Draco Malfoy was a terrible person.

This was Harry's thought as he watched the white-blonde Slytherin use a trip jinx on a Hufflepuff further down the corridor. The Hufflepuff was Zacharias Smith mind you, and Harry wouldn't mind tripping him up sometimes either, but that wasn't the point.

Malfoy had been quiet at the beginning the term, not causing any issues with anyone, and for one fleeting moment, Harry had wondered if they were going to have a quiet, civil year. That only lasted a few weeks however and, like someone flicking a switch, Malfoy had reverted to being the pretentious, elitist, bully that he always was.

This week seemed to be worse than normal, if Malfoy's behaviour was anything to go by. Harry had seen him target three people in particular. Zacharias Smith, Justin Finch-Fletchley and Cormac McLaggen. None of whom Harry had a particular affinity for, but he did vaguely wonder what they had done to irk Malfoy to this degree of bullying. He had been blowing up their cauldrons, tripping them, sabotaging broomsticks and at one point had disarmed McLaggen and locked him in a broom closet with two Monster Book of Monsters. Ron, who hadn't liked McLaggen since they went up against each other in Quidditch the previous year and he'd shown an interest in Hermione, had found it hysterical, and then confusing when he heard who had done it and wasn't sure who to root for. The most bizarre thing Harry had noticed, was that Malfoy no longer felt the need to have Crabbe and Goyle, or any of his friends, behind him when he started picking on people. Something he would never have dared do without in previous years. Harry found it odd, then rolled his eyes at himself, why did he care? Malfoy was a prat, end of story.

He started walking in the general direction of the argument that was now happening between Malfoy and Smith, sensing it was about to escalate and sighing, wondering why he always felt the need to step in and break things up.

Smith obviously said something to insult Malfoy following this latest trip jinx, for Malfoy, who had never before been one for hand-to-hand combat, all but dropped his wand and dove at Smith, tackling him to the ground then straddling on top of him, punching him in the face.

"Hey!" Harry shouted, as the students in the corridor started crowding around, shouting and jeering, all excited for a fight.

Harry pushed his way through as Smith lifted a fist and connected it hard into Malfoy's ribs. It seemed Malfoy barely felt it though as he lifted his own fist again to smack it into Zacharias' face.

Harry had finally managed to push his way through the crowd, and grabbed Malfoy's raised arm, throwing his other arm round the blonde's chest and hauling him off. He pushed him against the wall, but Malfoy's eyes were still fixed on Smith who had stood up and was striding towards them angrily.

Great, Harry thought, how am I going to deal with both of these idiots?

Luckily, Ron and Hermione had come into the corridor and pushed their way through the crowd as well and Ron grabbed Zacharias, stopping him from charging at Malfoy.

"Back off Smith, or I'm docking points" Ron growled at him, his Prefect badge gleaming on his robes.

Zacharias scoffed. "You can't be serious Weasley, he started it, I didn't do anything" he snarled, pointing at Malfoy.

Harry had turned to watch Smith and Ron, and suddenly Malfoy tried to move forward, and Harry whipped back round to hold him in place. Harry looked into his eyes and they were alight with rage, a rage Harry didn't think he'd ever seen in him, a rage that hadn't been directed at even Harry himself before.

"That goes for you too, Malfoy" Hermione said sharply.

"You should go to the Hospital Wing" Harry told Zacharias, noticing the bruising and swelling start to form around his eyes.

Zacharias growled but turned and stormed off.

"What was that about?" Hermione demanded, facing Malfoy, as the crowd dissipated.

Malfoy finally turned away from Smith's retreating back and he sneered at Hermione.

"None of your business, mudblood" he sneered, then pushed Harry's hands off him and stalked off. Harry wished he could have punched him right in the face.

"Hey! That's 20 points from Slytherin for foul language!" Ron roared after him. Malfoy just gave him a rude hand gesture over his shoulder.

Hermione sighed. "I swear he's worse than normal" she said.

Harry nodded in agreement. "Thanks for helping" he said gratefully.

"No problem" Ron said "It's almost a shame we're Prefects though, I would have quite liked to watch them beat the shit out of each other"

"Ron!" Hermione scolded, but she couldn't quite help the smirk that crossed her face.

- 0 -

The next few days continued until it was finally Friday and Harry looked forward to not having to deal with Malfoy for a couple of days. He had been breaking up fights between him and the three boys all week.

