Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. If I did there would be more than 7 books, Ron and Hermione would have kissed, and Harry and Draco would have resolved their sexual tension by being locking a broom cupboard.

Summary in earlier chapters

Recap: Harry jumped back fro9m the sudden onslaught of scalding water. 'Ah!" He cried out in pain. Trying to escape the additional pain harry back up as far as he could into the wall of the shower. Losing the grip on the slick floor, Harry went crashing to the ground. Draco turned around, his hand still on the shower handle. As he opened it he gasped. Potter was lying naked in front of him, his face turning red in mortification. Draco felt his body growing aroused in spite of himself. But wait – what were those bruises all over his body? Where did they come from?

Chapter 10:

Harry was breathing heavily. He was unsure of exactly where he was laying, all he knew was that there was no more hot water. From behind him, he heard a gasp from Malfoy. Suddenly realizing that Malfoy had to be seeing him stark naked, he rushed to cover himself. Suddenly, another thought popped in his head. The bruises…. How am I supposed to explain that? Harry thought. "It's not what is seems., Malfoy.

Malfoy sputtered incredulously. Not what it seems? That's all you can come up with, Potter?" Draco was panicking. He was standing in the bathroom with a naked Potter, who was covered in bruises and welts. What made him sick, though, was that he could seem to keep his eye from wandering, trying to memorize every part of Harry's body that he could see.

"Could you at lease hand me a towel?" Harry was mortified. Not only was he lying naked on the floor, he was naked and covered in bruises on the floor in front someone he both loathed and about often. Harry started shivering profusely. Water dripped from his hair down into his face. Cold droplets of water glistened on his ripped chest. "Hurry up Malfoy!" Harry hissed.

Draco saw Potter shiver on the floor, and in a rare moment of thoughtfulness, grabbed the towel he had given Harry earlier. That didn't stop him from throwing the towel into potter's face though. "So, are you going to tell me where those bruises came from. Or should I assume you just 'fell down the stairs'?" his voice dripping with sarcasm. To Draco's mortification, his body was still reacting to the presence of Potter's naked body. His eyes were drawn to the water droplets streaming down Potter's chest. He hoped Potter would hurry up and cover himself up with that towel before Draco embarrassed himself.

Harry quickly wrapped the plush towel around his waist. He almost cried out when he tightened the towel around bruises that were already there and a new one from the fall. "Are you going to stand there or help me up? Harry asked completely ignoring Malfoy's question. He really didn't want Malfoy to know about his home life. He knew that Malfoy was secretly taking pleasure in what Harry was going through and he felt no need to add to that by telling him his secrets; secrets that neither Ron or Hermione knew.

Draco knew Potter had intentionally avoided his question. To be honest, he would have been surprised if Potter had acknowledged his question. Malfoy bit his lip and grabbed Potter's hand, awkwardly pulling him up and into his body, making Potter hyper-aware of the erection Malfoy was sporting.

Dra-…I mean Malfoy? Harry questioned. He backed away slightly his face scarlet and full of questions. No way! Harry thought hysterically. "Do you have my clothes?" Harry jumped in before Malfoy could say anything. Harry just want to get back to his room and out of this uncomfortable situation.

Malfoy cleared his throat nervously. This was unbelievable. He knew Potter had felt…Draco decided not to say anything about it and pretended it didn't happen. If Potter could ignore it then so could he." I-I'll go get them." With as much dignity as Draco could muster, he ran as fast as he could to get the fresh clothes from Harry's room.

Harry felt around along the nearest wall until his knees hit a chair near the shower. The water was still going. He sat down and rested his head in the palms of his hands His body hurt so much He needed the clothes so he could put the spell on and hide the bruises and rid himself of the pain. He couldn't get over the fact that Malfoy had seen the bruises. To him, that was worse than Malfoy seeing him bar-naked. It was one of those things that made him want to crawl into his bed until he was so old nobody would remember anything about him.

