Disclaimer: I am not J.K. Rowling. This story is merely my way of saluting her. I do not own any of these characters; I just manipulate their thoughts. I also want to give props to Beren and Mijan for inspiring my stories.
-x-
March rolled in, bringing balmy days and frigid nights. Lessons were drawing to a close by the end of the month, and reviews were beginning. OWLs and NEWTs would be starting in June and Hermione took it upon herself to make sure the Gryffindors were going to be prepared. Even breakfast at the Great Hall didn't ensure the students any reprieve from Hermione. The Gryffindors were grumbling into their eggs as Hermione handed them their study schedule and review notes that morning.
"You really need to get a handle on that girl of yours, Ron," Seamus said despondently, his chin resting on his palm.
"I know," Ron groaned when he looked at his schedule. "How am I supposed to concentrate for two hours on bloody history?"
Harry looked at his ridiculously meticulous review timetable. "Well, she's certainly spent a lot of time putting us into study groups, hasn't she? Look Ron, we aren't even allowed to study together! I suppose it's for the best, considering I never get anything done while you're around," Harry noted. That comment earned him a kick in the shin.
That's when he felt the slight pain in his forehead. He frowned, touching his lightning scar cautiously. It hadn't burned since last summer, but now the headache was rapidly turning into a stabbing sensation.
Harry's heart started pumping. He knew what was about to happen. He opened his mouth to warn his friends, but all that came out was a moan. His mind shut down as he heard the roaring in his ears from the pain. He struggled out of his bench but he couldn't keep his legs upright. He crumpled onto the floor. The last thing he saw were feet rushing towards him.
-x-
Voldemort was ecstatic. His army was complete. He'd successfully managed to round up the werewolves, giants, trolls, and Dementors. He had made carefully constructed plans. He even had Death Eaters inside Hogwarts. Voldemort knew that it would only be a matter of time before he was able to conquer Albus Dumbledore and get to Harry Potter. I will finish what I have started.
Nagini wrapped herself around Voldemort's chair, staring at the gathered Death Eaters hungrily. Voldemort's followers were kneeling on the ground, their heads bowed respectfully. Lucius Malfoy was kneeling beside Voldemort's feet, eyeing the snake wearily. Voldemort roughly grabbed Malfoy's hand and pulled up his sleeve, stabbing his wand into the Death Mark. Lucius hissed with pain and the mark glowed black.
"Our time has come. We will, once again, rule the lands!"
-x-
Harry wrenched himself out of Voldemort's mind, his head steaming with hate and anger. "Draco," he breathed, scrambling up off the floor and rushing past the stunned Gryffindors. He stumbled blindly into Dumbledore, who had gotten up off his seat the Staff's table when he saw the commotion at the Gryffindor end of the hall. Harry's eyes were wild with fear.
"Voldemort – He's coming. And Draco –" he gasped, his eyes stinging with tears. Draco. Harry turned to search the Slytherin table.
Draco had seen Harry's eyes grow wide with pain. He had seen Harry stumble out of his bench and fall to the floor. Draco held in his gasp as he watched the scene unfold with horror. He had to use all his power to stay still when Harry was on the floor, writhing in pain. The Great Hall was hushed when they heard Harry's shouts. As abruptly as he'd started shouting, he stopped.
"Out time has come. We will, once again, rule the lands!" Harry said, in an unnaturally calm and calculating tone. The Great Hall echoed with Harry's voice.
Draco's arm burned slightly. He watched Harry scramble up and run smack into Professor Dumbledore. He watched them converse, but couldn't make out the words. Blaise frowned at him and Draco shrugged nervously. Harry looked towards the Slytherin table, searching wildly for Draco.
"Ah, fuck!" Draco yelped, wrenching his arm towards his body. It felt like someone had stabbed him. The pain was growing intensely and Draco realized that he was finally being summoned.
"Draco, are you alright?" Theo asked when he saw Draco looking back at Harry fearfully. "Is he doing something to you?"
"I – no. I have to go," Draco mumbled, getting up. Blaise grabbed his wrist, stopping him.
"Draco, what's wrong?" he asked quietly.
Harry felt Draco's mind weakening with pain. The longer he resisted, the weaker he got. Harry looked at Dumbledore, pleading for help. Professor Snape had slipped out of his seat and was walking deliberately towards the Slytherins.
"We have to do something. We can't just let him go," Harry whispered through his emotions, tears falling from his eyes.
"Harry, when Voldemort summons, he uses his most powerful magic to ensure his followers are loyal. We have no choice," Dumbledore replied in a tired voice. His eyes were dull and his body was slumped slightly.
Harry watched Blaise trying to stop Draco, asking him what was wrong. The Great Hall was bustling with agitation and low murmurs of speculation. Harry felt Draco's anger and fear bursting through his mind, and he knew that Draco wouldn't be able to control his emotions for much longer.
Snape pulled up against Draco's stiff body. "Mr. Zabini, I must ask you to let go of Mr. Malfoy. It appears he is not feeling well. I will escort him to Madame Pomfrey," he said in his smooth, low tone.
Blaise opened his mouth to retort, but when he looked at Draco's pained face, he let go of Draco's wrist. "Alright, but I'm coming with you," he said, stepping over the bench.
