a/n: sorry it took so long, i've been gone all of sept and oct and had lots of homework. I'll post more at the beginning of the next chapter- just wanted to get this out quick. I love you all! Augurey

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Chapter 8

Draco woke with a start. He looked around trying to figure out what had startled him. He heard moaning and looked down at Harry's sleeping figure. He looked restless and troubled. Draco realized then that's where the moaning was coming from.

"No, no, not Sirius! No! Please, no!" Harry cried out in his sleep.

"Harry, Harry! Wake up! Come on Harry, wake up!" Draco shook him.

Harry sat bolt upright in bed and looked around, having been startled out of his nightmare. It was the same one as always, where he saw Sirius falling through the veil. He lay back down completely drained, only then seeing Draco watching him worriedly.

"Er, Harry? What's wrong?"

"Nothing. It was just a stupid dream. Nothing to worry about. I'll be fine.

"It looked more like a nightmare, are you sure you're okay? If you need anything Harry, I'm here for you."

"No, no. I'll be fine. But thanks anyways. Let's go back to sleep."

Harry lay awake long after he heard Draco snoring again. He couldn't fall asleep partly because of the nightmare and partly because of the pain of Draco on his biggest bruises. Three people had caused him so much pain. Voldemort had killed his parents and was now coming after him, Bellatrix Lestrange had killed his godfather, and Uncle Vernon had beaten him everyday and made his life a living hell. One day he would get all of them back, he knew it. After he had no more to think of he fell into a light sleep.

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Draco woke up early the next morning and found Harry still sleeping. He glanced over to the other bed and saw Ron laying spread-eagle across the bed and snoring loudly. He got up, grabbed some clothes and walked down the hall in search of the bathroom. When he found it he took a steaming hot shower and got dressed.

He walked back into Ron's room just in time to see Ron launch himself at Harry.

"Ron! Don't!" he shouted, but he was too late.

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"Ahh!" Harry was brutally awakened when Ron landed on him. "Ohh, that hurts," he moaned.

"Ron! Get off him," Draco growled.

Hearing Draco's deadly voice, Ron jumped off with a confuse look on his face. "What's wrong? That doesn't usually hurt you does it Harry? Are you okay?"

"Ugh. I'm fine, it's just that I'm sore from sharing a small bed and Quidditch and everything."

"I'm really sorry Harry, I should have known. I won't do it again. I'll just dump a bucket of water on you instead."

"That sounds so much better Ron. No, really thought, it's okay. Just make sure you remember not to do it again."

"Alright. I'm gonna go take a shower before breakfast…see you guys later," Ron grabbed a towel and some clothes and walked down the hall to the bathroom.

"He Harry, you okay? That must've hurt," said Draco as he sat lightly on the edge of the bed.

"Yeah, I'm a little sore but I guess I can live with it. I'll be fine in a few minutes- it's not like I'm not used to it by now," Harry said painfully.

Harry slowly sat up and swung his legs over the side of the bed. He leaned over and gave Draco a peck on the lips, "Good morning."

"Good morning to you too. Are you taking a shower this morning or not?"

"No, I just took one last night. I need to change thought- don't watch, okay?"

"Alright."

Harry stood up tentatively and walked over to his trunk. He put on a new set of clothes for the coming day and turned back around to tell Draco he could look again.

"You have a really cute butt, you know that?" Draco said seriously.

"Hey, you weren't supposed to look!"

"I just couldn't help it. You are my sexy boyfriend."

"Fine, no more cute butt for you."

"Aww…please? I'm sorry Harry!"

"Maybe later, let's go to breakfast. I'm sure everyone else is down there already anyways."

They started down the stairs. When they got about halfway down Draco said, "Mmm, bacon!"

"I guess you really like your meats, huh? Chicken last night, bacon this morning. I wonder what it will be next," Harry said playfully.

"Oh shut up, I'm hungry. I need my food, I'm a growing boy you know," Draco patted his stomach.

"Growing boy? Wow Draco, you really listen to your Mommy a lot don't you?" Harry dashed down the stairs and into the kitchen before Draco could hit him for that one.

A few seconds later Draco walked in glaring at Harry, "I'll get you for that one, I swear I will Potter."

"Oh, very scary Malfoy. What are you going to do, turn me into some meat?"

"Now boys! Calm down, we're trying to eat some breakfast," Mrs. Weasley interrupted sternly. "Draco, would you like some eggs and toast?"

