Title: When No One Hears

Author: mintapotter

Overview: Draco finds Harry in the saddest of positions, and something inside him changes forever.

WARNING: SLASH and references to self harm. Guy/Guys! If you no likee, you no readee.

Ok, I'm trying something new. I wrote this in first person because it works better with the thoughts they have so my one request in your reviews is to say whether or not you like this (or if you don't care) and why! Thanx to all the faithful reviewers, you make me smile. This week's song excerpt is from 'Delicate' by Damien Rice. (I thought it fit oh-so-perfectly!)

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Chapter 12 – Catch a Kiss

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We might kiss when we are alone
When nobody's watching
We might take it home
We might make out when nobody's there
It's not that we're scared
It's just that it's delicate

Damien Rice

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Supper had been delicious but I couldn't recall a single thing I had eaten as worrying about Draco took up most f my time. All through dinner he'd shoot me looks to see if I was watching and then when I wasn't I simply knew he was up to something. And Draco isn't so simple as to brush some food into a napkin and he sure as hell isn't eating it all so where is it all going?

I need to stop worrying so much about others and enjoy my time here; Draco will probably get much better with time.

After supper most of the crowd reconvened in the front drawing room for pudding and drinks. Ron and Draco both slipped silently out within moments of each other a while later but not together and I didn't have the energy to follow either of them. Ron was obviously tipsy, from what I can't tell but no-one else but his brothers seemed to know or care. And Draco was most likely off to throw up the contents of his last meal but I couldn't stop him every time. He was the one who needed to do this, and as soon as he wanted or needed help I'd be there. We all would. I hope.

Yeah, sure, I know about the Slytherin/Gryffindor, Malfoy/Weasley enmity but this is ridiculous. Everyone is overly polite and stilted around Draco; they've even warmed up to me a little bit! I just hope they can overcome they're prejudices should the need arise. They seem the kind of group who could. I hope so.

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I truly, deeply didn't want to cause any trouble and sneaking out seemed the only way to do so. I mean, if I didn't I might never be allowed in to see Harry for quite a long time and that not what I wanted. They don't really trust me; it's like walking on eggshells all day around them. Anyways, while the group walk having coffee and tea and some way too sugary apple crumble I excused myself out to the hallways and over to the kitchens. Ron came out behind me a few seconds later with a droopy grin plastered on his face.

"Shhhhh! I need to be quiet! Mum can't know!" he giggled and began dazedly up the stairs.

"I wasn't making any sound you idiot! What are you?... are you drunk?"

Ron Weasley, upholding the family tradition of drunken underachieving – STOP THAT! STOP STOP STOP! No put downs, not even in your head! Even if you hate being here you have to get along, at school these'll be the only people not willing to throttle you. Hopefully.

He smiled a little to himself and turned around on the second top stair. "Maybe…" more giggles. He then proceeded to try and take the last step but lost his footing and fell back heavily towards me.

"God Wea – Ron! You're not even just a clumsy drunk; you're a damned stupid one!" he was giggling and laughing at the hilarity of the situation and I had to huff and puff mine and his ass up all the stairs to his little room eventually planted him down on his lumpy orange bed. Snapping my fingers for his attention I opened my mouth to begin.

"Wow Malfoy, you are VERY strong! Getting big old me up all those stairs! Stairs are tricky! And your white! Very, very white! You are PASTY!"

I tried really hard to ignore that and gave him my little speech. "Ronald Weasley you are considerably drunk and or high to the point of vomiting and should this occur please run to a hidden spot or nearest toilet lest any Proffe-" I had to stop and change the speech, "adult , parent or resident of the house catches you. You are not my responsibility however and I will not be in charge of cleaning you up, putting you to bed, or take care of you're considerable hang over. Understood?" I had given this speech a thousand times over to my sloshed housemates at school and it flowed easy as water.

"Yeahyyeahyeah…Justfuckoffyouruininthefun…" he was mumbling considerably by now and I decided it the best time to slip away.

"And now you're an asshole drunk…" I muttered under my breath as I left the room.

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I left the Place as soon as I left Ron, stopping only to collect my wand and cloak. It seemed that within seconds I was back in St. Mungos, back in the dreaded elevator. It smelled of light perfume but the scent of cleaners couldn't be hidden. I found myself gripping my palms and forced myself to straighten each finger out and close my eyes until I felt the familiar swoop in my stomach to signal the elevators final stop.

