A/N: I am… so sorry. I didn't mean to disappear….

DISCLAIMER: Not mine.

T/W: This story contains mentions of child abuse

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Harry winced as the unyielding stone of the hearth bit into his palms and knees as he tumbled out of the fireplace. He felt the weighty material of Narcissa's skirt brush against his shoulder as she swept past him.

Harry scrambled to his feet quickly, having to jog slightly to catch up with the disappearing form of the Malfoy matron as she sped through the study doors and out into the hall. As he drew level with her, he could hear her breathing sharply through her nose, the exertion and intensity of the situation very nearly overwhelming her.

"We'll go to your room, Harry," Narcissa said in a clipped tone.

The question of "Why?" flashed across Harry's mind, but he knew this wasn't the time to be asking questions. Instead, he followed her quietly through the halls and up staircases.

She led them a different way than Harry was used to going. They didn't pass any of the picture frames he used for landmarks in finding his way around the manor, yet they somehow ended up at his room in a shorter time frame.

Harry pushed open the door wide enough for Narcissa to sidle through without hitting Draco's head or feet on the frame.

Narcissa deposited her battered son on top of the bedclothes, a gentle hand smoothing his pale hair away from his forehead.

"Shut the door please," Narcissa said softly to the other boy in the room, never taking her eyes off Draco.

Harry quickly did as requested and as he turned back to the mother and son, he was surprised to find Draco's eyes open.

Harry edged closer to the bed. Draco's mouth was moving, but as far as Harry could hear, no sound was emitted. With a frown of concentration, Harry stepped closer. But his original assumption was true; though Draco's lips were moving quickly, he wasn't actually forming words.

Maybe he couldn't?

Both of Draco's hands were were clawing at his throat, fingernails scratching over what Harry now saw was quite a large bruise that was beginning to darken around the boy's neck.

With soft sounds of reassurances, Narcissa drew her son's hands into her own, effectively stopping the clawing motion.

"Shh, dragon. Everything's all right."

Draco didn't look too convinced.

In fact, Harry was quite horrified to see tears leaking from the corner of Malfoy's eyes, disappearing into the pale blonde of his hair. As gently as she could, Narcissa recollected her son into her arms, settling his face into the crook of her neck.

She hummed softly as she rocked side to side, one hand cradling the back of Draco's head. Even as she told Draco over and over that "It will be all right. You're going to be fine", Harry knew the words were as much for her as her son.

Harry didn't know how long he stood next to the bed, feeling strangely as if he were intruding. Even though they were in his room… Eventually, Narcissa laid Draco back against the pillows, his eyes shut and breathing even and deep.

Harry noticed however that Mrs. Malfoy still maintained her grip on Draco's hands.

"Harry?" She implored, finally turning her eyes to the room's other occupant. "Can I ask you to sit with him, please? I need to gather what supplies we do have and start treating him."

The wiry youth practically jumped at the chance to be useful. He took Narcissa's place as she rose from the bed. Harry's eyebrows pinched in slight confusion as the Malfoy matron passed Draco's hands to him.

At Harry's inquiring look, Narcissa said. "Keep his hands down; don't let him scratch. I'll be back as soon as I can."

And with that she withdrew from the room.

Harry swallowed nervously. The evening had truly turned into a nightmare. And now, finally getting a good, up close look at his year mate, he recognized the gravity of that statement.

A small cut that had already clotted was visible just below Draco's hairline, running horizontal to his brow. Purple and blue bruising was steadily swelling across the boy's left cheek and jawline. Blood had crusted under his nose and Harry knew from experience that the swelling would creep its way up to both eyes.

Up close, Harry now saw that the ring shaped bruise around Draco's neck was in fact not a ring, but a hand. Harry felt his stomach churn and quickly had to look away. He was sure there was more damage hidden beneath the boy's clothing, but Harry didn't even want to imagine how much worse it could be.

Harry instead trained his gaze on the two slender hands he held in his. The hands themselves looked unharmed, but upon closer inspection, he saw that there was the faintest hint of red beneath a few of Draco's fingernails. Harry cocked his head, puzzled. What could that be from?

He'd didn't have long to contemplate it.

