Dream Connections: Chapter 12

An Unbearably Long Time

Blaise waved a polite good bye to Terry as they parted ways outside the Room of Requirement. It was a dead useful room and he was quite happy that Harry had dispersed the knowledge of it through the DA. Sighing contentedly, he strolled in the opposite direction, humming an indistinct tune.

The tall Slytherin turned a corner casually and just barely saw the blur of black hair before Harry ran full speed into him. "What are you doing, Harry?" Blaise raised himself up on his elbows from the spot on the floor he had been hurled to. "You look like hell."

Harry wiped his blotchy tear-stained face with the sleeve of his cloak before speaking haltingly. "You…were right…about…Draco." Harry choked out the last word, bursting into a fresh batch of tears.

Blaise felt a pang of guilt, but quickly dismissed it. He had wanted this to happen. He walked over to the sobbing boy, wrapping an arm around his shoulders.

Harry shrugged out of the loose embrace. "No…just don't. I can't…not now…I…just leave me alone." He moved a few feet away, toward the Room of Requirement.

"Listen, Harry. Maybe I can help you. Just talk to me." Blaise took a step toward him, one hand outstretched.

"No, Blaise." Harry shook his head dejectedly. "I think you've done enough." He turned to leave, but felt a hand on his shoulder.

"Harry, please, I know I can't make you feel any better about this, but you could at least vent it out. I'm sure you need to talk to someone. I'm here…you're here…" Blaise shrugged and gave Harry a weak smile. "We could take a nice walk and you can talk things out."

Harry gave his eyes a wipe before looking sadly at the other boy. "I guess I could talk to you."

Blaise flashed him a dazzling smile. "Of course you can." Things were going better than he had expected. Harry and Draco had clearly broken up if the tears were any indication. "So, why don't you start here, since I already know what happened at Halloween… I'm guessing that is what this is about. Did you two break up?"

Harry hung his head before mumbling, "No."

Blaise tried to hide his stunned expression before Harry looked up again. They didn't break up? What the hell?

"We were never actually together in the first place." Harry let out a choked sob and leaned against the wall for a moment. "I just can't believe I've been so stupid. Of course it was all just some joke to him."

"Well, that is just how Draco is, Harry. Don't go blaming yourself for this." Blaise drew Harry to his side again. "Here, I'll walk you to Gryffindor's common room. Just talk it out."

Harry leaned heavily on the other boy and let his head droop wearily. "I don't want to talk anymore. I just want to go to sleep…just need rest."

"That's right, Harry. Everything will be fine. I understand you're hurt, but…"

"Stop it, Blaise. I don't want to talk about it. I'm just going back to the room. You can go now. I don't need your help for that." Harry began walking toward the common room.

"Of course, Harry. I still want to walk with you though. You shouldn't be alone right now." Blaise caught up with Harry easily.

"Fine, Blaise. Whatever you want…really…just don't bother me." Harry sighed deeply and the pair continued on in silence until they were outside the portrait of the Fat Lady.

"Look, I appreciate your concern and everything, Blaise, but I think I can handle it from here." Harry turned to shoo Blaise, but saw him looking awkwardly at the portrait of the Fat Lady. As he turned to look, he turned right into the heated gaze of Draco Malfoy.

"I cannot believe you ran straight into the arms of that conniving piece of shit!" Draco's face turned beet red and contorted with rage as he saw the two together.

"What are you getting so damn upset about, Malfoy?" Harry yelled back at the blond. "If anyone should be getting all mad, it's me. So what if I did go looking for Blaise…what of it?"

"You are despicable!" Draco yelled at Blaise, jabbing a finger into his chest. "And you," he began whirling toward Harry, "are the most idiotic person I have ever had the displeasure of meeting. How could you do this? If you only knew what a big mistake you're making…"

"Who said I'm making any mistakes, Malfoy?" Harry shoved Draco away from Blaise angrily. "If I've made any mistake, it was trusting you! Why don't you just leave and go back to where you belong… the dungeon with the other snakes!"

"I'm not leaving until he leaves!" Draco pointed at Blaise venomously.

"Fine, he was just leaving." The smile Harry shot Blaise was pure spun sugar. "Good night, Blaise, and thank you for comforting me." He then turned to Draco, narrowing his eyes. "Malfoy…" He nodded curtly and stormed into the Gryffindor common room where all eyes were immediately upon him.

