WARNING: This is set after Goblet of Fire but after that I am taking many liberties with the story line. Basically, disregard everything after that point.

This is a SLASH story. It will eventually be Harry/Draco. If you don't like this please don't continue reading. For those of you that do keep reading, I'll post updated warnings when needed but for now, just expect physical/mental abuse and lots of confusion on Harry's behalf.

I'm working on this as an exercise in clearing my mind so that I don't make my own original fiction a convoluted mess! But this story has been in the works for almost five years! I already have quite a lot written so I'll be posting regularly, you don't have to worry about me falling off the face of the planet.

Chapter One: Pain

"Aarghh!"

Harry screamed into his pillow, scared that he might wake the Dursley's but unable to hold it in any longer. He was burning from the inside out, the pain in his chest had started as a dull ache that morning while he was out in the garden weeding, and as the day had past it had gotten worse, turning from a twinge that annoyed him into a hot, burning sensation he couldn't escape.

He had snuck into the medicine cabinet and stolen a couple of painkillers and drunk a glass of icy water, he had even tried breaking into the cupboard under the stairs to retrieve his wand, hoping he might be able to figure out something that would help, but his Aunt Petunia had caught him and sent him to his room. Now he was curled up on his bed, scared and hurting.

He moaned quietly, he didn't know what was wrong with him. Another stab of pain spread through his gut and he heaved, feeling the contents of his stomach swirling, he vomited over the side of his bed, gasping as the acid burned his throat and clogged his nose. "Ohh…"

He rolled onto his back, squeezing his eyelids shut and panted, he could feel himself hyperventilating as he tried to breathe through another explosion of pain. He screamed and his uncle screamed back.

"BOY!" His bedroom door flew open and his uncle was upon him, dragging him off the bed. "If you don't shut up now, I'll shut you up for good! You're keeping our good household awake and if you wake up our neighbours so help me you will regret it!"

Harry cried out as Uncle Vernon belted him over the head, just as pain lanced down his side and he passed out.

Harry woke up to his Aunt Petunia's face hovering over his. She clicked her tongue at him as he opened his eyes and handed him his glasses. "You've really made him mad this time, boy. He knocked you around good, what on earth were you thinking, crying out and thrashing around at three in the morning?" She brought a flannel to his forehead and patted it on his skin, the sharp twinge that followed told Harry there must be a cut there.

"Aunt Petunia, what are you doing?" Why was she tending to his bruises?

Her nostrils flared and she glared at him, "I'm cleaning you up, we can't afford to take you to the hospital and it's apparent that you were in a lot of pain. I've checked you over and you don't have a fever, I can't find anything wrong with you so I expect you up in time to make lunch." She got to her feet abruptly and dropped the flannel. Harry watched her walk out the door, trying to figure out what was going on with her.

He closed his eyes and sighed, taking a mental catalogue of himself, he felt achy, like his muscles had been working too hard, but otherwise the debilitating pain from the night before was gone. What was happening to him? This was the third bout of mysterious pain since the summer holidays started six weeks ago. It would come upon him suddenly, and seemed to stem from nowhere, this time had been the worst, he really thought he wouldn't be able to handle the pain this time around.

He contemplated sending a letter to Hermione for the thousandth time, if anyone knew what was going on, she would, but he knew if he told her she would panic and start stressing about his welfare. It would be best, he thought, to wait until he got back to Hogwarts and then scour the library himself.

He rolled over and pulled the blankets up over his head, thoroughly exhausted. He would work this out, but after a nap.

Hi guys, this is only a small chapter, just to introduce you to the story, the next chapter will be up in the next couple of days, and you can expect at least one chapter a week after that. I hope you all really enjoy this, and please, leave a review letting me know if you do, or if you don't! Let me know what you think I should improve on.