Disclaimer: obviously i don't own anything, but i can always dream

A/N: This is the first installment in a short story, which will probably only have one or two more chapters.

Everyone thought that Draco Malfoy and Harry Potter were enemies, no one, not even Draco's father, Lucius Malfoy, knew that they were the closest of friends. Both children knew that their friendship had to remain a secret, because Harry's life was not his own. The headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Albus Dumbledore and the Dark Lord Voldemort both sought to use Harry Potter, the boy-who-lived, for their own ends.

Harry was famous for surviving the deaths of his parents and destroying the mortal body of Voldemort, however in his first year at Hogwarts Harry Potter came face-to-face with Voldemort's spirit, when he tried to steal the philosopher's stone proving that the Dark Lord still survived.

I bet your wondering how the pure-blood prince of Slytherin befriended the Gryffindor golden boy, especially since Harry had rejected Draco's friendship on the train. You see Draco was offended by Harry's actions and usually he would have retaliated in jealousy but something about Harry's eyes told Draco there was more to Harry Potter than the rest of the world saw.

It was on the second day of term that Draco's suspicions were confirmed and the foundations of his belief about the boy who lived were broken. The Slytherin and Gryffindor first years had Defence against the Dark Arts in the morning and Draco had run into the back of Harry as the class was dismissed, but what shocked Draco was as he pulled away from Harry his hands were covered in blood. Quickly hiding his hands in his robes, Draco went straight to the Slytherin Dorms to think. Why were the boy-who-lived's robes covered in blood, why hadn't he gone to the hospital wing if he was injured. In the end Draco had decided to help Harry even if Harry didn't want his help. He gathered several potions from his trunk, his godfather always supplied him with a basic first-aid kit, including pain reliever, blood replenishing and skin knitting potions. Now he had to confront Harry, but how? He decided to send a letter with his owl Ares, to Harry telling him to come to the second floor girls bathroom. Draco remembered his mother talking about Moaning Myrtle and how nobody used that bathroom, it would have to do, no way would Harry come to the Slytherin common room and everywhere else would be around students or teachers. After composing the letter, Draco sent it off and waited to see if Harry would come.

Harry Potter was in pain, his uncle's goodbye gift had been to strip the skin off his back , a rather usual occurrence during his childhood. Harry's abuse at the hands of the Dursley's had began earlier than Harry's first memories. Harry hadn't even known his name until he began school at six, several years after Dudley began, he had thought his name was 'boy' or 'freak' names he would never forget after his uncle branded him with them.

Harry was in the great hall of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry when a post owl swooped down and dropped a letter beside his plate. Harry wondered who would send him a letter as his only friend Ron was sitting next to him and he doubted that the Dursley's would use an owl as it was 'freakish' even if they bothered to remember Harry's existance while he was at school. Harry opened the letter, and nearly dropped it in shock, he recovered before reading,

Harry,

I know you are hurt and want to help you, meet me in the girl's bathroom on the second floor, as soon as you receive this letter. If you don't come I will tell McGonagall that you are injured.

Hopefully your friend

Serpens

Harry was scared, no one could know, it was the first rule, never tell anyone. He would have to go or else... he didn't want to think what would happen to him if McGonagall found out. Harry quickly made his way up to the meeting spot, wondering who 'Serpens' was. He pushed open the door and was surprised at who was there.

Draco was beyond relieved that Harry had come. Harry looked shocked that Draco had sent the letter.

"Sit down Harry, I have potions that will help your injuries" Draco spoke softly to Harry.

He pulled out the Blood replenishing potion and skin knitting potion and told Harry to swallow both. Harry had dropped to the bathroom floor, while Draco sat next him,

"Harry can you tell me how you got your injuries" Draco asked,

"mn" Harry shook his head, "Can't"

Draco wondered why "Can't?" he questioned

Harry replied softly "Rules" Harry had softly begun to cry, he knew that now that Draco knew about him, he would tell the whole school how weak he was and then Ron wouldn't talk to him anymore. As he cried Harry did not notice Draco softly wrap his arms around him, comforting the smaller boy.

The picture which had begun to form in Draco's mind since DADA was becoming more and more solid and Draco was furious. The entire wizarding world thought that Harry Potter was spoiled by his relatives, living a life of luxury, it would seem that they couldn't be more wrong.

That was the first of many secret meetings between the Lion and the Snake, they communicated via owl using code names. Draco was Serpens, Harry was Chimera, Draco had chosen the name after Harry told him, the sorting hat wanted him in Slytherin, a snake in lions clothing. Hermione was Athena and Ron was Red. But they also talked about teachers, they used aliases for them too. So no one would know that they were corresponding or who they were talking about. Tabby was Mcgonagall, Professor Snape was Paladin, because he fiercely protected his Snakes, Lucius, Draco's father was Silver

As the end of the first year approached, Draco became more and more worried; knowing what Harry was going home to, he didn't know if he could keep his promise not to tell anyone. Draco knew he would need to send potions and supplies to Harry during the Holidays. Draco was glad that he could brew at a fifth year level or any hope of secrecy would be destroyed. But he didn't believe that the muggles would leave Harry alone, he was afraid that at the beginning of the next year Harry would be in an even worse condition.

