Disclaimer I don't own Harry Potter and anything that's recognizable belongs to J.K. Rowling.
CHAPTER 11 – New Friendships Formed
The next evening, Harry was wandering down to Snape's office. At first he didn't want to go in, but then he decided that he better go before Snape would come for him. In his hand, he carried a bag, which contained all of his alcohol and joints. He didn't want to test Snape. He was sure that he could get more anyways from his friends. He knocked on the door and waited.
"Enter", and with that Harry pushed open the office door and went inside. Snape looked up from what he was doing and motioned for Harry to take a seat.
"You can leave your things here," Snape said, motioning to the desk beside him. Harry dropped the bag and took his seat again.
"Now, show me your arms" Snape said, and Harry rolled up his sleeves. Snape inspected his arms, and found no new cuts.
"Good. You should keep it like this from now on" Snape said. Harry wasn't sure if he really could, but replied with a "Yes, sir".
"Let me give you some advice", and when Harry didn't object, Snape continued, "Whenever you feel like you need to, hurt, yourself, do something else instead. For example, I used to go into an unused classroom and duel with a dummy" Snape explained. "Do whatever you feel like you can do, what ever can distract you from hurting yourself. And about this…drinking of yours. Do no more, as this is strictly prohibited on school grounds. Alcohol is in no way, shape, or from a way to repress and push away your hurt, unless you want to end up in St. Mungos anytime soon. Do you understand" Snape said.
"Yes, sir" Harry replied. He didn't exactly know what he would do, but Snape's idea of dueling sounded pretty good to him, and he already knew that the Room of Requirements would be the perfect place.
"Is that all?" Harry asked, ready to get out of Snape's presence.
"Yes. You may go. I will see you here tomorrow morning before breakfast. 7:30 sharp", and with that, Harry left.
The next days continued in the same manner. Harry would see Snape before breakfast and before curfew. He would check Harry for any new cuts and he would make Harry use an alcohol analyzer potion, which consisted of Harry mixing a bit of his blood with the potion. The potion would then turn a color to show the amount of alcohol in Harry's blood. Snape would also give Harry some advice here and there, which surprisingly to Harry, he actually took into consideration. He needed to go to the Room of Requirements only three times in the last week, and he had already received some more alcohol and joints from his friends, not that Snape knew. Although he knew it was wrong, and he felt like he shouldn't, nothing kept him from drinking again. After his usual check in with Snape, Harry made his way up to the Astronomy Tower. He told himself that he would just drink a little bit, but that thought was thrown out fast, and Harry was drunk by the time midnight hit. Harry was not really concerned, not even when the door opened, and in walked a boy with platinum blond hair. Shock was evident on the boy's pale face.
"Potter" he sneered.
"Ahh Malfoy, my dear nemesis. Isn't it perfect? Why don't you go run back to your little master and tell him how pissed I am. It sure is the best opportunity to get rid of me once and for all," Harry said.
"What's wrong with you Potter. Not enough fans following you around these days?" Malfoy taunted.
"No" Harry replied. Malfoy starred for a bit and then walked over to Harry and pulled the bottle out of his hands.
"What? Not you too! Give it back", but before Harry could say more, he saw Malfoy take a swig.
"You don't think you're the only one with problems that they would rather forget?" Malfoy said, but not with as much venom as usual.
"What problems could you ever have?" Harry asked skeptically.
"I'm a Malfoy," he said, as if it would explain everything.
"And I'm a Potter" Harry said, not sure how to answer.
"Obviously" Malfoy replied. After a few moments of silence, Malfoy said, "My father expects me to take the mark. As if I would want to bow down and be treated like a servant".
"You don't want to?" Harry replied, surprise evident in his voice.
"Of course not. Just because I'm in Slytherin and my father happens to be his right hand man, doesn't mean I want that too" Malfoy said and took another swig. Harry knew exactly whom Malfoy meant when he said his right hand man.
"Oh" is all Harry could reply with.
"Yes well…"
After another moments silence, Malfoy got up, and handed the bottle back to Harry.
"Its late, and I better get to bed. Nothing, I repeat, Nothing what we said up here will be shared with any one else. Got it?" Malfoy threatened.
"Of course not" Harry replied.
"Good…Good night Potter", and Malfoy reached for the door.
"Harry"
"What?" Malfoy asked.
"Harry. My name's Harry"
"Oh. Well good night…Harry" Malfoy said.
"Good night Draco" Harry said, and with that a stunned Draco left the tower.
One evening, during his late inspections, Snape told him something,
"Your friends, you haven't been interacting with them lately" Snape said.
"No" Harry replied.
"Well, I think it would be important if you tell them of your problems. You need your friends now, more than ever" and Snape dismissed him. So using Snape's advice he approached Ron and Hermione the next evening in the Gryffindor Common Room.
"Ron" Harry said, but Ron ignored him.
"Ron" Harry tried again, but when Ron ignored him again, he continued anyway.
" I know you're mad. And you have every right to be-"
"Yeah I do" Ron said. Harry sighed, but continued, "I know, but well…there are some things going on…some things that I felt like I couldn't share with you guys. That you guys would be…well ashamed of me" Harry ended in a near whisper.
"Oh Harry" Hermione cried, and hugged him.
"I've started to get it under control again, but I need my friends too" Harry said.
"Okay" Ron said, and punched Harry in the arm.
"Well, I guess I should tell you. I guess it all started this summer, with Sirius gone and all, I felt all alone and I didn't know how to handle it, so when I started drinking and realizing it helped me forget…well I get going and from there…." Harry continued replaying his story, but leaving out his friends. He didn't want them to find out about his friends, thinking that they wouldn't approve. He also didn't tell them about his cutting. His drinking yes, but not his cutting. Not even Draco knew of this, and over the last couple of weeks, they had formed a pretty close friendship with each other. He would always come up to the Astronomy Tower and drink with Harry. Harry and Draco would share with each other their different problems. Draco talked mostly about his Father and his wishes for Draco to join the Dark Lord, and Harry mostly just talked about Sirius and his upcoming fight with Voldemort. While he was thinking of his friendship with Draco, maybe he could tell him everything; even his cutting.
After a long discussion with Ron and Hermione, he finally went to bed, thinking he was finally on the right track, and maybe he would get better.
A/N Please Review!
