"Great. Why must muggles do things the harder way all the time"? Draco muttered to himself as he saw the subway train jampacked. People, young and old standing, struggling to get some breathing space even for just a while. "Unbelievable", he said once again.

As he boarded the subway back to Cho's flat, an odd feeling of restlessness started to kick in. His heart started pounding harder and faster as tiny beads of cold sweat started to trickle down his back. All those due to a reason unknown to him, but whatever it was, Draco had a feeling it was something evidently strange. Something he has not encountered ever since he set foot in the world he never thought he would dare live in, the Muggle world.

Then Draco's thoughts drifted to Cho.

"What if Cho was involved? Is she all right? Or is she still fast asleep?", he thought.

He stared blankly outside the window as these thoughts started to race through his head. He tapped his foot impatiently on the floor, hoping that the train would go any faster. "if only I had my wand..". If only, Draco thought. He could make the train go faster but then again maybe he could apparate. The latter option was too risky. "Come to think of it, dealing with magic is risky". Pissed that he was incapable of doing anything but wait for his stop, Draco went back to his thoughts once more.

Not a lot of people loaded off the train on the first stop but Draco was lucky enough to have found a seat. His legs were starting to get tired and shaky because of the anxiety he had been feeling ever since he boarded the train. Draco sat down, resting his head on window trying to calm down and distract himself even for just a while. He took in some deep breaths, although it wasn't much of a great help because all he was taking in was a mixed scent of perspiration, perfume and what not. Either way, the twisting sensation in his stomach started to slowly disappear. Later on, his eyelids started drooping. Next thing Draco knew, he was falling into deep slumber.

"You are not to harm her! Leave her alone"! Draco spat

"No Draco! They'll only kill you! I can defend myself. Stay behind me!" Cho said

"No" he said in reply "you need not protect me! I should be the one protecting you"

"Aww. Such a sweet moment between the both of you. Pathetic to be honest thus I am putting to an end", said another female voice

Then a bright green light flashed and the next thing he saw was Cho, eyes open but still beautiful only this time lifeless on the ground.

"CHO!"

Draco woke up shouting, perspiring greatly. He ran his hand through his hair which became even more of a mess. He wiped his eyes then looked around only to see a vacant train.

"What in Merlin's name!" he exclaimed. It was only then that Draco realized that he had missed his stop. He needed to get back home as soon as possible after what he had just dreamt of. He needed to get back to Cho and see if she was doing all right. To see if she was still alive.

Draco was no Sneer and no expert in interpreting dreams (and at that moment, he wish he had payed more attention to Trelawney's psychotic teachings), but sometimes his dreams would become accurate predictions of what lies ahead.

Without hesitation, Draco pulled the emergency stop and ran quickly to the door, when all of a sudden..

"PETRIFICUS TOTALUS!"

Draco hit the ground hard. He was in utmost pain. Who could have done it?

"Well, well. We meet again Draco Malfoy. Remember me? Theodore Nott?"

Draco gave no reply as the pain he was feeling began to throb

"Oh. Can't speak? Under my mercy, finally", Theodore said in a sadistic tone. "You never really gave much attention to your other fellow Slytherins besides your posse", he continued, "but that is not my point. You see, my father was a Death Eater, just like us"

"I do not have time for this, you bastard", struggle was in Draco's voice

"IMPEDIMENTA!"

Draco screamed in agony.

"Now listen to me, Malfoy. As I was saying, my father was a Death Eater and I have decided to follow his footsteps. But how can I go on serving the Dark Lord when there is no one to lead us?"

"Don't you…dare speak of… the Dark.. in front of me..I am…not…like you", Draco said in between breaths

"Everyone else will be pleased now that I've found you. That's right. I am not alone, Malfoy. Loyal followers of the Dark Lord still live and would love to avenge his death. Wouldn't you want to do the same? This would make your dead parents finally be proud of bearing a son like you!" Nott declared with an evil laugh

"I know no father! I have disowned him! You have no idea how my mother was a person!" Draco spat back at him, finally regaining his strength. "Count me out of your stupid plan!" he said angrily

"Very well then. You asked for it Malfoy. Stop pretending that you've changed", said Nott with much sarcasm.

"CRU-"

But with a loud crack of thunder, Draco was gone.

Draco had apparated back to the apartment kitchen.

"Cho!", he called out but received no reply. As went out the kitchen and into the living room, his eyes grew wide at the sight which beheld him. It was Cho, sprawled across the living room floor looking pale and lifeless.

"NO!" he exclaimed as he ran to the body. He scooped her up and cradled her in his arms. "Please, don't be dead. You can't be dead Cho!", he said as he continued to shake her. He placed his fingers below her nostrils, hopefully to sense the warmth of her breathing. She was still alive. Draco started to shake her even more.

"CHO! CHO CHANG! WAKE UP CHANG! WAKE UP!"

"WAKE UP CHANG! WAKE UP!"

