Disclaimer: Erm¡K see chappies one and two~~~

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

.:Chapter Three ¡V Free:.

A prison, dark, gloomy, and filled with insanity. The three shivered as they followed the guard who led them towards Harry¡¦s cell. Dumbledore trailed a little way behind them, his eyes showing no emotion. Ron and Hermione shuddered as one of the prisoners let out a wild moan, yet Draco kept calm and silent.

¡§There,¡¨ said the guard curtly, pointing to a cell at the far end. ¡§Potter¡¦s over there. You will sign the release papers after you take him out.¡¨ All four nodded. The guard handed Ron the key, then the four proceeded on their way.

Just a little off from Harry¡¦s cell, Dumbledore stopped them. ¡§Mr. Weasley, Miss Granger, you two go first, as I have instructed.¡¨ Ron and Hermione both nodded. Ron gulped, then hissed, ¡§Come on, ¡¥Mione. Let¡¦s get over there.¡¨ Blinking furiously, Hermione nodded again, and followed Ron towards the cell.

The cell was dark, and nothing could be seen. Both shifted nervously as they neared the bars. There was no window. Hermione flinched as they heard movements in a corner. ¡§Wait,¡¨ she muttered in Ron¡¦s ear, pulling out her wand. ¡§Lumos,¡¨ she whispered. A pale glow filled the area around them, and a figure could be seen, lying in a dreaded corner in the cell. A thin, pale, bedraggled figure, hunched together, curled up. They could see it trembling, then shifted so that the head was well buried. Hermione stifled a gasp at what was once their best friend, the valiant Boy Who Lived, then shook her wand a little, encouraging the glow to turn into light.

All this Draco took in silently. Dumbledore had put a hand on his shoulder, just in case. All four watched as the figure trembled violently suddenly, then moved his hand over his head, as if to cover the light. Draco wanted to dash over, to snatch away Granger¡¦s wand. Couldn¡¦t they see that the light would hurt him? Two years without seeing any light, then suddenly a whole bright Lumos, shining up at you, would definitely scare you. But the aged professor firmed his grip on his shoulders just then, and the Slytherin could do nothing but stay in his position, teeth clenched.

Ron stepped even closer, and, without meaning to, rattled the bars. The boy inside seemed started, and peered, under the folds of his filthy robes, at the two. Emerald eyes held blue ones as the two boys, once best of friends, who would go everywhere and do everything together, stared at each other. Then¡K

¡§Harry.¡¨

The healthier youth croaked, his body barely moving. The boy inside didn¡¦t speak, but slowly, his arm slid from his face, and his head tilted up slightly. A mass of dirty, filthy hair hung from his face as he sat up, his body still trembling, and leaned against the wall. It was then that the four saw his eyes. His eyes, his what used to be bright, happy, cheerful emerald green eyes were gone, only to be replaced by a pair of dead, sullen green, glassy eyes. But slowly, as he spotted Hermione as well, his eyes were filled with¡K anger. A ghostly anger, a mad, insane anger that shone through the deadened gleam. A look that would scare all who looked into them.

¡§Want. What want you?¡¨

Hermione could feel Ron stiffen beside her, she herself wincing at Harry¡¦s verbal sense. ¡§Look, we¡¦re ¡V do you still remember who we are?¡¨

Harry continued to glare at Ron. Suddenly, he uncurled himself. ¡§Traitor,¡¨ he hissed as his feet slowly found a place where it may stand properly, while still sitting down. ¡§Traitor!¡¨ he hissed again, slightly louder this time. His thin, spindly fingers gripped the wall for support as he struggled to stand up, but in vain. Halfway up, he collapsed, laying in a heap on the cold stone floor. He clutched his knee in pain where it had connected with something sharp, and he groaned.

Draco could bear it no longer. He still remembered what the guard outside had told them before they went in, about Harry:

¡§¡¦e? Ay¡K ¡¥e¡¦s like them all. But ¡¥e¡¦s more depressed than mad. Well, yes, of course ¡¥e¡¦s mad as well, but I never ¡¥ad seen any prisoners as depressed as ¡¥e is. Ay¡K poor lad. Never a day when ¡¥e ain¡¦t cryin¡¦, the first two months. Always ¡¥uddled in a heap. I¡¦ve seen many cases like this, but never as bad as this ¡¥arry lad. Know what they mean when they do that? It¡¦s usually when no one believes ¡¥em. They do that, because they want comfort. What comfort can they ¡¥ave? No one cared about ¡¥em before they came in, so what is going ter make anyone care about ¡¥em after they came in here? Poor thing, ¡¥e cries ¡¥imself out day ¡¥n¡¦ night, eyes worn ¡¥n¡¦ torn. Never really says any thing. I¡¦d say he¡¦s had a tough life, with you-know-who tailing ¡¥im all the time. But then after that ¡¥e suddenly stopped. Not a word. Not a tear. ¡¥e just sat there. Mayhap ¡¥e just didn¡¦t want to speak. Mayhap ¡¥e couldn¡¦t speak anymore. All I know is he¡¦s broken ¡¥n¡¦ torn. Poor thing. Good thing ¡¥e¡¦s ter be let out now.¡¨

Draco looked up at the headmaster. Dumbledore¡¦s eyes were sad, sad and almost teary. He nodded at the boy. Draco¡¦s heart leapt, and he dashed over to the cell, almost pushing Ron and Hermione to the floor.

¡§Harry?¡¨

Harry¡¦s head jerked up at the sound of his voice. Confirmation of his doubt to the speaker¡¦s identity came, and his deadened eyes widened. He stared at Draco. ¡§Dr-Dra-?

The addressed didn¡¦t answer ¡V he snatched the keys from Ron, then dashed to the cell door, his hand trembling with fear, excitement, and anxiety. The latch opened, and he burst into the cell, flinging himself to the ground beside the battered boy. Harry continued to stare, then collapsed into the Slytherin¡¦s outstretched arms. He curled himself in, trembling harder than ever, burying his head in the Malfoy¡¦s chest.

Draco latched his arms around Harry, tightening them in a fierce embrace. Harry trembled more and more violently. The other boy felt worried, and firmed his grip around the shaking lad. Harry sniffed loudly, and, looking up to stare at Draco, he¡K

Cried. For the first time in almost two years.