WARNINGS: Not much in this chapter. A tad bit of slash. A little swearing, that's it.

DISCLAIMER: J.K. Rowling, sadly, owns Harry Potter and co. Luck...I wish I had come up with it, but then again I would have made it total Harry/Draco slash! Um, all the information about ravens later I got in The Enchanted World Wizards and Witched by Brendan Lehane, page 107. That's it.

A/N: Thanks again so much to my beta Blackraven13, I love you! This, I am warning you, is a very short chapter. It's a very important part of the story, so please pay attention. This chapter is dedicated to Indigo Kitti for doing a fanart for this fic. You can see it here: . Also, I think she found the tattoo I want to use for Harry. Tell me what you think: . Thank you SOOOO much!

Chapter 9: The Dream

Bright white light surrounded him and the fresh scent of lilies met his nose. Lilies...what did they mean again? Harry knew they meant something, but he was in such a daze it took him a moment, and a few rough shakes of his head, to clear the fuzziness in his head and remember; lilies mean death: death...was death coming for him? Was it finally upon him after 17 years of living?

He had almost died so many times before this, so many chances to be free of everything. But what exactly? Harry's mind began to struggle for the information it so dearly sought. His life was just a joke, he remembered suddenly. A joke, why? The teens head began to ache as he struggled. Then the scent of lilies crept closer and closer, the sound of a snake hissing nearby.

Now Harry was striving to hear was the serpent was saying, he knew somehow that he should be able to understand. Even after what seemed like hours of listening he couldn't understand a single hiss. He also couldn't see the snake. He couldn't see anything but the blinding white light as he sat on the ground, which was soft under him.

Then, for the first time, he realized he had shorts on, and his feet were bare. That was something he never did. It was so odd. His senses began working on overdrive and he could hear more hisses further off, and it sounded as if there were many snakes, surrounding him. Then the scent of lilies again.

The fresh scent sent his senses tingling, and his nose stung. With another quick sniff he realized that he could also smell fresh pine, though there were no pine trees anywhere near by. Though, he remembered, there were no lilies or snakes, either. The pine, though, seemed much farther off, like it was miles away. A breeze picked up suddenly, his hair whipping around his face, sending a chill all through his body. The breeze also brought more lilies. Lily...that was his mother's name was it not?

For some reason Harry couldn't remember. It was so strange, his mind was fuzzy and his memory was sketchy, he could barley remember his name. Then a noise met his ears; so faint he had to strain his ears to hear it. Monk chanting (A/N: To help with the visual, if you Enigma (Dido) you might want to listen to it. It's so calming and the Monk chanting is the best.) The Monks were fairly far away, Harry deciphered. How soon would it take for them to get closer and closer, like the snakes and the smell of death? Everything was haunting him, when would it just end?

Another gust of wind brought more of the Monk's chanting, louder than it was before, carrying on the wind. But when the wind stopped, the Monks were still closer than they were before, and bells were chiming. It sounded like a funeral.

Everything here was related to death, like Harry was followed by death, or perhaps death itself? The green-eyed teen gave an involuntary shiver. He had always been afraid of becoming the next Dark Lord, because everyone knew he was quite capable of it. What with Voldemort passing on some his gifts and such. Harry's head snapped up when he heard footsteps, a soft padding like bare feet on a hardwood floor. Then they stopped.

Again the lips were brushing his ear, and the same women was whispering,

"You're the raven of your time, green eyes."

"What does that mean?" He whispered and then ran his tongue over his lips. Wait...his stud was gone. That was odd. This woman's voice was so low and calming, a whisper that would send a chill up your spine and raise the hairs on you neck no matter what. And for some reason Harry trusted her. There was a soft chuckle in his ear as silky as butter,

"Glad to hear you trust me, green eyes." She said.

"You can read my thoughts?" The woman pretended to ignore that and continue where she left off.

"You, my raven, are death itself."

"No," Harry whispered in a raspy voice. Didn't she just tell him not to give up hope when everything was dark? Did she not tell him that in his faults he would find power and knowledge?

"Yes, I did, Raven, but I am also telling you the truth. Ravens are bad luck, they mean death. You, my raven, are Death. But you can control that power," The words were so soft, like the lips so near Harry's ear. A chill ran up his spine and he took a deep breath. He could smell lilies on her.

"Who are you?" He whispered to her, the same volume as she had been doing to him.

"I cannot tell you yet, Raven. But fly...I will tell you that. Ravens are prized for being able to fly, did you know that, green eyes?" Harry shook his head 'no' and she continued, "They are prized for their ability to fly, and also their ability to spy. You must fly, Raven, don't allow people to keep you chained. Now, you have to wake up green eyes." Another soft kiss was on his check and then his eyes opened.

"Draco?" He whispered, the dream still fresh in his mind.

"Yes, Harry, I'm here." Harry was dimly aware that arms were surrounding him, keeping him close to warmth he had never known before in his sad excuse for a life. His mind was still in a daze, but he stayed in a comfortable zoned out stage, feeling Draco's breath on the back of his neck. Draco held him from behind, pulling his back up against his chest, and for once Harry felt safe. Then his mind went to his dream. He would have to do research. But it was still pissing him off: who the hell was that women?

A/N: This is by far my shortest chapter. But so much happened I didn't want to overload you because this information is REALLY important. I wanted to get it in here and give you about a week to think about it. I did a lot of research for this chapter, even though it may not seem like it. Sorry about the shortness, really, but if I would have continued, I know you would have gotten confused and lost. Hope you like the way the plot is coming along, because I wasn't planning on making this a big long mystery thing. Don't worry, of course Harry is going to get back with his band at some point! He needs it! This story might take them all through their 7th year if I plan it right, would you like that? Well, that's if for me. I also updated my other story The Other Side. Suggestions, questions, comments? See the GO button, you LOVE that button.

Remember: Smurfs are your friends, not your enemies.

-Cherry