A/N: Apologies for how long it has taken me to update but unfortunately my exams have started so studying has to be a priority :( My next exam is English but isn't for a while so I thought I'd continue writing chapters. After all it is technically part of English.
DISCLAIMER: I obviously don't own Harry Potter.
When the morning classes were over, Harry entered the common room to find it relatively deserted. There were a couple of first years and some second years talking quietly in the corners, while the older years presumably were in their dormitories or finishing off dinner in the Great Hall.
He eyed the three people sat closest to the fire freezing slightly when he realised it was Blaise, Pansy and Draco and they had instantly stopped talking as soon as he had entered the room. Draco was looking over his shoulder at him, and Harry regarded him coolly.
"Don't be put off by my presence guys. Feel free to carry on talking about me." He said.
"Harry." Draco stood.
"What?" He asked coldly.
Draco folded his arms, his face serious "We need to talk."
"Agreed." He answered "I think we do too. First of all I think there's something you need to tell me, something you've kept quiet for a long time."
Draco blinked, his current thoughts leaving him at Harry's words. "What?"
"Don't give me what! You know what I'm talking about, this is exactly it. I'll let you have the benefit of the doubt and I'll give you a chance to tell me, then maybe we can talk properly, like normal people."
There was a moment of silence, Pansy glanced from Draco to Harry, unsure of what he was implying. Draco looked confused for moment, and Harry was sure it was a good minute until he finally spoke.
"I don't have a clue what you mean…" His tone however was a little nervous, unless Harry was imagining it.
Harry sighed and shook his head "You sure? Positive? Think good and hard Draco. It's something to do with you - well, someone else who has a lot to do with you, someone whom up until recently I had a mutual respect for. But unfortunately, someone else was kind enough to inform me that they actually weren't the person I thought they were. Ringing a bell Draco?"
Draco stood still, his face blank "No."
Harry felt a splinter of rage in his heart. He'd kept up this little secret for far too long, and Harry couldn't stand it anymore.
"Right." He said, nodding his head and trying to squash the growing rage in the pit of his stomach. "So…when were you going to tell me that your dad was a follower of Voldemort, Draco?" He asked bluntly.
Draco's expression seemed to crumble, and Harry was sure he even seemed to turn a lighter shade of white. There was a chorus of gasps around the common room, most caused by the name Harry had uttered so plainly. Harry waited for him to reply, his expression hard.
Draco's lips parted, but then closed again and his words came out shakily. "H-how did you…"
"Find out?" Harry finished "A man called Dumbledore. Somebody who was more honest to me than my so called friend." Harry's face twisted in anger and hurt, he shook his head. "How could you? How could you have kept something like that from me? How?"
"I-…" Draco swallowed.
"Answer me! Why did you lie?"
"I didn't think- I thought that…" Draco spoke again "I thought that if I told you, you wouldn't be my friend anymore…"
"Well, that's one thing you got right."
Draco's eyes grew wet, but he blinked them quickly "Harry I'm sorry." He said sincerely "I never meant to lie to you…I was gonna tell you…at some point - not long after christmas! But you were angry with me, and I knew you would just hate me more. I'm sorry for lying to you, I never should have done it and I really do regret it."
"You knew…" Harry's voice was still filled with accusation "You knew this whole time. You invited me to your house! Knowing that I was staying with an follower of Voldemort who helped kill my parents and so many other innocent people!"
"No!" Draco gasped "He never! He wouldn't! Father isn't like that! He was forced, he was under a curse!"
"Yeah…sure he was…" Harry growled.
"He's a good man!" Draco protested "It may not seem like it when you say those things but he's a good man, and he's a good father! I love him!"
"You love a murderer?" Harry snapped.
"He's not a murderer!" Draco yelled "Dumbledore's been putting it all in your head! He was cursed! He never killed any muggles! He said so himself!"
"And you believed him? Ha!" Harry laughed, sounding quite mad now "You're even more stupid than him!"
Draco's face darkened quickly "Don't say that."
"Why not?" Harry fired "I'll say whatever I bloody want!"
"I wouldn't dream of saying a word against your father." Draco said strongly "So don't say anything about my father."
"Don't you dare compare your father to mine!" Harry yelled.
"I can't because your father is dead!" Draco fired.
Harry's eyes widened, and Draco swallowed hard.
A thick silence descended upon the room, a silence so thick you could cut it with a knife. A small group of second years were watching them now, and so was Daphne Greengrass with her friend in the corner by the armchairs.
"Yeah…" Harry whispered after a long moment of silence, his voice venomous. "Yes he is dead, Draco. But you know what? I wish it was your father instead of mine."
"Guys please," Blaise was looking ready to stand and pull the two away "please stop it. You've been nothing but mean to each other and it's not fair."
"He's right." Pansy said nervously "No one is insulting anyone's parents, not in front of me anyway."
"He insult's mine by comparing my father to his." Harry said darkly.
"Harry that's enough." Blaise said quietly, "Whatever you want to say to Draco can be said in the dormitories."
"I'm staying right here." Harry said firmly.
"No, come on, let's go somewhere else. There's people staring." Blaise said softly. He stood and moved to take Harry's hand and pull him away, but Harry retracted by smacking his hand away hard.
