"Swish and flick, swish and flick! Remember, swish and flick, Mute in Simiam1! No, Mr. . . .Mr. Longbott—Mr. Longbottom!"
Neville currently sat in a state of shock, staring at the bird he had been trying to Transfigure into a monkey. Students up to three and four people away from the boy now sat with char marks streaking across their face and clothes. The birds of the other students had all flown away, twittering. All except for Neville's. It sat there with the tail of a lion, the wings and head of a bird, and the rest of a monkey.
"Poor Neville," Hermione said to her friends. Professor McGonagall had dismissed the class early to deal with Neville and his new lion/bird/monkey hybrid. "He's really very smart."
"I know he is, but he's got an awfully low self-esteem," Harry responded. He glanced to his left, where Draco was walking along. Harry caught his hand and smiled at his fiancé when the blonde looked up. He was surprised to see the blonde man looking wan and drawn. "Are you all right, Drac? You're awfully quiet."
"Yes, I'm fine," Draco replied, squeezing Harry's hand. "Just a bit tired."
"Did you not sleep well?" Harry asked concernedly, his brow creasing. He, Draco, Ron, and Hermione turned a corner with the other Gryffindor seventh-years into the Great Hall for lunch. Draco slowed and halted.
"No . . . well, I kept having these really odd dreams. Nightmares, really," Draco told them. Hermione glanced around and spotted an unused classroom. She tugged on Harry's sleeve and the four Gryffindors headed in there. Draco looked Harry intently in the eye as he spoke. "You and I were alone, walking through a field, and there was nothing to see for miles. Suddenly, my father appears out of nowhere - Apparition, was what I've been guessing - and begins shouting at us. Screaming curses and hexes and waving his wand all about. Then he starts sending the Unforgivables at us, and he hits you with the Killing Curse. I start crying, of course, and run at him. I've never felt so angry in my life. The Lucius grabs me and forces me to the ground and . . . that's when I wake up."
Harry stared back at Draco as the blonde man fell silent, his eyes shining and gazing at the floor. After a moment, he gathered Draco into his arms and cradled him, kissing his hair and face. Draco broke down and the tears fell.
"Drac, love, if you ever have any of these dreams again, I want to know," Harry told him fiercely. "It doesn't matter what time it is, wake me up."
Draco nodded wordlessly, clutching Harry's robes, burying his face into the black fabric.
"Draco, do you understand?" Harry asked urgently, framing the blonde's face.
"I promise," Draco whispered. Harry leaned in and kissed him.
"Good. I want to help you. I don't want you to be having these dreams," Harry explained, enveloping Draco in his embrace. "Come on. Let's get something to eat."
"Brilliant idea, Harry," Ron jumped in fervently. "I'm starving!"
Thwap!
"Hermione, that hurt!"
Harry awoke during the night, thirsty. He slid out of bed and stepped over to his nightstand. Picking up the pitcher of water, he paused, fancying he heard a sound. To be sure, he glanced over at Draco lying in bed. The blonde wrinkled his nose and sneezed gently before wriggling further under the covers. Harry smiled at the sight and turned back to his water. He poured it out, filling the glass halfway, and took a drink. His eyes drifted back to the sleeping man in their bed. How could he have gotten so lucky as to have received the affections of one so amazing? Harry marveled over this all the time. Draco was wonderful, and Harry couldn't wait until their wedding. Harry finished his water and turned to walk into the kitchen of their apartment. A moan floated through the doorway of the bedroom. Harry whipped his head around and peered into the darkness. He couldn't see a thing. He hurried and placed the glass on the counter nearest the door when he heard a sob from their room.
"No, please . . . leave Harry alone, don't hurt him! Stop it, please stop!" Draco was twisted in the blankets when Harry ran in. "Go away. No, get away from me. Stop it . . . no, stop, leave me alone. Stop, I said. Don't!" Harry leapt onto the bed and gathered a sobbing Draco to him, rocking him gently.
"Draco, my love, wake up. I'm right here, no one's going to hurt you, I won't let them. You have to wake up," Harry urged, smoothing Draco's sweat-dampened hair from his face. Draco stopped thrashing about and clung to Harry, weeping. Harry held him close, wiping away his tears and kissing his cheeks.
"Harry . . ." Draco whimpered into Harry's chest, clutching him around the waist.
"It's okay, sweetheart, I'm right here," Harry whispered. Draco looked up at him, his cheeks tear-stained. "What happened, Drac? What did you see?"
