[Hope]

[2]

"Harry, you have to talk to someone other than me. How about you talk to Blaise, I swear he's not as bad he used to be..." Draco rambled.

"No, I don't need to talk to anyone. I'm fine Malfoy. Honestly" Harry interrupted, Draco went to speak again but Harry cut in, "I don't need anybody else... Look I know you're worried but there's no reason to be so put that pretty little head at ease." he added for Draco's reassurance. Draco wasn't convinced at all.

"What about Weasley, it's only a matter of time until that gets physical Harry, someone needs to do something...I just want you to be safe." Draco pushed. Harry sighed and considered Draco's stormy grey eyes.

"I survived the Dark Lord, I can survive petty bullies, besides Ron isn't stupid enough to attack me" Harry said with a dismissive tone. Draco reluctantly nodded, he still wasn't convinced but It was obvious he wasn't going to get anywhere with someone as stubborn as Harry. Instead he plotted ways to inform his godfather of Harry's constant torment without Harry knowing he was responsible.

Days passed before Draco had a plan, the plan he had formed is a horrible one but it was all he had.

Harry had a detention with Snape pretty much every week in the evening without fail, due to his lack of interest in the subject (that had never been his strong point) and his lack of homework.

This means that Harry would have to walk back to his dorm alone after the detention, without anyone in the corridors to witness anything. If someone was to attack Harry on his way back after having done that detention, it would be the perfect time as there would be no one to see it. Draco assumed Snape would notice because he'd hear the commotion happening literally under his nose and must step in to help Harry. Hopeful Draco's godfather will help the situation and not make it worse.

Draco didn't want to cause any harm to his friend, but having him attacked, at first but he convinced himself it was for Harry's own good. He couldn't think of a better plan anyway. Meanwhile, he had to think of a way to get the Gryffindor's to attack in the first place. That would be a tricky one.

***

The last couple of days Harry noticed that Draco had been with him less and less. At first Harry had just though the blonde was busy, he had other friends after all but now he wasn't so sure. Every conversation he'd had with Draco has been short and blunt as if Draco didn't even want to talk.

It's finally happened, Harry thought. He'd actually lost the last person who cares about him. He'd like to say it was a surprise to him but it wasn't, everyone who ever cared about him left eventually.

Harry sighed, it was 5:30pm. Him and Draco usually spent this time together pretending to study so they could use the library space. Harry liked the library, it was peaceful and there has hardly ever anyone there to judge him. Even though he was almost certain Draco wouldn't come, he waited for an hour and then contemplated waiting more.

That night, Harry was more depressed than usual. If he couldn't keep one friend with him then how could he expect others to like him. Maybe his personality really is as horrid as his peers have being saying, after all he did manage to push Draco away.

Ron came into the boys' room late at night as Harry lay on his side thinking, to anyone it would look like he was asleep. Harry made sure of that, he liked to eavesdrop on the other boys as none of them spoke to him unless they were taunting him during the day.

"Alright Ron, you were out with Lavender again weren't you're getting a bit close now aren't we." Seamus chuckled. Ron coughed nervously.

"Shut up you git, you know I'm only shagging her... I'll dump her before she wants me to make it official." Ron spat disgustedly at Seamus whilst Neville sniggered from his bed.

Harry held back a laugh and kept his deadly still 'Sleeping' position, Ron truly was a pig, he thought. Harry would never to that to a girl but he couldn't be sure as he'd never actually dated one. Draco had asked him once why he never dated and suggested that maybe he was gay, Harry wasn't sure about it. It was a possibility but he didn't feel the need to explore his sexuality like Draco, who is gay and has kind-of thing with Blaise Zabini, had done after the war. Harry felt sorry for Draco, he still is yet to announce his sexual preferences to his parents, who are both very traditionalist purebloods.

He laid listening to their mostly vulgar conversations until they were all asleep. It was Harry's routine, wait for them to sleep then take some dreamless sleep administered by Madam Pomfrey so he doesn't wake anyone up with his nightmares.

The nightmares hadn't stopped after the war. Voldemort is dead but the terrors of the war and his twisted mind create the most painful images, that plague Harry's dreams at night.

Harry can't remember the last time he'd had a good dream. His bad dreams have been around since his days in the cupboard, they've just got worse with all he's been put through.