Legal BS: I own very little. Just the two crazy bitches that may or may not show up again.

Judith

By: Inu-Risa Ouji

Chapter Three:

Taste of the Fruit

Oh so many ways for me to show you
How your dogma has abandoned you
Pray to your Christ, to your god
Never taste of the fruit
Never stray, never break
Never---choke on a lie
Even though he's the one who did this to you
You never thought to question why

A Perfect Circle; Judith©

Whoever said that Friday was the best day of the week was an asshole. The Boy Who Lived But Regrets It slowly sauntered back to the Gryffindor commons, silent deciding to skip dinner. Between the whirlwind relationship changes with Draco, those two crazy bitches from Slytherin hawk-eyeing him, and the odd glances and noticeable whispers, this Friday was hell on Earth. If he hadn't told Seamus he'd take him to Hogsmede tomorrow, he'd probably say 'piss on Saturday' as well.

'What the hell?' Harry thought as the smell of nicotine and smoke wafted through the corridors. Obviously they were muggle cigarettes, or else they wouldn't have smelled like shit. Harry, feeling oddly compelled, followed the reek of the narcotic until he found the light, will-o-whisp of orange light floating in the darkness. The dimly lit torches of the halls only revealed a pair of long , skinny legs wrapped in black dress slacks and a pair of Armani shoes, shoes Harry could recognize in a heartbeat.

"Malfoy? Is that you?" the black haired boy asked cautiously, not wanting to look like a jackass if he was wrong. A swirly, white puff of smoke floated from the orange light before the white stick fell to the floor, the Armani shoe stamping it out.

"Potter? Since when do you skip a meal?" the blond joked, emerging from the darkness and smiling at the taller boy. Harry just smiled meekly and faced away from the blond.

"More to the point, since when did you smoke?" he asked, his smile slowly fading as he, out of habit, tugged the long sleeves of his shirt down. He may have been a teensy bit closer to the blonde boy, but that didn't mean he was any more comfortable with showing him what he had done.

"Since, maybe, last year or so. It tastes like shit, but it calms me down." Draco replied before taking another step closer to the black-haired boy. He placed a hand on Harry's arm, causing the smaller boy to flinch. Silver eyes narrowed and Draco's small smile faded into a frown. "What's wrong? Don't want me touching you?" Harry's pitiful green eyes shot up at his companion, his mouth opened slightly before he spoke.

"No, it's j-just that-"

"Just what? Tell me!" the blonde demanded as his grip on the boy's arm tightened.

"It hurts, okay! It hurts!" Draco immediately let go, his eyes wide and his mouth opened in a small 'o' as Harry fell to his knees, biting his lip to hold back forceful sobs. Draco kneeled down next to him and took his arm, more gently this time, and rolled the boys sleeves up. Just as he suspected, there were fresh new cuts on the fragile, pale skin; still crimson from, even though they were beginning to scar over. There was even blood, still streaked on the boys flesh from a piss-poor attempt to wipe it off. The very sight made Draco cringe.

"Why, Harry? Why?"

"Why what, Malfoy?"

"Don't give me that shit, Harry. Why do you continuously do this to yourself! What good comes out of it!" Draco's voice was raising, gaining the attention a few of the paintings.

"Why not, Draco? Every time! Every time I mess up, someone else ends up paying for it! People have died because I lived! Surely you agree that it's about time I get punished for my mistakes-" before Harry could so much as mutter another word, a pale palm landed across his face with a shrieking 'slap'. Maniacal green eyes looked up at the taller boy in shock.

"Stop it, Harry! Just stop!" before thinking anything through, Draco pulled Harry closer, the smaller boy's face buried in his chest. Harry breathed in Draco's scent and sighed contently. The only thing that could snap him out of his trance was the vibration of Draco's chest as he spoke. "No, you don't deserve this, Harry. You deserve so much better. You deserve people who love you and will be attentive to your needs. Not those two losers who insist on showing off their freaky lusts in public." Draco pushed Harry away so that he could look into those emerald green eyes. "Do they even know you're doing this!" he asked, enraged. His anger only grew when Harry shamefully shook his head. "Why am I not surprised? And what about Finnegan?" Again, Harry shook his head "You see what I mean, Harry? These people you surround yourself with, these are people you see every goddamn day, and they can't even see your problem! I bet they don't even ask how you feel about any of this, do they?" Sighing, Draco noted that dinner was probably almost over by now, so he lowered his voice and continued. "Listen, Harry. You deserve better than this, than them. You need someone who is willing and can take care of you, and give you what you need out of life."

"Oh, yeah? And who will that someone be, huh? Dumbledore? Please Draco, I think he's a little-"

"I was actually thinking more along the lines of someone closer to your own age." The blonde replied before leaning forward and pressing a gentle kiss on the smaller boy's lips. His instincts getting the better of him, Harry responded and before long, found himself in Draco's lap, kissing passionately before the two pulled away.

"We should probably stop. Dinner should be coming to a close. You can stay in my dorm if you want. You know, just in case you don't feel like dealing with the other Griffindorks." Draco offered. Harry thought it over and smiled.

"I'd like that." he replied. Who knew, maybe this would be his first step to recovery.

"What do you mean you haven't seen Harry?" Seamus asked Ron and Hermoine, irritated that the two spent more time making out than being friends to the one who needed it most. The two blushed and shrugged, both embarrassed and ashamed.

"I'm sorry, Seamus, but we haven't really seen Harry all day." Hermoine replied and Ron nodded in agreement. Seamus sighed dramatically.

"Well, goddamn! You know, since you two have gotten together, neither of you have been any help!" Ron gaped and Hermoine sulked, near tears, as the Irish boy stormed away from the Gryffindor table and to the door of the Great Hall. Seamus sighed, hoping he found Harry so he could remind him about tomorrow. He should have known something was wrong, because the second he touched the thick wood of the door, a unnerving shiver went down his spine. There was something on the other side of that door that he didn't want to see, but his curiosity got the better of him, and he pushed the door open anyway. A little ways down the hall, Seamus could make out two figures in a tight embrace. He took a few steps forward, making sure he stepped lightly. He was still a little ways away from them, but he could vaguely make out their conversation.

"Why am I not surprised? And what about Finnegan?" there was a pause as Seamus' ears began burning. "You see what I mean, Harry? These people you surround yourself with, these are people you see every goddamn day, and they can't even see your problem! I bet they don't even ask how you feel about any of this, do they?" There was another pause, and a knot began to form in the Irish boy's throat as hot tears burned his eyes. Without sticking around to listen to another word, Seamus turned on heel and ran back to the Great Hall, just as the other students were gathering their things and getting ready to be dismissed.

"Draco, will your dorm mates be…um…comfortable with my staying the night with you?" Harry asked as the two made their way down the corridor. Draco simply nodded as they headed further and further down the hall.

"Surely you don't think that a young man of my status would share a room with near-strangers." he commented. Harry chuckled lightly, noting that some things about Draco just didn't change. The two stopped in front of a large, dark cherry oak wood door. With one gentle push, the door opened to reveal the most beautiful room he had ever seen. It was a lavish little hideaway, with furniture made of fine polished wood and black velvets and silks. (a/n: I'm really out of it right now, so I'll skip the description.)

"Draco, it's gorgeous!" Harry gasped as Draco gently took his hand and led him to the bathroom.

"Thank you. I saw to it that it was decorated the way I like. But, for right now, we need to get you cleaned up and into bed.

A/N: That wasn't the longest chapter, but it's almost 1 and like I said, I'm really out of it. I'll continue soon so leave me lots and lots of comments. Bye now!