Hermione and Ron knocked on the door to the office of Headmistress McGonagall.
McGonagall moved from her desk and opened the door to see panic and frantic looking Hermione and Ron.
"Miss Granger, Mr. Weasley, what is it?"
"It's Harry, Professor," Ron said.
"We think he may be putting himself in danger," Hermoine finished.
McGonagall walked out of the office and shut the door behind her. They made their way down the stairs and saw Harry coming down the hall.
Harry stopped in his tracks when he saw McGonagall behind his suppossed friends. He gave them a glare of death.
"Harry, we just worry, that's all," Hermione tried to explain.
McGonagall looked disappointed and walked toward him. Harry took a step back.
"Mr. Potter," and she put a hand on his shoulder. He was shaking with fury.
How could Draco betray him like that?
"Let's go into my office. Mr. Weasley please go and fetch Mr. Malfoy."
"Yes, ma'am," he said and ran toward the eighth year tower.
McGonagall, Hermione, and Ron went back into her office. Harry plopped in a chair, holding backs tears that stung his eyes, as he saw the portraits of Dumbledore and Snape sleeping.
Hermione was in the chair next to him wringing her hands, worried sick.
McGonagall sat down, sighed, and pinched the bridge of her nose.
"Now, Mr. Potter, why exactly are your friends worried you are harming yourself?"
Harry clamped his lips together, forming a thin line. He wasn't going to talk. He wasn't going to get everyone in trouble.
At that moment Ron had returned with Draco. Ron stood behind Hermione's chair as Draco stood behind Harry. He tried to place a hand on Harry's shoulder but he shrugged it off, moving away from him.
Draco, hurt, moved his hand away. He let out breath and ruffled his hair, messing it up.
"Would some one like to explain," McGonagall asked looking over the four of them.
Draco cleared his throat and Harry shot him a look.
"I'm sorry Harry, but it's for your own good. I hope you'll forgive me," Draco whispered to Harry first.
Harry turned his head and stared at the floor.
"He's been taking a potion. At first it made him cheerful and I thought it was doing him good. But I noticed he started drinking some multiple times a day some time. And then..."
Draco looked at Harry. He was determined to keep his eyes on the floor, mouth drawn in anger.
Draco looked back to McGonagall and continued. He really hoped Harry wouldn't hate him forever.
"Tonight I found him in the showers. He was hallucinating and scratching his skin, crying about bugs being on him. I have no idea how long he was there."
Draco rubbed his eyes, suddenly feeling sleepy for the first time in a while.
"Thank you Mr. Malfoy. You should go to bed, you look like you haven't gotten a good night sleep in a while."
Seven months to be exact, Draco thought. "I'd like to stay; if you don't mind, Professor."
She thought on this a moment and nodded.
"Mr. Potter, where is this potion? Where did you get it?"
"Oh," Ron said fishing in his robes pockets. He produced the bottle and placed it on the desk.
McGonagall picked it up and examined it.
"Where did you get this?"
"Out of Harry's trunk," Ron answered before he realized she was speaking to Harry. "Oh."
McGonagall let out a breath.
"Mr. Potter," McGonagall said in a warning tone.
"I made it myself," he lied.
Hermione let out a gasp, as did Ron. Harry chanced a glance at the pair to see a mix of hurt, worry, panic, and a little anger.
"He didn't. He told me he bought it. But he didn't say from whom," Draco said.
Harry cut his eyes at Draco once more.
"I'm not letting you take the fall for this."
"He's right," Hermione finally said. "You could be expelled for this."
"Fine, expel me," he said with a shrug.
Draco, Hermione, and Ron all looked to McGonagall.
"This is very serious, Mr. Potter. I will find out who has been making this potion and will expell them. No students will consume this, under my watch. Not anymore. And if you want to be one of the expelled ones, then so be it."
"Professor," Ron half yelled in shock.
Hermione started crying and Draco grabbed onto the back of Harry's chair after almost falling.
"Professor, may I try once more?" Draco begged.
McGonagall stood and ushered Ron and Hermione out. Ron held onto Hermione's shaking form as they walked out.
"Good luck, mate," Ron whispered to Draco.
Draco squatted in front of Harry as soon as the door closed. Harry didn't look at him.
Draco sighed and took Harry's hands into his own.
"How could you betray me like that," Harry whispered, venom running through his words.
"I didn't. I'm trying to help you and protect you."
"I don't need help. Or protection."
"Harry, love, why can you not see what this potion is doing to you? And if it's doing this to you, it's probably doing this to other students. If you turn in these lowballs that make this shit, you could save a lot of people."
"I'm done saving people," Harry suddenly yelled. "I killed Voldemort so he didn't destroy the world. I'm fucking done!"
Draco was determined not to give up.
"Fine. You don't speak and you might as well have killed a lot of innocent people. You can kill yourself."
"Like you can talk. I know you're not sleeping. I know you've stopped eating. You're no goddamn saint."
Draco gasped. "We're not talking about me," he said trying not to raise his voice. "Look, Harry. I love you. Please do this for me. I want to finish school with you. I want to compare our NEWTs and I want you to be at graduation with me. I want to spend Christmas together. And I can't do that if you're not here. Or dead."
Harry sighed. "Mark, from seventh year. Slytherin."
Draco smiled and kissed him. "Thank you."
"I'm going to be the most hated person."
"We'll make sure it's anonymous."
Draco walked to the door opening it and the headmistress and the others walked back in. They took their original seats.
"Mark. Seventh year. Slytherin," Draco said.
"You did the right thing, Mr. Potter," McGonagall said.
"Yea," Harry said, not too sure that he did. "Can we keep it a secret? About who told, I mean?"
"We can. Now your punishment. Two months detention every weekend and 150 points from Gryffindor. And you may not leave for Christmas break."
Harry bowed his head.
"You may leave," McGonagall said dismissing the group.
They got up to leave.
"Oh and Mr. Potter, if I find out you're doing this again, I'll have no trouble expelling you. Have a good night."
With that the students left the office.
Harry walked slowly behind the other three, lost in his thoughts once more. The high leaving him almost completely. And he felt like udder shit.
He thought about Mark and how he will get expelled and of all the others that were relying on that potion to make their lives better; just as he had done. He ran his hand through his hair, messing it up ever more, if that was even possible.
Draco slowed to Harry's pace and wrapped an arm around his shoulders.
"I love you," Draco whispered, kissing the side of his head.