Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter (even if I wish I did). JK Rowling is the owner, and this story is based on characters and situations created and owned by her and her publishers. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended. This is all for fun.

Change in Life, Change in Love:

Chapter 5: The Modern Leper

Well is that you in front of me?
Coming back for even more of exactly the same
You must be a masochist to love a modern leper on his last leg
Well I am ill but I'm not dead
And I don't know which of those I prefer
Because that limb which I have lost
Well it was the only thing holding me up
Holding me up

-Frightened Rabbit "The Modern Leper"

Harry had a great time in Diagon Alley with Tonks. They had gone on a spending spree, getting atleast one thing from almost every shop it seemed. He was super grateful for the weightless extendable bag he was carrying all the purchases in. Harry was laughing at something Tonks had said as he stumbled from the fireplace. Harry's laughter stopped suddenly as he heard yelling coming from a room down the hall. He quickly pulled his wand out and ran to the sounds of the angered yelling and was shocked by the sight he saw.

Ron was yelling his face redder than his hair and he had a crying terrified Ren in a full body bind. Harry's heart was beating fast as he looked around for Draco. What he saw shocked him. Seeing Draco sprawled unconscious against the wall caused Harry to turn on Ron.

"What did you do, Ron?" Harry cried.

"What the fuck is he doing here? You weren't here and I saw him and he wouldn't tell me where you were -"

"You didn't give him a chance to answer before you blasted him against the wall you asshole" Ren interrupted.

"Ron, is that true? And why is Ren in a full bodybind?"

"Harry what was I meant to think when I saw Malfoy here?"

"Nothing because you weren't meant to be here. Didn't Dumbledore tell you not to come here?"

"Well its a good thing I did, I can't believe Dumbledore is forcing you to stay here with the ferret."

"Ron, he isn't forcing me. Draco has been through a lot, I want to help him."

"Draco? Since when do you call him by his name? How do you know this isn't some plot just to get close to you?"

"Because Voldemort is after Draco for not pledging his allegiance. He has been on the run since the beginning of the summer. Dumbledore verified he is telling the truth. Plus Draco was in an accident and lost his leg. Do you really think Draco, who is all about image would voluntarily loose his leg just to help capture me?" Harry pleaded.

"Harry, you forget about magic. It's probably a glamour to make it look like it is gone. A healer would never remove a wizards leg because there are plenty of ways to heal it. I wonder about you sometimes Harry."

Harry was getting frustrated with Ron. Ron didn't seem to want to see reason. Harry ran over to Draco to try to revive him, earning a glare from Ron.

"Draco was healed the muggle way because no one knew who he was or what happened to him. By the time the order found him it was too late to heal his leg."

"Oh come on Harry, muggles aren't barbaric. They wouldn't remove legs and call it healing."

"You have a lot to learn about muggles Ron. They aren't kind and innocent like you and your dad think they are. You don't know the half of what my uncle did to me. They aren't all good."

"What the hell did he do to you Harry? You are starting to sound like you know who and his followers."

"Ron, calm down."

"Don't tell me to calm down! You are calling him Draco, acting like he is a friend, worried about his well being and talking about muggles like they do. What did he do do you? What spell did he put you under?"

"I'm not under any spell. He hasn't done anything to me."

As Harry said this, Ron wasn't listening. His temper and hatred of Draco Malfoy was taking over, preventing him from seeing reason. As Ron looked down at Draco, he was seeing red.

"What did you do to Harry?!" Ron screamed at the unconscious form of Draco, kicking at his body. A pain-filled gasp came from Draco, as Ron's foot collided with Draco's amputated leg.

Harry's attention immediately went to Draco, carefully helping him up and into bed before turning to Ron.

"I think you should leave." Harry said icily.

"I'm not leaving you with him. I'm staying to make sure he doesn't do anything else to you like brain wash you more about muggles."

"Ron, leave now and for the last time he hasn't done anything to me. Go talk to Dumbledore if you don't believe me about Draco. And as I said before, you don't know the half of what my uncle did to me. Right now I can't deal with you. Draco needs help because of you."

"Harry if you are really my friend you will forget about Malfoy. Why are you standing up for him after everything he has put you and us through if he doesn't have you under a spell? And I know your uncle made you do chores, but all kids have to. So what if you had to do more than the average person." Harry's eyes turned a deep hard green, at that last comment by Ron. Ron was getting into dangerous territory. Harry had been so focused on helping Draco, so he could try forgetting about his uncle.

