A Heart So Ravenous (Sequel to A Love So Belated)
folder
Harry Potter › Slash - Male/Male › Harry/Draco
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
44
Views:
36,882
Reviews:
326
Recommended:
1
Currently Reading:
0
Category:
Harry Potter › Slash - Male/Male › Harry/Draco
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
44
Views:
36,882
Reviews:
326
Recommended:
1
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
Chapter 39: The Sleeper
Chapter Number/Total: 39/44
Chapter Title: The Sleeper
Words:3300 Words
The twins were in their swing. Besides the gentle sounds of breathing, its rocking was the only noise in the room, well, that and the quiet, constant babbling from another man sharing the room with Draco. Almost three weeks had passed. Twenty days to be exact. Harry and the boys hadn't missed a day of those twenty. Faithfully, they came to see Draco in the hospital. Faithfully, Harry believed he would wake up. Tomorrow he will be awake. Tomorrow. Tomorrow. Tomorrow. He wasn't awake yet, but he would be.
Harry knew everyone thought it was hopeless. Even Narcissa, who still came to see Draco almost every day as well, was getting more and more depressed. The Healers had even said not to come in every day anymore, that Harry should stop with the hassle, but he refused. Once the Ministry had learned of what happened, he'd been given time off of work, but even that was starting to run out now. There was only so much he could miss before he fell too far behind to complete the program, but that hardly even crossed his mind. He came to see Draco every day, and would continue to do so. Only Draco mattered. Their family. Only Draco.
Harry kissed the ring on Draco's left hand, and then kissed his skin. "And you would think I'd say Corvus will be the Slytherin," he said, continuing his conversation with Draco. "But I actually think it might be Caelum. He's sneaky, and Corvus just spills everything out. Gryffindor recklessness. I'm sure you would agree." He smiled a little and sighed, rubbing Draco's hand with his thumb. "I love you," he whispered, looking down at the ring on his own hand and feeling the frustrated tears forming like they usually did. Most of the time he was able to hold them off, and he tried to do so right then.
He felt the smallest squeeze of Draco's fingers in his. His head snapped up. He hadn't just imagined that, had he? "Draco?" he said quietly, though it was clear in the silent room. He was almost afraid to hope.
This time, the fingers tightened and held on a little longer.
Harry's eyes widened; his breathing sped up. Chills of excitement and nervousness and awe raced through his body and his eyes watered from it. "Draco," he said again, more loudly. Long fingers curled around his and Harry would swear that Draco's mouth twitched.
He released an utterly mad-sounding laugh, springing from his chair and getting right up close to Draco's face. "Draco," he said yet again, kissing him. "Draco, can you hear me? I'm right here." He was tempted to run and find Healer Roderick if he was there, but he also didn't want to leave.
Draco made a small face, something between a smile and a grimace. His fingers in Harry's hand tightened again and he took a deep shuddering breath.
Harry's heart was beating so fast he thought he might pass out. "Baby," he said, voice filled with relief and, Merlin, such amazement he could barely think. "Baby, wake up."
Draco grimaced again but then his eyelids fluttered, finally blinking. He gasped, body shuddering before he managed to open his eyes fully. He was having trouble focusing, but he heard Harry's voice.
Tears flowed from Harry's eyes, but there was such a smile on his face he probably looked completely insane. He felt completely insane right then. "Oh, Merlin," he groaned, his voice still thick with relief and emotion.
Draco blinked again, trying to make his eyes focus. He saw Harry and gave him a little smile, fingers squeezing again. "Hi," he tried to say, but no sound came out, only the shape of the word on his lips.
Harry wanted to grab Draco. He wanted to grab him and squeeze him and never let him go, but he settled for another kiss, tears and tears streaming. "I knew you would wake up," he said. "I knew you would. I knew."
Draco licked at the tears on his lips, tasting the salt, and he realised he was thirsty. He looked into those green eyes, those amazing emerald eyes that always made him tremble. He smiled with lips so dry they felt like they would crack.
Harry kissed Draco over and over again, all over his face. Draco was awake. He was awake and he seemed okay. He seemed like Draco. God, the relief. Harry could hardly breathe.