In the next room, Malfoy was deep in thought. He couldn't believe the bruises Potter sported were accidental. There were hand-shaped prints like someone had slapped and as hard as they could. There were welts that Draco believe were from a belt and bruises where it looked like he was punched repeatedly. He believed this had to be an everyday thing. He had two of those marks across his neck, as if someone had tried to strangle him. What disturbed Malfoy the most is that the bruises looked recent, like they just happened. Malfoy knew of spells that, if left on too long, could cause injuries to stop healing. Malfoy knew what spell Harry was using and he knew those bruises would stay until he stopped using the spell. But why would Potter want to conceal these bruises? Who was he hiding from? Draco was itching with curiosity.

Draco shook his head to clear the thoughts of Potter and his bruises. Grabbing clothes for Potter, he walked back into the shower room and saw Potter appearing to be deep in thought sitting on a chair near the shower. Draco reached over and shut off the water.

Draco know Potter would not want to talk about his injuries with him, so he silently handed over the clothes to Potter and turned around, standing to wait so that could escort Potter to his bedroom. He stayed turning around so the temptation of watching his enemy dress.

Harry pulled on boxers, sweat pants and a t-shirt that Malfoy had brought him. Quickly he murmured the spell and the bruises and pain left his body. "Ready…" Harry called out to Malfoy.

With more gentleness than he had previously displayed, Malfoy gingerly grabbed ahold of Potter's arm, and placed it on his shoulder. He could that the bruises were gone so he knew Harry used the spell. Still silent, Malfoy made the short walk to Harry's room When Draco got Potter acquainted with the layout of his room, and Potter was seated on the bed, he held out a bell and shook it. It had been placed on the nightstand which was probably Dumbledore's doing. "Dumbledore told me to give this to you. You are supposed to ring it when you need anything. The noise it makes will be silent to anyone but me. I will say this once, Potter. Ring the bell only if you need me If I come running and you are playing a practical joke You. Will. Pay."

"Yeah, yeah Malfoy; like I want you near me anymore than normal." Harry spat out but it came across with no venom or spite. Harry was just too tired. "I am going to take a nap now…" Harry pulled off the t-shirt he was wearing and threw it onto the floor.

Malfoy sneered. His embarrassment was wearing off. "You would have better success with that if you tried the other end of the bed. "Malfoy took hold of the sheets at the opposite side of the bed Potter was rifling around on, and expertly turned them down. "see you around, Potter."

Harry muttered "Bite me" under his breath as Malfoy was fleeing the room. He moved back until his hands touched the ornate headboard. He leaned back on the extremely comfortable bed and fell into a restless nightmare filled sleep.

Both Ron and Hermione sat feeling practically numb in their transfiguration class. It was hard to pay attention. They were anxious to visit Harry in his new rooms. They decided it would be a nice surprise for him. Hermione had gone out and bought harry a bunch of treats, though she didn't like eating them or getting them, so he would be cheered up some.

Ron sprang up the second Professor McGonagall dismissed them. "Come on, Hermione. I want to make sure Malfoy hasn't killed Harry yet." Ron stood impatiently while Hermione packed her bag.

Hermione rolled her eyes. "I don't think Malfoy would really…" She paused for a second. "I agree, lets hurry up. We really don't know what Malfoy is capable of."

Five minutes later, Hermione was panting outside of Harry and Malfoy's rooms. Ron had grabbed her hands and sprinted the whole way there. "Was that necessary? Would five more minutes have made any difference whether Harry lived or died? Honestly."

Ron wasn't listening. He was currently banging on the portrait, much to the protest of the portrait guarding it, demanding to be let it. "Let me in you bloody ponce! What have you done with Harry?"

Hermione whacked his arm. "Ron knock it off!"

The portrait door swung open after much pounding from Ron. "All you had to do was ask. Dumbledore said you two were allowed. I was just visiting a few portraits down." The portrait chastised as it swung open. Through the portrait hole they could see a glimmer of a fire blazing in the fire place. Walking through the entry way into the commons, she looked around the room at the many doors.

"Which one do you think Harry is in." Hermione wondered out loud.

Ron shrugged. "I suppose it;d be best to try on and hope it isn't the room where Malfoy is hoarding his collection of dark torture decides. Hermione rolled her eyes as she had earlier.

Walking to a door. Hermione turned the knock and gently opened the door. Inside was a huge Prefect bathroom. She closed the door and opened he next one to find Harry shirtless and sound asleep. He was shaking and moving around the bed appearing to being the throes of a horrible nightmare. She could hear him crying out in his sleep. "Stop…I swear I didn't do it. I swear!"

