A/N: So I'm alive. Hehe, sorry for not updating sooner, life kinda, sorta, got in the way. Anyways, I had a fabulous birthday. My best friend spent the night and we went and saw the Hobbit. Then the next day we had a movie marathon and watched Captain America, Thor, and The Avengers in that exact order. Now onto business. You are all going to absolutely HATE me for this chapter but the idea struck me like lightening and I had to, so suck it up like the good little reader's and reviewers that you are. Now, LittleThingsToMakeYouSmile, as my absolute favorite reviewer, I am going to formally apologize for crushing your feels in advance.

Warnings: Mentions of abuse

Disclaimer: I do not own. Do not be a douche canoe and think I am taking credit for the beautiful and talented Jo Rowling's work.

Enjoy!

Draco sighed for the fourth time, pale fingers gripping his hair in frustration. He had confined himself to the safety of the library, occupying a small space towards the way back that nobody else seemed to notice. But that was okay, he didn't really want company at the moment. He couldn't help but think back to the scene on the train. Bile rose up into his throat when he thought about how awful he was for leading Blaise on. Blaise. That was the other issue he was facing. He rubbed at the blooming bruises on his wrist. Such a relationship couldn't be healthy, but his boyfriend had all but beat it into him that he would never-could never- do better. A muffled whimper escaped his throat and it caught the attention of a certain Gryffindor.

Hermione Granger was an above average student. Beautiful honey-brown curls and warm brown eyes—she had grown out of her awkward stage and it showed. The library was her safe-haven and being the smartest witch of her generation definitely put her under a lot of pressure. As she made her way to the farthest corner of the library (as was her usual study area) her sensitive ears detected a small sound that sounded distinctly like a muffled sob. Her eyes scanned the aisles until she came to where she would normally sit and study—a small table at the farthest corner. However, this time it was occupied by a rather handsome blonde teen who she recognized as Draco Malfoy. Frowning, she strode over to him. His eyes snapped up to meet hers and she was shocked at the pain and sorrow she found there. His grey-blue eyes were clouded over with tears that threatened to spill over down his porcelain cheeks. Her breath caught in her throat and she immediately dropped into the seat next to him.

"Hello there. My name is Hermione Granger. This is usually where I like to sit and work, but it's nice to finally have some company." Her tone was soft and soothing and Draco noted that she smelled of parchment and honeysuckle, and odd but beautiful scent. He thought it suited her.

"I-I can leave…" He started, but the pretty brunette waved it off.

"Nonsense! You are clearly upset. I feel like this is something you wouldn't tell your best friend, is it? Why not tell me? You have absolutely nothing to lose." The words were very frank and suddenly he couldn't help but feel that he could trust this girl explicitly. She was right. Who would she tell?

"Um, I don't really know how to say it." He murmured softly. He took a deep breath and rolled up his sleeves exposing a set of fresh bruises in the shape of a hand. He winced at her small gasp of horror. "Hideous, aren't they? I've got more. But I deserve them, I think. I wasn't listening to him and he grabbed me." He waved his wand with a small 'Finite Incantum' and a few more bruises along with a rather nasty one on his left cheek became apparent—a stark contrast against his pale countenance. "He hit me because I deserved it. I wouldn't…have sex with him. It's not his fault though. I shouldn't have riled him up, been a tease." His eyes squeezed shut as a few tears slipped out. Draco knew this what Blaise told him wasn't true and how he treated Draco wasn't okay, but he couldn't help but believe the cruel words.

"Draco…" She was speechless. Who could abuse such a beautiful person? She'd heard stories about his kindness and how he'd broken away from his father's influence. Someone like him didn't deserve this. "I don't care what he told you, but no one deserves this, do you hear me? I am going to take you up to Madame Pomfrey right now to have those taken care of. But I need you to tell me the name of the one or two people you would trust with your life. Do you understand? They need to know so they can help you." Hermione's tone was strict but in a loving way and the blonde couldn't help but feel that she was right. It was as if he was seeing his...situation in a whole new light. Nodding numbly, he took her hand.

"Can you just sit here with me for a bit?" His voice was scratchy and Hermione's heart broke for the boy. She had just met him but she couldn't help the pull she felt towards him. The need she felt to reach out and help him. She nodded silently and suddenly she found herself with an armful of sobbing blonde.

"Oh Draco…" She whispered softly. She pressed a tender kiss to the top of his head, holding him close and whispering sweet nothings into his ears to soothe him.