"Get off me." He hissed. "And stop treating me like your my bloody mother because you're not!"
Blaise pulled back, hurt by the simple action. He moved to stand by Pansy, looking defeated
"I don't even care if people are watching! I'm at that point now. Let them watch!" Harry continued, looking Draco dead in the eyes "I think everybody deserves to know just what a liar you are and the kind of person your father is!"
"Blaise, do something." Pansy whispered urgently.
"I can't!" He argued.
By now, another group of second years had entered the common room and were observing the drama unfold intently. Daphne Greengrass and her blonde-haired companion were watching nervously, and Draco's cheeks burned with humiliation.
"Stop it Harry." Draco said, his tone warning.
"What? Don't like hearing the truth? Hurts doesn't it?" He stepped forward "I bet deep down you know he's a murderer. That's why you keep telling yourself he's a good man and a good father. You just can't bare to think of your dear daddy locked up for the crimes he committed."
"Shut up!" Draco suddenly screamed. It was then that Harry realised he'd touched a nerve. "Just shut up!"
"Am I hitting close to the truth?" Harry asked. "Thought so."
"Okay guys, I think that's enough now." Daphne commented bravely from the side.
"I agree." Pansy nodded "Just leave it now, please- you've had your fights-"
"Stay out of it Pansy." Draco snapped, then looked to Harry, his tone a little more controlled but his growing rage threatening to explode. "I'm going to warn you to stop there. Before you say something you'll regret."
Harry snorted "Regret? I don't regret anything I've said to you." He drew in an angry breath "My father was a saint compared to what yours was like! He had dignity and bravery! Your father was nothing but a cowardly bastard-"
Harry barely had the time to react when Draco threw himself at him, slamming him against the wall hard, and hitting him in the abdomen with his fist.
It wasn't particularly hard, mainly because Draco didn't want to actually cause Harry pain. And it was nothing compared to the punches he would quite gladly throw at Weasley. Nonetheless, Harry gasped in pain and slid to the ground, taking Draco completely by surprise and causing Blaise to shoot up from his seat and Pansy to let out a scream.
"Draco stop!" Blaise yelled, pushing him away from Harry by his front.
"Stop it!" Harry was sure he heard Daphne Greengrass shriek, but he wasn't sure if it was her or her female friend.
Harry remained doubled over in agony, clutching his middle and feeling hot tears begin to stream down his face. God he'd hit his back against the wall, and Draco had hit him just below his ribs. It felt like the skin of his back was melting clean off.
"Harry!?" Pansy was over and bending at his side immediately, her hazel eyes wide with fright "Draco you've hurt him!"
"He's faking it!" Draco screamed furiously "I hardly touched him!"
"Harry?" Pansy asked gently.
Harry breathed heavily for a few moments, his breath coming in short desperate gasps. Blaise was still stood between the two of them, his mouth agape and his arm still outstretched in front of Draco, who was now beginning to look worried at the young boy on the floor.
Harry gripped the chair to help pull himself up, and with a great effort turned to face Draco, wiping the tears from his face.
"Everything that Weasley said about you was true." He panted. "You're a liar and a hypocrite, and I wish I'd never met you."
Draco stared at him, a lot more hurt by his words than he cared to show. He drew in a breath from his nose and raised his chin, freigning dignity
"Well… if that's how you feel, then bugger off. Maybe you belong with the Gryffindor's, because a Slytherin doesn't his back on his friends."
Harry glared at him in reply. Draco's angry eyes however softened for a moment, and he looked although he was about to cry or even say something, but instead turned and ran up towards his dorm.
"Draco!" Blaise called "Draco wait!"
Harry moved next. He grabbed his bag from the floor and cursed under his breath as he stormed over to the black brick wall at the entrance of the common room.
"Pure-blood." He uttered.
That name, yet again.
All about the blood... all about the blood... It was like he could hear the Headmasters words in his head For the Greater Good Harry…
"Pure-blood dammit!" He slammed his fists on the wall as it rumbled open. Harry was gone in a flash, ignoring the calls from either Blaise or Pansy as he stormed off down the corridor.
Anywhere but here.
One of the second year group members let out a laugh, and Pansy spun around to glare at them furiously "Shut up!"
They stopped laughing almost instantly and scowled at her. Pansy watched Harry go, utterly dumfounded by what she saw. "Blaise, take care of Draco. I'll talk to Harry." She said swiftly.
He nodded reluctantly and made his way up the stairs after Draco while Pansy began to run after Harry, just managing to slip past the brick wall as it closed shut.
Harry's feet thundered on the marble corridor. His anger and his upset welled in his chest, threatening to swallow him whole. He wanted to smash things, break things, scream his throat raw!
"Harry!" He heard the small patter of light feet from behind him and glanced to see Pansy jogging after him, her little bob of hair swaying around her head and her robes billowing out like a cape. He walked on.
"Harry! HARRY!"
Without turning to look at her Harry broke out into a run and turned the corner to run up a flight of stairs. He felt the dull ache of his ribs grow stronger with every breath but he pushed it back with all his might.
When Pansy realised he wasn't stopping, she slowed down and only stared at him perplexed and irritated. Yet she didn't go after him, if he didn't want to talk then she wasn't going to force it out of him. She would much rather check on Draco than run after a friend who had barely spoke to her in the last couple of weeks.
