Disclaimer I don't own Harry Potter and anything that's recognizable belongs to J.K. Rowling.
CHAPTER 12 – Revelations and Surprises
For the next few weeks, Harry had a pattern. He would wake up, go see Snape, have breakfast and go to his classes, do homework and hang out with Ron and Hermione, go see Snape again, hang out and drink with Draco, and then he would go to sleep. Draco knew that Harry had to go see Snape, and so they always met after curfew. Harry was starting to get better. He continued to write to his friends and they kept sending him his alcohol. Harry knew he would never find another way to go see them again before next summer, but he was determined to find some way to visit them before that. One late evening, Harry and Draco were sitting on the ledge of the Astronomy Tower; heating charms in place, as it was getting cold with the late November chills.
"So I never asked, but how do you always have this booze with you. Even I don't have such a ready supply all the time", Draco asked.
"I dunno. I guess I just have it" Harry said, not sure how Draco would react to him knowing that Harry had muggle friends who would send him the alcohol.
"Well duh, but how?" Draco asked.
"Some friends" Harry evasively answered.
"Obviously not the Weasel and mud- muggleborn" Draco said, amending his word when he got a stern look from Harry.
"No not them" Harry said.
"Come on! Just tell me. It's not like I would tell anyone," Draco said.
"Some muggle friends okay!" Harry snapped.
"Okay. Not bad I guess. At least their useful for something" Draco said, shrugging his shoulders.
"By the way, why are the Weasel and mudbl-muggleborn not here? I thought they would join you"
"No…they wouldn't. I don't even think they realize that I'm friends with you, let alone that I drink with you" Harry said.
"Oh" Draco said.
That night however, Draco forgot to bring the sobering potion, and therefore the two were out cold come morning. Harry woke up, and realized that he wasn't in his dorm. He jumped up, regretting it the moment a wave of dizziness hit him. The memories of last night came back to him and the fact that they hadn't taken the potion. Harry cursed under his breath while he went to wake Draco.
"Draco" Harry said, nudging Draco's sleeping form.
"Huh" was the only reply, but with another nudge, Draco woke up, he too realizing that they had fallen asleep on the Tower.
"Shit" Draco cursed. Then Harry remembered that he was supposed to meet Snape.
"Damn!" Harry cursed loudly while straightening his robes.
"I'm already late. Shit. Snape's going to kill me!" Harry said on his way to the door.
"Why do you always need to go see Snape?" Draco questioned. Harry didn't know why he did it, maybe the alcohol was preventing him from thinking clearly, but he pulled up his sleeves and showed his arms to Draco.
"That's why" and if that finally made Harry realize what he did, he pulled his sleeves back down and ran down to the dungeons, leaving a gaping Draco behind.
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"You're late" is all that Snape said when Harry arrived in his office.
"Sorry…overslept," Harry said, trying to catch his breath.
"Well come here" Snape said, motioning to his desk.
After taking his potion, Snape looked at the results, his face twisting into one of anger.
"Do tell me why there are traces of alcohol in your blood" Snape said.
"Umm…" Harry tried to come up with something, but he knew that he couldn't lie.
"We'll talk about this later tonight, we're already late for breakfast" Snape said, and left his office.
That night they did talk about it, and Harry was again made to bring all his alcohol. On his way back to Snape's office, with all of his alcohol, Harry made a little stop at the Tower and left some there, and with that continued back to the dungeons. Harry was also assigned an essay on the effects of alcohol and the damages it can cause. After he was done talking to Snape, he contemplated going up to the Tower. He knew that Draco would probably want to talk about his scars, but Harry didn't know if he was ready to talk about it. Knowing that Draco would be waiting, Harry decided to just go and take the chance.
When he got up to the tower, he saw Draco sitting on the edge. Harry went over to where he left the drinks, and took a bottle. When he noticed that Draco wasn't drinking, he offered his drink, but Draco didn't take it.
"We need to talk" Draco said.
"What's there to talk about" Harry replied.
"You know about what. Those scars you showed me this morning" Draco said.
"So what. You saw some scars, big deal. Now come on grab a drink," Harry said, passing his drink, but again Draco didn't take it.
"No. I want to know why" Draco said, getting a bit irritated by Harry.
"Uggh…" After sitting in silence for the next half an hour, Harry spoke up,
"If I tell you, will you stop asking me?"
"Yes" Draco replied.
"Fine. It really started as an accident I guess" Harry said, looking at Draco who was arching one of his eyebrows.
"Well it did. I mean, I was upset and then I accidentally cut myself on a piece of glass, and when I realized how it made my 'pain' disappear, I guess I just kept cutting. I guess it just kept getting worse after that. Whenever I felt upset or hurt, or I just couldn't handle my feelings, I would cut. Then I met Mark, Johnny, Sam, Zack, and Alexia" at Draco's confused look Harry said, "my muggle friends". Harry then explained about their drinking and late night fun, his trips back to see them, all up to the night when Snape found him.
"But you've stopped right" Draco asked, worry evident in his voice.
"Well I've tried. I mean I haven't for a really long time actually," Harry said.
"Okay. Well if you ever need to talk…I'm here," Draco hesitantly said.
"Thanks" Harry whispered. And after a long awkward silence Draco looked at Harry and said,
"Come on, pass me some. You're not the only one drinking tonight. And don't worry, this time I didn't forget the sobering potion" and with that Harry passed Draco a drink.
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A week before Christmas holiday's, Snape informed Harry that he would only see Harry four times a week; trusting Harry not to do anything foolish. He also told Harry to remember to never leave Hogwarts grounds, since Voldemort was out for his blood. Harry wasn't too worried about Voldemort and was happy about the less frequent visits with Snape, and was already thinking if he could use that to his advantage. Ron, Hermione, and Draco all left for the Holidays, leaving Harry by himself, but that didn't bother Harry at all.
The day before Christmas Eve, Harry decided that maybe now was the perfect time to visit his friends. No one would notice that he would be gone, since all of his friends were gone, and he didn't need to see Snape for the next three days. One little visit wouldn't hurt. So the next evening, Christmas Eve, Harry left Hogwarts.
He walked over to the park, hoping that even on Christmas Eve, they would be there, and he wasn't disappointed. He saw the group all huddled together over a fire.
"Hey!" Harry called to his friends. Before his friends could reply, they were surrounded and held by wizards dressed in black cloaks, wands pointed to their throats.
"What?" he could hear Zach say.
"Ahh…Harry Potter. Wait 'till our Master gets his hands on you" one replied.
"Get away from them, it's me you want!" Harry yelled, hoping they would leave his friends alone.
"Harry" Alexia called in panick.
"Don't worry Alexia" Harry tried to say in a calm voice, but failing miserably.
"Awww…really…I would" and with that, a green light shot out from one of the wands, hitting Alexia straight in the chest.
"Nooo!" Harry screamed.
"Who the fuck are you! Let me go!" Johnny screamed.
"Death Eaters" Harry breathlessly replied.
"Huh?" Mark replied.
"Shut up you filthy muggle" and another green light was seen, and Johnny's lifeless body fell to the ground.
A/N Please Review!
