Chapter 2

Draco got out of the suitcase, and looked around at what he saw. He was in some sort of cupboard, a very small and old one at that. He got out of the suitcase and saw a small bed. It had probably belonged to Potter at one point in his life. With the grace of a cat, Draco jumped onto the bed. And what he saw had him stunned stupid.

On the bed, in the cupboard, was Harry Potter, with bloody marks all over his back and his waist. The golden boy had obviously been beaten, and it was also obvious from the countless scars over his back that he'd been getting beaten for a very long time!

What was this? Why the golden boy was so beat up? What about all the stories of how rich and pampered he was? Wait, were those just stories?

But if so, than why didn't anyone know? And how had Draco never noticed how small and delicate Potter was?

He was lost in his thoughts, so he didn't realize when Harry woke up and looked at him. But he did realize when Potter said hello to him.

Draco froze, and slowly looked up into eyes that were as warm as sunlight. But they were also filled with pain.

''Where did you come from?'' Potter asked, a hand reaching forward and cupping the side of Draco's face. The hand was gentle and small. Potter looked like he could shatter in an instant. ''Did you fall into my suitcase?'' he asked gently.

Yes, in Hogwarts. Draco said in cat, knowing that Potter didn't understand cats.

But Potter did! Potter smiled at him. ''Then I am very sorry, but you'll have to stay with me until I go back to school.'' Potter answered to the stunned Draco. ''You see, I have no way of getting anyone from the wizard world to help you. And there's really no one who would help me anyway.'' He said softly, sitting up with a grimace.

Potter looked at his back. ''These won't heal for a few days, so I guess you and I will be here for a while.'' He said, smiling at Draco. ''But don't worry, I saved some food from school just in case. It should last you a while until I can get you more food. After all, you need more food than I do.'' So saying, he reached for the suitcase and pulled it toward him. He bent down, and took out a small bag.

In the bag were some every flavor jellybeans, some dried meat, water, and some fruit. Potter took out some of the meat and water.

He smiled as he handed the food to Draco. ''Sorry, but this is much better than some of the other things I've eaten. So eat up, you'll need your strength for when uncle Vernon lets us out.'' He lay back down on his side, but this time, he faced Draco.

Draco looked at the meager food in disgust. If this was better than what Potter had eaten, than what had he been eating?

''You know, your eyes remind me of someone in school.'' Draco froze. Was Potter about to realize? ''He's much taller than me, and much smarter too. I think he would have been a very good friend, but Dumbledore made me drink a potion and it made me refuse his friendship.'' What? Draco looked up, and found Potter's eyes half closed and glazed. ''And then, he made the hat put me in the wrong house.'' He mumbled, shivering from pain. He closed his eyes. ''I always liked snakes more than lions. I should have been a Slytherin. After all, what does bravery have to do with survival?'' and with those words, Harry Potter fell asleep.

Draco watched him, and thought over what he had just heard. If it was true, than Potter should have been a Slytherin, and Dumbledore had forced him to go to Gryffindor! Was it true?

Draco soon realized that Harry was not at all who he had thought him to be. Harry wasn't selfish or spoiled. In fact, he was giving all his food and water to Draco! And he also told Draco what had really been happening.

Apparently, Harry had been manipulated from the moment he had turned eleven. And Dumbledore had done the manipulating!

Draco learned also that Harry was much more powerful than anyone knew. He could talk to all animals and he had a power that could heal and cause things to grow much faster. And when he sang, he could calm animals and nature!

Harry was very kind and good, but he was also treated worse than a house elf. And he suffered enough abuse too kill a normal person!

Draco learned all about his relatives, when the week passed and the cupboard door was opened. And what he learned made him wish that he had been nicer to Harry, and that he could take Harry somewhere far away.