Still running, Harry turned and ran to the nearest bathroom and thanked his lucky stars when he found it was empty.
His blood was pounding in his ears, his heart was hammering against his chest. He was angry, frustrated and upset. He wanted to scream, cry and destroy things all at once. Anything to satisfy his fury.
Using his hands to lean against the sink, Harry stared into his reflection in the mirror, but he didn't recognise the boy looking back at him. His face was pale and twisted in anguish, a vein in his temple was visible and his teeth were gritted together so hard it was a wonder they didn't turn to dust.
A crack suddenly appeared on the mirror he was looking at, cutting across his reflection vertically.
Harry watched with the blood still pounding in his ears as the crack spread across the mirror. The glass in the frame began to shudder and wobble, then suddenly it shattered along with all the other mirror's above the bathroom sinks in a synchronic row.
The glass fell into the sinks and some onto the floor, sending tiny crystals all over the bathroom.
Harry took a step back, the anger slowly leaving him to be replaced by fear for the damaged he's caused. He grabbed his satchel from the floor and quickly made a swift exit before anyone could see what he had done.
~•0•~
Leaving the school through the main entrance, Harry walked through the grounds with his broom ready to meet with Marcus for Quidditch practice that same afternoon. When he arrived at the Quidditch pitch he was aware that his teammates were waiting for him, Miles and Kevin Bletchley were already up on their brooms throwing a Quaffle between one another.
Miles whistled down to his team mates who were seated on the grass, snacking on food they had brought or made themselves. "Look sharp guys, seeker at 12 o'clock."
The others turned, broad smiles on their faces as Harry drew nearer.
"Good of you to join us. You alright?" Marcus asked him, noting he seemed a little off.
Harry blinked and smiled quickly "Yeah fine."
"Ahh, there he is...our star Seeker." said Kevin, descending swiftly to the ground.
"Thought you'd pulled one on us Harry." Tracy said with a smile.
"I wasn't going to leave you guys to have all the fun now was I?" Harry responded, making them chuckle.
"Good, everyone's here. Now we can get down to business." Marcus took a seat cross legged on the ground and drawing a crumpled map of the Quidditch pitch from his robes. "So, here's the plan..."
By the time the practice was over, Harry was dripping with sweat and exhausted. He'd managed to get through his first Quidditch practice without too much difficulty. His hands were very sore due to his hard grip on the broom for fear of falling off and onto his back and would likely blister later today, as for his back, it wasn't so good.
The sky was beginning to redden in dusk and classes would be starting up again soon. Harry wiped his brow with he back of his hand and grimaced as he felt another sharp ache of pain in his ribs combined with the pain of his back.
"Okay, lets call it a day people!" Marcus yelled from his broom, sounding just as tired as Harry. "We'll meet back here same time the day after tomorrow."
"Not tomorrow?" Harry asked lightly as his feet landed on the ground.
"No not tomorrow, most of us won't be able to make it. We've got our Practical Potion tests tomorrow and some of us for the day after. Mine's tomorrow in the afternoon, absolutely dreading it." He said, walking with Harry.
"Hey, you sure you're okay?" Marcus asked "You look like you're ready to throw up."
"I'm fine." Harry said a bit breathlessly "Think it might just be a bug or something, I'll be alright tomorrow."
"If you're sure..." Marcus mumbled.
"I think you'll do great in your potions by the way. No need to stress about it." Harry told him, making Marcus smile.
"Feel free to come by and practice for Quidditch tomorrow if you're feeling up to it." He told him "Terrence and Tracy will probably be here, their tests are after ours so you could practice with them if you want. Though I'm sure you'll probably want to do some studying of your own."
"Well...I'll think about it." Harry said, turning to head in the other direction "Bye Marcus."
"See ya, Potter."
Harry made sure that Marcus was gone completely from sight before he turned and began heading towards the large greenhouse at the side of the school, his mind set firmly on the task at hand.
He entered quietly, ready to come across anyone who may be inside. But there was no one there, they were likely all in the common rooms or in the Great Hall for lunch.
Harry scanned his eyes around the greenhouse, looking over the various and somewhat bizarre different plants that were stashed on tables and racks. He approached a table where a crate containing soil held a tiny jungle of leaves and berries. The title on the engraved gold plate read 'Gooseberries,'
Harry smiled and reached out a hand to pluck a handful of Gooseberries from the leaves then did the same when he located the duckweed. He grabbed a pinch of mint from the herbal section and stuffed it into his satchel with a triumphant grin.
This was exactly what he was here for. He'd gotten everything he needed, the search for his ingredients was now complete. He could finally get rid of the horrendous burns on his back and continue on normally with his daily events, without worrying about somebody seeing the wounds.
A hooded figure suddenly came walking down the back steps of the castle, catching Harry off guard and causing him to duck behind the plant pots and greenery. The figure was tall, and glancing behind them every few seconds clearly with the intention of not wanting to be seen.
Harry watched with a frown and a feeling of dread as the figure walked past the Greenhouse as fast as possible toward the forbidden forest.
He recognized the figure's prowling walk and the small strands of short greasy hair that escaped the sides of their hood.
