The Beginning
"Sectumsempra!" Blood spurted from Draco's chest and face like he'd been cut with a knife. He fell backwards onto the flooded floor, his wand hand going limp, and the light in his eyes slowly...
"Ahh!" Harry shot up in bed, hands reaching out as if to grab something.
"You alright, mate?" Ron asked, as he pulled a shirt over his head. "Hurry up or you'll miss breakfast."
With Ron it was always about food, but Harry couldn't shake the dream he'd had that night. It haunted him throughout the day, making Potions impossible.
Everyone could see that Harry was finding it hard to concentrate in all his classes, but even he could tell by Potions. If it wasn't when he cut his finger while chopping ingredients, it was when his potion spilled and burned a hole in the table, and he noticed himself constantly looking over at Draco's vacant seat.
It was only at dinner that his friends showed their concern, and he finally plucked up his Gryffindor courage to go and visit the Slytherin boy that had made his life hell since he stepped into Hogwarts.
"Harry?" Hermione asked in a voice Harry knew too well, and he knew where it would lead, but he wasn't sure he was ready to be bombarded by questions that he couldn't answer and didn't know how to deal with.
"Yeah?" he replied, cringing on the inside, knowing full well that he had just given her an opening. "What is it Hermoine?"
Of course, Hermoine took this as permission to spout every question she could think of that applied to the situation, and she said hurriedly "Well you seemed rather distracted today, and I was wondering if everything was alright. Do you need help in class? Are you feeling ill? Does it have to do with Sirius...?"
"Hermione," Harry interrupted her. "I'm fine. It has nothing to do with Sirius. I just have a lot to think about right now. Could you leave me in peace?"
She looked startled at being stopped mid-rant, and then being brushed off. "Oh... Uh, yeah," she watched as Harry turned back to his meal, already deep in thought.
But I can't visit him now, Harry thought, as he started his rice pudding. What if his friends are there? I would probably be cursed before I could say 'sorry.' He shot a glance at the Slytherin table, but looked back quickly when he noticed Pansy glaring at him. I know! I'll go after curfew. Then no one will be there, even Madam Pomfrey will be in bed, he thought as he put the last spoon of pudding in his mouth. I just hope no one else is staying in the hospital wing, or it could get very awkward.
He got up from the table, calling over his shoulder to his friends, "I have some stuff I need to take care of. I'll see you in the common room."
As he left the Great Hall, he realized he still had a few hours to kill, and he wanted to be alone so he could think of what to say to Malfoy, so he went to the Room of Requirements to do his homework and think. At one o'clock, he had gotten nowhere and left with his cloak and the marauders map, heading for the hospital wing, avoiding the teachers who were just finishing patrol and going to their quarters for the night.
As he walked into the wing, he checked to see if Madam Pomfrey or any other students were there. After reassuring himself that she had gone to bed, he started to search the room for Malfoy. That's when he heard the crying. It was muffled, like the person was trying to hide it by covering their mouth with a sheet, and it was coming from the far side of the room. Harry quietly approached, not really knowing what to expect, and then he realized it was Malfoy.
