A/N: Lioncourt, Athenakitty said the same thing. YES SHE IS, but she doesn't know yet and won't figure it out until after the attack. She and Xander are going to have it out. Hormonal demigoddess on the rampage!!! YAY!!!
Oh, and I am currently between jobs... I couldn't stand working as a life guard any more, and I applied to Superior Ambulance Service in Chicago, but they haven't called me for an interview yet. Anyway, that means I'll have lots of time to write... but will I use it? Oh, and I'm taking a creative writing course so hopefully I'm going to learn some useful things. Not that I don't like my style of writing, but... it can never hurt to get some actual instruction, since I'm not exactly an English major. I took one composition class and it scarred me emotionally... and now I'm in creative writing, and hopefully things will get better.
Anyway, thank you for the lovely reviews. Enjoy the chapter.
Chapter 31
The next morning, Severus strode into the Slytherin House, holding enough Pepper Ups and Sobriety potions to give to everyone in the Slytherin Dorms, smirking the entire time. "COME AND GET IT!!!" he yelled sadistically right outside the Dorms, waking everyone up. Harry groaned and buried his head under the pillow, begging for the room to stop spinning and his stomach to stop lurching every time he moved.
"All right, whose bright idea was it to transfigure all the drinks to Suicides?" Draco muttered from next to Harry.
"That would be you," Eric groaned from the other bed. Draco pulled the curtains long enough to glare at him and then rolled back over, trying to drown out the agony he was currently experiencing.
Severus stalked into the room gracefully. "RISE AND SHINE!!!" he yelled again sadistically, an amused smirk on his face.
Draco flipped him the bird and buried his head under the pillows, trying to block out the noise that was making his head scream in pain.
Sev snickered, Laurel laughing mentally along with him. You know, Love, I think they don't like you right now, she giggled.
What gave you that idea?? They LOVE me!! Severus sat down on Harry and Draco's bed. Harry turned green and sprinted for the bathroom, barely making it in time.
Draco and Eric grimaced as they heard the sounds of Harry throwing up in the bathroom. "Well, that's attractive," Severus commented blandly as the two hung over Slytherins looked as if they were planning on joining Harry in the bathroom. He dangled the potions in front of Draco's face. "Would you like one?"
Draco snatched it from his hand and downed it in one gulp, grimacing at the taste. "Thanks, Uncle Sev," he moaned softly, rolling back over and closing his eyes. Severus stood up and handed one to Eric without a word and walked into the bathroom.
Draco followed him and they force fed the potion to Harry, who immediately looked and felt better. He stood up and rinsed his mouth out, grimacing.
"All right, now, get ready. The awards ceremony is today in two hours." Severus turned to walk out the door.
"What awards ceremony??" Draco and Harry protested simultaneously.
Severus paused at the door. "The one we're hosting for the other three schools in the Great Hall to show good support for a job well done in Quidditch. Now get dressed." He walked out.
Draco and Harry stared at each other, holding their still aching heads. "Did we agree to this?" Draco asked tiredly.
"I don't see a way out of it. We are the captains, after all," Harry glumly said, walking to the shower. Draco joined him, determined to brighten up his day considerably.
An hour later, they emerged from the bathroom. Eric stood outside, completely dressed and obviously showered. "Hey, you two," he said with a smirk.
"Hi," they said coolly. "Have fun with Emmy?"
Eric blushed and walked off, shaking his head slightly.
Draco and Harry shrugged and got dressed, walking back out into the Common room a few minutes later.
"Is there a reason they think it's funny to tease us?" Harry asked softly while they were walking. "I mean, come on. It's sex."
"They're just jealous because they haven't gotten laid yet," Draco said, attracting Emily's attention as they sat down.
"Who hasn't gotten laid?" she asked, her eyes sparkling.
"Your boyfriend, for one," Harry muttered.
"What did he do this time?" she muttered, walking off. Dimly, they could hear her yelling at Eric, calling him several curse words, and then silence.
"Well, that was interesting," Draco said, resting his head on Harry's lap.
Harry checked the time. "It's time to go," he said softly.
They stood and Apparated into the Great Hall, where Oliver Wood was directing the setup of the trophies on the Head Table as well as the extension of the tables and expansion of the room. They sat down in their customary seats, eating breakfast while watching with great amusement the ten or so people, Dumbledore, Severus and McGonagall being three of them, scurry around under Wood's anal retentive perfectionism.
Wood finally noticed them. "Ah! Harry! Would you mind helping out?" he asked cheerily, ignoring Draco.
Harry sighed and started to stand up, but Draco pulled him back down. "He can't, Wood. He took a Bludger to the face at top force and is on Pomfrey's orders not to do anything strenuous."
"Oh." Wood took a closer look. "You don't look too well, Harry. You better be well enough for the semifinals and finals, though. Hogwarts needs you healthy."
"He'll be fine," Draco drawled. "He just needs to rest for the next two or three days."
Thank you, Doctor Draco, Harry thought with amusement, looking appropriately 'ill'.
Anything to get you out of forced labor. Does he care about anything besides Quidditch?
The question is - Can his brain handle anything other than Quidditch? Harry retorted wryly.