"Water," Draco mouthed again, throat too dry for sound to come out.
"Water?" Harry said, barely making a sound himself, but he didn't wait for a response. He jumped up, looking for water, and grabbed some from one of the bedside tables in the room. He rushed back to Draco, spilling some of the water on the floor in his haste.
Draco smiled at him, shaking his head in amusement.
Harry let out another wild laugh at that. Draco was Draco. He put the glass to Draco's lips, helping him drink.
Draco tried to lift his head but found he couldn't. He took several sips, licking his lips to wet them. "Harry," he said hoarsely.
"Draco," Harry replied. It was more a groan than anything else. "Merlin, Draco."
"Guess ... didn't ... die," the blond managed weakly.
"No, you didn't," Harry said, fresh tears falling, and then he suddenly flung himself backward again, even more tears falling when he remembered that Draco hadn't had a chance to see the babies yet. He managed not to spill the water as he set it aside, and then he reached for the twins, lifting one gently and then the other. He turned back to Draco. "And they're okay, too," he choked out.
Draco smiled again. That had been his next question. The one he was afraid to ask. "Both okay?" he asked even though he could see them. His last memory had been pushing the second one from his body.
Harry nodded. "Yes," he said thickly. "Both okay." He sat down on the edge of the bed with the boys and Corvus opened his eyes, looking annoyed at having been woken up.
Draco's smile widened. He tried to lift a hand to touch but found himself too weak.
"You scared me so much," Harry whispered. "Oh, God, please don't ever do anything like that to me ever again."
"Never again," Draco repeated in that same hoarse voice. It hurt a bit but seemed to be improving. "Small. Felt bigger ... coming out," he said, fingers gesturing to the babies.
Harry laughed at that, tearfully. "You would never believe how loud something that small can be as well," he said.
"Heard ... first one," Draco replied, swallowing hard again.
"He's the loudest," said Harry. He looked over his shoulder, wondering again if he should go and get a Healer, but also afraid that he would have imagined it all if he left the room.
"Tell me ..." Draco whispered.
Harry sniffled, trying to clear his throat to speak better past the lump there. "Corvus is impatient," he said, smiling and indicating the black-haired boy. "And he looks just like you. He wakes up most often out of the two, demanding to be fed, and fusses when you change him or get him dressed, but he likes baths." He sniffled again. "And Caelum hardly ever cries." He indicated the blond. "Everyone says he looks like me. He'll take almost anything you put him through – doesn't even cry when Ron gets him dressed, and he waits if Corvus is being fed before him. They cry if you put them in separate cots, mostly they cry if you put them in separate anything, and they're perfect."
Draco smiled, trying again to lift his arm. "Perfect," he whispered. "I want ... touch them."
"I've made sure you did," Harry told him. "Every day." He laid the babies against Draco's side and then took Draco's hand in his own, helping him touch them.
"Soft," Draco said, loving both Harry's hand on his and the feel of his children. Their children. "Our family," he said, looking at them in wonder.
Harry's heart felt full to bursting. "Yes," he agreed. "Ours."
"Can't lift ... my arms, why?" Draco asked after a while.
Harry frowned, having taken it to mean Draco was too weak to do so. "Perhaps I should go and get the Healer," he said.
"Go?" Draco asked, panicking a bit at the thought.
"God, no, I won't leave you," Harry said. "Just for a moment to go to the door and tell someone in the hall to get the Healer."
Draco nodded, looking down at the babies lying beside him.
Harry kissed Draco again before he got up, crossing to the door quickly. "Excuse me," he said to a witch hurrying down the hall.
She paused, looking slightly annoyed at having been stopped. "Yes?" she said.
"I need a Healer in here. Healer Roderick if he's in."
"For what?" the witch asked.
"Draco's awake."
Her eyes widened and she pushed right past Harry, looking into the room. She gasped quietly at the sight of Draco. "I will get Healer Roderick personally," she said, rushing away again.
Harry's heart was starting to pick up nervous speed once more. What if everything with Draco wasn't okay? He didn't say that, though, as he crossed back over to the bed, perching on the side again.
