Warning: This chapter contains depictions of physical abuse. If this bothers you in anyway, then don't read!

Chapter 25- What Dreams May Come

Disclaimer: the following quote is from Shakespeare's play Hamlet. (To be or not to be soliloquy). I do not own the rights to this quote, and seek to gain nothing by using it in this story. This is was one my inspirations for this story.

To sleep? perchance to dream! Ay, there's the rub;
For in that sleep of death what dreams may come,
When we have shuffl'd off this mortal coil,

Draco opened his eyes slowly as if he was waking from an endless sleep. At first he was completely unaware of where he was or how he had even got there. In his foggy like mind, he could not even remember what day it was.

Realizing that he was lying on a cold stone floor curled into a tight ball, he began to lift his head from where it had laid on his arms. He sat up slowly, not comprehending where he was.  It appeared as if he was in a cell of some kind. One wall was lined with bars, while the other three walls were made of stone. There was no window in the dungeon like cell.  Only one small torch in the hallway outside of the chamber dimly illuminated the small room.

There was nothing else in the room beside Draco. There was no cot, or sink, or toilet; only the small pale boy sitting in the middle of the cell. In the distance Draco could here droplets of water falling to the ground. With each impending drop, he shivered from the cold and drew in his knees against his chest and wrapped his arms around them. He had never felt so cold and alone in all of his life.

His brain finally began to grasp at the idea that he had been imprisoned. But how and by whom? He could feel his chest tighten with panic as he began to fully comprehend his dangerous situation.  Why was he being held like this? Had he done something wrong?

His first instinct was to shout for help, but he decided that was bad idea. What if he alerted his captors of his presence, and they did something awful to him. He decided he would wait and see what happened instead. Remembering that he was a wizard, he searched his clothing for his beloved wand, but came up empty handed. How would he defend himself without his wand?

He glanced around once again in hopes of discovering something that would aid him if the was forced to defend himself. What he saw instead filled him with dread like no other. There was a large stain in one corner of the room. It was difficult to make out in the dim light, but Draco knew with certainty what had caused that stain. Blood, and a lot of blood at that.  Someone had been seriously injured, if not killed in this cell. Draco quickly looked down at his own body to make sure that it wasn't from him.

He felt somewhat sore, and found that he had a variety of bruises over his entire body, but he found no traces of a wound that was bleeding. He was relieved that the blood hadn't come from him, but how had he gotten all those bruises? Who had hit him? And why was he here?

He didn't have to wait long to find out the answer. He heard what sounded like a heavy metal door scrape across the stone dungeon floor. He stood up from his position on the floor and waited. His body tense with anxiousness.

A tall blond man entered the dimly lit hallway. Lucius Malfoy had appeared before Draco, looking as smug as ever. His long platinum blond haired shimmered in the light given off by the torch on the wall. He looked absolutely regal in his elegant dark robes. Draco looked up at him in awe.

Draco felt somewhat relieved to see his father, and jumped to his feet. He crossed the cell quickly, and grasped the bars with his hands.

"Father!"

"Step away, Draco, so that I may enter," ordered Lucius.

He nodded and backed up.  Lucius used his wand to unlock the door and entered the cell. Draco slowly came to the understanding that he was in the dungeons below his very own house, Malfoy Manor. It was his own father that had imprisoned him here in this god forsaken cell.

"Have you finally learned your lesson?" his father asked. Draco was having trouble understanding what was going on, and began to shake his head in confusion.

"I am sorry father, but I don't know what you are talking about. I don't remember anything!" Draco replied quickly.

He felt himself smacked roughly across the face. "Do I need to remind you?" he asked furiously.

"I am s...sorry father. I don't understand what has happened," Draco muttered as he began to tremble. He no longer felt happy to see his father. Had he somehow forgotten what a monster this man could be?

"Sorry? Oh, you will be sorry when I get through with you. We were supposed to have a nice Christmas dinner as a family, but instead I am here dealing with you!" He slapped him again roughly against his face.

Christmas? Am I home on holiday? What was going on?

"What did I do?" asked Draco.

"I can't believe you are speaking to me this way! You know very well what you did! Or rather what you failed to do," Lucius grabbed his son by the shirt collar and threw him against the stone wall. Draco could feel the stones jutting into his back painfully, but he knew better than to cry out.