The other students started to walk into the Great Hall, Dumbledore directing traffic and sending them all to the Slytherin table, keeping the other tables for the other schools. The students from the other schools started filing in, led by their respective Headmasters. Dumbledore directed them to a specific table and they sat, expectant expressions on their faces.
As soon as everyone was seated, Wood stood in front of the Head table, tapped a quick Sonorous on his throat, and began, reading from a piece of parchment.
"Good Afternoon, assembled students and faculty of the four schools in our Division." He cleared his throat nervously. "We're assembled here today to- Aw hell," he muttered, his voice still carrying. "That damn scripted speech sounds terrible!!!"
Everyone started chuckling as he crumpled the piece of parchment and tossed it over his shoulder. It hit Remus Lupin in the nose and he opened it, reading it with interest.
"Anyway, I just wanted to say thank you for participating, all of you. This has been an incredible experiment in interschool, intercontinental, and intercultural relations. We've managed to get the twenty leading schools on six of the seven continents to work together, something not even the International League has been able to do since America, Canada, Mexico and the South American countries split to form their own league eighty years ago. So, well done, Dragon Fang, Hogwarts, Durmstrung and Beauxbatons!!"
Applause broke out among the assembled schools, as well as some cheers.
Oliver waited until the noise had died down before continuing. "We have trophies for first, second, third and fourth places. So, without further ado, I'll get on with announcing who won what. Would, when I call the school, the team captain or captains come forward with their Headmasters or Mistresses?"
He checked a list he pulled from his pocket. "Right, then, Fourth Place goes to Magica Universidad de Roma." Anthony walked forward, followed by a stern looking man who continuously swore vulgarly in Italian the entire time. They accepted the small trophy. Anthony just looked bored by the whole thing.
Hey, Anthony! Draco called.
Yes? he asked, playing with the trophy.
You deserve second place with your team's talents, you know, Harry added in.
Well, we never cared about the Tournament, so we never bothered to play up to our abilities. Profesore is going to kill us all for this. He's been muttering Sicilian curses at us for the whole six months we've had to do this.
Harry snickered as Oliver called out, "Third Place, Beaxbatons!" The team captain and Madame Maxine walked forward to collect their trophy, their school cheering happily, glad they weren't in last place.
"Second Place, Durmstrung." Harry cheered as the surly captain flipped him the bird and stalked up to Oliver, staring at the mid sized trophy with disgust. He took it reluctantly, his eyes focused on the first place trophy with undisguised longing. The Durmstrung Headmaster glared at the Hogwarts Quidditch team with loathing before sitting his captain down with a thump.
Oliver Wood grinned. "And now, Division Champions and first place, Hogwarts!!!" Draco and Harry stood up, accompanied by Dumbledore and walked to the front amid cheers and clapping so loud the ceiling shook. They accepted the large trophy with matching grins. Oliver clapped Harry on the back, hugged Dumbledore and stood in front of Draco for a second without the slightest clue of how to respond. Draco solved the problem by sticking out his hand with a grin. Oliver took it with relief and shook his hand firmly, a matching grin on his face.
"You did it!" Emily yelled, hugging them both as soon as they had returned to their seats. Everyone mobbed them, hugging, kissing and shaking hands.
"We ALL did it," Harry said firmly.
"Students and faculty, we would be honored if you would stay for Lunch, as a way for us to say thank you for participating," Dumbledore said after everyone had quieted down. Food appeared on the tables and everyone dug in, eager to take full advantage of Hogwarts' hospitality and excellent food. Harry and Draco motioned for Anthony and the Rome team to sit by them and they did. Everyone took their example and moved around, visiting cousins and Owl Pals to catch up on old times.
Oliver sat down in between Ginny and Harry and reached for a plate. "All right, as winners I'm supposed to tell you what happens next. Now, Division Two's winner is Southern California's School of Magic. You-"
"Hey!" Emily exclaimed, startled. "I WENT there!! Their team is incredible!"
"Were you on it?" Ginny asked curiously.
"Yeah, I was second string Goalie. Their goalie, Hailie Johnson, if she's even still there, is absolutely phenomenal. She can catch anything. She even caught the Snitch once in practice. Just to see if she could."
Harry gulped slightly. That's bad.
"Anyway, they won their Division, as did Ontario Mage's Academy of Ontario from Division Three, and Academy of Isis from Alexandria of Division Four. Divisions One and Three face each other in three weeks at the same place we held the last World Quidditch Cup, the same as Two and Four, but in the Egyptian stadium. The winners face each other, and the losers face each other, which would give us places of first, second, third and fourth." Oliver took a swig of Pumpkin Juice.
"So we play Ontario in three weeks? That's February thirteenth," Harry mused out loud.
"I'm glad you can keep track of the days and count," Draco said with a grin.
Harry elbowed him.
Harry and Draco circled each other warily, their weapons at the ready. Draco feinted, drawing Harry in with a block. Draco swung low, this time a real blow, and Harry jumped straight up, flipping lightly over Draco's head and hovering in midair. Behind him he swung with one of his small swords and blocked with the other as Draco turned, swinging again. The swing turned into a hasty parry and a leap backwards into midair. They continued to battle, turning flips and flying across the room. Steel clashed on steel, and they fell backwards from the force of the blows. Panting, they sprang forwards again, only to be stopped in mid motion by an invisible barrier.