An elderly Healer bustled quickly past me, not even stopping to sneak in a smile or nod. She was a woman on a mission but this only made me happy. I didn't feel like having 'witnesses' to my having snuck out of the house this late at night.

The door to Harry's room wasn't locked but squeaked a tiny bit from opening it so slowly. The entire room was ghastly white, bathed in soft moonlight from his solitary open window. He lay in bed, completely oblivious to my entering. I shut the door silently behind me and walked up to him, just observing.

Why am I really here? Have I even thought this through? Is it about the kiss that I've thought about and him? Is it about his Uncle and telling the Ministry, his friends, his…well technically his family? What to say, what to do…

Harry's eyes flickered open for only a moment and then completely, he squinted a little in the dim light right into my face. His eyes looked like the deepest forest green in the pale light, he was so beautifully bewildered that I couldn't help but blush a little and smile at him. But the deep purple bruises and black eyes quickly brought me back to reality, that this wasn't just a pleasurable visit.

What to say, what to say?...

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I woke up to a form standing silently beside my bad and for an instant I actually thought I was back at 4 Privet Drive and Uncle Vernon was in the room…

"Harry? Are you awake yet?" Draco's voice whispered from beside me and I gave a tiny sigh as I struggled to sit up. He helped me a little and I couldn't help but scowl. I hated needing others around me, others to help.

"Yes, and you don't have to help me. I can do it myself." He was silent for a moment but began talking again in the fashion of Professor Snape. Each word seemed important and full of meaning; slow like they had been carefully pre-chosen.

"Harry, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you. I came to talk about a few things that are very important with you but I have only a little time to get through them. Firstly, you have to believe that I'm on your side. I'm talking in your best interests, I promise. Do you? Believe me?"

I was a little disconcerted at this.

How can he think I don't believe him? Of course I do, after all he's done in the past days how could I not? I kissed him for Merlins sakes, of course I trust him! Right?

"Yeah, I suppose so." His shoulders drooped just a little and he seemed simply let down, I could tell without even seeing his face clearly. "I mean, yes, I do trust you. I really do."

He took a deep breath and sat down beside the bed in the rickety chair supplied in the room, starting up his speech again. "Good, because this is important Harry. You need to tell Ron about your Uncle, it'll kill me to keep this secret and it'll killing him to not know. He's pretty strong Harry but you keeping secrets from him destroys him, I can tell."

I exploded at Draco, hissing quietly as not to alert the Healers of anything. "How the hell would you know the first fucking thing about Ron? You know nothing about him; he has enough to deal with without having my own problems!"

It's true! Ron has enough on his plate just worrying about me not dying and his family's safety with being in the Order! Draco doesn't know the first thing about him, he hasn't spent a moment with him without it turning into a shouting match! Then again, neither have me and Draco…

Draco nodded and thought again before speaking. "I know more about Ron than you might think. He was bawling over you being hurt Harry, he… well he hugged me after my personal breakdown and he's piss ass drunk back at the Place right now because something happened here that set him off. He needs to know; not knowing will only hurt him more."

Draco stood up abruptly as Ron had earlier that day and walked off and back again, pacing between he door and my bed. He had rushed through the part about the hug because it was obviously a sensitive subject but I couldn't help but ask him about it. I'm nosy, I admit to it, and now I was concerned about Draco.

A breakdown? Draco, a Malfoy, having a breakdown? Over me, over his parents, over what? And Ron was HUGGING HIM? What has my world come to?

"Ummm… not to rub it in or anything but a hug? What happe-"

"I sort of fell apart in the loos and Ron found me and… gave me a hug. That's it. Case closed. Moving on and back on topic, are you going to tell Ron? I need to know Harry but I won't do it for you."

I didn't push the hug thing further, I started to rub the bridge of my nose and squeeze my eyes closed rather than squint all the time. It wasn't only to stall for time but it was really starting to hurt my eyes without my glasses.

Can I do it, should I? Oh, I already knew the answer the moment Draco found me, I already knew.

"Yes, I will tell Ron. Tomorrow, I'll tell him and then the Ministry can do what they please about it." Draco stopped to nod once and returned to the chair, leaning close to continue about something else. His hands were clenched and he seemed a little nervous.

