The Mind Switch..

Story by: Snapes Apprentice

February 23rd, 2005

Chapter 17: Confronting the True Fear

(So yes...in the last chapter Draco's vulnerable side kind of showed. :) I just wanted my Draco to be that way.lol. Read and Review!)

The dark haired professor walked quickly over to them. Shoving Harry aside, he stood in front of the boy, eyes focused on his victim.

"Let me see your arm, Potter." he said menacingly.

Draco looked away from him, and kept his arm close to his side. "I will not, Professor."

Snape looked at him with little shock showing on his face. He gained his composure quickly, eyes narrowing into slits. "I said give me your arm, boy!" Draco looked as if he were just slapped. Looking down, he glared at the floor, knowing exactly how Harry felt every day in the presence of the older male who loathed him. Overwhelmed. Powerless.

He gave a barely audible sigh and held out his arm. Professor Snape took it roughly in his hands, and turned it over. Removing the cloth, he gave a short intake of breath.

"Potter, what have you done to yourself?"

Draco shook his head. "Again...I have had a lot on my mind." He said it a bit sarcastically, and Snape narrowed his eyes once more. "Stand up, Potter. You are coming with me. The headmaster shall be informed on this act you have preformed on yourself." Severus Snape removed his hand holding Draco's arm, it falling carelessly to his side.

He turned swiftly around, and headed towards the door. He turned once more, facing the brown haired boy on the countertop. "I just gave you an order you are going to follow. Stand up Potter, before you get a lifetime of detentions."

Draco came to stand before walking slowly over to him. Snape gave a satisfied mock smile before grabbing a hold of the door handle.

Draco stood silently in front of the headmaster's desk as Snape was reliving the event that just occurred. He looked away as the headmaster kept his eyes on him the whole time the story was told, nodding when needed be.

Staring at the ground, Draco thought aimlessly over different things. 'When did I get into this mess?' he thought miserably, not able to look at Dumbledore as the facts were told.

He heard nothing as he stared around, not sinking anything in. Holding his arm, he looked over the fresh cuts, some still lightly bleeding.

Head swarming with thoughts, he couldn't keep focus on anything. Soon he turned away from the cuts, and tried to study the photos on the wall, all of them staring back avidly.

"Harry...Harry?" Professor Dumbledore said curtly, eyeing him with worry. "I have been saying your name for the past 2 minutes. Please...sit down."

He sat down quickly on the plush seats, arranging himself so he was seated comfortably. Dumbledore locked his gaze with his own, and watched him.

Draco looked over towards Snape, the greasy haired scoundrel having a gleam of triumph in his eyes. Draco gave a slight glare, and returned his focus back to the older man.

"My dear boy. What gave you the impression that you couldn't come to me, or one of the teachers, if something troubled you so? Why did you resort to cutting yourself?" Dumbledore asked with worry in his eyes, but calm all the same.

The Malfoy heir couldn't look at the older man as he said this, resulting in staring a bit to his left. "I have had a lot on my mind, sir. I can't come to anyone in my family with my problems, so I doubt any one of these teachers would care also." he said softly, looking over at Snape as he replied.

"I don't know why I cut myself. I just do, to get rid of my other worries so no one else has to deal with them. To feel something else then being worthless, and unable to fix my own problems."

Dumbledore's eyes flashed, but he kept his calm posture. "That still does not give you the right to commit bodily harm to yourself. There are people to talk to, even if you don't know it. Ronald, Hermione. Even Mr. Malfoy. I see you two have become quite good friends."

Quickly looking up, Draco stared right into the smiling face of the headmaster. "But..I have other business to attend to also at the moment. So I will see you two when supper is served."

Dumbledore stood, the boy knowing the meeting with the eldest was over. Draco obliged and stood up. "Good-bye, professor." he replied quickly, and started for the door.

He opened it, and turned back around, the older men watching him. He looked at Snape with a quite clear glare. Holding his arm, he headed down the spiraling staircase with a quickness that exceeded him.

†Snapes Apprentice†

(A/N: yes yes..this is a short chapter. But if I didn't stop then..I would of kept writing till most of my story was done in this one chapter. Thanks for reading!)