DISCLAIMER: I don't own anything from the world of Harry Potter. It's all JK's. I wish I did but I don't. Get over it, I have.
SUMMARY: "You can change it if you start from the beginning." After Draco dies Harry finds it hard to let go. Then he meets a old man in Knockturn Alley who sales him a potion and convinces him he can change it if he starts from the beginning.
WARNING: This is a slash story meaning boy/boy relationship. If you don't like it, don't read it. I am warning you for a reason.
A/N: There were so many review for the last chapter I can't even thank you all personally! So I just want to give a big THANK YOU to everyone who reviewed. I appreciate every single one of you. I also want to say THANK YOU to everyone for giving me their opinion on what I should do, go through the years or start in the sixth year. I don't think I would have been able to decide without your help. All your input has led me to the decision to jump ahead and start it off in Harry and Draco's sixth year. There will be flash backs through out the chapters but they will not be in any pacific order. I will let you know when the flash back is taking place so don't worry about that.
This chapter may be a little confusing and it won't go at all really into what has happened over past few years, that will have to wait until next chapter. Everything is going to start off pretty quickly so be prepared. Read on!
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Chapter Three: Nightmares and Rescues
-I keep on dreamin' because I can
Even though my eyes don't close
I keep on trippin' because it's free
To a place I only know-
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There is something deep inside Harry Potter. Something that lay curled up in the deepest corner of his mind, almost asleep. It had been laying dormant for some time, occasionally making it's presence known to help push little Potter in the right directions. Otherwise it lay, silent and still, waiting for the time it would be needed.
It seemed it's first decisions, putting Harry in Slytherin and befriending Draco Malfoy, were changes that caused a chain reaction. Everything Harry did after that was different and that would have suited the something fine except the dreams kept coming. Draco killed in the war right before his eyes with a flash of green light that could only be one thing. Every dream was the same, they hadn't changed yet. But everything else did keep changing. The something was confused and frustrated but it would not give up hope. So it watched and waited for the time when it could make the right change that would bring him back for good.
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Gray fog was swirling around his feet, misting his skin with cool droplets. The sky was dark as if a black cloak had been draped over it muting out the stars and moon. The air felt thick and tasted of salt and rain as he opened his mouth to take in a shuddering breath. All around him dark figures moved in billowing cloaks, the flash of a white mask slipping from his view. There were voices raised, frantic calling and low moaning, mingling with the sound of muffled footsteps and above it all the crash of the sea against rock, spraying foam and water.
Harry shivered as he listened to the sound of grinding metal as cells where unlocked and blown open. Huddled figures stumbled from dark caves, their eyes bulging and rolling back in their skeletal skulls, mouths like gaping holes sucking in life. Harry's whole body felt incased in ice, a cold sweat breaking out on his neck and forehead. His mother's cries called dully from deep in his mind as hooded black figures glided by paying no attention to the mayhem around them.
Suddenly a loud cry pierced through the muted sounds. The throng of black figures were suddenly dotted with blue and red cloaks. Flashes of light lit the darkness. Red, blue, green, gold. Shouts of alarm, cries of pain, moans of anguish filled the air along with the silver glow of flying shapes, that began to bare down on the gliding black figures.
The ground was being littered with fallen bodies, splashes of glistening red liquid trailed across the stone floor. Harry could see faces. Faces of fear and shock and of determination and resolution. Wands were raised, incantations were bellowed, sparks were shot. Harry stood amidst the chaos like a phantom, observing it all but taking no part in it's doings. Spells flew through him, figures swept by him but none registered his presences. It was as if he was not there.
Then he felt them. The eyes that bore into his back with a ferocious hunger. That made his skin crawl and the hairs on his arms raise. That made his stomach churn and his heart race with fear and hatred.
Harry turned to face the man in the black cloaks. His face was ghastly pale, his nose flat and flaring like a snake, his eyes no more than two red slits in a stretched face. His lips curled and white teeth gleamed in the darkness. When the voice spoke it was the hissing of a snake but Harry understood it non the less.
"Welcome to my Rein Of Darkness, Harry. " The red eyes flickered dangerously. "I'll be seeing you soon."
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Harry woke with fire searing across his forehead and down to his eyes which watered from the pain. He gasped out loud and clutched his hands to his face. A low scream of pain tore itself from his lips and escaped into his dark quiet room as his back arched up off the bed. He tried to open his eye but found to his horror he could see nothing but blinding red. He felt as if his eyeballs were scorched with flames and his forehead was being pounded with a hammer.
Harry squeezed his eyes shut against the pain. Another scream escaped his lips though this time it was slightly breathy. He forced himself to gulp in a mouthful of air and to relax his body. Slowly the pain began to recede from his scar until it was only a slight thumping like a blood vessel under his skin.
He slowly opened his eyes but shut them again immediately as his vision blurred and swam before him making him feel sick and dizzy. Reaching blindly he retrieved his glasses from his bedside table and pushed them onto his face. Once again opening his eyes he sighed in relief as his vision cleared and he was staring at his normal, dark room.
Blinking in confusion he sat up and fumbled against the wall until the room was flooded with light. He stared around, finding comfort that everything was in it's proper place. Hedwig was snoozing softly in her cage on his desk, his few birthday cards were lined up there as well, along with his open potions book. Even though everything seemed perfectly fine he still felt disorientated from his dream. He remembered every single detail of it, from the mist on his skin to the taste of the air. He knew what had taken place in that dream and the thought alone made his blood run cold because he knew it was no ordinary dream. It had been real.
Voldemort had freed the prisoners from Azakaban.