"Enough. Very good." Alanna rose into the air, standing in between the two sweating, out of breath young men. "Take your places. Next?" she asked, eyeing the crowd still watching the two demigods avidly. "Oh COME ON, people!" she snapped, losing her patience quickly. "You've all SEEN them fight. We've been at this for two weeks now! It's nothing new! Come on, do I have to hand out detentions like Severus Snape???"
Severus glared at her from the ground and hefted his twin crescent blades, the Snape family heirlooms. She scowled back at him, twirling her dochang.
Harry and Draco's heads turned back and forth. This feels like a tennis match, Harry muttered.
What's tennis? Draco asked curiously. Harry sent him a visual absently before moving forward, blocking Severus and Alanna's vision.
Come on, Alanna, Uncle Sev. Don't get into a battle of wills here. Neither of you will win and we have an hour and ten minutes left of class.
Severus scowled at Harry, but he didn't budge. Alanna glared at him but he still didn't budge. Draco just watched, rolling his eyes. Sometimes I think I'm bound to an idiot with no sense of self preservation, he muttered, floating over and pulling on Harry's arm. Harry still didn't budge. Harry, you're taking on the two most stubborn gits in the school, Draco said in exasperation.
I know, Harry said, not moving an inch. Draco sighed.
You're being a stubborn git.
So are they. Draco grimaced and pulled on his arm again.
Come on, he whined.
No. They shouldn't be fighting. Alanna and Severus glared at him.
"Mister Potter, would you like detention?" Severus asked, his voice a dangerous velvet purr.
"Not if I give him one first," Alanna snapped back, just as angry.
"How about you BOTH give him detention?" Draco suggested.
Harry glared at him. "You aren't helping!"
Severus and Alanna grinned. "That's an excellent idea, Mister Malfoy," Severus smirked. "Detention, Mister Potter."
Alanna smirked as well. "Detention as well, for insulting a teacher. You'll serve mine with Filch, doing whatever he wants you to do." Harry groaned.
Severus smirked. "You'll spend your detention with me, as I know you love to rearrange the Potions ingredients." Harry rounded on Draco and shoved him, hard.
"You bastard!!" he hissed. "You had to go suggest that, didn't you!!!"
Draco hit the wall and winced, rubbing his head. "Well, I got them agreeing on something," he muttered.
Harry glared at him for the rest of the class.
Two nights later, Harry miserably walked down to Filch's office, his detention starting in five minutes. He had given Draco the cold shoulder for the entire two days, understandably angry with his soul mate. Stupid bugger got me detention. I didn't even deserve detention. Little bastard. It isn't fair.
I heard that, Draco snapped angrily. How many times do I have to say I'm sorry??
Harry continued to ignore him, reveling in the petty, childish act. He stalked to the door to Filch's office and knocked brusquely.
The door creaked open, and Filch stuck his head out. "Well, come on in then." he muttered, staring at Harry as he had just scraped him off of his shoes.
Harry sighed and stalked in. "What do I have to do?" he snapped, standing stiffly in front of the desk.
"Well, to begin, I need my file cabinets organized," Filch said, shoving the teen over to seven dusty cabinets in the corner of the room. "Get to it, NO MAGIC!" he snapped, going back to his desk.
Harry rolled his eyes. "Bull shit," he muttered in a fit of rebellion and, within a second, the cabinets sparkled, their files organized and cross referenced.
Filch looked up. "Well, get on with it!" he snapped.
"Why? It's done," Harry said, scowling.
Filch shot out of his chair. "I SAID NO MAGIC!!" he roared, grabbing Harry's collar and shaking him. Harry's eyes widened and lost their focus.
No, Vernon, don't hit me... he pleaded, one of his earliest memories rising to the surface and sweeping him away.
Harry? Draco asked from the Slytherin Common Room, feeling a sudden wave of terror crash over him. HARRY!
"No," whimpered Harry as Filch continued to scream at him and shake him. "Don't hurt me, please," he whispered.
Filch didn't hear him and dragged him from the office. "You're in for it now, boy," he growled. "Dumbledore will hear about this." Harry broke from his grasp, his powers flaring.
Draco felt Harry show his powers. "What the hell?" he muttered, Apparating.
Harry slammed Filch into the wall. "I told you not to hurt me," he hissed. "I told you, Uncle Vernon. I already dealt with you but you came back."
Draco appeared behind them just as Harry threw the Caretaker through the wall, driving him through the stone. "You never leave me alone, do you, Vernon?" Harry snarled, Filch in a death grip. The older man's face was a pale shade of blue as he slumped, unconscious.
Draco gaped at him, before forcing himself into Harry's mind. HARRY!! he yelled mentally. THAT ISN'T VERNON!!!
Wha... Draco? Harry asked, his eyes slowly focusing. What's going on? Where's Vernon?
He wasn't there, Love. You had a flashback, Draco said worriedly. Are you all right?
Harry stared into Draco's silver eyes before nodding hesitantly. I think so. I don't remember what happened too well.
Can you let go of Filch now? Draco asked calmly, trying to be as gentle as possible.
What, I'm- AARGH! Harry yelled frantically as he turned around, dropping the now blue Filch in terror.
Draco quickly repaired the man's throat, feeling for a pulse. Good, he's still alive, but barely. I need to take him to the hospital wing. UNCLE SEV!!! he yelled.
