A/N: Here's chapter 37, hope you enjoy it. Thank you Moonfairyhime for betaing this =)

Disclaimer: I don't own them, but I sure wish I did.

Chapter 37: Hanging by a Moment

Harry landed easily, his breath coming in short pants as he shared a triumphant grin with the rest of his teammates. The Quidditch Cup was theirs easily, even with Harry having set out a game or two because of his health and…other reasons. Draco had been Harry's only real competition in the years before, so the Slytherin team hadn't had a problem filling in for their star player when Harry had been unable to play.

The Gryffindor Quidditch team spat and scowled at them as they flew off for their locker rooms. Madam Hooch gave several of them detentions, but it did little to stop their attitudes. Harry and Draco exchanged a glance, smirking at one another.

"How long does it take for that potion to take effect?" Harry picked at his broom handle, a look of fierce concentration on his face. Draco had them all near the stands on the ground level, a perfect view to the entrance of the locker rooms. He had them arranged so that if anyone asked, they were having a team meeting, when in reality…

"Five minutes. They should be coming out any time now." Draco's grin turned smug when piercing screams suddenly erupted from the building behind them. One after the other long limbed, gangly girls sprinted from the shower and towards the castle with little else than towels covering their privet bits.

"Wow, never thought I'd say this but Weasley makes a decent girl." One of the few sixth years left on the Slytherin Quidditch team whistled at the parade of flesh streaking by them. "Hey pretty lady!"

If looks could kill, they all would have been dead ten times over.

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"Mr. Potter, if I could have a word with you in privet please?"
Harry froze at the sound of the Headmaster's voice. He turned and looked up at the older man, a wan smile on his face. "Is this about earlier today sir?"

The Headmaster paused, but nodded, his eyes twinkling. Harry sighed and put down his fork, getting up to stand at the older man's side.

"He needs to be locked up and thrown into Azkaban!" Ron – well, Ronnie's soprano voice was easily heard over the din in the Great Hall. Conversations stuttered and stopped, all eyes fixing on the two parties.

"Now, ah…Ms. Weasley, who would have known placing a fertility potion in the shower waters would have such a…large reaction." Ron's face was pale, with two bright dots of color on his cheeks. The Gryffindors had been playing around with fertility potions, but…

"That wasn't what caused this to happen!"

"Now, now. It'll wear off by tomorrow. Think of it as a…lesson in how the female species lives and works. Now, no more, back to your dinners!" Albus clapped his hands, a kindly smile directed at all of the students. People went back to their food grudgingly, turning every so often to stare at Ron and the other Gryffindors who shared his predicament.

Harry trotted along next to the Headmaster, his head ducked low to hide the delighted grin that had appeared on his face. "Thank you sir."

"Whatever for, my boy?" Albus winked at him and gestured for him to precede up the stairs, the older man trailing behind him.

Harry looked around the office curiously, wondering what the Headmaster wanted to see him for. Fawkes was in the corner, seemingly asleep, and the windows were half open, barely letting in any light. It turned the normally cheerful area gloomy. He plopped himself down on one of the chairs across from the Headmaster's desk, drumming his fingers nervously on the hard seat.

"Am I in trouble sir?" Harry tilted his head at the older wizard, watching him walk to the window and stare out of it.

"No child. There is something else I wished to speak to you about." Albus sighed and turned around, his head tilted forward slightly, his eyes studying the ground intently.

"Sir? Has something happened?" Harry watched the old man walk around his desk and sit down in his chair, the jovial mask slipping from his face.

"Yes, Harry. Something has happened and I'm afraid…" Albus finally met the boy's gaze. The blue eyes were dark and pained. "I'm afraid I must ask you to do something for me, one last time."

Harry's fingers stopped their nervous drumming as he gripped the edge of his seat tightly, the world swaying around him. "Again?" He hated how his voice broke on that single word. He cleared his throat and tried again. "Why – I mean…what's happened now?"

"My boy," Albus leaned forward at his desk, keeping eye contact with Harry, "as you know I have lost all my spies inside Voldemort's inner circle, and even his outer circles of power. We've been relying on the Dark Marks and the pattern of attacks that Riddle has been using – striking at strategic points in the wizarding world, hitting the towns that contained loved ones of Ministry officials and the like. Now, however, he's begun to kill at random, and has also stopped using the Dark Marks to single out the houses and villages that he's decided to attack."

"Oh," Harry's face was pale and he swallowed with difficultly. Then he frowned, "But the Death Eater's don't cast the Dark Mark until they're already there –,"

"You see, Harry," Albus interrupted him, dropping his gaze for a moment, his face pained, "when Voldemort was using the Dark Mark and attaching it to houses, the Unspeakables had a…chance at recognizing the large surge of dark magic and be able to trace it to wherever it was coming from. This technique had led to several Death Eater raids being caught before they had finished killing everyone in the towns, thus allowing the Aurors to save people. But, now…" Albus spread his hands silently.

