Authors Note: I was so surprised when I checked the stats and saw I made people's alert lists. Thanks you guys! Anyway, I hope you guys enjoy this chapter!

Chapter Two

After the two reached Harry's small flat, the young hero gently sat Draco down, brushing back a few stray strands of hair, noting the softness into his memory. "Now don't move, I've got some pain killers in the kitchen. I'll be right back." Yet as Harry turned to go, Draco reached out to him.

"Don't worry about me, really…" Draco replied, his voice a bit hoarse. "It's been worse before-" he stopped mid sentence. "Well shit."

"You mean this happens…often?" the brunette asked in astonishment. As he gazed at the once Prince of Slytherin he could see a myriad of emotions shining through his eyes. There was pain, definitely pain, but also embarrassment, shame, even self hatred. All of these things Harry could identify for he himself had felt them at some point. What he did not understand was how the hot-headed, confident, never give in to anyone Draco he once knew had morphed into the person who is now in front of him. He sighed softly. "I'll be right back," he said before retreating to the kitchen.

As Draco watched him leave he let out a small groan, shutting his eyes. 'What have I done?' he thought, letting out a small sigh. 'Why did I even cross the street? I should have just kept going, pretending not to see him. Though technically even if I had not run into Dominic with Harry, this outcome would have been inevitable. Perhaps I should be a bit relieved that at least now I have someone helping me out…even if it is Harry.'

The soft patter of socks on a wooden floor tore Draco from his thoughts and when he glanced up he was met with a pair of hands. In one there were two small pills, and in the other a steaming cup of tea. "This should help," he said softly, placing the pills in his hands and the cup on the table before sitting across from him.

"Thanks," the blonde replied softly, slipping the pills into his mouth and taking a sip of the tea. "It's good." He watched Harry nod as they fell into another silence. This is the time he took to glance around, noticing that Harry had done very well for himself. The walls were painted beige, going well with the carpets, the same shade as the walls at his café. There was nothing overly fancy about this place, but rather just an old fashioned homely look. "You're place is very nice…as much as I hate to admit it, you have good taste Potter."

Harry gave him a small smile. "Why thank you. I know it's not as sharp as yours, but I do try. Perhaps someday I'll be as good as you."

Draco allowed himself to laugh softly. "Don't bet on it."

"Draco…I know you may not want to talk to me, but I wish you would." Harry emerald eyes looked directly into his grey ones. "I mean…during the war we got to know each other quite a bit didn't we? I would say friends but I'd rather not make that kind of assumption. But…I guess what I'm trying to say is that you can talk to me. I want to help you…"

The young slytherin picked up his cup of tea once more, his hands a bit shaky. He took a sip and let out a quivering breathe. "I suppose there's no point in trying to hide…after what you saw. Which thank you, by the way, but you don't know what you've gotten yourself into. During the war I…I was hated by so many people, because no one knew what was really going on. I couldn't tell anyone about it…except you. Which I am grateful for, just so you know. Those were probably some of the best days I had…talking with you. But after…when you won, I thought things would be different, but they weren't. I was pretty much alone. My parents were dead, I never had any actual friends, and I assumed that you'd be right back with Granger and Weasley."

At that point Draco noted that Harry seemed to want to interrupt, but refrained from doing so, allowing him to continue. "I tried living at the manor for a while, thinking I'd just move on and become who I was meant to. But that wasn't meant to happen I guess. After a while of being hated and knowing I'd be alone I decided to leave and come here, try to make a fresh start. I didn't have any money or anything though, I left it all behind. I ended up in one of the shadier parts of London…that's where I met Dominic. I was just walking, not really paying attention to my surroundings when I was mugged and almost…almost raped. I could have stopped it but…I gave up struggling. It didn't seem worth it…I didn't seem worth it. I felt so dirty…so worthless…like I am. "

A pause. The small cup in Draco's hand made a clattering sound as the spoon repeatedly hit the side. Finally, he placed it down, and let out another shaky breathe. "Dominic came out of nowhere and stopped it before they could get very far though. I couldn't think, couldn't speak. It was almost surreal, I couldn't believe any of it was actually happening to me. I'm Draco Malfoy, son of one the shrewdest men in the wizarding world, thought to be a death eater. Anyway…he gave me a place to stay after that. He seemed alright…he did save me after all. But it didn't take long for things to go sour."

"I became more of a property to him than anything else. Someone to shag whenever he felt the need, or any of his friends for that matter…He seemed to enjoy sharing me with them. Then he started hitting me…almost as a warning, commanding me to never leave, never tell anyone." He let out a bitter laugh. "There was no need to worry though…there was no one to tell. It got worse after a while, but I just let him do what he wants. He always tells me how worthless I am as he's doing it. How he's the only one who would ever put up with me." By now, there were pearlescent tears beginning to fall down his cheeks. "But I already knew…He didn't have to pound it into me…I already knew."

