When the darkness creeps in,
I feel my nightmares watching me.
And when my dreams are sleeping,
I feel my nightmares watching me.

Ed Sheeran - Nightmares

He tossed and turned lost in a horrible nightmare watching as Voldemort mercilessly attacked a muggleborn family. Harry tried to reach in and shield them…he threw his body in front of the spells but they just went straight through him. Nothing he did worked to save them from their torment. He fell to his knees, his arms automatically wrapped around his head to try to silence the screams.

'Wake up Harry! Just wake UP!' he tried to order himself. He tried to drown out Voldemorts sadistic glee as he denied the family any rest, casting spell after horrible spell. Harry let out a scream of his own, pooling all his despair, anger and helplessness into an unending howl.

The tormenter let out a chuckle and Harry's head whipped up, green eyes clashing with ruby red. "Harry Potter…how nice of you to join me...again"

Harry gritted his teeth and stood up to face the snake like creature. "Tom!"

Voldemort sneered at the name and eyes narrowed on the boy. "You don't like your little surprise Potter?" His hand waved in the general direction of the muggleborns.

A gasp unwilling left Harry's throat as he glanced again at the latest victims. Pain started to radiate from everywhere within him and his legs threatened to give way again. Stiffening his limbs Harry looked again towards the monstrous form in front of him.

"Tsk…tsk boy. You didn't really think I wasn't aware of your occasional trips into my world?! This was planned especially for you." Voldemorts wand pointed in the direction of the pained souls and another spell shot out causing another high pitched scream to be released.

"Stop it!" Again Harry tried to lunge in front of the spell to try and save them from any more pain.

The evil bastard just let out another dreadful hiss-like laugh. "And what will you give me if I stop my fun and allow them to rest?"

"What do you want?" Whispered Harry, he couldn't watch this anymore. Each painful sob went straight through him, tearing a piece of his soul away.

"What a loaded question…I don't suppose you would just give yourself up and save me the trouble of killing you sooner rather than later?" A glare from the boy had another bout of laughter bubble out in hisses. "I'll take that as a no hmm?"

Harry's hands clenched tight and if he could he would have jumped the hairless freak then and there.

A smirk crossed the lipless face and another careless flick of his wand had more throaty screams pouring out of his victims. "Answer me this question Harry…and answer it well…and I will release them."

"Why should I trust you?" Growled the boy who lived, emerald eyes flashing in anger.

He reached out a hand to trace the lightning bolt scar.

Harry quickly backpedalled from Voldemorts outstretched hand, he did not want any part of the monster in front of him touching any part of him. "Don't touch me!" He hissed.

A grin cracked the snake-like lips. "You think me so repulsive? You are just like me Harry Potter…you could join me…we would be great together…unstoppable."

Similar words flashed through his mind from the time he first came into the wizarding world and obtained his new wand. Shaking his head in refusal he let out his own hiss at the villain in front of him.

"No? Such a pity…" Red eyes gleamed for a second staring at the youth in front of him. "My question, Harry, is this…If those you thought were good are now evil to you…what makes you think that those who are evil to you are not good? I can assure you that the magic rush you feel when casting these curses will be more fulfilling than anything you can imagine. No consequences, no one to answer to…no meddling old bastards. "

Shaking his head in denial Harry responded, "There is nothing that you could say or do that would convince me that what you are doing is the right thing. You are wrong…there are consequences to every action Tom…in this case it is me."

"In effect I created you…without me you would be nothing boy. You are not a consequence…merely an irritant which I will soon be rid of…along with that stupid order."

"You didn't create me you slimy bastard…I owe everything I have to the sacrifice of my mother. One way or another I will kill you." Harry could barely contain his rage, it was pouring off of him in waves.

Again Voldemort held out a hand towards Harry and a twisted smile appeared on his face. "Harry, Harry, Harry…you are so close to becoming what I am right now…I feel the rage…the hunger to destroy…the intent to murder…" He whipped his wand around so fast and a sickly green light blasted from it to hit those he tortured. They didn't get a chance to scream or beg…their lifeless eyes bored into Harry's…almost as if to blame him for their deaths. "Thank you for answering my question…I released them just as I promised…I always keep my word Harry…remember that!"

At those words something snapped and Harry awoke with a scream held between clenched teeth, gasping and horrified. These visions were getting worse…and snake-face somehow knew that he had visions of him. Those killed tonight were because of him…guilt, anger and frustration all warred inside of him and he felt his power expand and explode all around him. Taking a deep breath and clearing his mind he forcefully grabbed the out of control magic around him and tried to pull it back within himself.

The magic fought to be free – it wanted vengeance for the tragic loss of life it witnessed. Fine…if the magic wanted to do something proactive he would let it. For a moment Harry stopped fighting it…didn't let it lose entirely but allowed it some form of freedom. It was a good thing his curtains were spelled and locked tight or this would have awoken all his dorm mates, and that was something he didn't want to deal with.

Watching the magic, he waited curiously to see what would happen. Slowly the magic spread out in a maze of patterns and colours and it playfully curled around him before forming into a bright spinning threads. Shutting his eyes tightly against the brightness of his magic Harry tried to imagine what he wanted the threads to become not wanting to give this magic total control. Who knows what would happen. Knowing his luck he'd end up with a tail, fluffy ears or something equally stupid.