It was Snape, and he was sneaking out into the forest while everyone else was getting ready for classes.
Harry mounted his Nimbus Two Thousand and silently took off, keeping his eyes directly trailed on the Potions Master at all times. He glided over silently over the trees and squinted through the thickness to try and see where Snape went. He flew lower, brushing the top branches of trees until finally he heard voices in the direction ahead. He glided toward them and landed quietly in a tree.
Harry climbed cautiously along a few of the branches, keeping tight hold of his broomstick in one hand while trying to see through the brambles. Below him, in a small clearing, Snape removed his hood, and what surprised Harry more was who he was with.
Quirrell was in front of him, stuttering terribly and looking very pale. Harry strained to hear what they were saying and only caught the second half of Quirrell's words.
"-d-don't know why you wanted t-t-to meet here of all p-places, Severus..."
"Oh, I thought we'd keep this private," said Snape, his voice deadly calm. "Students aren't supposed to know about the Philosopher's Stone, after all."
Harry's mouth dropped and he bit back a gasp. This was it, his proof that Snape was the thief all along. But what did Quirrell have to do with all of this? He moved to listen again, hearing Quirrell mumbling something when Snape cut him off sharply.
"Have you found out how to get past that beast of Hagrid's yet?"
"B-b-but Severus, I -"
"You don't want me as your enemy, Quirrell," said Snape, taking a threatening step towards him.
Quirrell backed away, his back hitting against the nearest tree and a squeak of fear escaping from his lips "I-I don't know what you mean-"
"You know perfectly well what I mean." Snape said icily.
An owl hooted somewhere ear him, and Harry almost jumped out of his skin. He steadied himself on the nearest branch just as Snape said "-your little bit of hocus-pocus. I'm waiting."
"B-but I d-d-don't-"
"Very well," Snape interrupted him again. "We'll have another little chat soon, when you've had time to think things over and decided where your loyalties lie."
With that he threw his hood back over his head and strode out of the forest. Harry watched him go, glancing down from the tree to see Quirrell standing quite still even though his hands were shaking and he looked utterly petrified.
Harry almost felt the urge to climb down and hug the man.
The exchange was blatantly clear to him now. Snape was using the Professor to get to the stone, threatening him. Perhaps he had something on Quirrell? Was using something to blackmail him with? One thing was for sure the Professor was being forced into it, that much was clear from how he had reacted to him.
Without realising until it was too late, Quirrell made his way out of the clearing and walked straight past Harry's tree, back towards the safety of the school.
It seemed Professor Snape had found his newest victim.
And this time, it wasn't Harry.
~•0•~
"Oh my..." Hermione breathed.
She and Harry stood in one of the long corridors just outside the Great Hall while dinner was finishing up. After Harry had left the forest, he'd returned to his dorm and placed the last few ingredients for his potion down the side of his bedside table.
Then, he'd headed to the Hall where he'd managed to pull Hermione away and tell her about the events he'd witnessed in the forbidden forest.
"Do you really think that Snape has Quirrell working with him?" She asked quietly.
"Not by choice, if anything I'd say Snape was forcing him to do it. I reckon he has some kind of dirt on him, or is threatening his family or something. Quirrell definitely isn't willing to be a part of it. He kept giving Snape all these excuses and wasn't really answering any of questions. Don't you see? This is what I've been trying to tell you all along! Snape's the one after the stone, he's the thief"
Hermione bit her bottom lip and glanced at her feet "I think you might be right..." She said fearfully "What do we do?"
"I...I don't know..." He admitted "No one is going to believe us. All the teachers here think that Snape's some sort of saint, except for Quirrell that is. You think we should tell someone...?"
"No." Hermione shook her head quickly. "No, like you said no one would believe us, and without proof...how could we convince anyone that Snape was after the stone?"
Harry inhaled deeply, then took Hermione's arm and led her round the corner when a pair of students came past them, chattering loudly.
"We should tell the others! We should tell Draco what you saw!" Hermione announced suddenly, moving to re-entre the Great Hall.
"No Hermione!" Harry pulled her back by her arm. "Don't tell Draco, he's the last person we should tell!"
"Are you two still mad at each other?" She asked, placing both her hands on her hips.
"Yes!" Harry snapped at her "And for good reason! He's been lying to me for weeks."
Hermione's brow furrowed "What are you talking about?"
"His dad's an ex follower of Voldemort, Hermione!" He cried "His whole family were supporters and followers of him. The only reason they weren't done for it was because they claimed they were forced into it by some kind of curse. Draco never even told me about this, even when I went to his house and actually met his father."
Hermione stared at him, horror-struck "A-a Death Eater? Draco's dad?"
"What's a Death Eater?" This time Harry's brow furrowed.
Hermione swallowed thickly. "A Death Eater is the name of the people that followed Voldemort. They were the one's who did his work for him, and killed loads of people on his orders. People like...people like me.." She clutched her book tighter to her chest and tucked a strand of bushy brown hair behind her ear.
Harry looked at her sympathetically. "I'm sorry Hermione. It was people like my mum too, I thought you deserved to know..."
Hermione raised her gaze to meet Harry's and he was surprised to see that her eyes were wet. "But...Draco, he seemed so-" She stuttered "I never thought his father would- but- ... I don't understand." She finished "We're friends, him and me...aren't we?"
