Disclaimer: Although one time I dreamed that they were mine and that I lived in a big castle in England, the characters belong to J.K. Rowlings. By the way, she lives in a castle…

Big thanks to Jamie, Jade and Lildove, and to everyone who reviewed: coetzee b (Yeah, I agree. Harry has a lot to deal with. But when he does… ); DemonessOfPunishment (yay! Forty chapters! I don't really know if I can do it, but I'll try!); Mistal: The Poisoned One (Lol!); Anthea Rose (Heterosexual whores? Lol! Thanks a lot for the lovely review!); SilverDragon161 (You'll see Harry's reaction very soon! As for Bill, I'll take care of him. ); SexySiriusBlack (Hahaha! Noble Blanche isn't so evil. It's just that I have to send everything to my betas first. I hope you had a good show! Villain, huh? How cool!); CuriousDreamWeaver ();grin (I hope so!); Daphne Pessanha (Harry irá sofrer! Mwuahahaha! Estou pensando em escrever a história em português.); grrrr ();iluvdraco334 ();midnightprowler (have a little patience! Only a few days have passed by since Draco and Harry meet again. And I want to take things slowly between them.); kt (there will be some interaction between Draco and Bill soon); Hydrangea777 (yeah, it was my intention to make Harry very annoying. . But soon you'll feel more sympathetic to the guy! I hope…); thezedmeister ()!

A/N: At the end of this chapter there's a scene that I wouldn't classify as NC-17, but since the witch hunting has started again in ff.net, I'll have to cut off a few things: just three or four sentences, just to make sure that my account won't be erased. It happened once. I don't want it to happen again… So in the future, NC-17 parts are going to be cut off. If you want to read the whole story without cuts, go to my yahoo group. You can find the link in my BIO. I'm really sorry for the trouble.

Also, some people are getting restless about how slow things are developing between Harry and Draco. Sorry to say this, but this is not one of those stories where they meet and have sex right away. Not that I don't like these kinds of stories. But this isn't one of those.

Chap. 11 – Sleeping With the Enemy

There was a baby crying. Dream Harry tried to muffle the sound by covering his ears, but it was of no use. This time a man's shout joined the crying. Harry's heart almost came out of his mouth. It was the first time he had heard his father in his nightmares. He watched Voldemort exploding his bedroom door and then murdering his mother. Harry bit his lower lip until he tasted blood, his eyelids fluttering wildly in slumber. His breath quickened as he thrashed on his bed. Meanwhile, in his dream, he watched his mother's body falling lifelessly to the ground. Her green eyes, now empty, seemed to be staring right at him. His heart clenched.

"I'm sorry… I'm so sorry…" he whispered in tears. "Mum…"

And then something new happened. Voldemort looked right at him and smiled evilly. Harry opened his eyes wide, and then his scar throbbed painfully.

"NO!" he screamed.

Harry's body was trembling all over when Draco burst into his room. He heard Draco calling his name, and Harry vaguely heard himself calling Draco's. Draco's lips were moving as he leaned next to him, but Harry couldn't hear a word he was saying. Harry listened to an 'oh, god', and then he felt a wet towel on his forehead. He sighed in relief. He felt a warm hand stroking his face tenderly and whispering soothing words. Gradually, he stopped shaking and the pain in his forehead ceased almost completely. The towel was taken away and he opened his eyes.

Draco was still there, staring at him worriedly. "Are you ok?" Draco asked.

Harry nodded. His heart was still racing and he couldn't understand why. It was then that he noticed his hand clutching something as if his life depended on it. He suddenly realised he was holding Draco's hand. Harry let go immediately, and as the world started making sense again, he sat up straight and stared at Draco with distrust.

"What are you doing here?"

Draco frowned. "You were screaming, Potter. I don't think I could have slept with you crying for help."

"I did not cry for help!" Harry exclaimed, outraged.

"Yes, you did," Draco answered calmly, but Harry could feel he was holding on by a thread. "You were screaming and crying. You had a hell of a nightmare. Your scar was burning. I could see it throbbing."

Harry traced his scar with his fingers. His scar hadn't throbbed since he had defeated Voldemort. In fact, his scar only throbbed when Voldemort was around. He opened his eyes wide and ran to the bathroom. He looked at himself in the mirror and took a closer look at his scar.

"Harry?" Draco asked worriedly.

Harry stared at Draco, trying not to panic. It was just a bad dream. Voldemort was dead for real this time. He wouldn't come back. But Voldemort had looked straight at him in his dream, like he knew Harry was there all along. Harry shook his head. It wasn't possible. He had finished Voldemort off with Dumbledore's help. The dream didn't mean anything.

"I need a drink," he said with a throaty voice, walking with difficulty towards the bedroom door. Draco caught him before he could go further.

