Death's Children: Dreams & Nightmares
Summary: Harry has been trying to hold himself together since the death of Sirius Black. While the war draws closer, two of his only protectors will use him to bring a dark being into existence. Meanwhile, Harry has learned that some people aren't what they seem. Everyone and everything is changing.
Main Pairing: Draco/Harry
WARNING: This is going to be a little dark. Also, there is slash of multiple varieties including male, female, and het. That means guy on guy and girl on girl love and sexual acts. If you aren't comfortable with that, then please don't read this.
Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to J. K. Rowling. I do own this story, as well as my original concepts and characters.
NOTICE: This is the only time I will be posting this information though it does carry on to all other chapters. The story begins after book five.
Chapter One: Make Up Your Mind
Theory of a Deadman
The foggy scenery flew by as the train rolled over the hills on its way to Hogwarts. Harry sat in his cabin watching it go as he had no desire for company, his friends or otherwise. They were in another cabin talking about something but Harry had lost interest in a lot of things since he had lost Sirius. It was one more thing taken from him, one more dark part of his life, one more nightmare for him to repeat over and over.
He had grown again, now taller and not so scrawny. His hair was a bit longer and not quite as chaotic, but it was unlikely that it would ever be tamed. In truth, the boy still looked sickly. He was something on the lines of either a vampire or a walking corpse. His eyes drawn, skin pale as though he had just crawled out of some dark, desolate place.
From what he had been told over summer, Remus was coming back to school due to a desperate attempt to fill the DADA position. This added a small glimmer of light to the upcoming year. He only hoped that being near the werewolf wouldn't remind him of his losses. The summer hadn't been any more pleasant than before. Thankfully, the Dursleys had been an annoyance but nothing more, he had ignored them and they had done the same.
Harry had had a lot of time to think things through and had come to some conclusions about the impeding course of his life. He just wasn't sure how to share them with his friends. One thing that had remained a soothing constant for him had been his friends. They had been constantly passing messages through the three months of separation. Luna had owled him regularly with something that looked like a blue Finch. When he had received his birthday present the bird had grown to the size of Hedwig in order to carry the package and Harry had been wise enough not to question it.
Tap Tap "Anything from the trolley?"
Harry looked to the elderly witch with the trolley of sweets. He hadn't eaten since he had stopped at a deli before boarding. Also, as Remus kept telling him, chocolate was good for all occasions. Just as he was about to make his request he heard a voice that he would have preferred not to hear again for a long time.
"A Liquorish Wand," Draco ordered as he stood on the other side of the cart of sweets. Harry didn't look at the blond aristocrat. He sat quietly waiting for Draco to notice him and say something to make his nerves crazy. He had resolved not to do anything about it, though. He had things that were more urgent than reacting in some childish manner to a rival.
The witch gave him his treat and took his money. "Alright, there you go." Looking back at Harry she said, "Anything for you, Mister Potter?"
Harry looked up just in time to catch a brief look from Draco before the blond turned and left. Strange.
"Um, a Chocolate Frog, please."
As he sat eating the charmed chocolate Harry came to the conclusion that things were going to change drastically, and very soon.
It was raining, again. Rain is something of a constant in the English Isles, one of the reasons everything is so green. Harry got into one of the carriages pulled by the horses of death. As he sat, staring at nothing really, someone entered the carriage and sat opposite him. Although Harry had made a firm decision about this before, he couldn't help but ask, "What are you doing here, Malfoy?"
"Riding to that bloody school, what does it look like," Draco sneered as he pulled the hood of his cloak off.
"No, I meant why are you riding in this carriage," the raven corrected almost lazily. If Malfoy was going to ride with him, fine, but he wanted to know why. Why his nemesis of the past five years had suddenly decided to willingly be in close proximity with him.
"Everywhere else was full. Why? Were you planning to have the whole thing to yourself," he snapped. Harry didn't say anything. The ride to Hogwarts was a silent one. Although neither said anything there were looks exchanged. Mostly Draco looking at Harry and turning away when Harry looked to meet his gaze. The looks were barely even critical, more like evaluating. When the carriage stopped the blonde was the first one out.
Harry met Hermione and Ron at the Gryffindor table. Both were looking at him anxiously, neither saying what was on their minds. Once the new first years had been sorted and the feast had begun Remus descended, standing next to Harry while he ate. When he looked up from his food to acknowledge his only remaining parental figure the werewolf smiled, "How are you feeling, Harry?"
"I've felt worse."
"And better I'd guess. I would like you to come to my classroom tomorrow around eight o'clock. Could you do that?"
"Sure."
"Alright then. Hermione, Ron, nice to see you again."
