Thanks to shadowmwape, Goddess of the Chibi Dragon, ChromeEater, cookiepandaluv, sas5linkar and dbhamra for favoriting and again shadowmwape, Goddess of the Chibi Dragon, ChromeEater, sas5linker, cookiepandaluv and PROFFESORffilc for following!
The response I got from the last chapter really lifted my spirits! By the way, last chapter was absolutely teeming with references, did anyone notice that? If any of you have just finished reading that chapter, you're welcome to let me know how many you found! Harry Potter quotes don't count, of course. I myself found 7 of them after revising(that is if you count the half-willing reference to my own DMC fic).
Enough blabbering! Let's get on with it.
Disclaimer: See Prologue.
Where we left off:
'So that's why! Vergil thinks that all he needs to do to be all but completely immune to death is the sorcerer's stone!'
Dante grabbed a fistful of his hair. "Damn. He'll never back out."
"What?" it was Hermione, looking suspicious.
"Nothing, nothing. Um…don't we have the detention tonight?"
She glanced at the clock, and gulped. "Goodness! We're late!"
Here we go!
Chapter 8
Their moods were very gloomy by the time they said goodbye to Ron and began walking down the stairs. Tony, though, somehow kept himself in better spirits.
"Anyone noticed the irony?" he asked cheerfully. "We go out after active hours and break school rules, and so they force us to go out during curfew and technically break school rules."
Harry attempted a chuckle. It came out choked. Tony turned to look at them, eyebrows raised.
"What are you so scared about?"
"I don't know. That's the problem: We don't know what the punishment will be."
"Maybe they'll feed us to Norbert's mummy. That's the real one, by the way. Not Hagrid."
Hermione slapped a hand over her mouth, looking like she was about to be sick. Harry glared at Tony, who seemed confused.
"What? I'm just trying to-"
"Don't. You're doing a terrible job." Harry assured him.
Tony shrugged at that, and fell silent. Harry shot him a jealous look; he really wished he could be that calm.
They met Filch and Malfoy at the entrance hall. Now joined by the Slytherin boy, they quietly followed Filch, who chattered away happily about morbid punishments. Tony rolled his eyes, and to Harry's unutterable astonishment, picked up Mrs. Norris from the floor and cradled her in his arms.(1) She sniffed and growled at him, and Tony snorted. "Get your own rats, Your Highness!"
She hissed quietly and tried to scratch at his arms. Tony sandwiched her legs between his chest and arms. "Jeez, I've got it, I've got it! Why is it that every single female I meet boss me around?"
Filch had turned his head by then, and his eyes narrowed at the feline who was now pulling out a slick, brown dead rat from Tony's robe pocket.(2) Harry thought his own eyes might pop out of their sockets. Tony brought Mrs. Norris a treat. Tony brought Mrs. Norris a treat! And the cat actually seemed to like him!
It seemed Filch had noticed the last part as well, because though he scowled, he didn't say anything about it. The rest of the way was passed in thankful silence.
The moon was bright, but clouds scudding across it kept throwing them into darkness. Ahead, Harry could see the lighted windows of Hagrid's hut. Then they heard a distant shout.
"Is that you, Filch? Hurry up, I want ter get started."
Harry's heart rose; if they were going to be working with Hagrid it wouldn't be so bad. His relief must have showed in his face, because Filch said, "I suppose you think you'll be enjoying yourself with that oaf? Well, think again, boy — it's into the forest you're going and I'm much mistaken if you'll all come out in one piece."
At this, Tony broke out into a grin and Malfoy stopped dead in his tracks.
"The forest?" he repeated, and he didn't sound quite as cool as usual. "We can't go in there at night — there's all sorts of things in there — werewolves, I heard."
"That's your problem, isn't it?" said Filch, his voice cracking with glee as his spirits seemed to lift. "Should've thought of them werewolves before you got in trouble, shouldn't you?"
"Next time, I'll get in trouble a bit faster, thanks." Tony replied, his grin stretching from ear to ear.
Hagrid came striding toward them out of the dark, Fang at his heel. He was carrying his large crossbow, and a quiver of arrows hung over his shoulder. There was a sword peeking out from under his cloak.