"I think he would prefer the bacon, Mrs. Weasley," Harry said with a twinkle in his eye. "Alright, alright I'm done," he added hastily after seeing Draco's murderous look.

The rest of breakfast was eaten in peace for everybody except Harry, that is. He still had problems eating because of Sirius's death. No matter what anyone said he still thought it was his fault and he was very depressed. He was just good at hiding it, no one ever noticed- except, of course, Hermione.

'He still isn't eating much,' she thought to herself. 'It's not good for him- he needs strength. He better get over his problems with Sirius, and fast or he's going to starve himself.'

"So, everyone up for another game of Quidditch today?" asked Ron.

"Er, Ron…I don't know if you've noticed but there is quite a storm going on. I don't fancy playing in this weather. Maybe we should just wait until tomorrow," Harry suggested.

"I guess you're right. Okay, chess then. Who am I gonna win against today? Draco?"

"Yeah, I'll play you Ron, but don't be too sure about winning."

"Oh we'll see, we'll see."

The two raced to the sitting room with Harry, Hermione, and Ginny following behind slowly. That day was spent in the comfort of friends. After Ron beat Draco at chess, much to everyone else's amusement, they took turns playing each other and only stopped for a lunch of sandwiches. They had a good time catching up on what had happened since the end of last term.

"Kids! Suppertime!" called Mrs. Weasley. "Wash up and come eat! There's plenty of food."

The sat down to the table and had a meal of lamb roast with potatoes on the side. It was so good that everyone took multiple servings and even Harry couldn't resist eating a plateful. After dinner they went back to the sitting room and talked some more in front of the fireplace.

"Well, you guys I'm pretty tired. I think I'm going to go to bed. Goodnight everyone!" said Harry.

Harry walked up to Ron's room and saw Hedwig there. "Hey girl, I don't have many jobs for you now that Sirius is gone. You can go hunt if you want." Harry waited until she flew out the window to start changing into his pajamas.

He had managed to change into his bottoms and had just taken his shirt off when the door creaked open and he heard a gasp. Ginny was standing at the door and staring at his chest and stomach with a horrified look on her face. Harry let out a sigh.

"H-H-Harry?"

"Ginny, it's not as bad as it looks. In fact, they even look smaller than they did a few days ago."

"S-Smaller Harry? They're huge!" she walked towards him. "No, they're not as bas they look are they? They're worse."

Harry shifted uncomfortably and then said, "No, they're fine Ginny, really. They'll be gone in a few days. I'm fine."

"No, this isn't fine Harry! Don't even try to tell me it's fine! Those bruises are huge and I can tell you're in a lot of pain. There's only one thing that could have given you these bruises though- your uncle beat you didn't he?"

"Ginny, I'm fine. It's none of your business, okay? Just stay out of it."

"It's not my business Harry? It sure as hell is my business. You're my friend Harry, when a friend is getting beaten by his uncle and is left with bruises like this it is my business. And you better damn well know this is bad."

"Yeah, I know Ginny. I'm dealing with it and I AM FINE!"

"You're dealing with it Harry? How are you dealing with it? By not telling anyone who can help you and heal you?"

"I don't need to be healed- they'll go away on their own, eventually."

"Oh my god. Dumbledore sent a letter to them didn't he. Your uncle found out your godfather couldn't check up on you anymore so he decided to beat you. Harry…you didn't tell anyone because you thought you deserved it didn't you? Because you think it's your fault Sirius is gone, don't you?"

Harry turned his head the other way, tears forming in his emerald green eyes. He looked so vulnerable, the site made Ginny's heart break. Her anger had disappeared and she spoke softly now.

"My god Harry, I was right. It's not your fault though Harry! You didn't kill him! It wasn't your fault you couldn't learn Occulemency- Snape made it pretty damn hard for you. And Dumbledore, that git, wouldn't teach you."

"I know Ginny, I know. And I miss him so much. But, I have my own way of dealing with these bruises, okay? Just don't tell ANYONE. Don't tell anyone about this, you hear?"

"If that's what you really want Harry, but I think you should tell someone."

"Thanks Ginny, but not yet. Goodnight," he hugged her, sending her to her room and breathing a sigh of relief when the door clicked closed behind her. He got in to bed, completely exhausted and thinking about what Ginny had said.