Chapter 3, The Beginning of a Friendship

"This is where I'm sleeping?" Draco asked with a slight frown on his face.

"I really don't mind if you'd rather sleep outside," replied Harry, grabbing some clothes to change into.

Draco sneered at his back and grabbed some clothes for himself, then walked across the hall to the bathroom. He shut the door, locked it, and then got undressed. He turned on the hot water and started to bathe, mulling the day's events over in his head. Harry was definitely not living the glamorous life that Draco believed he was. His window was boarded up and he had to do EVERYTHING around the house. Obviously the muggles didn't like him very much.

Draco finished and got dressed. He opened the door and walked into Harry's room to put his stuff away. As he entered, a sliver of wood flew past him. Harry and Uncle Vernon had just finished de-boarding the window, panting, while Harry gathered up the wood and pushed past Draco to go and throw it away downstairs.

"Uh, well I think it would be safe to un-board the window now that the, uh, construction down the street is done," Uncle Vernon stated lamely as he left the room.

Harry returned, trying to pull a splinter out of his finger. He was getting more and more irritated, sitting down on his sleeping bag, not able to get it out. Harry sighed and slumped against the wall, closing his eyes.

"Here, let me get it," said Draco, kneeling down next to Harry and grabbing his hand.

Harry watched in amusement as Draco quickly grabbed hold of the splinter with his perfect nails and pulled it out of his finger.

"Uh… thanks," said Harry, blushing slightly as he took the piece and threw it away in the tiny trash bin.

Draco watched Harry stand beside the window and take a deep breath, closing his eyes as the night wind rushed in and out of his room through the newly opened window. He turned to Draco and gave him a half smile. Draco felt a slight blush rising to his cheeks, so he turned and walked over to the bed. What was getting into him? Why did he even care about Harry's stupid splinter?! I just need some sleep, thought Draco.

"I think I'm gunna shower now. I'll be back in a minute," Harry said as he grabbed his own bottles of shampoo, conditioner, and body scrub.

He left and went to the bathroom, shutting the door and leaving Draco alone. Dudley's face appeared in the doorway and asked Draco if he wanted to play some Play Station. Draco shrugged and walked with Dudley to his room and tried a war game out. It turned out that Draco was extremely talented at playing video games, and he easily creamed Dudley.

Harry finished his shower and came out in fresh clothes and put his toiletries back in his room. Dudley would always sabotage them if he left his toiletries in the bathroom, so he takes them back to his room where Dudley can't touch them.

Harry lay down on his sleeping bag, wondering what Ron and Hermione were doing. He wished they could be here. Most of all, he wished he could see Cedric again. He unconsciously started to tear up, and Draco entered the room with a big grin on his face.

"I CREAMED Dudley at the game… hey, what's up with you Potter?"

"It's nothing. Not like you'd care anyway," Harry said, turning his back to Draco.

"Oh, now you're giving me the cold shoulder? Should I be scared?"

Harry didn't retort. He didn't move. Draco had the sudden urge to go over and comfort him, moving closer to his sleeping bag, but quickly shook the thought. Just as he was about to turn away, he caught the sent of something pleasant. It smelled lightly of cinnamon, but not too strong.

He shrugged walking over to the bed he was sleeping in, and saw the shampoo, conditioner, and body scrub Harry used on the bedside table. It was cinnamon scented. Draco picked up the bottle and it said it was a product made in a wizarding bath shop, Toad Stools and Bath Pools.

He smirked, "Didn't know you had a feminine side Potter. Bath and beauty products are suited for your liking?"

This got Harry to turn over and grin through his tear streaked face, "At least I don't stink like you do. Whew, have you taken a shower in the past year?"

"Well then I guess I'm just going to have to use it next time."

"Fine," replied Harry, getting up and turning out the lights, "Now, why don't we catch some shut eye."

"Sure, whatever," Draco yawned, slipping into bed.

Harry lay back down on his sleeping bag, drifting off into sleep.

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"No!" screamed Harry, as he thrashed about and hit the wall with his kicking foot.

Draco's eyes opened as he heard Harry call out a name. Was it Fredrick? No….

"Cedric… no, please don't go," Harry called out as he let out a sob.

Dudley came into the room, kicking Harry violently in the side to wake him. Harry groaned turning over and holding his side. Draco pretended to sleep, eyes only half open to see what was going to happen next.