"There's no dark magic to trace." Harry closed his eyes and turned his face away, watching his eyelids turn red from the light of the fire. He took several deep breaths, taking a hold of the fear and the panic that threatened to consume him and pushed it away firmly. He opened his eyes and turned back to the Headmaster. "When do you need me to take the potion again?"

Albus sighed as his shoulders slumped a bit. "Thank you for understanding, Harry."

"There's no other way, is there?" Harry's voice wasn't quite bitter.

"No, my child," Albus' expression was sad, "there isn't."

They sat in silence for a few moments, Harry finally looking away from the older wizard, turning to stare at the flames in the fireplace blindly. "I would like Draco to be there when I take it again."

"Ah." The catch in the Headmaster's voice had Harry's head whipping back around. There was a strange look in the old man's eyes. "I'm afraid that won't be possible, my boy."

"Why?" Harry shifted uneasily in his seat, eyeing the old man warily.

"I am becoming quite concerned as to your safety. Not that Mr. Malfoy and the rest of Slytherin House are guarding you poorly, it is merely that I would rather only you, myself and Madam Pomfrey to know that you will be taking the potion. It is better this way, and I would have your word of honor that you will not inform Mr. Malfoy of any of this." Albus' eyes were not twinkling as they regarded Harry from behind his desk.

The dark haired boy gaped at the man. "But – but – but," he shook his head faintly. "How'll I – I don't want to lie to them! I mean…"

"Harry," Albus held up a hand to stem to flood of words, "I know you do not wish to lie to them, which is why I will have you bound to not say anything about it to them, thus giving you a reason to be unable to lie to them. You merely can't say anything about it."

"I…" Harry shook his head slightly. "I don't know. I – what if I need them, or…or I have a bad vision?"

"You will only be taking one mouthful of the potion, no more. All I need is an idea of what Voldemort's up to – why he's gone silent and where he'll strike next."

That's all? Harry stared at the old wizard incredulously. "There's no way I'll be able to find out all of that in fifteen minutes."

"Then take as much as you need, then Harry." Albus' shoulders slumped as he sat back in his seat. "I'm sorry to ask this from you when you've already done so much, but we have little other choice."

Harry dropped his gave to his hands, studying them intently. He traced the calluses and ridges, the tiny scars he's gotten from years of yard work and housecleaning. He thought about what the Headmaster wanted to do. He thought about Draco, Professor Snape, Sirius, Remus. He bit his lip and squirmed, his thoughts turning to the people who were dead and dying at the hands of Voldemort's minions. He sighed.

"Alright." He looked up from his hands and met the Headmaster's gaze. "I'll do it."

Albus smiled at him, although it did not meet his eyes. "I cannot say I am wholly happy about your decision, child, but I am most grateful for your bravery."

"Thank you sir." Harry wrapped his arms around his middle, a chill working its way up his spine. "When did you want to do this?"

"Tomorrow night. Poppy has a prior commitment she cannot get out of, and I will not do this without her here."

"Very well sir." Harry slid out of his seat and stood. "Will you send for me?"

"I will think of something by dinner." Albus paused and picked up his wand. "Harry?" He gestured.

The dark haired boy eyed the wand and the shivered as he felt the spell seep into the air. "I swear I will not tell Draco or Professor Snape about my decision to take the potion tomorrow night." He watched as his words took shape in the air and glowed briefly before disappearing from sight. He turned and made for the door.

"I am sorry, child."

Harry paused at the entrance, his hand on the doorknob. "I know." He looked over his shoulder at the older wizard. "So am I."

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"So if Neville got Rosmerta to show up, why haven't we had any luck with Danu or Dagda?" Ginny leaned heavily on her cane, barely putting pressure on her leg. While it did not hurt all the time, when it rained her joints ached fiercely. She and Sirius had an appointment with a healer from St. Mungo's about her leg in two weeks, much to the animagus' delight and her worry. Sirius was quite optimistic about the upcoming meeting, while Ginny was determined to approach it cautiously.

"I don't know! You think if I did know we'd be having this conversation?" Draco ran a hand through his hair and glanced towards the door for the fourth time in a quarter of an hour.

"What is your issue tonight, Draco?" Pansy narrowed her eyes at the blond, her fingers drumming idly on her leg. "I haven't seen you this snappish since before the end of last year."

Draco sighed and sat heavily, his palms resting on his knees. "I don't know." He glanced up towards the door once more. "I just – have a feeling."

"Like the feelings you had this summer?" Blaise leaned forward and exchanged a look with Pansy.

"Yes…no. I don't know. Something's going to happen, but I don't know what." Draco shook his head slightly, frustrated.

"You're a Seer, Draco?" Ginny raised an eyebrow, limping over to an open spot on the couch and lowering herself down on it.

"Not really. It runs in my family –," the door to the dorms opened and Draco leapt to his feet, his heart lifting considerably when he saw Harry slip in past the door. "Harry Potter!" Relief was soon replaced by blazing anger. "Where the hell have you been!"
Harry froze a few steps from the door, a strange look coming over his face. The expression soon passed and he looked at Draco oddly. "I had to talk to the Headmaster, you know that."

