~*~*Harry's POV*~*~

"Draco, I love you."

The words were stuck in my mind as my body flooded with pain. I could hear him talking to himself even when I was asleep. I could feel him in the room even when he wasn't touching me. He was all around me and yet so far. My words and thoughts couldn't reach him.

"This isn't your fault Draco."

I sighed as the words failed to reach him again. It felt like I was being pulled apart in three different ways. My body was rejecting my creature and my soul. My creature was fighting back and my soul was getting caught in the crossfire. Draco's touch sometimes made it worse.

I opened my eyes slightly and grabbed Draco's arm. The second my fingers touched the dark mark I whimpered. A shock shot through my body but it didn't hurt. It was almost like I was being called by someone. Like I had a leash and it had been yanked. As I followed the pull I drifted back to sleep.

Draco's voice and presence faded into background noise. I was surrounded by pure white. A small deformed creature crawled towards me. I should have been scared but I wasn't. The creature stopped and transformed into a person. A person I recognised and I immediately wanted Draco.

"Don't be scared, little rabbit."

"But... You're... You want to kill me." I whimpered and moved back.

"No. At least not this version of me. I've grown with you since you were a baby. I have felt everything you have felt and seen everything you have seen." He offered me his hand.

"But you're Voldemort." I frowned.

"A piece of him, yes. How do you think he keeps coming back?"

"I don't know. I wish he didn't though." I sighed.

"Come little rabbit. I can help you with all your problems." He offered me his hand again.

I swallowed a lump in my throat and took his hand. He lifted me off the ground and led me to a bench. The white space started to look familiar to me. I chose not to think about it though. I sat down and he sat down next to me.

"Do you know why you're able to hide your true nature?" He asked.

"I practiced?" I frowned.

He started to laugh. "Well yes, but mostly no. I was helping you."

"How are you even here? Am I dead?" I asked.

"No you're not dead. Many years ago. When I was still a student I learnt of a way to become basically immortal. It's called a horcrux and the basic premise of it is to store a part of a person's soul. In order to do that the person's soul needs to be broken. The only way to achieve that is through murder." He explained although he looked really disappointed.

"So in second year..."

"Yes. My journal was the first horcrux I ever made. I killed a girl with the basilisk. When I killed your parents I accidentally turned you into a horcrux as well." He shrugged.

"So that's why you're here talking to me?" I frowned.

He nodded his head and smiled. "It's why I've been here since you were a baby. The creature thing you saw is how I really look since I'm nothing more than a tiny fraction of the entire soul. I'm weak but I can still affect your personality. For instance you can talk to snakes and the hat wanted to put you in Slytherin."

"You look like the teenager version of yourself though." I frowned.

"That's your doing. Your mind gave me this appearance because you're scared of the other versions of me." He shrugged.

"Okay so why am I here? What's happening to me?" I asked.

"Draco's dark mark is a direct link to me. Since you possess a piece of my soul this piece was able to directly connect to you when you touched it. It's also because you are currently about to die that I'm able to make this connection." He offered me a sad smile and patted my shoulder. "I'm sorry little rabbit."

"How do I not die?" I pouted and crossed my arms. "I don't want to leave Draco. Not yet."

"There is a way but it's not certain. Before I tell you that I need to tell you how to defeat the version of me you're afraid of."

I sighed and agreed to listen. As long as I wasn't dead yet I didn't care. What he explained was terrifying though. I didn't want to kill someone and he seemed to pick up on that. I don't know how long we spent talking but it felt like days had passed. He stood up and offered me his hand.

"Little rabbit, it has been a pleasure growing with you." He smiled again and ruffled my hair.

"Are you leaving?" I frowned.

"I'm going to do one last thing for you. I see and feel how much you love Draco Malfoy. Even before all of this happened he held a special place in your heart. I've given you time to learn how to keep your secret. I've given you abilities to help you. I've also been the reason you have lost people you love. I'm a direct link to the version of me that still lives. So I will balance the equation as a final thank you. Even if the living me cannot feel it you have shown me love and I have become rather protective of you." He ruffled my hair. "Draco is a good match for you."

"You're saying goodbye. You're leaving me for good." I frowned.

"Yes little rabbit. Now go back to your world where you belong."

I felt something yank me away. My body twisted in pain and my soul was pulled back towards it. I could hear Draco talking again. I could sense him around me. I could also sense something... Someone else. My creature was yanked towards my soul and I cried out in pain. My body felt like it was being tortured as the other presence around me pulled and pushed.

I no longer felt at war with myself. My body became my creature as they molded together. My soul was sucked into my body and everything seemed to quite literally snap into place. The extra presence faded away completely and I heard Draco screaming in the distance. I reached towards him and my body responded.

"It's okay, Dragon." I mumbled.

Everything else faded away. The pain, the noise, the throbbing all just melted into the background as I realized that my words were no longer stuck. Whatever had just happened I owed it to Tom Marvolo Riddle. I made up my mind to save him instead of kill him. It was only fair to return the favour.

Draco winced as I ran my fingers over his arm. I felt him tighten his other arm around my waist. He kissed my cheek and I could feel him relax. He fell asleep before I drifted into the darkness. My body was going to be in so much pain but I had a feeling that having Draco there would help.

*~*~*~*~*

"What are you doing?"

I shrugged and smiled. "Stopping you from leaving."

"Harry, you need food." Draco frowned.

"No. I need you, Dray. Food is irrelevant." I sighed.

Draco sighed and shook his head. "Food is essential. If it makes you feel better I can ask Blaise to bring it."

"No. You would still have to leave." I pouted.

Draco sighed and gave me a small kiss. He moved me to the side and opened the door.

"I'll be back before you know it." Draco smiled.

His smile didn't hide the worry in his eyes though. It didn't even ease the knowledge of being alone again. I understood he was worried about me and I was worried about him. Two days of no food wasn't nearly enough to make me desperate to leave our safe haven. It apparently was for Draco.

"You okay?"

I spun on my heel and smiled before jumping onto Draco. "Yes."

Draco laughed, sounding very out of breath. "I told you I'd be back before you know it."

"Next time just don't leave."

Draco walked towards the bed and flopped into it. The impact forced me to let go of him. He smiled and pulled me closer to him. I couldn't help but snuggle up to him.

"Next time just go with me love." Draco yawned.

(1420 Words)