"Abou' time," he said. "I bin waitin' fer half an hour already. All right, Harry, Hermione?"
Harry noted he didn't ask Tony. Maybe he knew what sort Tony was by then.
"I shouldn't be too friendly to them, Hagrid," said Filch coldly, "They're here to be punished, after all."
"That's why yer late, is it?" said Hagrid, frowning at Filch. "Bin lecturin' them, eh? 'Snot your place ter do that. Yeh've done yer bit, I'll take over from here."
"I'll be back at dawn," said Filch, "for what's left of them," he added nastily, and he turned and started back toward the castle, his lamp bobbing away in the darkness.
Malfoy now turned to Hagrid. "I'm not going in that forest," he said, and Harry was pleased to hear the note of panic in his voice.
"Yeh are if yeh want ter stay at Hogwarts," said Hagrid fiercely. "Yeh've done wrong an' now yeh've got ter pay fer it."
"But this is servant stuff, it's not for students to do. I thought we'd be copying lines or something, if my father knew I was doing this, he'd —"
"— tell yer that's how it is at Hogwarts," Hagrid growled. Tony snickered and gave Hagrid a thumb up. "Copyin' lines! What good's that ter anyone? Yeh'll do summat useful or yeh'll get out. If yeh think yer father'd rather you were expelled, then get back off ter the castle an' pack. Go on!"
Malfoy didn't move. He looked at Hagrid furiously, but then dropped his gaze.
"Right then," said Hagrid, "now, listen carefully, 'cause it's dangerous what we're gonna do tonight, an' I don' want no one takin' risks. Righ' Tony?"
Tony shrugged. Hagrid looked worried. Harry thought he had ample reason.
"Follow me over here a moment."
He led them to the very edge of the forest. Holding his lamp up high, he pointed down a narrow, winding earth track that disappeared into the thick black trees. A light breeze lifted their hair as they looked into the forest.
"Look there," said Hagrid, "see that stuff shinin' on the ground? Silvery stuff? That's unicorn blood. There's a unicorn in there bin hurt badly by summat. This is the second time in a week. I found one dead last Wednesday. We're gonna try an' find the poor thing. We might have ter put it out of its misery."
"And what if whatever hurt the unicorn finds us first?" said Malfoy, unable to keep the fear out of his voice.
"There's nothin' that lives in the forest that'll hurt yeh if yer with me or Fang," said Hagrid.("Ah, shame!" said Tony) "An' keep ter the path. Right, now, we're gonna split inter two parties an' follow the trail in diff 'rent directions. There's blood all over the place, it must've bin staggerin' around since last night at least."
"I want Fang," said Malfoy quickly, looking at Fang's long teeth.
"All right, but I warn yeh, he's a coward," said Hagrid. "So me, Harry, an' Hermione'll go one way an' Draco, Tony, an' Fang'll go the other. Look after 'em, Tony. Both of 'em."
"Sure." said Tony, grinning evilly at Malfoy who seemed to be resisting the urge to back up a step.
"Now, if any of us finds the unicorn, we'll send up green sparks, right? Get yer wands out an' practice now — that's it — an' if anyone gets in trouble, send up red sparks, an' we'll all come an' find yeh — so, be careful — let's go. Oh, somethin' fer the two o' yeh, Tony, know how ter use a sword?" with a wink, Hagrid pulled out Rebellion from his cloak.
Harry thought Tony's cheeks were going to burst, so big was his smile. He reached up and took the sword, caressing it lovingly before setting it on his back. Malfoy seemed to be torn between relieved and afraid.
"Thank the old man for me, Hagrid." said Tony.
"O' course." said Hagrid. "Le's go."
The forest was black and silent. A little way into it they reached a fork in the earth path, and Harry, Hermione, and Hagrid took the left path while Malfoy, Tony, and Fang took the right.
"Don't get in trouble, Tony." Hermione murmured to him as they parted. "Don't let Malfoy goad you into doing anything rash."
"C'mon, did you see his face?" Tony laughed. He looked exulted. "Oh, we're having fun."
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox
Dante knelt beside a small puddle of silver blood in the ground. A part of him was screaming at him to pick it up and taste it, but he resisted it.