"How long?" Draco asked, now that it occurred to him.
"Twenty days," Harry told him, trying to keep the fear out of his voice.
Draco blinked and frowned. "Long time," he managed.
Harry nodded and frowned as well. "Very long time," he agreed. Why exactly was Draco speaking that way?
Roderick came through the door a minute later, sounding out of breath and followed by two other Healers. He walked up beside Draco's bed, across from Harry. "Mr Malfoy?" he asked.
Draco turned his head to look at the man. He didn't recognise him. "Yes," he said.
Harry looked up at the Healer. "He says he can't move his arms," he said, not knowing what else to say.
Roderick smiled at Harry and down at the infants. "Mind if we have a little room to check him out?" he asked.
"Oh," Harry said, quickly reaching to take the twins into his arms again.
One of the other Healers helped Harry with the infants while Roderick cast several diagnostic charms. "It is nice to see you awake, Mr Malfoy," he said. "Can you tell me where you are?"
Draco had to think for a minute. "St Mungo's?" he guessed.
Roderick smiled. "What is the date?" he asked.
The blond frowned, trying to concentrate. "Don't know. February?"
"The year?" Roderick prompted.
Draco knew he should know that one but he shrugged.
"Who do you recognise in this room?" the Healer asked.
"Not you," Draco said, and then smiled at his lover. "Harry; my children."
Harry smiled encouragingly, still so happy and excited it was almost hard to feel afraid, but he did feel it.
"How old are you, Mr Malfoy?" Roderick asked.
There was another pause as Draco tried to remember. "Eighteen?" he said, but his voice was uncertain.
"I'm Healer Roderick. Can you squeeze my hand?" The Healer put his hand in Draco's and he did squeeze. "Now, lift either of your arms?"
Draco tried, but frowned when he couldn't. Nor could he lift his legs or head.
Harry watched intently, frowning now. What did it mean that Draco could squeeze something but not lift any parts of his body? And why had he said he was only eighteen when he was really nineteen?
"You are lucky to be alive, Mr Malfoy," Roderick said. "It might take time for you to get back your strength."
Harry released the breath he had been holding in. "Will he be okay?" he asked.
Roderick seemed reluctant to answer the question. "Mr Potter, I was wrong about him waking up, so at this point I certainly wouldn't be a good judge on his capabilities. There is a good chance he will be as he was before."
Draco frowned again. He knew he wasn't thinking as fast as normal, that even forming sentences seemed difficult. "I want ... to go home," he said.
Harry felt another burst of relief at the Healer's words. "Can he?" he asked.
"In a few days, probably," Roderick said. Then he smiled and patted Draco's hand. "Welcome back."
"Welcome back" didn't even begin to cover what Harry wanted to say to Draco. He smiled down at him, the fear he had felt a moment ago trickling out of him.
Roderick talked about extensive physical therapy to recover Draco's motor skills and other details of their new healing plan. Then he and the other two Healers withdrew, leaving Harry, Draco and the babies in the room.
Harry sat back on the bed, situating the twins again, and bent towards Draco, passing fingers through his hair. "Do you know how much I missed you?" he asked in a whisper.
Draco smiled fondly at him, sighing at the caresses. "Tell me," he whispered.
"Every single second of every moment," Harry told him reverently. "They told me you weren't going to wake up. I knew you would."
Draco chuckled weakly. "Hard to ... argue with ... your determination," he replied.
Harry smiled at him, leaning down to give Draco a proper kiss.
Draco's eyes slid closed and his fingers curled as he felt his lover's lips on his again. He opened his mouth, tongue caressing Harry's lips.
Harry's entire body shuddered from just that, because honestly, he had been afraid he might not ever feel it again, even when Draco awoke. He slid his tongue out to meet Draco's, his hand still carding through his hair.
Draco's heart sped up as his tongue and lips caressed his lover's. Yes, he thought, this is what I need. Always need.
"I love you," Harry breathed into Draco's mouth. "Merlin, so much."
"I love you, Harry," Draco whispered between small kisses to the man's lips.
The emotions inside Harry were so intense that he felt nearly drugged with them. He never wanted to stop kissing Draco, never wanted to leave him, never wanted to go through anything like what he'd been through over the last twenty days ever again.
