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Title: Hey There Draco
Chapter Title: Only a Small Wish
Author: Ruby13b
Rating: R
Pairing: Harry/Draco
Warnings: Adult Language, Sexual Content, Violence
Summary: Set in the summer after 5th year.
Disclaimer: I own nothing and am owned by no one.

This is a Harry/Draco fanfiction. Meaning boy/boy. If you don't like don't read. That is all.

Draco sighed and turned over again in his bed. It was late. Or really it was early in the morning. The exact time he couldn’t say for sure, but it was still dark out. The mere hours he had spent at the Headquarters of the Order had seemed to go on for days. Draco wasn’t sure he could take much more of this isolation. He had always been one to bear solitude quite well, but he found himself yearning for some sort of companionship. Draco highly doubted if he would be able to find such a thing in the company he now found himself a part of. They all hated him. Even the adults hated him. They all thought that he was a pampered, rich, pure-blood snob who was nothing more than a brat who only listened to his mother. They weren’t wrong.

Draco choked on the thought of his mother. He had no idea where she was or even if she was safe. He missed her more than anything else. That and his father, who was tucked away safely in Azkaban. Draco had always been extremely close to his parents, his mother in particular. Being away from them scared Draco. Yes, Draco Malfoy was scared. He could admit that much to himself. But not only was he scared, he was alone as well. Why had Professor Snape done this to him? The answer was obvious. This was most likely the safest place in the world right now. If they were hiding the-prat-who-lived-to-make-his-life-miserable here, then this place was impossible for the Death Eaters to find. For some reason, though, Draco didn’t feel entirely protected.

From across the room, Harry shifted in his bed. Draco looked over at him. It was obvious that he wasn’t sleeping, either. Draco felt a little twang of guilt when he thought of the way he had spoken to Harry earlier. The raven-haired boy had only been trying to help.  Did Harry Potter really think that he could save everyone? And did Draco really need to be saved, for that matter? Draco shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts. Why was he always thinking about Harry Potter? It was like some sort of sick obsession. Draco had problems. He knew that much to be true. It seemed like everything he did came back to Harry.

Draco raised his hand, lightly touching the bruise on his cheek. He let his hand wander down to caress the markings on his neck. He just wanted all the pain to stop. He wanted the power to make it stop. It was only a small wish, but it seemed to be an impossible one. Draco turned over to lie on his stomach, silent tears coursing out of his eyes and down his cheeks, making a wet spot on his pillow where they fell. It looked like he wouldn’t be sleeping much tonight, either.

                                                         ~~~

Harry panicked for a moment when he woke the next morning. He had forgotten where he was. Sighing and sitting up, Harry tried to resolve to be less jumpy. He looked over at Draco’s bed, only to find it empty. Looking around the room, Harry realized that he was alone. Draco must have already gotten up hours ago.

Harry got out of bed and stretched, teetering for a moment as he tried to steady himself. Harry proceeded to dress as quickly as he could. He didn’t want to waste a second of his time.  Maybe the Order was going to tell everything that had been going on in his absence. Maybe they were downstairs waiting for him at that very moment.

Just as Harry was about to open the door, it swung open. Harry jumped back, narrowly avoiding the door hitting him in the face.

Draco paused out of shock when he saw Harry standing there, dumbfounded. Draco quickly gained his composure and walked into the room, sitting down on his bed.

“Well, errr,” Harry said, rubbing the back of his head. He never knew what to say to Draco. Then again, they had never really had a civil conversation before. Any conversation they ever had seemed to end with either one or both of them in the hospital wing.

Draco just glared at him for a moment before lying down in his bed, his hands behind his head. Harry watched him, wondering how anyone could be so unpleasant. Harry then shrugged and walked out of the room, closing the door behind him. Honestly, if Draco Malfoy wasn’t going to put in the effort, Harry wasn’t going to bother. Again, Harry wondered why he even cared.

When Harry entered the kitchen he was immediately hit with the aroma of breakfast cooking over the fire. Hermione and Ginny were already sitting at the table. Lupin and Tonks were sitting across from the girls, and the twins were in their corner. Harry wandered over and took the seat next to Tonks. She smiled at him and patted him on the shoulder. Ron wandered into the kitchen a moment later, rubbing his eyes with the back of his hand sleepily.