"Getting closer." he said softly. "C'mon, boy!"
Fang didn't need to be told that, he was already wrapped around Dante as it was. He followed the eleven year old closely, ears drooping and tail between its legs. Malfoy was trying to be brave, but it was obvious he was afraid.
"So…your father." Dante murmured, after another glance at the blonde's ashen face. "How was he like at Christmas?"
Malfoy jumped at the unexpected sound. He turned and eyed Dante with open suspicion. "What's that to you?"
"Well, I'm sure you had loads of fun." Dante waved it off, his sardonic tone making Malfoy even more suspicious. "How's your preparation for exam coming along?"
Malfoy huffed and turned away. "Better than you, Redgrave. You just barely pass the class test as it is. Save a seat next to Granger in the exam, that's the only way you're ever going to make it to 2nd year."
"Oh, no, I think I'll leave them to Crabbe and Goyle." Dante replied smoothly. "You know, let you keep your bodyguards up to 3rd year."
"They're not my bodyguards." Malfoy said, looking flushed.
"Sure, sure. Look, Draco," Dante enjoyed the bristle the word earned him, "Fifteen minutes without them, and you're so scared you're shaking."
"It's cold." Malfoy defended.
"In the middle of March? Oh, sorry, I totally forgot: This is Antarctica!"
Malfoy didn't say anything, just seethed. Dante scowled. He'd finally had enough. He was going to teach this brat a lesson.
He waited for a few moments, and then purposely channeled his demonic powers into his throat and let out a loud growl from behind. He himself was impressed at the sound that emerged. The effects were more than satisfying.
Malfoy screamed and sent up a shower of red sparks, and simultaneously looked around for Dante. Not finding him, he grabbed Fang and let out a very girlish whimper.
Dante howled with laughter. Malfoy started, his gaze snapping to Dante. His face reddened comically as he saw Dante doubled over, clutching his stomach as he laughed uproariously.
"You think this is funny?" Malfoy hissed.
"Course it is." Dante straightened. "Oh, your face!" he made an effort to make his voice serious. "Go ahead, then, Hagrid will probably switch teams now. You can stay with him if you want to -" he trailed off.
Something was moving in the forest. A dark shadow. Dante's powers tinged beneath his skin. Something was terribly wrong.
"Draco." he said softly. "Can you see Hagrid?"
"No." Malfoy murmured, sounding scared. A part of Dante noted he didn't object to Dante saying his first name. "Why?"
"I…" he trailed off, drawing his sword. "Stay with Fang. I'm going."
"Redgrave! Hey, you can't just-"
"There!" Dante pointed. "There's Hagrid, and there's his team. I can hear their footsteps. You go ahead, I'll be right behi-"
But Malfoy clutched his arm. Dante didn't laugh. The pure terror on his classmate's face was not something to laugh at. Instead, he slowly pried his sleeve off and said, "You'll be alright. And I'll be back."
He ran off without looking back. He didn't know what the thing was, but he knew something that dark couldn't possibly belong in this forest.
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox
He picked up the trail within a few moments and started walking quickly and silently. It didn't take him long to catch sight of his prey. The black creature was crawling on all fours, but it was moving very fast. It looked more like a hooded human than a beast.
Dante was about to go forward and confront it, but he saw something that stopped him in his tracks.
It was a dead unicorn, arguably the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. The hooded thing crawled swiftly to it, and began to drink from its neck. Dante snorted to himself, unwilling to even acknowledge the fear that was building in him.
"Hey," he called, holding his sword at the ready, "You thirsty?"
The figure lifted its head, and Dante saw silver blood dripping.
"Really thirsty, aren't you? That can't be too good to drink." He took a step forward. "But then, a human-like creature who crawls can't have a good sense of dignity, right? I can get you Fang's water dish, probably."
The figure looked at him, down to his sword, and suddenly turned to run.
"Oh no, you don't!" With four swift steps, Dante was in a position to dive, and he did, straight onto the thing's back, and pulled off the hood.
