Chapter Twelve

Dreams

Draco opened his eyes to find himself standing in the middle of a desert. He turned slowly around and saw nothing but miles and miles of sand and scrub.

"What the hell?"

A woman in a long white flowing dress materialized in the distance. She disappeared then reappeared closer. This repeated several times until she stood several feet in front of him. A light breeze blew causing the edges of her dress to wrap around her legs and tendrils of her light brown hair to flutter in the air.

Although he had never seen this woman before there was an air of familiarity about her. Her blue eyes twinkled and there was a soft smile on her lips. She seemed to be waiting for him to say something.

"Where am I? Who are you?"

"You're asking the wrong questions." Came the soft reply.

"What do you mean the wrong questions? I think I have the right to know where I am and who I'm talking to!"

"In your heart you know where you are and who I am."

"Is everything a riddle for you?"

The lady just smiled and waited, seemingly for the correct question.

Draco took a moment to compose himself, getting angry was not going to help. He closed his eyes and concentrated. Abruptly his eyes flew open.

"This is a dream isn't it?"

"Partially. But it is also slightly real."

"Great, more riddles," he muttered to himself. "Are you here to teach me something?"

"No. I'm merely a guide." She stretched out a hand. "Shall we?"

He eyed the hand suspiciously and tentatively grasped it. The world around him blurred then settled. He looked to find himself home.

"Why'd you bring me here?" He asked, disgusted with the new location.

The woman said nothing and just pointed to his father and mother. Draco couldn't hear what they were saying but the air around them reeked of dark magic. He felt anger coursing through his veins.

"It hurts to know that they don't care about you." Came a soft voice from beside him. He had forgotten she was there and was slightly startled.

"What would you know about it?" He asked harshly, glaring at her.

A sad smile graced her face. "More than you would know."

"Huh?"

"You're ancestor will explain."

"My ancestor? What ancestor?"

Before the woman in white could answer, the world spun again. When the world settled he recognized the feel of Hogwarts although not the room itself. He looked around and saw Buffy and Spike snuggling on a couch in front of a small fire.

"They do care." The woman said.

"Yeah right. If you say so. She might, but I know he doesn't."

"How little you know those around you."

"What's that suppose to mean."
"No longer do you have to hide your heart."

He opened his mouth to speak but the world spun again. He was really beginning to hate that. When it stopped he was back in the desert and the woman was gone.

A bald man in a suit materialized in front of him. With a smile the man said, "The cheese will love one day." Then he disappeared.

"Bloody hell! What the hell! Not only did she leave me alone; I'm more confused than I was before! The cheese will love? I just want a simple explanation!"

"If we told you everything you'd never grow." Said a strangely accented voice behind him.

Draco whirled around to see the strangest looking man he had ever seen. The man was shorter than he was and had the ugliest suit on that he had ever set eyes on.

"Who are you? Or am I asking the wrong questions again?"

"The name's Whistler."

Draco's face had a look of shock; a question had actually been answered. "So where am I?" He asked hopefully.

"Ahh, she told you that one."

A rather rude noise escaped Draco's lips. "So are you a guide, too?"

"In a way, but I can only show you the door, you have to walk through it."

"Door? What door?" Draco looked around; he was beginning to believe that anything was possible wherever he was.

Whistler sighed, why did he always get the hard ones? First Angel, then Buffy, and now this one. "Listen kid..."
"Kid? You don't look that much older than me."
"Trust me, I'm way older."
"You're a demon then?"

"Yeah, I work for the PTB."
"Like Spike?"

"Yeah, sort of." Whistler said with a chuckle. "Like him you could go either way."

"What do you mean?"

"You could be a worthless excuse for a human being, or you could become someone. Someone to be counted."
Draco didn't say anything. I could be someone to be counted? This guy has to be joking.

"I ain't joking kid. The big moment is gonna come, you can't help that. It's what you do afterwards that counts. That's when you find out who you are."
"What's coming?"

"Just remember what she told you and that the Dawn will bring about a new day."

Draco's eyes opened and realized he was in the infirmary. He blinked a couple of times and slowly turned his head.

"Ow."

Madam Pomfrey quickly appeared at his side. "Mr. Malfoy I suggest that you take it easy. While I took care of your injuries some stiffness and pain could still remain."
"What happened?"

"You were thrown into a tree during the fight and you were knocked unconscious."

He sat up quickly and ignored the way the room swam. "Dawn! Is she ok?"

"Yes, Mr. Malfoy, she's just fine. She exhausted herself and is lying in the bed next to yours."

Draco looked over, and sure enough, his angel lay there sleeping. He looked at Madam Pomfrey and she smiled and walked away.

The blond slowly turned and placed his feet on the floor. He must have hit the tree pretty hard because his entire body screamed with protest. He shakily stood and crossed to the chair next to Dawn's bed.

Despite what Pomfrey had said, Draco was a little worried. His angel looked pale against the white sheets, her normally luminous face seemed rather lackluster. Dawn looked fragile and delicate there despite the fire and strength he knew she possessed.

He felt guilt well up inside him because he blamed himself for her current incapacitation

If he had taken better care of himself she would never had done whatever it was that she had done. He gently took her hand and did something he hadn't done since he was a small child. He bowed his head and prayed.

