Chapter 1
Draco groaned in pain even as his father finally lifted the curse from him. His breathing was still ragged, and uneven. He had just defended Muggle-born witches, and his father was not likely to let this go, and even less likely by simply giving him a beating. As he had expected, that had not been the case. He was forced to look at his father as Lucius stood over Draco and looked down on him. He was remarkably calm, even though he had just used the torturing curse on his only child.
"I will hear no more of you defending Mudbloods, is that clear, Draco?" Lucius spoke gently, his voice hinting towards a darker purpose. Draco nodded, white blonde hair very un-kept, and his silvery/blue eyes wild with fear. "Good," Lucius said this with fury eyes flaring angrily and hissing the words with thinly veiled fury, before proceeding to kick Draco in the back once, not bothering to do much more after staring at him for a little. He walked towards the door, finally turning back. "We leave in thirty minutes." Then turned on his heel and slammed the door. Draco groaned in pain at the sheer effort that it took to turn himself over and on his knees. There was no way, given his most recent beating, that Draco was going to be able to do as his father wanted and, 'compose himself'. The door opened silently and light footfalls could be heart. A soft had curled around Draco's shoulder, which Draco instinctively tried to get out of, fearing his father had not had enough and had returned. Though he should know better, of course.
"Draco, calm down, my dear." Draco did, it was his mother, not his father. Taking a deep breath, Draco tried to calm himself, but the panic of not being able to compose himself gripped him and threatened to over take him. Narcissa moved her wand silently over Draco's chest, stomach, sides, and back. The pain was alleviated and Draco breathed a sigh of relief.
"Thank you, Mother." Draco said, able to breathe properly for once. Narcissa smiled sadly.
"I think that maybe he went a little far this time?" She asked, her voice hesitating slightly.
"I was caught muttering under my breath that blood status does not matter." Draco said, tears threatening to fall. He pushed them back, he could not cry. He was about to get a year free from his father, if Lucius does not come to the Castle, he should be fine.
"Very foolish with your father right there, Son." Draco nodded with a sigh. He knew that, it had just happened without him realizing what he was doing. He believed some of his father's teachings of course, but he did not quite understand why the blood status of Mudbloods made them less then halfbloods. If anything, they were practically the same. He considered half-bloods worse in a way, not his father though. "The pain should be gone until you leave your father's line of vision. That is the best I could do. Anything else, and it would seem too suspicious to Lucius." Draco just gave his mother a small smile and a light thanks.
At the platform 9 3/4, Draco heard the whistle of the train and moved to leave, but Lucius grabbed hold of his wrist and pinned his arms to the side before he could make his escape. Draco should have realized that his father would not let him leave immediately, still he could not help but make him believe the best each year. The thoughts are so pathetic, when he thought about it as his breath quickened, slightly scared. Lucius leaned down next to Draco's ear. "Compose yourself, you know the consequences if you do not." Draco was released from his father's grasp immediately after, and Draco managed to get on the train before it left. The hallways were empty, people having already found compartments and waving to their family and friends.
Once the train started moving, Draco immediately felt all of the pain from his last session with his father flood over him. He struggled to make his way to the back of the train, when suddenly someone grabbed his hand. Draco could not help it like he had always been able to, he winced at the touch of someone grabbing his wrist and the pain that it caused. After all, he had been crucioed not too long before this stupid train. The emotions were all way too raw and he had not quite managed to keep himself as composed as he should have. His father would have a field day.
"Please let go," Draco muttered, with a complete lack of hatred or envy. His voice sounded more pleading like. Draco did not even seem to notice that it was Ron Weasley. Ron dropped his hand in surprise at Draco asking something so nicely. Then Draco heard a loud shout, someone calling his name.
"MALFOY!" Draco winced at the tone of voice. It reminded him too much of his father in one of his drunken rages. It was noticeable and Draco knew it enough to seamlessly slip into the next empty compartment before anyone noticed anything. Sinking to the floor, his body was rocked with silent sobs as the pain flooded over.
"Harry, what was that for?" Hermione chastised, obviously displeased.
"I just thought we would get the jump on him before he starts teasing us." Harry shrugged. Ron narrowed his eyes.
"Crabby and Goyle aren't in there, Draco is by himself." He said.
