Ghost at the end of the table

by SweetSalt23

Harry stared, even though he tried not to, his eyes constantly going back to the ghost that sat at the end of the seventh-year table. He felt something in his chest as he took in the mere shadow of a person who for years had always had his attention. This attention was vastly different however, the feelings fluttering in Harry' chest unfamiliar when it came to the new Draco Malfoy.

8. Chapter 8

Disclaimer: NOT MINE

Warning: MxM

If you do not like gay shit please just dont read it~

0O0

Chapter 8

A month after New Years

Harry yawned, walking through the halls as he headed toward the dining area. It was the first month of the new semester and Harry was already tired, the only thing keeping him going were his friends and his new relationship with Draco. They had been careful to keep it hidden, but Harry had asked to tell Ron and Hermione. They were hesitant in accepting this new development, and they both warned him that this might not end well. Harry new that and laid their fears to rest that him and Draco were in no hurry to rush this.

Now, in the present Harry hurried to where the blonde man sat, sliding into the seat and casting a warmth charm. He quickly made the man's coffee and slid it over, grabbing a book at the same time and shoving into the blonde's hands. "You should read this. I think this will help us with the control that we want." He didn't wait for the man to reply before he was speaking again, halfheartedly rummaging through his bag as he spoke. "Also, any news on the books you got from the Hogsmeade bookstore?" He asked quietly, searching for the revised drafts that Kingsley had given back. The Minister had already set a date for the press meeting and he wanted the pair to be prepared. So, to do that he had given them a copy of their own plans and told them to 'study up'.

"Not yet, however…..I think I found something at the manor." Draco muttered, sipping from his cup and running his eyes lazily around the room. "I had one of the elves go through the library while mother was away, since they wouldn't set off the alarms." He shrugged nonchalantly and opened the book that had been shoved at him.

"Your mother has alarms around the library?" Harry scoffed, glancing over and pausing when he met the Slytherins raised eyebrows. "Neverminded, I shouldn't be this surprised." Harry sighed and slapped the large stack of papers he had finally found onto the table, shaking his head. "Library though? I mean, unless it's the one that has a ton of dark arts books." He paused again, smacking Draco in the arm without looking at him, knowing full well the smirk that adorned the man's mouth. "Oh, shut it you."

"I am glad you reached an understanding of my mother's very illegal ways. Now, back to what I was speaking off. I think I might have found something; however, I will need the help of Hermione. I know she is better at looking at things from a different angle. If she would so oblige me, I wouldn't mind some help in this endeavor." He finished off his coffee and slid it away, instead grabbing the top pieces of paper off of Harrys stack and placing them onto the open book in front of him. "I am more hopeful of the things I have found in the manor. Even if some of them are a little more illegal than I would like, I will do anything I can to help." Draco discretely reached down and squeezed Harry's thigh before releasing him.

Harry froze, cheeks hot and red as he shifted in his seat. He glanced at Draco from beneath his lashes as the man prepared another cup of coffee, his tongue darting out to moisten his dry lips. "Thank you….." He muttered, fiddling with the stack of papers in front of him. His tone must have given away something because Draco's eyes snapped towards him, burning with an inner fire that caused Harry's breath to catch.

"If you keep playing coy, it will make it a bit more difficult for me to focus, Harry love." He muttered, his voice dark and husky. "Now, before I utterly lose my focus and throw you on the table to ravish, will you look at this for me?" He reached into his bag and pulled out a very small black leather-bound book.

Harry stuttered, face heated and red as he waved his hands. "I am doing no such thing!" He stammered, voice high as he quickly grabbed what Draco was holding out and smacking it into the table. "Stop being so…. dirty. You are going to make my heart burst!" Harry hissed, pushing the blonde away as the man chuckled. "Oh, hush you." He glanced down at the book and froze, eyes widening. "Draco!"

Draco snorted as Harry finally read the cover of the tome. "Don't worry the book is spelled. No one can read the cover or the contents within." Draco flipped through the revised draft pages in front of him, humming quietly. "I would not be so daft as to take a book like that from the library without precautions. Only you and me can see it. So, don't worry too much. If you want you can glance over it tonight." Draco sighed and magicked a pad of paper and his purple quill into existence beside him, creating a list of possible questions for the press release. "I know you don't mind dark magic, but this book will fall a little more past the acceptable side of things. If it becomes too much put it down or give it back."

