Harry's POV

Keeping my emotions under control while being here is a lot more difficult then I thought it would be. I'm starting to think that this isn't a good idea and I should get out of here.

I mean, the first week of school just ended and I've destroyed mine and Ron's room twice, one of the bathrooms, and even a broom closet. Luckily, I have gotten good at cleaning spells and silencing charms and so no one has caught me yet, but my friends are starting to notice something is off.

Hermione and Ron have tried to follow a few times now to see why I keep running off and they nearly caught me the last time.

I'm not going to be able to keep this hidden forever, but I can't have my friends or anyone find me when I'm like that. I could kill them for Merlin's sake! I know I should tell them, but we've all been through hell and the last thing they need is to have to go through something similar again, not to mention, I don't need the spotlight. Not again. I can't do it.

Besides, it's not just my friends finding out that I am worried about. Malfoy has been watching me like a hawk, probably because of what happened in the bathroom between us. He hasn't approached me, nor has he really followed me. He's just been watching me from a distance, you know, in the Great Hall, classes, common room, and other places as well.

It's not like the action is a mutual thing, though. I've kinda been doing the same thing. Then again, I've always had a habit of doing that, it's just a lot more frequent than it used to be.

Speaking of Malfoy, I haven't really seen him all day.

Am I worried?

Maybe a little bit. I've been watching how our classmates have been treating him and it hasn't been pleasant. Shoved in the halls, sometimes a minor hex is tossed in, name calling, and other stuff such as that.

I always knew others would react badly to him returning, which is why I don't blame him for skipping meals in the Great Hall, or making sure he is always with his friend Zabini, sometimes joined by Parkinson. However, he shouldn't have to live like this. He should be able to finish school and continue on with his life just like the rest of us.

He is not the enemy, he is a victim.

I would intervene more, but I really don't think Malfoy would appreciate it. He'd probably see it as another thing to add to the list of 'things the Chosen one has helped me with' and we all know how much Slytherins hate the idea of having a type of debt looming over them, even if nothing was expected in return.

I mean, I've helped Malfoy after the war during his trials and some people would assume it's because I want something, but there isn't. I did it because it was the right thing to do, not because I expect something in return.

I wish I could explain that to him. I know it's constantly on his mind and the fact he hasn't teased me or my friends this year really proves that theory.

Then again, ever since the war ended, Malfoy has changed. He's different than he used to be. More quiet, reserved. Would much rather spend his time reading a book with a cup of tea in hand, sitting in an arm chair next to the fire place.

How do I know this? Because I see him do it all the time late at night when everyone else has gone to bed.

First time I noticed was because I couldn't sleep due to another nightmare and figured I'd just relax in the common area, only to find it already occupied by the blonde himself.

Weirdly enough, I've grown into the habit of tip toeing down the stairs and sitting on one of the steps where he can't see me and just sit there for hours.

Sometimes looking at him, the expressions he makes on his face when he reaches certain points in the books and other times I just close my eyes and listen.

I listen to the pages being turned, the cup of tea being picked up and set down on the table, sometimes his quiet, yet noticeable gasps from reactions of what he is reading.

I feel like I could watch him do it for an eternity.

Super creepy and weird. I know. I don't know why I feel this way, it's just true.

It's a new him. A side of him that I have never seen before and I find it intoxicating.

Don't get me wrong. I still enjoy it when we bicker with one another. It's just the natural way the two of us communicate, especially when there are things going on around us that has us bothered and steam is needed to be let off.

Okay, my thoughts of Malfoy are going too far. I really need to stop it. The thoughts and the stalking. I'm turning into a real creep.

Anyways. Lessons have finished. It's officially the weekend and I am totally going to find a place no one can find me at and camp there. A place where not even Ron or Hermione can find me. I just don't think it's a good idea to be around them too much right now, at least not until I learn more control.

I nearly killed Ron in the dorm hallway at the beginning of the week, I don't need a repeat.

