Work Text:
Draco pounded on the door in front of him, “Potter!” he hollered. “Open up. As your partner, the DMLE has sent me to check and make sure you’re still alive.”
A pause then Draco started pounding again. “Seriously! Open up. You haven’t been in for three days and everyone is worried about you.”
He waited again and when there was still no answer, he hammered on the door again, “If you don’t let me in, I will knock this door down!”
Just as he was drawing his wand, the door opened to reveal Harry in his pajamas. His hair was in a horrible state of disarray and he looked a bit green.
“Merlin,” Draco muttered, “You look awful.”
“Well you look lovely as usual.”
Draco firmly reminded his skin that it was undignified to blush. He was about to speak when Potter swayed dangerously and Draco was forced to dart forward to catch him. “Your shirt is soaked, Potter, and you smell disgusting.”
“Literally no one asked you to come here,” Harry said as he turned and moved back inside. “I’m sick. Leave me alone.”
“No,” Draco replied easily, following him inside. “I mean you’re obviously sick but the powers that be sent me and now I’m going to help you.”
Harry groaned but didn’t make any move to stop Draco from entering.
“Shower first,” Draco insisted, leading Harry into the bathroom. “I’m going to bring you clean clothes,” he added. As he was leaving the bathroom, he heard the shower start and called, “pour some of those peppermint bath salts that I gave you for Christmas in the tub. They’ll help clear your congestion and sooth you stomach.”
He went into Harry’s bedroom and searched through drawers until he found a pair of sweatpants and a tshirt that he brought back to the bathroom.
The bathroom smelled strongly of peppermint when he came in and he hummed happily. “I brought you some clean clothes, put them on when you get out, then straight back to bed. I’ll bring you some food to eat.”
Before Harry could protest, Draco went to the kitchen and made some toast and poured a bowl of apple sauce. Then he made a cup of ginger tea and brought it to the bedroom.
While the other man was still in the shower Draco vanished the tissues piled up in his bed and on the floor, changed the sheets, and tidied up the clothes lying about.
After a few minutes, Harry followed him in, “you don’t have to do all of this, you know,” he sniffled. “I’ve been taking care of myself when I’m sick since I was four," he added petulantly.
“Well this beats sitting at my desk and slogging through mountains of paperwork,” he said, trying to ignore the way his gut twisted uncomfortably when Harry talked about his childhood. “Besides,” he added, “When I am sick, I like to have people who want to take care of me.”
“Oh and you want to take care of me?” he laughed hoarsely.
“Yes,” Draco replied, his sincerity surprising them both. “Now will you please come and try to eat something?” he added, patting the bed.
Without another word Harry climbed into bed and under the covers, “Thank you for all of this,” he said softly as he took a bite of his toast.
Draco nodded, then did a bit more straightening and tidying while Harry ate.
When he’d finished, Harry murmured, “What else do you like people to do for you when you’re sick?”
He gave him a little smile and came over to take his plate and cup to send to the kitchen. Draco flicked his wrist and dimmed the lights, “I like when someone is there to stroke my hair and to hold me while I sleep,” he told him.
Harry bit his lip and looked down at the place where his fingers were worrying at a loose thread on the blanket.
“Harry,” he murmured.
“Hmm?”
He brushed a curl back off his face, “I’d like to stay, if you don’t mind.”
He nodded once.
“And I’d like to get in bed with you and hold you and stroke your hair.”
“Are you su-”
He laughed, “I have literally held your penis in my hand. Of course I am sure that I would like to hold you and pet your hair while you rest.”
Harry looked a bit flustered and Draco couldn’t help but love that.
“Scoot over,” he murmured as he toed off his shoes and crawled under the covers.
Harry settled his head on Draco’s chest, snuffling as he did, and Draco started to gently card his fingers through Harry’s curls.
“Can I tell you a secret?” Draco murmured a few minutes later.
The other man nodded sleepily.
“No one from the DMLE sent me.”
“I hoped so,” Harry whispered. “S'nice to imagine that you care about me.”
Draco brushed his lips over Harry’s feverish forehead, “You don’t have to imagine it,” he said, the closest he could get to those three little words that remained locked in the back of his brain.
“Thanks, Draco,” Harry slurred as he slipped over into sleep.
“Anytime, love,” he replied, closing his eyes and letting himself drift off to sleep, too.
———-
Draco caught the virus that Harry had, but that was okay since Harry wanted to look after him, too.