About what? What could he be nervous about after that? Ooohhh… he smells so good, like minty fresh and vanilla… What am I thinking about? How Draco smells? I am going crazy; I need to think straight…

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"Harryitaboutkiss." All my words blended together like a drunken slur, I had to stop to breathe deeply and re-speak them. "It's about the kiss."

He sat and stared at me and then out the open window, not speaking. One entire side of his face was a purple blue colour, and both eyes showed signs of bruising. He was pale, and looked dead tired. He closed his eyes and sighed, leaning back into the pillows after an eternity and slowly replied.

"What about it?" he wasn't being snarky or desperately in love, he just wanted my side of it.

What the fuck can I say? I've been thinking about you since you left? I liked it, I like… you?

"That's what needs to be addressed. I… I just need to know where you stand. What you thought about it, good or bad." This sounded perfectly calm; I kept my face clear of and pleading even though he wasn't watching me.

Oh my GODS! What is he going to say! He'll probably laugh and think back at all the amazing lays he's had and I'll just sit here and look like a pathetic lump for even bringing a simple kiss up.

"I liked it. And that's not me speaking in a delirium, I actually thought a lot about it. I just didn't think you'd remember or anything…" I snorted and Harry finally opened his eyes to squint more at me. "What? What, did you or not?"

"Well yes I did, that's why I brought it up. And of course I remembered it; you're the first boy I've ever kissed." And hopefully the only one. My Gods, did I just think that?

Harry gave me a tiny smile and I could feel my cheeks burning as a blush spread across them; it was terrible how easily he could do that. I was already so close; all I had to do was lean in and kiss him again. His eyes closed, mine soon were too and the gap was nearly bridged, I could feel his warm breath on my lips…

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"Mr. Potter? Mr. Potter I came to check and see if you needed… Oh well then."

Harry was for once sound asleep in his bed, snoring lightly and turned away from the door. Every time I came in to check on that boy he was wide awake and staring out the window or picking at a cracker or cookie from his last meal. Not once was he watching the Muggle television we put in for him or a book, just awake and staring.

"Well, I'll be back in the morning then." I whispered. The room felt airy but I suppose it was just from me opening the door, and smelled like expensive cologne. I didn't give this any thought but quietly shut the door behind myself and quickly walked away t finish my late night rounds.

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"Oh my God, I was about to have a faint and die right there." Draco came back into view with his pale grey eyes wide as saucers as soon as the Healer had closed the door and was as pale as a sheet. Well, I guess it's just paler than usual but I like that he's not baked orange. It's very pretty, very delicate…

Since there had been nowhere to hide he had opted for standing behind the door as cover. I feigned sleep quite convincingly, both of us acting as if this was some longstanding plan should we be caught. I couldn't help but smile at the thought of being so deliciously quick on the uptake.

"Oh, you are the master of deception; of course we could pull it off. That Healer notices nothing anyways. Lucky for us I guess." Draco hitched his black cloak closer around his shoulders, peering thought the tiny glass window behind the door's curtains for a clear path out to the hallway. He turned back and smiled, an uncomfortable silence stifling us both.

Think of something to say, like 'kiss me', wait too direct, how about 'take me now' NO NO NO!...

"Well I must be going; I guess she kind off broke off the moment, huh? Do you need anything from me, anything from the Place?" I smiled a little at his blurry figure.

"Just… just get me some glasses. Soon, I can't stand not being able to see." It was lame to say but nothing else came to mind and Draco smiled once more, checked the corridor and left with a tiny sweep of his cloak.

I was settling into bed, about to drift off into an easy sleep when the door opened and closed quickly once more.

"Draco? What are you doing?..."

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I turned around almost at the elevators and headed straight back to Harry's room, my shoulders and back straight as I was on a mission.

Here goes nothing…

"Draco? What are you doing?..." Harry's eyes were nearly closed when I turned to face him but he couldn't even finish his sentence before I captured his lips with mine. His breath hitched for only a second, I had caught him off guard. My hand wandered up to his face, I couldn't help but caress the unmarked side of his face, holding him and stroking his smooth skin.

Wow, this is what I've needed so damn badly these past few days…

His mouth was so warm and inviting, neither of us seemed to be able to have enough of each other. We only breathed in short gasps, his hands tangling my hair and pulling me closer into him. We broke apart finally, his green eyes that I could never seem to shake off were still closed and his lips still parted and pouty. I stroked his cheek again and smiled at him, giving him a quick peck on the lips once more.

