Tear Stains

***I don\'t own these charcaters...duh. I mean, if I did, would I really use my time to write on here?

I also want to thank my music. Whenever I write I always have music, which usually sets a tone for the stories I write. If I didn\'t have my music, I don\'t think I could write. So, with that note, I want to thank Clay Aiken (my muse at the moment)...and anyone calls me a clay-mate I will kill of Harry and or Draco in every story from now on.

Chapter 1
The Fight


It was the sound of crying that caused Draco to go investigate instead of going back to bed after running to the bathroom. It had to be late, he knew that for sure. The halls were dark, lit only with a few torches. The sound was coming from a corner down the hall. Curiosity pumped through Draco’s veins as he grew closer.

In the corner, a familiar dark haired Gryffindor was quietly sobbing. His hands covered his face. His knee’s propped up his hands. Draco wasn’t sure whether to turn around and pretend he didn’t see anything, or if he should make sure he was okay. Not out of concern of course, just out of curiosity. “Um…are you okay?”

The dark haired head shot up. Bright emerald eyes looked confused, disoriented, and almost fearful. “Oh god, not you.”

“Nice to see you too Potter.” Draco stared down at the tear stained face. Maybe he should just leave. “I should give you detention for being in the halls this late.”

“You can’t.”

“I’m a head boy, I can do whatever I want.” Draco reminded him haughtily.

“Fine, do it. Give me a year worth of detentions. Just leave me alone.” Harry’s head fell back onto his knee’s, the crying though had stopped.

“Are…are you okay? Do you need to go see a teacher?” Draco moved a little closer, angling his head so he could see the Gryffindor’s face.

“No. I’m fine.”

“Why are you crying?”

“Why do you care?” He shot back. He looked up again, and Draco stepped back.

“You shouldn’t talk to me like that Potter.”

“You know what, why don’t you go and disappear Malfoy. Or better yet, go find a hole, crawl into it, and learn to stop breathing.” Standing, Harry wiped his eyes angrily.

Speechless, Draco reminded himself never to be curious about Potter again. He had a nasty little tongue. “You’ll regret saying that.” Draco sneered.

“I regret a lot of things Malfoy. This won’t be one of them.” This time Harry didn’t wait for Draco to respond. He turned, and headed back towards his common room. Draco watched, a smirk playing on his face.

*********

Entering the Great Hall alone for breakfast, Harry was waiting the oncoming remarks from the Slytherin’s. Ron and Hermione were still upstairs, getting the rest of their homework done before coming to eat. Harry was glad though, he didn’t get much time alone. He was going to grab and apple and head out into the cool spring morning.

“I came upon him last night, and he was crying! Weeping like a little baby! Poor orphaned Potty, crying cause the world’s so hard.” Draco’s cruel voice interrupted Harry’s thoughts. He turned unwillingly to the Slytherin table. Draco was staring at him unabashedly.

“Shut it Malfoy.”

“What are you going to do about it Potter?”

The emerald darkened. Rage coursed through him. “Outside. Now.”

A flicker of surprise registered in Draco’s eyes, then he looked around. Everyone heard the challenge. He nodded, and followed Harry outside. He didn’t get a chance to grab his wand before Harry tackled him. This wasn’t exactly what Draco had been expecting.

The Gryffindor slammed Draco he ghe ground. The hard earth beneath him causing a sharp pain to fly through the Slytherin’s body. Roughly he pushed Harry away, his fist slamming into the side of Harry’s face. Suddenly Harry was on top of him again. Draco’s arms were pinned to his sides. He struggled, but the Gryffindor was much stronger than Draco.

His fist connected to Draco’s nose. To his mouth. To his eye. All the years of pain and loneliness seemed to leave Harry as he threw more and more punches. There was blood on his hands. On Draco’s face. People were watching, but no one was doing anything.

Coughing up blood, Draco felt a tooth fall out of his mouth. He was crying from the pain. There was no way the delicate Slytherin was going to be able to stop Harry’s assault.

Suddenly the blows stopped coming. Draco opened up his good eye. Harry was staring at him, a horrified look on his face. Draco was sure he had just seen Harry mouth the words ‘I’m sorry’. Snape was pulling Harry away from Draco. Dumbledore was helping Draco up and taking him to the hospital wing.