"What the hell do you lot want?" Harry scowled at the group of first years nearest the doors. "Didn't anyone ever tell you to mind your own bloody fucking business!"

A few of the children backed away, the one Draco had singled out whimpered quietly, and everyone suddenly became focused on anything but Harry Potter. Hermione alone was the exception.

"Harry, can I speak to you for a few moments?" Hermione wound through the crowd of frightened students and grasped Harry's forearm tightly.

Harry frowned at her hand and looked up into her eyes. "I don't suppose I really have a choice, do I?"

"No, not really. Come with me." Hermione led the way into her cozy quarters, almost identical to Draco's except that it was decorated with a Gryffindor theme. She indicated for Harry to take a seat on the couch in front of the fire and waited patiently as he did so.

"Tell me what's going on, Harry." The bushy-haired brunette placed her hands firmly on her hips, but softened her facial features so that she looked more understanding than angry.

"There's nothing to tell." Harry stared hard into the flames that flickered in the fireplace.

"Oh, I can bet a hell of a lot of money that there is." Hermione took a seat next to her friend on the couch. "Tell me about it, Harry. I know it has to do with Draco."

"Such pals you and Malfoy are now, aren't you, Herm?" Harry's eyes blazed, though he never took them from the fire. "I suppose he came here and told you everything."

"No, Harry. Don't be such a prick. You know I hate when you call me that. Draco came here looking for you. The only thing he told me was that you found out what happened on Halloween." Hermione touched the boy's arm gently, but it was jerked away instantly.

Green eyes glared dangerously into Hermione's soft brown ones. "You know what happened that night, don't you? I can't believe you've known all this time and didn't tell me! Are you my friend or not, Hermione?"

"You know what, Harry…YES! As a matter of fact, I do know what happened that night and why, which is more than I can say for you. Pansy told me all of what was happening as soon as you ran from the room. That's why Ron and I never came looking for you. Didn't you wonder about that?" Hermione sighed loudly and crossed her arms. "Sure, it may not have been the best idea in the world, but try to understand why Draco did it. He only wanted to be with you. He really likes you, Harry."

"No, he doesn't, Hermione. I can't believe you've let them convince you of that crap. You must be delusional. It's Malfoy for crying out loud! He only did this to ruin my life as much as he possibly could. I should've known better…but you…you KNEW!" Harry stood abruptly and walked to the door. "You knew what was going on, Hermione. You are supposed to be my friend and you're supposed to be the smart one." He glared at Hermione for a moment before exiting, slamming the door behind him.

Draco glared icily at the boy standing awkwardly by his side. "I'm going to kill you, Zabini. You have officially gone too far."

"Oh, I've gone too far, have I?" Blaise scoffed indignantly at Draco. "YOU were the one who used a love potion!"

"Yeah, well I didn't use it on Harry. You are manipulating him far beyond what I have done. Sure, I screwed up your chances, but everything else was genuine. You don't even like him!" Draco clenched his fists and chewed his lip angrily. "Why in the hell are you even doing this? What are you trying to accomplish?"

"Who stole the cookies from the cookie jar? I mean damn, what's with all the questions? FUCK!" Blaise turned exasperatedly to make his way to the dungeons.

Draco raised an eyebrow before grabbing Blaise's shoulder roughly, turning him back around. "Do you think this is some kind of a joke, Zabini? Do you think this is a fucking joke? Do you know who you are dealing with?" He slammed the boy up against the corridor wall. "I will only say this once, Zabini, so you'd bloody well better listen up. If you interfere with my and/or Harry's love life ever again, in any way, I will personally hex your balls up your ass and through your nose. Do you hear me?"

"Loud and clear, oh magnificent Lord Malfoy…" Blaise glowered and gave a mock bow.

"Don't toy with me, Zabini, or you'll wind up some magical creature's teething ring." Draco shoved Blaise harshly once more before turning, with a billowing of his robes, toward the dungeons.

"Don't toy with me, Zabini," Blaise mocked Draco under his breath, "or you'll wind up some magical creature's teething ring." He glared darkly in the direction the blond had taken. "Oh, Draco, if only I were kind enough to leave you alone now. But alas, I have been waiting for this for too long. Idle threats…you don't scare anyone anymore."

