Chapter9... Coming Clean

"I kinda want to talk now, but I'm not sure I'm ready for Harry to know yet." I mumbled staring at my feet.

"I'll go and read in the Library, just let me know when you're done." Harry kissed me on the cheek, not remotely upset by what I'd said he then wandered off.

"Did you know about Harry's muggle family?" I blurted when Harry was gone.

"Not at the time Drake, I would have told someone if I'd known then. I found out at the beginning of the year, he came to me and asked how he could conceal the scars after he found he'd be staying with you, he didn't want anyone to know." He reassured me. "I regret not telling anyone what I knew about you though." He added his voice thick with guilt.

He let his hand slide from my shoulder. "How many more Drake, I can't believe that 4 years ago I let you convince me not to tell. I was an idiot, you were 14 and so." He snapped his head away, tears making his eyes glisten.

I pulled my shirt off and revealed the numerous scars that marked my body. His face drained of colour. He traced the scar across my stomach.

"That wasn't him." I said indifferently.

"Oh, is that your scar from that god awful curse of Sev's, Harry didn't know what it would do, you know that right?" He said pulling his hand away and moving to examine my back.

"Sev told me himself that Harry couldn't have any idea what that curse would do to me when he was healing the wound."

I heard George retch; he ran through to his kitchen and threw up. I pulled my shirt back on and went to check up on him.

"I should have fucking told someone, damn I could have stopped half of those scars Drake, I only had to say 'friends' and you would have trusted me. I was so pathetically childish."

"If you'd said friend there would be more, and I wouldn't have survived."

"Drake, can we be friends now? If you're gonna be shagging my adopted little brother I'd rather we were friends." George dropped his 'I could've saved you speech'. He held out his hand but I shoved it away, not without noticing the tracks of thick white scars on his wrist.

"We're not fucking!" I yelled instinctively. Flinging my arms at him.

"Chill, what the famously fuckable Draco Malfoy's settling down at seventeen?" He asked raising an eyebrow.

"Your wrist?" I managed once I'd calmed down somewhat.

"You're changing the subject." George shifted awkwardly.

"You cut, after Fred died?"

"I thought it would help, at first it did but then I couldn't stop it got worse and worse then one day I lost control and cast Sectumsempre on myself." He brushed up his own shirt revealing a scar similar is size to my own that ran across his freckled stomach. "Harry found me bleeding; I guess that was my turnaround point. But enough about me, settling down at seventeen eh?" He shook off the seriousness.

"I'm eighteen actually, and no we're not settling down we are just taking it slow is all. Which is none of your business, brother or not Okay? But yes we can be friends, because I love Harry and I think want to be with him for the rest of my life." I whispered the final words, red heat creeping up my cheeks.

George smiled happily and pressed a brotherly kiss on my forehead. "I guess I don't need to ask you not to hurt him."

I shook my head quite fiercely. "No I mean it; I think he's my soulmate, if there's such a thing. Its strange how both before and during the war I would declare a burning hatred for both you and Harry alike. Now here I am, coming clean to you and declaring my love for him."

It was only then that we noticed Harry had walked into to the room...