Chapter fourteen: Sleepless in Malfoy Manor
Harry looked down at the scroll. It was from Hermione.
Harry's eyes itched with exhaustion but he knew he would get no sleep being so far from Draco. Deciding that the scroll could wait until the morning, Harry made up his mind. He got out of the bed and pulled on his discarded jeans. Shoving the scroll into the pocket and taking his trainers into his hands Harry left the room.
Harry padded down the corridors. The stone floors were cool to his feet and it was pitch black but he didn't want to light a torch or his wand for fear of disturbing the portraits.
Oh Merlin I hope I know where I am going he silently prayed as he weaved his way through the halls. He passed several doors, some small and simply, some large and extravagant. He knew he was in Draco's parent's wing and had no desire to enter any of the rooms.
As he past one room in particular an immense feelings of dread wrapped around his heart. The air turned cold and clammy yet it was stifling. Harry's lungs could barely get enough air. The door was not much larger than your average door but it had a menacing air about it. The wood was dark, almost black with intricate carvings of gothic castles and skeletal trees. The handles were steel snakes.
You could never tell this was a family of Slytherins. Harry thought humorously as he tiptoed past the room. He could sense that the room had seen loads of pain and suffering and it caused him to shiver involuntary.
Once past the room Harry sighed in relief. He continued his slow trek through the massive house opting to stay on the straight path he had been rather than taking any turns. Harry's pulse was going a mile a minute as he crept about the eerie manor.
Please let me get there soon. Merlin knows what I might run into. He thought desperately. Little did Harry know that he was in fact heading downward toward the dungeons rather than to Draco's wing.
The temperature dropped drastically, the stone floor was so cold Harry had to stop to pull on his socks deciding discretion and silence were more important than the warmth so he left his trainers off. As Harry continued to venture down the long dark corridor his teeth began to chatter and he could see his own breath.
How can it be this cold? It's summer! He thought stopping again to slip on his trainers. He had noticed that the walls were now void of any portraits or pictures but he still made his way as quietly as he could. Merlin only knew what kind of things that could be lurking around. It was home to Lucius Malfoy former right-hand man of Voldemort.
The corridor began to narrow and a velvety darkness loomed ahead of the Gryffindor. His steps were slow and measured as his eyes became useless. Harry's concentration on navigating in the pitch black pushed the memory of his wand out of his mind.
Harry's feet began to descend a set of stairs but the boy attached to the feet had no idea. Suddenly a blinding light caused the boy to go off balance and tumble down the stairs. Fortunately for him he was mostly down the stairs anyway and only tumbled down two rather large stone steps.
The light wasn't really all that bright but for Harry who had been in complete blackness, it was. The light was from a large fire by the end of the staircase. Harry picked himself up off the icy stone ground and looked around the room. It was massive.
The large fire lit up the room but Harry still had to strain to see what was on the opposite side. From where Harry was standing he could barely make out a row of cells.
I'm in a dungeon. He realized. No wonder it's so cold. What he now realized was a dungeon seemed to stretch out underneath most of the manor. There was however a old wooden door directly across from the staircase that lead to another room.
Harry's knees buckled and he feel to the ground. His head was swimming with images and his chest was searing with pain. Harry watched as a scene from the past played before his eyes in black and white.
"I will not condone such behavior Draco," a stony-faced Lucius Malfoy told a quivering blonde haired boy who looked to be no more than six years old.
"I'm sorry father. It wont happen again. Please, father." The young Draco sobbed.
"Silence" Lucius commanded in a cold voice, but the frightened boy couldn't muffle his whimpers enough to please his father. "Crucio," the man cried and the little boy screamed in pain.
Then the scene changed and from what Harry could tell it was the same day but hours later.
The six-year-old Draco was lying on the ground sobbing soundlessly. His robes were soaked with blood, sweat and tears. Lucius stood over him.
"There will be no more playing with muggle children. They are dirty and vulgar. A Malfoy would never lower themselves to such a level." The older man snarled.
"Yes, father." The young boy choked out. Lucius nodded in satisfaction.
