Harry and I sat it out in the Common Room until everyone else had left. Hermione and Ron didn't leave for awhile, even as we were the last in the room. It was awkward for me and Harry to do anything because we were trying to keep it secret from Ron and Hermione. Hermione got to the point where she was so tired that she just left without a word. Ron muttered something about "tired, morning." And left. Harry and I were finally alone. I sighed as I leaned into him.
The Common Room had talked the subject of Fred and George nearly to death. Their legend, of course, would never die, but there was little else to say about it.
"We're going to be hearing about that one for the rest of our lives." Harry said dully.
"It was brilliant, though. I can't find a better word for it." I clasped his hand and examined it half-heartedly, tracing its contours with my index finger.
"You came during a very crappy year, Favian." Harry said, staring at me.
"I don't know; it could be worse."
"Yeah, but it's still crappy."
"Just can't have everything." We were both trying to stay up as long as possible to ward off any unwanted dreams. I started humming absently.
"What's that tune? I think I know it." Harry asked.
"I don't know. It's just a bunch of random notes."
"Ah, that's why I know it."
I frowned.
"That's all I ever hum. Random. Notes."
"Are you ready for bed? You seem really tired."
"I don't really want to go to bed just yet."
"Me neither." While my body did, I didn't want to. Tom hadn't shown up in a good while and I wanted it to stay that way. Harry laced his fingers through mine then brought my fingers to his lips. I smiled and pulled him towards me. I don't think I'd ever experienced a more passionate kiss. Then again, that was just about my fifth kiss in my entire lifetime. It was really natural with him, almost frighteningly so.
My heart was pounding softly, sounding like footsteps almost. Softly descending….
Harry and I pulled away a fraction of a second too late. Ron stood on the boys' staircase gaping like a beached fish. There was nothing to be said for it. I cleared my throat.
"Well, I think I've been up too long. I'll see you in the morning Harry." I was blushing furiously.
"Yeah…. In the morning, Favian. Sleep tight."
"You too." And I ran up the girls' staircase.
"What were you doing-?" I heard Ron start. I got into the girls' dormitory in time to hear nothing else of what was being said. I changed into my pajamas and slid under the covers and slipped quickly into a nightmare.
"You! What were you doing?!" Tom roared at me. I backed away, immediately crashing into a solid wall.
"What business is it of YOURS?" I shouted back, though I was shaking and my voice was tremulous. "My life is MY LIFE!"
"No!" Tom grabbed my shoulders. "You are MINE!"
"I am mine!" I shouted in his face. I tried to knee him but he grabbed my knee in mid-swing.
"You listen to me." Tom got really close to my face, to the point where I could feel his breath against my cheek. "I could deal with you dating that mudblood for only so long, but Harry Potter is not even an option. You will date no more."
I spat in his face, but it made no difference to him. It was just spit anyway.
"I will date whom I chose." I growled. "You may control my dreams, but my waking hours belong to me."
"And if you lose those waking hours, Favian Fynn Clark? What then?"
"How dare you use my true name?!" I socked him in the stomach, but he only laughed, removing a wand from his pocket. I ducked and ran away, further into the white mist.
"You cannot hide, Favian. I can always bring you back!" I heard him somewhere behind me… no next to me… rather above me.
I screamed as I felt my arms pinioned to my sides by strong arms. I thrashed violently, attempting to wrench my arms from his grasp. I had gotten new muscle from Quidditch and it had come into my dreams as well.
"You're getting stronger. But I will always be stronger than you."
I didn't reply in words, but cried out as I spun around and yanked my body backwards. He let me go at that instant and I fell down. I almost caught my balance but the floor beneath my feet hurled me to the floor so violently that I didn't have a chance. I bit my tongue in the fall and tasted blood. It filled my mouth with its coppery flavor. I spat it out and it dripped down my lips. I used the back of my hand to wipe it away. My foot was shot with a sudden pain. I was breathing heavily, but I wasn't alone.
Standing above me was Voldemort. His eyes glowed red in Tom's face. Tom was Voldemort.
"You are mine." He hissed.
I pushed my feet against the ground and tried to slide away. My progress was slow and useless. I was still winded from my fall and my tongue ached. I wore no shoes and I had definitely done something to my foot when I tripped. There was a sharp pain every time I moved it. Tom didn't care. I almost cried remembering how long I had spilled my soul to him and how much I thought I had loved him, how desperate I had been for him to be real and now… now he was doing this.
