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They had no way of knowing Harry was allergic to Ashwinder eggs. It was a rare ingredient even more rarely used and no one really thought to think about its allergenic properties. Or allergenic properties of other ingredients in the potion, for that matter.
And now, Harry was in the hospital with a lung inflammation that required special treatment because Madam Pomphrey’s usual methods would only accelerate the issue and lead to worse outcomes.
It was supposed to be only a harmless prank. Something to clear the air, get them all on the same footing. Being older than all the other students along with suffering from the consequences of living through a war made life difficult for everyone who’d accepted the offer of retaking their Seventh Year classes.
There weren’t so many Eight Years anyone could blend into the crowd and so, it was blatantly obvious who had a problem with whom and where all the tension laid. And the biggest tension? It was smacked right between The Man-Who-Won Harry Potter and The Filthy-Death-Eater Draco Malfoy.
(The second nickname was never said out loud though, and if it was used, it was by someone who hadn’t spent an entire sleepless night opposite of Malfoy in their common room. Malfoy was a mess. A depressed, sad mess that was most likely pining for Potter since he was fifteen. He was also a little bit of a prat. But he wasn’t a Death Eater, alright.)
The solution to the tense and awkward atmosphere in their common room was therefore proposed when the aforementioned two weren’t in the vicinity. It really was supposed to be quick and simple. A short-term love potion with the life of just barely over an hour would serve as encouragement for Potter and Malfoy to settle their differences and, maybe, if they got to it, unwind a bit.
It was Weasley himself who slipped it to Potter’s tea that morning and while everyone was eagerly anticipating a love-struck reaction, no one could react from shock at seeing Potter start choking, unable to breathe.
Finally, it was Malfoy who moved, casting a nonverbal spell on Potter which had him taking deep breaths despite the choking. Malfoy then practically dragged him to the Hospital Wing where he proceeded to stay. For hours.
“That prank went so wrong,” Seamus whispered to Nott as they all made their way to visit their favourite Golden Boy. Nott was just about to reply when Hermione stopped dead in her tracks, her wide eyes glued to Malfoy who was currently kissing Harry very gently. It didn’t look like a first kiss at all, and it was that which made her wonder.
“Maybe not so wrong after all,” Zabini remarked as he and Hermione glanced at each other and then proceeded to drag the rest of the Eight Years away from the Hospital Wing inside of which Draco was gripping Harry’s hand tightly.
-o0O0o-
“And Pomphrey said you’ll be okay?” Draco asked anxiously.
“Yeah,” Harry’s voice was hoarse, and he spoke slowly as if he was afraid he’d stop breathing again. “She said I’d have to stay overnight just in case something happens, but I should be completely fine.”
“That’s good,” Draco said and breathed easier at the sight of Harry’s smile. “Does she know what caused it?”
“Ashwinder eggs,” Harry shrugged and tried to ignore the widening of his boyfriend’s eyes. “I’m allergic.”
“Someone slipped you a love potion?” Draco asked tightly and his eyes narrowed.
“I think it was one of our friends,” Harry mumbled, “And! I think it was meant to make me, you know, fall for you?”
“What.”
“Look, Ron doesn’t have a good poker face and he glanced at Pansy like a hundred times this morning at breakfast. I thought it was because Hermione said she liked her hair last week but now it makes more sense.”
“Okay…” Draco said, only slightly bemused. “But you already fell for me? Without a love potion?”
“I don’t think anyone realises we’re together, babe,” Harry chuckled and then pulled Draco’s hand towards himself to kiss his knuckles.
“Are they idiots?”
“We don’t really do PDA, though…” Harry shrugged again.
“Well, we should start!” Draco proclaimed and straightened in his seat seriously. “I’ll kiss you whenever it comes to my mind, and I’ll hold your hand whenever you’re near me and you, you will be so sappy they will beg us to stop. No one is going to doubt that you are mine.”
“And you’re mine too.”
“Exactly,” Draco agreed and kissed Harry right on the mouth. “Merlin help anyone who questions it!”