Harry nodded, picking the book up more carefully and flipping to the first page. "I will, I promise. I might look over this a bit during class, but ultimately, I will wait for later. I don't want someone to grab this by mistake…...or on purpose. You know how some people are." Harry rolled his eyes and slipped the book into the inner pocket of his robe. "Anyway, we both only have two classes this semester. Which means plenty of time to prepare for the press conference."

Draco nodded, the paper in front of him nearly full. "I think the approach we should go for is calm and passionate." He remarked, setting his feather aside and tapping the pad of paper with the tip of his fingers. "You are a very passionate person, Harry. I think that will give us an advantage. A weak person, exposed to that much fire, will burn away and will leave less of an opposition. Now, that doesn't help with a group who wants facts, and that is where I will come in. I will present data, articles, you name it in order to sway rational minds towards a rational goal. With the both of us I think weathering the tide will be easy." Draco smirked; the expression so miniscule no one else could see it. "With those two opposing approaches meeting so perfectly in the middle, I think we can throw off a lot of people just by the surprise of it."

"You are such a Slytherin." Harry teased, leaning closer and dragging the papers closer to him. "I take it you will formulate a kind of script then?" He asked, his eyes scanning down he paper and snorting when he read several question and answer that he immediately knew where tailored to the infamous Rita Skeeter.

"For you, I won't. What you say has to be from you, Harry. Your words alone can sway people, can change them. You speak and somehow create these wonderful speeches that set ablaze of fire in people. To the point that if you ever turn dark, the world wouldn't have a chance." Draco turned toward the Gryffindor, eyes like silver cut glass. "Your words, expressions, the thoughts you speak aloud, is much more powerful than you think." The Slytherin leaned forward, his gaze captivating. "You have the ability to change the world around you with the drive you have within. Look at us. This never would have happened if you had never felt the way you did. Look at the world! You got rid of Voldemort and kicked the Ministry out of your way. With you, Harry love, nothing is impossible." Draco's voice dropped, the rough timber of it sending shivers down the other man's spine. "That is what we need to win."

Harry swallowed, his throat suddenly dry. "I….have I ever told you how intense you can be sometimes?" He muttered, slightly breathless as the heat pouring off the blonde settled into his skin. "Like…..it gives me whiplash. Someone so expressionless, giving me that much emotion?" Harry leaned slightly away, cheeks going pink.

Draco blinked before a smirk stole upon his face, the man chuckling under his breath so only the Gryffindor could hear. "I only show you what is behind my mask. But yes, you have told me that before." The blonde leaned away and started to gather his things, placing them delicately into his bookbag. "Could we meet after class? I want to try the core movement tonight."

Harry immediately groaned, dropping his head onto the table and ignoring the people around him getting up for class. "I hate that, you know. It makes me…..to hot…" He muttered, blushing.

Draco snorted, standing and pulling the other man to his feet. "I know, Harry. However, it will be good for us to have our magical cores to be somewhat intwined since they reach out toward each other constantly. This way we might be able to fix our 'spark' problem." He demonstrated by brushing their hands together and raising an eyebrow at the flash between their skin. "I will bribe you if that makes you feel better."

Harry paused, a smile blooming. "I think I can be persuaded." He hummed, walking side by side with the blonde and glaring at the people who whispered around them. "Honestly being in a room alone with you is worlds better than here anyway." He growled, frowning at the crowd before shaking himself and focusing on the person who mattered. "Meet you after class?" He asked, smiling when the blonde nodded. He waved and skipped off, already counting down the minutes it would take to be back by the blonde's side.

O0O

Harry groaned and threw himself onto the bed, barely missing the blonde's legs as he fell face first into the mattress. He heard Draco laugh and he turned his head, glaring at the man. "Well, I am glad to see you in such high spirits." He grumbled, shifting and laying his head on his folded arms.

"Oh? Am I to assume your day was not so great?" Draco placed the book he was reading on the nightstand and got comfortable, raising his eyebrows and lifting up one hand to count on his fingers. "Same thing as before I presume? More people vying for your attentions? First years handing you spiked chocolate? The two lovebirds you call friends being utterly disgusting in public? I can go on."