A snake-like face met his eyes. The features included a nearly non-existent nose and glowing red eyes, staring at him from a bald head that looked remarkably human…and then the figure whirled about and cast a jet of purple light at him. Dante was slammed into the closest tree, and his vision became blurry as he stared after the retreating figure. He hadn't seen the front, blinded by the light, but he had smelled the body, and it was reeking of garlic.
"Two faced, huh?" he breathed. "See you, professor. See you, Lordy Voldy."
And then, the world swam and he knew no more.
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox
"Are you all right?"
Dante opened his eyes to see a half-lion, half-human looking down at him. "You're late for the show." He croaked, pointing a finger at it(he or she? It looked like a he…). "It's interval, pal."
The creature furrowed his brow slightly. "You are as unusual as they say. You are the son of Sparda; Dante?"
"Congratulations." Dante replied. "And yeah, I do my best. Can I have a ride?"
The creature looked him up and down. He gave a nod, and Dante pulled himself to his feet and jumped all the way up to his back.
"What does who say about me?" he asked, struggling to keep his eyes open. He was sleepy…
"Firenze!" another creature was coming into view, with red hair, followed by another with dark hair. Both looked older than Firenze.
"What are you doing?" yelled the redhead. "You have a child on your back! Have you no shame? Are you a common mule?"
"Do you realize who this is?" said Firenze. "This is the son of Sparda, Dante. He has been through an ordeal, and it is better for him to go back to school as quickly as possible."
"What have you been telling him?" growled Bane. "Remember, Firenze, we are sworn not to set ourselves against the heavens. Have we not read what is to come in the movements of the planets?"
The other pawed the ground nervously. "I'm sure Firenze thought he was acting for the best," he said in a gloomy voice.
The redhead kicked his back legs in anger.
"For the best! What is that to do with us? Centaurs are concerned with what has been foretold! It is not our business to run around like donkeys after stray children in our forest!"
Firenze suddenly reared on to his hind legs in anger. Dante shifted slightly but did not look up.
"Do you not see that unicorn?" Firenze bellowed at Bane. "Do you not understand why it was killed? Or have the planets not let you in on that secret? I set myself against what is lurking in this forest, Bane, yes, with children alongside me if I must."
Dante looked up from where he had rested his head against Firenze's hair.
"You stargazer lot are really annoying, you know that?" he called. "I'm trying to sleep here. And by the way, your business sounds way more boring than mule's, and that's saying something."
The redhead spluttered, clearly not used to be talked to that way. "You're-" he began.
"Doing something more productive than you lot." Dante retorted. "By the way, what do you guys even do during the day? Daydreaming of the stars?"
Firenze tensed beneath him, and galloped away before the speechless redhead could say anything more. Dante winced at the pace his mount had set.
"Um…look, if I've offended you…then well….you had it coming, anyway. Always staring at the stars, getting predictions from the stars and then not using it anywhere…what are you guys even doing?" he winced at his own attitude. Not because he didn't think they were justified, but because if Firenze threw him off now…well.
Firenze didn't reply for a moment. "Centaurs do not set themselves against what we foresee in the stars." He said finally. "But this is a situation in which I daresay we might make an exception. You have already had a most eventful year, son of Sparda."
"And I'm about to have more?" Dante guessed. "You fortune-tellers are all the same, pal. Always ill-omens."
The creature seemed puzzled. "What did you call us?"
"Fortune-tellers? Frauds who predict the future by stars and things." Dante replied. The creature seemed angry at that.
"Centaurs are not frauds." He said. "But there are a few occasions in which the stars have been read wrongly. Son of Sparda, can you truly not think of one reason by which your life may be placed in jeopardy?"
"By the end of the school year?" Dante asked. "I dunno…good old Voldy really doesn't seem strong enough. He caught me off my guard, won't happen again."
"But is there someone who is?" the centaur pressed.
Dante let out a soft sigh. Vergil. "That's what you think?" he asked tiredly, leaning forward to place his head against the centaur's neck. "That he'll even kill me if it means he'll get power?"
"We do not judge by our personal opinions, son of Sparda."
"Yeah. The stars. Well, for a fortune-teller, you're not bad. But you're wrong." He drew himself up. "Vergil may try to kill me. But I'll kick his…" he bit his lip. "Back." He finished lamely.
