I've said it before, and I'll say it again: THIS IS MY FIRST HP FIC!  I'm just editting it, and reposting it.  savvy?

Protégé part 2

Warnings: This is a slash fic, which means that it involves two guys having strong feelings for one another.  This is your only warning; so if you do not like reading about two men in love, then don't read.  you've been warned lots now.  Do not harass the author, please.

(Old notes:) Note that this is my first Harry Potter story.  I am not new to the Yaoi/slash concept, and I have written many fics for the Gundam Wing universe (and been writing GW fics for over two years!).  So hopefully I will do a pretty decent story telling job for this universe.

(New notes) I am rewriting this for a repost.  This is the first part in my trilogy, in which I need a name for, I think.  The second part of the trilogy is called Move Heaven and Earth, and the third is called Evil Begets Evil.  I don't know how much will be changed, since I'm writing this note first before I edit.  If anything does change, I will make note of it at the end of the chapter. (and I may make fun of my own fic once in a while, but hey- it is my first HP fic I've ever written.)

Date first written:  July 4, 2002

Contents:  This fic will contain Slash, sap, drama, angst, adventure (let's hope), and slight adult things.

Pairings: Draco/Harry, Ron/Hermione (for now)

Year: 6th

Disclaimer:  I do NOT own any of these characters!  J.K. Rowlings is the wonderful person who does, and I wish her luck with her next book.

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          Ron finally saw Harry emerge from the Gryffindor hall, walking very carefully to their table.  He noticed, with some surprise, that Harry had backed away when his sister tried to greet him.  Something was wrong.  Harry usually gave Ginny a hug when he saw her.

          When Harry sat down between Ron and Hermione, his best friend was giving him a dubious look.

          "Harry, what in the world was that about?"

          "What do you mean?"  Asked Harry, taking a bite of his pancakes.

          "What you just did!  You just *snubbed* my sister!"  At that moment, Ginny sat down at the table, facing Harry and her brother with a small frown on her face.

          "Harry?  Are you mad at me?"

          Harry looked up from his plate in surprise, "No!  Of course not.  I'm not mad at you.  Why would I be mad at you?"

          "Then what's your problem?" Ron said with a small sneer.

          "I just- it's just…"  he wasn't sure how he should explain it.  He had planned on telling his friends about everything first and see if they thought he should let anyone know.  He was just thinking things through in his head, when someone interrupted him.

          "Hey, Harry!"  It was Neville.  "I heard that you got fifteen points for us during Divination and Charms yesterday!  Nice going!"  He moved his hand to pat Harry on the back.  Not a good idea.  "AHHHH!"  Sparks flew and snaked around Neville's hand.  He jerked his hand away and instantly started to rub it.  Everyone around that saw had their eyes bugging out of their heads.  Everyone that didn't see it was now looking on with interest, wondering what just happened.

          "I'm sorry, Neville!  I didn't mean to…" Harry started.

          "My god, Harry!" Ron gasped, "Why did you attack him??"

          "I was going to tell you guys…"

          "What's going on?"  Professor McGonagall interrupted.

          "Harry attacked Neville!"  Someone from the Ravenclaw table said.

          "I didn't mean to!  I was about to tell everyone…"

          "I'm surprised at you, Mr. Potter." Professor McGonagall said, shaking her head.  "I expected something like this from Mr. Malfoy or even Mr. Goyle, but you?"

          "Professor, please, let me to explain."  Harry pleaded.  He glanced quickly over at the Slytherin table and noticed that Draco was trying not to laugh.  He glared at the blond Slytherin before turning his attention back to McGonagall.

          "Then explain yourself, and it better be good or I'll have to take points away from Gryffindor."

          "I…" Harry looked back over at the Slytherin's table and saw the look of horror cross Draco's face.  Well, wasn't Draco supposed to tell everyone anyways?  Why was the blond wizard taking his time to do so in the first place?  If Draco got mad at him for telling, it was his fault for not saying anything like he was supposed to.

          "Yes, Harry?" Professor McGonagall urged.

          "Well, Malfoy was supposed to tell you all this, but it looks like I'm gonna have to." He looked up at his teacher with doleful eyes, "I'm—I'm cursed."

          Most everyone around him gasped.

          Suddenly there was a loud slam at the Slytherin's table.

          "IT'S NOT A CURSE, YOU MORON!  IT'S A BLOODY PROTECTION CHARM!"

          Another round of gasps was heard.  The entire Great Hall went silent, and they were all staring at Draco.  Even Professor Snape was in some shock.

          "Protection charm, Mr. Malfoy?" Professor McGonagall asked.

          Draco cleared his throat, "Yes.  Uh—I was about to make the announcement, but then Longbottom had to go and screw it all up for me!"

          Professor McGonagall shook her head, pressing her lips into a fine line, "We can't have students putting Charms on one another." She whipped out her wand and waved it at Harry.  "Finite incantatem."