“Good morning, snoozing ugly,” Fred greeted.

“Have a good sleep, princess?” George added.

Ron just glared at the twins and sat down next to Hermione. “I don’t feel safe sleeping in that room,” he muttered. “They’re going to use me for one of their experiments, I just know it.”

Harry nodded sympathetically. He did feel a little bit sorry for Ron. At least with Draco, Harry didn’t really have to fear for his life. The Slytherin boy obviously wanted nothing to do with him -- with any of them, really. A part of Harry wished that it could be different. He was still morbidly curious about what had happened to Draco. Where had the bruises come from? Harry knew that Draco’s father was in Azkaban…but where was his mother? Had she abandoned her son? Or was there more to the story? Either way, Harry knew he wasn’t going to take any of Draco Malfoy’s crap. That was for sure.

Mrs. Weasley began setting plates of food down in front of everyone. She then turned to the twins, sighing. “Please come out of the corner. Why on earth do you two insist on sitting there all the time?”

“We’re only staying out of the way like you want us to, Mum,” George answered, sitting down next to Ron.

Fred gave a very unnerving smile and nodded his assent as he sat down next to George. Mrs. Weasley sighed again and set plates down in front of the twins. Everyone at the table eagerly began eating.

Harry was just about to take a huge swig from his glass of pumpkin juice when Severus Snape burst into the room. He looked angrier than ever, and Harry choked a little on his juice. Why did he always feel like his life was at risk when he was in the same room as that man?

“Where is Draco?” Snape asked sharply.

Harry was taken aback, both by the man’s abrupt entrance and by his sudden question. “Still upstairs,” Harry told him.

Snape nodded curtly and marched out of the kitchen. Harry caught Ginny’s eye and she gave him a look that clearly said, “I don’t know, either.”

“Bat,” Ron muttered. Beside him the twins nodded their agreement.

Upstairs, Harry could hear what he assumed was Snape’s voice shouting. Harry shuddered. He didn’t fancy being on the receiving end of that. The shouting died down, and a moment later Snape reemerged, dragging a very disgruntled Draco along with him. Snape said nothing as he forced Draco to sit down in the only available seat left at the table, which happened to be right next to Harry. Harry tried not to look at the fuming Draco as he discreetly inched his chair away from him.

“Good morning, Draco,” Mrs. Weasley said brightly, setting a plate of eggs, bacon and toast down in front of him.

Draco opened his mouth, intending to say something snarky in reply, no doubt. But one look from Snape made him snap his mouth shut and then mumble an almost polite “Morning” back. Satisfied, Snape gave another curt nod and left without saying another word. Harry frowned. Why was that man always so strange?

“Eat up, dear,” Mrs. Weasley said, handing Draco a glass of pumpkin juice. “You’re too thin. You and Harry both. You could give him a run for his money.”

Draco’s eyes darkened at the mention of Harry, but he said nothing. He picked up his fork, moving the eggs around on his plate. He set down his fork and tore off a tiny piece of toast, chewing slowly.

‘Does he think that it might be poisoned?’ Harry wondered to himself, but he didn’t voice his opinion out loud.

“Draco, after breakfast, why don’t you let me try to heal those bruises of yours?” Mrs. Weasley asked kindly.

“NO!” Draco screamed, jumping up so quickly that he knocked over both his and Harry’s glasses of pumpkin juice. Harry glared at him as he used his napkin to sop up the mess. Draco was oblivious. He was shaking heavily, his fists clenched. “No,” Draco repeated. “Don’t you touch me! I don’t want you touching me! Stay away!” Draco then all but fled out of the kitchen. They could hear him bounding up the stairs, and the sound of a door being slammed echoed into the kitchen a moment later.

Harry threw down his now drenched napkin, pushing his chair away from the table and standing up. “Excuse me,” he said. “I think I have to go murder someone.”

“Harry?”

“It’s fine, Professor Lupin,” Harry said. “I’m just going to see if he’s alright.” But Harry was going to do more than that. Yes, Harry Potter was going to give that pure-blood snob a piece of his mind.

“Our hero,” Tonks said behind him. Harry could hear the smirk in her voice, and he rolled his eyes.