The days dragged on slowly for Draco. Harry refused to speak to him at all, and hardly ever glanced in his direction. He had spoken to Hermione, to see if she had made any headway with the boy, but she informed him that she was being snubbed as well.

"I can't take this much longer, Pan." Draco seethed over his untouched breakfast, occasionally sending longing looks over at the Gryffindor table. "It's unbearable."

Pansy stroked Draco's arm reassuringly. She nudged his plate of eggs, bacon, and pancakes toward him. "Eat something, Dray. I know things are bad, but he just needs some time to let things settle. You can't get all sick over this. Just eat, and we'll think of something later. Seamus and I were going to Hogsmeade tomorrow, but you're more than welcome to join us."

"Oh yeah, tomorrow is Saturday, isn't it? Well then, no…I told Hermione I'd go along with her. She's feeling rather down since Harry is leaving her out of the loop. Ron, of course, will be visiting Sirius along with Harry tomorrow, and Hermione needs some company." Draco pushed his eggs around with his fork and sighed heavily. "He is being so hard-headed about this. He won't even listen to me when I try to say 'hi' to him. He's completely ignored me all week during classes, even though we were lab partners in potions. I don't know how he managed it, but I don't think he's said a word to me since he found out."

Blaise snickered from a few seats away. "Potter won't talk to you, Malfoy? What are you going to do, cry about it?" He smirked and leaned toward Draco and Pansy. "He certainly hasn't been avoiding me. As a matter of fact, I'm going to meet his godfather tomorrow."

Draco slammed his fists on the table, leaping to his feet. "I warned you, Zabini! You just don't learn. I will crush you under my thumb, you insignificant little bug!"

Draco stormed angrily from the Great Hall with Pansy hot on his tail. He spared one glance at Harry, who gazed for a second in his direction before quickly turning his attention back to his food.

"Pan, I don't know what I'm going to do about this. Harry won't listen to me, but he'll take Zabini to meet Sirius. He is completely ignoring one of his best friends because she knew about Halloween… he's not on speaking terms with another friend because she thinks he stole her man… and I have no clue as to what I should do." Draco ran his fingers shakily through his hair before slamming a fist into the nearest wall. Continuing to walk toward their first class, but now cradling his hand, he muttered under his breath about dreams that had returned.

"Harry, what is going on between you and Blaise?" Ron approached the subject very carefully, knowing how touchy Harry had been lately. One wrong word and Ron was likely to be in the same boat as Hermione. Classes had just finished, and the two were walking back to Gryffindor common room as usual…well, as usual as it could get without Hermione around.

"Nothing is going on with Blaise." Harry glared at his friend as though daring him to say something else.

"Well then why are you taking him to meet Sirius, and why are you letting Ginny go on believing that you're dating him?" Ron stopped walking and pulled on Harry's robes so that he would too.

Harry sighed and turned to look into the other boy's puzzled blue eyes. "Maybe because I am dating him…"

"WHAT? Harry, you just said that nothing was going on!" Ron's face contorted with an array of emotions from anger and disgust to shock and horror.

"Well, nothing is going on apart from that, Ron." Harry glared at his redheaded friend. "Do you have an objection to that?"

"As a matter of fact, I do! Harry, you are being ridiculously stupid! Draco likes you an awful lot and went through a lot to try to get you. Just because he was a bit underhanded, which isn't uncommon for a Slytherin, mind you, you're just going to toss him to the side for Zabini? If you had been thinking clearly over the past few days, you'd have realized that he is being just as sneaky and manipulative as Draco was." Ron stood defiantly, watching Harry's reaction.

"So, he's Draco to you as well, Weasley?" Harry attempted to bore a hole in Ron's head with his eyes as he stepped toward the boy. "Well then, since you think he's so bloody great, why don't you get Hermione and you both go join his fan club!"

Ron stepped forward as well, towering over his friend. "Well, I'd rather be in his fan club than yours right now, you hard-headed twit!"

"Don't talk to me that way, you overgrown carrot!"

"Dick-licker!"

"Twat gobbler!"

"Arse-plunging spooge gurgler!"

"You filthy little piece of poor white trash!"