"Come, let's talk about this in the compartment not the middle of the corridor." Hermione said. She leveled a glare on them as they tried to prostest. They all went inside.
"Something is wrong with Malfoy." Hermione said. Ron rolled his eyes.
"No kidding, Hermione, he just stated something to me of all people, nicely! He actually said the word 'please'!" Hermione gave Ron a glare.
"Not what I am talking about!"
"Well, then, enlighten us." Harry said, folding his arms.
"Malfoy seems very, jumpy. I have never seen him wince or flinch, or ask something nicely. He did all three in a matter of less than five minutes. Did you guys hear his voice when he asked you to let go?" Harry and Ron nodded. "It sounded like he was trying to hide fear, and he obviously is physically hurt."
"Why do you say that?" Harry asked. This time, Hermione rolled her eyes.
"Honestly Harry, you can be so blind! He was wincing slightly whenever he took a step. That is how I know."
"What do you think happened?" Ron asked, worried despite himself. Sure the boy may be a git and a slytherin, but it was still sketchy. Hermione narrowed her eyes.
"I haven't a single clue, other than he must have been beaten. I saw him with his father. He looked terrified when his father came up behind him. I don't know why, though, it looked like Lucius was giving him a hug! But he was perfectly fine until he got on the train, then everything spiraled downward. As to his walking, I mean." Hermione said.
"I doubt Malfoy's father was giving him a hug." Ron said. "The only Malfoy that gives hugs is Mr. Malfoy's wife, and usually only to Draco."
"I think that Mr. Malfoy wanted it to look like a hug." Harry said. "It could have had some different meaning to Malfoy though."
"Obviously it did! Malfoy looked as though he wanted to die right then and there. He even glanced at his mother terrified. And, when Mr. Malfoy touched him, he flinched." Hermione said quietly.
"We need to get to the bottom of what is going on." Harry said determined. Hermione rolled her eyes at the ever so classic statement from the golden boy, but otherwise said nothing. She was thinking the exact same thing after all.
Draco stopped crying when the announcer said they were five minutes away. It was lucky he was already in his robes when he had gotten on the train, because he doubted that he could have even stood. The pain in his sides were so bad they felt like they were on fire. When someone says that they got burned, they did not know the meaning of the pain that Lucius inflicts with fire.
Draco just had to figure out how he was going to get off the train. He had been so weak since the beating, even with his Mother's help. Now, his mother was not here, and he had no idea what spell or charm could cure the searing pain radiating through his body, he had tried everything that he knew. He was well informed in various forms of magic, but healing magic was rather sketchy, as he had never really learned too much on it. Draco started wincing as he tried to get up. It was to no avail, he was too weak.
"I am going to check on Malfoy." Hermione said. "Wait for me, he might need help leaving." Ron and Harry were obviously displeased, but did as Hermione asked. Her words from before echoing in their minds, they could not really justify leaving. They were gryffindors after all.
Hermione walked in just as Draco had pushed himself halfway standing, before crashing to the floor. It did not seem that he had noticed her. Draco started tear up, leaning back against the wall staring up at the ceiling, arms wrapped around his very muscular chest. Hermione, Muggle through-and-through, felt compassion coming on, even though Draco Malfoy was the enemy. She walked up to him, Malfoy did not look up, but pushed himself further into the wall, and started shaking violently as she put a hand on his shoulder.
"HARRY, RON, GET IN HERE!" Hermione yelled. Harry and Ron opened the door as Hermione was saying 'in', and they saw Malfoy flinch, and then wince at the pain Hermione was putting on his shoulder.
"I am fine." Draco snarled, eyes glaring at the muggleborn and her friends.
"What was that?" Hermione asked angrily. Draco immediately silenced himself again. Hermione's tone was angry. What did he do? Was he going to hit him? Thoughts like these raced through Draco's mind as he was shaking. "You are NOT fine. You are the complete opposite of fine. You can barely lift yourself up, so do NOT tell me that you are fine." Draco glanced up at her, a look of pure panic in his eyes. Ron and Harry took a step back. This was so not Malfoy. "Harry you grab one arm, Ron you grab the other. I am a girl. It...he is a pureblood." Ron sighed heavily. Of course she would only listen to traditions when it came to something like this. "It is not appropriate when there are others that will help."