Secrets

Secrets

Chapter Two

Harry studied Draco's face from across the dungeon. He noticed that Draco looked slightly weak and tired. The blonde boy sat with his forehead in his hand, watching Professor Snape, but not actually paying attention.

"Mr. Potter, please repeat to me the last thing I have said," Professor Snape said, bringing the class's attention to Harry.

"Oh, uh..."

"That's what I thought. You haven't been listening to a word I've said. That'll be 10 points from Gryffindor," Snape sneered, "and what, may I ask, is so interesting about Mr. Malfoy over here to get your attention?"

Draco's head snapped up at the mention of his name. He looked at Harry with wide eyes that contained a slight hint of suspicion. He watched him, as well as the rest of the class, waiting for a response.

"I um...what I mean is"

"My, my, don't we have a way with words."

Harry felt his face grow warm.

"See me after class. I would like to have a word with you."

"Yes, sir."

A few chuckles could be heard from the Slytherin side of the class as Professor Snape resumed his lecture.

Harry glanced up and found that Draco was still looking at him. He kept his gaze for a moment before turning away. In the brief moment that their gazes met, Harry saw a look of mistrust in the other boy's eyes.

He felt sympathy for the boy, having had to deal with pain a lot throughout his years. He just wished there was some way he could help.

***************************************************************

"You go on ahead. I'll see you at lunch," Harry told Ron and Hermione.

Harry left his books on his table and walked up to Professor Snape's desk. Snape was writing on a piece of parchment, ignoring Harry.

Harry cleared his throat. "Uh...Professor?"

Snape glanced up and scowled. "One moment, Potter. Can't you see I'm busy right now?"

"Oh, right. Sorry."

As soon as the last student left the classroom, Snape walked around to the front of the desk and leaned back against it.

"I'm not sure what's going on, Potter, but it must stop now."

"What do you mean? Nothing's going on."

"Well then what, may I ask, was that incident today with Mr. Malfoy?"

"Professor, I think there may be something wrong with Malfoy. I was passing by him the other day and he collapsed. I think he needs help."

"So, Potter comes to the rescue again. You are not God, Potter, so do not try to be. You are a fool if you think you're going to help him. Are you forgetting who his father is? All you have to do is make one little slip and you have just given our heads on a silver platter to everybody's favorite person. You-know-who is still out there and unless you want for your friends or your teachers to die, I would advise you to stay-away-from-Malfoy. You are not a super hero, contrary to what others think. You can die. If you start talking to Draco, that may very well happen."

"I-I never said I was going to help him," Harry said, just above a whisper.

"You didn't have to, Potter. Now get out of my classroom. Be careful who you trust."

Snape gave Harry a look that clearly said the discussion was over.

"Yes, sir," Harry muttered. He grabbed his books and quickly left the room.

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"So what did Snape want?" Ron asked as Harry walked up to the table.

Harry paused half way above the seat, and then continued to sit down.

"Oh...uh, he yelled at me for not paying attention. I'm, um, gonna have detention."

"Aw, sucks for you, mate."

"Yeah, sucks for me."

"Is something wrong Harry?" Hermione asked softly.

Harry's head snapped up. "Huh? Oh yeah. I mean, no. Everything is fine," His smile didn't quite reach his eyes. Hermione gave him a questioning look.

"I'm fine, really. I'm just not looking forward to spending some quality time," Harry rolled his eyes, "with Professor Snape."

"I can't say I don't blame you. I wouldn't want to be stuck with that slimy git any longer than I need to," Ron said, his voice slightly muffled due to the food he was stuffing his face with.

"When do you have to go?" Hermione asked.

"Uh, tonight."

"That is definitely short notice. Although I can't say I'm surprised. Snape would do that."

"Yeah. He's probably gonna make you scrub the dungeon floors with your toothbrush. He's an evil bastard like that."

Harry smirked at Ron. "I'll be sure to take your toothbrush then. Wouldn't want to ruin mine."

Ron's face grew very serious.

"You're my best mate, Harry, but I will hex you if you even dare."

***********************************************************

Great, now what am I supposed to do? Harry thought as he prepared to leave for his detention.

I need to go somewhere that people won't see me. Hmmm...I could go to Hagrid's, but if I tell him it's a secret, he'll slip. If I don't tell him, he might say something to Ron or Hermione. Yeah...that won't work. There's always the library. Hermione is the only person ever in there, but I know she's studying with Ron in the common room. That is if she can get him to sit still long enough to do so. He has a bad habit of becoming easily distracted while studying.

Harry chuckled at that last thought, deciding that the library was his best option.