"For an hour?" Harry merely raised an eyebrow at the blond and nodded. Draco growled. "I hope he at least walked you to the dorms."

At that Harry looked down, a flush spreading across his face. "Merlin so help me Potter, you're here to drive me mad."

Green eyes sparkled with irritation. "Now see here, Malfoy," Draco winced at the use of his last name, knowing he probably deserved it. "I am not some fragile little child that can't walk anywhere alone. I'm quite capable of taking care of myself, thank you very much!" Harry glared at Draco hotly and stormed past the group, slipping down the hall of the boy's dorm and slamming the door behind him.

Draco snapped his mouth shut and sent a withering glare towards the other boy's room. I do not treat him like a child. How dare he! He ignored the tiny voice in the back of his head that pointed out that he was lying. Shut up! Draco felt a trickle of ice work its way up his spine. Harry was mad at him. Well, Harry can be mad at me all he likes, he's stuck with me. And I'm only doing it for his own good, Merlin knows the prat can't take care of himself…he took a step towards the boy's dorm.

"Oh, no, somebody grab him." Pansy and Blaise took a hold of his arms and guided him back to the couches, much against his will.

"Pansy get your paws off of me. Blaise, damnit!"

"Now, Draco, look." Once he was seated Pansy planted herself in front of him, her eyes narrowed and cool. "Harry's upset. Harry's is trying to regain some control over his life. You leave him be for now and I'm sure you'll have a nice make up session tomorrow, alright? He needs his space and you're going to give it to him, understand?"

Draco glared at the girl he had known since before he could talk. "Yes, I understand."

"Good," the girl smiled at him grimly. "Now, go to bed. You're being a dick."

"Pansy!"

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But Draco didn't have a chance to talk to Harry at all the next day. Waking up late, the blond rushed through his morning rituals, barely making it to class on time. It also soon became apparent that the day was going to be one of those predestined days where all the teachers had the students working nonstop throughout the entire class, making it impossible for Draco to speak to Harry at all.

At lunch they had a minor meeting with the rest of the House that went long. Harry stayed unusually quiet throughout the meeting, hanging back near Neville and Blaise rather than at Draco's side where he usually sat, either not seeing or ignoring the glances the frustrated blond sent his way.

The rest of the day wasn't much better, and no matter how hard Draco tried to grab a few minutes of time to speak to the dark haired boy, something else would come up as an obstacle.

Draco was in quite a mood by dinnertime.

He tried, he really, really tried to talk to Harry throughout dinner. But the other boy would merely smile slightly at his jokes and answer in monosyllables to his questions. He was quite completely driving Draco out of his mind.

And then, the Headmaster arrived, ostentatiously to speak to Harry once more about something that Draco still didn't know about…he watched the pair go with narrow eyes, the ice around his spine returning.

"Draco, would you let it drop?" Ginny glared at him from across the dinner table. "It's clear that Harry feels bad about yelling at you yesterday, but he's also right. Maybe for once you can swallow your pride and apologize first?"

Draco sneered at her and tossed his head back, his foul mood becoming worse by the minute. "Now see here, Black…"

"Draco, Ginny, both of you, shut up." Pansy smacked her hand down on the table, glaring at both of them. "Apologize to each other this instant and get your heads out of your arses. You're making a spectacle of yourselves." And they were. People were watching their spat avidly from the other tables, smug expressions appearing at the rift that could be seen in the normally tight knit group.

"I apologize, Ginny." Draco had to force the words out, but he did it.

Ginny narrowed her eyes at him, but straightened her shoulders and cleared her throat. "I'm sorry too, Draco."

"Good. Now both of you eat your dinners and get back to the dorm. You're irritating me." Pansy sniffed and returned to her food, ignoring them icily.

Ginny and Draco exchanged a glance and began to smile slightly. The blond looked down at his plate and picked at his dinner, his appetite quickly fading. I'll apologize to him when he gets back. He sighed and took a sip of pumpkin juice, his stomach plummeting. He frowned and set his goblet down, rubbing at his arms briskly. The chill was growing.

"Draco?" Ginny was eyeing him strangely. "What's wrong?"

He looked at her and shrugged. "I don't know." He looked up at the Head Table and caught Severus' eye. "I don't know," he repeated, a shiver working its way down his spine. He stood abruptly and looked down at his Housemates. "I'm done. I'll see you back at the dorms."

"Draco wait!" Blaise pushed himself up and hurried to the blonde's side, casting an apologetic look back at his boyfriend. "I'll go with you."

Draco rolled his eyes but waited for the sable haired boy to catch up to him. He looked back at the Head Table, only to see that Severus had vanished from his seat. Draco's worry intensified. Something's wrong…but what?

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Harry sat on the edge of the bed in the Hospital wing, his thoughts flying in every direction. He was angry with Draco for treating him like a child, but…He means well. He just…has a problem going about it. I shouldn't have yelled, but he just didn't get it. He sighed and ran a hand through his hair, his sweaty palms causing the strands to stick and pull. He made a face and wiped his hands on his robes, his heart thundering in his chest.

