Life Renovations

Chapter Three

Mind's Eye

Draco Malfoy was not comfortable. Not in the least, and being uncomfortable was not something he was used to. And now he was lying in an uncomfortable bed, beside Harry's bed, which made the situation even more uncomfortable, and he'd just had an uncomfortable conversation with Pomfrey and Dumbledore about how he'd saved Harry from some pain. Pomfrey explained that he was to have bed rest because what he had done to Harry had affected his own body to a degree. At the time when he first arrived at Grimmauld Place, Draco felt the effects but had ignored the aches and pains singing through his body. It had been easy to ignore thanks to the adrenaline rush coming from the situation, but now he felt it, and he winced as the discomfort flared at the slightest movement. Madam Pomfrey assured him that he would feel better by tomorrow afternoon. That wasn't really soon enough in Draco's opinion.

And now he was lying there, in the early hours of the morning, waiting to have another uncomfortable discussion with his godfather. He wasn't used to talking about his feelings, but he was so confused at the moment that he had to talk to somebody. Draco had always looked up to his godfather, respected him. Severus was a good listener to Draco, and he almost always gave back good advice.

"Draco, we can talk tomorrow, after you've had some sleep. The jolt from the power of your healing abilities has shocked your body. You will be tired for a few days but the soreness should disappear tomorrow."

Draco didn't want advice tonight so he ignored his godfather's concern for his health and began to speak as if he hadn't heard Severus. "How could I do what I did with Potter? I don't understand what came over me."

"Are you speaking about helping with the pain? Or are you referring to your feelings towards Potter while you did this?"

"I'm not sure, perhaps both."

"I've heard of instances when a person is able to remove pain from another wandlessly, but I will have to do some research and then we can discuss it more."

Draco realized Severus was being evasive. He knew more than he was letting on, and Draco was sure Dumbledore also knew something, as his damn eyes had been twinkling brilliantly the entire time he'd had that uncomfortable discussion with Draco.

"I don't hate him. I haven't for a long time. I should have wanted to kill him for sending my father to prison, but I didn't. And I… I feel like I want to protect him, Severus. I almost killed his relatives. There was this rage pulsing through me, almost uncontrollable. I felt I could actually kill… and the worst of all this is the fact that I…" Draco looked up into his godfather's face with wide silver eyes that bordered on hysterical. "I had a pleasant conversation with some of the Weasleys. And I didn't even kill that chit after she hexed my hair!"

Severus would have laughed had he not known how to control himself. Draco looked so devastated by his civility with Weasleys, and he knew all about his godson's fixation with his hair.

"I think I've been possessed! That can be the only explanation," Draco said hopefully. But Severus shook his head.

"Draco, that's not possible. Upon entering the headquarters of the Order, anything possessed or under possession would have immediately been expelled from our location. You wouldn't be here if you were possessed."

"Well then what is it?" Draco hissed, annoyed as hell. Severus raised one dark eyebrow at the tone of his voice, and then rose from his chair.

"Perhaps it is denial." Severus smirked at him before turning and walking towards the door.

"What are you talking about?" Draco glared at him as he lay down again with his arms crossed over his chest.

He looks like a petulant child, Severus thought with equal parts fondness and disgust. "Draco, I seem to remember you stopped your confrontations with Potter last year at Hogwarts. And when you two did interact, it wasn't as volatile as it was before. You weren't cold with Potter any more, were you? Don't pretend that tonight has been the catalyst."

"I don't know what you're talking about," Draco murmured, looking away from the Potion's Master over to Potter. Severus watched as his godson glared at Potter, but then after a moment, that look softened into something else; something that Severus was not prepared to see. Oh Merlin!

"Take your sleeping draught!" he demanded before quickly leaving the room.

Draco looked at the door as it shut and he glared good and hard at it before turning his glare to the ceiling. He had no intention of taking the sleeping potion. He didn't want it! He didn't want anything to disturb his thoughts; not even sleep.

Harry ran along unhurried in the gray maze he'd created within his mind. He wasn't really thinking of anything, even the nightmares he'd been having. Something would always come next. He had been jumping from one dream to another since losing consciousness and the last nightmare had been brutal. But he was resolved to the situation. He was prepared to not ever escape this nightmare because he figured he'd be saving more lives if he weren't around anymore.

There was no reason to hide here either and that a plus because he was tired of hiding. Sure he was hiding within his own mind right now but at least in the confines of his brain he didn't have to hide who he truly was. There was no point in sliding that happy go lucky mask on everyday for the sake of his 'friends' or for Dumbledore. Harry had never really been given the chance in life to figure out who he was; to look inside himself and find who he wanted to be instead of just being Harry Potter, The-Boy-Who-Lived. If he'd been anyone else and without the puppet strings, when Ron had gone crazy on him when he'd found out that Harry was gay, he would have blasted the redhead to Hades. I shouldn't have really been surprised, he thought bitterly. Ron was known for making rash decisions and it wasn't the first time he'd turned his back on Harry, just like others from Gryffindor had at the end of last term.

