Draco had eventually let go of Harry. He felt the way the other boy had been tensing up, and how every time he shifted one little bit, it got worse. He supposed that if their situations were exchanged, he'd feel exactly the same way. Hugging didn't seem normal.

They'd moved to sit on the floor, their backs to the door. Draco had tried to wipe at his eyes to a point where it wouldn't be obvious that he was crying, but it ended up making it worse. So he was sitting with one knee brought up to his chest and his elbow propped up on it; his hand was shielding his eyes, as if he were thinking. He wasn't sure of how Harry was sitting, because looking over at him felt awkward now that he had acted like that toward him.

"So," Harry started, breaking the long period of silence, "You realize that me helping you will probably let everyone know that I am?"

"Yes," Draco replied quietly.

Though he really hadn't thought of that before now. The boy was right. If he started to help him, and if it was something like keeping him away from everyone that was taking advantage of him, his housemates were sure to notice. And the one thing that was causing them to treat him this way was because of their doubt of his loyalties. Walking around with Potter protecting him was certainly a good sign that he wasn't content on joining their side.

Draco sighed, bringing up his other knee so that he could hide his face with both his hands.

"You don't want anyone to know, do you?" Harry asked knowingly.

Draco buried his face in his arms. "No, I don't. But I don't know what else to do."

Harry stayed silent for a few long moments. "Who exactly has been... doing this to you?"

When Draco didn't answer, Harry figured that he wasn't planning on telling anytime soon.

"You're not going to tell me?"

"I know what you're going to do if I tell you," Draco whispered.

"I promise I'll keep it to myself."

Draco looked up at him, eyes void of tears. His expression was one of worry, and he was trying desperately to determine if Harry was telling the truth about keeping it a secret. Draco didn't know what he'd do if he couldn't trust him, but he supposed it was alright...

"It's my father," Draco said softly. He returned to resting his head on his arms; his gaze staring ahead of him. "If you tell anyone, he'll kill you."

Harry bit his lip, closing his eyes as if urging himself not to start screaming. Draco had been in touch with his father just a while ago... and they'd only just been in the forest. He was so close. He made a frustrated sound, rubbing at his forehead with the back of his hand. "How come you've been telling me it wasn't?"

"It's called lying, and you and I aren't exactly on friendly terms," Draco replied dryly.

"Oh, really?" Harry asked, sarcasm in his tone. Draco turned his head to glare at him. "Sorry," Harry said darkly, "I guess it's just hard to believe that you're father would do this to you."

"You've been thinking it was my father this entire time."

"Well, that's because he's... evil. Ok, so it isn't hard to believe." Harry rubbed at his forehead again, and then dropped his hand carelessly onto his knee. "So why do you need protection here? Just don't go outside ever again."

"It's not that easy," Draco muttered. "My father's been sending letters to my housemates so they'll be able to watch me too."

"They'd do that...?"

"Yes, they would do that to me. Blaise seems to be on the verge of doing what my father has been doing. He doesn't trust me."

"So you want me to keep Blaise away from you? Should I tell Dumbledore?"

"No!" Draco said loudly. "No Dumbledore, no McGonagall, and no Snape!"

"What about..."

"No anyone!"

"So you just want it to be me, you, and your housemates that are in on all of this information about your father? Just keep it away from the ministry?"

"Yes."

Harry sighed, shaking his head. "I don't know why you want to do this."

"Just help me, okay?" Draco bit his lip nervously. "That's all. Once you leave Hogwarts, you can do whatever you'd like."

"Okay, fine," Harry stated tiredly. "But you'll have to tell me what to do now."

Draco felt instantly relieved to get Harry's acceptance. Persuading the boy-who-lived to keep information on Death Eaters to himself, and to protect the person he'd hated all these years, was about the most difficult thing to do, yet Draco managed to do so.

"Just... during meals and between classes and anytime before and after I wake up, try and keep an eye on me."

"Keep an eye on you? And how am I supposed to do that when you're in your common room half the time?"

"I won't be in there as much."

"Ok. I'll try." Harry looked a bit uneasy. "Can I ask you something?"

"I suppose," Draco replied.

What felt like five minutes had passed before Draco spoke up again, wondering if Harry was actually going to ask the bloody question. He was sitting there, opening his mouth as if about to say something, then closing it to think it over again.

"Get on with it," Draco persisted. "Don't be scared."

"I'm not scared," Harry defended quickly. "I just wanted to know... er... if you're..."

"If I'm what?" Draco's eyes narrowed slightly.

"Ok, well... do you like boys?"

"Why?" Draco snapped. He instantly wondered why he hadn't said 'no' first.

