Love's a curious thing. You never know when it's going to rear its head and in what way. Sometimes the most unexpected ways are the best. This is Draco and Harry's story.

Harry Potter arrived on platform 9 ¾'s early, without the company of the entire Weasley family. When people saw him alone it started up a lot of whispered conversations. Although one conversation was not whispered.

"What's this? Gryffindor's Golden boy all alone?! Never thought I'd see the day!" Draco Malfoy said to the Slytherins gathered around him. They started laughing hysterically.

Harry's expression didn't waver and his temper didn't flare. He didn't reply, just walked straight past without acknowledging them.

As he walked by Draco noticed that every time he took a step or moved too quickly he winced or gasped or sometimes both.

"Come on Draco, let's go find a compartment. Everyone's starting to arrive now."

"Ok Pansy. Coming guys?"

The Slytherins all followed as Draco and Pansy made their way onto the train. Draco's mind was focused on something other than the idle chatter surrounding him. 'Why is Potter acting like that? There's something not right.' Pansy pulled him back into a conversation as they sat down in a compartment. Unknown to them but a certain black haired, green eyed boy was in the compartment next to them crying. Well they wouldn't know as that compartment was heavily warded.

"So Draco what have you been doing since we last saw you?"

"Reading and practicing for the new quidditch season."

"Think you're good enough to beat Potter yet? We really need a win against the Gryffindorks." A dark skinned boy said.

"I agree, Blaise. It's been long enough."

There was suddenly shouting on the platform nearby.

"Where has Potter gone?! He's got to be here somewhere!"

"I don't know Ron and why do you care where he is anyway? He's a disgusting freak."

The Slytherins sat there in shock. There was no way they were hearing the weasel and the mudblood calling Potter a disgusting freak.

"The reason I want to know where he is is because we haven't been paid yet so we need to keep acting like his friends."

"That's a valid point. Let's go look for him."

"Shit a brick. That must be why he was on his own." Pansy said after a few minutes.

"Guys, isn't the compartment next to this one warded?"

"Yeah but it never normally is. Do you think that Potter might be in there Draco?"

"Yeah. I'm going to go and find out." Draco left their compartment and moved to the warded one.

He knocked to see if whoever was in there would take the wards down. and the wards fell after a minute. He opened the door and saw the boy in question.

"Sod off." Was the muffled statement.

"Potter. Look I'm sorry about what I said earlier. It was out of order and we all want to apologize."

"Yeah like I'm going to believe... never mind. I accept your apology and if the others are sorry the tell them that they are forgiven."

"Thanks. Do you want to join us? We've just heard Weasel and Granger shouting something really horrible."

"Please. I don't want to see them."

"Ok. come on then." Harry slowly got to his feet, wincing all the while. he followed Draco back to his compartment. all the Slytherins turned their gazes to him as he sat down on the end of the bench.

It was silent for a few seconds then Pansy spoke.

"Potter are you all right? Because no offence but you look like shit."

"Feel like shit as well as look it. But I will be fine though. Thanks for the concern though Parkinson."

"But seriously what's wrong? We know that there's something not right with Weasley and Granger but there's something else isn't there?"

"Yeah. I might as well tell you because I, hopefully, wont be in Gryffindor this this year. That and you'll get it out of me one way or another."

"True so what is it?" Pansy said as she moved to sit next to him. She also went to put her arm around his shoulders but he flinched out of the way.

"Sorry, I don't like people touching me. It's nothing personal. So anyway, I'm a telepath. it's been in my family for generations and I discovered it last year during the tournament. I used it unintentionally on Weasley when we were fighting and that's when I discovered that he, Granger and most of the Weasley family were being paid by Dumbledore, using my own vaults, to be my friends and that Ginny was betrothed to me because of Albus sodding Dumbledore. So I tried it on everyone in Gryffindor and only three were actually my friends for who I am. That and I've stayed with my muggle relatives all summer. Hence why i look and feel like shit and can't move without being in pain."

"My god. But you don't look injured." Harry waved his wand and there was a huge gasp from everyone in the compartment.

"Now you see what I mean? I get abused. Have done since I was three though this summer was probably the worst."

"What could be worse than you getting beaten?!"

"I get raped as well. But this is the first year that's happened."

"Oh, Harry, come here." Daphne said. She had been sat quietly in the corner watching and listening to the whole ordeal. "I know you know like people toughing you but you are in desperate need of a hug." So she gently, and slowly, pulled the small, broken boy into her arms.

"Thanks for understanding Greengrass. And, yeah, I guess you're right. I probably do need a hug." He smiled slightly as he hugged her back. he recast the glamour when she let him go

"You can call us by our first names you know. I'm Daphne, and we've also got Pansy, Blaise, Greg, Vince, Theo and Draco."

"Ok. So..." He was cut off by a tall ginger.

"Harry?! What are you doing in here?"

"Talking."

"Why are you talking with them? And why didn't you come to the burrow, mum was worried."

"Piss off Ron."

"What?"

"He said piss off Weasel and I suggest you do." All the Slytherins had stood up and had their wands trained on Ron.

"Traitor!" He turned and left.

"Well that was fun."

"You have a very odd sense of humor Harry. It's not unlike ours."

"I was never meant to be in Gryffindor in the first place. I was meant to be in Slytherin but I had to go to Gryffindor to keep up appearances."

"Wow. We've underestimated you."

"Don't worry about it. I found out something at the end of last year which further proves that I should be in Slytherin but I can't say anything about it."

"Please can you tell us."

"You can't say something like that and then not tell us! It's not fair!"

"Fine. The only thing that I can say is, my name isn't really Harry Potter and I have the surprise of the century for the entire school."

"What?!" was the collective shout from everyone.

"You have some explaining to do Harry."

"I can't tell you anymore than I already have. If the person who told me this ever finds out that you know I am in deep trouble and probably in line for one of the ... unforgivables." Harry whispered the last word and saw his companions flinch as they remembered back to last year when the impostor 'Moody' performed all three in their first lesson.

"Ok. We wont ask any more questions." Draco said as he remembered either the time he got turned into a ferret or when he had a bug on his face.

"Thanks. So how were your holidays?"