Dudley grabbed hold of Harry's arms and pulled him up, Harry's face stony and glaring at Dudley. Uncle Vernon walked in and growled at Harry, asking in a harsh whisper, "Is he doing it again?"

"Yeah," Dudley responded softly, casting a furtive glance at Draco, "He banged on the wall and woke me up."

Uncle Vernon grabbed Harry by the hair and dragged him down the stairs, Harry pleading with his Uncle to stop. Dudley was following close behind, eager to see his cousin get in trouble. Draco slipped out of bed and tip toed out into the hallway and up to the edge of the staircase. They had stopped at the end of the staircase, Harry on the ground with Vernon and Dudley standing over him.

Draco watched in horror from the shadows at the top of the staircase as they began to "punish" Harry. Uncle Vernon taped Harry's mouth shut to prevent his screams from being heard in the house, took off his belt, and whacked him hard. He whipped Harry eight times, and in three different places blood was showing through the back of Harry's nightshirt. Dudley lifted Harry up and ripped the tape off of his mouth. Harry's eyes were wide with shock and terror, and Uncle Vernon advanced toward him.

"Boy, if you keep yelling like that you will scare away the guests. Keep it down or I will beat you to no end!" Uncle Vernon hissed, "Now take a shower and change your nightshirt. I better not see any blood on the floor."

Draco bolted to the room and jumped into bed, Harry scrambling in only seconds later. He shut the door and turned to see Draco sitting up in his bed and staring at him. Harry put his hands over his face and sat on the floor, just wanting to vanish into thin air. No tears would come.

"Potter?" asked Draco tentatively.

Harry sighed and looked up at him, "Yes?"

Draco shook his head and got another night shirt out for Harry, walked over to him, and helped Harry to his feet.

"Malfoy, why do you care? Why aren't you teasing me?"

"Do you want me to tease you?"

"No," replied Harry softly, looking into Draco's eyes.

"Look, I can't just stand here and watch you bleed. Please go shower or something," Draco said, handing Harry his cinnamon scented toiletries.

When Harry walked out of the room, Draco walked over to the light switch and flipped it on. Draco then took a seat on the ground beside the bed, wondering why he suddenly cared so much about Harry's well being. He should have been laughing with Dudley and Uncle Vernon at Harry's pain, not fussing over Harry about it. Draco now figured out that Harry's life was not all it was cut out to be, so the realization of all the extra pain he caused Harry over the years just made his stomach feel sick. Harry was suffering, and that made something inside of Draco snap.

After Harry finished washing up and getting dressed, he entered the room and Draco patted the space next to where he was sitting on the ground. Harry reluctantly went over and sat down, wincing as he leaned back against the wall.

"Uh, Harry…"

"Oh, so I'm Harry now?"

"Why do you keep getting upset? Do you want me not to care about you and continue to call you Potter?"

Harry snapped back with a hardened expression, "You've never cared about me! You call me names and you insult my friends and family. Am I supposed to just forgive you?"

Draco looked down, trying not to let his pride get the better of him, "Look Harry, it's because I was raised to hate you and your friends. My dad was a death eater, and the only way to "protect me" in a sense was to make me hate you so that Voldemort didn't have anything to hold against me."

"But Draco, you could have chosen to be different."

"Harry, don't you get it? My entire family was in danger based on my friendships and actions. I can't just choose to be different. I'm like you. Do you have a choice to save the world or not? I know I kind of pushed the teasing a little bit, but please Harry, forgive me."

Harry sighed, looking at Draco and saying, "I'll forgive you under one condition."

"What might that be?"

"You have to apologize to Ron and Hermione with the same sincerity that you have just apologized to me."

Draco sat silently for a moment before saying, "Fine, I will. So does that means we're friends now?"

Harry smiled and Draco filled with happiness as he replied, "Yeah, we are."

They sat in a comfortable silence for a moment before Draco asked, "Harry?"

"Yes?"

"How long has your Uncle been doing this…," Draco hesitated before continuing, "… stuff for?"

Harry's face darkened. "This is the first summer that his temper has gotten this far. I mean, he's hit my face or pulled my hair before, but nothing like this."

Draco looked up at Harry and saw how exhausted he looked. Silently he helped Harry up and led him to the sleeping bag; walking over to the light afterwards and turned it off. Draco clambered into bed, a content feeling settling over him.

"Goodnight, Harry."

"Goodnight, Draco."