When Remus was gone, Hermione gently nudged Ron in a way that clearly told him to say something. The red head coughed uncomfortably, "How was summer, Harry?"
"Bearable."
"Well, that's good."
Hermione rolled her eyes in exasperation. "Harry, Ron and I are a little worried about you. You hardly answered any of our owls and you were a hermit all summer. You're still acting like Sirius just died. We didn't complain before, because it was understandable that you were upset, but it's been months, Harry. You-"
"I know. I actually want to talk to you two about everything. Just tomorrow, this is our first day back."
The girl looked appeased for the moment, but he would get a fierce talking to tomorrow if he didn't talk to them. Which she had no reason to worry about that because he would. It was then that Luna came skipping over to him, her blonde hair bouncing slightly with her step. She took the seat next to Harry and gave him a bright smile.
"Hello, Harry."
"Hi, Luna. Are you busy tomorrow?"
"No, I can make it to your meeting. Would you like me to ask the rest of the D.A. to be there?"
Ron and Hermione had surprised looks on their faces, Harry didn't miss a beat. He smiled back at her and said in a gentle voice, "No, thank you."
"Alright, do you want Draco Malfoy to be there?"
"No," he said giving her a puzzled look. "Why would I want him there?"
"Oh, a few reasons. That can wait though," she answered as she stood and nearly glided away. That girl always seemed to be doing something other than walking. As though even that was too normal for her.
At the Slytherin table, Blaise Zabini sat in the seat next to his best friend Draco Malfoy. While gathering food onto his plate, Blaise absently asked, "So, why were you riding with Potter to the school again?"
Draco stopped the fork that was half way to his mouth to glare slightly at the Frenchman. "Orders. The crazy old badger wants someone to look after his precious Golden Boy and he chose me for the job."
"I don't understand why he needs looking after. It's not like he's ever alone."
"And wouldn't it be more politically correct to call him an old lion," asked Pansy Parkinson, who had seated herself on the other side of Draco.
"Whatever, I don't have much of a choice now that I work for the old lion," he said pointedly to Pansy, who smirked at him using her suggestion. "I have to follow Potter around for the next couple months. Apparently he's going to do something stupid and suicidal."
"Won't you be the big hero. I can't wait to hear how happy the Dark Lord will be to find out that you're working for the Light. Christmas should be a blast."
Darkness was everywhere. He couldn't see anything. He was in a forest. The Dark Forest he thought. There were things in the dark but they weren't coming for him. They were scared. He was scared. What was following him? He heard a step behind him and began to run. Running as fast as he could through the trees. It was faster, about to spring-
"AHHHH!"
Harry bolted up in his four-poster bed. A dream, another god-awful dream. It was the same one he had been having for the past few weeks. Whatever was hunting him, it felt like Voldemort. He could not see it or hear it or sense it in any way other than to know that it was there but, somehow, he knew that it was Riddle.
The sun was beginning to rise and Harry couldn't stay still after his dream. He got out of his bed, the blankets and sheets tangled from his tossing. The other four roommates were still sleeping soundly and he did his best not to wake them. Once he was finished with the basic morning ritual, he went to the Astronomy Tower.
No one else would be out that early and he wanted a cigarette desperately. Standing by the ledge looking out at the forest from his dreams and lighting a cigarette, Harry began to think about his dream and what it could mean. He was so engrossed in his thoughts that he didn't notice Malfoy coming up the stairs until he was only three feet away.
"Up early, Potter?"
Harry turned around to look at the other, not particularly interested in what the other boy was doing. If he wanted to fight then Harry would leave. Besides, it was too early for such things.
"Apparently. You?"
"Like you care," Draco's eyes averted to the cigarette in Harry's lips. He gave the thing a slight sneer, "You shouldn't smoke."
Harry laughed a little, "Suddenly you're concerned about my health?"
"Not yours, Potter. Second-hand smoke taints the lungs just as bad as first."
The raven decided not to say anything. This was weird, Harry couldn't remember having a civil conversation with Draco in all the years they'd known each other. They stood in absolute silence until Harry had finished smoking and left the tower. The Great Hall had only a few oddly active Hufflepuffs, studious Ravenclaws that were already reading, and Slytherins that were early risers.
He took a seat at his house table, filling his plate with eggs, toast, and some bacon. While Harry ate he thought about where he could possibly bring his friends to explain his plans. There was the commons room, Astronomy Tower, or the Room of Requirement. The problem was that Dumbledore tended to know everything that went on in the school. Harry wasn't so concerned about him knowing where they were as he was about what was said. He needed to take them somewhere that the old coot didn't have ears in the walls.