"Ron seriously. Leave. Now. This is not the time for this discussion because we are going around in circles."

"So you are choosing him over me? Fine." Ron spat, turning on his heels and storming out before Harry had a chance to respond, leaving Harry staring in the direction Ron left.

Harry turned back towards the bed he was standing next to as he heard soft cries coming from the person on the bed. He looked down and saw pain in the tearfilled stormy grey eyes. He suddenly remembered the other person in the room and turn towards Ren.

"I am so sorry," Harry pleaded. "Can you floo call Severus?" Ren waved Harry off and replied.

"Floo call?"

"By the fireplace is floo powder. Grab a handful and throw it in the fireplace and call for Severus Snape, Spinner's End. Tell him what happened and that we need him to come and look at Draco."

Ren nodded and left the room, leaving Harry and Draco alone. Harry gazed down at Draco, his heart breaking at the sight of Draco. Harry would never wish this pain and hurt on anyone, not even his worst enemy. Draco's pain wasn't just physical, it was emotional and mental too, having to get used to the lose of a leg. Draco needed help in mind, body and spirit, and Harry was even more determined to provide it for Draco.

Hdhdhdhdhdhdhdhdhdhdhdhdhdhdhdhdhdhdhdhd

Harry had stood off the the side as Snape gave Draco potion after potion, and when he was done, he turned and without a word left in true Snape fashion with robes billowing. Harry looked over towards Draco, not sure if he should go to him or just let him be.

"Will you sit next to me?" Draco asked softly in a voice that didn't sound at all like Draco Malfoy. Harry walked over to the bed and carefully sat next to Draco. He couldn't help but stare at what was left of Draco's leg. He felt bad for Draco, couldn't imagine how it felt to loose a body part. Harry had seen amputees in the muggle world before, but never up close, and never someone he knew.

"What did your uncle do to you Harry?" Draco asked, startling Harry and bringing his eyes towards Draco's concerned face.

Harry's eyes hardened at the thought of his uncle and then became vacant as he was trapped in the thoughts of the abuse his uncle put him through. The starvation if he didn't finish all the housework given to him. The beatings if he did one little thing wrong. Harry unconsciously traced one of the scars left on him by his uncle at the thought. But the worst was when his uncle came home drunk. When his uncle would stumble into his small room and throw him on the bed. When his uncle would force him to. Harry couldn't finish that thought has he started to panic at the memories.

Draco looked at Harry in concern. He could tell Harry was stuck in the memories of the past. He knew the feeling. He saw Harry's vacant look. He saw Harry's breathing start to get heavy, Harry's eyes starting to grow wild and scared. He had to do something, but didn't know what. He had to help Harry get out of his thoughts. He had started to care for Harry, in a way he never had cared for anyone before. Maybe it was because Harry had seen him at his most vulnerable and didn't laugh or make fun of him. Harry accepted that part of him. As Draco was thinking of what he could do to help bring Harry out of his revelry, he decided to throw caution to the wind. Draco did the first thing that popped into his mind and leaned towards the black haired boy next to him and kissed him. The kiss worked but not how Draco wanted it to. Harry pushed Draco back, jumping up and running out of the room.

Draco could hear Harry crying from the other room followed by the sound of retching inbetween the sobs. Draco was even more worried now. He wondered what could have caused that reaction in Harry. He had gathered that Harry's uncle had abused or neglected him. It explained why Harry was always so skinny and smaller than most their age. He also saw the scars Harry was unconsciously rubbing. Then it hit him. Draco felt guilty for not realizing it sooner. Harry wasn't just abused/neglected, he was sexually abused. Draco cursed at not being able to get out of the bed to be able to go and help Harry. He also cursed at Weasley for the comments he threw at Harry and the hurt those comments caused Harry. What he wouldn't give to curse Ron.

It felt like hours as Draco sat and listened as Harry's sobs became quieter and quieter, making a vow to help Harry as much as Harry has helped him. As the crying stopped Draco found himself falling into a fitful sleep.

A/N: So sorry it has been long time since I have updated and that his is a short chapter, but I haven't forgotten about this! And new chapters will be coming! I will complete this story and not abandon it! Also looking for a Beta so if anyone is interested, let me know!