The blonde suddenly found himself no longer able to speak, choking out a sob as the few tears became many, steaming down his cheeks as he began sobbing uncontrollably. Loneliness, fear, self loathing coursed through his body, raging a battle deep inside of him. It was for this reason that he was surprised when he suddenly felt warmth flowing through him as a pair of strong arms wrapped around him, pulling him close. "H-Harry…"

To his surprise, when Harry responded, it sounded like he too was crying. "Gods Draco…I'm so, so sorry. I didn't….didn't know at all. I wish you had been able to talk to me before you left. I tried to find you for a while after you left but…there wasn't a single clue. It was like you had just vanished. I never would have left you alone Dray…never."

"You're daft," Draco choked out, struggling weakly to pull away. However despite his attempts, the other only held on tighter. "I deserve this…deserve the pain. After everything I've done, that my father did. I thought being like him was the only thing I could do. And now I have to pay for it, pay for what I've done to so many people."

"That's not true!" Harry said softly, gently running his fingers through soft, blonde hair. "No one deserves this, especially not you. I know we didn't get along during school, and maybe you were a bit of a handful, but you changed Draco. You turned against your own parents to help the light…to help me. What you did was incredibly brave and very meaningful to so many people. You've saved so many others…" Harry watched as Draco's form relaxed, and he clung onto Harry's shirt, encouraging him to continue. "It'll be alright…I promise I'll help you. You just have to let me…"

As Draco pulled himself, if possible, even closer to Harry, he shook his head. Although he desperately wanted to believe in the words that were being spoken to him, he shouldn't, couldn't get Harry involved. Dominic he knew was not someone to be trifled with. "Y-you don't know what he's like…I can't leave Harry…I can never leave. And you….you shouldn't even be helping me. If he f-finds out where I am…you could get hurt Harry…it's not worth it."

Harry tsked lightly, pulling back so that their eyes locked. "It is worth it Draco…you're worth it," he whispered, and placed a small, chaste kiss on Draco's forehead before gazing into his eyes once more. "I don't care about him, or what he thinks he can do. I'm not letting you go back there Dray…no matter what you say."

"Stubborn git," Draco muttered as he let out a small laugh. Sniffling softly, he pulled back a bit, mumbling something about it being hot as he pulled his over shirt over his head. He heard Harry gasp and gave him a questioning look before seeing a glint of purple out of the corner of his eye. His pale skin was marred with slowly forming bruises in the shape of fingerprints, probably from when Dominic had been grabbing him. "Sorry…I know it's not very pretty"

Yet instead of looking away in disgust, which Draco had come to expect from anyone who laid eyes upon his distorted body, he gave a small gasp as Harry slowly lifted his arm. Very gently, fingers began tracing their way down his arm, outlining the bruises that had been left behind as a reminder of what had happened. Unable to actually believe it, but it was the most comfortable Draco had felt since the war. "You're beautiful…" he heard Harry whisper, causing his eyes to widen. Before he knew what was happening he felt a soft pair of lips brush against his. His brain shut down as his feelings took over, leading him to kiss back, taking comfort in Harry's care.

When they pulled back, Harry brought his hand to Draco's cheek, gently brushing over it with his thumb. The slytherin leaned into his touch, letting out a small sigh before giving him a questioning look. "You better not be pitying me…"

Harry shook his head before placing a feather light kiss on his cheek. "Never." And as Draco was about to protest the brunette held a finger to his lips. "I'm not letting you go back, you'll stay here, with me. Draco…this guy is going to get you killed, don't you see that? I could never let that happen…"

"But why?" Draco asked, looking at him desperately. "Why do you care so much? I was such a monster towards you when we were young. I've done terrible things. I'm ugly…used…what could you ever see in me?"

Harry gave him a smile. "When I look at you, I see a brilliant, beautiful, brave man, who's only flaw is that he cannot see the beauty within himself," he answered, accentuating each descriptive word with a kiss. Brushing away the last few tears, Harry slowly stood up. "Now…when's the last time you've had a proper meal hm?"

Pale cheeks flushed as Draco turned away. "I can't really remember…he's not very generous."

When he looked up, he saw Harry holding out his hand, a silent request for him to join him. He couldn't help but be reminded of their first day of school, when he had done the same. But he had been young and hotheaded back then, too much for his own good. The way things were now, he knew he and Harry could be together. He placed his hand in Harry's, pulling himself up. "What do you have in mind?"

Authors Note: Woohoo for updating quickly! It's not over yet though, there's probably going to be one or two more parts. I hope you've enjoyed it so far though J Review!