Slytherin Saviors

Blaise picked up his snake and started to stroke it lightly. Harry snickered a couple more times as the snake let loose with what could only be described as a purr as it fell otherwise silent.

"What is he saying now?" asked Blaise curiously.

"Nothing...He's...purring." Harry grinned as the snake gave him an indignant look.

"Snakes don't purr Potter," said Draco, his tone like that of someone addressing a small child.

"Whatever. When you learn his language we will discuss the different sounds," Harry rolled his eyes. He caught sight of the clock and swore inwardly. He didn't have long before he was supposed to meet with Hermione and the twinges in his back and chest were reminding him of other duties he had yet to attend to before he could leave.

With a sigh he sat up and grabbed his bag. Haphazardly, he pulled out the letters and tossed them onto the bed. His hand closed around the jar of bruise salve and Harry tossed it into his lap before searching around for the other vial of pain potion. Finally he clasped it in his hand and quickly stuffed it in his pocket.

Harry pushed his bag aside and winced slightly. The earlier treatment was definitely wearing off. Snape was probably busy with other students and wouldn’t want to be interrupted. Besides, Harry felt strange, being dependent on him. He thought about asking Malfoy but that was almost as unfathomable. He wondered briefly if he should wait until after he had talked with Hermione and then ask her to do it. But he didn’t know if he could or should wait that long.

He was startled out of his musings when Draco came over to the bed and sat down near him. Unconsciously, Harry slid away from the blond. Draco’s eyes narrowed very slightly. He leaned over the other boy and grabbed at the pile of mail. Harry almost missed the slight nudge against the jar; his eyes were focused on the other boy’s movements.

His eyes widened slightly. Draco sat back up, a couple of envelopes in his hands.

“Hey, these feel like they have pictures in them!” he exclaimed, pulling open the white paper. “Score!” he exclaimed as a couple of pictures fell into his lap.

“Oh man, you could make a killing selling these,” Draco snickered. “Wank material for the whole house right here.”

Harry flushed as he realized what the pictures probably were. His suspicions were confirmed when Draco passed the picture over to him. It was a wizarding photograph and the red haired witch was exploring her own body in front of the camera. Harry turned a scarlet color and quickly lay the picture face down on the bed.

“Oh! Let me!” exclaimed Blaise. Harry handed the photo over, his eyes averted. “Oh yeah! Hey Potter, if you don’t want this one...”

“Er...It’s all yours Zabini,” Harry replied. He was sure that his face was not going to return to its normal color any time soon if he had to keep looking at the pictures.

He gathered his bag up and made sure the jars he needed were tucked in his pocket before standing up.

“Er, I’m going to the library,” Harry muttered. He saw Draco looking at him. Harry paused for just a moment before nodding briefly.

Draco waited for just a moment after Harry left before announcing, “I’m going to follow him. Damn idiot doesn’t get that he shouldn’t be walking alone. You guys can stay here.”

He followed out the door just in time to see Harry enter the bathroom. He gave the other boy a few minutes before entering behind him. Even though Draco thought he knew what to expect, what he saw caused his to gasp slightly in shock. Even thought he was trained in what signs to look for, Draco had never actually thought about what it meant for someone to be abused.

Harry had removed his shirt and robe and Draco could clearly see the bruises scattered across his body. The finger marks that were wrapped around his throat were the most shocking. Silently, Draco took the small jar of salve and set about applying it to Harry’s injured back.

Inwardly he cursed the barbaric Muggles who didn’t realize that children should be treated as special. His support for his father’s ideals went up even more at this evidence of the brutality of Muggles. His fingers lightly traced the bruises, his mind racing with questions. Why did Harry want to protect the kind of people who treated him so badly? Why didn’t he just use magic to protect himself? How come no one ever noticed before? But he didn’t give voice to any of these questions.

Several minutes passed before Draco closed the jar and handed it back to Harry. Neither boy had spoken yet. Silently Harry took the jar back and reopened it to apply it carefully to his neck and chest. He didn’t look in Draco’s direction as he made his way over to a bench along the wall and sat to remove his shoe. Not even when he heard the other boy gasp at the sight of his black and blue foot did he look up.

Finally, when he had applied the salve to the last of the bruises, Harry capped the jar and braved a quick glance at the other boy. Draco’s face was an unreadable mask.

“Thanks,” Harry muttered, slipping his shoe back on. He could feel the small hole in the back of the shoe and sighed. Unfortunately, this summer he wasn’t able to go to Diagon Alley himself and get his school supplies so he had the same shoes from the year before and they were definitely worn.

It wasn’t until he had left the Slytherin Common Room and was making his way through the dungeons that he realized that Malfoy was following him and somehow, Crabbe and Goyle had fallen into step behind them.

“What are you doing Malfoy?” he asked.

“Following you,” Draco responded dryly.

“No shit? Why?” Harry stopped and turned to the three boys.

Draco gave him a look. “Maybe because you are a Slytherin and they have recently labeled you a rising Dark Lord?”

“Fine,” Harry snarled. “Just keep your mouth shut when we get to the library. I don’t need you being an ass to Hermione.”

"Don’t worry Potter. I’ll leave you and the little Mu...Muggleborn to your conversation,” Draco sneered.

Harry rolled his eyes and continued towards the library. He barely spared a glance at the two silent hulking figures standing behind them. When the four boys reached the library, Draco and Harry separated, heading in different directions, leaving Crabbe and Goyle standing there looking between them indecisively. At least, until Draco’s sharp “Crabbe, Goyle! Over here,” helped them to make up their minds.

Harry snarled under his breath as he made his way over to where Hermione usually sat. The library was very empty as it was only the first day of classes. The only occupants were a few Ravenclaws, the four Slytherins and Hermione, who had claimed a table in the far back corner. Harry noted with some sadness that Ron was not with her.