Hermione's heart went out to Harry. Sure, her friend had horrible nightmares usually but he normally got a reprieve. When he awoke and saw that it was just a dream. She had never witnessed him in a nightmare before and to be honest, she felt scared. Now that Harry was blind, she couldn't imagine the uncertainty he awoke with. Was it all a dream? Or were his nightmares real? Hermione's eyes start to brim with tears. She glanced over at Ron, and by the grim look on his face, it seemed as if he was thinking the same thing.

Ron was unsure of whether or not to wake his friend. Usually, you weren't supposed to wake someone in the throes of a nightmare. Ron could see the nightmare was getting worse though so he ran over and shook Harry awake. "Harry!" Wake up, mate!" Ron saw Hermione wiping away a single tear.

"No!" Harry unexpectedly sat up in bed, startled by out of his nightmare by Ron's gentle shaking. Harry's head came into contact with Ron's, and he shrunk back against the headboard, unaware of who was looming over him.

"Harry it's just me. It's Ron. Relax, it was just a nightmare. Ron, discreetly rubbing his forehead where it had connected with Harry's, fell back into 'Harry nightmare voice', the voice he used when he was awoken in the middle of the night by his friend's screams. In a strange and guilty way, Ron liked Harry's nightmares, because it was something he could help his friend with.

He prided himself in being the only one who was able to completely bring Harry down from his panicked state. None of the other boys in the dormitory could do but not for lack of trying.

"Come on, Mate. it was just a nightmare. You're alright." Harry laid there disoriented for a few minutes, listening to Ron's soothing voice. Slowly he came down from his panicked state, and just laid there, relieved that what he had dreamt was just that-a dream. Hermione stood back and watched her boyfriend interact with her best friend. Her heart swelled at how sensitive Ron could be. It was seldom that Ron showed this side of himself to anyone.

Hermione walked over to Harry. "Are you okay now?" she rested her hand atop Harry's and gently kissed his forehead. "We were worried about you. We were worried that prat Malfoy had done something to you. What has been going on since you have been out of the infirmary?" Hermione sat on the edge of his bed.

Harry shrugged, now fully out of his nightmare. He was used to them, sadly. He hasn't been too bad Since the first day he hasn't knocked me into any walls or obstacles of any sort. He, um, fixed a shower for me and handed me a towel when I needed it." Ron shot him a look. "Why do I feel like I am getting a disgusted look from you Ron?" Hermione spit out and quick 'yup'. Ron. Don't look at me like that. I needed to take a bloody shower!" Harry shot Ron a dirty look the best he could. Ron still looked disgusted. After that he's pretty much left me alone. I'm still drowsy from the potion Pomphrey gave me so I have been in here sleeping since he left for class earlier today. Harry decided not to tell them about the bell Malfoy had given him because he decided Ron would probably use it for nefarious reasons.

Hermione smiled. "Well, we brought something!" She grabbed the bag from the spot that it had been resting on the floor near her feet. "Here are some sweets from Hogsmeade. I had Hedwig get the delivery for me."

Harry's face lit up. "Thanks Hermione." This got a shouted "Hey, she said 'we'!" from Ron. If he was correct, the only thing Ron did was open the packages. His theory was proven to be correct when he reached into the sack and found that all his chocolate frogs had been raided and the cards were taken out of them. At least Ron had the courtesy and put a stasis spell on them so they would stay all spunky. Just then, a frog leapt out of the sack towards Hermione's face only to be intercepted by Harry's hand. It seemed that Harry's seeker instincts were not void because he was blind.

"Nice, Mate!" Ron cheered, patting Harry on the back." Nice reflexes." Ron opened the container on Bertie's Every Flavor beans and dumped out a handful. A hand swiped out and caught Ron in the shoulder. "Do not eat all Harry's candy! I bought them for him not you. I already gave you yours." Hermione snapped a little.

"Has McGonagall or Dumbledore mentioned anything to you guys about when I can go back to classes?" Harry then got a worried look on his face. "Will they kick me out if my vision doesn't come back?"