He'd wanted to talk to Draco the entire day, but didn't know how to go about it. He felt bad for yelling back at the blond, but he didn't know how to apologize – or if he even really wanted to – At least, not until the git apologizes to me first.

"Harry?" Albus appeared in the doorway with Madam Pomfrey. The blue eyes were worried. "Are you alright?"

Get a grip on yourself you idiot. There are more important things at stake than a quarrel with your boyfriend. He forced a smile on his face and nodded. "I'm fine, sir. Just a little nervous."

"That's to be expected." Albus crossed the room and drew a vial out of his pocket, setting it down on the bedside table. "Whenever you're ready, my boy. Don't rush."

Harry nodded quickly, his eyes trained on the small vile of liquid sitting near him. He pushed down the urge to whimper, scolding himself for being so cowardly. You heard the Headmaster. He has no other choice! He needs the information or else he wouldn't have asked you to do this. Now buck up!

Harry rubbed his hands on his robes once more, hiding the tremors he knew were going through him. He reached for the vile, the liquid catching the failing light briefly and glowing. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, pushing all of his fear aside. He brought the glass to his lips and drank.

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"Severus?" Draco and Blaise entered the Potions Master's office carefully, poking their heads around the corner and looking into the room. The feeling Draco had gotten at dinner had only gotten worse the closer to the dungeons they got, and on a whim, the blond had decided to head for the Potion Master's office instead.

"That blasted fool!" Severus' snarl had them scurrying into the office, past the sitting room and back towards his private lab. They heard a crash and another snarl. "It's gone."

"Sir?" Draco pushed the door to the lab open and looked in. Potions ingredients, books, empty containers and other paraphernalia were scattered around the room, looking as though a whirlwind had blasted through the space. In the center of it all stood Severus, his normally tame hair disheveled and his eyes wild. "Sir? What's going on?"

The Potions Master spun around to look at him, his mouth thinning down into a grim line. "The Vision Potion. It's gone."

"What?" Draco's mouth gaped open. "How in hell is it gone?"

"I don't know." Severus raked a hand through his hair and scanned over his shelves again. "It should be right there, next to the Veritaserum, but it's gone. It was there Wednesday night, I know it was, I checked the blasted shelves myself! But…" he shook his head sharply, his eyes glittering. "It's gone."

"It can't be gone, no one but you, father and myself can get into your private lab! Who would have taken…it…" Draco's mind stopped. The icy feeling engulfed him as he stared at the empty spot in the potions cabinet, a terrible, horrible suspicion working its way through his mind. "Does the Headmaster have access to your lab, sir?"

Severus looked at Draco for a moment, silent. A multitude of expressions flashed across his face as he stared at his godson. "Yes, he does." Severus glanced towards the cabinet once more, the pieces falling into place. "Hell and damnation," he snarled, his hands curling into fists at his side. "Not again."

"Not again what?" Blaise looked from one to the other, a frown on his face. "Not again what?"

"Dumbledore's taken the potion and given it to Harry." Draco's mind was screaming at him, fear and panic nearly choking him. "The idiot was probably honor bound to secrecy, it would be like the Headmaster to do something like that."

"But…why?" Blaise shook his head sharply. "The Headmaster has nothing to gain from doing this behind our backs and everything to lose!"

"Not unless it was his last option." Severus closed his eyes tightly, pain and anger flashing across his face. "Harry is a fine tool, one that Albus would be loath to lose. If he's given the boy the potion it's because he needs information, he needs his blessed little weapon to help him once more." Severus squared his shoulders, a furious light beginning to gleam in his eyes.

"But…" Blaise shook his head again. "After what happened last time, why would he take the chance with Harry again? I mean, he's already on the edge…doesn't Dumbledore need him to take care of Voldemort?"

"Who in their right minds thinks a little boy is going to take down the most evil Dark Lord known to man?" Severus flexed his hands, wiping away the blood in the tiny half moon cuts he'd made on his palms. "Albus knows exactly what he's doing."

"We need to get to Harry." Blaise and Severus looked at Draco, startled by the oddly hollow tone. The blonde's face was deathly pale, and his gray eyes were shining oddly in the light. "We need to get to Harry now." The two other Slytherins exchanged a glance, then grabbed Draco by the arms and dragged him from the room, making a beeline for the gargoyle that guarded the Headmaster's office.

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Harry opened his eyes carefully, coughing harshly as he tried to take his bearings. He was on the green path that he'd come to recognize as his connection with Voldemort. Not a normal Path in the Dark, but a Path nonetheless. He pushed himself to his feet, swaying slightly.

It hadn't hurt as bad as it did the first few times he'd taken the potion, Either that or I'm just getting used to it. He pushed the thought away and shook his head, trying to concentrate. His thoughts were strangely muddled and thick, As though cotton were wrapped around my head, muffling everything.

