Chapter 5

                                        

                                              
Chapter 5
When morning came, Draco still had his arms wrapped around him. Harry couldn't tell if he was asleep. His soul was still on fire, but he was there... now. Merlin, he couldn't handle this anymore. His mind was broken. Any one small thing could break him completely. He let out a silent sob.
"Harry?" Draco breathed, but he didn't answer. "I know you're awake.
"I d-don't know how m-much more I c-can handle, Draco," he cried. "There w-was four of them... he ma-made me do... everything. There's only so much that I c-can take."
Malfoy squeezed him tighter. "I'm so sorry, Harry, but... I think that I'm going to have to teach you Occlumency."
Harry lifted his head, but didn't turn to look at him.
"Snape t-t-tried. I c-can't... I d-don't understand it."
"Severus tried to teach you?"
"Dumbledore t-told him to."
"Why?" Draco asked, interested.
"So... Vol-he doesn't try to-to get into my head."
Draco considered that and said, "What did you have trouble with?"
"Everything. Snape cast le-le-Legilimancy and saw all my most embarrassing memories. The most I managed to do is h-hex him."
"You hexed him?" Draco said, impressed.
"Subconsciously."
"Accidentally?"
"I wanted him to stop."
Draco hummed. "Would you let me cast legilimens on you?"
"Let? You have a wand," Harry mumbled, tightening up. He was still in Draco's arms.
"I wouldn't do it without permission, but I think I could teach how to block me out. And... really... if the Dark Lord, Aunt Bella, or my father cast it on you... they might learn about me."
Harry froze. Draco was in danger. Draco was his only hope. He turned to meet Draco's eyes that were inches away from his. 
Draco looked surprised by the sudden movement. "Harry?"
"I have to learn it," he stated, clearly.
Draco nodded. "I think it'd be best. Do you... mind if I see things? Those bad and good memories?"
"It doesn't matter," he scoffed and looked away.
"You matter. You always matter," Draco declared.
Harry felt his heart swell at his words. He never thought Malfoy... Draco... would say them. He shook his head. "I won't survive without you. The only reason he's not rooting around in my head seeing everything is because I'm in so much pain."
"Alright... as long as you're okay with me doing it...."
"I am."
Draco squeezed him tighter. "The first thing we're going to do... is build a strong wall in your mind. I'm going to help you. We're going to put all the bad stuff behind it, and when they come or someone tries to get into your mind, you can just assault them with that."
Harry tilted his head. "I... you can teach me that?"
"It's one of the cornerstones of Occulmency. Hiding the bad stuff deep in your mind and blocking people from seeing the things you don't want them to see. Another part is showing your enemies what you want them to see."
Harry sighed. "I couldn't do any of it."
"Well, I'm here to show you, and I think I'll be kinder than Severus was."
Tears came down Harry's face. "I don't want to see any of it... what happened here."
Draco's hand gently rubbed his arm. "I know, but once I teach you how to hide it, it'll never hurt you again.
Harry swallowed and nodded. "When?"
"Now, Harry. When you're ready... I'll let go and you'll have to look into my eyes."
Harry shivered. "I-I d-don't like that."
"I know, but I only need a few seconds."
He procrastinated a bit, but finally nudged Draco to let go. Draco's arms released him and he backed away. Harry turned and sat cross-legged, the red blankets covering his crotch.
"What should I do?"
"First... let's get your apprehensive out of the way. You need to get used to my mind first, and I can help you build your wall."
Harry's forehead furrowed in confusion. "You can do that?"
"Yes. Ready?" Draco asked.
Harry nodded, a little pale.
"Legilimens!" Draco said, forcibly.
Flash. Harry was flying on a pale, half-blind dragon. Flash. Remus and Tonks were lying on the Great Hall floor dead. Flash. Molly hugged him after Cedric died. Flash. Fenrir was prying his legs apart, eyeing him hungrily.  
No... I don't want to see it again... Harry thought.
Fenrir brought his friends to play. Terror filled him and he only wanted out, but then he felt something else. Draco was there. He could see it. He could see everything. Calm feelings spread through the link, and Harry's pain and fear slowly disappeared. Draco mentally showed him how to hide it behind a block. It didn't hurt as much when it was behind there. He felt stronger with just that one memory gone.
Draco broke the spell and met his eyes. "Harry? Are you okay?"
"That... was... unbelievable. Can y-you do it for the rest?" Harry asked.
"Of course. Then I'll teach you how to access them to overwhelm anyone who enters your mind."
Harry's eyes were filled with tears, and he whispered, "Thank you... Draco. I really never would have... survived this without you."
"Neither would I... at least with my soul intact."
They did five more tries that morning, mostly burying Harry's constant rape and torture. But Draco said that he should see how it holds. Harry nodded and laid down under his blankets, exhausted. He shivered and looked back at Draco. He didn't like being alone. Draco was so warm... comforting. He looked at the spot where Draco had been earlier, hopefully.
"Will you...?" Harry faltered. It sounded so weak, but Draco was already coming over.
"Are you sure?" Draco asked, stopping to meet his eyes. 
"Yes," Harry responded, his heart thumping louder. He opened his blankets up for him to get in, next to his naked body.
Draco only seemed to hesitate a second before settling in behind him, spooning him. He carefully wrapped his arms around him. Harry burrowed into him, enjoying the warm contact. He was safe here.