I cringed and bit my lip to keep from calling out. Neville was the centre of attention, performing gymnastics in front of the whole class, gymnastics I was sure he couldn't do in his normal state.

But of course, he wasn't in his normal state. No, he was being controlled by none other than Moody, our teacher. I've been sitting here and watching with concern as Moody used the Imperius Curse on his students, an illegal curse might I add.

"Are you okay?" I hissed when Neville finally slid back into the seat next to me. Neville shook his head but didn't say anything. And I didn't push him.

"Potter, you next," Moody growled and watching in anticipation as Harry stood up and walked into the centre of the room. "Imperio."

Like it had done to rest of my peers, the Imperius Curse took control of his mind and I noticed he'd bent his legs like he was about to jump onto the nearby desk.

But unlike the rest of his peers, Harry was hesitating. Almost like he was trying to fight the curse...

I sucked in a sharp intake of breath. Harry had crashed into the desk, obviously having tried to jump while resisting at the same time and was now in what looked like significant amount of pain.

"Now, that's more like it!" Moody said proudly. "Look at that, you lot ... Potter fought! He fought it, and he damn nearly beat it! We'll try that again, Potter, and the rest of you, pay attention – watch his eyes, that's where you see it – very good, Potter, very good indeed! They'll have trouble controlling you!"

I tried not to shout in outrage as Moody pointed his wand at Harry yet again. The similar thing happened – Harry attempted to resist and so faced extreme discomfort. And so Moody repeated this process, once again ending in Harry injured.

"Again," Mood demanded. "Imper—"

"Stop!" I shouted suddenly, jolting up from my seat so suddenly I felt Neville jump beside me. "Stop," I repeated, narrowing my eyes at the professor before speaking very slowly and deliberately. "I want to go."

Moody snarled at me. "Very well. Potter return to your seat. Malfoy, up you come."

Harry sent me a grateful smile as I made my way to the middle of the room. However, I kept my eyes locked on the professor, my expression unchanging.

Moody smirked slightly before pointing his wand at me. "Imperio."

The feeling was instant – every worry and fear I had slipped away. I was calm. I was relaxed. I was happy.

Then Moody's voice filled my head, commanding me to do his bidding. And for a short moment, I wanted to. Though only for a short moment before another voice spoke to me, a voice of reason.

I had spent my time with my grandfather learning a lot about the dark arts and defensive spells. The Unforgivable Curses, were covered in one of my first years with him. So it was with a lot of concentration that I was able to resist.

But then something changed. No longer was the curse controlling me, but rather hurting me. My brain was spasming and my head was screaming. I gasped for air. I couldn't breathe. How do you breathe? How many inhales? Exhales? I didn't know. The air burnt my lungs, leaving me in unimaginable pain. Yet, I couldn't scream. I was frozen, yet burning up. I was silent, and yet the screaming in my head was loud enough to awake the dead.

And then, just like that, it was over, my mind was clear again. I bent over, panting for air. I had taken every last ounce of my strength to fight back that curse and to say I was a little breathless would be an understatement.

"Very good Malfoy," Moody growled reluctantly, almost like he'd wished I'd failed like everyone else. "Now for homework, I want you all to read up on resisting the Imperius Curse. And I suggest you find a way that doesn't leave you crying like Malfoy here."

"I'm not crying," I said bitterly, but either Moody didn't hear me or he just chose to ignore me as he dismissed the class.

Shakily I rose as the rest of the class filed out of the classroom. "Thanks," I muttered to Neville who had packed up for me and brought my bag over, saving me from limping over. It seemed several other students were sore from when they were under the illegal curse, but none of which as bad as myself. I knew the effects would ware off in a few hours but that didn't stop me from wishing I had never rolled out of bed this morning.

Neville and I walked down the corridors in silence, neither of us wanting to talk about the lesson. I had become very close to the Gryffindor over the past couple of weeks and I usually wouldn't hide my feelings from him. But I've learnt the hard way that somethings are better left unsaid. And that lesson was one of those things.

Lost in my own thoughts, I didn't notice someone running around the corner until it was too late. Fortunately, Neville caught me as I stumbled backwards, but the force of the attack combined with the pain I was already feeling prior to the collision still caused me to let out a hiss of pain.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Neville asked worriedly, helping me regain my balance as the student mumbled a short apology and ran off.

"Yeah, just a little sore that's all."

"That didn't look like nothing," Neville said, raising a brow in suspicion. "I think Professor Moody went too far. Maybe you should go to the Hospital Wing..."

"Yeah, maybe," I said distractedly. Sure, sore muscles was a common aftereffect of the spell, but never had I read anything about whatever it was I had just gone through.

Neville nodded determinedly and started off back in the direction we'd come from. "Let's go."

"Wait," I said, grabbing his shoulder preventing him from moving. "You should go to class, tell Professor McGonagall I'll be a bit late."

Neville looked reluctant. "You sure you'll be okay?"

With a convincing smile, I nodded. "Yeah, you go. I'll see you in class."

Neville pursed his lips before finally sighing in defeat. I made sure he had turned the corner in the direction of the Transfiguration classroom before walking away.

Only, instead of actually going up the next staircase to the infirmary, I went down. And down and down and down.

