Sorry for this taking so long! The writers block for this fic was UNBELIEVABLE! I'm still not totaly happy with this but it's going to have to do for now, Enjoy :D.
Severus led Draco through the castle and into his personal quarters. He sat behind his desk and signalled for Draco to take the seat opposite. He stared at the boy. Draco was staring at his feet, trembling.
"Draco." He said softly.
The boy looked up at him, his eyes were fearful.
"Draco," Severus repeated, not really sure what to say.
Draco looked back down at the floor and tucked his legs up to his chest.
"Draco, I need to see your arms."
Draco's head snapped up.
"No." he said.
"This isn't a matter I'm willing to discuss. Show me your arms." Severus demanded.
Draco shrank back into his seat and Severus mentally slapped himself. The boy didn't need authority right now, he needed help and someone to talk to.
"I need to make sure they aren't infected."
He reached out and gently took hold of Draco's thin wrist and rolled up the sleeve.
It took Snape all he had not to gasp aloud; Draco's arm was worse than he had expected.
Severus retrieved his wand and summoned some clean water and a cloth. As carefully as he could Severus wiped Draco's arm clean. Once he was done he studied Draco's arm carefully. There were old scars, maybe a year or two old, but there were also new cuts layered on top of them. Snape rolled Draco's sleeve back down and sat behind his desk again.
"Can you tell me why you do this?" Severus asked.
Draco sat up, instantly on edge.
"There is nothing to tell Professor. Thank you for helping me, Good night." He got up to leave.
"Draco, Sit down." Snape said.
"I'd rather not Sir, I'm tired, I should go to bed."
"No Draco. If you won't talk to me, then I will have to go to the Headmaster about this." Snape said, letting the threat sink in.
Slowly Draco walked back over to the chair and sat down. He looked Severus in the eye. The fear had been replaced by a cold, hard stare.
"Honestly Professor, it doesn't need to go that far."
"Then talk to me Draco." Snape said, not perturbed by the coldness of the voice.
"You wouldn't understand." Draco said, folding his arms.
"Try me." Severus said, staring back into the boys eyes.
"There's no point! You wouldn't understand, no one would. You have NO idea what drives someone to do this, to resort to this, and you NEVER will!"
Severus sighed deeply. Without braking eye contact with the boy Severus lifted his left arm on top of the table. Draco's face was one of confusion as Snape began to roll his sleeve up. His dark mark sat in the centre of his lower arm, but that's not what Severus was showing Draco. He was showing him the area around the mark. It was covered in thick, white, scars. They were all in lines and around an inch long. Severus watched Draco's face as the reality of what he was seeing hit him.
"Now," Severus said, rolling his sleeve down again, "Try me."
Please R&R!