Ron's eyes widened as he bit back a retort. "Well, if that's how you feel about me and my family, Potter, then you can just go off with your little friend. Maybe the Sorting Hat was right about you… you do belong in Slytherin. You're no better than the scum swinging from You-Know-Who's dick. I hope you have a horribly miserable life and that you realize what a fucking prick you're being. When you do, though…I hope Draco rejects your sorry arse." Ron shoved Harry into the wall and hurried off to his quarters, leaving Harry alone in the corridor.

Draco buried his head into his arms that lay resting on a table in the Three Broomsticks. "This is bloody miserable. I can't believe he's gotten to you too."

Ron nodded sullenly, sipping his butterbeer and staring at the wall behind Draco. Hermione glanced between the two dejected boys and sighed. "Harry is being utterly ridiculous. I don't think he really likes Zabini at all. I think he is just doing this to piss everyone off."

"Well, if that's what he's doing, he's doing a damn convincing job." Ron nodded in the direction of the door where Harry and Blaise had just entered, arm in arm. Another week had dragged along and none of the three at the table had talked to Harry. Ginny hadn't either, but she had calmed down and had moved on to some quiet Ravenclaw.

Hermione groaned and nudged Draco. "Come on, let's get out of here. I sent an owl to Sirius. I really think we should tell him what's going on, because Harry is being unreasonable. He agreed to meet with us after Harry left him today down by the Shrieking Shack."

"Do you really think that is such a good idea?" Draco frowned thoughtfully as he mulled it over. "Harry won't like it if we just run off and snitch to his godfather."

"So, you have a better idea then?" Hermione snapped quickly at the blond. Seeing him simply look taken aback, she smirked. "That's what I thought. Let's get going, Sirius is waiting."

The new trio trudged solemnly through Hogsmeade, all three wondering if Sirius could help. They saw him lingering near the Shrieking Shack and sped up.

"Hey, Snuffles," Ron and Hermione muttered together.

"Hello," Sirius returned, apprehensively eyeing the somber group, "and what's gotten into you three? You look like you've lost your best friend."

"Got it in one, you have." Draco bitterly crossed his arms and turned to spit in the direction of the Three Broomsticks.

Sirius nodded, immediately gathering what was up. "Had a fight with Harry, then…I wondered why you lot haven't been with him these last few times. It's just been him and that shady character. I don't like him much. He has shifty eyes."

"Shifty eyes…ha!" Draco snorted and rolled his eyes. "He's got more than shifty eyes. He's got a black heart, eyes that are green with envy, and roaming hands."

"I take it the three of you don't like him either." Sirius smiled at Draco warmly and clamped a hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry, Draco, Harry doesn't really like him. I suppose he's just taking revenge on you for whatever happened. This can't last."

For a moment, the three students gazed wildly amongst themselves. Then, regaining their senses, they turned to Sirius.

"What? Did you honestly think I couldn't tell what was going on between Harry and Draco? I'm not an idiot. Lily and James used to act just like them." The man smiled nostalgically and squeezed Draco's shoulder. "Trust me, son, I wouldn't give those two more than a week."

"They've already had two bloody weeks!" Draco cracked his knuckles as he pounded a fist into his palm. "I can't take this anymore!"

"Oh, don't be so impatient. We all know how stubborn the kid can be. Give him some time and I'm sure he'll realize what a prick he's being." Sirius smiled at each of his godson's friends. "Things will right themselves soon enough."

"Sure…fat lot of good it did going to see him," Draco muttered under his breath to Hermione.

"Oh cut it out, Draco. I'm sure Sirius knows what he's talking about. Just give Harry more time and he'll come around." Hermione spoke with an optimism that did not quite seem to reach her eyes which had dulled considerably over the two weeks since they'd met with Sirius.

"I'm done." Draco sighed heavily and slumped in his chair across from Ron and Hermione in the library. "At least you two have each other. I have nothing and no one. I don't even have my family anymore. I'm beginning to think opposing my father was a big mistake. Obviously I'm not gaining anything this way."

Hermione's head shot up. "What? Draco, you can't be serious! You did a marvelous thing by refusing to serve You-Know-Who, don't go back now! I know it's not in you to do that. You can't…" Her voice trailed off as Draco stared back at her unflinchingly. "You're not going to are you? After all that…"

Draco turned away from Hermione's searching eyes. "It's better to have some purpose in life than none at all, even if it is an unworthy one."