"What… what was that for?" He whispered in gasps, still breathing in heavily and I couldn't help but smirk.

"I simply couldn't leave you alone here without a good night kiss. It isn't proper to leave people hanging when they so obviously need you." He playfully smacked my arm but we both knew I was being overly sarcastic. "Oh come on Harry, I left you breathless."

He blushed a deep red and squirmed down into the sheets of his bed turning away from me. "That you did Draco, that you did. Thank you. Good night."

I smiled at his back, thoroughly proud of myself for coming back and finishing this business. I couldn't have gone through another night without it. Without him.

"Good luck Harry, for tomorrow. Sweet dreams." I left and blew him a kiss across the room to his slowly breathing back, so silently that I knew he couldn't here it. But somehow in the split second before I turned to shut the door, his arm reached up and grabbed the air above him, and then brought his fist back down and opened his palm towards his cheek.

I just smiled and shut the door with a click, returning back to 12 Grimmauld Place to a peaceful sleep and a considerably lighter heart than when I had left.

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I somehow passed out on my own lumpy bed, and it must have been sometime after the HOURS I spent puking my guts out in the basement bathroom. Somehow all the gods and witches and wizards were looking down on me and nobody heard or checked on me, so all was well. At least I didn't think so. Not much after meeting Malfoy was very clear, I had bruises that there was no explanation for, but they didn't worry too much. Bill was the one who came in at some ungodly hour in the morning to wake me, apparently for lunch.

"How was, ummm, your sleep little bro-" he started meekly and I quickly cut him off.

"Fuck the fucking fuck off. What the hell did you give me last night? I think my head might explode at any unexpected sounds…" I was grumbling into his general direction, the red light I could see through my eyelids seemed too bright in itself, I didn't even want to chance opening them yet.

"Well, it's not from here, I think its illegal actually. This trader I know in Romania gave it to me for a marriage present and I've only had a shot at a time." I smiled and winced as I slowly sat up, eyes squashed firmly shut. "And… it was what exactly?"

"It's called Firewater, doesn't sound very dangerous but man, by the way you chugged it last night I actually expected those effects." I finally opened my eyes just a little, to peer at him. He was smiling and standing in the sunlight of my bedroom, looking all too fresh and… awake for this time of day.

Morning people should just leave all the drunken night folk, like me, until about 6 in the evening to wake up. This is hell, all this sunlight and waking up at…

I glanced at my floating clock, goggling at the time.

"11? Do you seriously mean 11 in the FUCKING MORNING?That's a viciously evil and cruel time to wake me, you… how did you know about last nights effects? I don't even remember most of it…" He smiled more, and walked over to grab my arm and drag me, literally drag me, out of bed and down all the flights of stairs.

"I spent most of my night up with you for a fact, it was the least I could do after the amount I gave you before. Anyways, after you take a cold shower to wake up, Hermione is downstairs to see you and I believe your visit with Harry should begin in about an hour."

He shoved me into the bathroom with a grin and left, thinking those two things would just brighten my day.

Well, weeks ago they would. Hermione and Harry could brighten my day no matter what a while ago, I thought to myself, turning the taps on super hot and stripping in the frigid air quickly to jump in and just stand under the steamy jets. But now Hermione will only be fretting over Harry and completely ignore me, and she's bound to ruin our visit today. Not that she'll try to, she just will because I need to know. More than her much more than her. I lathered up quickly and forced myself to turn around and turn the water much cooler, until the cold water caused me to shudder and wake me completely. And Harry can go and fuck himself if Draco's close enough to know everything and his best friend can't…

"What am I even saying?" I stepped out of the shower to vigorously rub myself dry and mess up my wet dark red hair more than it already was. "I've missed Hermione to death and Harry just needs time. I need them both, just because I'm hung over doesn't mean I have to be a pessimistic asshole about everything…"

"Oh really? Is that so?" Fred's voice floated through the bathroom door and then snickers followed as I heard him and a few others bound noisily down the stairs.

I stared at my reflection in the mirror, watching my ears turn a deep red and felt the burning on my cheeks moments after.

