Unmasked

Last period came incredibly quickly, leaving the trio practically running to class. They skidded into the classroom and jogged up to the front where their seats were. Although the definitely weren’t the last to arrive, they didn’t want to anger McGonagall on their first day back. Ron slid in beside Neville, while Hermione and Harry shuffled into the desks to his left, behind Pansy and Draco, respectively. 

McGonagall came into the room not two minutes later, scolding a couple of tardy Slytherins as she did so. In front of Harry, Draco and Pansy groaned as she took house points. He smirked. 

She started the class promptly, jumping right into their lecture. Hermione beamed, as she had already been practicing this specific spell. Harry started to zone out, staring at the back of the blond head in front of him without much thought on anything other than Quidditch. He knew Hermione could easily fill him in later. 

A flash of motion broke his trance as Draco put up his hand. Harry missed the question, and stares at McGonagall at the front. She was looking at Draco, who was speaking. Harry’s didn’t catch what he said. He tried to bring his attention back to look at Hermione, but a colourful splotch on the other boy’s porcelain skin caught his eye. Faint bruises decorate the back of his forearm where his cloak has fallen down. Harry stared in disbelief, however, the next time his hand went up, they were still there, along with some faint scratches. Harry’s mouth turned into an O. 

Hermione nudged him, and he turned to her. ‘What’s the matter?’ 

Harry read her lips carefully, then turned back to the front. “Nothing” he whispered, shaking his head. His voice got Pansy’s attention, who glanced back at them curiously. She raised an eyebrow, then turned back. 

When McGonagall sent them to work, Harry finally refocused. He watched as Hermione conjured golden birds above her head. Harry shook his head in disbelief. He tried to spell, but only managed to conjure a puff of feathers on his head. Hermione covered her mouth as she laughed. Harry rolled his eyes, shaking the golden feathers out of his unruly hair. When his gaze came back up, he stopped. Another mark had appeared on the boy in front of him. Right at the hem of his cloak on the back of his neck was an angry cut, surrounded by a swollen, purple bruise. Harry’s eyes widened. 

“What?” Hermione grew impatient. “What are you staring at? What’s the matter?”

He leaned in close to her ear. “It’s Draco.”

She pulled away, eyes narrowed. “Harry, what on earth do you mean?”

“Look at him, Hermione. He’s all beat up,” he hissed. 

She glanced at the blond, moving her head to try and see more than just the back of his head. “I don’t see anything, Harry.” 

Harry flipped his hands over on the desk, scowling. “What do you mean? Look at his neck, Hermione!”

She stared at the back of his neck, then stretched to make herself taller. She nearly gasped, whipping her head back to look at Harry. “Do you think that’s from Quidditch?”

“‘Mione, we just got back. I don’t think it’s from Quidditch.”

“What else did you see?”

“Bruises and scratches on his arms. They weren’t there this morning…” 

Hermione bit her lip. “That’s unusual… where do you think they came from, Harry?”

“You’re gunna think I’m crazy.” Hermione shook her head. “I think they’re from his parents, Hermione.” 

She dropped her gaze. “No… that can’t be right, Harry. He’s spoiled!” 

“It could just be an act, Hermione. I know you’ve read psychology and sociology books before for fun.”

She nodded, but still didn’t look at him. “I know. But… I hope that’s not what’s going on.” 

“I hope I’m wrong,” Harry admitted. “Nobody deserves that. But something tells me that I’m not.”

Hermione frowned. “What should we do?”

Harry pondered for a moment, worrying his bottom lip between his teeth. “I’m gunna try and talk to him after class.”

“Are you sure? Do you want me to come?”

He shook his head. “No. Let me do this by myself.”

Hermone closed her book, shoving it into her bag. “Okay. Will you tell me later what’s going on?”

“Of course.”

“Okay,” she stood as everyone else started to leave. She glanced up at Draco as him and Pansy stood. Her eyes widened. “Harry.”

Harry’s eyes quickly found her cause for surprise. With his head turned, a bluish bruise could be spotted on his jawline. Harry pursed his lips, not looking away but nodding for Hermione to go. He heard her shuffle out behind him and hurry away. In front of him, Draco muttered something to Pansy, who did the same as Hermione just had, leaving the two boys at the last two students. 

Draco stood, stuffed his supplies in his bag, and swept from the table, his cloak pulled up around his neck. Harry swept his materials into his bag as well and hurried after the Slytherin. As the blond turned the corner, Harry gently grabbed his shoulder. “Draco.”

The boy flinched, whipping around to face Harry. His eyes wide only momentarily, before attempting to cover his shock with a smirk. “What is it, Potter? Can’t leave me alone?” 

Harry noticed that he lacked his old bite. He huffed. “Can I just talk to you for a moment?”

Draco glanced both ways down the empty hallway. “Yeah, sure. What is it?”

“How long has it been since you’ve used a concealment potion?” 

Silver eyes widened. “What makes you think I’m using a concealment potion?”

Did his voice just waver? Harry’s eyes softened. “Your home life is nothing like any of us has imagined, is it?”

Draco leaned close to Harry, his voice low. “You know nothing about me, Harry. Or about my home life. My parents.”

Harry put his hands up. “Is it true though, Draco?”