"He has been a little mean to you now and then - especially at the start of school." Harry said gently. "And I remember you saying that you didn't like him that much."
"That was before I..." She began again "He didn't seem all that bad...kind of funny, really. I just presumed that all the sarcasm and the insults was just his thing. But...maybe that was never him being funny. Maybe he actually never liked me, because of my blood."
Harry wasn't quite sure why she was taking it so hard. The pair had never been particularly close, Hermione was much closer with Pansy and probably more so with Blaise than she was Draco. Yes their relationship had improved slightly from the start of school, but it was entirely based on insults and snarky comments, not the healthiest of friendships.
"I didn't mean to upset you." He told her.
Hermione shook her head, giving him a weak smile. "No, no it's okay I'm glad you did." She insisted. Her face became more serious. "Have you spoke to him about it though?"
"Yes, we got into a fight." Harry growled. "He said he was sorry and all but he still hesitated to tell me even when I confronted him about it. I gave him plenty of chances to tell me prior and Weasley even mentioned it a few times but Draco still said nothing. He's been nothing but dishonest with me. That's why I don't want to talk to him at the moment."
Hermione simply nodded in understanding then looked to watch on her wrist "I'd better get back to my common room now. I've got a homework assignment I need to complete tomorrow."
"Only you could care about assignment's in a situation like this." Harry said fondly.
She shrugged "Takes my mind off worrying about Snape I suppose. I'll see you later Harry."
"Bye." Harry watched her leave and leant against the wall on his shoulder.
Somewhere in the depths of his mind he wondered if Hermione liked Draco. But he dismissed it instantly. Hermione could barely stand him, so there was no way she could ever like him like that. And besides, she was far too good for him. She deserved someone a lot better.
Rubbing the back of his neck and cringing when another stab of pain met his ribs, Harry left in search of somewhere else to sit other than the Great Hall before he would be forced to go to his detention with Professor Snape. He wanted to sit somewhere away from the Great Hall and the others. Somewhere where Draco wasn't, and he could relax.
After hanging around in the library for the last remaining hour of dinner, Harry sat in deep in thought before finally he stood and headed down towards the dungeons for his detention. He was more nervous around Snape now than ever, if he could just get through this detention quick and easily he would be fine. The weekend was ahead, and that meant he could be stress-free and maybe start getting to work on his potion.
But Snape had been far more engaging and talkative lately, almost like he actually wanted to get to know him, even possibly be friendly with him.
Suddenly a thought struck Harry. What if it was some sort of plan or trick to earn his trust? After all, Harry's hatred for the Potions Master was nothing but obvious. Maybe these sessions of detentions were not even detentions at all. Maybe it was just a part of his master plan to manipulate him into thinking he was a nice person when really he was a vicious snake.
But if that was the case, then Snape must have already been suspicious of him. Had he somehow known that Harry was on to him?
Without even realising it Harry had made it to the already open Potions classroom door where Severus spotted him and called him in "Ah Potter, come in. You're a little early."
Harry gulped, but stepped inside.
Snape raised his eyes from his papers and nodded over to a small mound of pots and utensils "Cleaning today I'm afraid. You can start on the cauldrons and finish up around half past."
Harry closed the door.
The sooner he was out of here, the better.
~•0•~
When dinner was drawing to a close, Draco Malfoy made his way down the corridors in search of Harry.
He felt awful, no scratch that, he felt terrible.
What had gone on between them had been unnecessary and uncalled for on his part, particularly due to the fact that Draco was aware Harry seemed to be in some form of physical pain. At the time he had been so blinded by rage that all he'd wanted to do was lash out at him, he didn't think Harry would react the way he did. Maybe he underestimated just how much he was hurting both inside and out.
When Draco turned the corner not too far from the potions class, he stopped dead in his tracks, as did the figure opposite him.
Both Harry and Draco didn't speak for the longest time, but both refused to move. In the end it was Draco who spoke, his face and tone laced with sadness.
"Hi." He said weakly.
"Hello." Harry responded simply.
Draco ran his tongue over his dry lips, swallowing thickly. "I was looking for you...I couldn't find you anywhere."
"I was in detention." He said.
Draco blinked, he'd almost forgotten about his conversation with his godfather. But he wondered if Severus had been acting on his word to help Harry in any way he could. He did promise after all.
Draco raised his eyes to meet Harry's, and was pleasantly surprised to see that there wasn't any anger in them anymore, only something close to sorrow.
"Harry I- I'm sorry for what I said about your dad being...well you know..." He trailed off guiltily. "I never should have said something like that."
Harry looked away, feeling a stab of guilt on his own part for what he'd said about Draco's father, but he pushed it away quickly. "I know."
"I get that you must hate me right now, but you said some things that were really mean Harry, and you hurt me a lot."
"You hurt me physically." Harry responded.
Draco flinched like he'd been slapped, then looked away again, ashamed. "I know."
Harry felt some of his cold attitude melt away, and he sighed "I shouldn't have said those things about your father." He said finally "So for that I'm sorry too."
Draco managed a small half smile, at least they were getting somewhere.
"I um, brought you something. I was also wondering if you would come to the infirmary with me. To check what I did back in the common room. Just, for the damage I mean." He said quickly.
