I Understand

Harry didn't know what to say to Draco. What could he say? He knew nothing of why, but he wished he did. He wished he could help Draco. His heart twisted when he felt like there was nothing he could do. He wanted to make it better, wanted to save him, but how could he? He knew very little about Draco, only that he had started to draw in 4th year.

4th year. The Triwizard Tournament. The year Voldemort returned. The year Cedric died. Why had Draco started drawing that year? What happened? Had he just wanted to try something new? Something told Harry that it was bigger than that. Why would Draco start drawing. Voldemort was risen, and Death Eaters started to organize again. Death Eaters like Lucius Malfoy. Had Draco start drawing to put his mind at ease when his father disappeared? Was it the stress, fear for is father, of his father. 

Why would Draco fear, he was born to be a Death Eater. He was groomed to continue the Malfoy legacy of darkness. Then it hit Harry. All the similarities between them. Suddenly Harry knew what to say.

"I understand." He said in a soft voice, filling the silence of the bathroom with those two words. He looked at Draco, his face was still blank, so he continued. "I understand what's it's like to be pressured into doing something you don't want to do. Be someone else for the people around you. I understand what it's like to have your entire life planed out for you, but no one tell you until it's too late to change anything. I understand having whispers about you follow you around because of one mark. I understand what it's like to feel helpless, to want to get away from it all. I understand what it's like to feel like you deserve to be hated. I understand feeling like everything is your fault. But... It's not your fault... Draco," He said his name, it almost felt weird on his tongue, he looked over at Draco and noticed a single tear was starting to fall. "It's not your fault. You don't deserve to be treated like shit. You're a good person. You're the reason so many people are  alive today. Maybe you don't see it, but Draco, I do." At this point, Draco was crying. Tears streamed down his face, but he stayed silent.

Harry wanted to help more, but what more could he saw? At least it was the truth. Harry then noticed the bruise on Draco's cheek. What else had those students done to him? It made Harry angry. He didn't know why, just because he had said those words didn't make them friends, but Harry still felt protective of Draco. He probably needed to take him to the Hospital Wing, but he didn't think Draco would agree. He tried anyway. "You need to go see Madam Pomfrey." Draco didn't argue, it was almost like he was afraid to open his mouth, afraid of what would come out.

So Harry helped Draco stand, holding him by his elbow and shoulder. Draco stood, and stared off into the distance, but walked with Harry. Draco had slightly bent over and was clutching his stomach. Harry wondered what had happened, and clenched his jaw. He hated seeing people hurt. They slowly made their way to the Hospital Wing, which wasn't that far. Thankfully they didn't run into anyone, Harry did not want to deal with questions. All he wanted was to take Draco to the hospital and see that he got better.

As they walked in, Madam Pomfrey saw them. "Mr.Potter, Mr.Malfoy? What happened? Here, lay him on this bed." She directed them to the closest bed, and Harry help Draco onto it. "Boys, what happened? Why is there blood on your robes-" She then noticed the bandages and pressed her lips tightly together. She sighed and walked to her potions cupboard. She pulled out two small vials and walked over. She held out the first one, "this will heal those cuts into scars, and this one," she held out the other one, "will replace the blood that you lost. Are there any other injuries?" She looked at Harry.

"Er, he was holding his stomach, and he got punched in the face." Harry offered, not knowing anything else. He really wanted to know what happened.

"Well, I can check for internal problems easy enough, and I'll grab some ice for his face. Do you know who did this?" She asked and Harry shook his head. He silently cursed himself for not writing down all the names that had been there. He could be so stupid. "Well." She sighed and her wand started to emit a dull yellow light. She hovered over Draco's abdomen and the light turned purple. "Broken ribs. I'll get something to heal those up." She briskly walked off and returned with another vial and an ice pack. "Here. I'll check in on you in a few minutes. I assume you'll be staying, Mr.Potter?" Harry just nodded.