The dungeons were cold but welcoming in its own way. I weaved my way through the maze of dark empty corridors. I had just turned into a corridor without any doors or windows when I felt my body seizing up. I felt my legs give up from under me and I sank to my knees, hiding my heads in my hands as the tears began to pour out. Instead of attacking me physically, it was targeting my emotions, forcing me to repeat some of the worse things that have ever happened to me emotionally. All these memories I've stored deep inside me were resurfacing, more painful than ever. So painful, I couldn't even...

Footsteps sounded from nearby and I hastily tried to make myself look more presentable before giving up and hiding my head in my hands once more. I mean, who cared if I looked messed up? I was – no point hiding the truth.

The footsteps grew louder and I just buried myself deeper. Then, they stopped and I sensed someone standing a few feet away. I was about to tell them to keep on walking when I heard the sound of someone sliding against the wall. I could think of only one person at this school who would care enough to join someone as depressing as I looked.

"Go away Neville," I murmured, my voice muffled even to myself.

"But I just got here," came the voice, only it wasn't Neville's. Nor was it a stranger.

"Harry?" I asked, lifting my head up slightly. What was the Harry Potter doing sitting in some deserted dark corridor beside a weeping baby such as myself?

"I'm s-sorry," I croaked, wiping my eyes on my sleeve and attempting to stand. "I made you late, we should go—"

But Harry pulled me back down before I could finish. "No," he said softly.

There was a pause in which Harry and I just sat there in silence. I tried to find the right words to say. I had expected to feel awkward or at least embarrassed – after all, I had just been caught having a complete emotional meltdown – but to my surprise, all I felt was guilt for having had dragged him all the way down here. I assume that's why he's down here instead of in class with the rest of our classmates.

"Thank you," Harry muttered eventually, catching me off guard. "For volunteering in my place," Harry explained, answering my unspoke question. "You fought it well."

"I've had practise..." I shrugged modestly but Harry only shook his head. "No, something was different how Moody performed that curse. Almost like – and Hermione agrees with me – like he was putting extra force into the spell or something."

"I guess he hasn't completely forgiven the ferret incident then," I sighed.

"I guess not." There was a pause once more before Harry said quietly. "Why did you do it? Defend Malfoy? You seemed pretty pissed at him earlier that day, what changed?"

"Nothing," I said. "It's just... he's my brother. We're family, and family protects one another. It's almost like I didn't have a choice..."

"You always have a choice."

"You think I chose wrong?"

"I didn't say that."

"But you thought it, right? I mean, it wouldn't be the first time I've made a bad decision. Take today for instance. Here I am, skipping class to hide in the dungeon! Look at me! I'm a wreck!"

It was true. My eyes were red and puffy, my skin damp with sweat and my hair all knotted together, so bad I was sure I'd have to use a spell to brush it. Despite all this, Harry only surveyed me for a moment for sending me a small smile. "I think you look great."

I nudged him playfully in the ribs and snorted. "Yeah, right."

"What, I'm serious!"

"Sure you are." I giggled and shook my head, grinning. We descended into silence once more as my smile slowly faded away. While Harry was doing a good job trying to cheer me up, it wasn't enough to keep these dark thoughts from returning.

As if sensing this, I felt Harry move beside me and moments later, his arm was wrapping around my shoulders. I let out a loud sob as I let my head fall to the side. Tears ran down my cheeks as I struggled with these emotions.

For a long while, we just sat there before I croaked. "What's happening to me, Harry? I've never been this weak..."

"Weak?" Harry asked in surprise. "Lean, did you not hear me before? No one was able to properly resist that curse, no one except you. That's not weak. Lean, you are the strongest person I know."

"You don't know me."

"I know you're brave. I know you can fight anyone, or anything. I know you're a Gryffindor."

I scoffed. "Would a Gryffindors hide down here in the dungeons. Everyone knows that's Slytherin territory."

"Slytherin territory?"

"You know what I mean," I sighed. "After Moody took control of my mind like that, I just remember something from years ago..."

I let out another sob as my worst memories replayed themselves.

"It's okay," Harry comforted. "You don't have to say anything."

"But I do," I sobbed. "You're being too nice to me – I don't deserve any of it."

"Don't say that—"

"No, Harry, it's true. I-I..." My blubbering trailed off as another wave of tears hit me. This time, I turned and buried my head in Harry's shirt, the fabric soft under my skin. Here I was, weeping into this celebrity's shirt, all while not feeling the slightest bit in embarrassed. What was wrong with me? "Harry," I whimpered. "I'm sorry—"

"Please stop apologising."

I nodded slowly, and rested my head on Harry's tear soaked shirt, holding him close. It was amazing how much the support of a good friend could have on a person. I was already feeling massively better. There was however, still one worry on my mind.

"Harry..." I began quietly. "I know I'm not in any position to ask for favours but could you..."

"Yes."

"I haven't said anything yet."

"Yes," Harry repeated. "Whatever this favour you need is, my answer is yes."

Staring up at my friends' vivid emerald eyes, I was overcome with a surge of appreciation. And so it was with no hint of embarrassment that I spoke directly into his eyes. "My little meltdown today, any chance that could stay just between the two of us?"

Harry smiled kindly at me. "Don't worry Lean, your secret's safe with me."

I nodded gratefully, and rested my head on his shoulder. For the first time since class ended, I was happy. I knew my secret was safe with Harry. I would be safe with Harry.

I am safe with Harry.