The Darkness that Dreams Are Made Of

Sing Me A Lullaby

"Password?" The fat lady asked.

"mischief" Harry said smiling contentedly.

"Your friends will be pissed when they find out you told a Slytherin the password." Draco said softly.

"No more than when they find out you're staying here for a while." Harry said looking at Draco, squeezing his hand reassuringly and tugging him through the tunnel.

"I'm staying for a while?" Draco asked, shocked pausing before the entrance of the common, causing his belongings to bump him in the behind.

He stumbled forward Harry catching him before he could fall.

"Your mine now, where else would you stay?" Harry murmured.

Draco sighed and shrugged lightly.

"Come on then."

They slipped into the Gryffindor common, Draco holding back and staying behind Harry, gripping the back of his robe.

Ron was sitting on the couch in front of the fire, Hermione in a chair farther away, staring into the fire as if it was consuming her from within. Harry stepped forward cautiously, his stance set defensively but open.

"I'm back."

Ron's head shot around to look at first Harry and then, Draco, "You brought him."

"Was I not supposed to?" Harry asked jokingly.

"He might still be one of them, he is a Slytherin. Sorted there the first day, the hat bearly touched his head before screaming out Slytherin."

"They kicked me out," Draco looked downcast and ashamed, he stared at his feet rather than meet Ron's eyes, "I never wanted to be a Slytherin to begin with."

"Fuck that! You're practically the fucking Slytherin leader!"

Draco chewed his bottom lip absently, looking up catiously, "I suppose you wouldn't have also gone into Slytherin if you life had been the payment for failure."

Hermione looked over suddenly, her interests perked by the topic they discused, "You are saying that you had to go into the Slytherin house or you would be killed? I find that highly improbable."

"I don't think you understand." Draco turned away from their gazes and stared dejectedly into the fire.

"So then," Hermione persisted, "if you were forced into joining why were you so cruel to the Gryffindors? Ron most exclusively, to be specific."

"That is a from a long time ago. I have my reasons for hating him, that should be enough."

"Your own reasons! What the fuck does that mean!? If you weren't using Harry's kindness to your own benefit I'dve killed you long ago!"

Harry's look darkened drastically, "Don't, don't even say it Ron. I find my loyaltys waining with you. Do not threaten him or I may be tempted to hurt you." Harry suddenly shook his head and ran his fingers through his hair. The dark look disappeared and was replaced by the easy going carefree look that Harry showed to most everyone to keep them from seeing his crumbling, broken down interior. "Look, it's late. I'm just going to go to bed, alright?"

Ron nodded as Harry made his way up the stairs to his bed. The others were already asleep as Harry slipped through the darkened room, pulling Draco behind him. He stopped in front of his bed and deposited Draco's trunk beside his own. He dropped his robes and most of his outer clothing onto the floor. Draco followed suit, although more slowly and nervously.

Pulling back the curtains Harry slid into bed, moving to the other side. He held the covers open to Draco. Draco didn't move.

"Trust me, Draco. Please. I won't touch you, I promise."

Draco nodded and carfully climbed in next to Harry. Harry pulled the curtains closed and tied them off. For a while Draco lay there motionless, then he sighed softly and scooted back until he was pressing into Harry's chest. Harry molded into Draco and wrapped his arms around Draco's middle.

They lay there, both pretending to be asleep, neither moving for fear of waking the other. They drew in each other's scent and feel, they memorized the others breathing patterens and the feel of the body pressed against their own.

For even as their feelings grew for one another, there was also the fear that it was truly such a dream so perfect that only when you never want to wake, that you would. Because in truth, where would you ever find a love like this? So improbable that the world refuses to accept it and so simple and pure that never its like had been seen before. Then who was to say it was real?

Finally they drifted into an uneasy sleep.