Chapter 11

"Harry, can I speak to you for a moment?" Hermione asked, tugging on the sleeve of his cloak. She pulled him to the side, allowing the students to go to their classes. They stood in the little hallow between the walls, waiting until all the students had vacated the halls. "What happened to you?" Hermione whispered, dropping her books to the ground and touched Harry's face. His lips were purple and there were visible bruises up and down his neck.

"I-It's nothing, Hermione." Harry said, leaning away from her touch. She let her hand linger in the air for a moment before letting out an exasperated sigh. Her hand fell limply, in a frustrated way.

"Will you stop lying to me for one moment?" Hermione demanded, her tone harsh. "What's wrong, Harry? Why are you all of a sudden confiding in Draco Malfoy instead of your best friends? Does he know something that we don't? Is he holding it against you?"

"No! No, it's not like that." Harry interjected quickly. He had no time to process the questions she had asked, instead he let it slip his mind as the overwhelming feeling of pressure overpowered him.

"Then what is it like?" Hermione tempted, putting a hand on her hip. She narrowed her eyes at Harry when he didn't respond. The condescending stare she held made Harry feel even more nervous than it usually would. "I know what I saw, Harry." She added.

"Look, it's nothing to worry about." Harry assured, moving past her. She spun around, pulling on his cloak again.

"I know you trust him." Hermione stated. Harry paused and turned around, facing his friend. "I just want you to trust me too. You know you can."

Harry looked down. Of course he knew that she would be understanding, but he couldn't tell her just yet. It was too soon. He was just starting to feel comfortable around Draco. He needed to make sure that his abuser wouldn't come near him again and if he does, he needs learn how to defend himself rather than go weak.

"I know." Harry said, finally.

"Good." Hermione sighed, relieved. "You don't have to tell me anything you don't want to. But know that I'm worried and I want to help you."

Of course, Harry didn't reply.

"She knows something is wrong." Harry blurted.

Draco glanced at him from the corner of his eye. They were in potions class and Draco's partner fell ill, giving Harry the chance to switch partners and abandon Ron. He felt guilty and horrible for doing so, but he knew that Hermione would take his place. Plus, he couldn't have them interrogating him. He needed space.

Harry felt Ron's glare burn holes into the side of his head.

"Obviously." Draco snorted, flipping through the text book. "She's Hermione."

Harry sighed. "They've known something for a while now, they just don't know what that something is."

Draco took a few unlabelled herbs and threw them in the cauldron without looking. Harry didn't know what type of potion they were supposed to be brewing due to his lack of attention, but he didn't care. He let Draco do the work.

"It's better that way." Draco uttered, looking at the desk in front of them, observing what they were doing.

Harry looked down at the his hands which gripped the edges of the table. "I feel like I'm betraying them."

"You're not." Draco said, looking over at his mate's best friends. "You're just not ready to tell them."

"About what?" Harry asked, suddenly curious to what he was implying.

Draco worked his attention to Harry, staring at him intently. "About all of it."

Harry looked away, breaking from the intense eye contact. It was also another thing to keep from his friends - their relationship. It had grown. It had developed into something new, something that neither of them were familiar with but both agreed on exploring it together. Their sexuality, their preferences - all of it. It was their little secret.

"You don't have to worry anymore." Draco sighed, shaking his head.

Harry smirked, but he wasn't feeling humorous. "I think I always will." He stared at the colourless potion they stirred up. Draco continued to throw nameless things into the mix.

"Oh no," Draco groaned. "Weasley's coming over."

Harry saw the silhouette of his best friend out of the corner of his eye and mentally sighed.

"Harry, can I speak with you for a minute?" Ron asked, his tone was anything but polite.

Draco stepped away from the potion and glared at the red-headed Gryffindor. "I don't think he wants to speak with you right now."

"Back off, Malfoy." Ron sneered, pushing past Draco. A couple of nosy students turned their heads to watch the eruption occur.

Harry looked up to meet with eyes glowering down at him. Ron wasn't happy at all. He didn't understand why Harry trusted Draco more than he trusted himself or Hermione. They've known him longer than any of his other friends and out of all the students to put trust in, Harry chose their old enemy. This didn't stand right with Ron.

"Harry, I have to speak with you right now." Ron muttered through clenched teeth. He grabbed Harry's arm roughly and pulled him out of class, despite Harry's resistance.

Once they were out of the classroom, Ron pushed Harry out into the middle of the corridor. He was livid and frowning. Harry was a little shocked and shaken up. The harshness caused a slight panic within him. Instead of standing in the hallway waiting for Ron to speak, Harry turned around and ran. He ran to get away from the pressure. He ran from the overwhelming feeling of anxiousness. He ran from anybody who threatened him in some way. He ran from Ron because Ron was angry and upset. He didn't want to be yelled at or questioned. He wanted to be understood, but he couldn't be understood until he told them what was really happening with him. And that's not going to happen soon.

Harry kept running until to nowhere in particular. He followed familiar hallways, went up familiar staircases, and basically allowed his feet to whisk him to anywhere safe. Adrenaline coursed through his veins, making him run even faster. He was fearful that Ron was following him, but he didn't dare look over his shoulder.

He ran up a spiral staircase until he was met with a wooden door. He pushed it open without a moment's hesitation and ran towards the balcony. His hands curled around the railing as he leaned over, panting. He breathed in and out unevenly, his heart still racing, and the adrenaline still pumping through his veins. He closed his eyes, concentrating on his breathing which was also the only thing he could hear other than his heartbeat.

His glasses fell off his face, falling towards the ground before a hand reached out and grabbed it. It wasn't his hand that gripped the glasses. He looked up with his blurry vision and sighed a sigh of relief to find that it was only Draco.

"He didn't follow you. I made sure he didn't." Draco assured him, putting his wand into his cloak. Silence filled the air, only Harry's rough breathing could be heard. "You have to tell them soon, Harry. They're worried."

"I-I...can't." Harry stammered.

Draco looked away, pursing his lips. "You must find a way, otherwise you'll lose them."

Harry swallowed, his breathing now paced and somewhat even. He contemplated this. He knew the consequences of keeping his most darkest secrets from them, and he knew that if he didn't tell them soon, they'll only get more anxious. He couldn't do that to them, but in his eyes, it was the only option. He wasn't ready to tell them on his own.

"I'll be there with you, if you want." Draco suggested, a small reassuring smile crossed his face.

Harry shrugged, looking down at the field. First year students were training on their broomsticks, learning how to play Quidditch. A couple of students fell off their broomsticks and another couldn't get their broomstick to get up. It was so simple back then, learning the basics of magic and making new friends. He wished it was that easy. It could have been that easy...if he weren't The Chosen One. It was such a selfish thought, but he couldn't help but know that it's true.

"Okay." Harry finally agreed, defeated.

Draco smiled genuinely, touching Harry's face. He took Harry's glasses and put them in Harry's cloak pocket. "It doesn't have to be right now."

Harry shook his head, his eyebrows knitted together. He couldn't keep putting it off. It is better they know now, rather than find out another.

"Tonight." Harry stated firmly. "Tonight I'll tell them."

Draco didn't look away. "Are you sure?"

"Yes." Harry whispered, his hand coming up to grasp Draco's arm. Draco's hand still cupped Harry's cheek tenderly.

Draco nodded. "Then I'll be right by your side."