Harry huffed a laugh and rolled onto his back; his mood already lightened as the Slytherin's voice filled the air around them. "That and more, Draco. I don't know why these people never leave off." He sighed and reached for the man's legs, wrapping his fingers around Draco's naked ankle and shivering at the spark of heat. He rubbed the pads of his fingers along the thin bone and smirked at the small gasp that the actions enticed. "I think I need to be distracted. It would help to forget about the aggravations of today." He turned his head to smile at the blonde, cheeks flushing as he continued to rub the smooth skin of the man's ankle. "Please?" He muttered, knowing from the month of them dating that Draco wouldn't touch his bare skin without consent. Harry liked to joke that the blonde was part vampire and needed an 'invitation to come in' which Harry thought was hilarious but made Draco glare.

Draco groaned, reaching down and pulling the Gryffindor away from molesting his ankle. "I swear you are doing that on purpose…." He muttered before he slid off the bed and stood, hands on his hips as he watched Harry wiggle around on the bed. "Stop that, you are messing up the covers." He growled, smirking when the man froze. He reached forward and lifted up the Gryffindors shirt with one finger, gaze dark. He spread his fingers and gently touched the skin around Harry's navel, licking his lips at the hot glow that seemed to flare where skin touched skin. "I would love to fulfill your wishes; however I know you are stalling so we don't have to do those dreaded exercises you hate so much. So, I will give you as much time as you want from me, but in exchange you do the same amount in control exercises. Deal?"

Harry shivered at the sparks that danced across his skin where the blonde touched, nearly ready to jump the man until he caught up with what he said. "Urgh, do we have to? You know what that does to me." He grumbled, blushing white hot. He fisted the covers underneath him and squirmed, eyelids fluttering when the Slytherin ran his nails up his stomach. "F-Fuck…"

"Oh, I know exactly what it does to you." Draco growled, the mask he always wore falling away as he leered at the Gryffindor. "I know it makes you uncomfortable, but I am not here to judge you. I feel somewhat of what you feel, just not to the same degree." The blonde shrugged and leaned forward, letting the man's shirt fall and caging Harry in with his hands. "You know how much of an advantage we would have if we managed to intwine our magic even a little. All that control would help us boost our own cores and hopefully the spark will be less intense."

Harry pouted, crossing his arms and glaring. "I know all that! It's just…..really strong, okay? Especially when you look at me with the 'fuck me' eyes." He grumbled, his lips twitching at the snort that left the blonde. He paused as an idea flashed through his mind and he smirked, suddenly reaching forward and tugging the Slytherin closer by the neck of his shirt. "Fine, but you have to wear a blindfold while we do it." He blushed at his word choice, pushing the embarrassment away as he saw the Slytherin freeze. "Deal?"

Draco hummed, mulling it over as his eyes filled with a look of pure want. "You have no idea what that image does for me, but yes. I will blindfold myself while we are practicing with our cores." Draco smiled; gaze sharp. "Want me to wear one while we kiss?"

"Draco!"

The Slytherin laughed and fell on top of Harry, quickly rolling to the side to not overwhelm the smaller man. "Just joking, Harry love. Now, you wanted a distraction?" He purred, reached forward with both hands and caging the Gryffindors face between his palms. "Tell me when….." He whispered, tugging Harry closer and sealing their lips together with a groan.

White hot heat whipped up and down Harrys body, the feeling still as shocking as before. He and Draco were taking things very slow since neither of them have even been with a man before. Harry was also very hesitant with dropping the boundaries he had had up for so long, not allowing anyone to get close sexually. Draco was the first to get so familiar with him, kissing him whenever he was allowed. Ginny had never kissed him like this, as if they would stop breathing if they ceased the assault on his mouth. It was new, almost frightening so. However, Harry understood that if he gave the word Draco would immediately stop. It was one of the things that made Harry so comfortable with allowing some control to be put into someone else, more and more leaving him as the day's went by.

"Harry…." Draco muttered, tugging the man closer and rolling onto his back. Their legs tangled, the Gryffindor draped halfway onto his chest. He placed his hands on Harrys waist and lifted the man higher so his own neck was tipped backward, slipping his fingers under the mans shirt. "So gorgeous…."

