Chapter 7

Harry smirked at Draco. After a few phone calls, Harry had driven Draco out to see Sirius in his car, he didn't think Sirius would approve of the motorcycle. Draco was currently bouncing around, debating which piercing to get while looking at the tattoos Sirius had just recently started expanding into. Harry chuckled at Draco as the blonde suddenly tripped over his own two feet and fell face first onto the couch. Harry held out his hand.

"Here, let me help," Draco sheepishly took the offered hand, "start with something small. How about your ear? That way you'll get a piercing and your parents won't really freak out on you."

Draco nodded, "yeah, okay."

Draco headed off to the back room with Sirius while Harry took a seat on the couch. He leaned back and rested his head against the armrest. Harry took a deep breath and closed his eyes, taking in the familiarity of the studio. He had practically grown up there, the setting was a comforting one to Harry. Letting his mind wander, Harry drifted into a light sleep. Sometime later he felt himself being shaken awake. Harry groaned and turned over, not wanting to end the dream of his parents still alive.

"Harry, Harry, come on, it's time to go."

Harry swatted at Draco, "go away."

Draco chuckled and lifted Harry into his arms after unclipping the keys from his belt, "I'll get him home, Sirius."

"Thanks Draco."

"No, thank you. I guess we'll see you when you get home."

Sirius nodded and Draco headed out the door with Harry in his arms. Draco gazed down at the dark-haired boy nestled against his chest. Somehow all of it felt right. To his friends, minus Harry, his life was perfect; his father was a local business mogul and his mother was a famous artist, all in all he lived a pretty lavish lifestyle. Most of the kids at school saw him as a spoiled rich kid. What they didn't know was that the material possessions were a replacement for his parents. Draco had spent the majority of his childhood being raised by this nanny or that nanny because his parents couldn't be bothered. He placed Harry into the front seat of his car before climbing into the driver's seat. Draco ran a pale hand through his platinum blonde hair and sighed. How would Harry take the news of his wealthy family? He hadn't exactly been open about that.

The drive back to Harry's house was quiet and uneventful as Harry slept the whole way. Draco took the time to contemplate how to introduce Harry to his real life and not the one he ran around pretending to live. Draco almost cringed at the realization that he would have to tell Harry no matter what. He'd never before felt the need to be so utterly honest with anyone. Harry did something to him and he wasn't sure he liked the feeling very much. Draco was pulled out of his musings when the very being he was obsessing about groaned and shifted slightly next to him; Harry was waking up. Draco pulled into Harry's driveway just as the dark-haired boy's eyes fluttered open. He looked at Draco as if wondering where they were.

"Sorry, hope you don't mind I drove your car, but you didn't want to wake up. Have a nice nap?"

"What? Yeah. How'd you get me into the car?"

Draco chuckled, "please, Harry, it wasn't all that hard. Like I said when we first met, you're barley taller than a freshman and you're tiny as anything. Don't you eat?"

Harry blushed, "of course I eat, juts not a lot. I haven't been all that hungry lately, I never had much of an appetite anyways. Drove my mom crazy, she was always forcing a home cooked meal down my throat. I guess I just forget to eat."

"How do you forget to eat? Harry, you'll get sick. You can't just neglect your body's needs."

"That's what my mother used to say, and it wouldn't be the first time I've gotten sick from lack of nutrition," Harry shrugged, "it's no big deal."

Draco stared in shock as Harry climbed out of the car. He pulled the keys out of the ignition and followed Harry into the house. Something about the situation didn't sit too well. What wasn't Harry telling him? He found Harry in the kitchen sipping from a bottle of water. Draco just stared at him waiting for him to continue. Harry, obviously, was not in a talkative mood. Taking a deep breath for strength, Draco moved closer to Harry, intent on not letting the subject drop.

"Plan on filling me in on that little tidbit of information, Harry?"

Harry shrugged again, "nothing to tell."

"No? I beg to differ."

"You've known me for two days, Draco, don't pretend to know me. I don't want to talk about it, so just drop it. I may be small, but don't screw with me."