He crouched over me. "Those injuries," he touched my lower lip and I wanted to bite him, but for fear of more pain. "They will be there in the morning. But why cannot the rest be real?" He got close to my face, "Why can I feel you but why can't it be the true thing? I could have you now and be done with you. The world would fall to my command after this instant! But this is all false."
Why does it hurt? I wondered. How can I hurt myself this badly in bed?
Tom sat on top of my legs and ripped off my shirt violently. I whimpered quietly and tried to retrieve it. Tom ignored my outstretched hands and continued on his lusty journey. I moved my non-injured leg as much as I could, but it was useless. My body was tired. I was tired. The adrenaline wasn't helping like it was supposed to.
"Please, please don't. It doesn't make a difference to you. Please."
"Beg, but for me, this is what I need."
I crossed my arms protectively over my exposed chest. He ignored me and unbuttoned my pants, yanking them viciously down. He turned away for a second and when I tried to squirm away, my foot twinged and I cried out. It hurt as he took my pants off over my broken foot. The last of my garments was then removed and I was completely naked.
How much longer must this nightmare last? Tears welled stubbornly in my eyes. I stared at him in contempt. His clothes came off slowly, as though he were trying to torture me. He was. Oh, he was. I closed my eyes, scrunched them shut, praying that maybe it would jerk me away from him.
It's not real. It's not real. It's not real…. I kept telling myself. It wasn't, but it was.
When I heard him discarding his pants, I knew that it was over. I opened my eyes reluctantly and saw him there. He ran a thumb up my bare stomach and whispered in my ear: "Finally, you will be mine. Soon you will come."
I was still crying as I woke up. I had spat blood all down my front and my foot hurt as blood pooled wherever under my flesh.
"You stupid foot," I whispered, wiping tears from my eyes. "You goddamn, stupid, useless foot." There was a metallic sound to my whispering. I dragged my right foot out from under the covers to look at it. There was a large swelling mass on the outer side of it. I cried into my knee. "It wasn't real. Oh God." I sniffed loudly and spat out more blood. My covers were sprayed with it. He had made some new injuries, too. When I wouldn't move my arms, his nails had cut into the delicate flesh of the bottom of my forearm. It bled, now clotting. How could he hurt me but the other part of it not be real? Was I still a virgin?
I grabbed at my lower part and realized that it didn't hurt anymore. Maybe… I had to be. But why did I sustain the other injuries? Was I doing it to myself in my sleep? I looked at my fingernails on my other hand and didn't find blood caking them, so I wasn't scratching myself.
I shuddered and hugged myself. I propped my foot up on my pillow in hopes that the swelling would go down. I lay back down, desiring a real sleep, for I ached bone-deep. I don't know how I managed, but I did sleep for another two hours. It was a dreamless sleep and in that time my energy was much more replenished.
It was time to get up when I woke up. The other girls were hurriedly getting ready, still chatting about the twins' escape. I kept my hangings shut and tried to make myself unnoticeable as possible. I didn't want any questions. I wanted to wash my face before anyone saw me.
"Favian?" Eloise called to me. "Are you awake?"
"Yeah." I called, in what I hoped was a groggy voice. My tongue couldn't grasp a more complex word because of the cut. Whenever I tried to move it, it issued blood. My face felt stiff with dried blood. I needed to get to the hospital wing and I would have to crawl.
"You're going to miss breakfast if you don't get up." Parvati said. "Are you sure you're awake?"
"Mmhmm."
"Is that sleep muttering?" I heard Lavender ask.
"Unh-unh." But my denial sounded like sleep muttering.
"Wake her up, then." Someone came over to my hangings and opened them. I pulled my sheets up to my nose, but realized they were stained with blood too.
"Favian?" Parvati's mouth was open. "Oh dear, are… what happened?"
I shook my head.
She looked down at my foot and saw the swelling.
"What is it?" Lavender came up beside her and her jaw dropped as well. Eloise was last in coming. Hermione had already left for breakfast. Three people there that had no idea what was happening to me.
"H-how did you manage to get upstairs?"
I shrugged. "Can you help me get to the hospital wing?" I asked, reluctantly drawing the sheet away from my bloodstained face. "The bathroom first, so I can wash this off." I indicated my blood caked chin. "I bit my tongue." I explained in a strained voice, cringing with the use of my bleeding tongue.
"Of course." Eloise jumped to the rescue. I swung my feet out of bed and Eloise came to my right side to help me hobble out of the room. Parvati and Lavender came over too.
"Don't make her hop down the steps." Parvati said quickly. "Fireman's carry."