Maybe I can use that time to read some stuff up in the library, see if I can't find any answers.

"I said to fuck off!" A voice sounded down the hall.

I recognized it. That voice belonged to Blaise Zabini, Malfoy's best friend.

When I turned the corner, I stood still for a moment. My eyes going wide and my mouth gaping slightly.

Malfoy sat on the floor, leaning heavily on the wall and his arms were draped across his face.

Zabini stood in a defensive stance in front of Malfoy, sneering at three other guys.

The three of them had their wands out and pointed at Blaise and they had slightly satisfied grins resting on their ugly faces.

I noticed two wands on the floor near the group of three.

My thoughts immediately went to them being Zabini's and Malfoy's.

I glanced back at Malfoy and noticed he was banged up pretty badly. His shirt was ripped in several places, blood stains here and there, and even some blood on the floor. I couldn't see his face and so I didn't know if they had hit him there or not.

"We're not here for you, Zabini. Back off." One of them said.

"How about all of you get lost before I beat the shit out of you." Zabini threatened.

One of them laughed. "It's three on one and you have no wand. We're not scared of you."

I gritted my teeth and clenched my hands. I could feel my magic start to swirl around me, my hair rustling slightly from the energy radiating off me.

Three against one, not to mention a fight with Malfoy that I am sure he did not even try to defend himself in.

These three clotpoles are really asking for it if they think they can get away with this.

He hasn't done anything. He is just a kid that wanted his family's safety to be thought of first. He shouldn't be bullied like this for something he had no control over.

"Yeah? You wanna test that?" I spat, approaching the group, wand now raised. "Expeliarmus!" I shouted and all three wands came shooting towards me.

"Harry Potter!" One of them gasped as I caught their wands.

I know I said I was trying not to get involved because Malfoy will probably be furious, but these guys have taken it way too far.

"W-What are you doing here?" Fear grew quickly on their faces as mine only became harder and colder as I glared them down.

"I suggest that the three of you get the hell out of here before I decide to hex you so badly it will look like you have spattergroit. Or maybe I'll just hex your sorry arses so hard, not even Madame Pomfrey will know how to help you." I threatened them. A window right beside shattered and the glass rained down onto me, only making me look more menacing. Little did they know I was about to blow a fuse if I did not end this quickly.

They all nodded vigorously and I threw their wands at their feet. They picked them up and ran off, but before they could get far I shouted, "If I see you ever coming near the two of them again, just know, I'm coming for you and I'll show you what true cowards you are."

One of them gulped before running off again, followed by the other two.

I sighed when they were gone, letting my tense shoulders drop. I leaned against the wall and breathed in slow deep breaths, my eyes closed and my hands still clenched in tight fists.

Calm down, Harry. I can't be blowing up in the middle of the hallway. Let alone in front of them.

"Why'd you do that?" Zabini asked. He was kneeled next to Malfoy who had lifted his head up and just stared at me.

I didn't respond. My concentration was purely on my breath and trying to get myself to calm down.

I bit down on my lip hard when I felt a bit more of my magic seep out and around. A taste of iron entered my mouth and I knew that I had drawn blood.

Some of my magic was beginning to reside and so I chanced a look at the two boys. Although, I regretted it immensely and I knew, this was bad.

They still sat where they were, but stared at me intensely.

I noticed the bruise forming under Malfoy's lip, on the side of his chin. He had a cut under his left eye, a little bit of dried blood smearing his cheek. Then, I glanced down to his neck and saw nasty looking blisters and burns from stinging hexes.

In that moment, taking in the picture before me.

I nearly lost it.

I quickly wrapped my arms around myself, hoping to delay the inevitable burst, and ran from the hallway as quickly as I could.

"Wait! Harry-" I heard Malfoy call my name, but I knew if I turned around or stopped, then I would only fly off the handles and devastate everything around me.

I'll hurt them. Just like I do with everything else.