"You will spend the night here." The man said and gestured to two house-elves who stood a few feet away. The elves came forward and dragged the boy into a nearby cell where they chained him to the wall. The elves than began to undo the boys clothes and heal his wounds.
"As I've told you before, Draco. You are Malfoy by sheer name, blood and look alone. Your look is what sets you apart more than anything else. It's the first thing people notice and the last thing they forget. You may not yet know what it fully means to be a Malfoy but you will. Look. The. Part. One day you will understand." Lucius told his son. The boy cried out as his wounds were prodded at and healed though not lessen the pain. The man watched for a few more minutes before giving a curt nod he turned to leave.
"Oh," he called over his shoulder. "Happy Birthday, Draco." And with that the man threw a handful of floo powder into the fire and vanished.
The vision seemed to be on fast-forward. Harry watched as the elves healed the young Draco and then left him alone. The small boy cried and strained against his restraints to try and get comfortable but all that did was cause the rough metal to bite into his skin. His wrist began to bleed and Harry was sure that Draco's back was also being rubbed raw by the rough stone. The only color in the vision was the blood red that ran down the boy's slim wrist.
Harry's vision cleared and the color flooded back into the cold room. He felt sick to his stomach.
How could his own father do that to him? And on his birthday? Harry felt white hot anger at the man sear through his body causing his blood to boil. It sickened Harry and all the bile that rose to the back of his throat during the vision and all the bubbling blood caused him to lurch forward and empty the contents of his stomach all over the dungeon floor.
Strength drained from him Harry pushed himself away from the pool of vomit and rolled on to his back a few meters away. He closed him eyes and took deep breaths. He heard a loud CRACK and didn't even need to open his eyes to know that Helena had found him.
Must be part of a house-elf's duty; to always be there when they are needed even if they are not called for.
"What is Harry Potter doing here?" The elf questioned. Harry was relieved to hear no accusations or anger in her voice.
"I-I got lost." He said swallowing hard trying to clear his mouth and throat. "How did you find me?"
"It is part of a house-elf's duty, sir. To always be there when they is needed, even if they are not called for." The elf informed him looking at him and then to the vomit.
Is Harry Potter alright?" She asked with general concern.
"I-I'm ok Helena. I-I just…" He left off not sure on how to describe what had just happened or why. Helena nodded and looked around the room.
"Helena is hating this room as well Harry Potter. Helena feels sick with fear and regret." The elf said and shuddered and hugged herself. Harry looked at her.
"Regret?" He questioned. What would a house-elf have to regret?
"Yes, regret. Helena regrets what has happened in this room. Regrets not being able to help Master Draco." The elf whispered. Harry sat up on his elbows.
"Helena, what did happen in this room?" He asked her. Helena shook her head.
"I am sorry Harry Potter. I cannot be telling you. Master Draco forbade me from ever speaking of it, to anyone." The elf said with a look of utter sorrow in her large eyes.
"Helena," Harry said swallowing. "I think I had a vision…about what had happened in this room…to Draco." He told her. The elf looked at him shocked.
"But how is that possible Harry Potter? How can Harry Potter be seeing the past?" She questioned.
"I don't know, Helena." Harry said quietly. The elf seemed to be surveying the boy.
"Is that why Harry Potter got sick? Because of what he saw happen to Master Draco?" She asked. Harry just nodded. Helena searched the boy's face for a few more moments before giving a decisive nod.
"Ok Harry Potter, you should be leaving. Helena will clean up. Go through the floo to where you wish." The elf said. Harry looked at her in surprise but did as she said, he didn't want to be the room any longer.
"Thank-you," He said before he threw a pinch of powder into the fire. "Draco's study," He cried and was whisked away.
"Gideon was right about him. Harry Potter is a good choice." Helena said quietly to herself and snapped her fingers. A mop and bucket appeared before her and she pointed to Harry's mess and the pair quickly got to work.
Harry leaped out of the fireplace when he saw Draco's study whiz by. He had thought it would be rude to just floo into Draco's bedroom. Harry landed on the soft charcoal carpet of the study. He pulled himself up from the ground and threw himself into the desk chair.