But there had also been the blue and red clad figures. Harry knew that Aurors wore powder blue robes and the red could possibly be those of the order. The Aurors and order members in the dream led Harry to believe that not only had it already happened, it was possibly happening right now.
He knew Voldemort had not truly been there, he would not have risked himself getting caught. The whole dream had been a message from Voldemort. Never had Harry's scar hurt so badly before, it was almost as if it had been set aflame from the inside out. And his vision going red? The only thing he could think of that compared to the pain he just felt was cruciatus. Harry wouldn't be surprised if Voldemort had somehow sent the pain as well.
Harry had to admit to himself that he was a little frightened. He knew he would never get used to the feeling of having Voldemort inside his mind. But what scared just a little more was that he felt relieved. Relieved because he wasn't having one of his normal nightmares, the nightmares where he saw his best friend being killed. He had been having him ever since he started Hogwarts and thought he should have been used to them by then but they still disturbed him. Even more than his Voldemort dreams and he couldn't understand why.
The words Voldemort had spoken in his dream came back to him, Welcome to my Rein Of Darkness, Harry. I'll be seeing you soon. Chills raced down Harry's spine.
Tap.
Harry almost jumped clear out of his skin from the startling sound.
Tap, tap, tap.
Glancing at his window, Harry saw a brown owl perched outside tapping lightly against the glass pane. Moving quickly to his feet, Harry walked across he room and swiftly threw open the window. The owl swooped in and dropped the folded letter, with a soft hoot, at Harry's feet. It circled the room once before sweeping back out the open window. Hedwig, who had awoken at the tapping, watched this all with a rather bored expression. Seemingly annoyed, she ruffled her feathers once before choosing to go back to sleep.
Harry closed the window and then picked up the letter curiously. Scrawled out on the front in neat, slanting script, were only two letters, SH. Feeling a bubble of excitement starting in his stomach, Harry ripped open the letter and read it contents hurriedly:
SH,
Get ready. Two OM's are on there way over to get you. Look for the green sparks. They'll be taking you to a safe house. I'll see you there.
SP.
That's it, Harry thought. No Hello, Harry, how are you or Sorry I didn't write at all this summer. Harry understood the need to be discreet and quick but he could have at least given him some kind of personal message.
Ever since the thing last year at the Ministry of Magic things had been strange between Harry and his best friend. It was awkward and stressed, almost forced. Harry didn't know how to handle it. Every time he tried to talk about it the subject was just brushed away with a cool glance. Then he hadn't received not one letter from his friend since school let out. Not even a card on his birthday. Harry was beginning to wonder if his friend blamed him for what had happened. He really hoped not, it wasn't as if there was something he could've done to prevent it. Maybe he regrets ever being your friend in the first place, he thought to himself. After all you have made his life pretty tough by just being his friend.
Harry would never admit it, especially not to him, but he had begun to get worried. Last time he had went without receiving a letter from his friend during the summer things had been going very badly. That was last summer and Harry couldn't imagine how things could be going badly now, not with him safe at his godfathers house and with his father in Azakaban. But if Azakaban had been broken into, it wouldn't be long until his father was out once again. Harry didn't want to think about that.
Sighing wearily Harry pushed those thoughts away. That would have to wait until later, right now he had to focus on what the letter had said. He read over it once more. Two order members were on their way to get him? What for? And what was a safe house?
Harry looked at the handwriting on the paper, it was a very distinct scrawl and the code names were definitely ones they used (though Harry didn't like them too much). It wasn't likely that the letter was a fake.
Having deciding that the letter was in fact real Harry began to get to work with his things. He moved quickly around the room throwing all his discarded clothes into his trunk along with any books he had out and his pile of birthday cards. All stray quills and parchment were thrown on top of everything else before he snapped the trunk closed with a soft thunk. He listened for a moment, making sure his that no one had heard his progress in the other rooms. The only sound that came to his ears were those of Dudley's snoring in the next room.
He took out a regular piece of paper and a pen and wrote a short note to the Dursley's telling them that he was gone and not to get their hopes up because he would be back next summer. He left it on his desk and grabbed his wand from under his pillow, stuffing it in his back pocket. He then turned to look out the window and wait.
Why, he wondered, were they on their way to get him now. It was two o'clock in the morning! The Dursley's were still in the house. Last time they had come to get him they had sent the Dursley's out and a whole fleet of people had come for him, not just two. Something wasn't right, Harry could feel it, he just didn't know what it was exactly.
Harry had been waiting all of fifteen minutes when he saw the green sparks shooting across the black sky, cresting the tree tops. Harry stood up, getting prepared to leave when he realized he didn't know what to do. The letter hadn't given him any instructions except for to watch for the green sparks. Now that he had seen the sparks he was at a lost. Was he to go outside and meet them? He'd have considerable trouble getting his trunk out there quietly without using magic. Was he to wait until they knocked on the door so he could let them? That seemed like a stupid thing to do.
Making up his mind Harry walked out of his room into the dark hallway without his trunk. His wand was clutched tightly in his hand as he made his way as silently as possible down the steps. Since the sparks had come from closer to the backyard than the front, Harry headed into the kitchen and out the back door.
A sliver of a moon hung in the sky casting a pale glow over the dew glistening grass. Harry squinted, trying to see in the faint light. He looked from the empty stone bench to the low shrubs that lined the yard, searching for any movement. From what he could see the yard was completely empty.
The soft sound of footsteps caught his attention and he turned to look at the gap between the side of he house and the neighbors fence. A shadow, followed by another, detached themselves from the side of the house and two figures began to move towards him. Raising his wand, Harry watched the figures as they drew closer. One was tall, it's shadow stretching across the lawn, while the other was shorter and wider like that of a large animal.