Why do I have to blush so damn much, it's like I can't hide any emotions every because of it! And why did I have to look like this! Bright red hair that's never straight or flat, so many damn freckles over pale skin! Not only that, I'm almost 6'3 by now, I'm taller then nearly all of the 7th years for Merlins sake! If you look up the picture of gangly in the dictionary you get a picture of me. And not to mention, all of my clothes, minus the robes Fred and George gave me are crap. Man, if for a day I was Draco, I gulped down 3 of some Muggle medicine tablets for headaches and stomped back through the cold hallway and floor to my room to get dressed. Did I just wish to be Draco? What is this world coming to? Next up Harry'll be gay and Mione and me'll have triplets. I was dressed and out the door in minutes, humming to myself and blindly hoping for just one day to go right.

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"Finally up and at him little brother." Fred and George didn't seem to have too much on they're minds except to torment Ron on his late night party of one, and weren't about to stop. Every since I arrived they had been going on and on about how they had had to carry him up the stairs and 'accidentally' dropped him a couple of times on the way up.

"Sure am, just taking my time." Ron's hair was a little longer than I remembered, but just as wild and red as ever. He still wasn't fully awake, I knew it would be about an hour before he had all his motor functions about him. He grabbed a roll with butter and stuffed it into his mouth whole, then took a few seconds to scan the table and find just who he was looking for. Lucky for him, it was me.

"'Mione!" his whole face lit up with an overstuffed smile, he swallowed the bun quickly and rushed around the table to see me.

"Hullo Ron, I just arrived this morning while you were still sleeping. I didn't want to wake you beca-" he abruptly came right up to me with a full smothering hug worthy of Mrs. Weasley and then pulled back as the 'Oohs' and 'ahhs' started to pour in from around the table. His face was already a bright red; I still didn't understand how he managed to blush so fiercely at everything.

"Nice to see you too Ron. I hear you're going to visit Harry this afternoon. Mind if I join you?" Now maybe this was a bit presumptuous but I had managed to plan my entire day (including the visit with Harry) with the idea that I was going. That I was invited. That I could maybe, possibly, come. But Ron was abhorable at hiding emotions and this was no exception. As we sat down to really begin lunch he looked away from me at my question and didn't immediately answer with a yes.

"What is it? Is he really bad, do I need to be warned or something? Everyone said he was doing alright, and I checked over his symptoms and I didn't think-"

"Hermione it's not that! Harry's doing fine, truly he is. It's just that Harry and I have some… private business that I can't have you there for. Not that I don't want you to come," this barely passed for an apology but I bit down hard on my tongue and let him continue, "I definitely want you to come, I just need some time alone to talk with him. Just a little while, a few minutes tops. That's all."

When did they start doing things without me? 'Private' things? I mean, if it were some guy… porn… thing I'd just let it be but Harry's in the hospital for nearly dying, that shouldn't be on the important list! Maybe I'm being too intrusive, they deserve they're own time.

"Sure Ron. Whatever you need, that's fine. Really." I touched his hand under the table for only a second and then pulled away, my fingers tingling from my own unexpected gesture. He just smiled and turned to grab some more food, giving me a typical "I knew you'd understand." Thank you.

How'd I go from hopeful, to pissed, to understanding and then back to pissed from what Ron simply says and does? I'm way too moody about these things, I need to just calm down and stop overanalyzing things.

I snorted out loud at the thought. Me? Stop overanalyzing things? I wish. I just let it go and was swept into the table conversation, passing food back and forth and ladling myself, Ron and Ginny some soup before settling in and taking a good look at who was at the table.

Oh. My.

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"Ron. Ron! Is that Malfoy, down at the end there? Is it?" Hermione jerked my arm so suddenly that my soup spoon was launched out of it and landed with a light clatter on the floor. She hissed into my ear and then went back eating normally, trying to be incognito I suppose.

"Uh, Yes. Didn't anyone tell you?" I was searching the ground for my lost soup spoon but she shot me a 'you-better-be-listening' look so I gave up and tried to concentrate solely on her.

Which isn't too hard on the eyes mind you. I mean, Mione's managed to create some real beautiful styles with her hair and she's got such a pretty face, she's way too good for me and my gangly looks but… I wish…

I was pretty at ease about liking Hermione and her liking me; I mean we have for so long it's just some well understood thing between us. We're just so different that we allow little things to creep up on us and create some wedge in our friendship and then we fight and then we're right back where we started. As friends. That's the other thing, we've been friends right along with Harry for so long we don't know how to change, how it'd affect us.

