Day 10: Harry Potter. Harry/Draco. Buy Him Presents Title: Step Nine: Buy Him Presents Author:digthewriter Word Count: 610 Rating: PG-13 Warning: EWE. Auror Training Academy. Made up stuff. Pretend Relationship. Disclaimer: Harry Potter characters are the property of J.K. Rowling and Bloomsbury/Scholastic. No profit is being made, and no copyright infringement is intended. Author's Notes: This story is going to be called "Nothing Ventured. Nothing Gained." Each chapter is going to have a unique title but it'll all be part of one big story. I hope! AO3 link for all chapters in a row! All my thanks to nia_kantorka for the beta help.
Malfoy was in the hospital for two days under critical condition until he was determined stable. Harry had been by his side almost the entire time.
Since it was almost the holidays, the Auror Academy excused his absence from the training sessions. On top of everything else, Harry was ready to use the "hero of the wizarding world" card if he needed to. He was not going to leave Malfoy alone.
The only time he did take a break was when Narcissa Malfoy came to visit. She didn't say much to Harry, and Harry wondered how much she already knew. Was she aware of his and Malfoy's relationship? Malfoy had made it a point to let the wizarding world know they were together, no doubt, she'd got the news somehow.
In order to avoid scrutinising looks from Narcissa, Harry decided to pop over at one of Malfoy's favourite bookshops and buy him a few gifts. Even though he was mostly sleeping now, he was eventually going to wake up, but still be under care for a few more days. He didn't want Malfoy to get bored.
What would he buy a wizard that seemed to have everything?
Harry had always seen Red Raymond's books around the room and Malfoy reading the mystery novels. He was really into that wizard's writings. When Harry arrived at the bookshop, he discovered that Raymond had published a new book in his series so Harry purchased one. He also bought the latest Quidditch Weekly along with a few gossip magazines he knew Malfoy would enjoy.
As he got ready to leave the bookshop, Harry was bombarded with wizarding world news reporters.
"Mr Potter! Is it true that Mr Malfoy is in the hospital? Did you two have a lover's quarrel?"
"Mr Potter, how long have you been dating Mr Malfoy? Any comment on your engagement announcement in the Christmas edition of the Prophet?"
"What?" Harry snapped before he realised that it'd be best just to keep his mouth shut and find the closest Apparition point.
By the time Harry arrived at St Mungo's, it was late, and Narcissa Malfoy had left. Harry was glad for it. He wanted to avoid that awkward moment for as long as he could. At least, this time that his son was hurt, it wasn't entirely Harry's fault.
"Potter!" Malfoy was awake and sitting up on his hospital bed.
"How do you feel?"
"Is it true that you were here the entire time?"
"Yeah, I managed to get the time off from the Academy so I could—"
"Good show! Now the relationship looks even more real!"
"Yeah, that was my goal," Harry said dryly. "Anyway, I got you some things..." Harry handed the bag of gifts he'd purchased for Malfoy and sat on the seat next to the bed. "I was also harassed by reporters and photographers asking if we were ready to announce our engagement..."
"One thing at a time," Malfoy said and looked into the bag. "Bloody hell, how did you know what to get me?"
"I..." Shite. Harry hesitated as he thought of an answer. He didn't want to actually tell Malfoy that he knew a lot about him. That he watched what he read, ate, drank — even if they shared a room together.
"I... Well the book was easy since you have them lying around the room. The rest, I had a conversation with Nott..." Sure, that sounded believable. Now he just had to make sure to tell Padma to tell Nott to corroborate with his story.