Hey guys sorry I didn't update a few days ago. My account was down for some reason. So here's the next chapter. I've almost written the entire story out on my computer so hopefully I should put it all online in about two weeks at least. So here's the next chapter, things are really getting intense for Al. Hope you enjoy. It'll all make sense soon. Please review. Each one makes my day even brighter. The next chapter will be along shortly. :)

The dream

Over the past few weeks, since the fight with Hunter and the other Gryffindors, things had improved slightly for Albus. Some of the Slytherins looked to him with respect, impressed that he had taken on five Gryffindors. Harrison was chatting to him a lot more, and even sat next to him at meals. Duke had given him tips in Transfiguration, which was his weakest subject, and Bellatrix… well… there wasn't much change there, or with Goyle and Burns. But still, things were looking up for Albus. But… as the storm raged around the castle, the billowing winds making the dungeons feel like ice…Al was in his four poster, clutching the stone… and that was when the voice started… that was when his nightmare began.

Al twisted and turned in his sleep. But he couldn't wake up. He was alone. Alone in the storm. He was on a cliff face, dangling from a twisted root. A dark shadow, with bright yellow eyes struck him in the face. He screamed as he fell… down and down into a dark abyss. He was then in a dark cavern-like room. He was trapped by some sort of stone gargoyle. He could see a twisted face, laughing like a hyena… laughing at his pain.

"You are mine, boy." The voice hissed, he felt a stabbing pain in his chest. He screamed…

Al woke with a start. Sweat beaded his forehead and his heart was racing. He then froze as he could hear a dark chuckle in the back of his mind. He hissed in pain as something burned on his skin on his hand. After a minute of intense pain, it stopped. There, on the palm of his hand, were three dark marks in a circle. They looked like tear drops, like the ones on his cheeks. Al brushed the tears away, snivelling quietly. He stopped as he heard noises, thinking it was Goyle he held his breathe. Harrison pulled his curtains away and looked at Albus with concern.

"Are you okay?" He whispered. "You sounded like you were in pain."

Al shook his head, fighting the tears that threatened to spill. "I'm fine." He muttered. Harrison frowned at the Potter boy.

"I just wanted you to know, Potter." Harrison said, "I want to be friends… if that's okay… I mean officially…"

Al smiled, offering his unmarked hand. Harrison, no, Greg shook it. "Thanks Greg."

Gregory's face brightened. "Don't mention it, Al."

Greg quietly went to his own bed, careful not to disturb the others, and fell into a quick sleep. Al, meanwhile, was still shaking from his ordeal. Please let it be a nightmare. I'm going to wake up tomorrow, and all will be fine.

After a moment's silence, a voice crept into his mind like an unwanted virus.

"You know that's a lie, my boy."

Al whimpered. He should tell his father about this… he should tell Neville…but he knew that deep down… he couldn't…

Since his nightmares had begun, Al had been getting very little sleep. However, tiredness always prevailed, and during each night, the nightmares got worse. Much worse. A couple nights ago he had been drowning, drowning in an ocean of dark water. He could feel the water in his lungs, as though he was actually drowning, a ladder was a few metres away, but try as he did, he couldn't reach it. Another time faces were laughing at him as he was being torn to shreds… but these weren't just ordinary faces… they were of his family… his parents, Rose and Scorpius. Each time he had a nightmare he felt more emotionally drained. Each time he had one his thoughts became darker. Each time he had one he felt his control slipping, he felt like a different person. He wanted to hurt things. He wanted to destroy things. He wanted control. Only the new day brought his old light back, but it was slowly going out. And when the dark voice spoke to him, coaxing him… he couldn't help but listen. At first he had tried to ignore it… but he couldn't… it was too strong… he was too weak… he was, after all, the youngest Potter, an outcast, a disappointment, a nobody.

A few months later it was early November. Winter was certainly coming. There was a crisp chill in the air and the Womping Willow had shed its leaves like a lizard sheds its skin. There was a buzz amongst the students. Harry Potter was coming to Hogwarts. He was going to teach them!

Al was tired. Nightmares were plaguing him over the past few months. Every time he hang around Rose and Scorpius he felt like telling him, but every time he was about to… something stopped him.

It was Tuesday morning, and the three of them were in potions class. The dungeons were cold and gloomy, but Professor Finch had lit lamps which emitted powerful light and heat, all over the ceiling. It almost looked like Christmas decorations.

Al, like Scorpius, were dreading the holidays. Since fight at school, Al's family hadn't sent him any more hate mail. He had received some letters from his parents, but apart from that, nothing. Scorpius hadn't received anything.

"So my dears." Professor Finch said, smiling. "Who will be going to the duelling club this afternoon?"

All of the Gryffindors raised their hands, Al raised his hand, along with Gregory and a few other Slytherins.

"Excellent." Professor Finch sighed. "I've met Mister Potter on many occasions, I used to work for the ministry you see." He explained quickly. Most of the Gryffindors gazed at him in wonder.

"Now. As you have been an excellent class this term." Professor Finch said. "We have covered all of the practical side of potions, now, unfortunately exams will be just around the corner when you come back after Christmas. Easter will fly by and before you know it, your end of year exams will be upon you."

Most of the class groaned, all except Rose, who looked excited.

Professor Finch clapped his hands. "So, I have devised a timetable for you all for next term. I know we still have a few weeks to go of this term, but I think you should all be prepared."

He went around the class, handing out his revision timetable, when Rose got hers she beamed.

"Sir." She said. "Are we going to be starting our theory, because, I've read up about it."