"Well…" there was a quiet sigh. "I do detect the required determination in you. The required strength, however-"
"Tony!"
Harry and Hermione emerged from a cluster of trees to their left, running full speed towards them. Fang followed closely, barking. After them came Hagrid, his huge form easily swiping the two eleven year olds aside as he made a beeline for the centaur and his burden.
"Hullo, Firenze." boomed Hagrid as he shook the creature by the hand. "All right?"
"Well enough." Firenze replied. Dante jumped down from his back.
"Thanks." He said to the centaur. "No hard feelings?"
"Sorry?"
"Never mind. Thanks again."
Hagrid exchanged pleasantries with Firenze. Dante was dragged aside by Hermione and Harry.
"Are you okay? You look horrible!" Hermione blurted. "Oh, you're shaking!"
"Still?" Dante looked down in surprise. "Oh. I need to sleep it off."
"What happened?" Harry asked. "Malfoy told us you went off after something. He seemed scared."
Dante lifted a brow in surprise. Malfoy was standing a few feet away, beside Fang. He was staring at the ground. So he was worried?
He was pleased to note his voice was as cool as ever when he said, "Scared? Why doesn't that surprise me?"
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox
What followed was rather unique. Dante went to see Dumbledore about Quirrell the next day, and got the response he least expected.
"Let him face it?" he repeated in disbelief. "You want me to let Harry face it?"
"I have reason to believe young Harry will come into contact with Lord Voldemort many more times, Dante. It's better to-"
"I don't think so, sir." Dante said coolly, but suddenly a smirk spread over his face.
"What say you to me trying my hand at a Dark Lord? I'll need practice."
Dumbledore shook his head. "Dante, you do realize what fighting a human with no demonic qualities entrails? Make no mistake, you will not be fighting Lord Voldemort; you'll be fighting Professor Quirrell."
Dante let out a loud sigh. He really didn't enjoy the idea of having to hurt a human; it was, to him, like a chivalrous man felt about hurting a woman.
"Well, then, I won't fight Quirrell for Harry. I'll just…you know, see that he doesn't end up dead."
Dumbledore nodded, smiling. "Good."
"I'm worried about something else though."
Dumbledore leaned forward, studying him from behind his spectacles. "Yes?" he pressed.
"Vergil. He-" Dante cut himself off. Telling Dumbledore might end up getting Vergil expelled. And truth be told, he didn't want to see that happen. Not after what Vergil had told him about his life these last two years. "Well, he's rearing up for a duel."
"Are you?" his grand-uncle asked softly.
"No." Dante replied truthfully. "It might turn out more…deadly than intended. Well, I'd better be off." He climbed up the stairs without permission, and came back with two strawberry sundaes easily balanced in his arms.
"You'll get fat." he warned, pointing with his thumb back at the makeshift fridge.
"So people have been telling me for the past fifty years." Dumbledore winked, and Dante grinned.
"Bye, Uncle Albus. Oh, lovely password."
Dumbledore beamed. "Well, that is reassuring. Minerva and Severus were telling me off."
Dante shrugged as he walked through the doorway. "Why should they? It's way better than some of the other things you could've picked, like lollypop."
He went out of sight, leaving Dumbledore looking thoughtful. "Lollypop." he murmured to himself.
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox
Dante entered the common room late that evening, thinking through what he was going to tell his friends.
"Tony? Where've you been?" Hermione scolded, as usual. "You're falling behind, the exams are only a week away!"
Dante looked around. The common room was filled with students. "Pass me the Transfiguration copy." he said. "By the way, remember I told you about seeing some weird creature yesterday in the forest?"
"Yeah, you never told us what happened." Ron cut in.
"Later." Dante replied, flipping through the pages.
As they read and wrote things down, the common room slowly emptied. Dante finished off the chapter in Charms he was reading and went to stand by the fireplace.
"I'm pretty sure I actually saw Voldemort in the forest last night." He said without any preamble.
Hermione slapped her hands over her mouth. Ron gasped. Harry became white.
Dante continued on, "Voldemort was-"
"Don't say the name!" Ron whispered.
"Good old Voldy-" Dante amended, ignoring Ron's wince, "-was drinking the unicorn's blood. Why was he doing that, yes, Miss hand-in-the air Granger?"