Eloise nodded. Parvati took my left leg and arm and they carried me down the steps cautiously.
"D'you… want a blanket or something to cover it up until we get to the bathroom?" Lavender asked awkwardly, carrying a smaller blanket in the crook her arm.
I nodded miserably.
She came up to me and helped me cover myself. Parvati and Eloise got me down the stairs and into the Common Room, where a few students still remained. They were animatedly discussing the twins' action of yesterday.
"What's that you're carrying?" I heard Dean Thomas ask. "A dead body?"
"Nothing, Dean." Eloise said in exasperation.
"Yes, that's convincing. It's shaped like a human and there's blood dripping down… whoa! There's blood all over her arm! Who is that?!"
The whole Common Room became silent.
"It doesn't matter." Parvati snapped. "Leave her alone. We're taking her to the infirmary."
"That's the girls' bathroom." Someone said.
"It's none of your business!" Lavender cried out. I heard a door creep open. And then after we were inside, Lavender slammed it shut.
"Set me down by a sink, please." I requested.
They complied. Lavender stood guard by the door while I used a towel to wash my face of the blood. It was all down my chin and parts of my cheeks. What I had presumed to be dried tears were actually droplets of blood. My chest heaved but I tried to keep it under control.
"I look like a vampire." I joked feebly. Eloise kept a steadying hand on my shoulder.
"What happened?" She asked.
"I'm not sure." I was honest.
"You were beat up or something and you aren't sure what happened?" Lavender was amazed.
I blushed. "I bit my tongue in my sleep. And this cut is from… from… Quidditch practice, probably."
"What about your foot?" Parvati asked.
"I don't know. Maybe in my sleep I rolled on it or something?"
"Sounds dodgy to me." Lavender said. Parvati nudged her to be quiet. Once my face was clean, Eloise helped me hobble to the door.
"Coast is clear." Lavender said, looking out. "They've all left for breakfast."
"Oh no," I sobbed, "I'm sorry guys! I didn't even think of that! You should eat breakfast."
"I think this is a bit more important." Eloise said firmly.
"Quite." Parvati agreed. Lavender helped me through the portrait hole and the Fat Lady stared at us.
"What happened to you?" She asked.
"Long night." I said grimly.
"You should get a stretcher." The Fat Lady said.
I nodded.
"Favian?" I heard Seamus behind us. A few people had stayed behind, or were returning from a very fast breakfast. I looked away, ashamed. "You're not going to get to the hospital wing very fast that way."
"Do you have a better idea?" Eloise asked.
"Why don't we carry her?" Dean said.
"I don't think any of you can lift me alone for long." I said stubbornly. "Why don't we just summon a stretcher or something?"
"I can carry you, no problem." Andrew Kirke was there too. "If that's not a problem for you."
"If you think you can… I'm no lightweight."
"Sure you're not." He came over and scooped me up into a cradle position. "The rest of you ought to get to breakfast. Goldstein, would you tell Professor Flitwick I'll be late in coming?"
"Yeah." Anthony Goldstein agreed.
"Thank you." I muttered to him. I kept an arm around his neck to help him out. I looked away from the small crowd I had attracted and hoped he would get us to the hospital quickly.
"What happened to you, Fynn? You look like someone's beaten you."
I said nothing.
"Did someone hit you?" Kirke sounded angry.
"It doesn't matter. I don't want to talk about it."
"Was it a Slytherin?"
"Kirke, please." He must have caught the tears in my voice and he nodded solemnly.
Madam Pomfrey was in a right state when she saw me.
"Why didn't someone summon a stretcher? Put her on this bed."
"Thank you for taking me up." I whispered. "You should go. I'll see you tonight."
He looked reluctant to leave, but he did.
"What on Earth happened to you?" Pomfrey asked, looking at my foot and blood-stained nightshirt. "And you were in your pajamas for all of this?"
"I… had to go to the bathroom in the night and I fell down the steps." I said, thinking fast. "I bit my tongue and hurt my foot."
"What's this?" She indicated the scratch.
"Oh, I got that… when… I don't remember when. I get a lot of cuts, so I usually forget."
Madam Pomfrey looked at my foot and clucked her tongue. "Fifth metatarsal. I can heal it up quickly. As for the rest of you, it shouldn't take more than a moment."
She took out her wand and tapped my foot where it was swollen and bruised. Within seconds it was back to normal and didn't hurt at all. She healed my scratches and told me I had ruptured a vein in my tongue. She fixed that too. There was some bruising on my shoulders from where Tom's fingers had dug in. I didn't point them out. That would be too difficult to explain away.