He had also been unbelievably awful to the golden trio, throwing out insults every time he saw them, and Harry could tell he was furious that they were getting involved in his fights.

They didn't even bother docking house points from him anymore, it obviously didn't faze him and had only resulted in other Slytherin's starting fights with Gryffindor's in retaliation.

That evening Harry decided to go clear his head, and leave Hermione and Ron alone for some couple time. He stuffed his invisibility cloak in his bag, changed into his Quidditch robes and grabbed his broom, before heading out into the cool night, enjoying the freedom of walking in the dark when there wasn't tons of students.

He reached the Quidditch pitch, mounted his Firebolt and kicked off from the ground.

Harry flew upwards and sped around the pitch, just starting to relax and enjoy himself when he spotted something, a lump on one of the Quidditch seats in the Slytherin stand. Was that a student?

He flew quickly up to the lump and as he neared, he spotted white-blonde hair, almost glowing in the moonlight. He slowed down, was this a trick? Was he going to attack Harry? No that was ridiculous, he couldn't have known Harry would come out there. Still, he landed a little bit away and tread slowly up to the Slytherin who was lain across the benches.

He reached out and shook Malfoy's shoulder, how in the world had he ended up here? Malfoy didn't move or make a sound when Harry shook him. Frowning Harry knelt down and picked up Malfoy's pale wrist, searching for a pulse. As he did something dropped from his hand. Priorities first, Harry decided, and checked for a pulse, exhaling a breath he didn't know he'd been holding when he felt it, then Harry whispered Lumos to see what had fell.

The light from his wand lit up the stands and Harry reached down, finding a few items. He picked them up and placed them on the bench beside Malfoy, looking at them properly before his jaw dropped open in shock. There was a teaspoon, covered in some sort of semi-hardened liquid, a little bag of brown powder, a muggle lighter, and a syringe. Harry cast the light over Malfoy and shifted the boy, lifting his sleeves to see his arms. One oddly had a bandage haphazardly wrapped around it over the forearm. Maybe it was an injury from his fighting, Harry considered. But then he finally found what he was looking for. Underneath his other robe sleeve was a rolled up shirt sleeve, a belt tied loosely around his bicep and he could see a few small puncture marks in at his elbow.

"What the fuck Malfoy?" Harry whispered. He felt confused. He shouldn't really care if Malfoy was a junkie should he? He always knew he was a terrible person, but he always thought it was in a 'I'm rich and better than everyone' way, not in a 'I do class A drugs' way.

Harry curled his lip in disgust at the boy in front of him. Just another bored, rich kid doing something stupid, he thought, rolling his eyes and sighing.

He was tempted to leave Malfoy outside to be found by Hooch in the morning and get expelled for using illegal substances, then everyone could have a peaceful year. But the small, annoying, saviour part of him knew he couldn't leave him out here to freeze to death, or to possibly choke on his own vomit.

Sighing again, he pocketed the items, figuring he would hold onto them until he decided what to do with them, and grabbed Malfoy by the arm, hauling him up. He noticed, and realised it from the other day as well, that he was lighter than he thought he would be, considering he and Harry were of equal height, not that it made him any easier to drag up, but he eventually got there and threw Malfoy's arm around his neck. Shit what was he doing? He could just levitate him!

Harry was about to drop Malfoy on the floor to grab his wand when the Slytherin let out a small groan and Harry stopped moving.

"Malfoy, are you awake?" Harry asked, shaking him. If he woke up then Harry could confront him, and would have one-up on Malfoy for the rest of the year, he could stop him from being such a bully. Harry smirked at the idea. It would also mean Malfoy could get himself back to bed instead of Harry finding somewhere for him.

Malfoy groaned again and opened his eyes blearily, though Harry could tell by the size of his pupils in the light of the moon that Malfoy had no idea where he was, and most likely didn't care. He rolled his eyes. Why was he making himself deal with this?

"Malfoy!" he said, sitting him down again on one of the seats and leaning in front of him, giving him a slap in the face and smirking as Malfoy pulled a slightly annoyed face but still seemed obviously out of it. If only Ron and Hermione could see this.

Malfoy finally turned and looked at Harry, reaching a hand out and touching Harry's hair, chuckling as he did so. Harry watched him with bewildered amusement. Oh this was too good, Harry wondered if Malfoy would remember this tomorrow.

"Malfoy" Harry tried again "Do you know where you are?"