"I know what you're doing, Draco." Harry said shortly, reading him like a book "I'm not going to Madame Pomfrey, so forget it."
"Fine," He said disappointedly, then reached into his robe pocket to pull out a jar of something "If that's case then, take this."
Harry stared at the jar blankly "What's that?"
"It's bruise salve. My mum makes it, she knows how often I get up to trouble and hurt myself, I usually use if from my knees, but it can work on any areas of skin." He held it out, looking at Harry expectantly "Please take it."
Harry sighed but took the salve in his hand, stuffing it into his satchel "Fine."
Draco licked his lips "I also came to persuade you to come talk to Uncle Severus with me - please Harry!" Draco pleaded, cutting Harry off as he was about to argue "I know you would never want to talk to him about what's been going on... but he could help you, trust me. He knows what it's like to be-" Draco caught himself quickly, and Harry frowned at him.
"What?" He asked, genuinely curious "Knows what it's like to be what?"
"Nothing, forget I said it..."
The two returned to silence and Harry shook his head unable to believe that someone as level-headed as Draco could trust and idolize over a man like Snape. "He hates me."
"He doesn't hate you. He's just... a twat to you."
Harry kept his face stony, but hid a small smile.
"Look, about the whole thing with the Philosopher's Stone; I know you think that he's some kind of evil mastermind or whatever, but honestly he would never do something like that. It may not seem like it, but he loves teaching here, and he'd never risk stealing something valuable right under Dumbledore's nose."
Harry opened his mouth to argue again, and to tell him about what he'd seen the potions master get up to earlier that day with Quirrell, but he thought better of it. He'd done enough insulting of Draco's family members for today.
"But enough about that, what really matters is you. You're hurt, and I don't think it's because of what's happened in the common room."
"You aren't going to drop this are you? Why can't you just leave me alone."
"Because I'm worried about you Harry, now more than ever. Friends stick by each other." Draco said strongly. Harry mumbled something under his breath that sounded like a disagreement and Draco frowned at him "What?"
"I'm sorry Draco," Harry said more seriously "I just don't think I can forgive you for lying to me. I don't think we should be friends anymore... I'm sorry."
Draco felt something twist painfully inside his chest. "What? Why?" He asked, confused and upset by his words. Didn't Harry see just how important his predicament was instead of the fiasco with the stone? Didn't he understand that he was just as important to him?
"Because every time I look at you, I see your father. And I think of Voldemort and my ruined life."
Draco felt a lump form in his throat at Harry's words, rendering him momentarily speechless. He swallowed hard and stepped forward "Is that really what you think? Or just what Dumbledore has made you think?"
"He hasn't made me think anything Draco, I can think for myself."
"But he's made you think that you don't belong with us anymore, your friends. He's made you think that we're...that I am something I'm not. Tell me I'm wrong!"
"He's only told me the truth, and for that I'm grateful to him. I deserved to know to about what happened to my parents, I deserved about the belief's that got my family killed, if it meant learning about why everybody hates your family and this house all together then so be it."
"Harry, stop letting someone who does so little for you control so many of your thoughts and feelings!" Draco pleaded "I'm not here because of belief's, I'm here because I want to help you. But all you're doing is shutting me out when all I'm trying to do is help you!"
Harry shook his head, lowering his eyes to hide his tears "I'm scared, Draco."
Draco blinked, surprised at the sudden change of emotion "Why?" He asked finally "You haven't done anything wrong. You have nothing to be scared about."
"Yes I do." His head snapped up "You don't get it do you? I can't go to Madam Pomfrey, I can't go to Professor Dumbledore or Snape because I can't let anyone know about my family Draco! I just can't."
"Why are you defending them?" Draco frowned deeply "They haven't done anything for you! Why would you lie for people like that? You could be away from them. Don't you want that?"
"You don't understand. No one understands." He told him.
"What don't I understand?" Draco exasperated.
"You want to know why I'm scared?" Harry's head snapped up "Because I know I'll be alone, that is if I even get out of that house before Vernon kills me! Those three are all I have. I'm scared if I leave there'll be nowhere to go. I'll be Harry the orphan again. Just an annoying burden to whoever was forced to take me in. I've only known one family Draco, I'll never have a proper one because I'll never really be a part of it. Those three are all I've got of my mum and dad. Your parents are alive, they aren't buried in the ground somewhere. My family isn't coming back." By the time he'd finished, Harry had buried his face in his hands and struggled to stifle back the ragged sobs that tore from his throat.
Draco watched through his own teary eyes, shocked and somewhat glad that Harry was actually being open with him for the first time.
When Harry wiped his face with his hands, Draco swallowed and met his eyes with him "You could be a part of mine."
Harry sniffed and stared at him, taken back by what Draco was implying.
Draco opened his mouth to say more when he was suddenly halted by a pair of footsteps coming around the corner.
"What is going on?" Came a voice.
Both boys turned and Draco felt his heart sink as the figure of Professor Dumbledore stood by the corner, surveying the scene with a calculating look.
"Err, nothing s-sir." Draco took a step back, an irrational fear gripping his heart by the presence of the Headmaster.
"Harry?" The Headmaster asked.