"Certainly Miss Granger-Weasley." Professor Finch said. "Now could you please copy these notes."

They spent the rest of the lesson copying down notes and watching Professor Finch prepare a Wolfspane potion.

After his demonstration Professor Finch then asked.

"Do we all know what wolfspane is used for? I hope you were paying attention in our first lesson a few months ago."

Rose, of course, shot her hand into the air. All year she had been desperate to gain Professor Finch's attention. Al, not wanting to be on her bad side, had let her answer most of the questions, although the glares from his fellow Slytherins, had forced him to answer one or two.

"Miss Granger-Weasley." Professor Finch said kindly.

Rose smiled. "Wolfspane is a potion used to make werewolves conscious when they transform, so they think like a human, but they are in their own form."

"Correct." Professor Finch smiled. "Five points to Gryffindor."

Rose looked incredibly pleased with herself as her housemates clapped.

"Alright. Please could you write a three feet long piece of parchment on the properties of Wolfspane, its effects and its use in the Wizarding world and why it's so important in medicine."

The class groaned. Recently Professor Finch had been assigning them more and more homework. Al and Rose didn't mind, Al particularly enjoyed writing Potions essays, Scorpius, however, grumbled as they left the classroom.

"Really?" Scorpius huffed. "Three feet!"

"Be thankful it's not five feet like McGonagall's essay." Al said.

"Are they trying to kill us with homework, because if they are, it's working!" Scorpius exclaimed. Rose and Al snickered.

"Come on Scorp." Rose said. "You are coming to the duelling club this afternoon, right? Both of you?"

Scorpius shrugged, he still didn't particularly like Harry Potter, but for Al's sake, he accepted him.

Al, meanwhile, looked slightly scared, but then recovered quickly. Rose frowned.

"Al are you ok?" Rose asked Al.

"Yeah, yeah." Al muttered. "I'm fine." Al itched his right palm, Scorpius didn't notice, but Rose did.

"Al, if something was bothering you, you'd tell me right?" Rose said, staring into her cousins eyes. They looked… haunted…

Al nodded. Scorpius had been spying on James and his gang when he ran over to the cousins and put his hands on their backs.

"Come on guys." Scorpius said. "Let's go to the library."

"Scorp, what?" Rose said, "Weren't you just moaning about the amount of homework."

"Yeah… but let's go…" Scorpius glanced back and saw about ten Gryffindors, led by James Potter, coming from around the corner of the pillars. Al noticed his gaze, and gulped.

"Yep, library sounds good."

"That's it mate!" Scorpius and Al rushed down the corridor, leaving Rose bemused. She then jumped when her elder cousins voice spoke from behind her.

"So where are my brother and the ferret off to?" James said, smirking at his little cousin, who turned as red as her hair.

"None of your business James Potter." Rose snapped. "I don't know what's got into you, you are not the same person I knew last year. You've become a bully. Al's still your brother."

"He's a snake!" James insisted, but Rose could see guilt in his eyes, she knew James didn't mean it, but she saw the other Gryffindors, who were smirking, it was them!

"Stop being a coward James!" She cried. "Al's hurting. He's changed, he's become distant and something's off, and until you apologise I don't think he'll ever go back to his old self!" With that she turned on her heals and stormed after her friends. James' shoulders slumped, he glanced at Fred, who also looked a bit guilty. James laughed it off with his friends, but deep inside he knew he was behaving badly, he'd make it up to Al, he'd find out what was going on.

Al, meanwhile, was in the library with Scorpius. His hand had been burning for quite some time. He was used to the pain, but that still didn't mean he could stop itching it. He'd tried everything. Everything he could think of to remove it. But he couldn't. It was like a permanent tattoo. Scorpius leaned back in his chair.

"Wonder what your dad'll teach us this afternoon. The whole school will probably show up."

"All except Slytherin." Al said, rubbing his arms as though he were cold.

"Hey, you okay Al, you've been acting funny." Scorpius said.

"Mmm?" Al said. "Oh, I'm just…" he needed to find an excuse, something… "I'm just worried about going home next month." He sighed as Scorpius seemed to buy it. He nodded in agreement.

"Me too. Although I doubt I'm allowed home… could I…" Scorpius sighed, Al raised an eyebrow.

"Are you, Scorpius Malfoy, asking to stay with me by any chance?" Al said.

Scorpius gritted his teeth. "Last time I'll ever say it. Don't repeat it."

Al laughed. "Yeah yeah, sure. My dad won't mind, although, we do go to the Burrow for Christmas."

Scorpius scowled. "I'll just stay at your house then, I won't be any bother."

Al sobered, in all serious, that was probably for best. "I'll stay with you, I doubt my grandparents want to see me anyway, and don't get me started on Uncle Ron."

Scorpius smirked. "Thanks Al."

"There you two are!"

Al jumped, Scorpius sighed.

"Rose." He said, "You were supposed to…"

"What go off somewhere else, you two are my friends in case you haven't noticed. Come on Scorp, we need to get to our Flying lesson with the Hufflepuffs."

"More like Mufflepuffs because they are so irrelevant." Scorpius sniggered to Al, who shrugged his shoulders.

"You can't joke to save your life, Malfoy, come on!" Rose pulled him from the library and Al sent Scorp a sympathetic look and the two ran off to their lesson.

Will James change... well read and review and see :) It is a bit short, but don't worry the next chapter will be longer, especially if you review. Thanks guys. Seriously, each one makes my day! :) Hey guys, just updating this chapter a bit, I forgot to add the rest of the scene yesterday. Will update the next chapter soon. Please read and review!