The Trio can't just become the couple and Harry Potter. Maybe we can go out and not let it change anything, not let it come between us and Harry…

"… so then Bill was telling me about you last night and that you might not be up yet and so then I went and sat with Fred and George and Ginny and we talked and then we came down to eat while you were in the shower and then you came down and then. Yeah, that's all. They didn't say a word about Malfoy, it was all about Harry. So what's up with Malfoy being here?" I just realized that I had been staring blankly into Hermione's face without listening to a word she was saying but I got the gist of it.

"Well Draco is the one who found Harry, presumably at 4 Privet Drive but we're not really sure because Harry won't say anything yet and Draco hasn't spoken up for him as of yet either. Oh, and Dumbledore sent some Ministry people to the house but they just asked basic questions and the Uncle said that he just hadn't seen Harry for a while and had hoped he had run away so… so we don't know yet. But we will, Harry'll be ready to talk to us now probably, he's getting loads better…" I was drifting now; my attention was long gone from Hermione and was focused on Draco.

Something was going on at the other end of the table which no-one else but I seemed to have noticed yet. Minta wasn't sitting near him today; she was having a lively conversation with Tonks and Charlie's wife Hazel. Draco hung his head downwards like he was trying to hide his face, then suddenly stood up and whirled around all out of his chair. The table setting must have caught on the edge of his shirt or something however because every single one of his plates and dishes shattered loudly against the stone floor. His hand covered his mouth, his grey eyes wide with mixed fear and hate and sadness, not at all customary for what had been seconds ago a comfortable and friendly lunch. The entire room was instantly quiet and staring open mouthed at him but before the first tear fell from his eyes he was gone and out the door, leaving the room speechless.

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"Come on Malfoy, our food not good enough for you?"

"Yeah Malfoy, we never see you eating more than two bites. You're looking a bit, what's the word?"

"Peaky. And your way too skinny, Merlin only knows that you're used to the finest of everything but since you look like an emaciated skeleton-"

"We thought that maybe you'd give our food a try rather than die of starvation."

Fred and George are angry with you but don't fight them over something this small. Don't. Sink. That. Low. Don't do it, don't fight back. They have every reason to hate you so let them. Just, stay, calm…

I picked up my spoon and took a deliberately huge bite of soup, then grabbed a roll from the basket.

"I like the food, I guess I just don't eat that much. Oh, looks like we're out of butter." I deliberately didn't look either of them in the eyes and continued to eat as if nothing was happening. I could feel Minta's eyes on me from down the table, but I guess she was sated that I was eating and went back to her own conversation. Ron was too busy ogling Hermione and she was off on some rant so they weren't exactly concentrated on me either.

Not that they'd care or step in even if they did notice.

"We're out of butter huh? I wonder why-" they really never fucking stop do they?

"Well it could be that Draco here's been using it for other purposes-"

I pretended not to notice a word they said. I stared deep into my soup, embarrassed to the point of tears and examining a piece of floating noodle with all my heart. My eyes were watering already, I normally didn't show emotion like this but I already knew where this conversation was going.

"That's the way he likes it huh-"

"Up the ass and around the corner is good enough for little prince Malfoy here? Who would have guessed?"

"He's asking for it, probably lets any old fool of his Father's fuck him if the moneys good and they aren't a blood traitor or Mudblood-"

No. no. no. no. no. That's not it, stop, that's not it at all, why are they saying these things? Stop it, please stop it…

My eyes were so full by now that blinking would have unleashed tears I was much too proud to show. I tried desperately to get away, away from them and anyone else watching. I whirled out of my chair too quickly and the very corner button of my shirt caught on the place mat my setting was on.

The plate hit first, and smashed beautifully, the first crack of it silencing the room. Then the bowl, exploding with all the hot contents, then my cup and cutlery. I closed my eyes for a second and listened to the crashing of the dishware and a memory of childhood swept past my eyes.

DRACO? How dare you break the china? Can we trust you with anything at all in the household to touch? What kind of lazy half assed son are you?

My hand covered my mouth, if anyone made me lower it I surely would have screamed.

I didn't mean to! I'll clean in up and write lines, I promise! I promise to be good!

You know that's not getting you out of this! Get to you're room, I'll be up in a minute to deal with you.

I turned and fled, the moment I was out of the room the tears that had been burning up my eyes fell in two fat drops down my face. By the time I collapsed into topmost bathroom I was on the verge of breakdown, I didn't event remember putting my fingers down my throat. I didn't remember much.