"I gave you a simple command. Find a way to have Potter expelled, and you landed yourself in detention instead!" his father yelled angrily as spittle flew at his son's face.

"What?" asked Draco. He had no idea what his father was talking about.

"My patience grows thin, Draco. You caught the Potter boy and his friends out of their dorm after hours, and you reported them to their head of house. But you stupidly forgot that you were out after hours as well." Lucius threw his son against the wall again, knocking his head against the stony surface.

Was his father talking about what happened in his first year? Was he still a first year student? Draco was really confused.

"I'm sorry father. I will try harder to please you next time," pleaded Draco.

"You had better. I expect you to act like a Malfoy, and Malfoy's do not receive detention. And another thing, what is this I hear about that mudblood Gryffindor doing better than you in all of your classes?"

"You mean Granger? She is really smart, and I am trying really hard," he complained.

"I don't care what the mudblood's name is. You are going to have to try even harder my son. I will not accept second best from any member of my family."

"But…"

"Do you dare question me?" Lucius asked viciously.

"But… why do you want me to get Potter expelled….why do I have to be the best at everything?" he asked boldly.

"If Potter is away from the safety of Hogwarts, it will be much easier to capture him for the Dark Lord. I have heard that he will be returning to us soon, and we need to prove our loyalty to him. Now, you will do what I say, and when I say it. You will follow in my footsteps!  I am trying to shape you into something worthy, and yet you defy me every step of he way!"

"But I don't want to be like you…" Draco suddenly realized somewhere in the back of his mind that something was very wrong about this situation.

"How dare you!" screamed Lucius, his eyes full of rage. Draco felt the first blow to this stomach. He crumpled forward, falling away from the wall and hitting the floor. His father continued to kick him repeatedly. He felt his body begin break as it was kicked and beaten into the wall.

"You should be grateful that you are a Malfoy and not some pathetic Weasley! I will be back to deal with you later. Think about your position in this family before you decide to ever defy me again." Lucius stalked out of the cell slamming the barred door behind. Draco could hear his father's heavy boots ascending the dungeon's steps.

Draco lay on the cold floor numbly. His entire body was screaming in pain from his latest beating. He was sure that he had several broken bones, and he felt the familiar taste of blood in the back of his throat. What had just happened? Why was his father referring to an incident that happened almost five years ago? Something inside of Draco snapped.

This can't be real! I know that I am no longer a first year!

He began to think about the things his father was saying, and realized that everything his father had said was somehow vaguely familiar. Like Déjà vu.  Had he relived some awful experience from his past? But why? Was this a dream? Was he even alive?

He wanted to leave so badly. But there was no escape; he knew the cell all to well. His father had fortified it with magical charms so that no one would be able to escape its confines. He grew agitated with frustration. What was he going to do?

This just didn't feel right. He knew deep down that no longer loved his father, and he certainly didn't take orders from him anymore. What was going on? He had the distinct impression that he had betrayed his father in the past.

He laid there for a very long time, feeling sorry for himself, and frantically trying to figure out what had happened. He thought about the comment that his father had said before he left Draco. "You should be grateful that you are a Malfoy and not some pathetic Weasley!"

Something inside him, told Draco that he had envied the Weasleys for some reason. Somewhere along the line he had changed his thinking about that family. Why? What was it that caused him to think differently from his father?

Then with sudden clarity, he remembered it all: the fight with his father, going to the Weasleys, finding out about Harry, falling in love, attending the masquerade ball, stunning his father, and finally using the soul mate spell.

That was why he was here! This wasn't real; this was some kind of limbo. Draco jumped up; ignoring is numerous injuries as he realized the seriousness of his situation. How was he going to get out of this hell hole?

He began to search the cell thoroughly, but he wasn't sure what he was looking for. He hated being here, but he couldn't figure out how he was going to leave. His mind began to race as he tried to figure out how to get out of there.

This can't be real. I don't want to be here! I ran way from my father long ago and I do not intend to return. I refuse to allow him to control me like Voldemort controls him. I would rather die than to follow his footsteps.

But I don't want to really die either; I want my life back! I want to live!

