Chapter 8: Book Smart

Harry woke to the sound of people arguing in what they thought were whispers but really sounded like they were yelling in a microphone.

"I don't care! I don't want that manipulative old bastard informed. Let him worry himself into a heart attack!" Someone hissed in irritation.

"Dragon he needs to be seen by a professional healer. If we took him to Hogwarts Poppy could look at him and-"

"She can look at him here Sev!" The angry snapped over the others. Harry stiffened. He had learned that when people were angry they tended to lash out and when people lashed out it was always him that they hit. 'Because you deserve it.' Harry stifled a sob as the thought ran through his head, or so he thought. The two males, they were definitely male voices, must have heard him because rushing to his side.

"Harry?" One of them breathed. Harry felt a hand touch his face and reacted without thinking. His eyes snapped open as he rolled to the other side of the bed and jumped up ignoring the pain that pierced through him at the sudden motion. He looked up at the two people and felt the blood drain from his face.

"Snape? Malfoy?" He gasped before narrowing his eyes in suspicion. Harry looked around at his surroundings quickly, eyes flicking back to Snape and Malfoy every few seconds.

"Where am I? What are you doing here? What happened to me? The last thing I remember is…" Harry trailed off, eyes widening in horror.

"No…"Harry whimpered as he stumbled back into the wall, eyes clouding as he lost himself in his horrific memories. He stared at the floor blindly as thoughts of his uncle beating him, raping him, flooded his mind. 'Oh God! I can't beat this, not this!' Harry thought with a shudder.

"Emerald?" Harry looked up slowly, vibrant green eyes now dull and lifeless and full of tears. Malfoy started to round the bed and step towards him but stopped when Harry flinched back.

"My uncle raped me." Harry whispered unable to wrap his mind around the reality of what had happened. "I was raped." 'Yes Harry, just keep repeating it. That'll fix everything!' He thought to himself.

"Yes Mr. Potter, you were. We brought you here to Malfoy Manor after killing that fat muggle and his wife and son. They cannot hurt you anymore Harry." Snape said looking at Harry intently. Harry closed his eyes and took deep, calming breaths trying to fight off the panic attack he could feel coming. 'Not in front of them. When I'm alone I can deal with it but I won't show them any weakness.' He opened his eyes again and looked at Malfoy.

"I…remember you. Last night you held me, comforted me. Why?" Harry asked, dull eyes staring at Malfoy as if he didn't care either way if Malfoy answered or not.

"Because I wanted to. Because I saw what that muggle did to you and I see how you are now. Because you needed it." Malfoy said softly, slowly moving towards Harry.

"But why? You hate me Malfoy! You and Snape! Why would you both help me?"

"I DON'T HATE YOU!" Malfoy snapped causing Harry to flinch.

"Well you sure as hell don't like me!" Harry snapped back. 'No one loves a whore. You're a freak. Nobody cares.' Vernon's voiced his wickedly in his head and he shuddered.

"How do you know that I don't like you? I could." Malfoy retorted haughtily. Harry shook his head and laughed sadly.

"No you couldn't." Harry sighed.

"Yes, I really could." Malfoy glared.

"No Malfoy you really couldn't. Nobody loves a whore. I'm a freak. Nobody cares." Harry repeated his uncle's words in a broken whisper. There was a stunned silence and then a furious growl ripped through the room. Harry instinctively pressed himself as far against the wall as he could, apologies spilling from his lips as he shook in fear, looking up into Malfoy's murderous glare. Malfoy turned on his heel and stalked out of the room slamming the door behind him. Harry jumped at the sound and turned quickly to Snape.

"I'm sorry! Please, I'm sorry. I don't know what I did but I'll try not to do it again just, please don't hit me!" Harry sobbed and then cringed at the disgusted look on his professors pale face. Snape sighed and reached into his robes, pulling out potion bottles and placing them on the nightstand.

"These potions will help with your injuries. This one," Snape pointed to the bottle near the edge, "is dreamless sleep for if you get tired." Snape stared at him. "We are not going to hurt you Harry. Not myself or Narcissa or Lucius. And especially not Draco. You can trust is to take care of you. " Snape said softly, staring into pained emerald eyes.

"I don't trust anyone, not anymore. Everyone either leaves me or hurts me." Harry said with a shake of his head.

"I swear to you we will not."

"I bet you that you will." Harry whispered back his voice devoid of any emotion. Snape sighed again and pointed at a book resting near the potions he had just placed down.

"This book will explain to why you are wrong. I suggest you read it and if you have any questions to find Draco or myself." Snape waited for an answer and when it became apparent that he would receive none turned away, heading for the door.

"Thank you. For saving me." A whisper stopped him. Snape turned, nodded once and swept out of the room closing the door gently behind him. Harry unstuck himself from the wall and moved to sit in the middle of the bed. Harry reached over and picked up the book Snape had pointed out to him. He looked at the title and blinked in surprise.

"All You Need to Know About Veelas and Their Mates?" Harry read aloud. He raised an eyebrow and looked at the door Malfoy and Snape had exited through.

"I should be freaking out. I'm way too calm." Harry said as he thought about his situation. "I'm in a house with two Death Eaters and my school rival for Merlin's sake! I shouldn't be this calm!" Harry contemplated his options, realized he didn't have any and shrugged. 'They can't be any worse than the Dursleys.' Harry reasoned to himself before turning to the first page of the book and beginning his reading.

A/N Sorry if it's short, I have a lot of homework but I still feel so bad about the long no-update period so I wanted to get something out. I'll try to make the next chapter longer and I'll probably putting a Harry pov and a Draco pov in the same chapter from now on. Thanks for all the awesome R&Rs to! You guys always make my day.