********

Dawn slowly opened her eyes to find herself sitting in the middle of a sunlit field of flowers. A figure began to walk towards her, blocking out the sun. She squinted and as the person approached she realized that it was a man.

When he reached her he sat in front of her with a smile, and said, "Hello princess."

"Umm, hello. I have a feeling I'm dreaming."

"Yer correct on that one." The man said with a chuckle. He had a definite Irish accent and a mischievous glint in his eyes.

"So um, who are you?"

"I'm a friend of a friend." The man's eyes lost their lighthearted shine and turned sad. Dawn couldn't resist the urge to hug him. "What was that for?"

"You looked like you needed one."
"Aren't ye a sweet one. My name's Doyle."

"I remember you; you used to work with Angel and Cordelia. Well, I sort of remember, seeing as how I didn't really exist at the time, the memory is just a fake. And why am I saying this to you, of course you worked for the PTB's so I guess it's okay, and aren't you suppose to be dead?"

"But I am dead princess."

"I'm not dead right? Cause I thought this was a dream."

"No, yer not dead, just me. They needed t' get some information t' ye and I volunteered"
"Info? It's about damn time. Inform me."
Doyle laughed. "A straight t' the point kind of lass aren't ye. Now ye know the rules, I can't tell ye everythin', I can only set ye on the path."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah."
A bald man in a suit walked between them saying, "While you are here, the cheese is not."

Dawn looked at Doyle in confusion. He just shook his head and said, "Ye wouldna understand even if I told ye."

"If you say so."
"Somethin's comin' princess and ye need t' be ready."
"Me? Isn't that stuff Buffy's job?"

"Usually, but yer the center of it this time. Yer sister will be there t' help and one other. But yer the one who has t' do it."
"Do what?"

"I can't ell ye that, 'tis another's job. Just keep yer friends close and open yer heart."

"What do you mean, open my heart."

"Someone yearns for yer love, and ye need t' share it in order t' win."

"Who?"
"Can't tell ye that."

"Of course, that's someone else's job, I get it."

"No, you'll figure that one out on yer own. Just make sure ye let them in."
Dawn raised an eyebrow. "Anything else I need to know?"

"Ye think ye know what ye are?"

"Yeah, I'm the key."
"Ye haven't even begun."

Dawn slowly became aware that she was awake but kept her eyes closed. She felt someone holding her hand. Where am I? Then the battle came back in sudden clarity. What the hell happened? She remembered Draco's limp form below a tree.

Draco!

Her eyes flew open and she saw that the one holding her hand was the blond Slytherin and he had his head bowed. Why was he doing that? She shifted slightly and his head popped up.

Seeing her awake a look of relief crossed his face with a small smile.

A smile? He's smiling at me! He never smiles.

"Thank Merlin you're awake. I'll tell Madam Pomfrey." He got up and left the room.

Confusion swam in Dawn's eyes. Why would he care if I woke up? I'm a mudblood. True he's changed a little bit lately, but surely not enough to care about me.

Before Dawn could continue Pomfrey approached with Draco behind her. "How are you feeling dear?"

"A bit tired."
"Well that's to be expected. You did use up a good deal of energy in the fight. I'll go get your sister and let her know that you're awake."

Dawn looked at Draco. "What is she talking about?'

He looked at her hesitantly. "You don't remember?"

"I remember the demons coming out of the trees and we started fighting. I saw you slumped at the bottom of a tree then nothing." Dawn didn't want to tell him about her strange dream; she'd ask Buffy about it later.

Draco's eyes widened when he realized she had no idea what happened. "I can't tell you too much more. You had a green fire around you and you spoke some language that I had never heard before then the demons caught fire and disintegrated."

"Then what?"

"I don't know. I blacked out..." Before he could mention his dream a commotion came from one end of the infirmary. They looked up to see the entire scooby gang and the gang from Hogwarts rush excitedly in.

"Please keep the noise down. And you can't stay long; they both need their rest." They heard Pomfrey say.

Draco moved back to his own bed as he watched them gather around Dawn. He took a sudden interest in his hands as he wished he had someone who would fuss over him.

He suddenly felt warm strong arms embrace him and he recognized Buffy's voice in his ear. "We were so worried about both of you. It's my fault, I never should have taken you guys out there."
Draco couldn't believe his ears. She was worried? About him? He quickly returned the hug relishing in the comforting embrace. "It's ok. You didn't know about the other demons."
"But I shouldn't have placed you two in danger like that."
"Buffy, really, it's ok." She just hugged him harder. "Umm, I need to breathe."

She released him and sat next to him. "Sorry, I forget my own strength sometimes."

As the noise died down, everyone found a place to sit so they could discuss what had happened. Much to Draco's disgust Harry sat next to Dawn holding her.

Buffy started the discussion. "Spike and I heard Dawn shout, but there were a few more vamps in the shack than what we had originally thought. That's why it took us so long to get to you two. But when we finally got out we saw Dawn in a magic fire speaking in some wacko language and the demons turn to dust. She passed out and we brought you two back here."

Draco and Dawn then sketched out what little they remembered.

"The fire was green?" Tara asked with a thoughtful look.

"Yeah, why?" Draco asked curiously.

"The key used to be a ball of green energy." Tara pointed out to the others.

Draco was confused. "The key? What key?"