Before he knew what was happening, the dungeon walls seem to melt away.  The bars and stone work surrounding him slid to the floor like viscous black liquid. Looking up he noticed that he was staring at a beautiful blue sky. How could that be when the dungeons were below the several floors of the manor? Amazingly, the thick syrup like substance began to pool around his feet and finally seeped into the ground disappearing completely.  He was no longer in the cold family dungeon, but on a hot tropical island.

Draco was now standing on the shores of a beautiful white sand beach.  Looking around he discovered that he was on an island, much like the one his family had visited in the Caribbean when he was a young child. Draco had always thought that it was heaven on earth. He loved the sound of the crashing waves and the cries the gulls overhead. He would run among the palm trees all over the resort looking for treasures.  Only there wasn't a resort to be found on this small island, only a small building on the northern shore.

Draco ran a hand through his blond hair staring at the wonder around him in awe. The ocean was more beautiful than he had remembered. He longed to swim within the aqua blue waters, but felt that he had figure out his current situation first. He stretched his body out as the sun warmed his skin. He felt very much alive.

Thankfully, he was no longer in pain.  In fact, there wasn't a single blemish on his tanned skin. His injuries had somehow vanished completely. He pondered how he had gotten here as he walked towards the hut. Was it magic? Did this all have to do with the spell he used? Somehow he knew that this island must somehow be another illusion.  He hoped that he would find someone who could help him.  Nothing was making any sense anymore.

He picked up a few seashells and some interesting rocks on his way. These were the treasures that he so hungrily searched for as a kid. Their natural beauty appealed to his child like mind. They were so different from the oppressive and lavish things his father collected in their Manor.

Upon reaching the hut, he realized that it was unoccupied. He took the opportunity to look around. There seemed to be everything someone would need to live comfortably on an island. There was a small table and chairs in the center of the room, and a large hammock hanging in the corner. He found fishing poles, nets, a knife, and hooks hanging by the door. There were also several large containers for storing food and water, and a wood burning stove. There was even a bookshelf full of interesting books to read.  A small freshwater river ran through the island from an inland lake and past the hut only 20 yards away. 

He sat down at the small table and contemplated why he was here. He almost wished that he could stay here forever. There was everything that he needed to make a life here on this small island. Everything, but his Harry. Why was he here? Was this heaven?

I want Harry. Where is my Harry?

He desperately tried to think about what his godfather had said about using the soul mate spell. Something about having to come to terms with his past. His soul must have created these worlds in order for him to accept what has happened to him and choose to live.  Draco was sure that he had already done that because he was no longer in that awful dungeon. He accepted what he used to be, and had already decided to rise above it. He had learned to love, and had found happiness when he was sent the Weasleys.

Then why was he still here, and not in his true body. Was there something left that he still had to do? He racked his brain thinking of the possibilities, and came to the only conclusion that he could think of. He must still be here in this dreamlike world because of something to do with Harry. He had cast the spell on both of them; would Harry be affected in the same manner? Was he reliving some awful memory too? Maybe Harry was having difficulty fighting his own demons.

His heart began to beat madly with worry. He had to find his true love and help him in anyway he could. Draco didn't think he would ever be able to exist again without Harry by his side. He loved him more than life itself.

Draco jumped up with realization. He had to get to Harry fast, before it was too late. But how was he going to get out of here?  Severus said something about them only having twenty four hours to return to their bodies. How much time had already passed?

He stepped outside the hut and looked up and down the shore. There weren't any boats that he could use, and no one was in sight. He scanned the sea and the sky for signs of life, but to no avail. He was all alone on this tiny island. He grew more and more frustrated at his plight, and fell back into the sand sobbing with grief.

"Harry!" he shouted with all his might. Draco felt a pull on his solar plexus and he was catapulted forward. The tropical island disappeared, and he could see a blinding white light surrounding him completely. He felt as if he was being pulled into some unknown direction. Strangely enough, he didn't feel the least bit scared about the oddness of what was happening to him. All he knew was that he had to get to Harry, and fast.

The light stopped almost as soon as it began, and Draco soon found himself in complete darkness. He again found himself in a situation in which he had no idea where he was. He became aware that he was sitting on the floor with his knees drawn up to his chest. His back was against what appeared to be a wall. He was afraid to move in the impending darkness, for fear that he may fall or something.  As his eyes adjusted to the gloom, he realized that he must be in a very tiny room. He could just make out some light coming from beneath what appeared to be a doorway.