Hermione scowled, but she did answer. "Unicorn's blood lengthens one's lifespan. However, the drinker's life will be cursed the moment the blood touches his lips."
"Five points to Gryffindor." grinned Dante. "So he was doing that, and I offered to do him one better and get him Fang's water dish."
Hermione looked rather ill. Ron didn't look much better. "Tony…" she said in a small voice. "You need to stop doing that."
"No, I don't. Anyway, so he turned and ran - That's right, Ron, he ran from me. I managed to jump him though. I saw his face. It looks sorta like a snake's. But he slipped from my grasp," at everyone's disbelieving look, he added, "Well, he cast some spell at me and ran off. I was knocked out-" His ears turned red, to his mortification, "And when I woke, this centaur had found me and he gave me a ride on his back. He told me that creature was Oldy Voldy and that he was after the stone in the school." Lying didn't feel very good, he realized.
"So it was You-Know-Who that cursed you?" Hermione murmured. "Tony, you should go to the hospital wing."
"I took all my classes today, Hermione." Dante retorted. "There's nothing wrong with me."
"Nothing wrong with you?" Ron repeated in disbelief. "Yeah, except your head that's screwed up the wrong way."
Dante shot him a dirty look. "I'm not the one who looks like his head is always set on fire."
Harry got up and began pacing the length of the common room. "So Voldemort is out there….waiting for Snape to bring him the stone-" Dante scoffed in his mind, Snape, right…"so that he can come back. And if he comes back…"
"Whoa, Harry, slow down." Dante held up a hand. "He's not coming back. Leave that to me."
"If he comes back-" Harry went on, "He'll kill me and take over the school…well, I guess Snape'll be real happy."
"He's. Not. Coming. Back." Dante repeated. "Get this through your thick skull, Harry."
"How'd you know?" Harry whirled on him.
"Because I know that with my power, I can stop him. I just need a bit of help. From all of you. I gotta warn you though, it'll be very, very hard. And it might be painful."
"Anything." said Hermione and Harry, together, even though the former looked a bit pale.
Dante walked back to the first year boy's dormitory, and came down a few minutes later with Rebellion in his hand.
"I need you to unleash my DT."
They stared at him, jaws hanging open.
"Well?" he hissed. "You said 'anything'…"
The room exploded as three voice began shouting together.
"Are you mental?" Ron yelled. "No, don't answer that. What the bloody hell do you think you're-"
"We can do this together!" Harry said at the same time, shaking his head. "There's no need for you to-"
"You can't do that, Tony!" Hermione protested. "We'll tell the professors and they'll sort it out!"
Already tried that. "Tell them what?" Dante challenged. "'Sir, a Dark Lord who's supposed to be dead is drinking unicorn blood and also cursed me, all just outside the school'? They'll just tell me my memories are jumbled together because of that spell."
"We can just tell them to strengthen the protection…"
"If there was any way to make it stronger, they would've done that. That dog's probably just the beginning. Hagrid said it, didn't he…other professors helped with the protection."
"Well," Harry said firmly, "We're not doing it, Tony, end of story. Let's get some sleep."
Dante glared at them all. "I'll do it by myself, then."
"You're joking!" said Ron.
"No, but he's probably bluffing." Harry said. "No, Tony, our answer stays."
"And we don't even know if you'll survive a stab through the heart!" Hermione cut in. "All we know is what a book says!"
Dante's eyebrows disappeared into his hair. "Really, 'Mione?" he asked incredulously. "You're doubting books?"
Hermione flushed. "Well…the thing is, Tony…I can't believe you'll even think that we'll do this!"
Dante rubbed his head. "If Voldy comes back-" Ron inhaled sharply at the name, "-he'll kill you, Harry."
"That's not the point here." Harry muttered, but he did look a bit pale.
"Don't play hero." Dante hissed, frustrated.
"Play hero? I'm not the one who's trying to sacrifice himself to save the wizardry world."
"Hm." Dante fell silent, with a scowl etched on his face. But slowly, the scowl got morphed into a somewhat hesitant, if genuine, smile.