Hermione sat down in front of him; two books as thick as his arm were set on the table next to her plate. She looked at him with her warm brown eyes calculatingly. Everyone was so antsy. "So, when do you want to talk?"
"I haven't decided yet."
"Harry, you said that you would talk to us today."
"I will, I just want to make sure that it's in a safe place."
Hermione looked around subtly, like she expected a Death Eater to jump out and go "Boo!" "Is this about You-Know-Who?"
"Partially, I just don't want to chance being overheard."
"Then why not the Room of Requirement? No one will hear anything in there."
Harry looked half dead, she thought. His eyes were so sunken and sad, he was likely depressed again as well. He shook his head while he took another bite of his meal. "I don't trust that room very much anymore. Not after last year."
"Point taken, then where do you want to go?"
Ron dragged himself to his seat next to Hermione and began to eat, still as good as asleep. "I said I don't know. Just not anywhere in the school."
"How about the Shrieking Shack," Ron said through half a mouth of food.
"Ron! Don't talk when you have food in your mouth!"
"That's a good idea. We'll meet at the Shrieking Shack at 8:30."
"Okay, when are you going to tell Luna," Hermione asked as the blonde girl sat down next to Harry.
She smiled dreamily at Hermione and said, "I know where to go. How did you sleep, Harry? Did the Gilmouts get to you?"
"No, I don't think so. I want to talk to you about a dream I've been having at the meeting."
"Okay, I'll go ask the Lhûg not to eavesdrop too much," Luna announced as she stood and nearly spun away, leaving three blinking Gryffindors.
Draco had followed Harry to the great hall, using the shadows to keep himself hidden. He entered the room only after he watched the Granger girl enter and sit next to him. He couldn't hear what they were saying although he was positive that what they were talking about was interesting by the way Granger was looking about nervously. He would have to put a spell on Potter later.
The Weasel and Looney Lovegood found their way to the table too. Soon Lovegood was up and making her way to the Slytherin table, though. She did not look awkward or nervous as she spun her way over and sat next to him.
She smiled as she spoke. "Hello, Malfoy. I just wanted you to know that Harry is going through a hard time and the person you are working for is not a good person. He wants to hurt Harry. So, whatever you hear tonight has to stay yours."
He looked at her like she had just spoken to him in German. French he would have understood, but German wasn't part of his linguistic library. "I think you're confused Looney. I don't work for the Dark Lord, in case your leader forgot to give you the memo."
"I know you would never follow Voldiemort," she said with a deep smile. "And I don't work for Dumbydore."
She really is Looney, he thought. "Then what are you talking about?"
"There is only so much I'm allowed to do, so the rest is up to you and our guest. I need to go. The Finglwips are attacking the Hufflepuffs again."
Draco was temporarily incapable of thought after the odd statement of Lovegood. The second he was able to process anything again five things popped into his head. Who was she talking about that wanted to hurt Potter if she knew he worked for the Light? Who was the guest she was talking about? He had to follow them that night, no matter where they were going. If she didn't work for the crazy old man, then who? Lastly, he wondered, what in Merlin's beard was a Finglwip?
The students of Hogwarts spent the rest of the day doing mostly nothing. School started tomorrow and not even the Ravenclaws were inclined to do any work. When the sun started to go down, Harry went to Remus' classroom. It was warm, candles like spines lit up the room. The Lycanthrope was seated at his desk looking over some papers. Harry took the seat in front of his parental figure.
Remus looked up at the tired, worn out Harry that had greeted his eyes far too often, "Are you having any trouble sleeping, Harry?"
Harry realized there were not going to be any pleasantries or beating around the bush and was happy for it. "Yes, I've been having nightmares, but that's not new."
"Have you been eating?"
"Yes."
"Then why are you so thin?"
Harry smiled a little. "I've been growing. How have you been, Remus?"
The werewolf gave him a hard look that spoke of worlds not known to most man. "Worse than I have been in years. The wolf is raving more than it was when he was put away. All those years lost, not believing him, losing him."
Harry was quiet after Remus finished until the silence became too heavy. "Remus? Remus, will you look at me?"
He did look at the young man before him, who now seemed to have aged by anywhere from ten to a hundred years in seconds. His eyes glowed their eerie green as he spoke, "Bellatrix will pay. I will kill her in the most horrible way I can think of."
Remus wouldn't argue with Harry now, tell him that he had other things to think of, that murder wasn't something he should dwell on. Not when his eyes promised poison to the veins of his enemy. This did remind him of why he had really asked Harry to meet with him.
Clearing his throat, Remus asked, "Have you given any thought to how you are going to… kill...You-Know-Who?"
The raven haired teenager seemed disturbingly calm when he answered. "Yes. I don't have a solid plan yet but…."
"What were you thinking you'd do?"