          Ron reached over and put a tentative hand on Harry's shoulder.  He smiled when he didn't get shocked like Neville had.  Just before anyone else could say something, Draco spoke up.

          "That won't work."

          Professor McGonagall looked over at him and narrowed her eyes, "What do you mean?"

          Draco smirked, "I tweaked the charm a bit.  Only *I* am able to take the charm off."

          Ron blinked in confusion, "But I can touch him just fine!"

          "Yes, of course you can, because when I put it on him, I made it so that only me, you, and Granger can touch him.  Everyone and everything else that breathes—will—get—shocked."

          McGonagall tisked, shaking her head, "Bad form, Mr. Malfoy.  Ten points from Slytherin."  There were loud groans of displeasure from the Slytherin table.  "Unless," she continued, calming Snape's students, "you remove the charm from him, then I'll only take five points."

          Everybody watched as Draco stared at Harry.  The wheels inside his head were turning as he stood in a trance like state.  They all held their breaths in anticipation to see what he would do.  The blond never made a move for his wand, or even moved from his spot.

          "I can't do that, Professor McGonagall." Draco said sternly and stubbornly.  "Sorry."

          "No," McGonagall sighed, "I'm sorry.  Five *more* points from Slytherin."  The whole Slytherin table groaned and many glared at the blond, who still stood poised and proper.  Even Snape was shaking his head in dismay.  "And also, Mr. Malfoy, you will go directly to Dumbledore's office after you've finished eating."

          As Draco slumped back into his seat, he felt a wave of piercing stares looking at him.  He didn't even want to know if they were happy for him for putting that spell on Harry and refusing to take it off, or if they were mad at him for getting fifteen points taken away from Slytherin.  He stared down at his breakfast, picking at the eggs on his plate.  Was he doing the right thing by protecting Harry Potter?  He was starting to wonder if he were sick.

~*~

          He stood in front of Dumbledore's office entrance, gathering his courage.  He was getting ready to tell the old man off if he had to.  If the old wizard wanted him to back out on trying to protect Harry, then he had another thing coming.

          He thought about it for a minute.  What should he be scared of anyways?  He was the one in charge here!  Only he can take the Protection spell off of Potter.  And if the old coot tried to threaten him at all, he could just walk away and vow to never release the spell from their beloved hero.  With that new thought in mind, he stepped boldly into Dumbledore's office.

          "It sure took you a while to come in, Mr. Malfoy."

          Draco was startled only for a second, not wanting the old man to get the upper hand with him.  "I was thinking about skipping and going back to my room."

          "Oh?  And get into even more trouble?"

          "Better that than being forced into doing something I don't want to do."

          The elder wizard smiled slightly, crossing his hands in front of him on his desk. "And just what would that be?"

          Draco started, blinking in some surprise at the Professor, but then quickly went back to his smugness.  "Well, you're all knowing, aren't you?  You should know what it is that Professor McGonagall sent me up here for."

          Professor Dumbledore bowed his head slightly, giving a firm nod.  "I see.  And you will go against our wishes and not release Harry from your spell?"

          Draco shook his head firmly, clenching his fists tightly.

          Dumbledore sighed, "Then tell me, Mr. Malfoy, just why have you decided to protect your worst enemy?"

          The word 'enemy' was something that Draco had heard many, many times.  That described the way they were, what the relationship between them was.  But his *worst* enemy?  That he wasn't sure.  Ron had called him that once, about him and Potter being number one enemies, but that was just Weasely.  He knew that Weasely hated him, so it was natural for the weasel to say that about him.  But, now that Professor Dumbledore had said it…

          Draco shook his head, "I do not believe that we are *worst* enemies, sir.  At least not anymore."

          Professor Dumbledore didn't seem shocked in hearing this.  Whether that was good or not, Draco wasn't sure. "Oh?  That explains some of it."

          Draco looked at him funny, cocking his head sideways.  "Explains what?"

          "Why don't you have a seat, Mr. Malfoy?  Surely you can discuss what is going on with me?"

          Draco looked away, unsure of what he should do.  He didn't want to retell any of his nightmares to anyone.  It was just too much.  And not only that, but it felt like a weakness.  The nightmare, or nightmares, have had a major impact on him, and they made him feel weak.  It was something he couldn't control.  And even if he could explain the horror he saw during his dream, he wasn't ready to explain how he felt when he saw… Draco gulped.

          "You are suffering, I know." Professor Dumbledore said softly. "But you will suffer even more if you do not tell me everything.  Do not be afraid to tell me that you feel frightened."

          That got Draco's attention, and he looked up at the old Professor in shock.

          "Afraid??  Me?  Ha!"  He placed his hands on his hips, "I wasn't 'Frightened'.  I am not afraid of some silly dream."

          "But, it wasn't just the usual strange dream, was it?  It was a nightmare."

          Draco ground his teeth together. 'Damn him!  Damn the old man anyway!'  He really wasn't about to tell Dumbledore anything.  "So, it was a nightmare.  Big deal!  I have nightmares all the time.  They don't faze me."