Deciding that trying to weave the threads of magic into two different protection bracelets was the best course of action he imagined what he wanted them to look like. Harry wanted one specifically for himself…and the other was going to be for Draco.

The threads started weaving faster and faster, even though his eyes were shut he could see different colours emerging through the patterns. Finally the magic stopped spinning its patterns and it coalesced into the finished product. Triumph and pleasure flew through Harry at knowing he was able to produce and control such wild magic. He carefully picked up the two bracelets, his breath hitching at the works of art.

The first piece had tiny snakes for the chain interlocking with each other, an emerald winking in every snake. His fingers traced reverently over the masterpiece, this was for Draco and he could feel his magic pulsing within.

The second piece was curiously different, it was interlocking pieces of lightning and if he looked hard enough he could actually see tiny flashes within the links. Again Harry could feel his magic running through it. He carefully laid it against his wrist and it automatically wound itself around and it became locked into place.

Shrugging to himself he picked up Draco's piece and placed it near his wand so he wouldn't forget it. Harry also made a mental note to himself to advise Professor Snape what occurred this night. Both with his vision and his overextended use of magic.

The young wizard could feel the drain that had once again been placed on him and he slowly drifted back to sleep. Hoping that the next day would bring him some peace for a change. He really wasn't in the mood to deal with anything else tonight.

However a few things were about to change for Harry, the first happened the next morning at the Slytherin table.

Draco continued to steal food from Harry's plate much to the amusement of those around him, not that Harry would stop him even if he could. He had not had a chance to talk to the Slytherin prince in front of him…nor had a chance to pass on his gift. He knew the blonde wanted further information from him and he had a feeling he would be cornered soon…along with Pansy.

Just as Draco had pilfered the last sausage from Harry's plate his grey eyes went to the arrival of a single Gryffindor.

The whole room went completely still, almost holding their breath for what they believed would be a very bad confrontation. Harry turned around expecting the worst but to his surprise it was someone he didn't believe would ever been seen near this table.

"Mind if I join you Harry?" Neville asked, practically shaking in his robes. He had imagined that he would be thrown back to the table he came from in several pieces but he held his ground showing the bravery that was a trait of the house of lions.

Harry had not anticipated such an event. He looked over at Draco who was again mimicking a fish.

"Yes…"

"No…" Hissed Draco. "Does this look like a half-way house for lost Gryffindors?!…Go back to your den!"

Harry frowned and grabbed Neville's arm, yanking him to sit beside him. He glared at Draco daring the blonde to disagree with him.

Pansy let out a small breath and gave a tiny smile to the timid boy. "Care for some pumpkin juice little lion?" She asked softly.

Neville gulped and gave a shaky nod.

"Pansy!"

"So glad you remember my name Draco."

The blonde looked towards Blaise for help. The Italian just gave a small shrug and wordlessly passed over the juice. "He's a cute little lion cub…I say we keep him."

Harry nearly spat out his some of his breakfast at that comment.

Draco tried to glare the entire sniggering seventh years down. "He is not a pet..."

"Too right he's not a pet…isn't that right Neville?" Harry asked after managing to re-swallow his food.

"Uh huh…" The Gryffindor replied hesitantly smiling back.

"Longbottom!" Snarled a familiar snarky voice.

"Yes..Pro….pro….Professor Snape?" Poor Neville nearly knocked his full glass of juice over. Harry managed to rescue it before it could spill across the table…he didn't imagine Draco would be too impressed at wearing pumpkin juice so soon in the morning.

"Perhaps you would care to explain why you are sitting at the wrong table!" The words were stressed very clearly and Harry could see Neville tensing up at them.

"Harry is here?" He timidly replied.

The boy who lived could tell that Snape was barely repressing rolling his eyes at the question in Neville's voice rather than an answer that he expected.

"Care to explain Mr Potter?" The potions profession folded his arms and waited for a more complete explanation.

Harry just smirked at the annoyed profession in front of him. "Because he finds me irresistible?"

Draco let out an undignified squawk at that response, he wanted no competition when it came to the messy haired youth. The rest of the Slytherins held their breath at the cheeky response given by the chosen one.

Professor Snape's glare deepened but Harry could somehow see that he was suppressing a small twitch of his lips. "He is your responsibility Potter! I will not have my house turned into a circus…Do you understand?!"

Harry nodded in agreement and watched as Snape dramatically flared out his robes and headed towards the rest of the staff. His eyes flickered unwillingly towards Dumbledork to determine what type of reaction this would give. He saw a barely suppressed flash of anger and irritation pass over the old coots face before resuming its merry twinkle and gave a genial nod to Neville.

Sending out a warning glance towards the old fool he placed a hand protectively on Neville to show that he was now under Harry's protection.

Draco didn't miss the movement and glared at the intruding boy, Harry was his…and he would make sure by the end of the day that it would stay that way.

Author's Note: Well…that was unexpected…I bet you all didn't expect a chapter up so soon. Don't worry I didn't either…I couldn't stop writing this one…had a mind of its own.

Love it? Hate it? Review and let me know

I only have a basic direction in which I want this fic to travel in…If you have any ideas – or would like to see Neville paired up with someone please let me know – I would love to hear from you

Disclaimer: This world and everyone in it is not mine…I wish it was! Any mistakes made are purely my own – if you let me know I will fix them!

Thank you for reading – enjoy!