"Can I go now? I have to get to class." I asked feebly.
"I don't think I can keep you." Madam Pomfrey looked at me with a stern gaze. "I'll write you a note for class. You should stay and have some porridge."
I nodded dully, not wanting to argue. She summoned a bowl for me and I thanked her. After I had eaten as much as I could stomach, I stood and she pulled out a quill and parchment.
"Go get changed and show this to your teacher. What's the class you're heading to?"
"Transfiguration."
"Right then." Her quill scratched quickly over the parchment and she handed me the note. "If you have anymore accidents, please summon a stretcher next time."
I thanked her again and left.
The Fat Lady admitted me into the common room with a look of concern etched on her face. I told her not to worry and thanked her for her concern. I pattered up the girls' staircase and into the dorm. I was afraid to cry just yet, because I knew that once I started, there would be no end and I had to get to class. Breathing slowly, I put my robes on and winced as my bruises twinged. I looked in the full-length mirror at my shoulders and saw eight very distinct marks on my shoulders that were unmistakably fingers. In front there were the thumb marks. I resolved not to wear a tank-top until they had completely faded. They were dark colors already and difficult to miss.
I collected my necessary books and walked quickly to Transfiguration, breathing in my nose and out my mouth in an "o." My heart slowed and the tear glands stopped aching.
"It doesn't matter." I whispered and I laughed as I realized that I had used an English accent unthinkingly. My laugh was loud and harsh. "Gods you are so stupid." I muttered at myself. "And you sound like a schizophrenic." I almost told myself to shut up, but managed somehow to restrain myself. I entered McGonagall's classroom and walked quickly up to her, handing her Madam Pomfrey's note. She looked at it with tight lips and then looked back up at me.
"Take a seat, Miss Fynn." She said softly. I sat in between Harry and Hermione, who were busy trying to transfigure peppershakers to peppermints.
"Why are you late?" Hermione asked after succeeding at changing hers.
"I fell down the steps this morning and broke my foot." I lied, copying Hermione's notes.
"Ouch." Harry looked up at me, his neck slightly red.
"Yeah." I put my quill down and picked up my wand.
Hermione, who was next to a tight-lipped Ron, didn't say another word to me all lesson. I couldn't figure it out. Finally, when class had ended, Harry and I walked behind them and I asked him why Hermione was giving me the cold shoulder.
"No, it's not that she's angry at you." Harry shook his head. "She's a bit confused. Ron told her what he saw last night."
"What's wrong with us kissing?" I asked quietly.
"It's because of who we are. We're treading dangerous waters."
"That's true. I guess we don't have to be quiet anymore then, if they know." I added quickly. "That is, if you're still okay with it."
"Of course I am." He said indignantly.
I took his hand, partly because I loved him.
And mostly because I wanted Voldemort to know that I would not yield.
"Miss Fynn!" I heard McGonagall calling me. I released Harry's hand reluctantly. "Please, may I have a word?"
"Yeah." I turned to Harry. "I'll see you later."
"Right."
I fought my way through the crowd and felt memories of my dream resurfacing. My stomach lurched but I grit my teeth determinedly. I smelled a dung bomb somewhere in the distance. Students rushed by me, laughing and covering their noses. And so it had begun: the following of the Weasley twins.
I smiled broadly. At least something good was going to happen.
"Come in," McGonagall closed the classroom door and had me sit in a chair across from her.
"Professor," I started, "I really would prefer not to talk about what happened."
"Miss Fynn, I need to know so that I can help you."
"Did Professor Dumbledore tell you about my being the Aviata?"
"Yes." She nodded solemnly. "And about your dreams."
"That's what it was. A violent dream."
"All right, Favian." Professor McGonagall nodded. "As you don't seem to be able to stop them, just remember you can always talk to me. Many of the teachers are aware of your ordeal."
I blushed. "R-really?"
"Yes. Professor Dumbledore found it necessary to inform a few so as to help you be protected."
"Oh." My face burned.
"Now, why don't you head into your next class? Unless you're still tired, in which case you are welcome to go back to your dormitory."
"No, I'm okay." I stood. "Thank you, Professor McGonagall."
"You're welcome."
I ran to catch up with Harry, but I didn't need to run far. He, Hermione and Ron had stopped to watch a spectacle with Umbridge fuming at a couple of students who had gone through the swamp and come out doused in stink sap. The four of us looked at each other, grinning and scampered to class.