"I need to know where he is first. Then I was going to use surprise to attack him when he was the least bit vulnerable."
"That's your plan? Harry, that's not a plan! That's suicide. It's a miracle He hasn't killed you yet. He's tried more times than I want to think about and you're no match for him right now. He will kill you if you do something so stupid!"
Harry was getting agitated. "What should I do then? No one will give me any information or direction. Everyone wants me to save the world but they won't do any more than hand me my wand and shove me in the direction of danger. I'm so sick of being in the dark!"
"…That's what I was thinking." Harry looked at his teacher as the man stood. Coming around the desk, he stood in front of his friend's son. "Harry, you need a teacher, someone that knows dark magic and can teach you how to survive a real battle."
The raven looked at him curiously, "What are you getting at?"
"You also need protection," he said, more to himself than to Harry.
"Remus?"
The werewolf looked conflicted, "Come back in a week. Saturday, at midnight."
"Why?"
"Harry, you're one of very few people I have left. I want you safe," Remus said as he put his hand on Harry's shoulder in a comforting gesture. Harry didn't complain though he didn't want comfort anymore.
"I know, Remus."
Remus nodded then patted Harry on the arm and sent him on his way. It was a good thing too because in seven minutes he would be late. He ran down the halls in his father's invisibility cloak, unaware of the person trying to follow him.
Outside, the weather was still warm and the moon was more than half full. When he was sure that he was not in danger of being seen by anyone in the castle Harry removed the cloak and made his way to the Whomping Willow. He stopped the tree by pressing the not in its trunk, then followed the familiar path to the Shrieking Shack. In what was once a sitting room, Hermione, Ron and Luna stood waiting for him.
"Where were you," asked Hermione when she saw him. He entered the room, walking past them to cast cleansing charms on a few chairs other than the one that Luna had sat on without a care. Once the chairs were somewhat decent the three sat.
"I was talking to Remus. There are a few things that you all need to know. A lot happened last year, like it does every year, but I think that this is the year we should end it, before this war can even start."
Luna was smiling encouragingly at him, while Ron and Hermione gave each other slightly worried looks. "What do you mean, mate?"
"I don't want to drag anyone into this war that doesn't need to be. I don't want any of you hurt either, but I can't do this by myself."
"Why don't you ask for help from Dumbledore, or the Order, or even Shackelbolt? He would help us."
"That's something else I wanted to say to you. I'm not going to be part of the Order anymore. I need to do things on my own. If I go to them they'll talk me to death and force me not to go. They do get through things better than the ministry, but their way isn't the best. Waiting isn't going to do any good."
His two closest friends seemed surprised but didn't object. Ron nodded, "Okay, what else?"
"We need to begin training again, immediately. I want as few people involved as possible. Lastly …I'm breaking my ties to Dumbledore."
"WHAT," the two shouted in unison. "Why?"
Harry looked to the side, and then back at them with a resolve he hadn't shown before. "I've spent a lot of time thinking about it this summer. I don't trust him anymore."
"Why not, Harry? He's always so kind and he tries to help us-"
"How much does he really help us though, Hermione? He shows up at the last second to make sure that I'm not dead. He never gives us direction or straight answers no matter how much we need them."
They were quiet, looking worriedly back and forth between each other and Harry. Hermione was the first to speak, "I'm just not sure."
"That's okay," Luna announced as she got up from the chair that she had practically started to meditate on. "You'll see soon. Now, I believe you had a nightmare to discuss?"
"Um, yeah, it starts in the Dark Forest. I'm standing there in the night when something starts to chase me. I'm running and running as fast as I can but it's faster. It starts to catch up, then it lunges at me and I wake up."
Hermione clearly found it interesting as she was thinking it over. Ron was disturbed since he was obviously trying not to think about it, while Luna was simply nodding.
"That makes sense. Who do you think is chasing you?"
"Voldemort."
"Well, Harry, it's quite simple. Start running faster. I'm sleepy. We should all be going to bed." Confused but tired, they all left the old house.
Draco could hardly believe what was going on with the Golden Boy of the Light. Therapy sessions with werewolves where he talked about murder plots, meeting with the Weasel, Looney, and Granger in the Shrieking Shack to talk about war plans and abandoning their beloved Dumbledore. It was all too much.
He had thought that he had lost Harry for a while when the Professor's door opened and the corridor remained empty, but he had followed the light sound of footsteps outside to where he could easily follow Harry's foot prints in the wet grass. He was about to jump out of his hiding place in the creepy house to run back to the old coot and rub it all in his face when what Luna had said caught up with him. The person you are working for is not a good person. He wants to hurt Harry. So whatever you hear has to stay yours.