Chapter 2

Needless to say, that school year had started off a little strange. Harry had an idea of what may have been going on with Draco, but until he could be sure he wasn't about to say anything, not even to Ron and Hermione. Who seemed to be very disturbed by finding Harry with a nearly dead Draco with his head in Harrys lap on the bathroom floor. They were keeping an eye on Harry discreatly. The whole situation was very strange.

After Harry had yelled at Hermione to get help, which of course she had, 3 wizards and one of the Witches who had been working at the bar had come rushing up and alerted Madame Pomfrey. They rushed Draco to the hospital wing but none of the teachers or syudents seemed to have any idea what had actually happened. even stranger still, not 24 hours later Draco was back in the Great hall staring blankly at a piece of toast infront of him at the Slytherin table. He was pale, paler than usual anyways, and seemed to be having a hard time staying awake. Crabbe and Goyle kept asking him questions, to be told off and ignored by Draco. One time Harry had seen him almost smash his face on the table dozing off. 'What is going on with Malfoy.' HArry couldnt stop wondering. Apparently this much was obvious because Hermione and Ron had been watching him stare at Draco all morning. Not his usual general disliking stare but something else. They were worried about both of them, and Harry was being very quiet.

Until Hermione slammed her new copy of Translating Runes closed, Scaring both Ron and Harry, she looked at him and said, "Harry, I know you have an idea of what happened the other day in the 3 broomsticks." Harry looking startled stuttered a bit and said "Wha- I-I dont know what you're talking about Hermione. It was like, it was like he was, I dont know." "It was like what happens to muggles that have certain, problems." She said. "Problems?" Harry saw where she was going but clearly didn't want to be the first to mention it out loud. What if she was right? "Yes, problems, addictions. To certain things..." She continued then turned and looked at Draco who had his head in his hand and was passing out by the looks of it.

"Wait a sec, are you guys thinking Malfoys is doing drugs? Like what?" Ron asked finally clueing in. Hermione looked around to make sure no one was listening to them and lowered her voice. "I had a cousin, he was really cool until he was around 24 years old, then he changed. He started getting high on, well, Heroin. He overdosed 2 years later. And everytime I saw him before he died, he looked exactly, like Draco, right now." She whispered. "No way, you guys can't be serious, do muggle drugs like that even work on our lot?" Ron asked he didnt seem to believe that could be the answer. "Of course they do Ron, we're still all Human, Our brain chemistry is the same, we probably have even more potent versions of Muggle street drugs. Harry, where did you go that day and what did you see Malfoy doing, he might be in a lot of very real trouble and we both know Ron and I knew where you were going." She was looking at Harry very seriously now. "Who cares? serves him right for being a git. I guess hes finally cracking up from his wonderful family and friends." Ron said as he shoveled another piece of toast and egg into his mouth. "No Ron. For whatever reason this is bothering Harry a lot, we can both see that. Tell us Harry." she finished. Ron and Hermione were both looking at Harry waiting for, anything.

Harry really didnt want to say it, but Hermione had practically read his mind. They guessed from his lack of response that they had hit the nail on the head. "I dont know." he said quietly, looking back down into his plate. "Fine, dont tell us, but you and i both know it will all come out eventually, whether you tell us what exactly happened or not." He knew she was right, but who was he supposed to explain the way he had been scared for Draco. That he had truely wanted to help him, to do anything. I had hurt him to see Draco like that, even now as he sat staring at him from across the table. He was genuinely concerend for Malfoy. He understood what it was like to live with unpleasant people, he had done it for the first 11 years of his life and then some every summer. Harry wondered what it was like for Draco to be expected to follow in his death eater fathers footprints, not to mention his lovely aunt Bellatrix. Harry thought how terrible it must be to be born into a family of known supporters of Voldermort, maybe thats why he was possibly doing drugs. drowning out the terror he was probably feeling. But no, no way. There was no way Draco had nearly overdosed. Right? no way he would sink to that level, just trying to stay comfortably numb at all times.

