Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter

A/N: Hello readers! thanks to the people who have reviewed thus far! and those of you who haven't: PLEASE REVIEW! alright, and without further ado...chapter 6.

It was the beginning of October, and school hadn't gotten much better than that first day. Draco was also becoming increasingly quiet. He had stopped participating in classes and kept to himself unless required otherwise. This newfound shyness he displayed was a relief to the other Hogwarts houses, but the Slytherins were none too happy. They were becoming very irritated with how he was acting; it was like Draco, the Draco they new, had gone and left a weak, ineffective leader that was a disgrace to the Slytherin house. Draco knew those sentiments were brewing; he felt the angry glares they sent him everyday when he walked through the common room, and often times he overheard his roommates talking about him being a deserter and a humiliation. By no means was this easy for him to endure, he had doubted his resolve many times, but ultimately knew that he would benefit in the end, too much from this change, to give it up.

One night Draco, after eating his dinner sitting alone, left to go to directly to his room, as was becoming customary. Making his way through the corridors, he heard several heavy footfalls behind him. Draco didn't think twice about them until, before he knew what was happening, someone had shoved him face first into the stone wall. He heard heavy breathing in his ear and a low growl. With another shove from his unknown assailant, Draco had landed hard on his side, feeling the cold damp floor against his cheek. Slowly he turned his face upwards to be able to see who had pushed him; they were two of his younger, but incredibly huge, housemates. They looked very rough and dangerous with the torch light flickering on their features and creating deep ominous shadows. Draco cradled the wrist that he had fallen on, he had felt it break. He looked at them expectantly, expertly sheilding the pain his injury was causing him. He couldn't show them that they had hurt him. Draco knew something like this was going to have to happen sometime. The Slytherins were never ones to let anything, or anyone, go easily, especially someone who had as much influence and power over them as he did.

"Draco. It's a lovely evening isn't it?" The larger boy cracked his knuckles and stared menacingly at the thin blond boy in front of him.

Draco started to stand up and looked stonily back at him returning the sarcasm, "Just delightful."

"Look Draco," began the smaller, mousy haired boy, "We've - well everyone, actually - has noticed a change in you." He stepped closer, "And this change has made us worried."

"Well, there is no need to be worried, I assure you," began Draco, wincing as he shifted his arm after trying to steady himself.

"We think there is," the smaller boy said as he stepped even closer and pushed Draco back against the cold stone.

The other boy moved in behind his friend and said, "And we're willing to go to certain measures in order to see that you are back to your normal self before long."

Draco uncomfortably shifted his weight on his feet, well aware of what their persuasion tactics were going to be. "Boys, i am honoured by your, and the rest of the Slytherin house's, concern for my welfare," he gave them pointed looks then, "but, i'm afraid it's time for me to get back to my room for some light reading i was planning on doing. Draco turned to head in the direction of the Slytherin house, but let out a small gasp and immediately stopped as the mousy haired boy grabbed his injured wrist. Beads of sweat made their way onto Draco's forhead, and he pursed his lips against the lightning pain shooting through his arm.

"We are offering you a choice, Draco," said the taller one, seemingly without noticing any sign of Draco's discomfort, and looking down at him with what was surprisingly like regret in his eyes. "You come back to the common room with us and start acting like a real wizard - the one you used to be before you started avoiding us - or we try to persuade you as best we can in a manner we hope will finally reach you. You're becoming a traitor to your standards and we can't have that weakness. Do you understand?"

"Of course i do."

"And..." Prompted the smaller of the two.

"And I actually remember that i need to go to the library to catch up on some homework. So if you'll excuse me..." Draco's attempt to squeeze past them was futile. He was shoved hard against the wall again, and before he had time to make any other escape attempts, a fist made contact with his jaw. He reached up a hand to gently touch his face when another puch landed right in his stomach and he doubled over, grunting. He felt like he was going to be sick. Two hands shoved him so he fell on the ground, landing almost the same way he did before, and again he landed on his arm, he could see his injured hand was bent at an impossible angle. Shakily, he raised himself onto his knees and hunched over his arm. Tears threatened to pour over the threshhold, and he lowered his head to let his fringe hide his eyes. In a low, uncontrolled voice, Draco told the two Slytherins, "There is now way in Hell i would go with you. Look what you'll do to your own housemate."

The tall boy bent down and whispered quietly in his ear, "You and I both know what it means to be in Slytherin. Don't take this personally." He them shoved him down hard with the toe of his shoe and began to kick him hard. Draco curled up into a fetal position while more kicks were making contact with his sides, back and head. In the midst of the pain, Draco wished desperately that he could just die there. No one would miss him, it was clear what his own house thought of him.

The final blow was when one of the boys kicked Draco's head causing it to whip back and hit the wall, causing a sickening crack. Draco lay motionless and unconscious, his whole body limp. The two boys were standing over him and wondered if they had gone too far in their assault. They shrugged it off and decided it was best to leave the bloody body alone then, in case they were blamed. So they quickly left the scene, not thinking twice about Draco and the deed they had just committed.

When Draco awoke again, he could feel a beam of light across his face, but when he tried to open his eyes, it proved to be incredibly difficult. Why was it so hard to open his eyes? He tried to move his arms until a shooting pain shot up his right one, and he immediatly stopped. Then everything came back. The conversation in the hall, the threats, and the beating. Oh god. Where was he? He opened his eyes wider, still only seeing through slits. Moving them around he saw high rafters, and tall windows. There were also other beds in the room, lined up in rows on either side. He was in the hospital wing. Draco could see madam Pomfrey bustling to and fro at the far end of the ward, seeing to other patients.

He wanted to get up; to leave the room and go somewhere he could be alone. When he made to turn onto his side, he made a loud groan. His whole stomach hurt like it was being kicked again. Madam Pomfrey had heard him and was quickly making her way towards his bead.

"Mr. Malfoy! Just what do you think you're doing, trying to get up in your state?" She gently pushed on his shoulder for him to lay flat on his back, and he didn't resist.

"How did I get here?" Draco asked, just realizing that he couldn't have made it here by himself, especially as he had been unconscience.

"Mr. Potter found you laying in the corridor. He had a right panic. Thought you were dead."

"Pff, I'm sure he wished I was." Draco said sullenly.

"Oh, just hush now." she said almost severely, " He doesn't think that. You gave me a scare, and all. The state you were in!" Her hand felt his forhead as she examined the rest of him closely, "Your head is just fine now, and I just made something for your wrist. Here," she handed him a cup of steaming red liquid, and he took it with his good hand and drank while she continued talking, "and your bruises should heal in no time. Before you woke up, i also applied some Tenderoot to your face; the swelling should go down in no time." She smiled encouragingly at him, before she took the cup in his hand and walked back across the room.

So now he knew why he couldn't fully open his eyes - because they were almost swollen shut. He also did some major dammage to his skull, and had numerous bruises. Just great.

Draco relaxed again, trying not to think about what had occurred only hours before, and closed his eyes. Almost immediatly he was asleep again. The next time he awoke, it was to someone's voice apprehensivly calling his name.

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