          "Ah." Dumbledore stroked his long beard, "So you have frequent nightmares.  But tell me, Mr. Malfoy, do you have any normal dreams?"

          Without thinking, Draco shrugged and nodded his head, "Well, yeah, of course I do."

          "Then how can you tell a normal dream from a nightmare?  When one has a *scary* dream, it's usually called a nightmare, is it not?"

          Draco gulped and hung his head.  He was busted and he knew it.

          "It is all right, Draco." The Headmaster said with a small smile. "One cannot control one's own dreams.  If they could, they'd never have a single nightmare."  Draco looked up, determined not to waver.  "So, you have this nightmare often, right?  Tell me what it's about.  What parts stick in your head the most?"

          "I don't have a choice, do I?"

          Dumbledore chuckled, "It's either that or stay here and wait for the other teachers to come in and hear you tell it.  If you just tell me, then I will keep it a secret until you are ready to have everyone know the whole truth."

          Draco walked slowly to a seat that was facing the front of Professor Dumbledore's desk.  He let out a long, heavy sigh and tried his best to think up the freshest pictures of the nightmare in his mind.

          "The first thing I remember is… I'm in the Slytherin dungeons, I think.  Not sure.  I am walking rather fast through a hallway that's barely lit.  For some reason I know where to go.  I suddenly find myself in this room with floating… some things are floating… it's hard to make out."  Draco sighed, massaging his temples with his fingertips.

          "So then, I see this thing, "Draco continued, "It's tall and bulky… wide… vicious looking… with teeth or claws.  And the next thing I can remember is…"  Draco shuddered lightly, not wanting Dumbledore to notice.  He wasn't sure if he should tell him this part.  This was the part that he had been dreading to tell ever since he stood before the Headmaster's office door.

          Dumbledore looked like he wanted to urge the Slytherin boy on, but he kept a tight lip.  He secretly hoped that Draco would tell him though.

          Draco looked up into the old man's smoky eyes and then he looked back down at the cement floor.  "I'm sorry, Professor, the image is kind of blurry."

          "It is a person then?" Dumbledore asked. "The blurry image, I mean."

          Draco bit his bottom lip.  The figure in his dream was indeed a person.  And this certain person fell and hit the ground hard.  This certain person was in every nightmare he had for the past five days.  This person was indeed… someone he had to keep a secret.

          "I think so." Draco finally admitted, swallowing hard.

          "So, if I put one and one together…. I get what?"

          "Um… the answer?"

          "Which is?"

          Draco raised a brow. "Who the person is?"

          "Two, my boy.  One and one is two!  Or have you forgotten?" the old wizard smiled.

          'He really is mad.' Draco thought, still staring confusingly at the Headmaster.

          "Draco… I meant that I have figured out who the person in your dream was.  Since you *have* placed a Protection Charm on him, after all."

          Draco gulped.  He couldn't defy the Headmaster any more of what the rest of his nightmare was.  He nodded.

          "Ah." Dumbledore smiled, "So you saw Harry in danger in your nightmare… and all of a sudden decided to protect him?  Your reason, Mr. Malfoy?"

          "My reason?  Ah, well, you know… if anything happened to Potter, I would be first to blame."

          "But, you would still be innocent before proven guilty, and if it wasn't you, then you would have nothing to worry about."

          "Um, I don't want him dead." Draco blurted out.  He covered up his mouth real quick with his hands.

          "And why is that, Mr. Malfoy?"

          "Er, well… because I want to be the one to… um…" Draco looked away.

          "You want to be the one to defeat Harry, and not some other… thing.  Am I right?"

          Draco nodded.  There was something else he wanted, but that was still on the back burner.

          Professor Dumbledore sighed, taking his half-moon specs off to rub at the corners of his eyes.  "Mr. Malfoy, I am very touched that you would want to protect Harry, but I must ask that you take the Protection Spell off.  You see, it sets a very bad example for the other students, and may cause some to try doing it themselves.  You should take the charm off."

          Draco's eyes went wide.  "But Professor…"

          Dumbledore stopped any more whining or complaining with just one slight look.  Draco slumped his shoulders in defeat and sighed heavily.

          "You will go and undo the spell now.  And then you will have Professor Trelawny have a look at your nightmare."

          Draco was stumped to why Dumbledore would prescribe Trelawny but nodded anyway and got up to leave.  Before he got far, Dumbledore stopped him. "By the way, Mr. Malfoy, you might like to know that you're approaching Harry wrong.  Try something more idealistic and simple."

          Draco turned to give the wizard an odd look. "Sir?"

          "Try flowers."

~TBC~

Well, all I editted in this part was a few words and added a tiny bit more action, and that's it.  In future chapters I might have some characters from book 5 make an appearance, and I may even delete certain ones. *ahem*

Feedback is nice, but not really necessary, since this is a repost. ^_^  those of you new to my trilogy, thanks for the reviews and I hope you enjoy my fic! :)