WHAT??? Severus snapped.
Get Lily and James down to Filch's office now!!! he yelled back. Harry had a nasty flashback and almost killed Filch!
COMING! Severus yelled. Moments later, the three of them Apparated straight to Harry and Draco's side. They enveloped the still shaking demigod in a bear hug, surrounding him mentally and physically with love and care. Draco Apparated straight to the hospital wing, holding the unconscious Caretaker tightly.
Madam Pomfrey stared at Draco as he deposited Filch on the bed. "Oh my word! What happened?" she gasped.
"Harry. Need I say more? I've healed him, but he needs observation. Never EVER get on Harry's bad side." Draco scowled.
"That gives no right for Harry to attack one of the employees!" Poppy gasped.
"I don't know what he did to Harry, but it put Harry into a flashback of being mistreated by his uncle," Draco said with a sneer. "Speaking of which, I need to get back." He Apparated immediately, appearing next to the now openly sobbing Harry. Draco slid him into his arms and rubbed his back, Lily and James holding the both of them. "Shh, Love, it's all right. I promised I wouldn't let him hurt you. It's all right."
"I almost killed him but I thought he was Vernon he just kept yelling and shaking me and tried to drag me out the door and I panicked and thought he was Vernon and I'm so sorry!!!" Harry wailed desperately, burrowing into Draco and Lily's chest.
James rubbed his back comfortingly. "He's going to be all right, Harry. I promise. You didn't hurt him badly and he'll be fine."
"Are you sure?" Harry asked.
Draco sighed. "I healed him myself, Harry. He's going to be fine."
Harry sighed. "I thought I was over this. I mean, after what we did to the bastard, I thought I wouldn't have any more dreams or flashbacks."
"How often are you having them?" Lily asked, chewing her lip with worry.
Draco opened his mouth, but Harry shot him a look. "They rarely happen," he said, twisting his sleeve and playing with the stitching.
Lily sighed, not believing him for a second. "I swear, I still want to torture the bastard, even after we did."
Harry shook his head. "It's nothing," he muttered. "Really. Don't worry."
"You almost had a breakdown and killed someone," snapped Severus. "Of course we're going to worry."
Harry hung his head and Draco rubbed his back comfortingly. I hate this.
I know, Love. I know. they group Apparated into Lily and James's quarters.
"You're staying here tonight. Don't argue," Lily snapped when Harry opened his mouth to protest. James transfigured the couch into a queen sized bed, and Draco Apparated, appearing a minute later with their pajamas in a bundle under his arm.
"Here," he said, thrusting a black tee-shirt and a pair of black satin boxers to Harry. Harry grumbled and stalked to the bathroom.
Once he had shut the door, Lily turned to Draco. "Now that he can't hear, tell us. How many flashbacks and nightmares does he have on a regular basis?"
Draco sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "It depends. I can keep him from having nightmares, but we have to sleep with our minds meshed. Whenever we don't sleep like that, he has the nightmares. He has flashbacks when he feels physically threatened, which makes me wonder what the hell Filch did to him. It takes yelling and hitting him or grabbing him or something, which means that Filch roughed him up somehow."
Severus groaned. "I keep telling that man he isn't allowed to use the whips and chains, or even touch the students. Does he listen to me? Of course not."
Harry walked out of the bathroom, wearing a black tee shirt that said in bold white letters 'Who are you and why are you reading my shirt?' Lily stared at him and chuckled. She sat down on the bed, patting the spot next to her invitingly. Harry dropped next to her and snuggled into her shoulder. Draco grabbed his stuff and slid into the bathroom, changing quickly.
When he came back out, Harry was under the blankets, his head on his mother's lap, resting next to her rounded stomach, and she was stroking his hair. James was curled up behind her, rubbing Harry's shoulder and Severus was nowhere to be seen. "Come on over," Lily invited when he paused uncertainly in the doorway. He smiled and curled up next to Harry, linking their minds deeply.
Lily and James sat with them until they fell asleep and then tucked them in quietly. "My poor boy," James said softly, dimming the lights and kissing Harry on the forehead. "Keep him safe, Draco".
"Mmmm," Draco smiled in his sleep as Harry's Mum and Dad walked from the room, careful not to disturb them.
"FASTER!!!" Harry bellowed from midair three days later, as Madam Hooch directed the second string in drills during Quidditch practice. "WE'VE GOT TO MOVE FASTER, PEOPLE!!!" He hurtled the Quaffle at Ginny, who caught it and weaved in and out of the demons they had appropriated from the tactical training. She passed to Draco just as quickly, and broke away from the attack on the demon Keeper. They had programmed the demons to play Quidditch at the professional league level, and so far the demons were winning, 110 to 80.
A demon beater swiped at Draco with his bat and Draco dodged, cursing. "Did you HAVE to program them to cheat??" he snapped, quickly shooting the Quaffle at the goal. The Keeper missed and it went through the hoop.
"We're almost caught up!" Harry panted. "Keep up the good work. BLAISE!! SEAMUS!!! CONTROL THOSE BLUDGERS!!!" he snapped as one whizzed by his ear. A mixture of Welsh, Gaelic, and English curses was his only reply. Harry grinned. "Now THAT'S what I wanted to hear! And Draco, did you have a better idea of how to train?"