"I don't think so. Alcohol is not what you need, Harry," Draco said firmly.

"Don't tell me what I fucking need! You have no idea!" Harry shouted, pushing Draco away violently. He regretted his harsh actions the moment Draco's head slammed into the wall and he slid to the floor. "Draco!" He knelt beside Draco with a worried expression. "I'm… I'm sorry. Are you all right? Did I hurt you?"

Draco sneered as he stroked the back of his head. "Well, let me put it this way. I'll have a very bad headache tomorrow. And a fucking lump on the back of my head."

"I'm sorry," Harry said sincerely. "This is why I like being alone. I'm not good with people. I have a short temper, and a large tendency for impulsive actions." Harry seemed to be more surprised by what he had just said than Draco. He bit his lower lip, calling himself stupid. There was something about Draco that made Harry want to open up to him. But he couldn't do that. It was wrong to feel that way for an enemy.

"What are you talking about? Throwing me against the wall doesn't make you a bad person. This is less than I deserve actually. I bet you wanted to do worse things to me when we were at Hogwarts."

Harry made a face after composing himself. "Well, that's true. But even so, I don't like to hurt anyone, even if that someone is you. Besides, we are not at Hogwarts anymore."

Draco frowned. "I thought you said you liked hurting me."

"I never said that!" Harry protested.

"Are you sure you aren't an alcoholic?" Harry grimaced as Draco went on, "Because you do have a short memory, you know? You say things and then try to dismiss them. You're so weird, Potter. Come on, since I have your attention, help me up." Draco stretched out his hand and Harry caught it, pulling the blond up. Draco stumbled dizzily and Harry caught him by his waist. For a few seconds, they just stayed that way, locked in each other's arms. Then Harry let go of Draco and sat on his bed.

"Sit down, Malfoy."

Draco raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure?"

Harry wasn't sure at all. He just shrugged and Draco sat beside him, leaving a safe distance between them. Harry felt grateful for it. If Draco touched him again, he didn't know what his reaction would be. Harry was still shaken by his nightmare. He couldn't handle Draco's compassion in that state. It would be too much for him to take at once. First Harry would deal with the tension caused by the nightmare and then he would deal with the tension caused by Draco. Not that Draco caused him any tension. Harry frowned in confusion.

"Are you ok now? Do you want me to get you something?" Draco muttered.

"I want a drink," Harry said.

"I feel your pain, Potter, but I can't let you do that. Drinking is not the answer. And yes, I do know what I'm talking about. I passed out all the time when I was eighteen because of too much alcohol. It did lessen the pain for a while, but it wasn't worth the hangover afterwards."

Harry stared at him surprised. "I didn't know that."

"There are a lot of things you don't know about me."

"That's why you know that spell to cure hangovers…" Harry said thoughtfully. A spell Draco hadn't taught him like he said he would.

"Yeah."

In that moment, Draco never looked so different from the spoiled brat he used to be. Suddenly, he looked older and wiser. He seemed to have known and experienced things that went beyond Harry's imagination. Harry felt an urge to know all of Draco's secrets. The blond seemed to have had his share of pain and sorrow. Harry didn't know much about this new Draco. He only knew what Hermione had told him.

According to her, Draco was a very good Auror, and he had become a good friend too. They had their fights, but Hermione was positive that Draco respected and admired her, just as she had learned to respect and admire him. He was arrogant, yes. But Hermione didn't think of that side of Draco as annoying anymore. She thought it was cute.

And now that Harry had had a glimpse of the new Draco, he wanted to learn more about him. 

"What?" Draco asked. Harry looked at him confused. Draco smiled and said, "You're staring at me. What is it?"

Harry looked the other way. He thanked the dim light of the candles for hiding his reddened face. "Nothing. I'm just curious about you. You've never liked me. Now you are helping me. I don't understand why."

"Well, people change. Besides, I'm doing this for Hermione."

Harry felt a pang in his heart for no reason. "Aren't you gay?"

Draco frowned. "So?"

"Well, why would you do something like this for her if you weren't in love with her?"

Draco made a face. "There's something called friendship in this world."

"Yeah, there is. But I never thought you had it in you," Harry sneered.

Draco gave him a dark look, but then relaxed and smiled. "I didn't think I had it either." They kept quiet for a long time until Draco broke the silence. "Do you want to talk about your nightmare?"

"Don't push it, Malfoy. It's hard enough to have you in my room at this time of the night," Harry said. He felt Draco moving and he tensed. "If you touch me…"

"Fuck you, Potter. We've been through this before. You'll kill me and blah, blah, blah… I'm just trying to be friendly, that's all. I have some pretty nasty dreams sometimes, so I know how you must be feeling. I guess you drink yourself to sleep, right?" Harry nodded, stunned that Draco could be so sensible. "I've been there before. And like I said, alcohol won't change anything. I have something else… It's a pill. But I only take it when in dire emergencies."