He stood up tall. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Harry bit his lip. “You don’t have to hide behind your pride. I’m not gunna go spreading this around or anything.”

“Let me tell you again. I don’t know what you’re talking about. And you know nothing about me.”

Hary locked eyes with him. “But I do recognise those. All of the bruises, cuts… Don’t tell me they’re from Quidditch. They’ve been appearing suddenly over the course of the last period, as if a potion or charm has been slowly wearing off. The bruises on your face and jaw. The ones on your forearms. The natsy cut on the back of your neck. I know what can put them there.”

Draco didn’t break his gaze. When he spoke, it was barely above a whisper. “How?” 

Harry’s gaze dropped to the floor as he spoke, then rose back to Draco’s. “I’ve had my fair share.” If Draco hadn’t already been shocked and caught off guard, he certainly did then. “Don’t worry. Like I said, I’m not gunna go spreading this around the castle or anything. But, if you do ever want to talk about it, you can come find me.” 

The blond blinked at him, mouth open, eyes searching Harry’s face and then the ground. “Thank you.” 

Harry nodded. They stared at each other for a moment in thought. Contemplating what was to come. Then, as quickly as he had turned to face Harry before, Draco spun on his heel, briskly walking down the hall. Harry paused, watching as he rounded the corner, white-blond hair falling into his face, robes billowing out behind his lean frame. His face, Harry noticed at the last second, had become its normal porcelain colour again. He blinked a few times, then made his way to the Great Hall. 

Eventually he took his seat beside Ron, across from Hermione. She eyed him expectantly, brows raised. He side-eyed Ron, then mouthed, ‘Later.’ 

She nodded, then turned to Ron. “Ron, are you still planning on going flying tonight?”

“Nah,” he said, swallowing a mouthful of mashed potatoes. “Harry called it earlier. Too much homework. I think I’ll stay in the common room tonight, finish it up.”

Harry laughed. “You’ll be up late then, huh?”

Ron rolled his eyes. “I should’ve done more over the break. I hate myself.”

Hermione chuckled. “I think Harry feels the same way.”

Harry blew air into his cheeks nodded, then slowly let the air out. “Yep. Pretty much.”

Hermione and Ron laughed, however, Hermione eyed Harry worriedly. ‘Now what?’

Harry took a forkful of corn and ate it, then glanced back at her. ‘After he goes to sleep. Promise.’

She nodded again. “So Ron… how was Seamus’ exploding charm in class?”

Harry snorted, whilst Ron scowled. “You of all people know it wasn’t supposed to do that.”

She laughed. “I know. Did anything get on you?”

“Luckily,” Ron chuckled. “No. I got pretty lucky. But I did think I might go deaf at first. All the ash ended up on him though!”

The trio continued to laugh through the rest of their meal, toils of the day temporarily forgotten. However, that wasn’t the case for everybody. Silver eyes watched Harry intently, mind whirling with questions. Draco bit his lip, aimlessly shoving corn around his plate. Why does he care so much? What did he mean? What does any of this mean? 

Should I confide in him? 

*

Ron didn’t go to bed until at least one in the morning. Hermione had started pacing as Harry finished the last couple of homework questions he had which she had finished an hour before. Harry glanced up at her. “Hermione! Why are you pacing?”

“Because I’m worried, Harry! I don’t even want to think that that cut… how could anybody strike their child?”

“It happens all the time, ‘Mione. As sad and destructive as it is.”

“Please tell me you were wrong, Harry.” He shook his head. She swallowed thickly. “You were right…?”

Harry took a deep breath. “I don’t know. He was very defensive at first he told me I didn’t know anything and he didn’t know what I was talking about. But I can’t shake this feeling, Hermione. The way he acted…”

“What do you mean?”

“I grabbed his shoulder to get his attention, and he almost looked scared. In his eyes. His voice wavered, he didn’t spit at me like he used to. There was no venom there. He actually stayed to listen to me, Hermione. At first he seemed worried that I knew or something… but then it was almost like he was glad.”

“What changed his mind?”

“I’m not sure. Maybe because I said I wouldn’t spread it. Maybe because I was insistent. Or maybe because I hinted at my own experience.” 

Hermione cringed at that. “And he calmed down?”

“Yeah,” Harry mused. “I’m not sure why though. He thanked me when I said he could come to me, then we just looked at each other. I don’t think he knew what to say. I didn’t really either. We’ve never been friends. Never been nice to each other.”

“Now what?”

“We need to do something, I think. If you had seen the look in his eyes, Hermione. I swear, they’re broken. The way he looked at me after he thanked me was almost… pleading. I think he needs help.”

“We could tell a teacher? His head of house?”

“I don’t think telling Snape would be a good idea, Hermione Even though it is Draco, I still think it could make it worse.”

Hermione pondered that for a moment. “McGonagall then?” 

“That’s better. Can we go before classes start then?”

Hermione nodded in agreement. “Yeah. I think the sooner the better. We better get to sleep then. We will have to be up early.”

“Alright,” Harry yawned getting to his feet. “Goodnight, Hermione.”

“Goodnight, Harry.” He was almost to his dormitory before she spoke again. “Harry?”

“Hmm?”

“I’m proud of you.”