He took a step forward, then another and then another. A wind picked up around him, and sooner than he liked he was outside the fortress of Voldemort's mind. The walls looked different, though, taller, fiercer, more intimidating. He eyed the small chink in his enemy's armor, bracing himself for what he knew came next. He stepped forward.

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The Dark Lord's mind was even more chaotic than normal. Thoughts and images pushed at him immediately, brushing along his skin, causing him to shudder and shake. He clapped a hand over his mouth as he stared at a more recent memory, one of Cho, laying spread eagle on the ground, with horrible things attached to her, hurting her. He watched as she screamed and begged, tears streaming down her temples and disappearing into her hair. Oh Cho, he turned away as she lost control of her bowels, making the Death Eaters around her laugh. I'm so sorry.

He took a deep breath and shuddered, one part of his mind gibbering in fear and terror, the other part cold and calm. Find what you're looking for, the calm voice whispered in his ear, forcing his eyes open once more. Look for the information. Where are the Death Eaters? Why the change of tactics? Look for the information, don't just watch helplessly.

Harry squared his shoulders, latching onto the voice and letting it help him push away the fear and the revulsion. He glanced back at the memory of Cho's torture and forced himself to look at it again. It was recent, very recent. There were many Death Eaters in the room, too many.

Another memory floated past him and Harry turned to look at it carefully. An aging pair of hands was writing on a scroll, listing towns and names. He peered at it, recognizing some of the names. So he did order the towns to be hit without the Dark Mark. He looked past the scroll, at all the things that cluttered the desk around it. The Book of Living Death sat to one side. The ritual dagger. Erin's dried heart, still beating occasionally.

Harry swallowed and pushed down the urge to vomit. That memory doesn't tell me anything. What else is there…wait. Where's Erin?

He glanced around, peering into the strangely shifting shadows of Voldemort's mind. There was no sign of Erin at all. "Erin?" Harry cleared his throat and tried again. "Erin?"

"H-h-h-Harry." The voice was wispy, brushing past his ears lightly.

Harry jumped, spinning around quickly. He searched the dark behind him, taking a few cautious steps towards the sound of his name. "Erin?"

"Leave." The word was faint, and no more solid than a dream.

Harry shook his head sharply, tears coming to his eyes. "No, I won't. Not without you."

"Harry…" A faint outline of Erin appeared, her eyes tired and scared. "I'm almost gone, Harry. There's nothing left of me. I'm sorry. You have to leave, he's getting too powerful."

"No!" Harry reached out for her, his hands passing through her form easily. "I won't leave you like this, I won't!"

"Harry," Erin smiled at him sadly, shaking her head. "You did the best you could. Leave now, he's about to wake."

"I can't, Erin. I have to find out what he's been doing. What he's about to do. I can't leave without that." Harry pressed his lips together, ignoring the few tears that had slipped down his face.

"He is killing for power, Harry. The Book of Living Dead has many secrets and many spells. He does not have the power for these spells, so he has the innocent slaughtered by the dozens and uses their power for his own. Channeled through his Death Eaters, he is able to tap on the power caused by death and destruction. The Cwn Annwn are his absolutely now. They obey him completely." Her image faded dangerously, making Harry reach for her once more.

"Which spells is he casting?"

"Spells to harvest power from the weak. Spells to shore up power for him to tap into. Spells to create weapons that will strike down the oldest of wards." Her eyes were dark, but she held his gaze evenly. "He moves to strike at Hogwarts in the dark of the full moon. The night of Beltane, when nothing can stop him."

Harry closed his eyes briefly, his shoulders sagging. "That's in a week. We don't have enough time to put anything into place! We won't have any protection!"

"Harry…" Erin's eyes widened as she looked past his shoulder.

He spun around, tripping over his feet in an effort to get away from the image in front of him. A Dementor hissed at him, its spindly hands reaching for his body, the chill of its presence seeping into Harry's mind.

"Harry you must go! The Dementors will wake him up! You have to go!" Erin's frantic voice pulled him out of his terror.

"How the hell does he have Dementors in his head!" Harry scrambled back from the creature, stumbling past memories that screamed out to him, moaning painfully in the dark.

"It is not real, not quite. The Dementors are drawn to him for the evil he has in his soul. They are called to him, through that darkness, but also by the Book." Erin placed herself between Harry and the image of the Dementor. "Leave Harry, and never come back. He's about to wake, and if he does and you're still here, he'll find you. Go Harry, please!" Erin stiffened as the Dementor grabbed a hold of her misty form, the thin fingers wrapping around her shoulders and pulling her head back.

"NO!" Harry lunged for them, his hands connecting with the Dementor, pulling its attention from the girl to him. Erin screamed silently, but her image faded quickly from view, leaving only Harry and the Dementor.

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"Bertie Bots Every Flavor Bean!"

"Chocolate frogs!"

"Peppermint Puckers!"

"Peppermint what?"

"Blaise!" Draco was frantic. "Shut up! Keep guessing! It's getting worse!" The blond was nearly crying and he didn't know why. All he knew was that something awful was happening, and that it was happening to Harry. He could feel it; the ice had moved into his head, wrapping itself around his thoughts, making him shiver constantly. He had to find Harry and he had to find him now.