"Thanks." he said quietly. "I really wasn't looking forward to have a sword through my chest."
The others smiled, relieved. "Especially not your jumbo sized sword." Ron added.
"Hey!"
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox
Dante blinked his eyes open, and took in the darkness around him. The moonlight ray on the last bed of the dormitory suggested that it was at least midnight. At first, he didn't quite realize what had woken him. He sat up in his bed, rubbing his eyes and looking around. Contrary to popular belief, he was a very light sleeper. It might just be someone tossing in their bed.
A gasp came from inside Harry's four poster. Dante's eyes widened in realization he identified the problem: His friend was having a nightmare.
He stood up and crossed the distance between the two beds in a few strides. He parted the curtains and looked down. Harry was twitching, but his eyes were still closed. Beads of sweat covered his forehead.
Dante leaned over him and shook his shoulder. "Harry? Hey, wake up."
Harry bolted upright, and it was only Dante's quick reflexes that saved him from being head-butted. Harry stared at him with wild, haunted eyes, evidently not completely back from the land of dreaming.
"You were having a nightmare." Dante said, holding up his hands in a non-threatening posture.
Harry slumped. "Sorry I woke you." he said hoarsely, pressing a hand to his forehead and wiping at the sweat.
"Sorry's not gonna help." Dante said flippantly. Harry didn't reply, used to his friend's attitude. "Let's hear what ruined my sleep." He shoved at Harry until he moved over, and sat down with his back against a pillow. He crossed his arms and waited.
Harry looked down at the covers and didn't answer.
Dante poked his shoulder none-too-gently. Harry winced and rubbed at the spot. "Go on, tell me."
Harry chewed on his lower lip. And Dante understood.
"Voldemort and your parents?" he asked in a soft voice. Harry looked up in astonishment, clearly not expecting such a gentle tone to come from Tony Redgrave's mouth. Then he chuckled slightly.
"You know, don't you? What it feels like?"
Dante nodded simply.
"I don't remember my parents though." Harry said softly. "I only remember…a flash of green light. I saw Voldemort…it was a hooded figure, like you said…with the face of a snake. Then I heard a woman screaming…" he swallowed. Dante waited silently. "I think it was mum."
Dante clenched his fingers around the cover of the bed and tried to ignore the lump in his throat.
"And that flash of green light…and I woke up. Do you think…that's how…"
"Maybe." Dante said simply. "This happens often?"
Harry shook his head. "Just tonight."
"Makes sense. I would've heard."
Harry shifted uneasily. Dante lowered the pillow and sat up straighter. He had a feeling he knew what was coming. No doubt his friend wanted to ask him about his own childhood….but Harry didn't say anything. Instead, he lay back down under the covers.
Dante smiled, pleasantly surprised. "So…dreaming about Voldemort. Believe me, he's really ugly. Nothing to…"
"Shut up, Tony!" Harry's muffled voice came from under the pillow. Dante snickered and stood up. He climbed into his own bed, smiling to himself. And he could just see Harry's grinning face under his eyelids.
The next night, when Harry was roughly shaken awake from the clutches of his nightmare, he simply mumbled a 'thanks' and went to sleep without even noticing who it was. And if he found the covers pulled up over his shoulders when he woke in the morning, well, Tony swore it was just the wind.
1: I find it hard to believe that animals can be evil. Especially cats, or dogs. I'm pretty sure Mrs. Norris can't be the skinny evil thing Harry figures it to be.
2: Nope, not Scabbers. It would've been great if it was. Unfortunately, I don't think even Dante's strange enough to feed Ron's pet to a cat.
Until next chapter. then! In which: Dante and the gang finish off their exams, the half-demon boy takes matters into his own hands and the trio goes down the trapdoor.
Reply to unsigned review(s):
Hobbit: Thanks! I made him learn those things by himself because, well, Dante has Hermione now, so he has to learn the value of studying, right? No more coincidences(not that Harry's life isn't completely filled with lucky breaks)! Now you have more to read. Let me know your thoughts!
Crossover Junkie: Thanks for the compliments! You encouraged me a lot. Your surroundings sound perfect, too! Keep reading.
Leave a review, please! I love feedbacks, obviously.