Throughout the day, students asked me how I was doing. Ron, Hermione and Harry were very confused by this. Rumors spread about what had happened to me with surprising speed. Kirke again asked if someone had beaten me up. I told him I had fallen during the night and changed subjects. I noticed Hermione and Harry exchanging dark looks. Ron frowned but didn't seem to have the same suspicions that Harry and Hermione shared. I didn't think of my dream-rape again until it was time for bed. As I stripped down to get into my nightgown, Hermione gasped. I turned towards her to see what the matter was.
"What's wrong?" She had a hand over her mouth.
"Who… grabbed you?" She indicated the finger bruises on my shoulders.
I pulled my nightgown over my head. "I grabbed myself in my sleep, I think."
"But- oh!" The other three girls in the room looked around at each other but didn't say anything else. Hermione and I went to sit in the window seat to talk. She hadn't spoken to me much that day. "Vol- Tom did that to you?"
I nodded and felt my throat tighten. "But I want to forget it, please, Hermione, don't say anything to Ron or Harry."
She looked reluctant to agree, but nodded. "Why did he… is it because of Harry and you?"
"Partly. And partially because he's a horny bastard." I swore. "God dammit, Hermione! Why? Why me? Why ANYONE?" I hissed, my voice coming out spastically through my whisper.
"Did… Voldemort rape you?" She finally asked, tears in her eyes.
I looked away but nodded to the window. I felt a fat tear rolling down my face. Hermione fell forward and hugged me. I hugged her back, sobbing into her shoulder and feeling so violated and terrible that only her hug could save me from it. She didn't say anything like "it's okay" or "it'll all be alright" or anything so lame. I was glad that she didn't, but I dreaded slipping into my bed and closing my eyes to drift off into a potentially dangerous world….
Umbridge-itis swept over the school in a fury. Thanks to the Weasley twins' Skiving Snackboxes, entire classrooms of Defense Against the Dark Arts fell into faints, vomiting rages, and their noses bled ferociously from both nostrils. Umbridge put four successive classes into detention before finally giving up and allowing students to leave in masses.
Filch was her only help, but he was extremely busy trying to track down the many wrongdoers. I'm happy to say that he was failing dismally. I was very happy to see Montague's parents storming up to the castle one morning. Their son hadn't yet recovered from his reappearance in a toilet a few days ago. It brought a wicked grin to my face just thinking about it.
I wasn't having dreams for awhile, but Harry certainly was. He was dreaming about a corridor with a door at the end. He confided in me that he was desperate to see what lay beyond. I told him I understood. I didn't try to push him to block his dreams because I knew that it was probably difficult and he got enough of that from Hermione.
Hermione always gave me funny looks whenever the subject of dreams was brought up. I could tell she was choking back what I had told her and it was causing her difficulty. Even when Harry and I held hands or showed affection, she looked exasperated as though we were simply digging a deeper grave for ourselves.
One night, I fell asleep and found myself in the white mist. Whether it was Tom's lair or not, I didn't know because I jerked awake in terror. It was past midnight and I was shaking. I didn't know if I'd be able to fall asleep or not, much less want to. I got out of bed and tip-toed out of the room. The Common Room was silent and empty. The fire cast eerie shadows on the wall and I felt a jolt in my stomach. I could've woken Hermione up, but that felt somehow wrong. Jaeger was no longer an option. I looked up the boys' staircase. Maybe I made the decision because my mind was riddled with sleep and fear. I ascended the stairs quickly and opened the fifth year boys' door quietly.
Harry's hangings were partly open and he was sleeping on his back. I was afraid to wake him up. I looked around and saw the rest of the boys snoring or curled into fetal position. Ron was mumbling about "yeah, I am your king, you prats. Eat my twigs." I had never been in the boys' dormitory before and it didn't occur to me until morning that I had made a dangerous choice. I pattered over to Harry and his eyes opened.
He sat up quickly and I took a step back.
"Favian? Are you okay?" He whispered, squinting in the dark.
I shook my head. "Harry, I don't want to be alone. I'm scared." I whispered. "Can I sleep with you tonight?"
Harry tilted his head at me, but nodded, scooting over on his bed. "Actually, you take the far side." I crawled in next to the wall. "What happened?" He asked.
"Tom was waiting for me. I think. I woke up."
Harry nodded. "I don't have dreams when you do. At least, I don't think I do. D'you need a pillow?" He asked.
"No. I'll be fine."
"Are you sure? 'Cause I have two." He indicated one at the foot of the bed.
"Oh. Okay." I picked it up and put it behind me. Harry kissed my forehead.
