Chapter 7 – In My Dreams

A few days later, Harry and Draco were getting frustrated with the prophecy. They had spent the past few nights in the library researching until dawn and had not found a single trace of information that would help them. This evening was supposed to be a night of sleeping and a break from the research. Of course, Draco was sitting on his bed leafing through a very old and rather large leather book, but he wasn't reading any of the pages. Instead, Draco was watching Harry, who had fallen fast asleep on his bed. 'He looks so peaceful when he sleeps. And incredibly irresistible. I have to tell him how I feel soon otherwise this will drive me insane.' Draco's thoughts trailed off as he imagined what it would be like to ravish Harry Potter...

He snapped back to reality when he heard Harry mumbling in his sleep. Draco looked over at Harry concernedly and saw that he was tossing and turning and sweating like crazy. Within seconds, Harry's mumbles turned into screams. Draco jumped up from his bed and leapt onto Harry's. He shook Harry in an attempt to wake him up, lightly at first then rather violently. "HARRY!" Draco yelled in desperation.

Harry woke up when he heard his name being screamed and felt his body being shaken. Rolling over, Harry's gaze met Draco's. Draco's eyes were full of worry and fear. "Are you all right?" Draco asked Harry who was shaking slightly.

"I'll be okay. It was just a dream," Harry replied, trying hard to convince himself of that.

"Just a dream! Harry, that was more like a nightmare. You were tossing and turning, not to mention sweating like crazy, and screaming. Tell me what you were dreaming about." Draco's tone was panicked and pleading, full of concern.

"I was dreaming about all the people I have let down in the past. All the people I got killed. First I was dreaming about Sirius, about the times we spent together, when we ended up in the Ministry and Sirius was falling behind the veil." The wounds were too fresh and Harry started to cry, visualizing the events in his mind. Draco pulled Harry close and held him. "Then I was in the cemetery with Cedric just after we finished the maze for the Triwizard Tournament. I heard Voldemort's icy voice saying 'kill the spare' and I watched helplessly as Cedric died. They were drawing my blood to bring Voldemort back and..." Harry's voice trailed off for a moment before he continued. "Then you woke me up. Merlin I'm so glad I didn't have to go through that whole dream again. Thank you."

"What do you mean again? You've had that dream before?"

Harry mentally hit himself for letting that slip. "Yes. I had it almost every night until you came and shared the dorm with me. I have it whenever I'm alone."

"That's horrible." Draco paused for a moment, looking thoughtful. "But you weren't alone tonight. I was right here in the room."

Harry sighed. "I don't know why I had the dream tonight. I thought I had gotten rid of it but I obviously haven't."

"Well. Um. You could sleep with me tonight. I mean in my bed with me tonight. That is – if you want to. It, uh, might help." Draco mentally kicked himself. Since when was he a bumbling idiot!

Harry looked at Draco in shock. "Are...are you sure? You don't have to."

Draco smiled at Harry and pulled back the covers of his bed, motioning for Harry to climb in. Harry lay down and scooted as far away from Draco as he could, sure that if he got too close he wouldn't be able to contain his excitement.

"Come on Harry. I don't bite!" Draco said teasingly, sensing Harry scooting away.

"Um. Sorry. I don't want to take up too much space."

"Harry stop being so silly. Look at the size of this bed! It's huge. There's no way you could take up too much space in it. Now stop worrying and go to sleep."

Harry scooted over so he was a little closer to Draco, taking comfort in his presence and warmth. Draco snaked his arms around Harry's waist and whispered into his ear, "Don't worry about anything. I'm right here." Both boys soon drifted off into peaceful sleep.