Harry flushed at the praise and squirmed, his glasses getting knocked off as their kissing grew more heated. He braced himself with his hands beside the Slytherin's head, his skin flushed as he panted. "Draco.." He moaned, pressing down more firmly and whimpering when he felt nails dig into the skin of his waist. The flash of pain was startling as was the pleasure that followed it, the sensation shivering up his spine. He pressed harder against the Slytherin's palms, not realizing what he was doing until another shock of pain burned through his blood. He mewled, breathing harshly through his nose. He felt a wave of heat cascade through his body and he shuddered, the wet noises from their passionate kissing filling the air around them. His mind grew slightly hazy, vision blurry whenever his eyelids fluttered.

Draco growled low in his throat, feeling his control weaken as he fucked his tongue in and out of the moaning man above him. He dug his nail in even farther, the urge to rut against Harry almost overriding his common sense. With a ragged gasp he ripped himself away, pushing the Gryffindor up a little as he tried to regain the slack on his constraint. His eyes widened when Harry whimpered, the man dropping more heavily onto his chest.

"No, don't stop…." Harry reached and grabbed Draco's face, trying to tug the man closer. "Dracooooo." He whined, his chest heaving with panted breaths. "It felt so good, please."

Draco swore and pressed his lips to the Gryffindor temple, smoothing his hands down the mans back to try to calm him. "I know, I know." He muttered, gasping when Harry licked up his neck. "Fuck, Harry. I can't control myself for much longer, love." He twisted his fingers into the man's hair and pulled him back, the air hot between them. "Just…..give me a moment."

Harry grumbled, pushing himself to the side and curling against the Slytherin. "Fine…." He mumbled, trying to calm his breathing. "But I am not done with you yet." He growled, fisting the man's shirt and glaring. He snarled when Draco smirked at him, the lust that licked at his skin nearly overwhelming. He tugged on the mans shirt, impatient to start kissing again. "Hurry up." He muttered, shifting restlessly on the bed.

"So impatient, Harry love. I think we need to work on that." Draco hummed, smiling when he heard a snarl close to his ear. "Oh, you know I would love to continue. However, a man can only handle so much." He turned to the Gryffindor and cradled his cheek against his palm, expression warm. "Now, why don't we work on some core control? We can go crazy with snogging afterwards."

Harry groaned, trying to keep Draco beside him and frowning when the blonde sat up. "It's not fair that you are so much stronger than me." He mumbled, pushing himself up. "After this you better kiss me until my lips go numb dammit. I want something to look forward to after these dreaded exercises."

A look of pure unadulterated lust flashed across Draco's face, the expression causing Harry's breath to catch. "Whatever you want, it is yours. However, you should be careful with how much you allow me." The Slytherin leaned forward, eyes a lake reflecting the dawns burning light. "I will wreck you if I am not careful."

Harry swallowed, knowing the truth behind that statement. A few times Draco had made his eyes roll back in his head and moans to spill to easily from his lips. To say that the blonde could be utterly insatiable was an understatement. The man made it his mission to absolutely ruin Harry, to the point that thinking was too hard. It made him nervous for when they go past kissing, but also something to look forward to. If Draco was such a beast with snogging, what would sex be like with him? The thought alone caused a hot flush to erupt across Harry's face. He wasn't nearly ready for that but thinking about it in his own mind was becoming more comfortable as time when on.

"Oh? What is my Harry thinking of that your face would get so red?" Draco whispered, voice heavy and dark. "Not so innocent, are we?"

"D-Draco!" Harry leaned a bit away, eyes wide at getting caught. "Nothing! I wasn't t-thinking of anything like that!" Harry knew that the blonde could see very clearly through his lie, but he refused to back down. With a growl he whipped his wand out and spelled a blindfold onto the man's eyes, wanting to get away from his penetrating stare. "Since you want to be rude…you lose vision privileges."

Draco huffed a laugh and leaned back, crossing his legs and raising his hands in surrender. "Alright, alight." He chuckled, dropping his arms and shifting to grab his wand from his leg holster. "I suppose I deserved that. Now, whenever you are ready we can start." He lifted his wand into the air and waited, blindfold blackening his vision.