"If all you need is purpose, join the side of the light." Hermione nudged Ron, attempting to get him to agree.

"And then what, Hermione? Fight side by side with Harry?" Draco scoffed and crossed his arms. "That'll be the day…"

"So, just when we've finally gotten on good terms with each other, you're going to turn your back on us?" Hermione was visibly trying to remain calm. "What is going to happen to our friendship? What good will come of this, Draco?"

Draco turned icy gray eyes on Hermione, who shuddered involuntarily. "I'll tell you what will come of it, Granger. I will be able to feel like myself again. Things will return to normal, just like Black said. Things were meant to be a certain way. Who am I to contend with fate?" He stood defiantly and began to leave, pausing only to say a brief, "Goodbye, Weasel… Granger."

Hermione stomped her foot angrily. "This has gone too far, Ronald, we must do something!"

Ron sighed again. For the past few hours Hermione had been railing on and on about how wrong it would be for Draco to return to his father's side after everything that had happened and how they had to set things right before he did something everyone would regret. Frankly, he was tired of it and just wanted the whole matter to drop.

"Then why don't you do something about it and stop blathering on and on to me? Fuck…I can't do anything about it. Why don't you go tell Harry? Maybe this will break him out of it… but then again, maybe he just won't care. You can't tell anymore. Hell, he probably won't even listen to you at all." Ron placed an arm around his angry girlfriend attempting to soothe her, so that she wouldn't jump down his throat.

"You know what?" Hermione broke away from Ron rather eagerly. "For once, you're right!"

"What do you mean for once!" Ron pouted adorably and crossed his arms, a gesture which Hermione completely ignored.

"I will say something to Harry. If anything, this will make him come to his senses." The bushy-haired girl was already headed in the direction of the common room as Ron jumped to his feet to follow.

"Harry," Hermione said firmly as she approached Harry and Blaise, who were sitting one of the couches in the Gryffindor common room, "we need to talk."

"Then talk." Harry's short reply obviously angered Hermione, who grabbed his wrist gently, but with enough pressure to let him know she was serious.

"Send him away." Hermione jerked her head toward Blaise furiously.

"I'm sure you can say anything you need to in front of him. He is my boyfriend after all."

Ron gagged, but stepped forward defiantly. "Oh shut up, Harry. This is serious and no one is in the mood for you to be a smart ass. Get the hell out of here, Zabini, before I have to physically remove you."

Blaise glared at Ron before looking to Harry for direction. "Go," Harry said simply, "this should be over soon."

"Like hell it will be…" Hermione grumbled. She and Ron took a seat on either side of their ex-best friend. "Harry, you have to end this silly thing. It is getting out of hand." Harry said nothing, so she continued. "Everyone knows that you miss Draco and he misses you too. Carrying on like this is only causing people unnecessary stress. He's considering going back to his father."

Harry, unfazed, rounded slowly on Hermione. "It is none of my concern what Malfoy does with his life. I am not his keeper. He made a fool of me, and yet you expect me to just forgive him and move on? I don't think so."

"If you ever gave him a chance to explain what was going on, you'd know that Draco never planned on making a fool of you. He had this kind of sweet wooing all set out for you, but Blaise interfered. He betrayed Draco's trust and, though he had no interest in you personally, he pursued a relationship with you. Blaise only wanted to get back at Draco for something that Draco has yet to figure out. So, Pansy came up with a new plan. Pansy…not Draco. In fact, Draco had apprehensions about going through with it. He didn't want you to get hurt in the process, but Pansy convinced him that everything would be alright." Hermione took a breath before continuing her rant. "I don't see how you could think it was all a joke. He brought back Sirius for crying out loud, Harry! Doesn't that count for anything?"

Harry clasped his hands together dramatically and fixed Hermione with an obviously mock emotional face. "Oh my, Hermione…You have showed me the error of my ways! How ever could I have been so blind? I must run to Draco at once and make amends!" He rolled his green eyes and stood up. "Look, don't you think you've wasted enough of our time?"

"No, Harry. I don't. You are remarkably hard-headed, but deep down I think you've heard me. You know as well as I do that no one could possibly see Draco as having played a joke. Don't you think he would've exposed it by now? Don't you think he'd be more cheerful? I mean, he gave you head! Why would he go around bragging about giving you head? It couldn't possibly have been a sham, Harry, and you know it. So, if you've heard any of this, no, it was not a waste of time." Hermione shook her head at Harry. "It's completely up to you what happens now."