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I was up the stairs about a minute after Draco had left, my Mother thought it best to give him a moment to compose himself before we went to talk with him.

"Ron I think it's really nice that you go and see him but we have to leave in 15 minutes, no matter what. Alright?" Hermione twisted a strand of her curly hair around a finger and bit the edge of her lip, already worried already about being late. Typical.

"Yeah, I'll be back in no time. We'll just sort him out and then I'll be right back and ready to go." I shot her a quick smile and headed up the stairs with Minta not far behind only to be greeted by the sounds of retching from inside the topmost bathroom.

"Not again…" Minta muttered under her breath and then pushed past me and opened the door. Draco was hunched over the toilet, as too be expected and he had a glazed look about him.

"Again? What do you mean again?" Minta didn't reply fast enough for my liking so I just continued. I hate it when people keep things from me. "Why didn't you say something if you're sick? We would have helped out you know! We're not evil about everyth-"

"He's sick but not in the way you think." Minta's voice was cold and she stared holes into Draco with her eyes, she seemed overly angry about him being sick.

"Listen Minta, these sorts of things happen, people get sick. It's to be expected actually, since he was so anxious-" I began and Draco opened his mouth to speak and then quickly closed it tight, squeezing his eyes shut trying to overcome a wave of nausea.

"She's right Weasley. I'm sick. I really, really am in over my head in this one…" He had started to cry a little bit and covered his face with his hands; I couldn't help but feel for him.

Why's he so damn moody today? Causing a scene might be his forte but this is unneeded completely! He's sick; therefore we'll take him to the hospital. Simple as that.

I was exasperated. I really, really didn't want to deal with this on the first day Hermione was back. So I just compromised.

"Listen, Hermione and I were just leaving for St. Mungo's. We'll take you too and check you in and they'll take care of you there. K? It's really safe there too and-"

"No. I will not go there, it's not safe from… it's not. I won't go." Draco shook his head back and forth as though in a trance and then set back to crying. I just stood bewildered, I had no clue what was going on in his mind.

Not safe? It's St. Mungos, not the middle of Muggle London! What in the world is going on here, Draco seems way too paranoid for this to make any sense.

"Draco you have to go and we both know it. It doesn't matter what you want anymore, what you want will almost certainly cause you more harm than good. I mean look at your health." Draco was still crying but obviously listening, as was I. "You don't have any at all, your just skin and bones! You are going to go with Hermione and Ron, whether or not you see it fit to tell them why. But you are. For your own good." Minta was stern and Draco was still crying, and I just stood there completely confused.

"What the hell is going on here? It's like you two are using a code that I just don't under… What?" Draco had whispered something behind his hands but I couldn't make it out. "Excuse me?"

"I said I do it. I make myself throw up Ron, that's the problem here. I'm… bulimic I guess. I guess I am." Draco stared out into the distance and wiped his eyes, unfolding himself gracefully and checking his reflection calmly in the mirror. This seemed some kind of revelation that he was making and my mind was exploding inwardly at this.

Bulimic? BULIMIC? That's the crazy thing where you throw up after eating a lot or just don't eat much at all and do it anyways. But why? Some Ravenclaw girl got sent home last year for it but that time everyone already knew. How could? When? Why would… Draco? Draco Malfoy? What reason could he possibly have?

"I I'll tell everyone here eventually but first I'll tell Dumbledore. But I will not stay in St. Mungos, I simply won't. I will stay here, even if everyone else has to know as well." Draco looked sullenly at the mirror, not too happy with what he saw I suppose. He then turned, shooting a very annoyed look at me. I hadn't realized but my mouth had been hanging open for quite some time now.

"Shut your mouth Ron, it's most unbecoming of you. And don't look so surprised, everyone should have guessed by now. It seems your brothers have, at least subconsciously. Let's go and then maybe this will all be over with." And then he strode past me and out into the hall, a wave of his hand and all the candles that had been flickering died as he swept out.

How's he go from crying on the floor to making me look like an idiot standing in the dark? HOW? What is this, I think my mind might explode from too much information that makes no sense whatsoever. What a day this is turning out to be…

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I entered the kitchen first, followed by Ron who instantly went over to a waiting Hermione to fill her in. About me no doubt. Oh well, it was bound to get out anyways. The trio couldn't keep a secret from each other for they're lives. Busy noises and laughter came from both the lower kitchen and the front room, people enjoying they're free afternoon and cleaning up together after lunch. No-one seemed too worried about my state, so I had no one to talk to about it. Which was a nice change.

