Chapter One: At School
The entire school watched in silence as Harry, Dumbledore, Ron and Hermione walked down the Hall. Silver eyes gave the last three no more than a cursory glance, and then fixed themselves on Harry. Draco Malfoy half-rose from his seat, when Harry turned to look at him.
"Thank you," he said, in a perfectly normal voice. But his eyes, they were insane. Those same emerald eyes moved over to Severus Snape. "Thank you."
Whispers broke out the instant the trio vanished into the room at the far end of the Hall. Snape and Draco immediately got up and went after them.
The room was dark, and Harry was reminded of his cell in Azkaban for the briefest second. Then Dumbledore murmured a word and candles flickered alight and the shadows were banished. Harry dropped onto the floor bonelessly, refusing any of the numerous chairs around.
Ron was the first to try. "Harry, mate," he began awkwardly. "We…"
Harry turned those burning eyes to his face, and the red-head fell silent, twitching uncomfortably. The door opened, admitting the two Slytherins that had followed them.
Draco went straight to Harry, dropping to his knees beside the once-Gryffindor. No words passed between them, but unspoken comfort did. Harry shifted and allowed himself to lean against Draco, who wrapped protective arms around him. Madness closed as Harry allowed himself to sleep in his dragon's arms.
Snape, meantime, was viewing Dumbledore with no little contempt. He had always had the greatest respect for the man. But when it came to Harry, it seemed the man had made one bad judgement after another. Leaving him with his muggle relatives, believing him to be guilty…
Hermione gave a wracked sob as she saw Harry respond to Draco the way he hadn't to them. Immediately, the dark-haired boy's eyes sprang open, landing on her. A terribly anger came into them, but he didn't move. Draco felt his muscles tensing beneath him, though, and instinctively tightened his grip. Slowly, Harry relaxed.
"Leave," he instructed. "Not stay. Go, like the black-cloaks. Go away."
He didn't say any more, but watched with that intense sadness until he and Draco were alone. He eyes only softened when looking at Snape, and the Potions Master acknowledged it with a curt nod of his head.
"Take care of him, Draco," he said softly, before leaving. The door shut behind him.
Draco immediately shifted so that Harry was sitting in his lap. He supported the tired boy with his left hand, holding Harry's hand with his right. Lightly, he pressed his lips onto Harry's forehead as Harry finally, finally, gave in to the deep need for sleep.
He hadn't slept in weeks.