It was a rhetorical question but Hermione answered none-the-less. "Harry they would never do that to you. They would never make you leave because of your blindness. There is a blind second year. So, it's safe to assume that you aren't going anywhere. Dumbledore would never do something like that and you know that."

Harry looked mostly reassured but still had a hint of worry upon his face. "No, I guess not."

Ron abruptly changed the subject as another question came to mind. "When is that slimy git supposed to be back anyways?" Harry was about to answer that he didn't know, when a voice resounded from the doorway.

"I hope you weren't talking about me, Weasel." Draco spat out with disdain in his voice. Figures Draco would come back to his common rooms not only have blind boy wonder, but his geeky friends there too together in Potter's room. Malfoy stepped into the doorway and leaned against the frame, one leg over the other.

Ron rolled his eyes. "You know something, Malfoy? That name you call me…Weasel. It gets mighty old." His face was tinted red with anger. He held Hermione's hand, hoping that it would keep him getting up and pummeling Malfoy.

"Well, I am sorry I hurt your delicate sensibilities, Weasel." Draco purposely dragged out the name. "It's hard to find another name quite so fitting. This is way too easy, Draco thought.

"Malfoy knock it off." Harry said softly. "My head is pounding and I still have to go to the infirmary tonight for another round of treatment on my eyes. I do not want to add curing my migraine caused by your grating voice to the list of other ailments, thank you very much. "So, know it off." Harry raised his voice some but it came out shrill.

Much to Ron and Hermione's surprise, Malfoy just grumbled a little before turning away from the room. "You know what to do when you need to be taken to the infirmary. He walked out without another word. They looked back at Harry, and found him sitting cross-legged on his bed resting his head his on his hands before moving them back so he could massage his temples. Giving a silent look to each other, Hermione and Ron agreed with each other. Harry needed his rest and he wasn't going to get it with them there. "You're looking mighty pale, Mate." Ron said. I think we are going to shove off and let you take another nap.

"Yes. Harry." Hermione added." I will bring back your homework tomorrow so we can work on it grimaced as he saw the serious look on his girlfriend's face. It told him she was serious.

Ron grabbed Hermione's hand and pulled her lightly from her chair and led the way out the room with a quick goodbye from both of them.

Harry was yet again in the infirmary with about 20 potions pumping through his system all geared towards making his eyes feel better at least if not cure them. It seemed like they were working because he was currently lying in bed, his unseeing eyes staring at the ceiling. Damn Madame Pomphrey and her stupid sleeping potions. Harry thought. I feel like I could stay awake for days and not get tired at all. Well, at least its's giving me time to think, at least. Indeed. Harry was thinking about a certain someone. He wondering if James was going to come down and see him

Draco slowly walking into the infirmary, doing a quick search for Madame Pomphrey or anyone also that could blow his cover. See that the close was clear, he headed to Harry's bed and sat down. "A penny for your thoughts?" Draco let his voice soften and quiet down. His Malfoy persona was checked at the doors.

Still standing blindly at the seeing, a bright smile lit across his face. He came back Harry thought excitedly and he responded "I think my thoughts are worth more than a penny." He said with a small chuckle playing on his lips. Thinking more about what James had said, he asked. "How do you know what a penny is? Isn't that American?"

James replied. "Didn't you know there are all kinds of pennies all over the world? Anyways, everyone knows about American money." James questioned him. "I seem to be a nerd." He laughed softly. "Really though, you had that sad look upon your face." Maybe by using his 'James' persona Draco could possibly get out of Harry what those bruises were all about.

"Hmm." Harry said vaguely, his head turning back to the ceiling, smile having left his face. "Do you have nightmares, James?" Harry asked softly. It was a stupid question in Harry's mind.

"All the time. More now than I have in a long time." James sighed deeply, "Why do you ask?"

Harry huffed, deciding to answer with one of his own. "Do you dream of real things that happen to you, things that do happen to you?" His head turned towards James again, making it seem that his eye were looking straight into Draco/James' soul. Harry's face was etched in sadness and a deep, ingrown resignation that he was alone, separated from everybody by, now just the prophecy, but this one truth that had come into being before he had even discovered Hogwarts.