Draco felt intoxicated from the touch, taste and breath of his lover. Harry made him feel glad to be alive in a way that no one else could. He was aware not only of his lover's body bent over his own, but of the squirming little ones Harry had laid on each side of him again. He found he could slide his arm over, and touched the top of one fuzzy infant head, petting him as he kissed Harry.
Harry rested his forehead against Draco's, one hand stroking the skin of his cheek. His lips still barely touched Draco's, their breath mingling. "Your mum will be very happy," he whispered, smiling as he kissed Draco yet again.
Draco didn't want to move, but that got his attention. "My parents," he gasped, "need to tell them."
Harry pulled back enough to look at Draco. He didn't want to go into everything with Lucius right then. That was far too much to think about. "Your mum was meeting me up here today," he said.
More of Draco's ability to think seemed to be coming back and he grimaced. "Is she ... angry with me?" he asked.
"Angry?" Harry said. "More like scared to death you'd never wake up." And he thought of his own anger at Draco, but he just couldn't seem to bring it up inside himself in that moment.
Draco half smiled at Harry. "I know you were ... angry," he said softly.
Harry sighed. "Yes, and I probably still am somewhere down in here. But right now, you're looking at me, and you're talking to me and that's more than I thought I might ever get again. I'm pretty much feeling happy at the moment."
Draco looked into those beautiful eyes and then he felt little kicks to each side of his body. He smirked. "They still kick," he said.
"Very much," Harry agreed, smiling. "And now you can watch what else they do. With me. Doing all of that alone was ... it didn't feel right."
"No, not right," Draco agreed, lifting his chin for another kiss.
Harry moved forward again, pressing his lips to Draco's and feeling his heart swell again from the fact that Draco could ask for a kiss.
Behind him, he heard the door open, and could tell from the sound of heels clicking that it was Narcissa. He pulled back from Draco, turning his head.
"I brought te-" she began, but then she gasped, dropping the mugs she held as her eyes widened in surprise. The tea splashed over the floor and the mugs shattered, but she paid it absolutely no mind. "Draco?" she said, her voice gone up a few octaves.
Draco chuckled softly at the look on her face. "Hello, Mother," he said.
Her hands shook and her chin trembled, her eyes filling with tears. "Oh, Draco, oh -" And then she ran to him, her tears falling down onto his face as she somehow managed to hug him.
One of the infants made a noise of protest as her body covered his and Draco smiled, kissing her cheek. He tried to hug back but still couldn't lift his arms.
She kissed his face all over before pulling back and wiping her own tears from his face. "Oh, Draco," she said again. "How – When did you -" She hugged him again.
"He only just woke up a bit ago," Harry said, smiling at them.
“Has a Healer been in to see you? Are you all right? Does everything feel okay?" she asked through her gasping sobs.
Draco paused. He still felt like he was thinking too slowly to keep up. "Yes," he answered his mother, not sure what else to say. He glanced at Harry.
"Roderick was in," Harry said. "He said that it could take a little time for Draco to regain his strength, but he says there's a good chance he will recover completely."
Narcissa pulled back from Draco, wiping his face again and smiling down tearfully at him. "Recover completely," she choked out, sounding amazed and almost disbelieving.
Harry smiled at her, knowing exactly how she felt. "Yes," he said.
Narcissa fussed over Draco and harassed passing Healers about making him comfortable, getting him water, letting more light in, taking some of the light away, and anything else she could think of to make sure Draco's every need was met – and then some. Harry didn't know how long this went on for, but finally Narcissa was fussing about dinner. She left the room to see if she could fetch something "proper" and Harry was glad to finally be alone with Draco again, even if it probably wouldn't be for very long.
The twins were sleeping, curled up together, and Harry sat on Draco's bed again, stroking his hair. "I love you," he whispered.
Draco was tired again, even though he knew he had just woken up. He smiled at Harry. "Love you," he whispered, eyes half closed, but he was unable to take them off the man he loved or those tiny babies.
Harry smiled at him, leaning down to gently kiss his forehead. "Never leave me," he breathed against his skin.