He sighed and got up from his chair.

"Off to your detention?" Ron asked.

"Yeah," Harry muttered, crossing to the portrait of the Fat Lady.

"Well, good luck with that, mate. Cant say I envy you," Ron replied with a grin.

With one last good-bye, Harry left the common room. The hallway was relatively empty, with the exception of one or two stragglers.

As he headed toward the library, he contemplated how long he would need to stay there. Knowing Snape wouldn't let him get off easy in a real detention, he figured he'd need to stay hidden for about two hours.

He turned the corner in time to see a blonde head go into the library. He stopped short and stood staring at the door.

He contemplated turning around and finding something else to do, but his curiosity got the best of him.

What's Malfoy doing in the library? Harry wondered as he continued toward the door.

Suddenly he realized what he was thinking and chuckled to himself.

Oh please, Harry, you're being paranoid, he told himself. Just because you hardly study doesn't mean other people don't.

He opened the door and walked into the room. He glanced around, not seeing a single person in sight. He walked toward the back of the library, deciding to look for Malfoy.

He walked through the stacks, trying to make as little noise as possible. He paused his steps and held his breath as he heard a scuffling sound in the next aisle.

He continued his quiet steps until he reached the end of the row. Slowly he rounded the corner until he was standing in the next aisle.

"Harry! Can I help you with something?" Madam Pince asked, looking up from the stack of books she had been shelving. Surprise covered her face as if she hadn't expected for anybody else to be in the library with her.

Disappointment crossed Harry's face. He had hoped the other person would turn out to be Malfoy, although he had no idea what he would say to the boy if he confronted him.

"Oh, no, I'm fine. I thought you were someone else."

"Who is it that you're looking for? I may know where they are."

"Oh...its nobody. I just thought you were someone else, is all. Nobody in particular."

"Well, okay. If you need any help, I'll be at my desk," Madam Pince said, walking away.

"Okay. Thank you."

Harry stood there for a moment, fighting with himself over whether to keep looking for Malfoy or to find the table and sit there. His curiosity won and he continued walking. He walked up and down the aisles for several minutes without any luck. When he neared the back corner he heard a very faint noise, which sounded slightly like whimpering.

What the...

He reached the end of the aisle and saw Malfoy sitting at a table hunched over, with his hair spilling over his face. He heard small whimpers coming from the boy who had been his rival since the beginning of his start at Hogwarts. Instead of the usual feelings of hate he received when laying eyes on this boy, all Harry could manage to feel was pity for him. As he stepped closer, he noticed the fact that Malfoy was holding on to his arm.

"Malfoy..."

Draco's head snapped up at the mention of his name. His gray eyes became stormy instantly, as a scowl filled his face.

"Stalking me now, Potter? They have laws against that, you know. I suppose perhaps I should feel flattered?"

Harry frowned. "Are you okay?"

"I'm just peachy. Whatever makes you think something's wrong?"

"Well, you were just making noises sounding a lot like a wounded animal, so my guess is you're in pain, you don't seem to be paying attention in class anymore, and need I remind you that you collapsed the other day?!"

"Shush. Don't get all hysterical, Potter. Pince might hear you," he said in his lazy drawl.

"Malfoy, I know something is wrong."

Draco jumped up and was suddenly standing so close to Harry that their noses were almost touching.

"You don't know anything. You don't know what its like to be me; to be a Malfoy. You don't know what its like having to be the son of Lucius. You-don't-know-shit," Draco spit out, hissing the last part.

"I've faced worse than you, Malfoy. If you think that's gonna scare me away, then you're not as smart as I thought."

Malfoy let out a sarcastic laugh. "Of course not. The-boy-who-will-never-fucking-die wouldn't be scared by little ol' me. He wants to help me. The amazing Harry Potter."

"Yes, that's right," Harry said gently. "I want to help you."

"Don't bother."

"I don't understand. Are you sick? Is that why you collapsed?"

"Yes. That's it, Potter," Draco growled. "I'm sick. I'm sick of life, I'm sick of being a goddamn Malfoy, and most of all, I'm sick of you. Sick of you sticking your nose into other peoples business."

He shoved Harry so that he once again found himself on his arse because of him. Draco stepped closer so that he was standing over Harry.

"You cant fight my battles, Potter. This is something I need to do myself," he said softly. He stepped over Harry and started walking down the aisle.

"If you ever need someone to talk to"

Draco paused halfway down the aisle.

"If you're really not as scared of me as you say you are, then maybe you're not as smart as I thought you were."

He sneered and then continued walking away until he was no longer in Harry's sight.