Draco looked around blankly, still chuckling and turned back to Harry "No" he said, and laughed, before lying back on the bench and closing his eyes.

"Oh no you don't!" Harry exclaimed. "I am not dragging your ass all the way back to the castle!"

"You can drag me wherever you want" Malfoy mumbled, as Harry hauled him up into a sitting position. But as he pulled Malfoy up, he suddenly lurched forward, throwing up onto Harry's feet.

"Are you fucking serious Malfoy?" Harry snarled, pulling out his wand and cleaning the sick away.

"I'm sorry" Malfoy mumbled sadly, his voice small.

Well that's a first, Harry thought, a Malfoy apologising.

"I'm going to levitate you back to the castle" Harry snapped at him, pointing his wand at the blonde.

"No" Malfoy groaned. "No levitating, I can walk"

Well it looked like throwing up had got some of out his system anyway, though he still seemed delirious and out of it.

"Fine" Harry sighed, grabbing him again and throwing his arm around his shoulder.

Thankfully, Malfoy actually got his legs moving, though very slowly, and not steadily, so they were lurching around a little as Harry took them down the steps to the pitch.

Deciding he might as well ask questions, since Malfoy wasn't in his right mind, he spoke to the blonde.

"So what's with the drugs Malfoy?" he asked curiously.

"Have you got some?" Malfoy asked blearily, not able to concentrate in his current state.

"No, I'm asking why you take drugs"

"I like to forget things" the Slytherin replied casually.

"Forget what?" Harry asked curiously.

"All the bad stuff"

"What bad stuff?"

"Everything"

Harry sighed, typical dramatic Malfoy.

"Please" Harry scoffed. "You have everything you want, you're the most spoiled person I know"

"Okay" was all Malfoy said, as his eyelids fluttered and he let Harry lead him out the pitch and start up the path to the castle. Harry looked ahead, this was going to take a while. He tried again with Malfoy.

"Drugs can kill you, you know" he told him.

"I tried to stop" Malfoy mumbled and Harry looked at him oddly, but he had his head tilted back and his eyes closed as though keeping them open was too much effort. So this wasn't a casual thing? Did Malfoy have an actual addiction to drugs?

"What happened? Why did you start again?"

"I slept with my sponsor, then he gave up on me and there was no-one to help me"

Well now, Harry thought, his eyebrows raising at that. This is interesting. Purebloods weren't allowed to be gay, he knew that much, obviously Malfoy had no filter on what he was saying right now. Harry smirked again, he was going to have so much over Malfoy by the end of the night.

"Are you gay?" he asked quickly.

"Yeah" was the simple answer he received. Harry grinned, this was already enough to keep Malfoy in line for the rest of the school year.

"Was he good in bed?" Harry asked, the more detail he had to embarrass Malfoy with, the better.

Malfoy gave what Harry thought was meant to be a shrug but was just a jerky movement since his arm was around Harry. "Not really, I just needed somewhere to stay in the muggle world" he mumbled.

Drugs and whoring himself out for favours, with a muggle no less! And the Malfoy's were supposed to be classy. Harry just snorted in response.

"Tell me more about him" Harry coaxed.

"Hmmm" Draco hummed vaguely. "I thought he was okay at first, he was older than me but he was the one that found me and took me to the muggle meetings"

"How much older?"

"Uuuuummm... thirties? Maybe?" Draco guessed blankly, his eyes were blearily opening and closing, his feet still shuffling slowly.

Harry bit his lip to stop himself laughing. So Malfoy had slept with a man double his age, he couldn't believe his luck. He thought about the rest of what Malfoy said.

"What do you mean he "found you"?" Harry asked. "Where were you?"

"I ran away"

"Why?"

"I'm going to be sick" was all the warning Harry got before Malfoy bent forward and threw up again, thankfully on the grass this time.

Harry cleaned it up again, but Malfoy stayed crouched on the ground, shivering. Harry sighed, pointing his wand at the blonde and casting a warming charm, before taking Malfoy's arm again and pulling him back up.

"Did you run away from home?" Harry asked, desperate to get the entire story.

Draco nodded.

"Why? Did daddy not buy you something you wanted?" Harry scoffed.

"Why are you so mean?" Draco whined with furrowed brows and Harry laughed.

"Me? Did you forget who you are?" Harry snorted derisively.

"I was trying to" was all Malfoy said.