Draco scowled at him and shot him the bird, quickly regaining control of the Quaffle by stealing it from the passing demon Chaser and shooting back to the goal. He passed to Harry, who took a Bludger to the shoulder and almost dropped the Quaffle from suddenly nerveless fingers. "SHIT!" he cursed loudly, switching the Quaffle to his left hand. Ginny sped up to him and he passed awkwardly, gasping in relief when she scored again. Draco halted play and examined his shoulder.
"No good, it's dislocated," Draco muttered angrily. Harry just rolled his eyes. "Hold still." Draco quickly jammed it back into the socket and Harry bit back a yelp of pain. Draco's hand glowed briefly and he rotated his arm in relief.
"Thanks," Harry muttered, rubbing the residual soreness from his abused shoulder. "All right, let's go!" he snapped, sending the Quaffle back into play with a wave of his hand.
"Are you nuts???" Draco demanded. "You just dislocated your bloody shoulder!!! You aren't playing!"
"The semifinals are in a week, Draco," Harry snapped. "We're going to bloody win!" He took off on his broom, Draco chasing after him.
The boy, Freak or Loser or Pathetic, that's my name and don't forget it, no more than seven or eight, lay in a tiny, cramped space, curled up in a ball. Someone help me, anyone help me, he pleaded silently, knowing that it didn't matter. What he did to try to protect himself didn't matter. The monster was bigger and stronger than him. The monster took what he wanted every time.
For now, the house was still, but for the boy, No, I have a name but I'm not allowed to say it, or they'll punish me, had seen the way the monster had looked at him during the monster's dinner, the fat, piggy eyes glaring at him hatefully, promising pain and hurt and blood all in one look.
Now he was hidden in the tiny space, cramped into the furthest corner, hoping that the monster wouldn't come looking for him that night. Maybe the monster had forgotten. Maybe he had fallen asleep. Maybe he would be leaving the boy alone that night and the boy would finally be able to heal himself not with magic, it's not magic, they say magic doesn't exist, it's not magic, instead of suffering for another night with the tender bruises on his hip and arms and legs that the monster had given him. Bruises so big that Aunt Petunia was worried and wanted to take him to the hospital to check for internal bleeding, whatever that meant.
And so the boy waited, terror mounting and easing alternately by the second, his heart pounding. He dropped into a restless slumber, exhaustion and the need to heal winning over the terror. A faint green glow emanated from him as he twitched and jerked, nightmares plaguing him. His bruises faded and cleared, and the foot that had been paining him, broken most likely, stopped its aching.
Creak. The boy bolted upright, terror leaking from every pore. Creak. Thud. Thump. Thump. Thud. Noooo, he moaned, trying to make himself invisible, trying to break the locks, trying to do anything that would get him out of there and away from the monster. The thuds grew closer and closer, until they were right over head. Thud. Thud. Thud. The sounds shook the sloped ceiling, making the walls vibrate. Make it stop, please make it stop, don't let him hurt me, he pleaded desperately.
The thuds continued until they stopped right outside the tiny door. A grunt and a few fumbles against the metal locks were heard and the door was flung open quietly, harsh white light streaming into the tiny space. The boy whimpered. "Please, please don't," he begged, his voice little more than a whisper, knowing it did no good but pleading anyway.
"Shut up, freak," the monster growled. "You're getting what you deserve, you dirty little abomination." He reached in, the boy trying to cower away from the enormous hand. On an irrational impulse, the boy sank his teeth into the hand, clawing and yelling.
The monster slammed him across the face, knocking the boy into the back wall, shaking the wall. He grabbed the boy around the neck and dragged him from the cramped space, his breathing ragged and panting. "You're going to get it, freak, abomination. You're getting what you deserve.
Draco shot upright, a thin, keening noise echoing throughout the room. It took him a minute to realize the noise was coming from his throat, panic clawing at his chest and terror clouding his mind. It's not real, it's not real, it's not real, he chanted over and over, trying to calm his racing pulse and labored breathing. He was suddenly aware that someone was thrashing next to him. "Harry? Oh God, Harry, someone help me..." he moaned, his fingers scrabbling for the terrified boy's temple.
He almost recoiled as he was swept back into the nightmare, this time watching as the monster- Vernon- brutalized and raped his soul mate. He managed to throw the monster from Harry's tiny, broken body and dragged the both of them to consciousness. Gasping for air, Draco lay next to the still semiconscious Harry, trying to rid himself of the terror that coursed through his veins.
"Harry, this has to stop. This is the third nightmare I've been sucked into in as many days! Either you calm down, or you aren't playing in the semifinals!" Draco yelled, checking the time angrily. "Great, just great. It's four o'clock in the fucking morning!" Harry just curled up into a ball and refused to move, still half in his memories.
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, he chanted, trying to pull himself out and failing miserably. He sank even deeper, quickly pulled back into reliving one hell after another. He started whimpering and thrashing, choking out half screams.
SEV!!! LILY!!! JAMES!!! Draco yelled. Lily, Severus and James Apparated in and Severus immediately took charge.
"Draco, Lils, James, we all need to link and go in after him," Severus ordered tersely. Automatically, they obeyed, linking their minds together and flooding Draco's bond to the now openly screaming Harry.