"Lumos," a deep voice croaked. A light was suddenly flooded the shadowed lawn and Harry could see the face of his rescuer.
"Professor Lupin?" Harry asked softly. He kept his wand up. Lupin stood before him with slight smile on his haggard face. Beside him stood a large black dog with a red collar. It looked just like the dog Harry had seen in his third year, the one he believed was the grim, except for the collar.
"Hello Harry," Lupin greeted. "You can lower your wand now."
"How do I know it' really you?" Harry asked, his wand still raised. Remus' smile
widened.
"I taught you how to cast a patronus, which takes the shape of a stag."
"Okay," Harry said grinning. "What's with the dog?"
"Just an old friend. Where's your trunk Harry?"
"Up in my room . . ." Harry began but he trailed off at the look on his former professors face. He was glancing around anxiously as if waiting for something to happen. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing Harry," Lupin said quickly with what looked like a forced smile. "I want you to stay here with Padfoot while I go get your trunk. Which room is yours?"
"The first one at the top of the stairs. The lights on and the doors open."
Lupin gave a quick nod before walking past Harry and disappearing into the house. Harry was left in the dark with the giant dog, Padfoot. Harry looked closely at the dog. It was gazing steadily at him with a pair of luminous eyes. There was something about those eyes that grabbed Harry's attention. They held expression, depth --- they weren't the eyes of a dog.
'That's because it's not a dog,' a voice inside Harry said. Harry knew that voice, he had been hearing since he was eleven, right after he had found out he was a wizard. By now, even though he didn't know what it was, he had learned to trust it. It had never led him wrong.
"Your not really a dog, are you," Harry mused aloud. The dog blinked but continued to stare at him. "I wonder who you really are."
Padfoot, Harry thought. I've heard that name before. Where did I hear that from?
Before Harry could figure out Professor Lupin emerged from the house with Harry's trunk and Hedwig's cage floating in front of him. Hedwig was giving the werewolf a reproachful look as he guiding her cage to where Harry and Padfoot where standing.
"Okay, Harry," Lupin said rummaging in his robes with one hand. "Take Hedwig's cage."
Harry grabbed Hedwig's cage as she tried to snipped angrily at his fingers through the bars. "Where are we going?" Harry asked. "Where's this safe house? How are we getting there?"
"I can't tell you where we're going, not now Harry. You'll have to wait until we get there. We're taking a portkey."
"Portkey? But I thought you couldn't do illegal portkey's. That's what you said last time-"
"This time is different, Harry. We need to get you out of here as soon as possible." Lupin held up a hand as Harry opened his mouth to speak. "Not now. We'll tell you everything later. Take hold of this." He held out a small china tea-cup for Harry to take. Harry reached out and touched it with one hand while the other one clutched Hedwig's cage more tightly. Lupin held the cup in one hand as the other held onto the handle of Harry's trunk.
"Okay, on the count of three. One, two, three. . ."
Harry only had time to register that the dog, Padfoot, had suddenly run off, barking and growling before he felt the familiar pull behind his navel and soon Private Drive was gone.
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Harry was dumped un-ceremoniously onto the floor of what looked like a kitchen. Hedwig's cage went flying from his arm and rolled across the floor with Hedwig screeching all the way.
"Graceful as always, Potter," a familiar voice drawled from somewhere in the room. Harry was too busy standing and rubbing his sore butt to pin point from where.
"Shut it, Malfoy," he snarled. Looking around, Harry saw he was indeed in a rather large kitchen. He could smell tea and firewhisky in the air along with whatever had been dinner. A long table was sitting in the middle of the room and at the table sat two figures. One was a middle aged man with greasy black hair, a hooked nose and cold black eyes, and the other was a boy around Harry's age with a pale skin, bright blond hair and amused sneer on his face. Both were wearing black robes and had cups of tea steaming in front of them, though both cups looked full as if they had been too busy to drink.
Harry glared at the boy as he went to retrieved Hedwigs cage. She snapped furiously at him as he tried to pick it up but calmed down considerably once he had her righted.
"I take it you got my letter," Draco said to him in a bored tone while inspecting his finger nails. "Didn't have any problems getting here?"
"Yes, I got your letter," Harry snapped. "And no, no problems getting here. Wherever here is."
"Touchy," Draco said offhandedly but Harry noticed he relaxed visibly. "And this is the safe house, like I told you."
"Where's Black," Snape asked Lupin who was pacing worriedly.
"I don't know," Lupin answered, running a shaking hand through his greying hair. "Right as we were leaving he ran off. I think he saw someone."
"He had the portkey, didn't he?"
"Yes, he had the collar."
"Who's Black?" Harry asked looking from one man to the other. "You mean the dog?" Draco heaved a huge exasperated sigh as if he was surrounded by morons.
"Come on, Harry," he drawled standing up from the table. "Let's go to your room. Where's that damn house elf anyway."
"Draco, language." Snape's tone was bored and implied that he really didn't care what kind of language the boy used.
"Yeah, whatever," Draco said rolling his eyes before he screamed. "KREACHER!"
"Could you possibly scream louder," Harry said. "I'm not sure they heard you in China."
"Of course they did, my voice carries." Harry just continued to glare at the other boy who was looking back at him with one pale eyebrow raised in amusement. Harry was just about to ask Draco what he thought was so funny when a shuffling sound brought his attention to the door of the kitchen.
Walking into the room was an old hunched back house elf. He was wearing something that looked an old diaper and had a huge grin on it's ugly face.