Minta had turned down the kitchen hallway behind me to help out with the cleaning, so I didn't have a soul to speak to. Not that anybody was talking to me however; I had enough company in my head.

You've been caught. It's bound to get out now. You've been caught. It's bound to get out now. You've been…

SHUT UP! Do you ever let me be? EVER?

My Father's voice was like a broken record in my head, I could no longer hear Ron and Hermione's busy whispers or the laughter from the lower kitchens. His voice consumed all the others.

Just because you left me doesn't mean that I'll leave you alone. The fact is that you've been caught. It's bound to get out now. You've been caught…

"Malfoy? I think we should leave before we get any questions. That would be… the smartest thing to do." Hermione had crept up behind me, whispering without making any eye contact and then nodding at Ron to move over to the fireplace.

"Hermione did Ron tell you about me? Just now? Don't worry if he did, I just need to know." She first seemed stricken with the idea of me saying her first name without any malice, and then a little frightened that maybe I was mad at Ron for telling her. But she was a Gryffindor after all, so putting a brave and indifferent face was her forte.

"Yes he did. And I personally think it best for you to stay at St. Mungos but... can we discuss this later? Please?" The sound of heavy footsteps emerging from the kitchen was closing in and pushed us toward the fireplace and out of there simply to avoid any awkward questions.

I can just imagine it now. "What was that about Malfoy?" "Do you always throw tantrums like that over little jokes?" "Did we catch onto some truth, you really do let you're Fathers…" I'd rather not think about that.

I went first, Ron throwing in a pinch of Floo powder for me. I waited in the lobby for maybe two minutes before Hermione and Ron appeared as well.

"Mum came in and asked if you were ok. I told her you were coming to see Harry about something but that I didn't know what it was about. I won't tell anyone about it, because I thought you were going to do that on your own. So," He took a look around the lobby, full of people with varying amounts of dangerous maladies and some Healers, then back at me and Hermione. "To Harry's room for us and for you?"

"I'm going to see Harry about something as well actually. Then I'll be out of your way and off to get Dumbledore for a little meeting. Let's go." I turned off to walk towards the elevators before Ron or Hermione could argue about my coming.

I need to convince him one last time to tell Ron, and then I can deal with my own problems. And everything's easier when you've just been kissed. I smiled a little to myself and purposely chose a different elevator for the ride up than the one I had been in so often before. I could hear Hermione's whispers to Ron behind me and didn't care. Everything would be sorted out, they'll see. I'll be back at the Place under someone's supervision; Dumbledore could tell all the residents for all I cared. Then I'd be back to normal and out of the grips of my Father, Harry would get better and I'd become friends with Ron and Hermione. All would turn out ok from now on. I could feel it.

Yeah right. Everything gets better before it gets worse. You should know this better than anyone.

Shut. Up. Father.

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A/N: THAT HAS TO BE THE LONGEST CHAPTER I'VE EVER WRITTEN! (phew) Anyways, thanks to the reviewers and HERE IS MY OFFICIAL MESSAGE ABOUT MINTA! She is around for a little while longer; I won't say how she goes, or what happens. She is important to the plot to a point; she introduces some things that you'll need to know later but SHE ISN'T STAYING FOREVER! There you go, with that over with…

Tinas74

Thanx for the review, and every update on every Friday!

SeventeenthAngelOfTheSixthHour

Thanx for the review, and yes, I'm trying to get things moving!

BeautifulLady

Thanx for the review, short and VERY sweet!

Fairytale-princess-504

Thanx for the review! You basically looked forward to everything I put into this one!

lampshadesrgreat

Thanx for the review, and sorry for the spelling! I just suck and can only use Word Spell check so… yeah.

MyStOrIeS

Thanx for the review, and yes Minta can be very scary. (You'll see more of THAT later!) and yes and no for Ron and Hermione. They sort of are and sort of aren't… I kind of explained that. And yes, I am definitely going to try and read your stories!

HandsOff

Thanx for the review, and no its not sake. I just made up some wizarding drink that would get Ron that drunk on that little! (haha, good guess anyways!)

christina

Thanx for the review, it was an AMAZING compliment!

brionyjae

Thanx for the review, and of course I thank you guys! You're the whole point of writing!

Now review please and thanks with oh so many cherries on top!