To Harry it seemed very possible. And being honest with himself but not agreeing with it either. Draco on drugs? Had it gotten that bad at home? Maybe it had. it was seeming to point in that direction. Or maybe it was something else. Something else entirely. Whatever the case was, Harry couldnt take his eyes off Malfoy.

The following evening it the great Hall for dinner, the earlier scene of a nodding out, grim, thin and haggard looking Malfoy hadnt changes much. He was in his usual spot between Crabbe and Goyle, who were also looking a bit unhappy, and being very quiet. Harry was staring at Malfoy, which Hermione and Ron had noticed and were giving eachother very confused glances. Harry however hadnt noticed them, he only had eyes for Draco, who had just propped his head up on his hand, eyes closed. Thats was when Harry noticed the blood along the side of Malfoys hand. Not much, and not fresh it was dried on looking and had dripped down his hand from somewhere near his wrist or the top of his hand. That was enough for Harry, He stood up, ignoring Hermione and Ron' questions and alarm.

Harry walked straight over to where Draco was half awake. Most of the other Slytherin's seemed a little alarmed that Harry had just marched up and was standing bend down beside Malfoy. He had whispered something in Dracos ear. Not loud enough to be over heard by anyone else since half the Great Hall had now noticed Harry whispering in a barely concious Draco's ear. Draco stirred, it took him a minute to respond. "Hmm? Wh-What..what do you want Potter?" he said without opening his eyes, "cuz I know what I want, I want...I " then he sort of dozed off again. "Get up Draco we need to talk, come with me, please. I just want to talk." Harry said calmly and very quietly. "I'm tired Potter." Draco said. Harry wasnt going to push any harder than neccessary so he turned to walk away. "Potter wait...Okay, lets go. Just, hold on. I uh- I guess I need to tell you something ." Draco was looking Harry in the eyes and Harry could see a very hurt Malfoy behind those bright blue eyes. Harry helped Draco get up and as quickly as possible, which wasnt very quick at all, and tried to discreetly escape the Great Hall. Natually almost the entire student body, not to mention the staff, had eyes only for Harry with Draco being half carried out of the Hall. Harry looked over his shoulder and saw Ron and Hermione staring open mouthed at him, he turned away and focused on the task at hand.

They got around the Entrance hall doors, Harry didnt know where to take Draco who was having a hard time staying away and stumbling most of the way. Then he thought of it, the Room of Requirement. He knew the way, and he knew Draco did too, even in his semi-conconcious state, he seemed to have a general idea as to where they were heading. "Potter, I'm a mess." Draco whispered as they made their way up to the corridor. "I think I'm cracking up. I think I'm-" He continued, "Wait, just wait, whatever you need to say doesnt need to be overheard by anyone, I can see that much already. We're almost there." Harry said quietly, just loud enough for Draco. Harry had Dracos arm wrapped over his shoulder and HArry was mostly holding him up as they stumbled y a group of 2nd years who made no attemot to not stare at this very strange sight. Everyone in school knew Harry and Malfoy to be, well, not on friendly terms to say the least. "Come on Draco were almost there. Just a few more steps."

Harry wasnt lying, they were now standing infront of the place where the Door always appeared, as it was becoming part of the wall Draco said, "Look Potter, dont judge me when we get in here." Confused, Harry looked from the door to Draco who was standing and swaying a bit. Like Hagrid after a few too many fire whiskeys. "Why would I, what does the Room have to do with you?" "You'll see, now you'll see and you'll understand and you'll- you'll...you probably already know." Draco said, they walked through the appeared doors which disappearded behind them. Harry hadn't understood, not until he took a look around. The room was not at all in its usual state. There was the broken vanishing cabinet, and beside it a cot and some blankets, Draco must have been sleeping and spending most of his time at Hogwarts in the room. It was nothing like it had been for the D.A. room.

