Chapter 3

Harry felt like he was floating underwater. He couldn't tell how long he had been there but he felt safe. He couldn't see anything, but he felt warm. Suddenly a small light appeared off in the distance, curious; Harry 'swam' toward the light. As he got closer, the light got brighter and there was more of a pull to it.

Suddenly it wasn't a dark anymore, but suddenly memories started assaulting him. The first time Vernon hit him, the first time Vernon raped him, Voldemort, his parent's death, the hurt, the fear, and the pain all came rushing at him. It hurt so much, so Harry screamed and tried to get away. Suddenly through his screaming he could hear someone talking to him, telling him that he was safe and nothing could hurt him and the voice wouldn't let anything happen to him.

The voice kept talking and a wave of heat and calmness came over him. He felt safe for the first time in a long time and so he settled back down and curled into the warmth and fell into a peaceful sleep. When Harry woke and came to almost full consciousness he was assaulted, once again, by all the memories from before. He started shaking and tried to get away from his uncle when he heard the same voice from before call his name, telling him to wake up.

Harry kept struggling with his memories but he felt the same warmth as before and slowly became aware that it was only his memories. As Harry opened his eyes he didn't know where he was but he felt more than saw that someone was holding him. He heard the voice again telling him he was safe. Harry was shaking so badly, he latched onto the front of the shirt of the person holding him and cried.

This was no normal crying, this was sobbing. Draco listened to the heart wrenching sobs escaping from the smaller boy and held him tighter, beginning to cry as well. He could feel all the raw emotions coming off the other boy. You could hear the pain and the suffering that Harry had been though and had bottled up until he just broke.

Severus had woken up earlier and had just came up from his lab to check on Draco and Harry when he heard sobbing coming from the boys room. He quickly walked in and saw who was crying. Severus felt his heart ache for Harry; he could feel the years of pain and suffering coming out all at once drowning him. Severus looked at Draco and found him holding Harry tightly, in tears, trying not to break down himself.

Severus never felt so helpless before. He walked over to Draco and Harry and sat down on the bed next to them, pulling Draco into his lap and held both Draco and Harry. Draco leaned back into his godfather taking comfort in the embrace while still holding Harry. Harry's sobbing slowly quieted into quiet almost silent cries and then into hiccups and then stopped altogether.

Harry sat with his head lying on Draco's chest pulling himself together, as small circles were rubbed on his back. Finally he realized that he was still being held, not by one person but two. He turned his head slightly and saw black sleeves with thin hands and stained fingers, and a blue sleeve with a very pale skinned hand. Harry could smell sandalwood and herbs, and realized that the stained hands were that of, and attached to, his potions professor Severus Snape.

Harry stiffened slightly, why was he with Snape? And where was he? He didn't know and started to struggle. "Harry, you are fine. We are not going to hurt you. Now if you drink this calming drought then I will go floo Poppy and tell her that you are awake." Severus said calmly, placing the drought in Harry's line of vision.

Harry tried to answer but nothing came out. He tried again only to be hit with flashbacks of what had happened at his Relatives home. Harry started shaking uncontrollably, frozen in fear of the memories running wild though his mind. Draco took the vile from Severus and uncorked it and brought it to Harry's lips. He called softly to Harry telling him he was safe and to drink the calming drought. Very slowly Harry started responding; finally bringing his shaky hands up to Draco's to tip the liquid into his mouth. He didn't trust himself not to spill in on his own. After swallowing the potion, Harry's hands returned to their spot gripping the front of Draco's shirt and placed his head on Draco's shoulder.

As Harry very slowly calmed down, Severus got up and went to go floo Poppy. Slowly Harry's grip on Draco's shirt loosened as Draco rubbed his back soothingly, though he didn't pull away. Just as Draco was about to say something, Poppy swept in. She smiled and said, "Good Morning Harry, Draco. How are you feeling today Draco? I am so glad that you are finally awake Harry. You gave us quite the scare the other night." Draco smiled slightly at the mediwitch as she fussed over both himself and Harry, and as Harry relaxed closer into him feeding off of Draco's body heat. Poppy glanced up at Draco and stated, "Draco, you haven't answered me as to how you were feeling." Draco smiled at having someone care for him and said, "I am feeling better, my ribs are still sore but not too bad, though I am still really tired." Poppy nodded and handed him a very mild pain relieving potion and Draco drank it gratefully.

Poppy touched Harry to get his attention and he flinched away violently, starting to shake uncontrollably again and buried himself into Draco. Draco wrapped his arms tightly around Harry and rocked him slightly trying to get though the thick fog of blind fear that had settled over Harry's mind. Poppy was shocked at Harry's reaction but then scolded herself for her momentary stupidity. Of coarse he is going to be jumpy and frightened, he had been raped, beaten, starved and attacked his entire life, well most of it. She wanted to smack herself, but even as she was berating herself she watched as Draco slowly clamed Harry down. Soon Harry was relaxed again and Draco looked up at Poppy and nodded. Poppy stood up and called to Harry, when he didn't respond she tried again. "Harry dear, I have some potions I want you to take that will help ok?" Harry was silent for a few moments, but then started to loosen his death grip on Draco and pulled back slightly but only enough to take the potions.

As soon as the potions were gone he curled back into Draco. Harry's mind was slightly muddled but he didn't care that he was in Draco Malfoy's arms, he felt safe there. Harry nuzzled Draco's neck with his nose, breathing in deeply and letting it out. Yes he was safe so he shut his eyes and drifted off again with a small smile on his face.

Draco shivered as Harry nuzzled his neck. Not that he was going to complain about holding Harry, not just because he liked holding Harry, but he could see how much the smaller boy needed that tangible manifestation of affection and comfort. Poppy looked at the picture that the boys made and sighed, this was just what they both needed. With that thought she decided to take her leave. But before she left she turned to Draco and said, "Draco, you both should get some more rest, your magic is still depleted." After she saw Draco nod she left.

Draco shifted back so he could lean against the headboard while still comfortably holding Harry. As Draco pulled Harry closer and settled them so they were both comfortable, he lost himself in thought about the boy in his arms. As he thought he began to run his hand through the younger boy's hair. He was very confused about his sudden shift in feelings; he had gone from almost hating Harry to feeling extremely protective of him. He didn't know what it was but something inside of him had become fiercely protective of his Harry. Wait 'His'? ? Draco was stunned for a moment. Hmmm he might have to ask his uncle Sev about that. For now though he was going to try his damn hardest to keep Harry safe.

Yay I updated! I am sorry that it took so long, my muse died. So tell me what you think. I am sorry that it is so short, but you will get a longer one soon.R&R