Permanent Scars

Chapter ten

Harry had received an owl at breakfast from Dumbledore asking him to come to his office at first break.

As Harry stood on the stairs leading to Dumbledore's office, he was desperately trying to think what this could be about. He was hoping that whatever Dumbledore had to tell him didn't have anything to do with Voldemort. Once Harry reached the top of the stairs, he stood for a moment outside the door, trying to calm his anxiety, before he knocked on the door.

Dumbledore directed Harry into the room, then closed the door and walked back over to his desk.

He sat down. "Ah, Harry, thank you for coming. Please sit down," Dumbledore said, motioning him towards a chair in front of the desk.

"Thank you, sir," Harry said, sitting down, still feeling anxious. Before he could stop himself, he blurted out, "Does this have anything to with Voldemort, sir? Has he been spotted?"

"No, Harry, it has nothing to do with Voldemort," Dumbledore reassured him. "Although the reason I brought you up here is a serious one. Madam Pomfrey told me that you brought Draco into the infirmary yesterday. She also said he had tried to commit suicide. Did Draco say anything to you about why he tried to kill himself?"

Harry was torn. He didn't like to betray a confidence, but he was so terrified Malfoy might try again. He decided it would be best to tell Dumbledore what he knew.

"Draco told me the reason why he tried to kill himself is because he feels like he is no better than the people that killed his family. That he hated the Death Eaters, and then he realized he was exactly like they are. He couldn't cope with that, so he slashed his wrist."

Dumbledore looked grave. "If that's the way he's feeling, he will probably make another attempt. We will have to do all we can to make sure that doesn't happen."

Dumbledore and Harry sat in silence, thinking about what could be done.

Finally Dumbledore said, "Perhaps Draco is spending too much time alone. I will talk to Professor Flitwick; maybe he can recommend a Ravenclaw that would be willing to have supper with Draco a few nights a week. Eating alone in his room is perhaps giving him too much time to think."

Harry thought about it and then said, "You don't have to ask Professor Flitwick to find someone; I'll do it."

"Are you sure about this, Harry? You and Draco have never gotten along. Maybe a Ravenclaw would be best," Dumbledore said reasonably.

Harry pleaded, "Professor Dumbledore, I really need to do this. I am so worried that he might try to kill himself that I can't sleep at night. If I were there, at least for a few hours a night, I would know that he was safe."

Dumbledore looked at Harry. He saw the bloodshot eyes and dark circles underneath them. He saw the unkempt clothes and hair.

He said with a sigh, "I will notify Draco that you will be there at six p.m. for supper tonight. I don't think he will be very pleased to see you, but maybe that will change with time."