Harry sniffed and wiped his face, nodding "Fine, sir."
The look Dumbledore was giving the pair was one that wasn't convincing, and it put Draco on edge.
"Harry, would you please make your way to my office just now. Wait for me there." He said gently.
Harry sniffed again "Sir?"
"Go ahead," Dumbledore nodded "I will be with you in a moment."
Harry took a small glance towards Draco then obligingly took his bag and began to walk in the direction of the Headmaster's office, leaving Draco alone, with a man he couldn't stand.
"Mr Malfoy," Dumbledore turned to him, all the gentleness and softness gone from his tone. "I will kindly ask you to remove yourself from the corridor and make your way back to the Slytherin common room. You've done enough for Harry tonight."
Draco frowned at him "Pardon?"
"I'm sure you will not insult me by disregarding my request. My primary concern at the moment is for Harry's welfare, as it should be for you."
"It is!" Draco protested "I'm just as worried for him as anyone!"
"I find that rather hard to believe when you are the cause for his tears and his problems." Dumbledore said calmly.
"I never meant to make him-" Draco cut himself off "what do you mean his problems? I haven't done anything wrong!"
"I saw the bruise on his jaw a few weeks ago, Mr Malfoy. I certainly hope my instincts about where that came from are wrong." He said, without missing a beat.
Draco's jaw hit the floor, and all power of speech seemed to leave him "How-how could- ...I would NEVER hurt Harry!"
"Never?" Dumbledore asked, towering over the small boy "Not ever? So it would be a lie to say that you punched him in the gut earlier today when you two had a falling out? And now I find you cornering him whilst he is crying in the corridor."
Draco found himself suddenly afraid of the harmless looking old man. How could he have known what had happened between him and Harry?
"I...I..." He stuttered. "How did you...?"
Dumbledore raised his chin "That's what I thought. Return to your dorm Mr Malfoy, and feel lucky you didn't loose points from Slytherin due to my generosity. The next time I see you, will be in my office for a detention. Fighting is not and will never be allowed in my school."
Draco found himself unable to argue and only watched with his mouth half open as Dumbledore turned and swept down the corridor.
"M-my father will hear about this!" Draco yelled after him, annoyed by how tremulous his voice sounded.
"That's right Mr Malfoy, you run along and tell your father." Dumbledore drawled, sounding bored.
Draco watched him turn the corner and disappear. He let out a breath he hadn't realised he'd been holding and remained standing with his lips parted. He glanced around him, wrapping his arms around himself and feeling like he'd been struck in the chest by a broomstick.
How could Dumbledore ever accuse him of hurting Harry?
Yes, what had gone on today had hurt him but Draco had felt nothing but regret and remorse for doing it. Dumbledore was treating him like a bully, somebody who enjoyed the hurt they caused.
Someone no better than Weasley.
Draco felt stubborn tears sting his eyes and he wiped them furiously. No way would he let the manipulative old man make him cry.
The desire to tell his father was now becoming less and less appealing. Was he really that bratty? To go and run off to tell his daddy whenever he didn't get his own way? It was something a toddler did or a spoiled child. Not an eleven year old boy. Draco wasn't any of those things previously. Was he?
Not wanting to dwell on it any longer Draco turned and made back for the common room. He wanted to bundle himself up in the warmth of his bed and go to sleep, maybe then he didn't have to worry about his lost friend and the old man that seemed to have him under a spell.
~•0•~
Harry sat in the warmth of Dumbledore's office, suckling on a handful of boiled sweets and lemon drops while Dumbledore paced in front of him.
"I'm sorry you had to go through that my dear boy." He said, after Harry had finished re-encountering his earlier events with Draco "I did not think the Malfoy boy would ever do something as unacceptable as using violence against you."
Harry said nothing. For some reason he felt more alone than ever, even though the headmaster was standing right in front of him. The only time he'd ever felt a small glimmer of hope had actually been a few moments ago when he had spoke to Draco in the corridor just before Dumbledore had arrived.
Draco had offered him a life with him, a part of his family. It was an offer he had never been given, nor expected from someone he hadn't treated well in the past few days. But it was there all the same. You could be a part of mine.
Could he really though? After confronting Draco on his fathers past?
He wasn't so sure.
"I presume that was the boy ambushing you again when I found you, making you upset." Dumbledore said disapprovingly, sitting down on his high-backed chair with the grace of a king on a throne.
"No..." Harry finally spoke, his voice weak and more tired than ever "No he just wanted to talk."
"You were crying Harry." Dumbledore said shortly "I doubt the talking would have been 'nice'."
Harry didn't reply, he was far too tired to explain everything now. Dumbledore slouched back against his chair and surveyed him closely "What were you doing out during dinner time anyway? Shouldn't you have been finishing off your meal in the Great Hall?"
"I went to detention, sir." He answered meekly. "I wanted to get it over with."
"Ah...and how did it go?"
Harry lifted and slumped his shoulders, looking at his feet "Fine I guess... it ended pretty quickly."
It had, and Harry couldn't have been more grateful for the fact that the Potions Master seemed to cease his questions and conversations when he realised Harry wasn't going to talk back. However, he was aware of the Professor's eyes on him all the way through his detention and it unnerved him to the bone. He chose to ignore it instead of staring back like he probably would have done.