Harry stomped up the stairs, growing angrier with each step. How could Draco speak to Mrs. Weasley that way? She had been nothing but kind and obliging to him, and then he goes and treats her poorly. Well, this was going to end. Harry was not going to put up with it. Not in his godfather’s house.

Harry pushed open the door and stopped when he caught the look on Draco’s face. He looked so sad and dejected. He was sitting on his bed, a pillow held against his chest.

“What do you want, Potter?” Draco snapped.

Any pity he had been feeling for Draco blew out the window, and Harry stalked into the room, slamming the door behind him. Draco jumped a little and recoiled away from Harry on the bed. Harry hadn’t noticed this and stood menacingly in front of the other boy with his arms folded across his chest.

“Why won’t you let Mrs. Weasley heal you?” Harry asked angrily. “You’re hurting her feelings! She just wants to help!”

“I didn’t mean…” Draco began.

Harry interrupted him. “What? Do you think you’re better than her? Than us? Are you above her magic?”

“No!” Draco insisted. He appeared to be close to tears. “It’s just…”

“What?” Harry cut in.

“You wouldn’t understand,” Draco muttered, trying to discreetly wipe his eyes with his sleeve.

“Try me,” Harry said, folding his arms across his chest.

“I…I…” Draco stuttered.

“Well?” Harry said coldly. “Out with it!”

“I’m ashamed!” Draco exclaimed, shocking Harry into stillness. “I don’t want anyone to see!” Draco paused, pulling self-consciously at his sleeves. “And…I deserve this pain.”

Harry frowned. What in the world was Draco talking about? What pain? Draco wrapped his arms around himself, pulling his knees in close to him. Harry’s eyes softened. Draco looked so pathetic. Why was Harry Potter such a sucker for someone in distress?

“Show me,” Harry said softly.

“No,” Draco said, shaking his head.

“Please show me?” Harry asked, slowly making his way over to Draco. Draco squeaked and scrambled against the wall. “Shhh,” Harry soothed, reaching out his hand. He felt like he was taming some sort of wild animal. “Stop that,” Harry chastised, gently. “You’ll hurt yourself that way.”

“Please,” Draco pleaded. “Please don’t.”

Harry stopped reaching. Why the hell did he care so goddamn much? He always thought that he would like to see Draco Malfoy in pain. But he didn’t like it at all. He hated it, in fact.

“Let me see,” Harry whispered. “I won’t hurt you.” Draco whimpered, closing his eyes. “I won’t laugh, either. You have my word.”

Harry knelt on the mattress, reaching out his hand again and lightly touching the side of Draco’s face. Draco trembled, but he didn’t shy away from Harry’s touch. Harry ran his fingers over the bruise on Draco’s cheek. Harry had to admit that the flaxen-haired boy was very beautiful, even when he was bruised and beaten. Harry was somewhat jealous of Draco’s looks. How could it be fair for one person to have so much beauty?

Without breaking contact with Draco’s face, Harry slipped his other hand to the hem of Draco’s shirt. Draco was crying openly now, tears silently coursing down both sides of his face. As carefully and gently as possible, Harry lifted up Draco’s shirt, pulling it completely off.

Harry gasped at what he saw. Bruises ran up and down both of Draco’s arms, extending across his chest and stomach. There almost seemed to be some sort of formation in how the bruises were aligned on his body, but Harry had no time to consider it. He let his hand fall away from Draco’s face.

“Sweet Merlin,” Harry breathed. Why had Draco not said anything to anyone? Harry knew that Draco had always been one to milk little injuries for all they were worth, so then why wasn’t he doing the same for something that was actually legitimate? With all of these bruises, Draco was bound to be in a lot of pain.

Harry turned Draco around to confirm his suspicion that Draco’s back was no better than his front. Harry ran his hands up and down the markings on Draco’s back. Again, he noted that the bruises almost seemed to form a pattern, but it was not a design that Harry was familiar with.  Draco shivered at Harry’s touch.

“I’m sorry,” Harry murmured. “Am I hurting you?”

“No,” Draco answered in a whisper.