Draco led the way and sat down on the cot. There was a few brown paper bags lying around, and some random garbage. Once Harry took a closer look he saw that the scattered garbage was mostly consisting of wrappers and little metal cups. The he saw the box of syringes. Then he saw the little pieces of paper that had once been folded up, now lying unfolded ans crumpled around the bed. Draco had his head in his hands, Harry was still standing there trying to process what he was seeing. Hermione had been right, he never would have believed it, or maybe he didnt want to believe it. He walked over to Draco, bent down and picked up a loose syringe, used, that was lying beside the cabinet.

"Draco, what the hell is going on." Harry said holding up the needle. "Oh come on you know exactly whats going on. You were there, I know you were there, you followed me and I know you heard me and that loser Fletcher talking. " Draco," Harry sat down beside Draco, how did he know Harry had been there? and if he did how come he didnt call him out on it that day. This question Malfoy answered with out being asked. "I didnt say anything because- because I guess I just dont care anymore." "What do you mean you dont care? If you knew I was there why wouldnt you call me on it? If you knew I was there and that I had heard you and Dung, why didnt you try to get away from me?" Harry asked curiously. This Malfoy sitting in beside him was starting to really worry Harry.

"Potter, you and I both know what they did to me. You know I'm a marked man. My Father, well, he has made a few mistakes and the Dark Lord is punishing my family through me. He wants me to fail, he has set me up to fail Potter and I'm- well I'm..." Draco took a deep shaky breath, exhaled, trying to regain his control. "I dont think I'm going to be able to do it. I know I wont be able to do it. I was born into this Potter and theres no way out but a six foot hole in the ground, and He doesnt care if I die trying, he wants me to fail."

Draco, still half awake half asleep reached into his pocket and withdrew a small piece of paper. The reached into the box of syringes, pulled one out, along with a small vial of water and one of the little metal cups. "So here it is Potter, this is what I have become." Draco said. He unwrapped the little metal cup and placed it on a stool beside his bed. He unfolded the little paper and dumped a dark brown power into the cup, added a bit of water, then took out his wand and made a very small flame which he heald under the cup, he had put water in it to mix the powder. The liquid boiled a bit and turned clear. "Malfoy, you cant be serious, well I guess I knew, but I didnt want to believe it. Why? How did this start? How is it going to end?" Harry said softly, he was seriously worried now, he knew what was happening and couldnt think of anything to say, or do, that would stop this.

Draco dropped a little piece of cotton it looked like, into the cup of liquid and took a syringe and stuck it in the cotton, pulled the plunger on the needle up and drew the liquid into it. He rolled up his sleeve on his left arm and there it was. The Dark mark, violently dark, seared into his skin. But there was more, there were blueish scars going up his arm from his hand, all the way up to the inside of his elbow. Harry hadnt noticed Draco's eyes fill up with tears, he couldnt move, he didnt believe what he was witnessing. He had been right, Voldermort had most definetly cornered Draco into a corner. "So here it is. Which is what lead- to, well, this." Draco held up the syringe, flicked it to get the air to the top and squeezed the little air bubbles out. "Draco what are you doing." Harry said quietly, "I'm just done Potter, I cant win, I might as well not even try. But if I'm going out, I'm going out my way. This is my way." Draco answered pulling a longe rubber band out of his pocket and tying it around his arm above his elbow.

"This is the only way I can live with myself now Potter, I'm done. I'm doomed, and I never even had a chance." Draco took off the cap on the syringe, Harry watched silently, he still couldnt or didnt want to, believe what he was seeing. And then Draco stuck the needle into his arm, drew back a bit of blood into the syringe, the pushed the plunger down, the pulled the elastic off his arm and drew nthe needle back out. He sat there quietly for a moment, then began to nodd off again. "Draco, what happened. This is insane. how did this start?" Harry asked polietly.

Draco didnt reply, he just sat still falling asleep. Then before Harry could react or even process the situation, Draco opened his eyes, turned to face Harry and kissed him.