"He's not here." Severus stared at the gargoyle harshly, his black eyes glittering. "Come along. We'll try the hospital wing. If he's not there, we'll have Poppy floo us directly into the old man's room."

They took off at a run towards the Hospital Wing, drawing no few odd glances. Hermione Granger was one of the people that saw the hasty retreat of the Slytherins, her eyebrows arching up to nearly her hairline as she watched the normally contained and dignified Potions Master actually run. What in the world is going on? Hermione set her book aside and stood, brushing off her robes carefully as she took off after them.

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The Potions Master and the two boys came to a screeching stop at the closed Hospital Ward doors. Severus glared at them, pulling open his wand and snapping out a powerful unlocking charm. The heavy oak doors slammed open, revealing two long rows of empty beds and no sight of Madam Pomfrey.

Draco stiffened. "He's here." The blond took off down the aisle between the beds, heading for the small hallway in the back. They skidded around the corner in time to see the Head Nurse throw open a door and rush into the hall, her apron and dress stained with blood.

"Harry!" Draco shot past them, startling Poppy badly. She looked between them, the door and down at her apron, and then shook her head.

"He's in a bad way. Severus, I need your help." The Head Nurse grabbed onto Severus' robes, pulling him along behind her.

Draco pushed his way into the room, stumbling to a stop just short of the bed. The room itself was like something out of a nightmare. Blood was splattered everywhere, soaking the sheets and the bed covers. There were smears of it on the wall, where either Harry had broken out of his restraints and had clawed at it, or he had merely shaken so hard the blood itself had arched up and splattered against it.

The Headmaster was also in bad shape. His gaudy robes were streaked with blood, as was his beard and hair. Deep, dark circles hung under his eyes as he looked at Draco. "He is lost." Albus bowed his head, his shoulders slumping.

"No," Draco shook violently. "He can't be lost. I won't let him be lost." Draco pushed the old man out of his way and sat next to Harry, who was thrashing on the bed, his eyes open and glowing oddly in the light.

"Harry, shh…" Draco tried to calm the other boy down. "Shh, I'm here. It's Draco. Listen to me, listen to my voice. Come back to me. Please, Harry. Listen to my voice…"

But Harry merely shook harder, a wild light coming into his eyes. He arched his back and screamed, the sound ragged and thick. Blood welled up and ran down the side of his mouth, joining the other streams that were running from his nose.

Blaise could only watch as Draco tried to calm Harry, frozen in place by the sight of the blood and the pain. It wasn't until he was bumped into from behind that he moved. He turned, expecting to see Severus or Madam Pomfrey, but was utterly taken aback by the sight of Hermione Granger tripping over her own feet as she stared at the commotion going on in the room.

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Hermione had eased in past the heavy doors of the Hospital ward, closing them carefully behind her and locking them. She was bound and determined to find out what was going on, And no bloody Slytherin is going to stop me. She heard a commotion and followed the sounds, finding the hidden hallway and watching as Professor Snape and Madam Pomfrey disappeared somewhere out of sight, presumably a store room that contained healing potions. But who needs a healing potion and why? She slipped forward, heading for what sounded like Draco Malfoy's voice.

She jumped at the sudden scream and hurried forward, knocking into Blaise in her haste. Then she looked past him and nearly vomited.

There was blood – so much blood. And in the middle of it laid Harry, poor, poor Harry, thrashing painfully. "What's going on?" Why is Harry screaming? What have they done to him? What is going on?

"Ms. Granger –,"

"What the hell is she doing here –,"

Severus and Poppy appeared in the doorway, staring at the Gryffindor coldly. "Ms. Granger, one hundred points from Gryffindor –,"

"Draco no!" They all turned in time to see the blond tilt back the container of the Vision Potion, swallowing what was left of it quickly, his eyes rolling into the back of his head as he passed out on top of Harry.

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Draco landed in a heap, his head pounding painfully in time to his heartbeat. He rolled over onto his hands and knees, vomiting violently, his arms shaking wildly. He wiped at his face with his robes, blinking back tears of pain. Where are you Harry? He opened his eyes and looked around. Where are you?

He got to his feet, swaying unsteadily. He turned in a small circle. There was nothing but darkness all around him. "Harry?" He tried, but his voice fell flat in the oppressive quiet. "Harry?" There was nothing.

He raked a hand through his hair, tears of a different sort coming to his eyes now. He took a deep breath and pushed down the panic, Get a grip on yourself. He let out the breath slowly, taking another one and letting it out slowly as well. You're a Malfoy. Malfoy's do not panic. Think about what you've learned and the research you've done. Find a Path.

Draco eyed the Dark carefully, turning now to the small ball of ice still in his stomach. He turned slowly once again, focusing on that ice. When he felt it pulse he stopped and started walking in that direction. Don't you dare move, Potter. I'm coming.