"Try to get some sleep, then."
I smiled and lie down. I rolled to face the wall and as I fell into unconsciousness, I felt Harry's fingers trace the bruises on my back. I fell asleep.
"I can't believe my lesson taught you nothing." Tom looked grimly at me.
I didn't respond, thinking of Harry breathing steadily next to my real form. I turned away.
"I see the nurse didn't heal your bruises." He commented, surveying my shoulders.
Harry was next to me in Hogwarts, sleeping, there to help me if I called.
"Are you afraid, Favian?" There was laughter in his words.
Yes. I thought. "Beyond logic." I said. "I am trembling from deep down and I am wishing that I would jerk out of this so-called sleep. Is that what you want to hear?"
"It's what I know. I don't need to hear it." He came up close behind me, breathing on my neck. His lips brushed it. I shuddered but didn't fight. I merely stepped forward cautiously. My prudence was wise, because there was an invisible wall in front of me. I turned to face Tom. He took my face in his hands. I reached up and pushed them away slowly, keeping my eyes on his.
Tom grabbed my shoulders where he had last and I cried out as he squeezed. He pushed me against the wall and shoved his lips against mine. I shut my mouth and was reminded strongly of Montague, except that Tom knew how to kiss, unlike Montague. Tom squeezed my shoulders again and my mouth jerked open as I whimpered.
"Favian, wake up."
"Who is calling you?" Tom pulled away.
"Harry Potter." I said triumphantly.
"From where?" He hissed.
But I never answered him.
"Favian, are you okay?" Harry whispered.
"I am now." I hugged him. "Kiss me." I whispered into his ear.
Harry complied. I felt his face grow warmer under my hands. "How did you get those bruises?" He asked.
"Tom." I replied, pressing my body against his. We were holding one another at just less than an arm's length.
"I saw them getting darker, that's when I woke you up."
"Thank you." I held him closer to me. We kissed again before I rolled over again and he draped his arm over my side. I held his hand in mine and fell asleep to see only vague dreams.
I started waking up when I heard Harry pulling the hangings all the way shut quickly. I rolled over to frown at him.
"They're about to get up."
I suddenly realized fully where I was and I turned crimson.
"Shouldn't I… sort of hide then? Or leave?"
"They might see you."
"Won't they see me if I don't leave now?" I mumbled under my breath.
I heard Neville yawn loudly. Seamus burped and Dean congratulated him on that fine accomplishment. Harry pushed me down, kissed my cheek and covered me with the blankets in a messy sort of way. He pulled the hangings open and stood up.
"Saturday, chaps." Ron said nervously. "Match against Ravenclaw next week."
I almost said "oh yeah," but remembered that I wasn't really supposed to be there.
"Mm." Harry mumbled. "You know, I think I'll have a bit of a lie-in."
"That's a good idea." I heard Neville yawn. "I think I will too."
"I'm going to breakfast. I'll see you later, Harry." Ron said. "I've got practice later and homework."
"You're doing your homework today?" Seamus sounded incredulous. "That's a first."
"First time for everything." Ron mumbled. I had a very urgent itch on my thigh. I stiffened, longing to scratch it. It gradually got worse and I grit my teeth, imagining scratching the area until it bled. I heard three pairs of feet leave the room. Neville collapsed into his bed and began snoring loudly again. I scratched my thigh, almost sighing in relief. Harry uncovered me.
"Take the cloak." Harry handed me a silvery cloak that seemed to be woven with water rather than fabric, but was somehow solid. I put it on and no longer saw my feet. "I'll see you later." He whispered. I touched his cheek with my non-hand and walked out. Ron was still standing on the stair case, right outside the door. I caught my breath just in time. Ron squinted at the door because it seemed to have opened on its own. He reached out blindly and I dodged under his arms just in time but he seemed to have heard me. He grabbed at me and whispered.
"Harry, what are you doing?"
I backed up the staircase, quickly thinking up excuses. Ron grabbed the hem of the cloak and yanked it off.
"Favian?" He gasped.
I shrugged, feeling my face turn a deep shade of red. "I know how this must look, but that's not what happened."
"Then what the blazes were you doing in our dormitory?"
"I had a really bad dream so I went to sleep with Harry. That's all. I slept in his bed."
Ron handed the cloak back to me reluctantly. "I wouldn't be telling people that, if I were you."
"I hadn't been planning on it." I started walked down the steps, pulling the cloak over myself.
"What are those bruises on your shoulders?"
"Ask Harry."