This story was inspired by two songs: Say Something by A Great Big World and Dark Horse by Katy Perry
Slightly OOC.
Graphic descriptions.
I am in no way trying to glorify self-harm, abuse or rape in away way or form.
I do not own Harry Potter.
TRIGGER WARNING: Do not read this story at all if Self-Harming, Rape or Abuse are things you cannot handle. I do not want to trigger you.

Chapter 1

Harry woke up with a start, his heart racing and pounding against his rib cage. His hair was dripping with sweat and he was gasping for air. He rubbed his eyes and reached for his glasses. He grabbed them from his night stand and put them on, blinking a few times. He looked around the dormitory and saw that every one was soundly asleep.

Harry swallowed thickly, looking down at his quilt. He remembered why he had woken up - a nightmare.

Harry had been having nightmares constantly for the past few years. It was nothing new to him, he was used to nightmares at this point. In fact, he wouldn't even classify them as nightmares any more because he didn't fear them.

Unable to regain his composure, Harry swung his legs over the edge of his bed and stood up. He knelt and reached for his trunk located underneath his bed. He unclasped the locks and opened it. He grabbed his invisibility cloak then shoved the trunk back under his bed. Harry shrugged the cloak on, hoping that no one had awoken, then he left the dormitory.

Harry absentmindedly wandered the castle, following wherever his feet lead him. Without knowing it, he had climbed the steep, spiral staircase that lead to the top of the Astronomy tower. He was met with a door which he pushed opened.

Upon entering the room, Harry went immediately towards the railing. He dropped his invisibility cloak somewhere along the way. He looked at the view that the Astronomy tower allowed him to see, and it was marvellous. The sun was rising, casting orange and yellow lights across the grasslands. It had rained the night before, and the little droplets that clung onto the untouched grass reflected against the sun's illuminatory abilities.

Harry sighed, looking down at his arms. His sleeves had rolled up, revealing countless horizontal and vertical scars that criss-crossed the length of his forearms. He suddenly felt drained, as if all of his energy had been taken away from him.

Despite being The Boy Who Lived and being glorified for his bravery and courageousness, the fame didn't do anything for him. Through another's perspective, you would have described Harry as being a loved person with plenty of friends. Despite having numerous friends, Harry still felt lonely. Sitting in the Great Hall or in the common room surrounded by Gryffindors didn't make him feel like he belonged. In fact being in the Gryffindor house only made him feel more isolated from everyone else. He felt he had made a mistake when he asked the Sorting Hat not to put him in the Slytherin house.

Harry couldn't pin point the exact date when he first realized that he wasn't happy at all. He only remembered quietly sobbing in the boy's restroom, staring into the mirror above one of the sinks while he harshly wiped away the tears that streamed down his cheeks. He remembered having one of the worst nightmares ever, which triggered him to self-harm again. Since then, everything has gone downhill. His friends had taken notice and they've asked him numerous times if something was wrong - they still do - but he would deny it and walk away.

Harry grazed his fingers along his left forearm, feeling the indentations that most of the scars have done to his skin. Other lines weren't even scars yet, but scabs or open wounds. Wincing as he accidentally pressed too hard on a cut, he roughly yanked his sleeve down, grabbed his invisibility cloak and turned around, heading back towards the Gryffindor common room.

Once he made his way back into the common room, he noticed Ron and Hermione sitting on the couch. Harry could see Hermione's face and she looked really worried. She briefly looked over Ron's shoulder and instantly, relief washed over her features.

"Harry! We were so worried about you." Hermione jumped off the couch and ran into Harry's arms. Harry went rigid in her hold. She pulled away feeling Harry's body tense. Holding onto Harry's shoulders, she asked, "Where did you go?"

Ron got up, looking confused and curious. "I woke up and you weren't in bed."

Harry looked at his friends indifferently. "I couldn't sleep."

Hermione looked down at Harry's hands, noticing that he was clutching his invisibility cloak. She yanked it from his hands and held it up to his face. "With this? Why would you need this?"

Harry shrugged, his pulse rate accelerating. He couldn't let them know where he went. This isn't the first time they've caught him out of bed, and he never told them where he'd go.

Feeling defensive, Harry took his cloak back and walked out of the common room and up towards the dormitory. He took out his trunk and shoved the cloak back. He kicked the trunk under his bed and went down to the common room, shrugging past his friends and towards the Great Hall. Breakfast was being served soon and he didn't want to talk about his early morning with them. Being in a room full of people, surely they wouldn't be so foolish as to start arguments with him.

Upon entering the Great Hall, Ron and Hermione were running after him. Harry quickly took a seat next to Neville Longbottom, whom was feasting upon biscuits, fruit and tea.

"Hi, Harry!" Neville greeted him cheerfully.

Harry smiled at Neville fictitiously. "Hello, Neville."

Harry quietly sighed, reaching for an apple when Ron and Hermione sat down across from him. Both of them were shooting him daggers but they didn't bother to speak. The trio were quiet, eating their food. Neville was frowning at all of them.

"Are you guys all right?" He asked, looking from between the three.

Hermione smiled at him and nodded reassuringly. "Yes, Neville. We're just exhausted."

Neville sighed. "I know what you mean, exams are coming up and I've lost half my notes already!"

Hermione and Neville exchanged small talk. Ron was still glaring at Harry, suspicious of his attitude. Harry didn't look up, he could feel the ginger burn holes into his head. Without uttering a word, Harry stood up and hastily stalked out of the Great Hall.

Why do they always have to pry their noses into my business? Harry thought to himself, clenching his teeth. Tears began to build in his eyes. And they don't have to get mad because I won't tell them where I've been. What use would it be if I told them? They'd know where I escape to. There'd be no more secret sanctuary. They wouldn't understand how I feel anyway...

Oblivious to where he was walking, he accidentally bumped into someone.

"Oh, sorry..." Harry apologized, looking up into grey eyes belonging to Malfoy.

Draco glowered angrily. "Watch where you're going, Potter."

Harry felt the tears trickle down his cheeks unexpectedly. He wiped them away viciously, embarrassed to be crying in front of a Malfoy.

Unpredictably, Draco grabbed Harry's wrist and twisted it. He saw red lines peeking out from underneath the sleeve of his robe. Harry felt his heart pound in his chest and he wanted to yank his arm away and run, but he was frozen and shocked. Draco pulled the sleeve up to reveal scars of various shapes and sizes embedded in his skin. Draco looked up at Harry, his eyes wide and his brows furrowed.

Somehow finding the courage, Harry ripped his arm from Draco's grasp and ran away.

Draco stood there, emotionless.