"Who could that be", Cho thought. "Please do not wake me"

"Cho! Wake up, please. I'm begging you"

Then, miraculously, Cho slowly got back to her senses. She was starting to feel the shaking and she was starting to recognize the voice calling out her name. Her eyelids flew open and saw Draco's face inches away from hers.

"Draco! You're alive"! then she embraced him. "Thank goodness. I thought you…" Cho could not go on with what she wanted to say as she started sobbing on his shoulders. She felt Draco's arms wrap around her. His grip firm but comforting and warm.

"I thought I lost you", he whispered into her ear. "I thought they took you away", then he started stroking his hair.

Cho did not know what to say. She just held Draco even tighter. After a few mintues, they broke away from each other. It was time that both of them started explaining what had just happened.

"…and there you were. Lying on the ground because this unknown girl gave you an Unforgivable Curse. I wasn't able to hear her say it in my dream but with the green light I saw, I knew it was the Avada Kedavra" Cho narrated as calmly as possible.

Draco was in awe. He could not say anything. His jaw dropping reflected the shock he had been given.

"Draco? What's wrong?", Cho asked skeptically

"It's..it's" Draco said as he tried to pull himself back together. "It's just that… I had almost the same dream. Only it was you lying on the ground. You were the one who got killed. You were still the one protecting me, though. And you know what, this guy from Slytherin, or so he claims, Theodore Nott I believe was his name, attacked me in the subway before I apparated here."

"You apparated?"

"Yes" Draco said with determination

Silence.

Cho gave out a heavy sigh. "Did you not recognize the girl in your dream? You know, the one who had cast the spell?"

"No."

"Oh" was all Cho could say.

"That's freaky, isn't it." She uttered.

"I know" he replied "it's all fucked up. Someone's been playing with our minds"

"But no one is capable of doing so right?" she questioned

"Cho!" Draco said with annoyance, "with the great amount of determination those blokes have to avenge You-Know-Who, they must have learned skills which the Dark Lord himself mastered. They're that desperate, Cho! Don't be stupid"

"Now, don't go calling me stupid. Is there anything wrong with asking? I have not been in contact with any person of the Wizarding World right after I quit Auror training. At least I leave a note before I leave as not to get you worried but it seems that you don't give a damn if I do get worried or not!"

"Now don't go all mental on me! I do give a damn!", he said in a raised voice

"You do! Well it doesn't show?", Cho was starting to shout.

"Cho, it's just a fucking note! What is the big deal!" Draco argued.

"What the fuck do you mean by saying it's not big deal? Of course it is Draco! Especially for me! Because I want to know if you're doing all right! Because I care Draco! You got me worried sick! I was so close to reporting to the Ministry"

"Don't you fucking dare report to the Ministry! They're a bunch of imbeciles!"

"Well if you left me--"

"Shut up Cho! Shut up! Who told you to care anyway! Who Chang? Who? For all I know, you only cared about Hogwarts heroes! Diggory then Potter! You only cared about those who were like you Chang! And I hate to say this but I am not like you! Who gives a shit when I'm gone!"

"Because—"

"Do not interrupt me,. Chang! I do not like being interfered when speaking! "

Cho was taken back. She could not believe it. She was in shock but Draco did not seem to care as he went on shouting at her.

"It is not your task to meddle with my life as I can see that you have issues yourself which you have to mend.", Draco said with much anger.

"But no! You go around acting like everything is ok just to make me feel better? Am I right, Chang? Don't be a hypocrite for bloody hell's sake!"

"I am not meddling!", she shouted once more. "I'm just trying to help! I do not want anything to happen to you! Which is why I want you to stay in this place. Which is why you must not leave this place without a note or my company! Look at the gravity of the situation, Draco!"

"Stop being so protective! Sto..stop acting like my mother!

"I am not trying to be your—"

"I DON'T NEED YOU!"

These words brought Cho to tears. But she still struggled to defend her side despite the pain and the tears

"Yes you do need me! You have no other place to go to! I'm here to protect you"

"Well, here's the scoop, Cho! You don't have to do that! Know why? Because I don't want you to, anymore! I don't want you killed! I don't want you to risk your life!"

"Fuck you Malfoy! You are still that insensitive prat you have always been! You got me fooled again!" Cho screamed frantically

"Insenstive?" Me? How dare you insult—"

"I am not insulting you Draco because it's the truth! If you weren't so insensitive and dense, then you would have realized by now that I have been doing everything for you because I.. because.." Cho's voice started to soften.

"..because I love you."

Draco only stared at her, surprised at the revelation.

"You heard that Malfoy!" she started going frantic again, "I love you! Since my 7th year at Hogwarts! I felt empathy towards people expecting from you! Expecting you to kill Dumbledore but deep inside you did not want to! I was a victim of expectations and high hopes, too, Malfoy! I wanted to reach out to you, thinking that we could help each other out of our hellholes! But I was wrong.. I was fucking wrong!"

Then slapping Draco's face, she ran to her room and slammed the door.

Draco felt the warmth of Cho's slap on his right cheek then whispered "I love you, too"