Insert another disclaimer here, just in case

Harry and Hermione had both signed up to stay over spring holiday. Ron had been forced to go visit some terrible aunt of his (or so he said) that lived in Canterbury, but had promised to write every day. Hagrid had also left, and Hermione and Harry suspected it was to visit Madame Maxime in France. They did not know that Draco Malfoy had also signed up to remain at school. Neither of his cronies Crabbe and Goyle were staying, but his parents had taken a trip without him. Draco honestly did not want to pry into that trip.

The situation was discovered the day that holiday started. Harry and Hermione had been to feed Fang that morning, and were strolling back up to the castle when they noticed a lone figure on the shore of the lake. Their path led them closer to it, and they realized that it was Draco. He was sitting on a rock, his knees pulled up to his chest and his arms wrapped around him. Anyone who did not know Draco would think him a very likeable fellow had they first met him here. His face was peaceful and his shining blond hair fell into his eyes. Icy blue eyes reflected the sky and the lake, giving him an almost vampiric (for anyone who's read Anne Rice, think of Claudia) yet childish look. Despite her extreme loathing of him, the image of Draco bore into Hermione's heart and mind.

She let reality slip away for a few seconds and fell into the picturesque world of her mind. The boy in front of her was not her enemy, here. He did not detest her just because of her parents. He was not cruel. He was not the son of a death eater. Yet he was not completely different. His eyes were still piercing and deep like a cavern of ice. His demeanor was still mysterious, sly and smooth like a snake. Hermione suddenly felt an unfamiliar pang in her heart. She could imagine herself loving someone like Draco. He was smart, clever, admittedly funny at time, flawed in an attractive way, very much good looking, and in the tiny bit of Hermione that was shallow- very, very rich.

As much as Hermione wanted to remain in her reverie, she returned to reality. She surprised to find that the two realms were shockingly similar. Draco had not moved, despite Hermione and Harry's advance. His gaze was fixed on the water, his brow furrowed and lips pursed. Harry's gaze locked with Hermione's- what was up with Draco?

They were only feet away now. Neither friend knew what to do- continue along the path or stop and say something. They needn't decide, because at that moment Draco looked up, his eyes boring into them, his expression serious. Both Harry and Hermione knew something was wrong now. If Draco was alright, he'd have at least sneered by now, or made some snide remark.

Draco stared at Hermione and Harry for a few moments, his expression like stone. When he finally opened his mouth to say something, it was as if someone had cracked a solid rock. "Everything's about to change, isn't it? The Dark Lord... he's returned. Chaos will rip our world to pieces."

Harry and Hermione gaped at him, their mouths slightly open. Of all things they had expected him to say, this was near the bottom of the list.

Draco returned his gaze to the lake and his brow furrowed even deeper. "All my life I was proud to have a Death Eater as a father. I can admit this only to you two because you already know. I thought it meant that I had power- no matter what happens with the Dark Lord, I am safe. But I'm not. No one is. The witches and wizards that are against the Dark Lord will wreak havoc on my family. My father will kill innocent people. The second war will begin, and I will be caught in the middle. I'll be innocent- I have never helped the Death Eaters. But they will be out to get me because of my father. My world will be worse than the Mudbloods, worse than the Muggles. I'll be cast adrift between sides. My future is uncertain. I am not proud of my father anymore."

Harry and Hermione could hardly believe what they were hearing. They glanced at each other, neither daring to say a word. Something was very, very wrong. Draco would never say this to anyone, not his friends, and definitely not to Harry and Hermione.

Suddenly, Draco's head snapped back towards them. His calm, stony expression was now something panicked and anguished. He slid back off the rock, away from them, his hands trembling. He did not back away any father, but looked at them with a mixture of horror and pleading. "S-something's wrong." He stammered, his expression of panic growing. "Help m-me!"

Harry stepped forward, putting a hand out to keep Hermione back. If something was wrong with Draco, he didn't want Hermione to have to deal with it. "We'll take you to the hospital wing, Malfoy. Madame Pomfrey will fix you up." He put a hand out. Despite his loathing of Malfoy, his heart took the better of him. Draco was scared, confused, and sick.

"NO!" Draco yelled, taking a step back. "I can't be seen like this. I can't be caught. It's wrong, all wrong. Help me!"

"Caught doing what, Malfoy? We know you're father's a death eater, you know that. No harm can come from telling us-"

"N-not that. I made a mistake. A horrible, horrible mistake. It's my fault can't you see? My mistake cannot be known! I DON'T MAKE MISTAKES! I can't fail-"

Hermione spoke now, her voice gentle and calm. Harry knew that tone- she used it whenever the world was getting the better of him. She had used it while Rita Skeeter was after him, when the whole school thought he was the heir of Slytherin- it was a calming, soothing voice. "What was your mistake, Malfoy? Maybe we can fix it..."