"No leaving," Draco echoed, sighing and closing his eyes finally.
Harry kissed both of Draco's eyelids, and when Narcissa came back in, he was too happy to care about the complaints of the hospital's food.
Chapter Title: The Sleeper
Words:3300 Words
The twins were in their swing. Besides the gentle sounds of breathing, its rocking was the only noise in the room, well, that and the quiet, constant babbling from another man sharing the room with Draco. Almost three weeks had passed. Twenty days to be exact. Harry and the boys hadn't missed a day of those twenty. Faithfully, they came to see Draco in the hospital. Faithfully, Harry believed he would wake up. Tomorrow he will be awake. Tomorrow. Tomorrow. Tomorrow. He wasn't awake yet, but he would be.
Harry knew everyone thought it was hopeless. Even Narcissa, who still came to see Draco almost every day as well, was getting more and more depressed. The Healers had even said not to come in every day anymore, that Harry should stop with the hassle, but he refused. Once the Ministry had learned of what happened, he'd been given time off of work, but even that was starting to run out now. There was only so much he could miss before he fell too far behind to complete the program, but that hardly even crossed his mind. He came to see Draco every day, and would continue to do so. Only Draco mattered. Their family. Only Draco.
Harry kissed the ring on Draco's left hand, and then kissed his skin. "And you would think I'd say Corvus will be the Slytherin," he said, continuing his conversation with Draco. "But I actually think it might be Caelum. He's sneaky, and Corvus just spills everything out. Gryffindor recklessness. I'm sure you would agree." He smiled a little and sighed, rubbing Draco's hand with his thumb. "I love you," he whispered, looking down at the ring on his own hand and feeling the frustrated tears forming like they usually did. Most of the time he was able to hold them off, and he tried to do so right then.
He felt the smallest squeeze of Draco's fingers in his. His head snapped up. He hadn't just imagined that, had he? "Draco?" he said quietly, though it was clear in the silent room. He was almost afraid to hope.
This time, the fingers tightened and held on a little longer.
Harry's eyes widened; his breathing sped up. Chills of excitement and nervousness and awe raced through his body and his eyes watered from it. "Draco," he said again, more loudly. Long fingers curled around his and Harry would swear that Draco's mouth twitched.
He released an utterly mad-sounding laugh, springing from his chair and getting right up close to Draco's face. "Draco," he said yet again, kissing him. "Draco, can you hear me? I'm right here." He was tempted to run and find Healer Roderick if he was there, but he also didn't want to leave.
Draco made a small face, something between a smile and a grimace. His fingers in Harry's hand tightened again and he took a deep shuddering breath.
Harry's heart was beating so fast he thought he might pass out. "Baby," he said, voice filled with relief and, Merlin, such amazement he could barely think. "Baby, wake up."
Draco grimaced again but then his eyelids fluttered, finally blinking. He gasped, body shuddering before he managed to open his eyes fully. He was having trouble focusing, but he heard Harry's voice.
Tears flowed from Harry's eyes, but there was such a smile on his face he probably looked completely insane. He felt completely insane right then. "Oh, Merlin," he groaned, his voice still thick with relief and emotion.
Draco blinked again, trying to make his eyes focus. He saw Harry and gave him a little smile, fingers squeezing again. "Hi," he tried to say, but no sound came out, only the shape of the word on his lips.
Harry wanted to grab Draco. He wanted to grab him and squeeze him and never let him go, but he settled for another kiss, tears and tears streaming. "I knew you would wake up," he said. "I knew you would. I knew."
Draco licked at the tears on his lips, tasting the salt, and he realised he was thirsty. He looked into those green eyes, those amazing emerald eyes that always made him tremble. He smiled with lips so dry they felt like they would crack.
Harry kissed Draco over and over again, all over his face. Draco was awake. He was awake and he seemed okay. He seemed like Draco. God, the relief. Harry could hardly breathe.
"Water," Draco mouthed again, throat too dry for sound to come out.
"Water?" Harry said, barely making a sound himself, but he didn't wait for a response. He jumped up, looking for water, and grabbed some from one of the bedside tables in the room. He rushed back to Draco, spilling some of the water on the floor in his haste.