"You let Blaise kiss you. I don't think someone straight would let someone else do that even if they were beggi..."

"Yes, if the bloody person was begging!"

"You didn't even get sick."

"I was angry!"

"Ok, ok... I was just asking!"

"Fine! Well now you know!"

"But you didn't even answer me properly."

Draco stared at him. It wasn't an angry or curious stare; it appeared as though he was daring Harry to keep on going with his assumptions. Harry didn't seem to notice it.

"You hug me every time you're feeling bad. I mean, it's me..."

"I'm emotionally troubled, Potter."

"Can you just say yes or no?"

"No."

"No as in no, or no as in you can't say yes or no?"

"No as in no!" Draco snapped.

"Okay," Harry said simply. He stood up and brushed himself off. Draco looked up at him, eyebrows furrowing. He stood up slowly as well.

"Ok, well I think you should get those marks you have off of you, just in case someone else notices and they suggest you go to the infirmary. The nurse'll want to question you and such."

"I'm not going to go to the nurse," Draco said gloomily.

"Ok, fine. Let me help you with a concealing charm then. Take off your shirt."

"Excuse me?" Draco questioned, narrowing his eyes again. He crossed his arms protectively over his chest.

"So I can cover them all for you. They're still there, aren't they?" Harry asked. A few seconds passed. "Aren't they?"

Draco glared. "Yes."

"Okay, then do it. It shouldn't be a problem. We're both boys."

"Yes, but you're Harry Potter."

"So?" Harry looked like he was becoming impatient. "Please, we've been here for a while already."

After much contemplating, and seeing as Harry'd been close to taking his shirt clean off in the hallway before, which was close enough already, Draco nodded. "Fine, but be quick."

Draco saw Harry roll his eyes before he began pulling his shirt up and over his head. He held it loosely in one hand and closed his eyes tightly, as if not wanting to see what was there or that Harry was still in front of him.

"What's wrong, Malfoy?" Harry asked. He took a step forward, drawing out his wand.

"Nothing," Draco answered hurriedly. "Do it, why don't you?"

"It takes more than a second!"

Soon, Draco felt the cool tip of Harry's wand against his skin. He heard a few words being muttered before a warm sensation spread around the one spot. It was repeated several more times, and Draco took no notice that his breathing was quickening.

"Calm down, Malfoy. It's not supposed to hurt," Harry commented distractedly. He'd drawn his wand away, slipping it back into his pocket. "I'm done."

Draco heard, and was just about to pull his shirt back on as quickly as he could, before Harry brought up both his hands to rest on his sides. Draco backed up immediately, his back hitting the wall. Eyes widened. "What are you doing!" He questioned loudly.

Harry grinned, as if he found something amusing, and took a step forward to replace his hands on Draco's sides, this time sliding them around to his chest. Draco closed his eyes, letting out a quiet whimper. The sensation he received was strange, and so gentle that he could say the boy was hardly touching him. He didn't know why he wasn't pushing the hands away.

Then, Harry stopped. He dropped his hands and backed away a few steps. The grin was still on his face. Draco was still breathing as if he couldn't get a hold of any oxygen. Eyes opened slowly, and when he saw Harry grinning, he frowned. "That was unnecessary."

"I knew that you liked boys," Harry said calmly.

"What? I didn't even do anything!"

"You let me do that, for one. I wasn't forcing my hands on you."

"I..."

"And you let out that sound. What was that?"

"That was..." Draco struggled to find a reply, but he couldn't think of one. He distracted himself by tugging his shirt back over his head. A good deal of time after that was spent getting rid of the wrinkles, even though there weren't any. Finally, "I don't know why you'd even want to know if I like boys, Potter."

Harry shrugged. "If you did, you could pretend to like Blaise, since he obviously likes you."

"He only likes me because of my father sending him a letter to watch me!"

"Yes, so if you act nice to him, he'll give your father good news. That'll make things better, won't it?" Harry looked at him expectantly. Draco merely stared at him again.

"But you don't seem to like Blaise touching you and things like. So, er..." Harry started to look as though he'd completely changed his mind on that idea.

"Wait," Draco interrupted. He looked slightly uncomfortable. "I can let him do whatever he wants. I know if I say I'm on his side, and if I ask him to stop if he's doing anything, he'll listen. It could help. You're right."

Harry nodded, "Good." A plan finally seemed to be finalized.

"So, I suppose I'll see you later," Draco said quietly.

"Yeah, and if you need anything... or if things go wrong, just try and find me." Harry smiled lightly. He went over to the door, opening it partway. "Secret's still with me."

Draco gave a small smile, though it was hardly one that could be considered one, and then watched as the other boy left the room.