Malfoy's eyes lifted to Hermione's, his lips trembling. He held out his hand, his forefinger extended. On it was a tiny cut. "What have I done?" he asked, his voice quiet and trembling. "I've made a mistake..." At this point he reduced to tears. He fell to his knees, clutching his stomach and rocking back and forth. He sobbed uncontrollably, tears pouring down his cheeks. Red lines appeared in his teardrop paths.

Harry and Hermione's hearts were opened now. Both of them knew that whatever was wrong with him was putting him through mortal anguish. No human being should be in so much pain- not even Draco Malfoy.

Harry moved to help him off the ground, moving Draco's arm around his shoulder. "C'mon, Malfoy, we'll take you to the Hospital Wing..."

Malfoy regained his strength suddenly, and a look of malice took over his face. "YOU CANNOT TAKE ME THERE! YOU CANNOT LET ME BE SEEN LIKE THIS! YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT IT'S LIKE. I HAVE TO BE PERFECT. I DO NOT MAKE MISTAKES. I WON'T LET YOU RUIN ME!" He silenced himself, clenching his fists and shaking with anger. Harry took a step away, afraid that Draco would through a fist at him. After a few minutes Draco's quivering stopped, though his fists remained clenched. His expression went from anger to something that Hermione could not identify. He was upset, but not angry. He was almost fearful, but it a rebellious way. "My father..." he said, rubbing his shoulder then shaking his head.

"Harry, I think I know what's happened to him." Hermione said, coming over to his shoulder. "That cut can't be more than a day old, and his symptoms match those of something who's been exposed to raw Sundragon Venom. I've already done the report- I know. When Neville tripped, the venom splashed onto the table. It was on Malfoy's knife. He must have cut himself and let the venom into his bloodstream. That's what's wrong with him."

Harry stared at her, half of his mind incredulous at the fact that she had already done the report, the other half attempting to remember what Snape had said in class the day before. All he could remember was that it caused severe mood-swings and that definitely fit Malfoy's state.

"Then he has to be treated. We have to take him to the Hospital Wing." Harry said, looking at Draco apprehensively. He didn't really want to be hit by Malfoy in his state of rage.

"No, I don't think we should. He's volatile. If we try to take him there he might pull his wand and do who knows what to us." Hermione's lips were pursed, and Harry could practically see her brain working.

"Can we sedate him and take him there?"

Hermione shook her head. When he's revived there'll be an emotional build up in him and it could cause permanent brain damage."

The situation was looking bleaker and bleaker. "Should one of us go find a teacher? No, he'd pull the wand before thinking..."

Draco stumbled over to them and fell to his knees. "Don't tell anyone. I beg of you, please don't tell anyone. Granger's smart, she can help me, I know she can. Just don't tell any of the teachers- my father cannot know."

Hermione, slightly taken aback at Draco's groveling, couldn't find something to say. Harry, though shocked as well, had an idea. "We can take him to Hagrid's hut, at least for now. We can decide what to do there. No one will know."

Hermione nodded in agreement. It was hard to disobey Draco's wishes while he kneeled at her feet. His tear stained face was in agony and his eyes were pleading in such a way that saying 'no' would be impossible. She helped him to his feet and began retracing their steps back to Hagrid's cabin.

"Thank you..." Draco whispered under his breath. "Thank you..."

Half way to the cabin Draco regained his composer slightly and walked by himself. Soon it became his normal, arrogant swagger. "I knew you two would help me," he said, acting as though he had never begged at their feet. His manner was almost jaunty, and Hermione could have sworn his tone was friendly.

They reached the cabin and went inside. Fang growled at Draco when he entered. "Be kind, Pooch," Malfoy said cheerily, "ol' Draco's keeping you company!"

Hermione suppressed a giggle at Draco's friendliness. The emotion looked odd on his features, which admittedly looked extremely good when being sullen and arrogant.

While Draco was petting Fang (who was on his back and thumping his tail happily on the floor), Hermione and Harry came up with a plan. They decided that Draco should never be left alone. Harry would go back to the castle and go to the kitchens. He'd ask Winky the house elf (Dobby would not want to help Draco) to send food for Draco and Hermione, who would be staying behind. He'd also go to the library and check out as many books as he could that would help with Draco's condition and bring them back to Hagrid's cabin.

Lucky Snape assigned that paper, Harry thought, I won't need an excuse as to having all those books.

MORE SOON, I PROMISE! This post was getting a little long anyway...

Any more comments are appreciated!