"Voldemort . . . and Lucius . . ." A sob escaped him and Harry pulled him close again.
"Draco, sweetheart, what's wrong? What did they do?" Harry whispered in between kisses.
"I c-can't t-tell you," Draco mumbled, hiccupping.
"Drac, you know you can tell me anything and everything." Harry allowed Draco to rest his head on his chest and laid back against the pillows. He stroked the blonde's face, wiping away the tracks of tears.
"No, I c-can't tell you th-this," Draco hiccupped, shaking his head. Harry felt a wrenching in the pit of his stomach and took hold of Draco's face. He stared into the silver depths of the blonde's eyes and started when he saw the immense fear and pain shimmering beneath the surface.
"Drac, it hurts so much that you can't talk to me," Harry whispered, a tear trickling down his face. Draco reached out and brushed it away, leaning in and kissing his fiancé. "I want to get rid of these dreams and come to your rescue, but I can't. I can't do a single thing to help if you don't tell me anything."
Draco bit his lip and dropped his gaze.
"All right," he replied finally, his voice nearly inaudible. Harry ran his fingers through Draco's hair.
"Come on," he murmured. "Neither of us is going to be able to sleep after this. Let's go into the living room and I'll make some tea."
Draco nodded numbly and stood with Harry, their fingers twining together. They made their way into the living room, where Harry sat Draco on the couch and hurried into the kitchenette to set the water to boil. He went back to Draco and sat down next to him, pulling the blonde to him. Draco sniffed and clung to Harry. They sat for several minutes in silence, Harry holding Draco, comforting him, and Draco cradled against Harry.
"Are you ready to talk now?" Harry asked, running his hands over the blonde's back. Draco wrapped his arms around Harry's waist and buried his face in Harry's neck before speaking.
"I'm afraid of what you'll say if I do," came the mumbled reply. Harry pulled away from Draco enough to look into his eyes.
"Drac, nothing you can say will make me leave you," Harry whispered, brushing a lock of blonde hair out of his fiancé's eyes. "You're stuck with me forever."
Draco smiled and leaned in to kiss Harry gently.
"Now, what's been bothering you that you're afraid to tell me?" Harry asked. Draco sighed and shifted so he was sitting cross-legged, facing him. Harry did the same and took Draco's hands in his own. Draco opened his mouth just as the teakettle began to whistle. Harry let out an explosive sigh.
"Ignore it," he said. Draco laughed.
"Harry, it's not going to stop whistling if someone ignores it. It's going to get louder," Draco reminded him teasingly.
"Oh, fine," Harry replied, getting up and walking to the stove. Draco followed him and pulled out two teacups. They prepared their tea in silence and returned to the couch with the steaming beverages. Harry placed his on the glass table next to them without drinking anything. Draco took several sips before he set his cup on the table. Harry reached out and took Draco's hands and brought them to his lips, kissing them. Draco sighed.
"In these . . . dreams, it always starts out the same way," Draco began quietly, gazing at his feet. "You and I are walking through a field and there's no one around. Then Lucius Apparates in and starts shouting at us. Screaming at us. After a moment, he starts sending hexes and curses at us. Then comes the part I hate the most. He starts sending the Unforgivables at us and you get hit and . . . fall to the ground . . . and –" Draco broke off, his voice choked with tears. His hand trembling, he dashed away a few tears that had escaped his clutches as he continued. "And I – I run to you and . . . and you're not moving or anything and Lucius is laughing and I start screaming at Lucius and I run at him and I want to kill him. He grabs my arms and forces me to the ground and normally, that's when I wake up, but I didn't this time and I wish so much I did . . ."
He started sobbing and, tears slipping from his own eyes, Harry took him into his arms.
"It's okay, sweetheart, everything will be fine," Harry whispered soothingly. "It was just a dream. It's okay."
"He – He's my father, for Merlin's sake," Draco went on, apparently not hearing Harry. He looked imploringly at Harry, his cheeks tear-stained. "Why would he do that?"
"Do what, Drac?" Harry asked, wiping the tear tracks from his fiancé's face.
"He shoved me down onto the ground and . . . and . . . he h-held up his w-wand and –" Draco was cut off by another wave of tears. Harry got the gist, however, and horrified, rocked Draco in his arms, the blonde's body wracked with sobs. He glanced up at the ceiling and swore that one day, he would kill Lucius Malfoy.