Harry didn’t hear words. He didn’t hear Snape’s yelling. The word expelled filtered in, but it didn’t matter. What in the hell had he just done? He knew that Draco couldn’t take him. He was much smaller than Harry. At least an inch shorter and definitely a lot more frail. He had acted like…like Dudley.

“Where is he?” He interrupted whatever MacGonagal was saying.

“Where is who Potter?”

“Where is Malfoy?”

“He’s being cleaned up.” Before she could continue, Dumbledore walked in. His face was more than grim. It was down right sad.

“Harry, if I could talk to you please.”

Harry followed Dumbledore out. “Harry, I don’t know what got into you today. Your actions were down right barbaric. I’m very disappointed in you.”

“I’m sorry Professor. I don’t know what got into me.”

“Though it clearly states in the rule books that you are to be expelled for such an offense, you have been given leeway.”

This startled Harry. He looked up, his face registering the surprise. “What do you mean? Why?”

“Draco Malfoy confessed to have started the fight, and said you were just defending yourself.” Dumbledore studied Harry from over his glasses. “I will be giving the both of you detention. And fifty points from Slytherin, seventy-five from Gryffindor.”

Unable to hold his head up, Harry murmured a thank you. Dumbledore took his leave, and Harry made his way up to the sick wing. Why had Draco saved him? He should have let the Gryffindor swing. What Harry had done was unforgivable. Acting just like his muggle cousin.

The witch nurse on duty led him to Draco’s bed. He looked fine again, the cuts and bruises gone. “I…I came to apologize.”

“Accepted Potter.” Draco said almost lazily. He was smirking again. Did he ever not? Harry sat down in a chair beside the bed. “I thought you were going to kill me for a moment there.”

“I thought I was too.” Harry sighed, his head falling into his hands. “Why did you lie to Professor Dumbledore?”

“Couldn’t go and get my arch enemy expelled. Then who would I verbally combat?” Sitting up, he winced slightly. Harry imagined some of his bones were probably bruised. “So why were you crying last night?”

“Thinking about everything I guess. My parents mostly.”

“Did your parents love you?” Draco watched, careful of his words. He didn’t want Harry to attack him again.

“I imagine so. I’ve been told they did. They died to save me.” There was a sniffling noise. Draco’s silver eyes widened.

“Are you crying again?”

“Yes, most people have these things called emotions. Cold hearted people like you wouldn’t know what they are.”

“There’s the Potter I’m used to.” Draco leaned back, ignoring the pain, and smirked.

“You’re a terrible liar, you know that? Why didn’t you let me get expelled?”

Draco shifted uneasily. Harry was staring at him again. Looking as if he could see right through every defense Draco had. “I’m not the cold blooded monster as you seem to believe. I…I felt guilty for saying that about your parents.” Shrugging, Draco continued. “If I hadn’t, you wouldn’t have been inclined to beat the shit out of me.”

“What are you going to tell everyone else when they ask?”

“That you’re a crazed lunatic, and I feared for my life?” He was rewarded with a smile from Harry. “Besides, I have to beef up now so I can teach you a thing or two about fighting.”

“You beat me up? I don’t think so Malfoy. Only in your dreams.”

Chuckling, Draco rolled his eyes, “I’m sure you’d kick my arse in my dreams too.”

“You probably like it,” Harry leaned back in the chair, grinning. “You’re one of those freaks that like pain, aren’t you?”

Draco batted his eyelashes, “oh Harry, however did you know? Will you please make me bleed some more?”

“You’re odd Malfoy.”

“Well you’re a pansy.”

“Alright boy’s, Mr. Malfoy needs rest. You can see him tomorrow.”

Harry looked up at the nurse, about to tell her there would be no coming to see Draco tomorrow. Then he stopped, nodded, and turned to Draco. “See you tomorrow.”

Hiding his surprise, he smirked. “I won’t hold my breath.”

Turning, Harry left Draco. He would go and see him tomorrow, bring some kind of thanks offering for not letting him get expelled, and that would be the end of that.


****I have ideas on where to go with this, but it\'s totally up to you guys if I continue it. You know the drill, review and more chapters will be up! Thanks again!...oh, and I don\'t know why Clay Aiken made me want Harry to beat up Draco...so don\'t ask...