James was transfixed. He was frozen with the weight of Harry's blinded gaze on him. The varying emotion on Harry's face looked exactly what he saw when he looked in the mirror. Draco was torn. Every Malfoy bone in his body was protesting against his thoughts, telling him to pull away, to lash out with at this boy before him. A Malfoy was never to show weakness. Harry was blindly looking at him with those eyes though, those eyes that saw nothing and yet said so much. They said that he was not alone.

Sensing James' hesitation to answer, Harry sighed. "James, I'm aware of the fact that we haven't known each other long. This is the second time I've talk to you. I haven't even seen what you look like. But if there any chance that you could understand why I fear to go to sleep at night, I want to hear it." Harry's eyes begged for James to take a chance and just give into weakness. "Please James, I need to know."

"I dream of what I have gone through with my father…" James said only this. He was unsure of what else to say. Was he just supposed to tell Harry that his father beat him up to' condition' him to serve the Dark Lord?" My father 'trains' almost every day me for life after Hogwarts." He figured Harry would figure it out.

Harry closed his eyes in bitter relief. He felt like he was going to cry. James trusted him enough to confide in him about what his father has been doing to him. "My uncle. H-he beats me daily. He always beats me. Just this past year though, it's" his voice broke "it's changed somehow. It's become more brutal making me bleed from my mouth at times. It's changed so much. I don't even know why. Maybe it's because I am something he is despises. I feel like it was more…he's angrier than he used to be." Harry's body sank deep into his mattress; his eyes were still closed. He felt as though a weight has been lifted. "Thank you, James" He whispered.

James' jaw dropped "W-what?" He was utterly shocked He never though Harry could be going through something similar to him.

Harry laughed, making the sound we don't really need. I guess we are really alike, aren't we?" Suddenly Harry sat up., an idea striking him. "Let me see you."

"See me?" James asked questioningly "How would you see me? James' voice quivered. Could Harry really see him What was he talking about?

Harry was excited with this new idea. "I've heard about blind people being able to see. I won't see with my eyes; I'll see you with my hands. Harry slowly lifted his hand, leaving it up in uncertainty in midair." "Please? I want a face to go with you.

"o…ok." James gripped the arms of the chair in fear. He couldn't say no. If he did Harry would wonder, why and at this particular moment he had no answer. He prayed that Harry wouldn't realize who it was Harry couldn't really know what his face was like. Nobody could tell who someone was just by touching them.

Harry cautiously continued the travel of his hand. He jumped a little when his fingertips felt flesh. "Is this you?" Ask asked softly. James nodded slowly. "Yes." He listed his hand and placed it over Harry's moving hand. He kept his hand on Harry's hand as it travelled over his forehead. Harry found James' eyes and he stopped to feel eyelashes fluttering against his fingertips. As Harry's fingers travelled over his nose and cheeks over to his lips, he involuntarily shivered, a feeling lust shooting straight to his groin. It felt more intimate than anything he ever felt in his life.

Harry was running his fingers over James' face, memorizing ever minute detail, as well as every curve and imperfection. He was seeing through his fingers what was invisible to the naked eyes. James had a small scar above his right eyebrow, probably remnants of dragon pox as an infant. Running his fingers over James' eyes, he felt them flutter as they closed, making it tickle his fingertips slightly. He trailed his fingers down his nose and to the naked eye it would seem straight but Harry felt a small pump probably from being broken and never set right. Did James' dad do that?

Continuing down, Harry felt a pair of lips. James' lip were open slightly having gotten lost in the intimate gestures of Harry's roaming fingers. Gently, Harry trailed his thumb underneath James' lower lip and suddenly je felt james' breath hitch. A small smile played on Harry's lips. Maybe he wasn't alone and james was like him. He shoved the though way in the back of his mind as he continued exploring. Harry lifted his thumb from James' lip and laid his hand flat on James' cheek slowly trailing it around his ear and continuing boldly up into his hairline. He explored the boy's hair sliding it through his fingers.

James sighed as he felt Harry's finger sweeping though his hair. He leaned in without thinking and pulled Harry it a heated passionate kiss.

A/n: Sorry to my readers. I should have had this done sooner but work and getting ready and packed for a wedding took up a lot of time. I will try to get chapter 11 out in a couple days. Don't worry if its been a few days and I still haven't posted. I promise I am not giving up on this story though I could use some morale boost in the form a reviews. Pretty please?