Once a Death Eater...

Chapter 6 - I Deserve This

Harry watched as he continued to walk down the long corridor, just listening to the awful things they were calling Draco as he grew closer to the group.

"You should just fucking die Death Eater!" A Hufflepuff sneered.

"You should be in Azkaban too, murdering wanker!" A Slytherin girl shouted.

Harry stopped walking towards the group, he stood just a little further back watching the interaction take place. He should stop this. It's not right. Bullying in any form isn't right, even if it is directed towards Draco.

Before Harry could get any closer or stop the group of sixth years, they began to physically attack Draco. A Ravenclaw boy punched Draco in the nose, causing Draco to drop to the floor bleeding and, from a Gryffindor, Harry heard a horrible hex being cast at the defenceless, grey-eyed boy.

Draco let out a scream, obviously in a tremendous amount of pain, Harry dashed towards the group. The corridor was deserted, apart from the group of bullies, Harry and Draco.

"Leave him alone!" Harry shouted fiercely, scaring even himself. The group of sixth years all dashed away seeing Harry approach, he could hear laughs and jeers from the group as they left. The Ravenclaw boy spitting on Draco as they ran away, down the corridor and out of sight.

Draco was crying, bloody and obviously in quite a lot of pain due to the hex. Harry rushed over to him, bending down on one knee to check on him.

"Draco? Are you okay?" Harry asked quite softly, he didn't want to scare the already petrified boy.

Draco was crying, but slowly began lifting himself off the ground. His robes were messy and Harry could see the mud on them from yesterday. He must only have been able to afford one pair of robes.

"How can I help?" Harry asked softly.

"You can leave me alone, I can take care of myself. I don't need you help or pity." Draco sneered with all of his strength, sounding almost like his usual self. The tone of voice took Harry by surprise and his cruel words were startling, but in a strange way familiar. Harry persisted with his efforts to help, however vile Draco was being.

"Come on, let me at least take you to see Madame Pomfrey? No one deserves to be treated like this." Harry tried to help Draco up, but this caused Draco to began crying a little more.

"I deserve this." Draco stated, almost emotionlessly as he wiped the spit from the Ravenclaw boy, off his neck and the tears from his eyes.

Harry didn't know much about consoling someone. Looking at the mess of a boy sprawled out in front of him though caused Harry pain. Draco was thin, pale (more than usual), bloody, crying and all around broken. So Harry did the one thing he could think of to maybe make Draco feel slightly better. He scooped Draco up in his eyes, green looking into grey and gave him a hug.

It was strange, Harry never thought he'd be hugging Draco but as he held him in his arms, Draco broke down sobbing. Like he was letting every emotion he ever felt escape his body. Draco clinged to him, hugging Harry back. They sat there for a few moment. Harry whispering sweet things in Draco's ear, telling him it will be alright.

When Draco began to calm down however, the boy with the grey eyes whispered a small, "I'm sorry.", then broke the hug and dashed away, leaving Harry sat alone in the deserted corridor. Certainly a strange interaction but Harry definitely felt a twang of sympathy for the boy. He should help him.

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It had been a week since their interaction with the bullies, where Harry had saved Draco. However, despite Harry's attempt to talk to the grey-eyed boy, Draco seemed determined to avoid Harry at all costs. He would sneak into to their shared bedroom late into the night when Harry was asleep and by the time Harry awoke, Draco would already be gone.

Harry never saw Draco at any of the meal times, the boy was thin enough so if he hasn't been eating it was a really worrying thought. The times Harry would see Draco, in the corridors or in a few of the classes, he looked quite bad and avoided Harry's eye contact. Draco usually would be covered in bruises, or he'd have a limp. Obviously the bullying hasn't stopped and Draco was just taking it? Like some kind of punishment for his part in the war? He didn't deserve it, Harry thought no matter whether Draco says he does. The probation was his punishment and that should be it.

He had told Hermione of his interaction with Draco, she was obviously concerned, whether it was Draco or not, Hermione didn't want to see anyone in such a great deal of pain. It wasn't until Harry was walking to his Herbology class when he saw something that really confused him. He turned a corner, the halls being quite empty at the time where he saw Hermione and Draco, hugging in an empty corridor.

"Hey guys." Harry said, visibly confused.

"Oh hey Harry." Hermione greeted, pulling away from Draco slowly and smiling, like nothing out of the ordinary was happening. "We should get to Herbology then yeah? Don't want to be late. Come on Harry, Draco."

Why was Hermione hugging Draco? Why are they walking to class together?

The walk to Herbology was quite awkward to say the least, the three of them making their way through the castle to the greenhouses. Not a word was spoken but Hermione would often look towards Draco , seemingly to check whether he is alright?

When they entered the greenhouses, Ron was already there with a few other eighth years. Immediately, his eyes snapped to his two best friends walking into the class with his worst enemy.

"What the bloody hell are you doing with that wanker?" Ron sneered.

Draco stiffened next to Harry and Hermione. Harry didn't even need to look at him to know he was about to cry. To be quite honest though, Harry wasn't sure why he was with them. They haven't spoke in a week and now they're walking to class together.

"Don't be so horrible Ronald." Hermione gave him a pointed look and Ron rolled his eyes, sitting back in his chair. "Harry, would you be a peach and sit with Ronald in this class, I'm gonna work with Draco."

Now Harry was seriously confused, but he moved over to the chair next to Ron while Hermione and Draco found a table for the two of them.

"What's he playing at then ey?" Ron sneered.

"No idea?" Harry replied, extremely confused.

It wasn't long before Professor Sprout burst into the room giving them a pair task and all the students began with working with the Mandrakes. Harry was happy to work with Ron, at least he didn't have to spend and awkward two hours with Draco. Every time Harry looked over however, Draco and Hermione were chatting, Draco even had a small smile on his face.

After the two hours, the class was dismissed. Hermione wished Draco a goodbye as they walked in opposite directions down the corridor, while Ron and Harry caught up with Hermione.

"What are you doing with him?" Ron almost shouted.

"Wasn't it obvious? Herbology of course." Hermione stated matter-of-factly.

"He means why are you hanging around with him?" Harry said wanting an answer to this question, there's many question he wanted an answer to at this point.

"I know what he meant." Hermione started, "Draco's changed. He even apologised to me before this lesson started. Apologising for all the horrible things he's said to me. It was quite sweet actually."

"Him? Sweet? He's a bloody prat he is?" Ron started but was interrupted by Parvati.

"Harry, McGonagall wants to see you in her office. Been a bad boy Harry?" Parvati joked.

"I hope not. She probably just wants a chat, I hope." Harry joked back, wishing the three of them a quick goodbye before dashing off towards McGonagall's office.

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