The next morning, Harry was startled into consciousness by a gentle hand on his shoulder. He and Draco had fallen asleep on the couch after Draco cried until there was nothing left. Exhausted, he fell into what Harry hoped was a dreamless sleep. He assumed so because he had watched Draco sleep for over an hour and the blonde hadn't stirred once. Harry placed a finger to his lips, signaling to Hermione and Ron the need for quiet, and carefully disentangled himself from his fiancé. He motioned for his friends to follow him and led them into the hall outside their apartment.
"Harry, why aren't you dressed? And why aren't you up?" Hermione asked anxiously. "Classes start in half an hour. You're going to miss breakfast at this rate."
"Mione, Draco and I aren't going to classes today," Harry replied, wrapping his arms around his bare chest.
"Why?" Ron asked.
"Draco had another dream last night," Harry explained, lowering his voice as five third year Ravenclaw girls walked by and stared at him, giggling, "Worse than before."
"What happened?" Hermione whispered worriedly, edging closer. Harry shook his head.
"Not here." He looked around. "Could you go to Dumbledore and let him know?"
"Of course," Hermione assured him. She glanced at her watch. "Ron, we'd better go if we're going to make it to Potions on time. Harry we'll stop by the kitchen and send Dobby up with some food," she added as Harry stomach rumbled loudly. He grinned sheepishly.
"Thanks, Hermione," Harry replied gratefully. She smiled and patted his cheek before shooing him back inside. Draco was just stirring as Harry walked in. He hurried over to the blonde and knelt by the couch, kissing Draco's forehead. Draco opened his eyes, silver-grey clouded with sleep, and smiled.
"How are you feeling?" Harry murmured, brushing a stray lock of hair from Draco's face. Draco yawned widely and struggled to sit up.
"Like one of Hagrid's hippogriffs chewed me up and spat me out," he replied, sliding off the couch into Harry's lap. He wrapped his arms around Harry's neck and kissed him.
"Well, Hermione's going to let Dumbledore know neither of us are attending classes today," Harry told him. Draco looked at him, surprised.
"Why?" Harry stared at him.
"Draco, d-do you . . . not remember what you dreamt of last night?" Harry asked, wording his question carefully. Draco's face fell.
"I was trying not to," the blonde replied softly. Harry kissed his forehead and took his hand.
"I'm sorry, Drac," Harry murmured as Draco laid his head on Harry's shoulder. A minute or so passed and a loud pop echoed throughout the room. Both boys turned to see Dobby grinning toothily at them, holding a tray of food.
"Good morning, Dobby," Harry greeted as Draco stood up and pulled him to his feet.
"Good morning, sirs! Dobby is bringing you some breakfast, just like Hermione Granger asked of Dobby!" the house elf answered proudly. Harry smiled.
"Thanks, Dobby, we really appreciate it," Harry told him gratefully as the house elf set the tray on the coffee table.
"Of course, Harry Potter, sir! Dobby is happy to help in any way." With a wave and a smile, Dobby disappeared from the room. Harry glanced at Draco and pulled him in for a kiss.
"Come on, Drac, let's have something to eat and then we'll figure out what we're going to do today," Harry suggested. Draco smiled and allowed himself to be pulled down to sit opposite Harry on the floor. What began as a nice, quiet breakfast soon turned into a food-slinging mass of giggles when Harry good-naturedly tossed a grape across the table, hitting Draco squarely on the nose. The blonde sat, stunned, for a moment before flinging a spoonful of scrambled eggs at his fiancé.
"Take that!" Draco retorted, smirking.
"You know this means war," Harry remarked solemnly, picking a piece of egg out of his hair. Draco's eyes widened and he ducked just in time to miss the chunk of melon flying through the air. In almost no time at all, they had run out of food to throw and Harry had settled with chasing Draco around their apartment. He caught the blonde and both tumbled to the ground, Harry's arms locked around Draco's waist. Draco snaked his arms around Harry's neck and threaded his fingers through the jet-black locks. He grinned and pulled him down for a long kiss.
"Draco, my love, nothing you could do or say would ever make me want to leave you," Harry whispered earnestly. Draco's eyes shone with love and he kissed his fiancé again.
"Thank you," he replied hoarsely, burying his face in Harry's neck.
1: "Mute" is Latin for the command "change." It's pronounced "Myoo-teh." The whole spell means "Change into a monkey." Real imaginative, right?