Draco glared at Harry, "oh, I think I know you better than you think. You're the guy who hides behind the façade of being happy with who you are. You're life is screwed up, so what? Who's isn't? I've had my share of bad luck too."

"Oh yeah? What, did daddy not take over the company he wanted? Mommy not sell a painting? Or is it just that you didn't get the shiny new bike you wanted for Christmas? Don't look so surprised. I'm invisible, people talk. I know all about your mansion on the other side of town. Tell me, how hard is it when your parents are still alive and you have enough money to buy whatever you please?"

"Next time you want to start shooting your mouth off do your homework. My dad's been God knows where for the past two years trying to 'broaden his empire'. My mom hired nannies to raise me because she couldn't be bothered with it herself, she locks herself in her studio for weeks, months even. All of my material possessions were to keep me quiet and out of the way. I'm nothing to them but an heir to everything. That they expect to me marry fresh out of high school and have a male child, but only one. At least you had parents that loved you for seventeen years. Yes, mine may still be alive, but they don't love me, and they never will."

Harry snorted, "that's right, play the wounded, never been loved rich boy. My best bet is that you've gotten everything you've wanted since you could talk. Don't preach to me about how your life sucks, okay? Just leave me alone."

"Go ahead, push the only friend you have in this place away because you are too wrapped up in being as morose as you can be. I know you lost your parents, but I think they'd want you to be happy. Grow up, Harry, this 'poor me' shit you're pulling is going to get old. Yes, my childhood may seem perfect, but a lot was missing; new flash Harry, it made me who I am today, and I don't think I turned out half bad."

Harry sighed and turned his back on Draco. He stared out into the yard through the window above the sink. The argument was stupid and childish, Harry was well aware of that. Taking a deep breath for confidence, Harry decided to let Draco in.

"About a year ago, I had fallen into a depression. My parents tried everything to get me back to normal, but nothing worked. No one knew why it had happened, all they knew was that it did. I couldn't even explain it. It got bad, really bad, I stopped eating and I never slept. I would lock myself in my room for days on end. Finally, after me not having come out of my room for a week, my dad broke the door down. I had collapsed. I was weak, dehydrated and thin, skin and bones. They rushed me to the hospital. I was there for almost three months."

"Why didn't you go see a psychiatrist?"

Harry gave a vicious bark of laughter, "I did. She prescribed medication, too, but I didn't take them. I didn't see the point. Nothing mattered to me back then, once I was released from the hospital my parents set up weekly movie nights. It was something they thought would cheer me up, and it did. Then we got into a car accident and died. They didn't deserve that, it's all my fault, I killed them. If I had just taken my meds it never would have happened."

Draco walked up behind Harry and wrapped his arms around Harry's waist, "no, Harry, it wasn't your fault. You couldn't help it, you were sick. Don't blame yourself for what happened. Your parents wanted what was best for you, they wanted to see you get better. Don't you think you are throwing everything they did for you in the garbage by falling back into a depression? They wouldn't want this for you Harry. You need to be strong for them. Don't let their efforts go to waste."

Harry turned in Draco's arms and looked up at him. He felt a tear run down his cheek as he rested his head against Draco's chest. Draco lightly ran his hand through Harry's hair and kissed the top of his head. Harry clung to Draco as if he were his last lifeline in a flood, the only thing keeping him afloat. He looked back up at Draco with tears swimming in his eyes. Draco knew he shouldn't, but he lowered his face to Harry's anyway. He captured Harry's lips with his own in a soft and tender kiss. Harry's lips were pliant beneath his own and begged for more. Draco ran his tongue against Harry's bottom lip, seeking entranced, and Harry obligingly parted his lips, allowing Draco to plunge his tongue into the depths of Harry's mouth. Harry moaned as Draco's tongue came into contact with his own. Harry let the kiss go on for a moment before pulling away. He shot Draco and apologetic look.

"Draco, I'm-"

"Shh, Harry, it's okay. I understand, but know that when you're ready, I'll be here."

Harry watched as Draco untangled himself and walked out the side door of the kitchen. He listened intently as Draco's bike started up and sped away. Harry slid down the cabinets to the floor. He curled himself into a ball and hugged his knees to his chest as he sobbed.