Draco smiled at him, shaking his head in amusement.
Harry let out another wild laugh at that. Draco was Draco. He put the glass to Draco's lips, helping him drink.
Draco tried to lift his head but found he couldn't. He took several sips, licking his lips to wet them. "Harry," he said hoarsely.
"Draco," Harry replied. It was more a groan than anything else. "Merlin, Draco."
"Guess ... didn't ... die," the blond managed weakly.
"No, you didn't," Harry said, fresh tears falling, and then he suddenly flung himself backward again, even more tears falling when he remembered that Draco hadn't had a chance to see the babies yet. He managed not to spill the water as he set it aside, and then he reached for the twins, lifting one gently and then the other. He turned back to Draco. "And they're okay, too," he choked out.
Draco smiled again. That had been his next question. The one he was afraid to ask. "Both okay?" he asked even though he could see them. His last memory had been pushing the second one from his body.
Harry nodded. "Yes," he said thickly. "Both okay." He sat down on the edge of the bed with the boys and Corvus opened his eyes, looking annoyed at having been woken up.
Draco's smile widened. He tried to lift a hand to touch but found himself too weak.
"You scared me so much," Harry whispered. "Oh, God, please don't ever do anything like that to me ever again."
"Never again," Draco repeated in that same hoarse voice. It hurt a bit but seemed to be improving. "Small. Felt bigger ... coming out," he said, fingers gesturing to the babies.
Harry laughed at that, tearfully. "You would never believe how loud something that small can be as well," he said.
"Heard ... first one," Draco replied, swallowing hard again.
"He's the loudest," said Harry. He looked over his shoulder, wondering again if he should go and get a Healer, but also afraid that he would have imagined it all if he left the room.
"Tell me ..." Draco whispered.
Harry sniffled, trying to clear his throat to speak better past the lump there. "Corvus is impatient," he said, smiling and indicating the black-haired boy. "And he looks just like you. He wakes up most often out of the two, demanding to be fed, and fusses when you change him or get him dressed, but he likes baths." He sniffled again. "And Caelum hardly ever cries." He indicated the blond. "Everyone says he looks like me. He'll take almost anything you put him through – doesn't even cry when Ron gets him dressed, and he waits if Corvus is being fed before him. They cry if you put them in separate cots, mostly they cry if you put them in separate anything, and they're perfect."
Draco smiled, trying again to lift his arm. "Perfect," he whispered. "I want ... touch them."
"I've made sure you did," Harry told him. "Every day." He laid the babies against Draco's side and then took Draco's hand in his own, helping him touch them.
"Soft," Draco said, loving both Harry's hand on his and the feel of his children. Their children. "Our family," he said, looking at them in wonder.
Harry's heart felt full to bursting. "Yes," he agreed. "Ours."
"Can't lift ... my arms, why?" Draco asked after a while.
Harry frowned, having taken it to mean Draco was too weak to do so. "Perhaps I should go and get the Healer," he said.
"Go?" Draco asked, panicking a bit at the thought.
"God, no, I won't leave you," Harry said. "Just for a moment to go to the door and tell someone in the hall to get the Healer."
Draco nodded, looking down at the babies lying beside him.
Harry kissed Draco again before he got up, crossing to the door quickly. "Excuse me," he said to a witch hurrying down the hall.
She paused, looking slightly annoyed at having been stopped. "Yes?" she said.
"I need a Healer in here. Healer Roderick if he's in."
"For what?" the witch asked.
"Draco's awake."
Her eyes widened and she pushed right past Harry, looking into the room. She gasped quietly at the sight of Draco. "I will get Healer Roderick personally," she said, rushing away again.
Harry's heart was starting to pick up nervous speed once more. What if everything with Draco wasn't okay? He didn't say that, though, as he crossed back over to the bed, perching on the side again.
"How long?" Draco asked, now that it occurred to him.
"Twenty days," Harry told him, trying to keep the fear out of his voice.
Draco blinked and frowned. "Long time," he managed.
Harry nodded and frowned as well. "Very long time," he agreed. Why exactly was Draco speaking that way?
