Born in Frustration

Thanks everyone for the reviews. I know these first few chapters are short but they will get longer trust me. I had considered combining chapters but really felt that keeping Harry and Draco chapters seperate just made sense.

Also I will add warnings to the description as things advance. HAHA!!

12/11/06 beta corrections....

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~Chapter Five: Anyone But You~

Abruptly, the beating stopped. There was shouting. Harry couldn’t really understand the words. He struggled to open his eyes, but the effort seemed too great. He settled for keeping them shut, concentrating instead on breathing. The room became very quiet. Harry was vaguely aware of a voice calling his name, but it seemed so far away. The voice was familiar, though. If he could just think really hard, perhaps he could place it…

“Harry,” the voice called to him. “Harry, please open your eyes.”

The voice sounded worried, ‘Poor voice.’ Harry mused to himself.

“Damn it, Potter, wake the fuck up!”

Harry sat up gasping, suddenly wide awake. “Malfoy?” he yelped, wincing in pain as his broken ribs creaked. Sure enough, the face in front of him was Draco Malfoy’s.

“No, no, no, no,” Harry whispered, shaking his head, “no, anyone but you.”

“Well, that’s not very nice, Potter.”

Harry started breathing hard. He could feel the blood rushing from his face. Malfoy was in his house, in his bedroom. How long had he been here? Had he seen his punishment?

“Oh – no – no – no,” he groaned between shallow breaths.

This was a nightmare. It had to be. Any minute now, Harry just knew he would wake up screaming.

“Calm down, Potter,” Malfoy hissed. “Calm down. You’re going to make your self sick.” Malfoy sat on the bed, grasping both Harry’s shoulders, shaking him gently. “Won’t do you any good to get sick, and if you puke on me, I’ll curse you into next week.”

‘Oh, sweet Merlin!’ Harry said to himself. ‘Wake up, I need to wake up now!’

This could not be happening. It was a horrible, awful dream. He just needed to wake up. He needed to wake up right now!

“Dream,” Harry croaked, “horrible dream.”

“No, Potter, it’s not a dream. Now, for fuck’s sake, calm down and listen to me.” Draco drawled.

Harry shook his head, still breathing heavily. He managed to focus his gaze on Draco’s cold, silver eyes.

“Not a dream,” Harry whispered.

“No. Now, just shut up and stop freaking out,” Draco said. “Are you all right, Potter? Anything damaged?”

Harry shook his head. “I don’t know,” he said quietly. “What are you doing here, Malfoy?”

“Never mind that…” Draco said impatiently, “what the fuck is going on, Potter? Does Dumbledore know about this?” Draco demanded an odd look of concern on his face.

“Know about what, Malfoy?”

“Know about the Muggles, you stupid git.”

“What about the Muggles?”

“‘What about the Muggles?’ You’re joking right, Potter? How ‘bout we start with these lovely bruises, or perhaps the gashes on your back? Oh, no, let’s start with the fact that you obviously haven’t had a proper meal since you left school!” Draco’s was voice getting louder as he ticked off the list.

“You – you saw that?” Harry felt his face contort in shock and shame.

Draco merely nodded his head.

“Oh,” Harry said.

“‘Oh’? ‘Oh’?!,” Draco said incredulously, “That fat bastard was beating the life out of you, Potter, and all you can say is, ‘oh.’?!” Draco stood up and began pacing.

“What the hell is wrong with you? Oh, bloody, fucking oh! I don’t understand you, Potter. You’re The-Fucking-Boy-Who-Lived. You’re Bloody-Fucking-Potter, the Gryffindor Golden-Boy! Why are you letting that fat prick hit you? Why? What the hell is wrong with you?” Draco turned on Harry, leaning in, close to his face. “You are Harry Potter, The-Boy-Who-Lived, the one who is supposed to save the World!” he hissed into Harry’s face.

