After -Drarry COMPLETE

Chapter 8

—Draco POV—

Warning: Self Harm

I don't think I could ever get the sight out of my head. The small red and pink lines all down his arms. His knees to his chest, his breaths coming out almost as small, shallow, trembling wheezes from struggling to stop crying. His head rested on his crossed arms and he had a vice grip on the knees of his jeans. His glasses were on the sink counter and the smell of sick violated my nostrils.

I went down to him cautiously. There was a small razor blade by my knees where I knelt down and I moved it aside, away from him. Ignoring the thoughts racing through my mind and my pounding heart, I spoke, making sure my voice was quiet and gentle.

"Hey, hey. I'm here." I don't know how knowing Draco Malfoy was here would help calm him down, but I truly didn't know exactly what to do. I took notice that he didn't react to my words. Now; I know he's conscious, but maybe he's too mentally drained to respond. I took a cautious hand on his clenched one trying to coax him to loosen his grip. Soon enough my  other arm was wrapped around him.

"Harry. Take deep breaths, please. I need you to let go and let me see your arms clearly... please."

He took a deep breath in and it caught. I spoke again. "That's it. In... Out..." We were in a sort of sideways hug and I caressed his arm softly.

"Everything is going to be ok," I continued. His shoulders jerked violently as he tried and failed to control his crying. I caressed his arm some more, hoping it would be a comfort to him.

"It's alright... Don't worry. You're okay."

He sucked in a deep breath. I removed my arm from around him when he lifted his head and rubbed his eyes. His hands lingered on his face as he leaned into them. I couldn't help but stare with a sorrow ridden expression. My heart ached for him. He let out another strangled cry. "Don't be afraid to let it come out freely. I can tell your trying to stop it."

It was silent again. The silence wasn't like last nights awkward dinner. It was different. There was a depressing atmosphere that surrounded us. I wondered briefly what exactly had possessed me into helping him. But as harrowing as the sight was, something in the back of my mind was glad that I was able to help him.

"I'm just....so weak... to allow myself to-" his quivering lip and cracking voice was interrupted by a sob. He refused to look at me.

"I don't want to continue living the way I do. But I can't do anything. I have Teddy... I-" He let out another breath.

"You are probably the strongest person I know... Potter, life... it's not fair. But It's all we've got. We need to learn to get through it."

"Every time I figure something out I'm thrown another circumstance." His chest heaved as he gulped down desperate breaths. Desperate for control, perhaps. I understood that.

"I guess life has it's way of doing that," I responded quietly. He let out a small laugh at my statement.

Gently I grabbed his arm closest to me- he let me. I saw what he'd done both today and in the past. They went in all different directions. It wasn't anything slow or steady, but rather in the midst of intense emotional turbulence.

"Come on. Let me clean you up." I got up and held out my hand to help him. as I hoisted him up he sniffled. He looked down towards the un-flushed toilet and flushed it. I saw air freshener under said toilet and grabbed it to spray.

"Would you like me to leave you to a shower? I'll wait wherever you ask."

"Yes. Please. Just wait in my room to the left of this one."