"Yes, master Malfoy," it said. "How can I help you master Malfoy?"
Draco raised his nose arrogantly in the air as if he could not be bothered with such a lowly creatures presence and said in a snotty superior voice, "Take that trunk and cage up the room beside mines and get the room prepared. And hurry on with it scum before I decide to give you clothes."
The house elf let out a terrified squeak and snapped it's fingers. Harry's trunk and Hedwig's cage disappeared and the house elf scurried out the door.
"I don't understand why that elf likes you so much," Snape mused with a slight sneer that was almost a smile.
"It's because I'm a Malfoy. Everyone likes me." Even Harry couldn't help but smile a little.
"Now, come along Potter. We've things to discuss." Draco swept from the room and, after an agreeing nod from Lupin, Harry followed.
Outside the kitchen was dark, so dark Harry couldn't see a thing. "Draco?" Harry called.
"Ssh, Potter, you don't want to wake anything up do you," Draco's hushed voice answered.
"But I can't see," Harry whispered into the darkness. Harry heard Draco give a sigh and after a moment a hand grasped his wrist. Harry suppressed a smile even though he knew the other boy couldn't see him.
"Here, follow me." Draco pulled Harry through what he supposed was a hallway for he could feel the walls pressing into him on either side. Harry wondered vaguely what Draco meant by waking something up but pushed the thought aside as just another thing he'd have to ask the blond. Suddenly Harry stumbled into a hard object and almost fell onto his face.
"Steps," Draco said a moment too late. Harry glared at the darkness before him while taking the first step. "Gee, thanks," he mumbled.
Harry stumbled clumsily up the steps cursing softly under his breath all the way, aware that the person in front of him was chuckling under their breath. Finally they came to a landing and Harry relaxed, no longer afraid he was going to fall onto his face. Draco kept pulling him along at a brisk pace, causing Harry to stumble a few times, so when Draco suddenly stopped Harry understandably banged rather forcefully into him, making the other boy stumble forward into the closed door.
"Potter," Draco growled, rubbing his face.
"Sorry, but maybe you could give me some warning next time." Draco sighed and pushed open the door.
A large fire was lit on the opposite side of the room lighting the large space with golden light. A small black couch was situated in front of the fire along with a small wood side table. A large bed sat against one wall, while a wardrobe was pushed against the other.
Draco strode into the room and allowed himself to flop down on the bed. Harry remained in the doorway for a moment looking at the other boy. He looked paler than usual and his eyes, which were usually sparkling grey with humor, were a flat cold grey. The firelight touched his pale hair giving it a faint orange glow. It was shorter than Harry remembered, only coming down to below his ears and for once was limp and un-gelled. Harry felt something stir inside him, something he chose to ignore like he had been doing for so long.
Ever since the beginning of first year Harry and Draco had been inseparable. At first Harry wasn't sure he would ever like the blond boy but as the years passed Harry found himself warming to the other boy. He even appreciated his sick, twisted humor. They still disagreed on several things, like muggle-borns and half-bloods being inferior to pure-blood wizards. Draco still seemed to think himself and all other pure-blood wizards above the rest no matter how many times Harry pointed out to him that Harry himself was a half-blood. Draco would only say, quite simply, "There are always exceptions," and leave it at that.
They fought often but always seemed to forget about it a few hours later and would treat it as if nothing had happened. The longest period of time they went without speaking was about a week but that was only because Draco had then left the next day for Christmas holidays and Harry had stayed behind at the school. Harry found it easy to be around Draco and it was only around Harry that Draco truly let down his guard.
They did however, seem to get themselves into a lot of sticky situations. Draco's sneakiness and Harry's unusual bravery combined seemed to be the perfect formula for trouble. Almost every year they had managed to find themselves in the middle of every bad situation. So much so, they had been crowned the Slytherin Bad Boys by their fellow house mates. Draco blamed it all on Harry's, as he put it, "Gryffindor bravery". Not a year went by that Draco didn't tell Harry he should have been a Gryffindor. For some reason Harry always felt a small twinge of pride from this statement.
But things had changed in their fifth year, even now Harry could feel the change. The air around them was tense and Harry could literally feel Draco's uneasy as he shifted on the bed. Harry wasn't ready to admit to himself exactly what had changed for him, so he penned the awkwardness on the events of last year.
"Well," Draco drawled from his perch on the bed. "Are you going to just stand there stare at me all night. I know I'm gorgoes but I figured you had some questions you wanted answered."
Harry shot Draco a weak glare before he moved to sit down on the bed beside his best friend leaving a considerable amount of space between them. If Draco noticed he didn't comment, he only waved his hand regally in Harry's direction and said, "Ask away."
"Okay, let's start with, why the hell haven't you written to me all summer?"
Draco smirked at his friend. "You're such a girl," he said and then began to tell Harry exactly what was going on.
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-I keep on dreamin' because I can
Even though my eyes don't close
I keep on slippin' out of this life
Waiting for the drapes to close -- Katy Rose, Because I Can
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A/N: That was chapter three! I hope you liked it. In chapter four you'll be figuring out exactly what is going on, where Harry's at (though you've probably already guessed!), what happened last year between Harry and Draco, who the dog is (you've probably already guessed that as well) and what is so wrong with the code names Draco used in his letter.
Okay, one other thing, I REALLY, REALLY need a beta. Anyone who wants to beta read for me please e-mail me at I would like someone who has experience and who has written or beta read a slash story.
Now you know what time it is REVIEW! REVIEW! I want to hear from everyone, don't hold back. Tell me exactly what you think: It sucked, It rocked, whatever, I just wanna hear from you. So one last time, REVIEW!
