrow and then I'll let you know." snape nodded taking another drink from his mug. "Then we're done here?" Draco nodded. "If anyone gives you guff at practice, I'll take care of it." Snape shook Draco's hand as they both stood up and walked out. Severus Snape used to consider Draco Malfoy his meal ticket to victory, but since his father had become ill, he felt he should protect the boy prodigy, had this been a year ago, snape would have been on his knees asking the kid not to go.

Harry had spent the day pretty dazed over the last day and evening's activities. He felt pretty good, he'd almost had sex with Draco, something that only happened in dreams. The dance was special to him, because it showed how much Draco actually cared about him. He was in such a daze that he didn't even realize when his dad had tried to talk to him. It was like drugs, only there was no downturn.

When a knock came at the door Harry flew to answer it. "I got it dad!" He shouted as he ripped the door open and the object of his affection stood there, slighty suprised by the sudden feriousity that the door opened. Harry smiled and jumped in Draco's arms and placed a kiss on his lips. Both boys grinned and Draco put Harry down. "I need to talk to you." Harry noted the serious tone and escorted Draco in and sat with him on the couch.

"What's up?" Harry asked, gently brushing Draco's bangs back. Draco looked at him. "I was thinking of quiting football." Harry looked shocked. "Why?" Draco thought about that a minute. "Because I don't love it as much as I love you." Harry looked at Draco in suprise and then sat himself firmly in Draco's lap. "You'll regret it." Harry said quietly. "I don't think you should quit for me. It makes me happy when you play." He looked at Draco in the eyes and smiled. "You don't have to quit because of what people will think either. You are a great player." Draco blushed and Harry kissed him. "Don't you worry one minute, we'll get through whatever happens."

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end of Chapter 10 A/N Next chapter the boys encounter the school, Draco deals with the team and Pansy makes an appearance, and Harry meets Draco dad vey soon, but it won't be in the hospital. Please review, after chapter 11 I am a bit thin on ideas, so if you wouldn't mind posting some questions to help me with my ideas.