Draco had begun to rouse, shifting restlessly against the pillows propping him up. Harry tightened his grip on Malfoy's hands as the boy unconsciously tried to free them. As Harry's grip held fast, Draco's struggles became more frantic.

Blue eyes snapped open, hysterical and not truly seeing. He strained against viselike grip, lips frantically mouthing the words "Let go! Let me go!" over and over.

Harry knew he had to get the other boy to calm down before he injured himself further. "Malfoy, stop! It's just me!"

But Draco's mind was not fully present. He was still living the horrors from what was minutes ago for him and what was an hour ago for everyone else.

"It's okay, it's okay!" Harry said quickly, grunting with the effort of withholding Draco's hands. The pale haired boy was stronger than he looked. His grunt of effort quickly turned into a yelp of surprise as Draco suddenly switched his method of attack.

He launched himself up off the pillows with frightening speed, tackling Harry off the bed.

Harry gasped as his back collided with the floor, all the air escaping his lungs at the impact. Astoundingly, he had somehow maintained his grip on Draco's hands.

Malfoy was on his knees above Harry, heaving backwards with all his might to regain ownership of his hands. Harry felt his grip slipping and knew he had to act fast. He yanked down, abruptly pulling Malfoy's hands close to Harry's chest, causing the other boy to pitch forward.

With Draco's hands trapped against Harry, the green eyed boy rolled sharply to the right, driving his knees into the ground with the movement so that their positions reversed.

"Malfoy, you've got to hold still! You're injured. All this movement is only going to make you feel worse!"

But Harry's words didn't penetrate the fog of fear that Draco was trapped in.

Harry squeezed the boy's hands tightly, trying to tether him back to reality. "Draco!" He said sharply and to his amazement, the boy stilled. He was panting sharply through his nose, from the exertion of the sudden motion, yes, but also no doubt from the pain he was feeling.

"Are you with me?" Harry asked tentatively, still keeping firm pressure on Malfoy's hands. It took a moment, but eventually Draco nodded slightly. Harry inspected his face for signs of deception.

Draco's eyes were no longer blown wide and his breathing had returned to a somewhat normal pace.

Slowly, Harry released the boy's hands and moved to sit next to him rather than on top of him. "Can you stand?" Harry knew he needed to get Draco back on the bed. But the two were practically the same size and Harry didn't know if he would be strong enough to lift the other boy back onto the bed.

Draco was silent as he contemplated. Then he gingerly bent his knees and placed his feet flat on the floor. Bracing his hands behind him, he slowly pushed up into a sitting position. Harry stood and offered a hand down to help pull the youngest Malfoy to his feet.

It was accepted hesitantly, as if expecting a trick of some kind. When none was forthcoming, his grip strengthened and he began to rise. But he hadn't made it halfway before his right ankle protested loudly, shrieking with pain at the weight placed upon it.

Draco's face crumpled with pain as he sank back to the ground, hands going to clasp the throbbing joint. Harry chewed the inside of his lip. That was a no on the standing then.

Knowing he didn't have the strength to singlehandedly place Draco on the bed, Harry knew there was nothing else to do but wait on the floor until Mrs. Malfoy returned.

Harry settled on the floor beside Draco. It seemed Draco's sudden burst of frenetic energy a few minutes ago depleted whatever strength he had had left. Harry's hands shot out to stabilize Malfoy as the boy began to list to one side, eyelids fluttering as he threatened to slip back into unconsciousness.

"Draco," Harry said, giving him a gentle shake. "Stay awake."

Harry didn't know what lead him to say that, but some sixth sense told him that Draco falling asleep again was not a good idea.

Draco's lips moved in protest, but, as before, no sound emerged.

But his eyes remained open much to Harry's relief. It was short-lived. Within seconds, Draco's eyes had returned to half-mast and he was drifting forward. Harry braced him by placing his hands against the leaning boy's shoulders. Harry was beginning to feel very, very far out of his depth.

"Draco!" He said again sharply and was rewarded with that indignant stare he was so familiar with. "You can't fall asleep right now. Your mother said she'll be back soon, but you've got to stay awake."

That seemed to light Draco's fire slightly. He struggled to lift his chin, eyelids still fluttering as he fought to keep them open.

Harry scooted till he was sitting next to Malfoy, slinging an arm around his shoulders to keep him upright. Draco sank gratefully against the added support, his head lolling so that the soft blonde hair on top of his head tickled against Harry's cheekbone.