SUMMARY: "You can change it if you start from the beginning." After Draco dies Harry finds it hard to let go. Then he meets a old man in Knockturn Alley who sales him a potion and convinces him he can change it if he starts from the beginning.
WARNING: This is a slash story meaning boy/boy relationship. If you don't like it, don't read it. I am warning you for a reason.
A/N: There were so many review for the last chapter I can't even thank you all personally! So I just want to give a big THANK YOU to everyone who reviewed. I appreciate every single one of you. I also want to say THANK YOU to everyone for giving me their opinion on what I should do, go through the years or start in the sixth year. I don't think I would have been able to decide without your help. All your input has led me to the decision to jump ahead and start it off in Harry and Draco's sixth year. There will be flash backs through out the chapters but they will not be in any pacific order. I will let you know when the flash back is taking place so don't worry about that.
This chapter may be a little confusing and it won't go at all really into what has happened over past few years, that will have to wait until next chapter. Everything is going to start off pretty quickly so be prepared. Read on!
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Chapter Three: Nightmares and Rescues
-I keep on dreamin' because I can
Even though my eyes don't close
I keep on trippin' because it's free
To a place I only know-
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There is something deep inside Harry Potter. Something that lay curled up in the deepest corner of his mind, almost asleep. It had been laying dormant for some time, occasionally making it's presence known to help push little Potter in the right directions. Otherwise it lay, silent and still, waiting for the time it would be needed.
It seemed it's first decisions, putting Harry in Slytherin and befriending Draco Malfoy, were changes that caused a chain reaction. Everything Harry did after that was different and that would have suited the something fine except the dreams kept coming. Draco killed in the war right before his eyes with a flash of green light that could only be one thing. Every dream was the same, they hadn't changed yet. But everything else did keep changing. The something was confused and frustrated but it would not give up hope. So it watched and waited for the time when it could make the right change that would bring him back for good.
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Gray fog was swirling around his feet, misting his skin with cool droplets. The sky was dark as if a black cloak had been draped over it muting out the stars and moon. The air felt thick and tasted of salt and rain as he opened his mouth to take in a shuddering breath. All around him dark figures moved in billowing cloaks, the flash of a white mask slipping from his view. There were voices raised, frantic calling and low moaning, mingling with the sound of muffled footsteps and above it all the crash of the sea against rock, spraying foam and water.
Harry shivered as he listened to the sound of grinding metal as cells where unlocked and blown open. Huddled figures stumbled from dark caves, their eyes bulging and rolling back in their skeletal skulls, mouths like gaping holes sucking in life. Harry's whole body felt incased in ice, a cold sweat breaking out on his neck and forehead. His mother's cries called dully from deep in his mind as hooded black figures glided by paying no attention to the mayhem around them.
Suddenly a loud cry pierced through the muted sounds. The throng of black figures were suddenly dotted with blue and red cloaks. Flashes of light lit the darkness. Red, blue, green, gold. Shouts of alarm, cries of pain, moans of anguish filled the air along with the silver glow of flying shapes, that began to bare down on the gliding black figures.
The ground was being littered with fallen bodies, splashes of glistening red liquid trailed across the stone floor. Harry could see faces. Faces of fear and shock and of determination and resolution. Wands were raised, incantations were bellowed, sparks were shot. Harry stood amidst the chaos like a phantom, observing it all but taking no part in it's doings. Spells flew through him, figures swept by him but none registered his presences. It was as if he was not there.
Then he felt them. The eyes that bore into his back with a ferocious hunger. That made his skin crawl and the hairs on his arms raise. That made his stomach churn and his heart race with fear and hatred.
Harry turned to face the man in the black cloaks. His face was ghastly pale, his nose flat and flaring like a snake, his eyes no more than two red slits in a stretched face. His lips curled and white teeth gleamed in the darkness. When the voice spoke it was the hissing of a snake but Harry understood it non the less.
"Welcome to my Rein Of Darkness, Harry. " The red eyes flickered dangerously. "I'll be seeing you soon."
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Harry woke with fire searing across his forehead and down to his eyes which watered from the pain. He gasped out loud and clutched his hands to his face. A low scream of pain tore itself from his lips and escaped into his dark quiet room as his back arched up off the bed. He tried to open his eye but found to his horror he could see nothing but blinding red. He felt as if his eyeballs were scorched with flames and his forehead was being pounded with a hammer.
Harry squeezed his eyes shut against the pain. Another scream escaped his lips though this time it was slightly breathy. He forced himself to gulp in a mouthful of air and to relax his body. Slowly the pain began to recede from his scar until it was only a slight thumping like a blood vessel under his skin.
He slowly opened his eyes but shut them again immediately as his vision blurred and swam before him making him feel sick and dizzy. Reaching blindly he retrieved his glasses from his bedside table and pushed them onto his face. Once again opening his eyes he sighed in relief as his vision cleared and he was staring at his normal, dark room.
Blinking in confusion he sat up and fumbled against the wall until the room was flooded with light. He stared around, finding comfort that everything was in it's proper place. Hedwig was snoozing softly in her cage on his desk, his few birthday cards were lined up there as well, along with his open potions book. Even though everything seemed perfectly fine he still felt disorientated from his dream. He remembered every single detail of it, from the mist on his skin to the taste of the air. He knew what had taken place in that dream and the thought alone made his blood run cold because he knew it was no ordinary dream. It had been real.
Voldemort had freed the prisoners from Azakaban.