Eight year old Harry cowered in the cupboard, the monster's distorted and leering face peering in at him. "I've got you, you freak, you abomination, you worthless piece of shit and you can't do anything about it." He grabbed Harry by the scruff of the neck and hauled him out, holding him in midair. Turning, he switched his grip and grabbed Harry around the front of his neck, effectively cutting off his air supply and walked to the living room, dragging Harry behind him.
Lily, Severus, James and Draco appeared right in front of them. "Let go of my son," James growled, his entire body glowing. Lily, Draco and Severus drew their powers around themselves, furious.
Vernon snarled at them and swung. Severus raised a hand, and the man froze. Only his beady eyes moved, frantic. Lily gently pried Harry from the death grip and cradled him to her chest, rocking him back and forth, crooning softly. "It's all right, Baby," she said softly. "Mummy's got you. Mummy's got you."
Harry remained unresponsive and she frantically checked for a pulse, gasping in relief when she found one. "His pulse is too slow, James," she said warningly. "We already took our revenge on him. We have to get Harry out of here now. He's going into shock."
"Well, let's get out of here, then!" James snapped.
"It does no good if you try to bring him up unconscious," Draco said quietly. " He has to be awake."
"And how do you propose we do that?" Severus asked sharply, worried.
"He usually has to complete the memory, everything fades and the real he is standing there," Draco said, looking faintly sick. "But maybe I can reach him mentally." He grabbed the unconscious boy's temples, feeling their link run through him and, holding his breath, pushed deeper into the link. Everyone watched as Draco vanished with a soft pop.
He found himself floating in blackness, a huddled figure floating a little ways away. Draco immediately recognized him and floated over, wrapping Harry in a hug. "Come on, Love, end this," he said softy. "Your parents are here and they only want you to be safe."
"It's my fault, it's all my fault," Harry mumbled over and over.
Draco hissed in annoyance. "No it isn't, and I'm going to prove it to you. You aren't a freak, or worthless or bad, or an abomination," he snapped, reaching for Harry's temples. Harry stiffened and looked straight into his eyes as their consciousnesses melded together.
I told you, not your fault, Draco managed as he was swept away.
Lily, James and Severus watched as the living room of the Dursleys faded into blackness, to reveal Draco and Harry, locked in each other's minds. Cautiously, they floated over, putting their hands on the boys' shoulders. They reeled from the pain and hurt they felt emanating from the two of them. Standing firm against the onslaught of negative emotions, they forced themselves to think only of the love they held for the two teenagers.
Harry and Draco gradually pulled out of the other's mind to the most incredible feeling of being cocooned in love and caring. They opened their eyed and were immediately swept into a group hug.
"Harry, don't you EVER do that to us again," Lily sobbed quietly, the damn holding her tears at bay finally bursting. "We were so scared!"
"Why are you having nightmares?" James asked, confused.
"I don't know!" Harry snapped, miserably resting his head in his hands. "I just don't know."
"You're not playing in the semifinals," Draco snapped. "You're not playing until we can figure out what's wrong with you."
"WHAT??" Harry yelled
The four of them stared at him. "We're not letting you play. Your health is much more important than Quidditch."
"But it's not Quidditch I'm worried about!!" Harry yelled. "I don't know what it is, but it's not that!!"
"That's not good enough. I don't want you having a breakdown!" Draco snapped.
"I'm gonna have these nightmares anyway! Why are you punishing me for something I can't help!!?"
With a jerk, they came back to the real world. Harry glared at the four of them and crossed his arms. "You are being unreasonable," he muttered.
The morning of the game, Harry had to beg and plead for almost an hour for Draco, Severus, Lily and James to let him play. They were still arguing when they went to breakfast two hours before the game started.
"Come on!!! I'm not stressing about the game!!! It's something else!" Harry insisted for the millionth time in four days. "I just- just don't know what it is!"
Draco glared at him. "You've had nightmares every night for a week. You look like hell, and you're stumbling from fatigue. There's no way I'm letting you get on a broom."
Madam Hooch walked over to them. "Did I hear you correctly? Did you, Mister Malfoy, just tell your co-captain that he can't play? On whose authority?" she snapped sternly.
Lily glared at her. "He's not playing. He's so tired he can barely see straight and he's had nightmares every night for the past week. He's on the verge of a breakdown."
Harry glared at them. "Madam Hooch, I'm fine. I've dealt with worse and come out all right. They don't realize that."
"But-" James snapped.
"But nothing!!!" Harry exploded. "I had visions and nightmares every night during fourth and fifth year! I was frigging tied into Voldemort's HEAD!!! I played Quidditch and had a full school schedule and saved the school every year and I WAS FINE!!! I'M PLAYING!!!" He stood in front of them, eerily silent, ribbons of green whipping around him, daring them to say different. They watched as the dark circles under his eyes lightened and disappeared, and the tightness around his eyes relaxed. Within minutes, he looked perfectly healthy.
"Take off the Glamours," Draco snapped.
"I'm not wearing any," Harry snapped back, pissed.
"Bull shit," Lily snapped. "You don't suddenly look one hundred percent better after shitty sleeping for a week."
"Actually," Alanna said, standing right behind them, "you do. Sorry, we should have explained that but we didn't think it was necessary, in light of having everything else to teach. When you use your magic, it refreshes you to a certain point. You can't run forever on it, but we've gone almost three weeks without rest before collapsing."
