Just like Brothers

Chapter 14

Harry turned to see a crowd forming a few steps away. The group of mainly Slytherins were gasping and pointing at something.

He pushed through the crowd and saw a familiar blond laying bloodied on the ground.

"Hagrid!" Harry yelled, rushing forward to pull Draco away from the Hippogriff.

He dragged him away from the crowd as the half giant rushed over.

"Back away Harry," Hagrid said, scooping Malfoy up in his arms. "Class dismissed, Harry go get Professor Snape and meet us in the hospital wing."

Harry took off towards the castle.

"Harry!" Ron and Hermione chased after him.

"I'll meet up with you guys later," Harry waved them off.

"We'll come with you!" Hermione called.

"No." Harry yelled back, running faster. He didn't need them following him and learning anything in the basis of his relationship with Snape and Malfoy. He couldn't lose his best friends.

"Professor!" Harry burst into the dungeon. The entire class of second years turned to face him.

"What's the meaning of this interruption Mr. Potter?" Snape asked.

"There's been an incident, we need you in the Hospital Wing." Harry's cheeks turned red as the class still stared at him.

"Class dismissed." Snape snapped at his class while striding out of the classroom infront of Harry.

"What happened?" Snape asked when the pair was out of earshot from the rest of the students.

"Malfoy got attacked by a Hippogriff, his arm looks pretty bad." Harry cringed.

Snape remained silent.

The pair burst through the doors to the hospital wing and Madam Pomfrey beckoned them over.

Hagrid was sobbing in one of the chairs and Dumbledore and McGonagall were hovering over the bed Malfoy was sitting in.

"Mr. Potter, you should return to class." McGonagall stated.

"My classes are done for the day Professor." Harry told her.

"Very well Mr. Potter. You may stay." McGonagall smiled.

"He should be fine in a day or two." Madam Pomfrey declared.

"Thank you Poppy," Dumbledore sighed.

"I'm sorry, I should've been paying closer attention." Hagrid sobbed.

"That's quite alright, Rubeus, Dumbledore soothed.

Snape scoffed. He approached Draco.

"What happened in your words, Draco?"

Something knocked into me, I'm not sure what it was though," Malfoy replied.
       
"I see, Mr. Potter did you see the incident?" Snape turned to Harry.
      
"No, Sir." Harry responded.
      
"Very well, then, let's leave Mr. Malfoy rest, that includes you, Mr. Potter." Snape declared, giving Harry a look.
     
Harry sighed but thought it better not to argue,
     
"Get well, Malfoy," he stated before making his way back to the Gryffindor common room.

>•<

"Harry!" A heap of red hair came barreling towards the raven-headed boy.
     
"Hi Ginny." Harry greeted the younger girl.
      
"You haven't answered me in weeks! I had half the mind to show up on your doorstep!" The ginger fumed.
      
Harry guiltily looked down at his shoes, "I didn't mean to ignore you, Gin, I forgot about the books, I'm sorry."
     
"Whatever," she scoffed, "What was up with you charging into the Potions room, I'm surprised Snape didn't jinx you."
     
"Malfoy's in the hospital wing." Harry explained.
     
"You sound concerned, are you actually friends with that prat?" Ginny asked, incredulously.
      
"He's not that bad." Harry stated, "I share a room with him, it's better to be friends than enemies."
      
"Merlin, I forgot about that, what's it like living with the Snakes." Ginny's curiosity peaked.
     
"The closest thing I've ever gotten to a home." Harry smiled, Ginny went to reply, but based on her expression Harry assumes he had caught her off guard.

They arrived at the common room where Ron and Hermione were waiting.
        
"Harry!" Hermione beckoned him over to sit. He waved to Ginny as she left for her dorm.
        
"What happened?" Hermione asked.
        
"Malfoy is in the hospital wing." Harry told the pair.
       
"Serves the Git right," Ron huffed, "what was with you helping him? You should've left him there."
      
"He didn't deserve that, Ron, sure he's done things in the past but he was doing nothing to provoke the Hippogriff," Harry defended.
         
"You're actually standing up for the Snake!" Ron's eyes bulged out of his head, "Hermione back me up here."
        
"You know, Ronald, Malfoy hasn't said anything vain to anyone since we got here," Hermione seemed confused.
       
"You two are unbelievable," Ron stalked away from Harry and Hermione in fury.
       
"Somethings going on with you, Harry," Hermione stated bluntly, "you can either tell me or I'm going to find out on my own. I hope you know you can trust me."
      
Harry stayed silent.

Hermione sighed, "really Harry, I care about you, you're different, I just want to know that you're ok." The brunette reasoned.
       
"I'm perfectly fine, Hermione," Harry groaned, "just drop it."

He grabbed his satchel and returned to his dorm, ignoring the closed curtains on Ron's bed.

>•<

Hermione put away her books and stormed out of the common room, she had one destination in her mind, the Hospital Wing.

"What's your angle, Malfoy?" The brunette demanded "why'd you do it?"

"I don't know what you're talking about, Granger." The blond smirked.

"We both know what really happened with the Hippogriff, why did you lie?" Hermione seemed genuinely curious.

"Some things are just really not worth it, Granger," Malfoy leaned back on his pillow.

"Something is going on here, you've changed over the summer. Since we've been here you haven't uttered a derogatory or vain comment. Why is that?"

"My apologies if it really meant that much to you, I'll torment you again." Draco smirked, enjoying the girls confusion.

Hermione scoffed. "I will figure out what happened this summer" she promised.

"Be my guest." Draco turned away "you better be going, you don't want Snape to catch you here, he's already kicked out a handful of people, wouldn't want to loose house points on the first day, now, would we?" Draco watched as the feisty brunette turn on her heel and stormed out.

Harry and himself would have to be more careful around her, Hermione's observational skills were better than he gave her credit for. The less people that knew about Harry, Severus and himself the safer all three of them would be. If the information that The Boy Who Lived was living with two supposed supporters of the Dark Lord fell into the wrong hands, it would be catastrophic.