Plot: When Draco's parents are killed by Voldemort, Dumbledore sends both him and Harry to a secret place, to keep them safe from the Dark Lord. What happens when Harry discovers the blonde's darkest secret? Slash. Drarry. Harry's POV. Hurt Draco/Protective Harry.

Note: Well, I usually don't update that fast, too busy with work, my son, my husband and all, but I'm on holidays this week, sooooo... :p

Please keep in mind that I'm French, hence the English mistakes! ;)

CHAPTER 2.

One more week has passed by, and we still hardly talk to each other.

I thought the event of the other night would have brought us together, but it didn't. He was as quiet as the tomb the following day. However, he knocked at my door in the middle of the following night and, putting his pride aside, he simply asked if he could sleep in my bed. And he did so every single night that followed.

Night makes him more vulnerable. The nightmares got worse, and he just can't stand being left alone in the dark anymore. I know how it feels...

Now he doesn't even knock, he just joins me in silence.

And when I wake up in the morning, I usually find him curled up against me. He looks so peaceful I wouldn't want to wake him up. So I cautiously slip out of the bed, and let him sleep quietly.

I haven't told him about that, he would freak out. Well, I freaked out too the first time I woke up with his head laying on my chest and his hand clutching my shirt. But come to think of it, it's not a big deal. I guess he's only looking for some comforting in his sleep and with me being the only human being around, well...

Anyway, I overslept today, had some nightmares I don't want to remember, and he's not in bed anymore. I get out of the room and look around me, he's nowhere to be seen. He must already be reading in the garden...

Yawning, I make my way to the bathroom and open the door only to find him wearing nothing but his underwear.

"Hey! Can't you knock on the door, Potter!" He shrieks, grabbing a huge green towel and trying to cover the best of him with it.

I would have a go at him for not locking his door if something hadn't caught my attention. Something he's actually trying to hide from me with this towel.

"What are you staring at? My wonderful muscular body?" He asks ironically, but the embarrassed look on his face shows that he knows what I have seen.

I slowly remove the towel from him. He doesn't put up resistance, but he breathes faster and faster, and I gasp.

His chest, his arms, his legs... his whole body is covered with scars. Some look like burns, others like deep cuts, some look old, others more recent... There are so many of them I wonder how he's still alive. I stare at them with horror and I'm suddenly mad at whoever did this to him.

"What?" He snaps, taking the towel back. "You're jealous because I have more scars than you? Don't worry, Potter, I won't steal the show, my scars won't make me famous..."

"Stop saying bullshit, Malfoy! What the hell happened to you?"

"Get the hell out of here! I'd like to shave and get dressed!" he yells, ignoring my question.

"Not until you tell me what happened to you!"

"Merlin, Potter! I've never seen someone as stubborn as you!" He says in a fake detached tone, grabbing his shaving cream.

"Malfoy, tell me now!"

"Fuck you, Potter! Can't you mind your bloody business, for once? Why do you always interfere in –"

I don't let him finish his sentence and pin him against the wall.

"WHO. DID. THAT. TO. YOU?"

"Let go of me!" He pleads, with both fear and anger in his eyes.

"WHO. DID. THAT. TO. YOU?" I repeat slowly.

"Bloody hell, Potter, let me go!" He exclaims, trying to escape but I tighten my grip on his shoulders.

Before I can reply, something hits my cheek so violently I lose my balance and fall on my butt, seeing stars.

When I open my eyes, everything's blurry and I realise I've lost my glasses.

"Look, I'm sorry, Potter... I..."

He sounds sincere and I don't even have it in me to be mad at him. Not after what I've seen...

"It's okay," I say, "I shouldn't have insisted like that..."

I hear him run water in the sink and then he kneels down in front of me. I don't see his face clearly, I only distinguish a light shade, but he's so close I can feel his breath against my lips, and my heart skips a beat.

Suddenly, something cold on my lips. A cotton ball soaked with water I guess.

"Your mouth... It's bleeding..." he explains, swabbing my lips.

I let out a breath I hadn't been aware I was holding.

"Can you give me my glasses?" I ask him to focus on something else.

"Sure! They're... Shit!"

"What?"

"They're broken!"

"The lenses?"

"No... The frames... No worries... I'll get my wand and fix them," he announces, standing up.

"No! Don't you remember what Dumbledore said? No magic unless your life is in danger..." I remind him.

"Yeah, right... You wait here!" He orders, offering his hand to help me get back on my feet.

"Here you are," he says when he returns and puts my glasses back on my nose.

I look at my reflection in the mirror. My left cheekbone is swollen and red, already turning blue, there is blood on the corner of my mouth, and my glasses are taped together with brown packaging scotch-tape.

"Couldn't you use transparent Spello-tape?" I scoff.

"Only had this one... It's not like I use Spello-tape often you know!"

"Never mind, it makes me look even sexier than usual!" I say ironically.

We burst into laughing and I realise that's the first time we laugh since we arrived here. That's actually the first time we laugh together and not at each other's expense, and it somehow feels... good...

Thanks for reading, and many thanks for the fav', the alerts and the encouraging reviews! They mean a lot to me! :)

Published on August.17 2011