Draco glared at her. "We're trying to make a case that his health is more important than Quidditch," he snarled.
"BUT I'M FINE!!!" Harry yelled, rolling his eyes in frustration.
Alanna stared back and forth. "He looks fine to me," she said, looking him up and down with a critical eye.
"He's had NIGHTMARES for the last seven days straight!"
Alanna really looked at Harry then. "What about?"
"Vernon, mostly," Draco said. "Oh, and this weird one where Vernon turned into Clautius and-"
"And he had broken through the wards and was coming for me, but I wasn't me..." Harry finished.
Severus paled and his eyes turned silver. "Laurel says he hasn't yet," he mumbled distractedly. "Oh, and she says hi to everyone, and I quote, get me outta here! Any time people... or something like that. OUCH! What was that for??" He rubbed his temples.
Go Laurel, Draco snickered.
Thank you, thank you, I'll be here all week, or until someone gets me out of here! Laurel called back. And let the kid play! He's earned it!
Thank you! Someone agrees with me! Harry snapped mentally, his face a thunderstorm of anger and aggravation.
"Fine!" Draco snapped. He rounded on Harry, scowling. "I'll pull you from the game if you so much as sneeze!"
"Yes, Mother," Harry simpered and Draco's scowl deepened.
The Hogwarts team Apparated to the British International Quidditch Stadium, chattering excitedly. Everyone chattered, that is, except for the two captains. They were glaring at each other, nonverbally voicing their displeasure.
Ginny walked up to the both of them, and without warning, smacked both of them upside the head. "Knock it off, you dumbasses," she growled. "We don't stand a chance if you two won't cooperate."
"She's right," Harry said softly. "Draco, stop worrying about me. I'm fine."
"Then why the hell do I feel so damn uneasy?" Draco snapped.
"Its part of it," Harry said. "You're feeling my unease. Something is going to happen. Something big."
Draco shuddered. "How can you stand it?"
"I felt it right before I'd have a vision or before something big would happen. I'm used to it, I guess." They walked into the locker rooms, Draco shaking his head.
"So something is going to happen."
"Yeah, and it's definitely something big. I've felt this way for almost three weeks now."
"What?" Ron and Emily asked. "What's going on?"
"Harry's getting a weird premonition thing," Draco said, unable to think of a better way to describe it.
"Cool! You're going all crazy Trelawney on us!" Emily said with a smirk. Harry glared at her half heartedly.
"Come on, let's just play," he grumbled, his head starting to buzz. "Whatever is going to happen will happen soon," he said worriedly.
Draco grabbed his arm. "I can feel that too, dolt. Are you sure you can play?"
"If I can't play, you can't play," Harry said with a twisted grin. "It's affecting you too." Draco looked mutinous at first, and then resigned.
"Fine," Draco spat. Madam Hooch stuck her head into the locker room.
"It's time." Everyone nodded and shot out the door on their brooms and circled around the pitch to the cheers of their classmates. They took their places opposite a team in cherry red and banana yellow uniforms. Draco and Harry landed in front of the Referee, an ancient man in the traditional black and white.
"Captains, shake hands," he wheezed and checked the time on an impossibly large pocket watch he had pulled from the front of his Referees robes. The two Hogwarts captains eagerly shook the other captain's hand and shot back into the air, awaiting the release of the Snitch, Bludgers and Quaffle. Several long minutes passed, in which the Referee just stared at the ground, his tiny, wrinkled body slightly swaying on the broom.
"Is he dead?" The Ontario captain asked in a loud whisper. Ginny flew forward and poked the wizard gently.
"Umm, Excuse me sir, are you all right?" she asked in a loud voice.
The wizard jerked and muttered about cookies. She giggled. "He's asleep!" She giggled and 'accidentally' set the tip of his broom on fire. The older wizard awoke with a screech, flapping his arms and looking like a striped pigeon. Draco snickered and put out the flames with a discrete wave of his hand.
The Ontario team watched, sides splitting from laughter, as the Referee almost fell off his broom, trying to figure out where the fire went. He finally straightened up and, with insane mutterings under his breath, released the Snitch and Bludgers. With one last fearful look at the tail of his broom he tossed the Quaffle into the air. Draco swooped in and took control, Harry and Ginny in formation behind him.
Ready? Draco asked and shot straight up, Harry swerving to the right and Ginny to the left. Five passes and countless hair-raising twists and turns later, the score was 10 to 0, Hogwarts.
Twenty minutes later, the score was 100 to 70. Hogwarts was in the lead, though not for lack of skill on Ontario's part. Their Beaters slammed the Bludgers around as if they were pebbles, and they had deadly accuracy. Harry had taken a Bludger to the ribs four times, and Draco's lip was bruised and bleeding where one had grazed his face. Ginny had quickly healed a strained wrist, and Blaise and Seamus were both sporting bruises on various parts of their bodies. Emily was the only one who had sustained no injuries, and that was only because none had been sent her way.
Over head, James watched for the Snitch, occasionally dodging the Bludgers as they came his way. Where is that bloody ball? he muttered to himself, keeping his eyes peeled for the fluttering gold ball. A flash of gold appeared next to the commentator's box. There. He dove, the tiny golden ball firmly in his sight, when something slammed into him, almost knocking him from his broom. What the... Cherry red robes with banana yellow accents flashed in front of him. You little shit!!! I'll kick your ass! he snapped, shooting underneath the other seeker and reached one hand up, punching the other's broom with all his strength. The broom wavered and the other seeker suddenly veered left, almost falling into the stands.