But there had also been the blue and red clad figures. Harry knew that Aurors wore powder blue robes and the red could possibly be those of the order. The Aurors and order members in the dream led Harry to believe that not only had it already happened, it was possibly happening right now.
He knew Voldemort had not truly been there, he would not have risked himself getting caught. The whole dream had been a message from Voldemort. Never had Harry's scar hurt so badly before, it was almost as if it had been set aflame from the inside out. And his vision going red? The only thing he could think of that compared to the pain he just felt was cruciatus. Harry wouldn't be surprised if Voldemort had somehow sent the pain as well.
Harry had to admit to himself that he was a little frightened. He knew he would never get used to the feeling of having Voldemort inside his mind. But what scared just a little more was that he felt relieved. Relieved because he wasn't having one of his normal nightmares, the nightmares where he saw his best friend being killed. He had been having him ever since he started Hogwarts and thought he should have been used to them by then but they still disturbed him. Even more than his Voldemort dreams and he couldn't understand why.
The words Voldemort had spoken in his dream came back to him, Welcome to my Rein Of Darkness, Harry. I'll be seeing you soon. Chills raced down Harry's spine.
Tap.
Harry almost jumped clear out of his skin from the startling sound.
Tap, tap, tap.
Glancing at his window, Harry saw a brown owl perched outside tapping lightly against the glass pane. Moving quickly to his feet, Harry walked across he room and swiftly threw open the window. The owl swooped in and dropped the folded letter, with a soft hoot, at Harry's feet. It circled the room once before sweeping back out the open window. Hedwig, who had awoken at the tapping, watched this all with a rather bored expression. Seemingly annoyed, she ruffled her feathers once before choosing to go back to sleep.
Harry closed the window and then picked up the letter curiously. Scrawled out on the front in neat, slanting script, were only two letters, SH. Feeling a bubble of excitement starting in his stomach, Harry ripped open the letter and read it contents hurriedly:
SH,
Get ready. Two OM's are on there way over to get you. Look for the green sparks. They'll be taking you to a safe house. I'll see you there.
SP.
That's it, Harry thought. No Hello, Harry, how are you or Sorry I didn't write at all this summer. Harry understood the need to be discreet and quick but he could have at least given him some kind of personal message.
Ever since the thing last year at the Ministry of Magic things had been strange between Harry and his best friend. It was awkward and stressed, almost forced. Harry didn't know how to handle it. Every time he tried to talk about it the subject was just brushed away with a cool glance. Then he hadn't received not one letter from his friend since school let out. Not even a card on his birthday. Harry was beginning to wonder if his friend blamed him for what had happened. He really hoped not, it wasn't as if there was something he could've done to prevent it. Maybe he regrets ever being your friend in the first place, he thought to himself. After all you have made his life pretty tough by just being his friend.
Harry would never admit it, especially not to him, but he had begun to get worried. Last time he had went without receiving a letter from his friend during the summer things had been going very badly. That was last summer and Harry couldn't imagine how things could be going badly now, not with him safe at his godfathers house and with his father in Azakaban. But if Azakaban had been broken into, it wouldn't be long until his father was out once again. Harry didn't want to think about that.
Sighing wearily Harry pushed those thoughts away. That would have to wait until later, right now he had to focus on what the letter had said. He read over it once more. Two order members were on their way to get him? What for? And what was a safe house?
Harry looked at the handwriting on the paper, it was a very distinct scrawl and the code names were definitely ones they used (though Harry didn't like them too much). It wasn't likely that the letter was a fake.
Having deciding that the letter was in fact real Harry began to get to work with his things. He moved quickly around the room throwing all his discarded clothes into his trunk along with any books he had out and his pile of birthday cards. All stray quills and parchment were thrown on top of everything else before he snapped the trunk closed with a soft thunk. He listened for a moment, making sure his that no one had heard his progress in the other rooms. The only sound that came to his ears were those of Dudley's snoring in the next room.
He took out a regular piece of paper and a pen and wrote a short note to the Dursley's telling them that he was gone and not to get their hopes up because he would be back next summer. He left it on his desk and grabbed his wand from under his pillow, stuffing it in his back pocket. He then turned to look out the window and wait.
Why, he wondered, were they on their way to get him now. It was two o'clock in the morning! The Dursley's were still in the house. Last time they had come to get him they had sent the Dursley's out and a whole fleet of people had come for him, not just two. Something wasn't right, Harry could feel it, he just didn't know what it was exactly.
Harry had been waiting all of fifteen minutes when he saw the green sparks shooting across the black sky, cresting the tree tops. Harry stood up, getting prepared to leave when he realized he didn't know what to do. The letter hadn't given him any instructions except for to watch for the green sparks. Now that he had seen the sparks he was at a lost. Was he to go outside and meet them? He'd have considerable trouble getting his trunk out there quietly without using magic. Was he to wait until they knocked on the door so he could let them? That seemed like a stupid thing to do.
Making up his mind Harry walked out of his room into the dark hallway without his trunk. His wand was clutched tightly in his hand as he made his way as silently as possible down the steps. Since the sparks had come from closer to the backyard than the front, Harry headed into the kitchen and out the back door.
A sliver of a moon hung in the sky casting a pale glow over the dew glistening grass. Harry squinted, trying to see in the faint light. He looked from the empty stone bench to the low shrubs that lined the yard, searching for any movement. From what he could see the yard was completely empty.
The soft sound of footsteps caught his attention and he turned to look at the gap between the side of he house and the neighbors fence. A shadow, followed by another, detached themselves from the side of the house and two figures began to move towards him. Raising his wand, Harry watched the figures as they drew closer. One was tall, it's shadow stretching across the lawn, while the other was shorter and wider like that of a large animal.