Harry sniffed, glad that he managed to steer the conversation away from topics he had no wish to speak about. He sighed and raised his own wand, touching the tip to Draco's before muttering in incantation. It was the one in the book Draco had found, one that allowed their magic to pour out into a visible thread. Once that happened, they had to interact with each other's cores and try to allow their own magic to become familiar with each other. Then the next step was to try to intertwine small pieces at a time together. Most of the time this was very dangerous to try, but they had the advantage of their magic already trying to connect via spark.

"You go first." Draco muttered, his body and face still as he waited for Harry to begin.

Harry set his wand aside and grabbed the Slytherins to do the same, calming his breathing as he reached forward and slid his fingers across a path of visible magic that connected to Draco. The effect was immediate, both of the men groaning as heat and sparks flashed from where Harry touched the exposed coil. Waiting a moment Harry firmly gripped a small strand, a loud mewl clawing out from his throat as his whole body seemed to light up.

He allowed the surge to pass before lifting his hand and gently touching one ore two strands, not wanting to overwhelm before he went to the next part. The next part being trying to tie coils together. They haven't tried it yet, not knowing how familiar they had to be with each other. However, since they couldn't really gauge anything, they decided to try it out. The pleasure was intense, almost overwhelming as Harry grabbed one of his own loose coils and brought them together slowly. Usually when this was done it was painful, but for them it was immensely satisfying. It was the only reason they could make it work, having their cores slowly get closer as they tried more and more of these exercises.

Harry gritted his teeth as he slowly pulled the two loose strands together, a hot flush working its way across his cheeks and collarbone. He felt his cock twitch but he ignored it, not wanting to lose focus as he pressed both strands together. The two coils touched briefly, and Harry cried out loudly, hearing Draco do the same as the two threads melded together. It was nothing he had ever felt before, the wave of white-hot ecstasy drowning him. He nearly released the two pieces he held together but refused, his determination overriding his urge to let go. Just as it became to much the two strands snapped together, a mass of sparks spreading from either side and slamming into both of their chest.

Harry gasped and lurched backward, his body thrumming. He lay there with his chest heaving, his vision slowly clearing as the wave passed and left him shaking. "Fucking Merlin…." He whispered, shocked as he glanced down and noticed how flushed his skin was. "Holy shit…." He pushed himself upright and shook out his arms, the week pulse of lust under his skin making him hot. Harry heard a groan in front of him and his head snapped up, gaze locking on Draco.

Draco was still cross-legged and upright, but it was like his strings were cut. His body was slumped, head tipped back and chest moving rapidly as he panted. A very prominent bulge sat between his legs, the fabric straining. Sweat glistened on his skin, his cheeks under the blindfold stained cherry pink.

Harry nearly choked at how open the other man was, tearing his gaze away even as the urge to stare niggled at him. He huffed, shifting on the bed to stand when he heard Draco growl. He froze, eyes snapping back. He yelped when his ankle was suddenly tugged forward, the Slytherin dragging him closer.

Adrenaline and desire slammed into Harry and he allowed himself to be pulled closer, the other man looming above. Oh, Merlin. I am about to be devoured. Harry thought breathlessly, moaning when Draco gripped his thighs roughly and forced them open. Harry's eyes widened, the blonde never doing something so forceful with him. It caused something to bubble up, a foreign feeling that scared the usually unshakable Gryffindor. He raised his hands, about to call it quits when Draco reached up and ripped the blindfold off, his brilliant gray eyes burning so hot that Harry shuddered just staring at such raw desire. "Fuck."

Draco snarled heatedly and wrapped the blindfold around one of Harrys thighs and forced it down toward the bed, causing the Gryffindors pelvis to be pushed upward. "Tell me the word and I will stop." He growled, obviously holding back as he paused and stared into the other mans flushed face. He kept his body away from Harry's not wanting to frighten him off even as he kept the man's thigh down toward the bed.

Harry laid there panting, feeling exposed as his legs were spread and thigh held down. Heat seemed to flare up and down his body, the same feeling from before welling it. He didn't know what it was, but it caused him to shiver. "I-I….I d-don't know…" He muttered, eyes half-mast. "Just k-kissing, right?" He breathed heavily when Draco nodded, the mans face earnest. "Alright….."