James looked around for the snitch only to find that it had vanished. Fuck!
Thirty minutes later, the score was 210 to 200, Ontario. Ginny knocked the Quaffle through the leftmost hoop, evening the score to 210- 210. Dad, do you see the Snitch yet? Harry asked, looking around himself quickly before handing off the Quaffle to Draco.
I had it a minute ago and then I lost it. Damn thing. I swear it can go invisible. Harry circled around, taking back the Quaffle and slamming into the goal.
James- SNITCH!! Draco yelled, shoving the image of it before James's eyes. James took off like a rocket, the other Seeker following close behind. He quickly lashed out with a closed fist, slamming the other broom into the wall and shot forward, finally seeing the snitch himself. It hovered less than six inches on the other side of the center hoop. Ignoring the gasps coming from the rest of his team, he dove through the hoop, the Snitch fitting neatly into his hand. The play halted as James flew into the middle of the Pitch, holding the Snitch triumphantly in one hand, grinning like a madman.
WE WON!!!!! Emily yelled. Rounding on James, she screamed, YOU IDIOT!!!! YOU COULLD HAVE BEEN KILLED!!!! I'M TELLING YOUR WIFE!!!!
Oh shit oh shit oh shit oh shit oh shit, James mumbled as Emily streaked to the stands.
JAMES GARETH POTTER!!!!! Lily shrieked, storming onto the field as fast as her six month pregnant body would allow. James almost turned tail and flew away as fast as he could, but... Lily would hunt him down and it would be twice as bad, if not worse.
Yes, Dear? he asked weakly, his face the color of cottage cheese. Oh, I'm in for it, he moaned weakly.
Damn straight. Home. Now. she spat, turning on a heel and Apparating.
Harry met his father's eyes. Ummm, Harry didn't know what to say.
James Apparated.
Severus watched the drama on the Quidditch Pitch with a smirk. Hey, Love, you'd never pull a stupid stunt like that just for a game, would you? Laurel asked softly. I mean, it was really, really cool and all but you wouldn't risk your life for a silly game, would you?
I haven't played Quidditch in almost twenty five years, Laurel. I'm not going to do stupid things like Potter over there.
That's good to know- oh my god... Laurel suddenly sounded panicked. Sev? You know how I said getting me out of here would be a good thing? Could you come after me like, now??
What's wrong?? he snapped, feeling absolute terror radiate through their bond.
He's breaking through... she whimpered.
LAUREL! he yelled as pure Evil flooded into their minds.
Oh God, oh God, oh God, oh God, she babbled over and over. Severus, he's through! Oh God, please don't hurt me, please don't hurt me, please don't let him hurt me.
The last thing he felt before the Evil snapped their link like a piece of thread, was Laurel retreating into her mind again as the Evil leached her power out of her body. LAUREL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! he screamed into emptiness over and over, falling to the ground and curling into the fetal position.
Lily and Lames immediately Apparated back, upon hearing his heart rending screams. Harry, Draco, Alanna and Xander moved to his side, linking, riding on Draco and Harry's awesome powers that they were only just beginning to understand. They ripped into Clautius's realm without the aid of any potions, searching. They found nothing, no trace of her mind. It's no good, Severus gasped. She's retreated into herself.
The felt another mind try to reach them from inside Clautius's realm. Sirius. Harry focused on Sirius.
They have her, Sirius panted mentally, and I tried to stop them. Help, oh noooo, not the Dementor Lords, nooooo, he moaned before the link was terminated.
Alanna and Xander disengaged from the link and sent out the call. It was time. The attack would commence at dusk.
A/N: Well, that's the chapter, people. For my other fics, Jungle Law, the sequel to The Lesser of Two Evils, should start in about two weeks to a month, depending on when my inspiration comes. I already have six pages, but the same rules apply. Twenty pages to each update. Hopefully, I'll have finished this fic or be nearing the end by then, as well as Just Like You. To all my reviewers, thank you. It's begun, people!! Ain't it cool!
B/N: Did anyone happen to notice that in the fourth paragraph of the thirteenth page, Draco screams, "It's four o'clock in the fucking morning!"? Not that Laura would have noticed this, but that just so happens to be my favorite line from the song "The Taste of Ink" by The Used. Shibby- sweet song. And shibby-sweet story. I don't know if anybody has reserved the rights to use the word "shibby" but I first saw it in the comic, Boy Meets Boy by: ..... um...... cough....... uh.... Psst! Laura! Who's the author of 'Boy Meets Boy'?..... (crickets chirp merrily in the background).... Laura! Damnit- Laura! Never mind, as she is currently buried nose-deep in a Stephen King novel... joy. But I got that word from that place and I give credit to the author person. I don't know if it is their or not but I would rather be on the safe side. Self-preservation and all that shit. But, like Laura said, "It's begun," and I will say "Yes! The beginning of the End!" (Cue creepy music coming from the back) ..... (Or some really awesome heavy metal, preferably Marilyn Manson) Yup, 'sall good! Byeness for now!