"Trust me, this situation is bad. It's always the same nightmare, except that it's becoming more sinister and… painful. I want it to stop, but I don't know how. I used to take the Oblivion potion, but Hermione made me swear I wouldn't take it anymore. That's why I turn to alcohol. It's the second best thing. When I'm drunk I don't feel a thing."

"I know." Draco sighed. "She doesn't like me to take the Oblivion pills either."

Harry stared at him in astonishment. "Those are the pills you take?"

Draco bit his lower lip. "Yes."

"And you are the one she sent here to help me?" Harry's lips curved and then opened widely until he was laughing his heart out. Soon, Draco joined him. "We are so… screwed up," Harry said smiling. He lay on his back, refreshed. He couldn't remember the last time he had laughed like that, but the ridiculous situation was too much for him. His eyes turned to Draco, who was staring at him intensely. Harry's laugh ceased and his mouth went dry. Draco's stare was making him feel very unsettled.

"Harry…" Draco whispered. Harry felt like melting. Draco had called him by his first name, and not for the first time that night. It felt good. He had the impression that Draco was coming closer. And he panicked.

He sat up straight before his mind could get fuzzy enough to make him do something very stupid.

"Do you have the pill, Malfoy?" he asked, emphasizing Draco's last name.

"Yes, Potter," Draco answered, upset as he drew away from Harry. "I'll give it to you, but only this time. Hermione will have my head if she finds out that I let you take this pill."

"I won't tell her."

"I'm not worried about that." Draco left Harry's bedroom and came back a few minutes later with a red and pink little pill in the shape of a dove. Harry stretched his hand out eagerly, but Draco didn't let him take it right away. "Just this time, Potter."

"Ok."

"And then I'll teach you something to make you relax without the help of medication."

Harry bit his lower lip impatiently. "Ok." He snatched the pill from Draco's hand and swallowed it. It took only a few seconds for his body to relax. He lay down on his back again and sighed. "This is fucking good."

"Yeah, unfortunately, it is. And unfortunately for you, I'll have to sleep here."

Harry's eyes opened widely. "What are you talking about?"

"Some people react very badly to the pill."

"Not me."

"The pill isn't the same as the potion."

"And now you tell me? You're such a bastard, son of a…" Harry wanted to punch Draco, but the pill was making sleepy. "Malfoy, I'll kick your ass tomorrow…" he said dizzily.

--------------------

Draco smiled mischievously. The truth was that the pill wasn't dangerous at all. Draco had lied about it. The pill was Professor Snape's new discovery. It was a sleeping pill made with natural ingredients and just a little magic. Of course, it could lead to addiction, but only if taken in large quantities for a long period of time. Draco wouldn't let that happen, but for now it would do.

He watched Harry sleeping peacefully for a while until he made his way to the bedroom next door. He lay down on his bed with his arms crossed behind his head and stared at the ceiling. He was waiting for his heart to calm down.

Harry was such a bastard. Draco couldn't understand him at all. One minute Harry was nice to him, and the next he was being spiteful. Perhaps it was just Draco's imagination, but he could swear that Harry's eyes had been pleading for Draco's kiss just a while ago. He saw the green eyes sparkling. There was something in them, and it wasn't hate.  

Or perhaps it was only Harry being deceitful. It was hard to believe, but maybe Harry had purposely seduced Draco just to get the pill.

"What a bastard!" Draco said with a frown.

Draco curled to his left and hugged one of his fluffy pillows. He felt as if he was in a battle, and Harry was winning. He missed Bill and the warmth of his arms. Bill was safe. Draco knew Bill very well. He couldn't say the same about Harry. Harry was wild and unpredictable. Harry made his head spin. Even worse, Harry made him lose control. Draco hated to lose control of things.

'Think about Bill…' Yes, he would think about Bill. He would get over Harry. He was sure of it.

He imagined Bill touching him from behind and the strong hands making his way into his pyjama pants. Draco moaned. He pictured Bill on top of him, teasing him with small bites.

Draco felt his body catching on fire, asking for satisfaction. And then it happened. Like always, Bill's image faded until Harry Potter invaded his fantasy. Draco whimpered. He closed his eyes to make Harry's image go away, but the opposite happened. Harry's image became even clearer in his mind. He kissed Draco softly, and then made love to him.

'Draco…,' whispered Harry. 'Ah… ah… Draco… Are you close? I'm so close, baby… It feels so good to be with you…'

'Shut up, shut up, shut up…,' Draco repeated in his thoughts. 'Ah… Harry…' And he found release.

TBC…