"No, Blaise, stay," Draco gasped. The pain was growing inside him, filling his head with red. He latched onto Snape, digging his fingers into Snape's arm.
"There is nothing more you can do, Harry. Please return to your seat and I will have to make a formal announcement to the rest of the students and staff," Dumbledore said, turning around and walking to the podium in front of the staff table.
Harry stared after Dumbledore. Why isn't anyone stopping him? He whipped around to see Professor Snape escorting a very pale looking Draco towards the doors. Ron and Hermione were watching Draco go as well, shifting in their seats. Harry was despondently walking back to his seat when he heard a faint knocking. He looked around, perturbed.
"Harry, did you – is he – You-Know-Who is coming, isn't he?" Seamus asked quietly. The rest of Gryffindor was silent when they saw Harry nod.
"When? Here?" Colin asked, his face turning green.
"I don't know wh-" Harry heard the knocking again. He frowned at Ron. Ron frowned back.
"You alright, Harry?"
"Did you just hear –" Harry started saying before his heart jumped to his throat. Draco. Harry threw open the door in his mind, hoping against hope that Draco was outside.
'Harry, I don't want to go,' Draco's consciousness said, pulling Harry into a rough hug.
'I know,' Harry said.
'Help me,' Draco insisted, kissing Harry softly on the lips.
"Harry, what's wrong?" Dean was shaking Harry's arm. Harry looked blindly at his friend.
"I have to help him," Harry croaked. He stumbled out of his seat and sprinted across the Great Hall. Snape looked up in shock as Harry raced towards Draco. He put himself in front of the trembling boy.
"Mr. Potter, what do you think you're doing?" he asked, his voice echoing in the quiet hall. All eyes were on them, but Harry didn't care. He pushed Snape away and placed his hands on Draco's shoulders. Draco looked at him with pained eyes, pleading with Harry.
"I'm so scared," Draco whispered shakily.
Harry felt as though his heart had been wrenched from his body. He groaned and drew Draco into a helpless kiss. Draco's tears fell on Harry's lips, causing him to hold Draco protectively. Harry felt his magic pulsing through him. His wings ripped out of his school robes and clenched around Draco, hiding him from everyone.
Draco felt slight relief as Harry held him without inhibition. He felt Harry's soft feathers curling around him. Draco tried to bury himself into Harry, wanting to escape. But the pain was becoming unbearable. He pulled his lips away from Harry's, gritting his teeth. Harry couldn't feel any of Draco's pain because Draco's mind was stubbornly closed. He knew Draco was trying to protect him the same way he was trying to protect Draco.
"It's okay to be scared, Draco. I am too," Harry said, kissing Draco's clammy hand. "I just want you to know that – I will fight for you and I love you."
Draco nodded silently, tears streaming down his face.
"You have to fight for us too, Draco. You have to fight against Voldemort's darkness. He can be very – persuasive. I know. But I also know that you are strong, Draco. I will destroy Voldemort before he can do anything to you. I said I'd never let you leave. You believe me, don't you?" Harry asked, looking into Draco's steely eyes.
"Yes," Draco breathed. "I have to go, Harry. If I don't, I don't know what – I don't want to lose control. I want to go on my own accord. Not because he wants me to go. It already feels like I am under the Imperius Curse. I don't want to blindly obey the filthy Dark magic in me. I love you, and I'm coming back," he finished strongly, wanting to believe every word he said.
Harry gulped down his tears and nodded. They kissed briefly, memorizing each other's lips. They gazed into each other's faces for a moment, embedding it into their minds. Harry pulled back his wings slowly, letting go of Draco. Draco felt a little stronger now and his mind was becoming clearer. He took a deep breath before walking out of the Great Hall, followed closely by Professor Snape's sweeping steps.
Harry retracted his wings, watching the doors shut in front of him. He had the presence of mind to calm the room with his thoughts. The almost hysterical noises in the hall quieted down to a low buzz. Harry took a moment to collect his thoughts before he turned around and walked back to his table. All eyes were still on Harry and his pale face.
Harry felt his scar burn again. This time he was prepared. He steeled himself and closed his eyes, frozen on the spot. He let the pain wash over him, supporting himself using his wild magic. His mind went blank as it shifted into Voldemort's.
"Harry! What's wrong?" Ginny asked, rushing towards Harry's still, pained figure. He didn't answer.
"Ron!" Ginny hissed, snapping Ron out of his shock. He scrambled out of his seat and ran towards Harry. He put his hands on Harry's shoulders, gently shaking him.
"Hey, Harry, what's wrong?"
"I'm trying to see," Harry murmured, his face screwed into a mask of pain and concentration.
Ron hastily withdrew his hands, watching Harry move into Voldemort's mind. The other students were starting to move towards the Gryffindors, trying to make out what was happening with Harry.
Professor Dumbledore waded through the sea of students, moving towards Harry. The heads of houses quickly followed, trying to calm the agitated crowd. As soon as Dumbledore stopped in front of the boy, Harry opened his eyes slowly. He looked solemnly at the Headmaster.
"He'll be here tomorrow."
-x-