"Harry Potter and Professor Snape." He said suddenly. She started slightly as they had been sitting in near silence (if you didn't count the occasional sniffle or sob) for a good half hour. "I want them to know. I think I'm ready to get help with this." His voice displayed more confidence than he felt and he knew that the brunette might know that somehow. But if she detected the hint of nervousness staining his voice, she didn't comment. She quickly wrote two separate notes telling Professor Snape and Harry to meet her in the hospital wing about matters regarding one Draco Malfoy, and charmed them into paper airplanes that would fly directly to who they were intended for.

Helping the blonde up, the two made their way to the infirmary where they were instantly greeted by Madame Pomfrey.

"Hello dears, what can I help you with?" The question was directed at Draco but Hermione answered for him.

"Draco has some bruises that he'd like healed." Hermione stated softly. For the first time, Madame Pomfrey seemed to really notice Draco and she sucked in a sharp breath when her mind registered the distinct bruising. She shook her head as if to clear it and led him towards a bed. Drawing the curtains shut she said,

"I'm going to have to ask you to remove your clothing so I can see the extent of your…abuse." She tried not to let the sight of the young man in front of her hinder her work. Madame Pomfrey watched as he silently removed his shirt and trousers revealing another set of hand-print shaped bruises decorating his thighs. She sighed and got to work casting diagnostic spells. She made sure to tell him exactly what she was doing so as to not frighten him. After about five minutes she could hear the door slam open and she poked her head out to see Severus and Harry looking frantic. Hermione gave Draco a reassuring smile and he weakly grinned back.

"Where's Draco?! Is he okay?!" this was said both by Snape and Harry as they scanned the room. Hermione took a deep breath and emerged from behind the curtain where she had been previously sitting with Draco. They seemed surprised to see her, but didn't comment. Steeling herself, she said,

"No. He's not. I found him in the library and he was upset, so I asked him what was wrong and…well I think you should see for yourself.

When Harry had received a paper airplane memo telling him that Draco was in the infirmary, his heart dropped into his stomach and his blood ran cold. His beautiful angel could be injured! He had gathered his bag and raced as fast as he could only to see Professor Snape moving in the same direction, a matching look of initial worry and panic gracing his normally stoic features. They burst into the infirmary demanding to know where Draco was and he was surprised to see Hermione Granger, the girl from the train. The tears in her eyes instantly gave away that something was seriously wrong. Her words only confirmed the fact.

"H-harry? Is that you?" Draco's voice drifted out from behind a closed curtain and Harry immediately made his way over, ripping open the curtain. Whatever he was about to say died on his tongue as his eyes drifted over Draco's battered form.

"My god…Draco why didn't you tell me? I knew Blaise wasn't good for you, that son a bitch!" Harry's voice was laced with anger and he kicked the bed frame. Severus appeared to be speechless.

"Really, Mr. Potter! Mind your language. I understand you are upset with your friend's condition but he is my patient and he need not be frightened!" Madame Promfrey scolded as she bustled around Draco, applying a cream to his bruises.

"I can't believe Blaise was…was...abusing you." He spat the words out. Harry was beyond pissed! How could someone do that to his Draco? Harry took a deep breath and sat next to the blonde, the professor choosing instead to lean against the wall. Hermione took that as her cue to leave and the minute she was gone he burst into tears, gasping out what had happened. He told them how it had started out okay and how at first Blaise had been so sweet. He told them how after a few months the abuse began, little degrading comments how he could never do better, and the Blaise was really the only one who would love him. He told how the physical abuse started that summer and how Blaise would hit him here and there, or grip his arm just a little too tight, but that he would apologize for hitting him with whispered words of love and promises that it wouldn't happen again only for it to continue. He said that Blaise had forced him to put a glamour over his bruises so as to not arouse suspicion. Harry held his best friend close, not saying a word, though he didn't think he could speak if he wanted to. He rocked the distraught teen gently and soon Draco's eyelids were drooping.

Harry looked over at Professor Snape. The man had a deep look of concentration on his face and didn't seem in the mood to speak. Harry sighed and laid next to the now sleeping blonde, curling up next to him and holding him close as if he would disappear. As he drifted off to sleep, he vaguely registered someone pulling the soft, worn sheets over them before the curtains were once more drawn shut.

A/N: I'M SO SORRY MY LOVES, PLEASE DON'T KILL ME. *hides in my pillow fort* Okay, so I have big plans regarding them in the next chapter so I will try to update soon. I will work on entering more characters into the plot, i.e Pansy, Theo, Ron, Luna, Ginny etc. I have finals coming up in about two weeks and my life is about to become very hectic. I see that no one really took my challenge very seriously. I want you all to comment in a review how old you think I am. I'm curious to see how you all perceive me. So anyways, I await your reviews. HINT: Reviews give me an incentive to update.

Xoxo,

JustWriteforYou