Chapter 7: You'll Figure It Out

Harry and Draco dressed and headed for the library. When they were halfway there, Draco stopped him. "We should go down at different times, so he doesn't think we—"

"You what?" A voice said behind them. They spun around and found themselves facing a very smug looking Snape. "I was going to wait, but you took too long." Neither boy spoke, Harry from fear and Draco because he hadn't anything to say. "Well come on, breakfast is waiting!" Draco walked forward, following in his Godfather's footsteps, but Harry lingered.

"Aren't you coming," the blonde asked. He nodded, but made no move to follow. Severus continued walking, not wanting to spook Harry. Draco went over to him and put his arm around the terrified boy's shoulders. "You don't need to be afraid of him, Harry. I promise, he won't hurt you. I know he's a bit of an arse in school, but…" he paused, running a hand through his hair, "He really is a nice guy. Just made a lot of mistakes." Harry remained silent, staring at Draco with mixed curiosity and fear. "You hated me, right?" Nod. "Well, are we still enemies?" Head shake. "See, your prospective of me changed. You gave me a chance. Give him one. Let him see the side of you I do." Harry nodded and walked closer to the library, slowly. Draco whispered encouragement until they were seated together on the couch facing Snape.

"Nice to see you two up," he said slowly, as though they hadn't met in the hall only minutes before.

"Morning," Draco said sleepily. Both looked at Harry. He tried to smile but it looked a bit more like a grimace.

"Did you sleep well?"

"Yeah." Again Harry didn't reply to his professor's question. Draco nudged him gently in the ribs.

"SorryforintrudingonyouinyourhouseIcanleaveifyoudon'twantmehere," Harry said. It took Snape a minute to sort through the waterfall of words.

"You're more than welcome to be here, you and Draco both," he replied softly. Draco smiled slightly and excused himself. He headed down the hall to the bathroom. "So, Harry," Severus began slowly once the blonde was gone, "some of those… marks… didn't look as though someone else inflicted them." Harry's eyes widened as he tried to think of a lie. "I'm not going to ask. If you require assistance of any form, please just let me know. I'd be willing to help if you'd like."

"Thank you, Professor," he said softly, hardly able to find his voice.

"You're welcome. Now, what would you like for breakfast?"

Harry was still getting used to the idea of Snape being nice, but Draco told him to give him another chance so he was trying. He was already incredibly thoughtful this morning, even with the mention of his cuts. Harry smiled a bit as he pondered what to eat. "Have you any eggs?"

"Of course, shall we go make them?" Harry nodded in response. They stood and made their way to the kitchen, both feeling slightly uncomfortable, but enjoying the others company.

Draco stood in the bathroom and looked at himself in the mirror. He turned on the water and watched it run down the drain. His sense of time disappeared as he lost himself in the running water. Before he knew what he was doing he was watching dark red blood swirl in the water against the black granite sink. His wrist throbbed where he cut it. Shit, I didn't even realize I was cutting. What the hell is wrong with me? He took a deep breath and made another, deeper cut above the last one. Hissing as he peeled the blade from his arm, he heard a knock at the door. "Draco?" Harry. He can't see me like this!

"Err, just a second," he called back, trying to stop the bleeding. His knife fell and clattered on the floor. "Shit, shit, shit," he breathed. Draco picked it up and tried to wash it off but the lack of food combined with blood loss was making him dizzy.

"Draco? Are you alright?" Harry asked as he turned the doorknob.

"I'm fine," he replied, blood dripping on the floor. His breathing was coming in ragged pulls.

"Draco I—" he stopped short when he saw Draco on the floor, his arm covered in blood, a wet knife in his other hand. "What… Draco, why?" he asked, dropping to his knees before him.

"I was going to tell you. Eventually. But… I didn't know how." Tears prickled at Draco's eyes as he watched Harry's shoulders sag.

"It's okay. Let's get you cleaned up. Can you support your own glamours?"

"I think so," he replied softly. Potter's taking this too well.

"Brilliant," he said quietly, shutting the door. Harry put an arm around Draco and lifted him to the sink. He set him there as gently as possible and put his arm under the water. "I want you to drop your glamours so I can clean the cuts. Then you need to put them back up once I've got the bleeding to stop, alright?" The blonde nodded. "Right then." He did exactly as he said he would and Draco complied. They both stepped out of the bathroom and ran into Snape.

Second encounter for the morning, check, Harry thought as he stared at his potions master. "Err, professor… Draco was having issue with your faucet. Seems he couldn't get it to turn off—but I fixed it!" he said awkwardly.

"Don't lie, Harry. You're pants at it," he replied, smirking. "But if you felt you must lie about what happened, I truly do not wish to know what occurred." Harry and Draco smiled suggestively at each other. "Enough!" Snape snapped playfully. "Your breakfast is getting cold." That got them moving.

After breakfast, the three sat in the library to discuss what their plans were for the rest of the summer. "What do you two think you'll be doing?"

"Well," Draco began, "I was sort-of hoping I could stay with you."

"And you, Harry?"

"Um, the same I suppose. If you don't mind…" he added hesitantly.

"I don't mind at all, though, I fear Draco will have to go back with his family before the start of the school year."

"Why?" Harry inquired.

"There is very little I can do for his… current situation," Severus said after receiving a sharp look from Malfoy.

"But, I'll still see him at school, right?"

"That is another issue. We can't have the Gryffindor and the Slytherin frolicking through the halls, now can we?" Harry sighed loudly and Draco dropped his head in his hands. "No one can deny that the two of you are fond of each other." Both boys groaned at the admission. "Oh, shut it. You'll figure something out."