Travelling

Draco sat by the bed and watched. He watched Potter lying asleep, peaceful. Insane. You can now class yourself as insane.

He watched the light from the dying fire flicker over the other boy's face and highlight the livid bruises that covered it.

Insanity must run in the family. Only an insane person would marry a Malfoy and only an insane person would call that thing master.

Voldemort, You-Know-Who, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.

A chill ran down his spine as he thought about it.

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Lucius Malfoy walking quickly through the halls of the Manor. Draco following close behind. The smell of death and decay growing stronger with every step. The door opens. He's there. Sitting comfortably near the cold fireplace, red eyes glinting. A clawed finger pressing into his skin. Burning, searing pain rushing through him. Coldness. Blackness. Surrounding him, smothering him............

Malfoy...Malfoy...MALFOY!

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Draco's eyes jerked open and were met by startlingly green ones. He breathed deeply and fought to control the feeling of nausea that swept over him.

"Malfoy...are you alright?"

Draco looked up again and at the sight of Harry Potter watching him with concern began to laugh uncontrollably.

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Harry was confused. He recognized the room he was in as one from the Leaky Cauldron but he couldn't remember how he had got there or why he was now watching as Draco Malfoy laughed hysterically.

The pain that had swept over him when he had first woken up had receded, but his unease on discovering himself alone in a room with a Malfoy was increasing. Especially since the Malfoy in question was now laughing his head off.

When he had turned round and found Malfoy asleep in a chair beside him, he'd felt a small tinge of fear. Then he'd noticed that the blond boy was sweating and muttering. One of the names he'd said was Voldemort. Then when he had suddenly turned rigid and started shaking, he'd panicked.

He watched, as Malfoy seemed to regain control of himself and stopped laughing. An uncontrollable wave of exhaustion struck him. He tried his best to keep his eyes open, but it was too much. The pain returned and the last thing he saw before he passed out were Malfoy's silver-grey eyes, watching him with what looked like concern.

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Harry felt himself drifting awake. He started to turn over when a sharp pain in his side stopped him. His eyes flew open as the memory of what had happened earlier hit him. Carefully he sat up and was surprised to feel something smooth flow over his head. Looking down, he was surprised to see the invisibility cloak. Frowning, he started to lie down again when the door opened and Malfoy walked in.

Harry froze. He watched as Draco put down the bundle he had been carrying, wave his wand in Harry's direction then jump about a foot in the air and trip over a chair.

"Malfoy!" He pulled himself over to the end of the bed and was greeted by the sight of Draco lying on the floor, his hair messed up and a scowl covering his features.

He leaned over the edge of the bed and watched with concern.

"Are you ok?"

Draco looked up at him and glared.

"Yes, Potter, perfectly fine. I enjoy floors, really I do, it's the being asked if you're ok while sprawled all over them that irritates me."

Still scowling, the blond boy stood up and brushed dust off his robes. Glancing up he saw Harry frowning at him.

"What is it, Potter? Suddenly discovered you have more than one facial feature?" Harry glared at him.

"Actually I was wondering what the hell I was doing here."

Draco frowned, "You don't remember anything?"

Harry thought back.

"I remember being woken up by Uncle Vernon yelling at someone, then..." his voice trailed off. " You were the wizard at the door." It was a statement, not a question.

Draco smirked.

"What's wrong? Hoping it was Weasley coming to visit?"

Harry ignored him. "You still haven't told me how I got here or why, or why you were in Privet Drive at half three in the morning."

Draco's eyes widened. Half three? No wonder the muggle was so pissed off. He realized that Harry was watching him expectantly. He smirked again.

"Well, Potter, I was sitting in my room in the Manor when I suddenly realised my overwhelming love for you so I just had to come and whisk you away. I was planning on going somewhere warm so I could ravish you in comfort but unfortunately this was the best I could do."

He saw the horrified look on Harry's face and began laughing.

"I'm kidding, Potter don't worry your virginity is safe."

Harry choked.

"Malfoy-"

"Calm, Potter, calm. I didn't exactly plan on being anywhere near you. Like I said I was aiming for someplace warm."

"So how did you end up in Privet Drive?"

"Your owl will suffer for it."

At the mention of Hedwig Harry glanced around the room.

"She flew off just after I left, I heard her go."

Harry watched as Draco sat in the chair opposite the bed. His face serious.

"Potter..." He frowned and looked Harry in the eye.

"Potter how long have you been letting those muggles hurt you?"

Harry paled. His chest tightened and he looked away.

"I don't...I don't know what...what you're talking about...they...they don't-"

"Potter I happen to be an expert at spying through windows. I saw." His voice softened slightly, "How long?"

Harry looked out the window and sighed, "As long as I've been with them, I guess. It got worse after fourth year."

He looked up at Draco and saw no malice in the other boy's face. The pain in his ribs was returning and a light-headed feeling seemed to have come over him. He didn't understand what was going on and the more he thought about things, the less sense they made.

"Why?"

Draco's voice sliced into his thoughts.

Startled he looked up to find that the blond boy had moved to the window and now sat with his back to him.

"What?"

Draco glanced over his shoulder, "I said why, Potter, it isn't exactly a hard question."

Harry shrugged and lay back on the bed, tired.

"Because I deserve it I guess."

Draco's head jerked around quickly but Harry was too tired to notice.

"What the hell do you mean, because you deserve it?" His voice was quiet, almost a whisper.

Harry yawned and closed his eyes, his exhaustion getting the better of

him.

"I'm a wizard. I'm worthless and cause nothing but trouble. I deserve it." And with that he fell asleep, missing the brief horrified look on Draco's face.

"No Potter, no one deserves that."

No one except you.