Harry looked at Draco for a long moment. He could feel his face flushing with shame underneath that silver gaze. He bent his head as he looked down at his beaten and bruised chest, peeking up through his eyelashes at his enemy. “Not here I’m not,” he answered in a small voice.

Draco looked shocked at Harry’s simple statement. He stood up and walked to the middle of the room. “Bloody fool,” he said plainly. He watched Harry for a few moments as if he didn’t know what to do.

Harry did not appreciate the scrutiny. He suddenly felt very naked and alone. His worst enemy now knew his biggest secret. The thought terrified him. Draco Malfoy now knew what Harry had struggled so hard to keep from everyone. This was bad. This was as bad as bad could be. Harry began panicking inwardly. Thinking about how Draco could, and more then likely would, use this against him.

“You can’t tell anyone, Draco.” His voice shook as he spoke. “Please, please you can’t tell anyone.” Tears in his eyes, Harry struggled up off the bed. “I don’t want anyone to know. Please, promise me you won’t tell.” Harry reached out to Draco looking like a small child, with his wide, terrified eyes.

“Why the hell not, Potter? Why are you keeping this secret? For fuck’s sake, Harry,” Draco said, “you shouldn’t be living here. Dumbledore should know about this.”

“NO!” Harry shouted.

“Why?” Draco snarled. “Tell me why, Harry?”

“Why what?” Harry snarled back.

“Why what!” Draco threw his hands up in frustration. “Not even you are that thick, Potter. I want to know why you’re living like this. Why haven’t you told someone? Why?”

“Why do you give a fuck, Malfoy?” Harry screamed back. “You hate me! This must be a fucking wet dream come true for you.” Harry turned his back on Draco. “It’s none of your business what goes on in my life, Malfoy. This is how things are, the way they’ve always been.”

“The way things are? The way they’ve always been?” Draco spat. “Potter, how long has this been going on?”

“What do you mean, Malfoy? Since always.”

“Since always?”

“Yes.”

“Potter…”

“Look, Malfoy, this is my life. This is the way it is here. And I certainly don’t want to talk to you about this,” Harry said weakly. “I don’t want anyone to know, Draco. Please, promise me you won’t tell anyone. Please.” Harry was begging now, and he didn’t care how pathetic he sounded. He didn’t want anyone else to find out about his life at Privet Drive. He needed desperately for Draco to promise him.

“Please…” Tears stinging his eyes, Harry looked up at Draco, “Please.”

Draco looked back into Harry’s eyes, and there Harry could see it. The one thing he did not want, ever. Draco Malfoy looked at him, and pitied him. Harry turned away in shame.

“I promise, I won’t tell a soul, Harry,” Draco said softly, disappointment apparent in his voice. Draco walked over, picked up his invisibility cloak and Apparated into the night.

Harry flopped down on his bed, too exhausted to do anything else. He hoped Draco would do as he promised and not tell. But Harry’s experiences with Malfoys were not good, especially this Malfoy. His enemy, the boy he had fought with since his very first day at Hogwarts. Harry had a terrible, sinking feeling.

He rolled over on his side and stared at the wall. He was thinking about Draco. He hated the fact that Draco pitied him in the end. He had tried so hard to avoid this. The last thing he needed was another reason for him to stand out. Draco was sure to tell his fellow Slytherins, and after all, why shouldn’t he? He hated Harry. This was the perfect opportunity for Draco to seek revenge.

But Draco had promised, hadn’t he? He said he wouldn’t tell a soul. And Harry thought that Draco might actually mean it. He didn’t know why he was trusting Draco to keep his promise, but something inside told him the other boy would. Of course, he could just be hoping against hope that his secret was safe.

‘But why had Draco been here in the first place?’ Harry wondered. Why was he in his room? How long had he been there? How did Draco know where he lived? Why, Why, Why was Draco here, at Privet Drive? The questions kept repeating in his head, with no real answers, frustrating Harry.

Sighing, Harry rolled over and closed his eyes, seeking blessed, and hopefully nightmare free, sleep…