Harry turned Draco back around to face him, running his hand up the side of Draco’s arm and cupping the side of Draco’s face. Draco raised his eyes to meet Harry’s, and that’s when Harry felt it. It was a longing, a sudden desire to be closer to Draco. There was suddenly too much space between them. Harry would never know what made him do it, but he found himself leaning in closer to Draco. Draco looked up at Harry with an emotion in his eyes that Harry had never seen before and didn’t recognize. Harry actually had no idea what he was going to do next, and luckily for him, he never had to find out.

An abrupt knock at the door caused Harry to drop his hand away from Draco’s face and move away. A moment later Remus Lupin’s voice called through the door.

“Harry? Is everything alright?”

“Fine,” Harry called back, as Draco wiped his eyes on the bed sheets and took a few shaky breaths. “Everything’s fine. We’ll be back down in a moment.” Draco froze and shook his head wildly. Harry ignored him.

“Excellent,” Lupin said happily. “We’ll see both of you soon.”

Harry listened to make certain that he could hear Lupin was heading down the stairs before turning back to Draco.

“I’ll leave you to gain your composure,” Harry said softly.

Draco nodded. Harry got up from the bed and walked over to the door. He paused for a moment, turning back around.

“If I don’t see you downstairs in ten minutes I’m coming back up here for you, and believe me,” Harry said with a slight growl to his voice that caused Draco to jump, “it won’t be pretty if I do.”

Draco’s eyes widened and he nodded again. Harry had just opened the door and was about to walk out of the room when Draco called out him.

“Potter!” The note of desperation in Draco’s voice made Harry turn back around. “You won’t tell anyone, will you?”

Harry narrowed his eyes, taking in Draco’s entire appearance. He looked a mess, which was not like the Draco Malfoy he knew. The Draco Malfoy he knew always looked flawless. His hair, skin and even the clothing that he wore was perfect. The person before him had stringy unkempt hair, dark bags under his eyes and wrinkled clothing. Something needed to be done, but Harry didn’t know how to help him. Harry didn’t know if anyone could help Draco. Even so, against his better judgment, Harry answered, “No, Malfoy, I won’t tell anyone.”

With nothing more Harry left, hoping that he hadn’t been too rough with the other boy. He had never seen the Slytherin so submissive before. He had to admit that it scared him to no end. What in the world could have happened to make Draco behave in such a manner? Whatever it was, it must have been terrible.

The entire room fell silent as Harry walked in. Harry rolled his eyes and sat down in his seat. He really didn’t care what people were saying about him. Though, really, it was most likely Draco Malfoy that they had just been talking about.

Draco entered the room a moment later, as calm and composed as Harry had ever seen him, though his eyes looked a little red. To Harry’s relief, no one said anything as Draco sat down in his chair next to Harry’s. This time Harry didn’t try to move away.

Mrs. Weasley smiled. “Now that everyone is here, I think we ought to go over the house rules.”

Harry looked up, shocked. Rules? She had to be joking, right? The twins looked absolutely horrified. They had never been fond of set rules. Though Harry didn’t know why it should bother them. The twins would only end up breaking the rules anyway. On the other hand, at the mention of rules, Hermione had straightened up in her chair and was rapt with attention. Ginny rolled her eyes, Ron looked bored and Draco looked like he just didn’t care.

“Rule Number One,” Mrs. Weasley continued, ignoring the unhappy looks her children were giving her. “No one is to even think about setting foot outside. The back yard garden is fine, but no one is to leave this house without the proper guardianship. Is that understood?”

“Yes,” everyone chanted dully.

“Rule Number Two: bedtime is ten o’clock on the weekdays and twelve o’clock on weekends. Anyone caught out of bed will pay the price.” At this she gave a very decided look at the twins, who were sullenly staring at the table. “Rule Number Three: after bedtime there will be no girls in the boys’ room and no boys in the girls’ room.”

“So, we’re still allowed to go down the hall and visit Harry and Draco, then?” George asked politely. Fred hid a snigger behind his hand. Mrs. Weasley ignored them.

“Rule Number Four: there will be absolutely no rough housing. This is a very old house and there are many things in this house that are still unknown and potentially dangerous. The main common rooms and the bedrooms are safe, but you can never be too careful.” Ginny yawned. “And Rule Number Five: the entire top floor is forbidden.”