Draco wanted to tell his father, knowing his influence at the ministry, could keep Harry safe. Harry didn't want to put anyone at risk, after all the last person to try and interfere in Harry's life at the Dursley's had lost their job and had all sorts of trouble with the police, Vernon had a lot of people in his pockets, even though the rational thought that, Lucius was a fully trained wizard and had a lot more influence in both worlds than Vernon Dursley, was in the back of his mind, the fore front was filled with everything that could possibly happen to Draco and his family. So Harry refused and swore Draco to silence and until that vow was released he couldn't speak of Harry's home life.

During second year and the opening of the Chamber of Secrets, Harry was alienated by the entire school as Slytherin's heir. He began to see through the headmaster's manipulations, after all the only reason he wasn't in Slytherin was because Hagrid and Ron had told him that only dark wizards went to that house. The headmaster had played on Harry's need for acceptance to manouvre him as you would a pawn. When the time came to face the monster in the chamber, Harry told the headmaster he had killed it, as it was obviously another test, in reality the basilisk was alive and well and could now hunt in the forbidden forest, Harry had befriended her and Draco had returned the diary to his father. Tom Riddle was gone from the school for now and Harry was adamant this was not his fight.

The years passed an Harry come to rely on Draco more than any other, Draco knew of all the abuse he had suffered through the years, the headmasters manipulations and how insecure Harry really felt. Draco was the only one who knew, that Harry didn't really care about the war, light, dark it didn't matter to Harry who won, neither cared for Harry as anything more than the boy-who-lived. Harry considered himself neutral, but Dumbledore kept forcing Harry into situations, by endangering other students, he pushed Harry into confrontations with Voldemort.

Draco was the one constant in Harry's life since Hogwarts started. Not even Ron and Hermione had always stayed on his side. Ron's jealousy often drove him away and Hermione's love for Ron often made her choose the red head of Harry. Draco did everything within his power to make Harry's life bearable sending potions home with Harry for the summer and sending extras during the holidays. He also helped Harry improve his potion brewing skills, in third year they began practicing magic and potions in the Chamber of Secrets, until Harry could easily pass his OWLs and he could brew a lot of his potions himself. Of course he didn't have anywhere to brew at Privet Drive, so Draco still needed to send potions in the summer.

During his fourth year at Hogwarts Harry Potter had been illegally entered into the tri-wizard tournament and forced to compete against three other competitors from Beauxbatons, Durmstrung and Hogwarts against dragons, merpeople and the black lake and a maze filled with creatures. But when he got to the end thinking it was all over he and the other Hogwarts champion were transported via portkey to a grave yard where Cedric was killed and Harry had been forced to participate in a ritual to revive the wraith Voldemort to a coporeal body.

It was July 31st, Harry's fifteenth birthday and he was contemplating a letter he had received the week before,

Chimera,

How are you? I've included the skelegrow, bruise balm and healing potions that you asked for, but please Chimera, let me tell my father, he will get you away from those horrible muggles, before they kill you. You and I both know that they will. You know I never beg, but I can't lose you, you are the only one who sees past my family name and house.

Please Chimera,

Serpens.

Harry had known for a long time that his 'friends' Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger were spying on him for Dumbledore, that Dumbledore had paid Ron to befriend him on the train, Dumbledore had manipulated his entire life, unfortunately he needed to keep up the facade of Golden Boy/Hero for a little while longer yet.

As the days passed, Harry's life continued in the usual routine of summer, endless chores that he had no hope of completing to the Dursley's satisfaction, little food and beatings for anything and everything that he could be blamed for.

It was an early evening at the beginning of August Harry was forced to reevaluate his choices, he had been at the park avoiding Dudley and his gang, when they confronted him, he got away, but while making his way home he had been attacked by Dementors, guardians of the wizard prison Azkaban, as they attacked he noticed his cousin had followed him and was facing the dementor's kiss, making the split second decision Harry cast Expecto Pratronum the Protronus charm chasing the foul creatures away. His cousin was a horrible person, but nobody deserved to have their soul sucked out.

It wasn't until they arrived back at Privet drive that everything went to Hell, his Uncle blamed him for the attack and after receiving two messages from the Improper Use of Magic office for underage wizardry, the first expelling him from Hogwarts and the second rescinding that decision and placing him on trial. As his Uncle become aware of what happened he reacted in his usual manner, with a thrashing. However this time was worse than ever before and Harry knew he had to get a letter to Serpens or he was dead.

Writing his letter on parchment, he barely noticed the blood dripping onto the page, Hedwig hooted concernedly from her locked cage in the corner. Using his limited wandless magic ability he unlocked Hedwig's cage, attached the letter and sent her off. Hopefully the letter would reach him in time, if not at least Hedwig was safe.