He walked for what felt like hours. The Dark never wavered, never changed. The mists around him would billow occasionally, the cool droplets sprinkling his face like spittle, and distantly he heard a number of growls. He ignored it all for the most part, focusing only on the ice in his stomach and the pull that drove him in one direction.

Finally, slowly, the Dark began to lift. Draco could barely keep his eyes open as he stumbled onward, a mantra playing over and over in his mind. Left foot. Right foot. Harry you had better bloody stay exactly were you are, so help me Merlin. Left foot. Right foot. Harry you had better…

Only when he came to a point where he could go no further did Draco finally stop and crumple into a heap. He dragged his eyes open, staring blurrily out in front of him. There was nothing there to stop him, nothing physical, but when he pushed at the air it seemed to be as solid as stone.

He blinked furiously, rubbing at his eyes to wake himself up. He dragged himself to his knees, pressing against the wall repeatedly. He stared past it, the strange twilight letting him see further than normal.

There, almost at the edge of his sight, he could see another body. The other boy was on his feet, swaying madly, reaching out for something Draco could not see. The blond knew immediately who it was.

"Harold James Potter if you take one more bloody step I'll kill you myself!" Draco was on his feet in an instant, pushing at the wall that separated the two of them. "Harry! Harry Potter! Hey scarhead! Damnit you bloody fool! Listen to me!" He beat his hands on the wall until they were bloody, but Harry still did not turn. "Harry please." Draco wiped angrily at the tears that splashed down his face. "Don't go where I can't follow. Please, Harry…"

A touch on his elbow made Draco jump and let out an undignified yelp. He spun, stumbling back from the person who had startled him and tripping over his feet in the process, his breath catching in his throat. He stared up at the woman in front of him, shaking.

"You cannot pass the Veil, child. It is not your time." The woman was cloaked and hooded, her face hidden from view. Her voice was warm and for a fleeting moment Draco thought she sounded like his childhood nurse.

"Who are you? Why can't I cross the Veil? Harry's past the veil and I have to get him. He can't leave yet." Draco scrambled to his feet, facing the woman and eyeing her warily, his eyes cold and hard.

The woman tilted her head to one side, regarding the blond evenly. "Your heart beats and thrives. Thus, the veil is closed to you. The shadowed child is close to death, and so he goes farther than you into the Summerlands."

"No!" Draco's hands curled into fists at his sides. He turned from the woman and back to Harry, who was even further than he had been. "Harry! Harry! It's Draco, come back! Harry please come back! Don't leave yet!" He pounded his fists on the veil that separated them, tears running unchecked down his face. He slid to his knees, sorrow welling up in him. "Harry, please," he whimpered, splaying his hands against the hardened air, not seeing the blood that trickled down his fingers and disappeared into the sleeves of his robe.

"Your heart aches for him." The woman was close again, but Draco couldn't find enough emotion in himself to care.

"Of course it does." Draco pressed his forehead to the veil, his shoulders shaking slightly. Harry, no…don't go. Please don't go. I swore to you, please…

A hand touched his and he jerked back from the touch, hissing with pain. He looked up into the hood of the cloak, a barrage of images flooding into his mind. "Your heart calls to him, you care only for his return." She held a hand out to him, her fingers at once young and firm and yet old and frail. "Come."

Draco reached out hesitantly and placed his hand in hers, letting her pull him to his feet. She took a step forward, drawing him with her past the thick, suffocating veil. Draco stepped forward, a pain stabbing through his chest. He gasped for breath, but there was no air for him to breathe. He shuddered and shook, the pain, the pressure, everything building and building and building until he thought his head would explode from the need to draw breath, the need to be free from the pain –

He stumbled to a stop mere feet away from Harry. The woman had let go of his hand and was looking at him calmly. He glanced at her once before turning his attention completely onto the boy in front of him.

"Harry?" The other boy jumped and spun around, his expression terrified.

"Draco?" He held out his hands, warding the other boy off. "No, it's not you. They're just trying to hurt me again. You're – you're not here, you can't be here…"

"Harry." Draco knew, somehow, that he didn't have much time. "It's me." He took a few steps towards the other boy, searching his face. "Please don't go, don't leave me." He reached out for the other boy, but Harry stumbled back, shaking his head and eyeing Draco warily.

"What do you mean?" Harry wrapped his arms around himself tightly, shaking like a leaf. The blond searched the pale face, wondering what had happened to make him look so old and scared.

"You're – you're past the Veil." Draco looked past Harry to where the light began to grow and turn golden. "You and I – this is a type of limbo, I think. The place between not quite alive and not quite dead."

Harry frowned and shook his head slightly. "I – I –," he swayed on his feet, his eyes becoming dark and unfocused. "It was so cold…and they were all so angry. They hated me, they – they –,"

"What are you talking about?" The blond reached out for the other boy, but let his hand drop. "There's no one here but you and me." And the lady in the cloak, but who's counting?

The dark haired boy merely shook his head and turned away from Draco, his eyes returning once more the light just beyond them. "I'm so tired."