He took a minute to get his thoughts in order. He was horrified by what he just seen and it became apparent to him why Draco didn't want to talk about it. Harry sighed heavily. As much as it hurt him to learn about things like that the more Harry wanted to understand it. Though it was obvious as to why Lucius had 'punished' his son but he wanted to know how this all tied into who Draco was now. What did he think about it? How did he feel?
Harry didn't so much want to know about the beatings as he did about what they did to Draco. That was what matter to Harry; Draco. Harry decided that he wouldn't say a word about it. Not only would it be awkward but it wasn't his place. Harry would just have to wait for Draco to be ready to tell him.
Harry sighed and heaved his weary body from the chair and stumbled out of the door. Once in the corridor Harry's heart began to pound. He had decided as he wandered around the east wing that he would tell Draco that he couldn't sleep without the Dreamless Sleep potion and then go from there.
A million Cornish pixies seemed to be swarming in his stomach as he raised his hand to knock but before his knuckles made contact with the smooth wood surface, the door was pulled open and Harry was face to face with Draco Malfoy.
"Oh uh, hi," Draco said shocked at the sudden appearance of Harry at his door. The blonde had been on his way to Harry's room to ask him back to his own. Draco just could not sleep without the other boy. He was plagued by nightmares and insomnia.
"Hi," Harry mumbled looking at his feet. Draco was confused.
What's he doing here? He wondered.
"What 'cha doin'?" Draco asked and Harry's cheeks turned red.
"I, um, couldn't sleep," he said and Draco's heart soared but it came crashing back to earth at his next words. "Without the Dreamless Sleep potion."
"Oh," Draco said trying not to let his disappointment show. "Well, uh, I'm out." He said looking everywhere but at the raven-haired boy before him.
"Oh," Harry said and he seemed to be at a lost for words. Silence spread between the two until they both broke it at the same time.
"Can I sleep here?" Harry asked at the same time as Draco asked,
"Will you sleep here?" The two looked at each other and began to chuckle.
"I can't get any bloody sleep with out you. Are you happy now? You've ruined my life." Draco joked and moved so Harry could enter the room.
"Hey I am only boosting your reputation. Think about it, Draco Malfoy sex god of Slytherin has slept with Harry Potter golden boy of Gryffindor all summer long." He grinned. Draco snorted.
"Think a little highly of yourself do you?" Harry looked at him with wide eyes.
"No, haven't you heard? Harry Potter doesn't think. He's as dumb as a rock." Harry said in a high-pitched voice sounding much like his gossip loving Aunt Petunia while flipping back the covers on his side of the bed.
"No," Draco whispered in a scandalized tone and flopping gracefully on the bed resting his body on his elbows and his head in his hands.
"Oh yes," Harry said sliding onto the bed. "He's just the ministry's poster boy. Does what he's told like a good dog."
"I heard he's a virgin." Draco said slyly. Harry grinned wickedly.
"Ah, but that's the big mystery innit. 'Who's going to be the one to steal the heart of the Boy-Who-Bleedin'-Lived'? He is famous but he has a bad habit of getting his friends killed." Harry pointed out.
"You know, now that you mention it I think I have heard something along those lines." Draco said rolling on to his back. "Hear he's quite unstable as well. A bit dodgy if you ask me, hear he's completely barmy in the brainpan if you know what I mean." Draco said smirking at the other boy.
"I'll show you barmy in the brainpan." Harry growled and hit Draco square in the face with a pillow.
"Hey!" He cried and launched himself on the pillow-wielding maniac. The two rolled around in a mock-fight ending with Draco on top and both boys panting.
Draco looked down at the flustered boy beneath him.
"Y'know trying to murder someone with a feather pillow only proves you're stark raving mad." Draco said calmly despite his gasping breaths.
"Where were you fifth year? I've done the whole mental thing. It's so two years ago." Harry said in a perfect imitation of a teenage girl.
"You do that a bit to well. I am beginning to wonder." Draco said. Harry's eyes narrowed.
"I am all male." He said.