Harry sat alone at breakfast most days, seeing as all his friends had sided with Draco and Ginny respectively. He hadn't minded for the most part, but today he felt utterly alone. He saw Blaise smile broadly at him and wave, but he didn't have the heart to respond. Everyone knew that he didn't really like Blaise. Hell, Blaise even knew it, but then… Blaise didn't really like him either.

Harry was no idiot, contrary to what his friends seemed to think. He knew he had overreacted, but he just didn't know how to fix things. He was miserable with Blaise. All they ever did was sit around holding hands. They had nothing interesting to talk about, neither really wanted to do anything even remotely sexual, and thus they were generally bored by each other.

At first, Harry had planned on just pissing Draco off for a bit before finally forgiving him. The only problem was, by the time Harry was done pissing him off, he had given up trying to patch things up. Of course, Harry'd kicked himself over and over for not being the bigger man and admitting that he was wrong, but he was stubborn. Besides, he figured by this time it was too late. His chance had long passed…but oh, how he missed Draco.

Harry lifted his eyes to drift over the sexy blond that tortured him every night in those provocative dreams. He saw those devilish gray eyes shimmering in the morning light and nearly swooned. Merlin, how he missed those lips…those soft pink lips that he had tasted so often during their brief period together. It seemed so long ago now that he had awoken to find himself in bed with the Adonis. His heart fluttered in his chest as he thought of how they could've still been together.

The screech of owls as they flew through the Great Hall to deliver mail momentarily distracted Harry. That is until he spotted the owl from Christmas swooping down to the Slytherin table. He watched as the owl delivered its message to Draco and flew away. He saw Draco's face contort momentarily before he read the contents quietly to Pansy. Pansy's face immediactely paled and her head drooped. She murmured something to Draco, whose response was obviously unwelcome. Draco stood and glanced in Harry's direction before walking resolutely toward the door.

Hermione then caught Harry's eye and gestured knowingly to the door. He knew what was going on as well as she did and knew what he had to do. So, taking a deep breath and praying to whatever god was watching over him, he followed quickly after the blond with whom he used to be so close.

Draco sighed as he read once more over his father's letter:

Draco,

My son, you deeply disappointed me with your response on Christmas. I decided, however, to give you one last chance to redeem yourself. You know that I am not a very gracious man, Draco. The Dark Lord alone has convinced me that it would be worth the effort to make one last attempt. My offer of returning your inheritance to you if you will agree to obey my wishes still stands although my patience wanes. Do reply to this as soon as you have given yourself time enough to make a wise decision. Do not take this lightly, Draco.

Inevitably,

Lucius Malfoy

Yes, Draco knew that the time had come to make his decision final. He pulled out a piece of parchment and a quill as he hovered over a desk in the Owlery. He just had to find the right way to word his response. He had to seem humble, yet he couldn't seem weak…

"Draco."

Draco didn't need to turn around to know who was at the door. "Yes? May I help you?"

"Draco, I… what is that you've got?"

"Certainly it is none of your business. Now, if you would kindly leave me alone, I can return to what I was doing." Draco hoped desperately that Harry would just go away. It would make everything easier if he just went away.

"No, Draco. You know as well as I do that I can't just go away. This isn't a good decision and you know it. Yes, Hermione told me, and yes, I've had many talks with Sirius about what an idiot I've been. Draco, let's not both be idiots. Just… let's talk." Harry touched Draco's shoulder softly and hesitantly.

Harry's hand on his shoulder made Draco uncomfortably warm. "I don't know what there is to talk about, but, if you insist…"

"I do."

Author's Note: I'm too tired of typing to do individual responses to my reviewers, but that doesn't mean I don't love y'all. Cuz… I loves my reviewers… God knows I do. I'm kind of sick right now and a little down, so I'm sure it shows in the chapter… Goodness, this chapter is probably depressing. I'm sorry y'all… Things will look up… I'm sure of it. Until I update again, just go ahead and review and hope for the best. Thanks once again to my lovely beta-reader/roommate/friend, my little sister, and my fiancé. Yup… I'm done here.