When he had finally dismissed him Harry could have jumped for joy, and he had been out of there in a flash.
He swallowed thickly, looking up at Dumbledore with a look of gratitude yet fatigue "Err, thank you for letting me sit here Professor. If you don't mind, I'd like to go back to my common room now."
Dumbledore nodded "Of course, of course. Get some rest, you should be getting ready for bed soon."
Harry smiled, thanked him again and made his way out. He walked down the many different staircases and decided to take a longer way to the common room just so he could be alone for a little longer.
His walking slowed progressively when he came to the Defence against the Dark Arts class. The door was open and Harry was able to make out the figure of Professor Quirrell shuffling around and tidying up his classroom. Harry glanced in the direction of the common room then back to Quirrell. Then, with a few split seconds of debating it, Harry peaked his head in and chapped on the door.
"Professor?"
Quirrell spun around and nearly sent what ever he had bent to carry crashing to the floor. He let out a squeak of terror then visibly relaxed when he saw it was only Harry.
"Oh, Ha-harry." He placed a hand over his heart. "D-d-don't do that, y-you almost gave me a h-heart attack."
"Sorry Professor." He said sincerely, the poor man was likely on edge all the time now, and for good reason too.
Quirrell was stood by a desk where a large skeleton of a winged creature was attached to a small metal pole on a stand. It looked quite delicate and heavy, and Quirrell was struggling to wrap his arms around the base of the stand and lift it, groaning and heaving breathlessly.
"Um, do you want a hand with that, sir?" Harry asked.
Quirrell glanced at him then to the skeleton "O-oh well...I-if you don't mind..."
Harry shook his head and moved to position himself opposite the Professor and take the other end of the wooden base, lifting it with him with a groan
"Where to, sir?"
"J-j-just on that worktop b-b-behind you." He said with a nod.
Harry walked backwards carefully and set down the skeleton on the wooden worktable at the end of the classroom. Quirrell heaved a sigh once they'd set it down and smiled at him "T-thank you, Harry."
"That's okay. Err, professor?"
"Hm?"
"I- I was just wondering if everything was alright? You um, seemed a little off during Defence Against the Dark Arts class today. I was wondering if something was wrong?"
Quirrell was staring at him, looking perplexed "I-I am perfectly f-fine Harry. I th-th-thank you for your c-c-concern however." When Harry didn't reply, Quirrell looked at him closely, the clocks in his head turning with thought "Was that the r-r-real reason you came to s-s-speak to me?"
"Well...no." Harry admitted.
Quirrell's face seemed to soften and he offered Harry a small smile "W-w-why don't you sit d-down and we can t-talk properly in m-m-my office?"
"Okay." Harry nodded. He followed Quirrell into a smaller but cosy room with a roaring fire. Harry stood by the door for a few minutes, feeling although he recognised the room.
Quirrell swept over to a small oak desk in the corner and threw his cloak on a nearby rack. Harry shuffled over to sit down on one of the plush couches and look around the room. Quirrell returned from the other side of the room and handed Harry a cup of steaming tea "H-h-here you are, Harry."
"Thank you, sir." Harry took the cup in his hands and sat back, lifting the mug to take a sip then rest it upon his lap.
Suddenly Harry was struck by memory, him sitting on the same lime green couch with a steaming mug similar in his hands. The sound of fabric against leather when he slid down the couch. Two voices conversing, both male, one deathly weak. The other, gruff and smooth 'Obliviate...'
His rigid body caused Quirrell to frown. "H-harry, are you q-q-quite all right, my boy?"
Harry blinked out of his stare and shook his head "Yeah, sorry. I just... err...I think I had a minute of deja vu."
Quirrell chuckled and sat back in his own chair "S-so, to w-what do I o-owe the p-p-pleasure of your company H-harry? E-especially someone like l-little old me."
"Your not little professor."
"Y-you know what I m-m-mean, Harry." He chortled, loudly slurping his own drink and licking his lips "So then, w-what is it you h-have to speak to m-me about. S-s-something important?"
"Erm," Harry felt rather foolish then "Well...not particularly. I was kind of wondering if you maybe had some spare notes...on erm...curing werewolf bites?"
"W-w-werewolf bites?"
"Yeah," Harry made this up as he went along. "It's the only section I'm struggling with, I can't seem to get my head around it. I'm sorry...if it's too much trouble then..."
"No. N-no not at all." Quirrell gave him a small smile and stood "I-I have some in here a-actually, I'll fetch you them. F-for a moment there Harry y-you made me t-think it was something s-serious." Harry watched as he turned his back on him and walked over to a larger polished desk stacked with draws.
Harry glanced over his shoulder to make sure they were completely alone before he put down his cup and began to approach the professor from behind while he was still rummaging around through different piles of parchments, mumbling and stuttering to himself. Harry also couldn't help but notice that his stutter seemed to be worse than ever and he looked a great deal paler than usual.
The poor man was sick with fear.
And Harry was about to make it worse.
"Professor...I saw you and Snape in the forest today." said Harry.
A/N: I know...I really am mean to Draco aren't I?
Currently working on next chapter. As I said before, things will be progressing rapidly from now on. Reviews kindly appreciated...