Harry shook his head as he turned to walk down another dull gray abstract hallway. He knew that if Voldemort were not defeated than that would mean the end of everyone's world, but seriously how was he supposed to accomplish the feat of destroying the insane snake face when he was alone? Harry knew it would be impossible to do it by himself, but he had no one really. And his friends? My old friends, he thought bitterly, they were never strong enough anyway. Except for Hermione and Ginny. But they were gone now. None of the Weasley's wanted to have anything to do with him. At least that's what Ron told him. And without support, did he really have a chance?

"But it has to be done. I have to defeat him. Which means I have to get out of here and develop my own plans." He spoke out loud to give himself a sort of pep talk. He'd begun to get tired of his pity party.

"Stay here," a voice said close beside Harry; a familiar voice. "We want you gone. Out of our lives. Away forever."

Harry turned and stared in surprise at Ron, who was standing not five feet away. And the look on his former friend's face could rival one of Malfoy's nastier sneers.

"You've always been a freak, Potter. And now you're a buggering faggot freak! Stay here, where you'll be happier. Because no one is ever going to love you."

"No, you're wrong."

Ron grinned and looked to his side where the air grayed and Hermione materialized. She smiled at Harry, her eyes sad and pitying. "It's true, Harry. No one will love you. No one even cares. I never wanted to tell you before because we needed you."

"No!" his scream echoed all around, the echo seeming to get louder even as it faded. "I don't believe you!"

"We're only telling you the truth," Hermione said and nodded as if what they were saying was printed in some book.

"Face it, Harry. You should never have been born," Ron spat.

"Why are you two doing this?" Harry was shaking his head, tears falling down his face. He had been hoping at least Mione wouldn't have turned her back on him completely, but he'd been mistaken. No one cared….

He suddenly remembered lying at the bottom of the stairs at the Dursleys, silver eyes flashing with concern as his head was being cradled. Draco had looked like he cared. It was an absolutely ridiculous thought, but Harry couldn't seem to let it go. He grasped onto that feeling of being with Draco like a lifeline and as these thoughts materialized, so did the person he had been thinking about.

Draco Malfoy stood a few feet in front of Ron and Hermione, smiling in a mocking manner at him while his silver orbs were glazed with distain. "Really Potty? What do you think you can do?" he drawled. "Do you honestly think you can defeat the Dark Lord?" Draco paused to run a hand lightly over his gelled slicked back hair. Harry thought this odd since Malfoy hadn't been gelling his hair for the past two years.

"You're useless, Potter!" Harry flinched back and trembled from the hate that was pouring off of Draco. He hadn't felt that since the end of Fifth year, and it pained him more than anything. "No one needs you." Draco took a few steps closer, a malicious smile upon his lips. "I will never need you." He took another step forward and Harry started backing away, shaking his head at the utter hate in Malfoy's eyes. "I will never want you. No one will ever want you. It's better if you stay here."

Harry kept backing away, but he started to nod, thinking maybe Draco was right. He felt all his strength leaving him, the air condensed, making it harder for him to breathe. Maybe it would be better…

Harry kept backing away until his back hit something warm and solid. Startled, Harry looked over his shoulder and found his nose level with a shoulder. Harry tried to remain calm, but when he looked up and met hot silver eyes, he couldn't help but gasp.

Draco's thoughts were still in turmoil just before dawn, when he was kicked out of brooding mode by a noise coming from the other bed. He immediately jumped out of bed and hurried over to Harry's bed. He choked back a startled gasp when he caught sight of Harry's eyelids flickering as if he were on the very edge of consciousness. Wary of touching him, Draco leaned over till their noses were almost touching. He had to remind himself to focus solely on Harry's closed eyes and not on the inviting mouth very near his own.

"Potter?" his voice was soft, almost scared. And Draco was scared. Frightened Harry would actually wake up and he would have to deal with his obsessive thoughts and feelings for him. But he was more terrified that Harry would not wake. "Potter, if you don't wake up, I'll kill you."

Harry didn't respond. It became apparent that Harry was fighting something in his mind, and when Draco realized what was happening, he immediately grabbed the other boy's head, placing his palms firmly over Harry's temples and shut his eyes, being driven by some unknown instinct. Instantly Draco's consciousness was pulled down through his arms, out of his palms and fingers, and into Harry's mind. It was an odd feeling and entirely too uncomfortable for Draco's tastes. After the dizziness departed him, Draco began his venture through Harry's nightmares.

