Disclaimer: I own nothing here and am making no money

Warning: mature themes of child abuse and self-harm. Read at your own risk

Thank you.

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The night was still and quite. A moon hung low in the sky, and the only sound heard, was that of a owl hooting, and rats scurrying. The low moon poured its light down onto Hogwarts, slipping it into every nook and cranny. Somehow or other, it even poured down into the dungeons, lighting them up and a silver touch. This was the only light that bathed the slytherin dorms and the only light with which Harry Potter could gaze at Draco Malfoy with.

The blonds face was tear streaked, eyes slightly puffy. His hair flopped into his eyes, and his whole frame was curled in on itself. He looked like a little boy.

Harry's heart was breaking.

All he wanted to do was take the blond in his arms and protect him against everything, to stop him hurting. To love him.

Draco always fascinated Harry. His arrogance, his grace, his ego. Sometime over the years, that fascination had turned into something deeper, something more complex. Harry knew he could never hate the boy, because he cared for him. He could not call it love, but something was there.

It was a shock, Myrtle telling him. It was a bigger shock to come down to the dorms and see it for himself. When he raised that nightshirt , and saw those marks tainting the snowy skin he felt his heart stop. When Draco pulled away from him, and cried on his bed, he felt his whole body ach to hold the boy. When Draco clung to him for comfort, when Harry lay next to him to sleep, the Griffindor felt useless, because he could do no more to help Draco.

How could something like this happen? How could this beautiful, intelligent boy be reduced to this nervous wreck he meet tonight. How long had it been this way? Who else knew? So may questions were running around the Griffindors mind, but he knew that none of them were going to be answered anytime soon. The blond was in no state to satisfy Harry's curiosity.

"Are you going to tell anyone?" a soft voice asked, shocking Harry out of his thoughts. Looking into the pale face, he say the grey eyes wide open and questioning.

"No. Its not my place to tell. But I do think you should talk to someone. A teacher. A friend…? You shouldn't be doing this to yourself," Harry whispered back, slowly caressing Draco's scared wrist threw the sleeve, the tender action causing Draco to shiver.

"If I told anyone they would lock me up as a loon. They would tell my father," was the soft reply.

Harry looked at him silently for a while. After time was stretched over eternity, Harry lifted a hand up to Draco's hair, gently combing his fingers threw the silky tresses.

"I would not tell your father. I would not lock you up. Please talk to me. I just want to help. I don't want you to think you have to be alone," Harry pleaded.

Shivering from Harry's gentle touch, Draco pulled away from the dark-haired boy. Walking over to his closet, he grabbed his long cloak ,saying :

"Come on. You can not stay here all night. I will walk you out."

Harry sighed and got off the bed, straightening his clothes.

"How did you get in here anyway?" Draco asked, while pulling on his school boots over his bear feet.

Harry walked over to the doorway, and picked up…something that shimmered.

"I used my invisibility cloak. Followed some first years. Easy enough. Come on, its big enough for two. I don't think you want to be caught out after hours."

After the two boys were properly hidden, they made their way threw the labyrinth that was the dungeons. They hurried along the dark corridors and twist and turns, keeping a close watch for any sign of Mrs Norris. Saying no words to each other, they quickly made their way up to the main entrance.

"You had better go back. I can make it from here," Harry offered, taking off the cloak. Draco simply nodded and made to turn away, but was stopped by the Griffindors hand on his shoulder, causing him to turn back. The dark haired boy push the invisibility cloak into Draco's hands confusing the light haired boy.

"So you can always come to me. If you want help of any kind. The password for Griffindor is "Golden snitch" , and my room is the third one along the dorms. Anytime. Please. Keep the cloak as long as you may need it." Harry whispered, standing close to the light haired boy.

Draco for once in his life, seemed speechless. Harry hoped that his offer of help would not be rejected, that the blond would come to him for help, since Harry knew he could not force it on him. After a few minutes of silence Harry turned to walk away.

"Potter."

Hearing his name he turned to face the Slytherin.

"Thank you."

The Griffindor was shocked when the blond stood very close to him, even more shocked, when a chaste kiss was pecked across his cheek, before the blond raced down towards the dungeons, his white night shirt making him appear a ghost.

Tracing a hand across the place Draco's lips had touched his cheek. To some people that small kiss would be nothing, a fleeting gesture , quick to forget. But to Harry, and for Draco, that kiss was a promise and a thank you.

And Harry hoped, beyond hope, that he would be woken up in the middle of the night, by Draco, finally asking for help.

A/N

Please Review. This is the first fic I have written in this genre, and I would really like some comments on how I am doing.

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