Don't I know it. Draco thought but said instead.
"Yeah yeah, you're a big strong man. You eat evil wizards for breakfast and have a hippogriff tattooed on your arse." Draco rolled his eyes.
"Who told you about the tattoo?" Harry asked looking around fugitively as if the culprit might be watching them at that moment.
"W-what?" Draco stuttered.
"I'm only joking, Draco." Harry laughed. "Now would you get off of me? Not all of us are as naturally beautiful as you. Some of us do need beauty sleep." Harry said. Draco looked down at him.
"True, true but sad to say Harry, no matter how much sleep you get you'll never look as good as me." Draco said in mock sympathy. Harry just rolled his eyes, and the two settled back into their pillows their mind whirling with thoughts. Harry was just about to drift off when he felt a warm body next to his.
"Harry?" Draco whispered.
"Yeah?" He whispered back.
"Do you mind if we, y'know, sleep closer together?" He asked softly. "I just…" Draco left off not sure what to say. In truth he felt lonely over there and wanted to be close to Harry to be sure that he was there. He wanted to feel the other boy's warm body by his.
"It's ok," Harry said saving Draco from an explanation. He figured the boy just wanted some reassurance that Harry was there and that was fine with him, because in truth Harry need reassurance as well. He scooted over closer to the blonde.
Draco was relived when Harry agreed and didn't ask for a reason why. He hoped that the raven-haired boy was as frightened of the pending nightmares as he was and was eager for the contact with the other boy that seemed to fend them off.
Draco moved closer and lay on his back by Harry. The two lay in silence enjoying the other's warmth. Draco flipped on to his stomach and snuggled into his soft mattress. He was about to fall asleep when he heard Harry's voice.
"Am I forgiven from earlier?" Harry whispered. Draco smiled into his pillow but didn't answer. "Draco?" Harry called quietly rolling on to his stomach as well and speaking into the blonde's ear. Draco resisted the shudder that went up his spin as Harry's breath ghosted over his ear.
"Sleeping. Talk later." Draco grunted.
"But Draco," Harry whined lifting up a silky lock of blonde hair so he could see Draco's face. "I'll never get any sleep if you haven't forgiven me."
"Hmm, too bad. Already asleep." Draco mumbled snuggling deeper into the mattress.
"Well wake up," Harry said when Draco didn't move or speak Harry poked him in the side. "Draco, wake up."
With still no movement from the blonde, Harry ran his hands softly up and down Draco's side. Just as he hoped the blonde began squirming.
"Harry, stop. I'm trying to sleep." Draco whined.
"Then forgive me already." Harry prodded.
"No, you're not forgiven yet." Draco snapped growing irritated.
"What do I have to do? I apologized, I'm sleeping with you…do you want me to spoon you?" Harry asked and moved to do just that. Draco pushed him away.
"No, Merlin Harry, get away from me." He cried trying to fend of the boy.
"Please forgive me Draco. Please, please," Harry whimpered nuzzling his face in the side of Draco's neck as he tried to grab a hold of the other boy.
"Tomorrow," Draco gasped through his fits of laughter. He was really ticklish. "I'll tell you what to do tomorrow. Now please let me sleep." Harry pulled back from the blonde's neck and looked into his face. Grey eyes met green.
"Ok," Harry said abruptly and pulled away from the blonde and laid down beside him. "I'll hold you to it."
"Mm-hmm" Draco murmured rolling back on to his stomach and drifting off. Harry watched him for a moment before he rolled on to his side and drifted off into a sleep full of harmless and wonderful dreams. Harry's mind was full of fantasies surround the Slytherin curled next to him, that the vision and Hermione's letter were driven completely from his mind.
(A/n: aww aint they cuuute,
I will not beg for reviews, I will not beg for reviews straining I will not- aw screw it. Feedback, please, please, please.
Also this is not; I repeat, not a Draco and Harry have super powers due to being together. Harry's vision is explained in later chapters.
Also I start my job on wed. So I won't be able to update as often but I will try my best. :D
the scene with the mop and bucket is borrowed from da one wit Mickey in Fantasia.)