"Potter, you are one fucked up wizard!" he yelled out some time later and grinned as his voice echoed throughout the dismally gray hallways he'd been making his way through. He hoped Harry heard the echo. Then he sighed, "but so am I."

"No!"

The yell echoed all around, and he immediately recognized it as Harry. Draco stopped and frowned at the passageways before him. There were three choices. He could go left, right, or straight on. The choice would have been easy if he knew which way Harry was.

"Come on, Potter. Say something else," he muttered.

"Why are you two doing this?"

There! It came from the right. Draco took off running, hoping this was the right way. He ran down a hallway that seemed to be entirely too long. After a couple of minutes he slowed to a fast walk when he heard voices drifting towards him. They were vaguely familiar. Then he stopped completely when he heard his own voice. It was eerie hearing his own voice when he hadn't opened his mouth. "You're useless, Potter." Draco jogged ahead through a thick fog. By the time it cleared, Harry could be seen backing away from dream Draco.

Draco found himself getting angry with Harry for believing the nightmare, and by the time Harry backed into him and looked up, the blond was trying to reel in his fury.

"Draco?" the shorter boy whispered.

Draco's focus was on the beautiful green eyes of the boy pressed against his chest and he smiled. His smile widened when he noticed how startled Harry was to see him actually smile. Draco leant forward and threw an arm over Harry's shoulder and across his chest, placing his palm over the other boy's rapidly beating heart. He felt an ember spark to life somewhere in his own chest when Harry relaxed and pressed back further against him as if seeking protection and strength from him. Draco was suddenly feeling very protective over Harry and he tightened his arm around the slighter teen.

Draco's eyes turned cold and as angry as an ice storm, and for a moment Harry panicked, only to relax again when the blond turned those eyes on dream Draco. Without lifting his hand from Harry's chest, Draco simply raised one finger to point at the other Draco and spoke close to Harry's ear but loud enough for the psycho figments of Harry's imagination to hear.

"I hope to Merlin, Potter that you aren't actually listening to the shite this imposter is spewing."

Harry could only nod; it was the truth after all. He had been listening to figment Draco. The Draco holding him obviously didn't like that and he growled deep in his throat in anger. Harry had to fight back a moan as pleasure spiked in his stomach from the noise the blond made. It was really sexy—Now is not the time to think of that, Harry! he thought desperately, trying to get a hold of the situation.

"Look at his hair, Potter! He's obviously an imposter. I would never wear my hair like that."

And he's dead serious, Harry thought with a snort. "Yeah, you are my Draco," he replied without thinking.

For an instant, Draco froze. When he relaxed again, he bent to whisper in Harry's ear. "You hope so, Potter?"

Harry couldn't help it, and even though he was in his own mind, he couldn't control the blush creeping onto his face. "I- err… well, I-"

"Yes you would, Malfoy!" Ron yelled out, and pointed to the dream Draco. "You wore you hair like that every day up until Sixth year, you ponce!"

Draco narrowed his eyes and pinned Ron with a nearly lethal glare. "That was then, Weasel. This is now," he replied with a low smooth drawl. He then turned back to Harry, smirking. "What were you saying?"

Harry's cheeks darkened and he stared hard somewhere over fake Draco, Ron, and Hermione's heads.

"What does it matter any way, Malfoy? You aren't the one who had to deal with him for the past six years. It's always been Harry this and Harry did that! YOU MAKE ME SICK!" Under Draco's arm, Harry flinched at the tone of his ex best friend's voice.

"Potter, stop listening to them," Draco began in a bored drawl. "You know the entire Wizarding world just falls at your feet. They adore you."

"No." Harry's voice was dull, sad, and resolved. "They only care about Harry Potter, the child wizard who is supposed to kill the Dark Lord for them. They don't care about me. No one really knows me. You were right, no one cares."

Again, Draco growled at the back of his throat. Allowing his arm to drop, he slid around until facing the emerald-eyed teen that was looking everywhere but at Draco's face.

"I don't recall ever having said that to you, Potter." Harry opened his mouth to object, but Draco went on before he could say a word. "I may have said a lot of rotten things to you, but I used to think the things I said were true. A Malfoy never lowers to the level of lying."

"Right. Like your father never lowered himself to lying…."

"Let's not go there right now."

"You're the one who started talking about Malfoys."

"Potter, I swear when we get out of here…."

Harry just smiled and nodded, and Draco rolled his eyes. But then Harry started screaming and clutched at his forehead." Har-" Draco gasped when Harry's arm shot out to roughly grab him by his collar and began walking backwards, pulling Draco with him.

"Voldemort."

The blond spun around and his eyes widened while his hand rushed to the waistband of the pajamas he was wearing to grope around for his wand.