"Lumos," a deep voice croaked. A light was suddenly flooded the shadowed lawn and Harry could see the face of his rescuer.
"Professor Lupin?" Harry asked softly. He kept his wand up. Lupin stood before him with slight smile on his haggard face. Beside him stood a large black dog with a red collar. It looked just like the dog Harry had seen in his third year, the one he believed was the grim, except for the collar.
"Hello Harry," Lupin greeted. "You can lower your wand now."
"How do I know it' really you?" Harry asked, his wand still raised. Remus' smile
widened.
"I taught you how to cast a patronus, which takes the shape of a stag."
"Okay," Harry said grinning. "What's with the dog?"
"Just an old friend. Where's your trunk Harry?"
"Up in my room . . ." Harry began but he trailed off at the look on his former professors face. He was glancing around anxiously as if waiting for something to happen. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing Harry," Lupin said quickly with what looked like a forced smile. "I want you to stay here with Padfoot while I go get your trunk. Which room is yours?"
"The first one at the top of the stairs. The lights on and the doors open."
Lupin gave a quick nod before walking past Harry and disappearing into the house. Harry was left in the dark with the giant dog, Padfoot. Harry looked closely at the dog. It was gazing steadily at him with a pair of luminous eyes. There was something about those eyes that grabbed Harry's attention. They held expression, depth --- they weren't the eyes of a dog.
'That's because it's not a dog,' a voice inside Harry said. Harry knew that voice, he had been hearing since he was eleven, right after he had found out he was a wizard. By now, even though he didn't know what it was, he had learned to trust it. It had never led him wrong.
"Your not really a dog, are you," Harry mused aloud. The dog blinked but continued to stare at him. "I wonder who you really are."
Padfoot, Harry thought. I've heard that name before. Where did I hear that from?
Before Harry could figure out Professor Lupin emerged from the house with Harry's trunk and Hedwig's cage floating in front of him. Hedwig was giving the werewolf a reproachful look as he guiding her cage to where Harry and Padfoot where standing.
"Okay, Harry," Lupin said rummaging in his robes with one hand. "Take Hedwig's cage."
Harry grabbed Hedwig's cage as she tried to snipped angrily at his fingers through the bars. "Where are we going?" Harry asked. "Where's this safe house? How are we getting there?"
"I can't tell you where we're going, not now Harry. You'll have to wait until we get there. We're taking a portkey."
"Portkey? But I thought you couldn't do illegal portkey's. That's what you said last time-"
"This time is different, Harry. We need to get you out of here as soon as possible." Lupin held up a hand as Harry opened his mouth to speak. "Not now. We'll tell you everything later. Take hold of this." He held out a small china tea-cup for Harry to take. Harry reached out and touched it with one hand while the other one clutched Hedwig's cage more tightly. Lupin held the cup in one hand as the other held onto the handle of Harry's trunk.
"Okay, on the count of three. One, two, three. . ."
Harry only had time to register that the dog, Padfoot, had suddenly run off, barking and growling before he felt the familiar pull behind his navel and soon Private Drive was gone.
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Harry was dumped un-ceremoniously onto the floor of what looked like a kitchen. Hedwig's cage went flying from his arm and rolled across the floor with Hedwig screeching all the way.
"Graceful as always, Potter," a familiar voice drawled from somewhere in the room. Harry was too busy standing and rubbing his sore butt to pin point from where.
"Shut it, Malfoy," he snarled. Looking around, Harry saw he was indeed in a rather large kitchen. He could smell tea and firewhisky in the air along with whatever had been dinner. A long table was sitting in the middle of the room and at the table sat two figures. One was a middle aged man with greasy black hair, a hooked nose and cold black eyes, and the other was a boy around Harry's age with a pale skin, bright blond hair and amused sneer on his face. Both were wearing black robes and had cups of tea steaming in front of them, though both cups looked full as if they had been too busy to drink.
Harry glared at the boy as he went to retrieved Hedwigs cage. She snapped furiously at him as he tried to pick it up but calmed down considerably once he had her righted.
"I take it you got my letter," Draco said to him in a bored tone while inspecting his finger nails. "Didn't have any problems getting here?"
"Yes, I got your letter," Harry snapped. "And no, no problems getting here. Wherever here is."
"Touchy," Draco said offhandedly but Harry noticed he relaxed visibly. "And this is the safe house, like I told you."
"Where's Black," Snape asked Lupin who was pacing worriedly.
"I don't know," Lupin answered, running a shaking hand through his greying hair. "Right as we were leaving he ran off. I think he saw someone."
"He had the portkey, didn't he?"
"Yes, he had the collar."
"Who's Black?" Harry asked looking from one man to the other. "You mean the dog?" Draco heaved a huge exasperated sigh as if he was surrounded by morons.
"Come on, Harry," he drawled standing up from the table. "Let's go to your room. Where's that damn house elf anyway."
"Draco, language." Snape's tone was bored and implied that he really didn't care what kind of language the boy used.
"Yeah, whatever," Draco said rolling his eyes before he screamed. "KREACHER!"
"Could you possibly scream louder," Harry said. "I'm not sure they heard you in China."
"Of course they did, my voice carries." Harry just continued to glare at the other boy who was looking back at him with one pale eyebrow raised in amusement. Harry was just about to ask Draco what he thought was so funny when a shuffling sound brought his attention to the door of the kitchen.
Walking into the room was an old hunched back house elf. He was wearing something that looked an old diaper and had a huge grin on it's ugly face.
"Yes, master Malfoy," it said. "How can I help you master Malfoy?"