"I know, Harry." Draco glanced towards the woman, only to find that her gaze was trained on the other boy. "But you have to come back, Harry. Come back home with me."

"Why?" The question was so soft the blond had to strain to hear it.

"Because I need you to come back." Draco pushed away the flood of fear that hovered just out of reach.

"Why?" Harry turned back to the blond, his green eyes dull and flat. "I'm of little use to you, especially after this. The last thing any of you need is a half-mad sickling to baby about."

"Harry." Draco took another step towards the boy, the words hitting him painfully. He swallowed thickly, his mind searching for the right words. "I'm – I'm –," he gritted his teeth and pushed away the fear that was trying to consume him. "I'm sorry for yelling at you. I'm sorry I didn't see…I'm sorry."

Harry stared at him for a long moment, the hesitant, wary look finally disappearing and a wry, irritated frown taking its place. "Ohh, that had to hurt." Green eyes narrowed at him, before dropping to the ground. "I – I'm sorry too, you know." The frown vanished, replaced by sorrow.

"Well, good, we're both sorry, so can we leave now?" Draco finally closed the distance between them and hauled Harry into an embrace. "I'd really like to go home." He buried his face in the other boy's hair, a multitude of emotions crashing through him. I've got him, oh thank Merlin. I've got him.

"I –," Harry tensed in his arms, drawing away slightly, causing Draco to tense as well. He looked past the blond, towards where the light grew warmer, thicker. "Can't we stay, just for a little while?"

"No, Harry." Draco drew the other boy close again, looking over the top of his head towards the woman who was approaching them. "We can't." We've already been here far too long as it is.

"But –," Harry curled his fists into Draco's robes, his breath catching. "It's so peaceful here."

"I know, Harry." The woman was at their sides now, but her gaze was completely for the dark haired boy.

"Child," the woman reached out, her skin now young and firm, fingers long and slender. "This is no place for you when such love waits for you."

Harry turned his face towards the woman, his body going rigid with shock. He began to shake wildly in Draco's arms. "Mum?" He jerked in the blonde's grasp.

The woman shook her head slightly, reaching out to brush the hair from Harry's eyes. "In a way, child, yes you are right." She let her hand drop from Harry's forehead, her skin now wrinkled and old. "But no, I am not the woman that gave birth to you."

That's when Draco finally understood. He stared at the woman in awe, his arms tightening around Harry even as he protested. He bent so that his mouth was near Harry's ear. "It's Danu." Harry stilled for a moment before a sob tore itself from his throat. He buried his head into the blonde's chest, shuddering.

"I – I –," The goddess looked at Draco and then motioned him aside, gathering up the shaking boy and holding him close. She bent her head near his ear, holding him up as his legs gave out from under him. Whatever she said Draco could not make out, he could only watch as Harry cried himself out in the arms of the Mother.

When Harry had finally stopped shaking, the goddess looked back up at Draco. For one moment the blond saw an image of his own mother – an image he thought he'd made up a long time ago. It was an image of Narcissa, and she was smiling at him, her normally cold eyes warm as she watched him in his crib. There was pride in the gaze, love and hope. As quickly as it came it was gone, but it left him shaken and trembling.

"I heard your voices in the wind." The goddess lowered Harry to the ground. The boy was fast asleep. "It stirred me from my sleep, and I woke." She smoothed back his hair, her head bent as she studied the small child at her feet. "There is such sorrow in this child," she murmured.

"We had hoped you would hear us." Draco took a small step forward, his heart pounding in his throat. "There are terrible things going on in the world. A mad man is playing with powers he does not understand. The magical world is about to be torn to pieces from the inside and we cannot do a thing to stop it." He knelt down on the other side of Harry, staring at the goddess. "We need help to find our way."

The goddess looked up at him, the darkness under the hood swirling with thousands of images. "There is little I can do. My children have turned from me. My children's children have turned from them. Thus is the cycle of life."

"No." Draco shook slightly. "There has to be a way. We need your help, please. The Dark Lord is going to attack with these hell hounds, and I think that they're something one of your children have created. Please," he shook his head slightly, "help us."

The goddess said nothing, lowering her head once more and resting her gaze on Harry. "It is time for the two of you to go." She stood and looked down at the two boys, darkness beginning to swirl around her.

"Wait! Please wait!" Draco struggled to find his feet, but failed as a great lethargy stole through his blood. He slumped next to Harry, trying in vain to hold up his head. "Wait," he slurred, shaking his head slowly. "Please…we can-can't do this…" His arms gave out from under him, sending him sprawling next to Harry. His eyes fluttered shut, struggling until the last second against the magic that was overtaking him.

The goddess watched as their bodies faded from view, her eyes lingering on the spot where they had lain long after they had vanished. The blonde's words echoed in her ears, the plea for help, a direct prayer she had not heard in a thousand years or more. She brought a hand up to touch her throat, an emotion stirring in her that she had not felt in a millennium.

Hope.

End Chapter 37

A/N: Thank you again everyone who's reviewed. It means so much to me. I'm glad you're all enjoying the fic! Thank you thank you thank you!