"Potter, you idiot! Why is it that they have wands and we do not? Just like a Gryffindor to rush in without a plan," Draco muttered darkly, his heart was pounding so loudly it was the only thing he could hear as he stared at the snake like man before them; its red eyes gleaming wildly in the gray murky mass of Harry's mind. Of course the gorgeous ebony haired boy beside him merely shrugged unapologetically and continued to watch Voldemort while keeping one hand pressed against his burning scar.

Draco wanted nothing more than to ask if it were really the Dark Lord standing there and not something Harry was thinking up, but he kept his mouth shut, determined to stay silent and try to remain calm. He was surprised when as if his thoughts were heard, Harry replied, "yes that's really Riddle."

"Mister Malfoy. I did not expect to see you here. I must say that I am very displeased to find that you are the one ruining this fun little game I've set up within Potter's mind."

"Clearly your definition of fun is lacking, Tom. But I guess that's what comes from being an insane half -blooded wizard," Harry spat back.

While Draco's face remained a blank expressionless mask, inside he was screaming at Harry. Are you insane? This is the Dark Lord! You can't go around insulting the bloody Dark Lord, especially to what is left of his face!

Merlin, Malfoy, calm down! Voldemort's already making my head feel like it's being cut into pieces. I don't need your yelling to make it any worse! Besides, a pissed off Voldemort is better than a calm Voldemort.

No way, Potter! The angrier he gets the deadlier he gets…and…are we actually talking without opening our mouths?

He also becomes sloppier. And yes we are.

But can he hear us?

Dunno…why don't you just think up a nasty insult for him and see if he reacts?

No need to get touchy.

For a wild moment, Harry almost smiled. The thoughts Draco somehow transmitted to his mind also came with an image of Draco pouting. I was being serious. If you ask me, I don't think he can hear us. He would have reacted to that bit you said about him not having much of a face left.

What should we do, then?

Harry shrugged. No clue here.

Draco huffed. Is there ever?

Now who's being touchy? The two stopped communicating once they heard Voldemort speaking again.

"It is obvious you two are speaking to each other, even if I cannot hear you speak. Interesting." Voldemort looked very pleased.

"I don't see how it's any of your business, Tom!" Harry snapped. He was tired of Voldemort! The snake face really got on his nerves. The stupid monologues that always went with their confrontations. The tremendous pain that always slammed into his scar whenever snake face got extremely pissed or elated, or whenever he was just plain near. He was tired of it all and he didn't feel like dealing with all this shite right now. In fact, Harry didn't really feel like dealing with anything ever again.

Beside him, Draco seemed to twitch just slightly. Harry gasped when he felt the hard mental slap to his face that Draco had sent him.

Don't do that. I never want to hear you say that again.

What do you care, Malfoy? Why the hell should I even listen to you?

Draco had a sharp retort on the tip of his tongue when Voldemort finally spoke again. "I will enjoy watching your death, Harry Potter. And if you two are talking telepathically, then your death will be easier than ever before."

"You just keep talking, Tom…"

"Only a rare few circumstances will allow the ability to telepathically talk with a person. The circumstances of which I see no reason to discuss. But if I am right, your death will be agonizing." Voldemort curled his lipless mouth into a semblance of a nasty smile. "Mr. Malfoy, I might have been lenient on you for not having joined me yet, but since you seem to have turned traitor and run to join that old fool, I will give you what you deserve."

For the first time since Voldemort appeared, Draco spoke aloud. "I have not chosen to fight for Dumbledore."

"Is that so? Well then, you shall come to me and receive my mark."

"No, I'm not going to fight for you. I'm with Potter."

Voldemort hissed with rage and pointed his wand at Draco. "Avada Kedavra!"

Harry yelled and leapt forward. Without thinking, Draco threw his arm out to the side to stop Harry from jumping in front of the curse. Their eyes met and locked. Draco momentarily wondered what the hell he was thinking by keeping Harry back from sacrificing himself for Draco. That's not something a Slytherin would do, allow himself to be the sacrifice. Why did he stop Harry?

Harry's mouth was open in a silent scream as the green light of the Killing Curse slammed into Draco's chest.

"It is a shame really. He would have been a fine Death Eater."

Harry sank to his knees beside Draco's body, silent tears falling down his face as he looked into Draco's empty eyes. "Well, Mr. Potter. It seems we are alone at last. It's just as everyone says isn't it? No one will ever stay with you. No one wants you. And now that Mr. Malfoy is dead, you will follow in less than two days. I'll leave you here with a few of your acquaintances, shall I?"

Voldemort's laughter remained behind long after he was gone, leaving Harry alone with Draco's body, and Ron and Hermione. Harry paid no attention to them. He couldn't look away from Draco's pale face and remained there curled up like a fetus even after Draco's body disappeared.