Draco grinned, all teeth as he rested his hand beside the Gryffindor head, the knuckles on his other hand nearly white as he pressed Harry's thigh farther into the mattress. "I'll make good on what you asked of me before." He whispered, flaxen hair falling down and encasing them both in a curtain of gold. "I'll make sure your lips are nice and numb, alright Harry love?"

Harry moaned, knowing he wasn't going to be moving for a while yet.

O0O

Harry gasped, bolting upright. He glanced around and groaned, realizing he was in the ever-accruing nightmare that plagued him almost every night. He sighed and stood, gazing around at the area around him and growing slightly dizzy when the motions of the trees and waves of the lake had shadowed images behind it. It was as if things moved in slow motion with an afterimage straight after. Around him the wind blew frigid air, the moon hanging with an all-seeing eye.

Harry growled and looked around, seeing Hogwarts lighting up the shadows behind him. This time however he would not run, he would not allow the terror to encase him as it always had. The nightmare obviously didn't want him to head to the castle, for every night before he touched the washed stone, he was ripped awake.

No, it wants me to go somewhere else. Harry thought, turning on his heels and waiting. Usually at this point he would have run halfway to the castle and everything around him would be a cascading fall of noise and slow-moving color. The longer he stood there the more he realized that nothing was changing. He nodded to himself, guessing correctly. Now, he just needed to figure out where to go. With some hesitation he neared the water, wondering if the lake had something hidden for him. Just as he placed his feet into the water he heard crashing from behind him. Without looking he cursed and dashed into the water, knowing now that this was not the way to go.

Just as he was chest deep the dream came down around him, plunging him into darkness.

O0O

Harry grumbled and slapped the book he was reading down, the one that Draco had given him from his mother's library. "It does have some helpful tips, but I don't think this will help my magic. I don't know…." He sighed and leaned back in his desk chair, glancing at Draco as the blonde scribbled down more questions and answers for the reporters that would descend on them within the week. They only had the rest of the week to prepare but Harry thinks they will do just fine with what they have. Draco felt a little different, hence the constant revision of questions.

Draco hummed absently and placed the pad of paper and feather down before turning toward the Gryffindor. "If you feel that that book has nothing to offer than that is your choice, Harry. You know more about your magic than me since it is yours and yours alone. I might touch it often enough during our sessions, but it isn't mine." Draco slid his legs off the bed and stood, walking to where Harry sat and running pale fingers through the thick raven-colored locks. "I will continue to look for you if this book is not something you think will help. Just give me the word."

Harry sighed and nodded, handing the finished tome back to Draco and watching as the blonde called for his house elf and instructing her to search for more things along the same line. "Thank you, Draco." He whispered, frustrated but knowing that the Slytherin will help him no matter what.

Draco smiled, lighting up his face. "I am happy to help where I can. Now, would you like to take a walk? We have been cooped up all day and I think your friends will want to make sure I did not cause you an untimely demise." He joked, walking toward his wardrobe and pulling out a grey jacket lined with mink fur. "I think we should also pay Hagrid a visit. He mentioned a few weeks ago that the forest is filling with more and more rare plants. He graciously allowed me to forage as long as I gave Neville half."

Harry nodded, still finding it a bit strange how a friendship between the blonde and the half giant seemed to spring out from nowhere. He knew from tidbits of conversation that before Harry had started to meet with Draco that the man had wandered through the forest enough times to warrant concern. Hagrid, after seeing how truly dead Draco looked inside, had begun to accompany him even though the blonde never said a word. It was a comfortable silence between the two, especially now that Draco was more aware of his surroundings and actually began to converse with the gentle goliath. The two had struck together an unlikely friendship, startling even Harry who knew that Draco was nothing like his father and no longer believed all the things he was taught since birth.

"That sounds fine, but let's not stray too far in. You know how nervous I get." Harry stood and grabbed his own cloak, throwing it over his shoulder and following the blonde out. They walked together toward the forest, Draco conjuring up a basket and handing it to Harry.

"Your job is to carry, alright? Think you can handle it?" Draco teased, the mask he always wore slipping a little as they stepped into the darkness of the forest. Even with the sun bearing down on them the trees were awash in shadow, the looming branches sheltering them from the light rays above.

Harry shifted nervously before following the blonde, not understanding how the other man could be so calm in the middle of the forbidden forest. "D-Draco, don't go to far." He muttered, running forward and grabbing the edge of the Slytherins coat.