"Hey, Malfoy? I spy with my little eye something that's red."

Harry couldn't see Malfoy's face, so he didn't know if the boy had even heard him. But a few moments later he was rewarded with Draco raising a swaying hand and pointing at the red and gold scarf peeking out of Harry trunk.

A smile split Harry's face. "Very good!" He praised. He kept the game going, one-sided as Draco's throat was too swollen to speak.

Fortunately, Harry didn't need to keep the game going for long.

Narcissa Malfoy strode though the doorway, arms full of supplies, as promised. Her brow creased slightly upon finding the boys not at all where she left them. Before she had a chance to comment, another figure strode into the room behind her.

Harry felt his stomach clench as he recognized Professor Snape for the second time that evening.

Unconsciously, Harry's grip around Malfoy's shoulders tightened.

Narcissa dropped to her knees beside her son, lifting his chin with slender fingers. Harry hated the pain and heartbreak he saw reflected in her eyes as she gazed upon the damage her husband had inflicted on her beloved child.

Snape dropped into a crouch beside her, forcing space between Harry and Draco as he scooped the latter up and quickly deposited him on the bed.

The tall professor snapped open the black satchel Harry hadn't even noticed he was carrying. He withdrew several small vials of liquid, each a different color than the last. Selecting one from the pile, Snape unstoppered it and held it at Draco's lips.

Narcissa quickly sat the boy up as Draco obediently swallowed whatever potion was set to his lips. Harry counted three in total that went down the hatch before Snape set his bag on the floor and drew his wand instead.

Mrs. Malfoy laid her son back down and stepped away as Snape began to mutter and draw his wand in intricate patterns in the air above Draco.

It lasted only a minute or two. Harry saw no visible change, but Narcissa must've recognized its significance. She rushed forward the second the man was done and sat Draco up once more, this time drawing a cloak around his shoulders that she had brought in with her armful of supplies.

"Harry, quickly. Find your cloak and shoes," she said, glancing up to make sure that the boy had heard her instructions.

Bewildered, Harry did as he was told. Again, he knew this was not the time for questions.

Professor Snape swept down to the bottom of the bed and tapped the top of Harry's trunk with his wand twice. Instantly, all of Harry's items that had been strewn about the room whirled into the air and landed neatly to nestle in the trunk. The lid closed with a smart snap.

Harry was tugging on his last shoe as Narcissa once again lifted her son into her arms.

"Come, Harry," said Narcissa as she past him on the way out the door. Harry followed her a few doors down the hall and into a room that was filled, oddly enough, with only fireplaces. There were six in total, all evenly spaced apart. Harry could only imagine that these were all used for Floo travel. Why else would one need so many fireplaces in one room?

He didn't have much time to marvel over it.

Narcissa had stepped into one of the grates and was beckoning Harry towards her. Once he had stepped in, she gently placed Draco on his feet. Knowing what had happened the last time Draco had attempted to stand, Harry dove for the boy, just barely catching him as Malfoy's knees sagged, his ankle still refusing to take his weight.

He drew one of Draco's arms over his shoulders and held him fast.

Mrs. Malfoy hesitated a moment, again the clear look of heartbreak clouding her eyes. In a sudden impulsive motion, she leaned forward and pressed a kiss to Draco's forehead and then one to Harry's.

"I'm so sorry," she whispered. "I'm sorry to have to ask you this." Watery eyes met Harry's alarmed ones.

"Lucius has to return home at some point," she continued. "And I can't– I will not allow this to happen again. Severus has cast a charm on you both that should hide you from detection for a while. And where you're going should keep you safe after it wears off. Please, Harry, watch out for him for me. Keep him safe. I'll come for you both when it's safe here."

Harry's mind was spinning. Where were they going? What was he supposed to be keeping Draco safe from? How long were they going to be gone?

Before he could give voice to any of the questions, Narcissa had cast a handful of the grey powder into the hearth. In a mighty voice she cried, "The Burrow!"

And Harry's world was lost once again to green flames and spinning homes.

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As always, thanks for reading! I appreciate your feedback! I'll be dedicating myself to finishing this story by the end of next month, so if there's something you would like to see, please don't hesitate to ask!