They were now at the castle but Harry realised he had no idea where to take Malfoy, despite his hatred for him, he couldn't help but be curious and feel somewhat responsible for Malfoy not somehow choking to death on his sick overnight. He decided to take him to the Room of Requirement and paced in front of the door, asking for a bedroom. The door appeared and he pushed it open, dragging Malfoy inside and putting him on the bed. He immediately rolled onto his back and Harry shook his head, rolling him onto his side and stuffing pillows behind his back so he couldn't roll backwards.

As he did so, Malfoy turned to him, and Harry got a chance to really look at his eyes in the light of the room. He didn't look like the Malfoy he knew. Without a sneer, or insults on his lips or the hateful glares, he just seemed... normal. Well, except for the large pupils.

He looked up at Harry and smiled, and Harry found himself stopping in his tracks. He had never seen Malfoy smile, never genuinely, he had a nice smile.

"Will you be my new sponsor?" he asked Harry hopefully.

"No Malfoy, and when you're back to normal you really won't want that, you hate me" Harry reminded him.

Malfoy frowned. "No I don't"

"Yes you do, and I hate you too"

Malfoy just looked at him. There was a pause while he continued to stare dazedly at Harry before his eyes drifted away. "I don't know who I am anymore" he whispered to nobody in particular.

Harry rolled his eyes and retorted "I can help with that one. You are Draco Malfoy, self-obsessed, rich, elitist, pure-blood, a complete bully, a coward, an inferior Quidditch player and all-round awful person" Harry finished. "Does that help?"

Malfoy stared at him and Harry knew he didn't imagine the pain in his eyes. He felt an odd stab of guilt, kicking Malfoy when he was already down. The blonde made an odd movement with his head, somewhere between a nod and a shake. Then stared at Harry again.

"Maybe you could save me" he whispered.

"No" Harry said tiredly.

Malfoy's face crumpled a little, looking for all the world as if he was going to cry.

"Why?" he asked, pained, and his voice broke as he continued "You save everyone else, why can't you save me? I need you"

Harry bit his lip. He didn't realise it would be so hard seeing Malfoy this vulnerable. He knew the Slytherin would regret all of this, if he even remembered it in the morning.

"Why do you need saving?" Harry asked.

Malfoy just looked at him for a second then bit his lip, his eyes were starting to drift shut and Harry could tell he was on the verge of passing out.

"I can't say" Draco whispered.

"Then I can't help you" Harry told him.

As Draco's eyes shut, he reached out a hand, taking hold of Harry's.

"Don't let me go home" he breathed, and he fell asleep.

Harry frowned, looking down at the blonde. Don't let him go home? What did that mean? What was happening at home?

Harry sighed tiredly and slid his hand away, letting Draco's drop on the bed and he sat back on one of the chairs. He didn't feel like he could sleep with Malfoy in this state, so he settled into a comfy chair that appeared beside the bed, and prepared himself for a long night.

- 0 -

Morning finally arrived - thankfully with no vomit choking - and Harry stood up from the chair, slipping his invisibility cloak on and vanishing the chair away. Malfoy would surely be waking up soon and Harry wanted to observe him. He wasn't sure if he'd remember anything and hadn't decided on what to do with anything Malfoy had told him yesterday, as well as the gear that was in his robe pocket.

It wasn't long before Draco stirred, shifting on the bed and opening his eyes blearily. As he did and the light hit him, he groaned and squeezed them closed, turning back over and pulling a pillow over his face.

With a great deal of effort he managed to sit up, and looked around the room in confusion, looking over at the other side of the bed that wasn't slept in and looking even more confused. He then looked down at himself as if shocked to find himself wearing his school clothes. He moved his arm up to run his hand through his hair but winced instead, then looked down at his arm in dread.

"No, no, no, no" he began to mumble, staggering into the adjoining bathroom and looking in the mirror, dropping his robes off and looking at his rolled up shirt sleeve and the obviously new injection point.

"No" he whispered to himself. His face crumpled in shame and self-loathing and he punched the mirror, shattering it into pieces and sliding down the side of the bath, bringing his knees up and dropping his head in his hands, sobs starting to shake his body.

Harry's shoulders dropped and he suddenly felt awful for taking joy out of Malfoy's problems. He was clearly trying to beat this addiction. But he was still an awful person, he didn't deserve Harry's help... did he?

Harry took the opportunity while Malfoy was crying to silently creep from the room and out the door.

He needed to think.