Draco nodded and reached down, holding Harry's hand in his even as his attention was toward the ground. "Don't worry, Harry love. It's daylight, which means we should be fine until midmorning at least." He bent down and tugged a pair of clippers from his pocket, snipping plants deftly as they continued into the woods. Draco kept up idle chatter by talking about the plants he was grabbing, the basket that the Gryffindor held growing fuller as they went.

After about an hour Harry sighed and lifted his wand, casting a feather weight charm on the basket to make it easier to carry. Just as he was about to slide it back into the holster a flash of black streaked across the edge of his vision. He spun around; his wand raised without thought as he searched the forest in front of him. He kept his gaze ever moving, never stopping. He frowned, wondering if it was his imagination when his eyes widened in terror. There, at the edge of the clearing they were at, standing halfway behind a tree, was his very own nightmare.

As if in slow motion the basket of plants he was holding fell from his arm and hit the ground with an explosion of petals. He heard Draco call him, but he refused to move, cold shivers working through his body as the creature stood at the edge of the clearing.

"Harry, what-" Draco stood and turned, seeing the shadow creature lurking at the edge of the clearing, away from the sunlight. "What in Merlin's name is that?!" He raised his wand, quickly grabbing the basket and shrinking it to put in his pocket. He grabbed Harry's arm, never taking his eyes off the figure that prowled close to the trees. "Harry, do you know what this is?" He asked, feeling the shivers that wracked the smaller man's frame. "We are getting out of here."

Harry shook his head, his wand shaking. "It's the t-thing I s-see in my n-nightmares." He whispered; voice hushed. "I….you can see it?" He asked, brain finally catching up as he stared at the shadow figure that seemed to fuzz in and out of view. "I'm not crazy?"

"No, you aren't. I can see it quite clearly. My question is, what the fuck is it?" He spat toward the creature, the unknown of it making him fearful for their safety. "If you have any information on it, tell me know. It seems not to like sunlight, but for it to be out in the open like this is worrying."

Harry numbly shook his head, not moving an inch as Draco placed himself in front of him to shield him. "I-I don't know! It has never been around when I am awake!" He sputtered, fear clouding his mind even as he stood steadfast. "I know it grows a mouth and eyes the longer you stare at it, but I have never gotten past that part. Most of the time I wake up!"

Draco cursed, not liking the idea of the creature changing in any way. "We have to leave, now. Before the sun sets anymore. I don't think it will be a good idea to go through the forest however, not with how shielded the trees make the ground." He suddenly raised his wand, the spell he threw up so powerful that wind churned around them and kicked up the edges of his cloak. "Accio brooms!" He shouted, his deep voice traveling through the forest around them.

Harry stood and waited, breath freezing in his lungs as he watched the monsters face contort, obviously about to grow eyes from the hundred times he has already seen it. "D-Draco, hurry! It is changing!" He tugged on the man's coat, panic welling up and the anxiety that had been manageable surging forward and choking him. He took a breath to cry out again when he heard a whizzing noise, two brooms halting in front of them. He quickly jumped on one, not even waiting for Draco before he shot up into the sky and watched the forest fall away.

"To the castle! I will meet you there!" Draco bellowed, the wind that rushed around him nearly drowning him out. He watched as the blonde bent over the broom and streaked toward the castle before following suit and trying to keep his breathing under control.

It took mere minutes to get to the castle grounds, the forest looming behind them. Harry immediately jumped off and stumbled to the ground, the soft earth pressing into his palms as he heaved and panted. He knew he was having a panic attack but could do nothing to stop it, the terror from before still to fresh for him to try to maintain control. He heard Draco's voice as if he was miles away, his ears beginning to ring and eyes blur. Just before he slipped, he felt strong hands catch him.

O0O

Sorry this took so long! had some issues with life but i wont bore you w/ the details. I am just glad i got this one edited! After this chapter it will go a bit more into detail about the campiegn they are running and also...a surpise tool that will help them later. Oh! Also! I have created an archive of our own for my more...racey stuff. I try not to be to gross with my writing but sometimes you gotta *Shrug* so that is where i will put my other stuff! Thank you guys so much for reading! I am almost finished with the next chapter, please be patient with me i am but a humble idiot.