He heard someone softly breathing somewhere close to him. If this person intended to harm him, he or she would have already done so. His eyes peered through the blackness, and he began to make out a very small form huddled on a cot that was next to Draco.  It appeared to be a small boy and he was sitting absolutely still in fear.

"Hello?" asked Draco, wondering who this tiny child could be. "I won't hurt you…."

"Who awe you?" asked the boy leaning forward. His voice sounded really young. From the boy's new position Draco could see a mess of black hair and a pair of rimmed glasses on the boy's pale face in the dim light.

"Harry?" Draco asked. "Is that you? Are you okay?"

A/N: Sorry about the cliffie, but the next chapter will be in Harry's POV, so surely that will make up for it. It is also my longest chapter yet! The whole tropical island thing is also loosely based on the movie What Dreams May Come.  In the movie, each person creates their own heaven when they die, and I really liked that idea. Of course, Draco really isn't heaven, only limbo.  This is not intended be religious in any sense, only spiritual, so I apologize if I have offend anyone's belief system. Also, it is not necessary to my plot to have the characters relive everything awful thing that has ever happened to them, in case you are wondering. They only have to relive enough for them to choose to live despite the hardships.

Many thanks to all my reviewers!

sleepyspeller- Harry can't go bye-bye, NO! don't talk that way. Okay JK, thanks for the review.

ShaeLynn- what did you think of this chapter. Did it sound believable that Draco would be able to find Harry like Neville said?

Meluzine- you know, you are right about Draco being a bad boy, and unfortunately the scenes I wrote for his POV were necessary to the story, but didn't show that side of him.  I hoped that the chocolate thing with the slytherins would help his personality a little. If I do a sequel, I am going to consider making him a little less "sweet" as you said.

emerald girl- did you like this chapter? Angst rules! Thanks for the review.

shoushi kuro- snape does seem to be hero-ish, is that good or bad? I know he is a little ooc, but I hope he has retained some of his brooding qualities.

ReflectionsOfReality- I took the prophesy to mean that they would have to kill one or the other in a conflict, but I don't think that applies to either one dying in general. I hardly think Harry would survive if he was crushed by a mack truck just because it wasn't sent by Voldemort. Although I do admire your peanut butter theory, very interesting.

Berkeley Halperin- yes, I know about the Quidditch thing now, but I wasn't aware that Ginny was interested in being a chaser. I still feel Ron would be best at a beater because of his height. He has more mass to knock the beaters away. I have considered rewriting the chapter, but it will have to stand how it is for now. Thanks for the help though.

Goldengirl2 – Two hours? Really?  I have never read my story all the way through. I had no idea it was that long! Check out my review for your story.

dragonchild- thanks you so much. I am thinking of a sequel, but it would take me months to write it. I won't have the time to write this quickly again until next summer!

Milkyweed – thanks for the review. Did you like the limbo world?

Immortal Memories- How dare you! You can't possibly like peanut butter more then me! This means war! *flings sticky jelly at you through a giant catapult*

The Shadow Bandit- I actually invoked you to have pins and needles while reading my story? Yea! *dances in a happy circle*  Thanks again for the lovely praise.

Rowenna- You are a very thorough reader and you point out some very useful info to me. I am still considering going back and adding something though. Thanks for reviewing.

Maximum Poofy-Queen of AU- thanks for reviewing. I love hearing from everyone.

Redmeadow- thanks!!!

 Kayin-No-Kaze- congrats on your many reviews!

MalfoySnogger- You are very inquisitive about who was helping on the inside, but you will have to wait  until the last chapter to see if your suspicions were correct.

I Forget- NO! ANYTHING BUT THE GIANT TICKLE FEATHER! How was your trip to Madame Pomfrey?  lol, I am nearly in tears with laughter each time I read your reviews. You keep me going, seriously! (Oh btw go back and read my review from yesterday. I uploaded the chapter twice and my response to you changed slightly).

Dark_Fox- poor harry!

swimade333- have a good vacation!

Windrider87- you were nearly crying at several points in the story? COOL! I loved your thoughtful review. Thank you so much!