Roderick came through the door a minute later, sounding out of breath and followed by two other Healers. He walked up beside Draco's bed, across from Harry. "Mr Malfoy?" he asked.
Draco turned his head to look at the man. He didn't recognise him. "Yes," he said.
Harry looked up at the Healer. "He says he can't move his arms," he said, not knowing what else to say.
Roderick smiled at Harry and down at the infants. "Mind if we have a little room to check him out?" he asked.
"Oh," Harry said, quickly reaching to take the twins into his arms again.
One of the other Healers helped Harry with the infants while Roderick cast several diagnostic charms. "It is nice to see you awake, Mr Malfoy," he said. "Can you tell me where you are?"
Draco had to think for a minute. "St Mungo's?" he guessed.
Roderick smiled. "What is the date?" he asked.
The blond frowned, trying to concentrate. "Don't know. February?"
"The year?" Roderick prompted.
Draco knew he should know that one but he shrugged.
"Who do you recognise in this room?" the Healer asked.
"Not you," Draco said, and then smiled at his lover. "Harry; my children."
Harry smiled encouragingly, still so happy and excited it was almost hard to feel afraid, but he did feel it.
"How old are you, Mr Malfoy?" Roderick asked.
There was another pause as Draco tried to remember. "Eighteen?" he said, but his voice was uncertain.
"I'm Healer Roderick. Can you squeeze my hand?" The Healer put his hand in Draco's and he did squeeze. "Now, lift either of your arms?"
Draco tried, but frowned when he couldn't. Nor could he lift his legs or head.
Harry watched intently, frowning now. What did it mean that Draco could squeeze something but not lift any parts of his body? And why had he said he was only eighteen when he was really nineteen?
"You are lucky to be alive, Mr Malfoy," Roderick said. "It might take time for you to get back your strength."
Harry released the breath he had been holding in. "Will he be okay?" he asked.
Roderick seemed reluctant to answer the question. "Mr Potter, I was wrong about him waking up, so at this point I certainly wouldn't be a good judge on his capabilities. There is a good chance he will be as he was before."
Draco frowned again. He knew he wasn't thinking as fast as normal, that even forming sentences seemed difficult. "I want ... to go home," he said.
Harry felt another burst of relief at the Healer's words. "Can he?" he asked.
"In a few days, probably," Roderick said. Then he smiled and patted Draco's hand. "Welcome back."
"Welcome back" didn't even begin to cover what Harry wanted to say to Draco. He smiled down at him, the fear he had felt a moment ago trickling out of him.
Roderick talked about extensive physical therapy to recover Draco's motor skills and other details of their new healing plan. Then he and the other two Healers withdrew, leaving Harry, Draco and the babies in the room.
Harry sat back on the bed, situating the twins again, and bent towards Draco, passing fingers through his hair. "Do you know how much I missed you?" he asked in a whisper.
Draco smiled fondly at him, sighing at the caresses. "Tell me," he whispered.
"Every single second of every moment," Harry told him reverently. "They told me you weren't going to wake up. I knew you would."
Draco chuckled weakly. "Hard to ... argue with ... your determination," he replied.
Harry smiled at him, leaning down to give Draco a proper kiss.
Draco's eyes slid closed and his fingers curled as he felt his lover's lips on his again. He opened his mouth, tongue caressing Harry's lips.
Harry's entire body shuddered from just that, because honestly, he had been afraid he might not ever feel it again, even when Draco awoke. He slid his tongue out to meet Draco's, his hand still carding through his hair.
Draco's heart sped up as his tongue and lips caressed his lover's. Yes, he thought, this is what I need. Always need.
"I love you," Harry breathed into Draco's mouth. "Merlin, so much."
"I love you, Harry," Draco whispered between small kisses to the man's lips.
The emotions inside Harry were so intense that he felt nearly drugged with them. He never wanted to stop kissing Draco, never wanted to leave him, never wanted to go through anything like what he'd been through over the last twenty days ever again.