Draco raised his nose arrogantly in the air as if he could not be bothered with such a lowly creatures presence and said in a snotty superior voice, "Take that trunk and cage up the room beside mines and get the room prepared. And hurry on with it scum before I decide to give you clothes."
The house elf let out a terrified squeak and snapped it's fingers. Harry's trunk and Hedwig's cage disappeared and the house elf scurried out the door.
"I don't understand why that elf likes you so much," Snape mused with a slight sneer that was almost a smile.
"It's because I'm a Malfoy. Everyone likes me." Even Harry couldn't help but smile a little.
"Now, come along Potter. We've things to discuss." Draco swept from the room and, after an agreeing nod from Lupin, Harry followed.
Outside the kitchen was dark, so dark Harry couldn't see a thing. "Draco?" Harry called.
"Ssh, Potter, you don't want to wake anything up do you," Draco's hushed voice answered.
"But I can't see," Harry whispered into the darkness. Harry heard Draco give a sigh and after a moment a hand grasped his wrist. Harry suppressed a smile even though he knew the other boy couldn't see him.
"Here, follow me." Draco pulled Harry through what he supposed was a hallway for he could feel the walls pressing into him on either side. Harry wondered vaguely what Draco meant by waking something up but pushed the thought aside as just another thing he'd have to ask the blond. Suddenly Harry stumbled into a hard object and almost fell onto his face.
"Steps," Draco said a moment too late. Harry glared at the darkness before him while taking the first step. "Gee, thanks," he mumbled.
Harry stumbled clumsily up the steps cursing softly under his breath all the way, aware that the person in front of him was chuckling under their breath. Finally they came to a landing and Harry relaxed, no longer afraid he was going to fall onto his face. Draco kept pulling him along at a brisk pace, causing Harry to stumble a few times, so when Draco suddenly stopped Harry understandably banged rather forcefully into him, making the other boy stumble forward into the closed door.
"Potter," Draco growled, rubbing his face.
"Sorry, but maybe you could give me some warning next time." Draco sighed and pushed open the door.
A large fire was lit on the opposite side of the room lighting the large space with golden light. A small black couch was situated in front of the fire along with a small wood side table. A large bed sat against one wall, while a wardrobe was pushed against the other.
Draco strode into the room and allowed himself to flop down on the bed. Harry remained in the doorway for a moment looking at the other boy. He looked paler than usual and his eyes, which were usually sparkling grey with humor, were a flat cold grey. The firelight touched his pale hair giving it a faint orange glow. It was shorter than Harry remembered, only coming down to below his ears and for once was limp and un-gelled. Harry felt something stir inside him, something he chose to ignore like he had been doing for so long.
Ever since the beginning of first year Harry and Draco had been inseparable. At first Harry wasn't sure he would ever like the blond boy but as the years passed Harry found himself warming to the other boy. He even appreciated his sick, twisted humor. They still disagreed on several things, like muggle-borns and half-bloods being inferior to pure-blood wizards. Draco still seemed to think himself and all other pure-blood wizards above the rest no matter how many times Harry pointed out to him that Harry himself was a half-blood. Draco would only say, quite simply, "There are always exceptions," and leave it at that.
They fought often but always seemed to forget about it a few hours later and would treat it as if nothing had happened. The longest period of time they went without speaking was about a week but that was only because Draco had then left the next day for Christmas holidays and Harry had stayed behind at the school. Harry found it easy to be around Draco and it was only around Harry that Draco truly let down his guard.
They did however, seem to get themselves into a lot of sticky situations. Draco's sneakiness and Harry's unusual bravery combined seemed to be the perfect formula for trouble. Almost every year they had managed to find themselves in the middle of every bad situation. So much so, they had been crowned the Slytherin Bad Boys by their fellow house mates. Draco blamed it all on Harry's, as he put it, "Gryffindor bravery". Not a year went by that Draco didn't tell Harry he should have been a Gryffindor. For some reason Harry always felt a small twinge of pride from this statement.
But things had changed in their fifth year, even now Harry could feel the change. The air around them was tense and Harry could literally feel Draco's uneasy as he shifted on the bed. Harry wasn't ready to admit to himself exactly what had changed for him, so he penned the awkwardness on the events of last year.
"Well," Draco drawled from his perch on the bed. "Are you going to just stand there stare at me all night. I know I'm gorgoes but I figured you had some questions you wanted answered."
Harry shot Draco a weak glare before he moved to sit down on the bed beside his best friend leaving a considerable amount of space between them. If Draco noticed he didn't comment, he only waved his hand regally in Harry's direction and said, "Ask away."
"Okay, let's start with, why the hell haven't you written to me all summer?"
Draco smirked at his friend. "You're such a girl," he said and then began to tell Harry exactly what was going on.
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-I keep on dreamin' because I can
Even though my eyes don't close
I keep on slippin' out of this life
Waiting for the drapes to close -- Katy Rose, Because I Can
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A/N: That was chapter three! I hope you liked it. In chapter four you'll be figuring out exactly what is going on, where Harry's at (though you've probably already guessed!), what happened last year between Harry and Draco, who the dog is (you've probably already guessed that as well) and what is so wrong with the code names Draco used in his letter.
Okay, one other thing, I REALLY, REALLY need a beta. Anyone who wants to beta read for me please e-mail me at I would like someone who has experience and who has written or beta read a slash story.
Now you know what time it is REVIEW! REVIEW! I want to hear from everyone, don't hold back. Tell me exactly what you think: It sucked, It rocked, whatever, I just wanna hear from you. So one last time, REVIEW!