At the word ‘forbidden,’ the twins perked up and exchanged identical mischievous glances. Again, Harry found himself hoping that whatever plan the twins were considering didn’t involve him.

“I would advise you to abide by that rule,” Lupin said quietly. “It truly is not safe.”

Mrs. Weasley nodded. “Well, that seems to be it,” she said cheerfully. None of the children, aside from Hermione, smiled back. “We have a while until lunch, and even longer until dinner.” She suddenly became stern again. “The rules are for your own safety, so please follow them.”

“Are we finished?” Draco said a little sharply. “May I be excused?”

Mrs. Weasley nodded, seeming to be put out by Draco’s sudden rudeness. Draco got up from the table and left the room without another word. Harry watched him leave, promising himself to speak to Draco again about being nicer. Then again, Harry wasn’t sure what Draco had been through. For all he knew, it could have been horrible. In fact, he truly believed that something terrible had happened to Draco.

Harry looked up and saw that everyone, including Lupin and Tonks, were staring at him.

“What?” Harry asked, looking around at all the faces gathered around the table. “Is there something wrong?”

“You were wearing the strangest expression on your face just now,” Ron said.

“Are you feeling alright?” Hermione asked with concern.

The twins were eyeing Harry with a look that made him very uncomfortable. Harry cleared his throat and rubbed the back of his head nervously.

“It was like,” Ginny began slowly, “you were thinking about something or, or, someone really special.”

Harry choked on this. He had only been thinking of Draco Malfoy. That was all. There was no way he could admit that now.

“I just spaced out for a moment,” Harry said. “That’s all.”

Ginny didn’t look quite convinced, but she said nothing more.

“Well,” Harry said, standing up. He was keen to end this conversation.  “What is there to do around here?”

                                                       ~~~

Hours later, Harry trudged up the stairs, heading towards his bedroom. In all of his life there had never been a day that had lasted quite as long as this one. Harry had been bored out of his mind. He was convinced that if he had to stay like this for much longer he truly would lose his mind. Nobody seemed to be able to answer his questions; in fact, nobody from the Order (aside from Mrs. Weasley) had stayed in the house longer than a few minutes at a time. Harry had no idea where Lupin had gone off to. Tonks was out on a mission. He, Hermione and the Weasley children had spent the afternoon in the drawing room doing absolutely nothing. Well, Harry Potter wasn’t going to stand for this. Something had to be done!

Harry stalked into the bedroom where Draco was lying on his bed, staring up at the ceiling. Draco had come downstairs for meals (where he barely ate a thing), but other than that, he had not left the bedroom. That was going to change, too. Draco needed to at least pretend to be a human being. Yes, Harry was going to change that.

“I feel like a caged animal,” Harry said, slamming the door shut and kicking it a little.

“You are a caged animal,” Draco said, not missing a beat.

“Thank you, Malfoy,” Harry said coldly. “That makes me feel so much better.”

“Hey, I’m in the same boat,” Draco told him.

“We can’t go out, we have to stay in our rooms.” Harry sighed. He strode over to his bed and collapsed onto it. Draco watched him, though Harry was oblivious to this. “Now I know what Sirius felt like,” Harry muttered, more to himself than to Draco. Draco’s ears perked up.

“Sirius?” he questioned. “Sirius Black?”

Harry nodded. “He was my godfather,” Harry said. “All last year he was cooped up in this place. I think it drove him mad.” Draco didn’t say anything. Harry laughed an emotionless laugh. “I’ve only been here for a couple hours, and I already want to leave. I can’t imagine what it must have been like for him.”

“I’m sorry,” Draco whispered. He paused before asking, “Did you love him?”

“As much as I could,” Harry answered. Draco quirked an eyebrow at him. Harry sighed. “Yes, Malfoy, I loved him very much.” Draco didn’t say anything. Harry sighed again and continued, “Sometimes I feel like everything and everyone that I love gets taken away. Sometimes I think it might be better if I don’t get close to anyone at all.”

“I’m sorry,” Draco repeated. “Sometimes, nothing is fair.”

“Malfoy?”

“Goodnight, Harry Potter.”

“Goodnight…”

Draco.