Draco felt intoxicated from the touch, taste and breath of his lover. Harry made him feel glad to be alive in a way that no one else could. He was aware not only of his lover's body bent over his own, but of the squirming little ones Harry had laid on each side of him again. He found he could slide his arm over, and touched the top of one fuzzy infant head, petting him as he kissed Harry.
Harry rested his forehead against Draco's, one hand stroking the skin of his cheek. His lips still barely touched Draco's, their breath mingling. "Your mum will be very happy," he whispered, smiling as he kissed Draco yet again.
Draco didn't want to move, but that got his attention. "My parents," he gasped, "need to tell them."
Harry pulled back enough to look at Draco. He didn't want to go into everything with Lucius right then. That was far too much to think about. "Your mum was meeting me up here today," he said.
More of Draco's ability to think seemed to be coming back and he grimaced. "Is she ... angry with me?" he asked.
"Angry?" Harry said. "More like scared to death you'd never wake up." And he thought of his own anger at Draco, but he just couldn't seem to bring it up inside himself in that moment.
Draco half smiled at Harry. "I know you were ... angry," he said softly.
Harry sighed. "Yes, and I probably still am somewhere down in here. But right now, you're looking at me, and you're talking to me and that's more than I thought I might ever get again. I'm pretty much feeling happy at the moment."
Draco looked into those beautiful eyes and then he felt little kicks to each side of his body. He smirked. "They still kick," he said.
"Very much," Harry agreed, smiling. "And now you can watch what else they do. With me. Doing all of that alone was ... it didn't feel right."
"No, not right," Draco agreed, lifting his chin for another kiss.
Harry moved forward again, pressing his lips to Draco's and feeling his heart swell again from the fact that Draco could ask for a kiss.
Behind him, he heard the door open, and could tell from the sound of heels clicking that it was Narcissa. He pulled back from Draco, turning his head.
"I brought te-" she began, but then she gasped, dropping the mugs she held as her eyes widened in surprise. The tea splashed over the floor and the mugs shattered, but she paid it absolutely no mind. "Draco?" she said, her voice gone up a few octaves.
Draco chuckled softly at the look on her face. "Hello, Mother," he said.
Her hands shook and her chin trembled, her eyes filling with tears. "Oh, Draco, oh -" And then she ran to him, her tears falling down onto his face as she somehow managed to hug him.
One of the infants made a noise of protest as her body covered his and Draco smiled, kissing her cheek. He tried to hug back but still couldn't lift his arms.
She kissed his face all over before pulling back and wiping her own tears from his face. "Oh, Draco," she said again. "How – When did you -" She hugged him again.
"He only just woke up a bit ago," Harry said, smiling at them.
“Has a Healer been in to see you? Are you all right? Does everything feel okay?" she asked through her gasping sobs.
Draco paused. He still felt like he was thinking too slowly to keep up. "Yes," he answered his mother, not sure what else to say. He glanced at Harry.
"Roderick was in," Harry said. "He said that it could take a little time for Draco to regain his strength, but he says there's a good chance he will recover completely."
Narcissa pulled back from Draco, wiping his face again and smiling down tearfully at him. "Recover completely," she choked out, sounding amazed and almost disbelieving.
Harry smiled at her, knowing exactly how she felt. "Yes," he said.
Narcissa fussed over Draco and harassed passing Healers about making him comfortable, getting him water, letting more light in, taking some of the light away, and anything else she could think of to make sure Draco's every need was met – and then some. Harry didn't know how long this went on for, but finally Narcissa was fussing about dinner. She left the room to see if she could fetch something "proper" and Harry was glad to finally be alone with Draco again, even if it probably wouldn't be for very long.
The twins were sleeping, curled up together, and Harry sat on Draco's bed again, stroking his hair. "I love you," he whispered.
Draco was tired again, even though he knew he had just woken up. He smiled at Harry. "Love you," he whispered, eyes half closed, but he was unable to take them off the man he loved or those tiny babies.
Harry smiled at him, leaning down to gently kiss his forehead. "Never leave me," he breathed against his skin.
"No leaving," Draco echoed, sighing and closing his eyes finally.
Harry kissed both of Draco's eyelids, and when Narcissa came back in, he was too happy to care about the complaints of the hospital's food.