Note: Some people may be a little out of character. Like Harry. I'm sorry, but for the moment it's intentional. Sorry again.

Chapter Two

"Bram, wake up!" Percy hissed. My eyes snapped open and it took me a moment to realize where I was. My forearm was burning furiously, but I focused on Percy's concerned face, rather than the pain.

"Percy… What –?"

"You were having a nightmare."

I took a deep breath and sat up. We were the only two awake in the room. Outside, the sky was just beginning to brighten.

"Did I wake you?"

"Yeah, but it's alright. You okay?"

I nodded and he smiled.

"Try and go back to sleep, Bram."

I shook my head and swung my legs over the side of my bed.

"No, don't think that's going to happen. I'll get dressed and go down stairs. Might call up one of the house-elves."

Percy's eyes narrowed slightly.

"Alright. Just don't leave the Common Room, okay?"

I laughed softly.

"I won't. I promise."

He nodded and climbed back into his bed, drawing the hangings back around him. I got up and dressed in my robes, before I climbed down the stairs and flopped into my favorite armchair.

I leaned my head back and closed my eyes, wishing, not for the last time, I didn't have the memories I did. That my name wasn't tainted by the blood of innocents.

I pulled back the sleeve of my left arm and stared at my skin. The brand was very faint; a black skull devouring a coiling snake. Feeling slightly nauseous, I pushed my sleeve back down and decided to break my promise to Percy.

I wanted to talk to Severus and I didn't feel like waiting for his class. So, I stood up and summoned a piece of parchment and a quill.

No worries, Perce. I went to Snape's dungeon. See you at breakfast.

"Sorry, Percy," I whispered, tapping the paper so it sealed itself. I wrote his name on the outside and strode towards the portrait hole. The Fat Lady opened a sleepy eye and nodded to me. I smiled back and hurried through the corridors.

Mrs. Norris, Argus Filch's cat, meowed at me and rubbed her body against my leg. I paused, scratching her gently behind the ears. She purred and stalked away again, off to tell her master I was going to see Severus.

Filch and I had a… strange relationship. We weren't friends, but he never gave me any trouble. If he caught me out of bed after curfew, he usually asked where I was going before he jumped all over me. If my excuses were good enough, he let me pass, sometimes escorting me there. Mrs. Norris didn't care one way or the other. I was the only person, besides her master, she liked.

I watched the cat disappear around the corner and thought about what I was doing. Wandering through the castle to tell my guardian I'd had a bad dream? Was I six years old again? No. I was sixteen, or would be in a little over a month. So, why was I going down to the dungeons?

'Because,' I thought, 'the Dark Mark on my arm was visible again.'

That was it. That was what troubled me. That was why I snuck out of my dormitory.

Albus and Sev didn't know I'd been listening to their conversations all these years. And that I felt the same way they did; the Dark Lord was out in the world still. Something inside me told me they were right; it also told me that he would try to destroy Harry and get power back.

But…

Was Severus really the one I wanted to wake up? Was he the one who needed to know?

I turned around and went back up the stairs to the Headmaster's office. The gargoyle leapt aside when I said the password and a moment later I was spiraling upwards to Dumbledore's door.

He was waiting for me at his desk, his blue eyes twinkling behind his half-moon spectacles. He stood up and smiled, his long silver beard hanging loosely over his midnight blue dressing gown.

"An early start, Bramwell?" he asked. I winced and shook my head.

"No, sir. I'm sorry to get you up so early."

He waved my apology away.

"No need to fret. I wasn't asleep. I've been writing letters to the Ministry every night this past week. They've taken quite an interest in you and Mr. Potter."

I raised an eyebrow.

"Why?"

His smile turned sad and I understood.

"Oh. They think I might wish him harm."

"Something like that, I'm afraid. But I've reassured them many times that you have no desires to follow in your parents footsteps."

"I don't, sir. I really don't."

"I know, my boy. But what brings you from your bed this morning?"

I sighed, pushing aside my feelings towards the Ministry of Magic. I had other, more important things on my mind tonight.

"I had a nightmare, sir. Percy Weasley woke me up and, when he did, I noticed my arm was hurting."

My words sounded stupid and childish, as I'd known they would. I was glad, now, that I'd changed my mind about going to Severus.

"Your Mark was burning?"

I nodded and held it out. He pushed up my sleeve and ran his finger over the skin. The Mark had disappeared again.

"I looked at it in the Common Room and I could see it. It was very faint, but definitely there."

He nodded and let go of me, striding back to his desk. We stood in silence for a moment, looking out at the rising sun.

"I don't think it's anything to worry about, Bram. Not right now, at any rate. I would ask that you come to me if it hurts again, no matter the hour. Alright?"

He looked over his shoulder at me.

"Yes, sir."

"Good. Now, back to the dormitory with you. Try and get some more sleep."

I smiled.

"I'll try, sir, but don't think it's going to happen."

He smiled sadly again and waved me out of his office. I rode the staircase again and wandered back to the Common Room. I shredded my note to Percy and sat down in my chair again. My head fell against the back of the chair. My eyes closed. And within a few seconds, I was too was enjoying wholesome, nightmare-free slumber.

Unfortunately, breakfast came far too quickly. Fred and George shook me awake after what felt like a minute. In reality, it was about three hours. I ignored them as long as I could and finally moaned that I was getting up. Percy and Oliver had to steer me downstairs.

I collapsed at the table and buried my face in my arms, trying to drown out the sound of the Great Hall.

"Mr. Stoker, if you are ill, you should go to the hospital wing."

"I'm fine," I said, sitting up and holding out my hand. Professor McGonagall raised an eyebrow as she handed me my schedule.

"Didn't sleep much last night," I said. Her other eyebrow rose, but she nodded and continued to hand schedules out. I yawned and stretched, glancing at the parchment in my hand.

"Great. Two hours with Quirrell. Fantastic," I mumbled.

"What's wrong with Professor Quirrell?" asked the bushy haired girl. I shrugged.

"Nothing really. I just don't feel like sitting in his classroom for that long."

Percy frowned.

"You're going to try to sleep, aren't you?"

I shrugged again, picking my fork up and taking a bite of scrambled egg.

"Maybe. Depends on what he's talking about today."

Fred and George chuckled, but stopped when Percy sent them a scathing look. He half-glared at me. My response was a bright smile. He sighed and shook his head.

"Finish eating and we'll get going. We don't want to be late."

He stood up and I grabbed the last of my bacon.

"Alright, let's go."

"Um, Bram?"

I looked back at Harry. He looked a little embarrassed.

"Could you tell me how to get to Transfiguration?"

I smiled and drew out a quill. I drew the most direct route on his map.

"There. That should help. If it doesn't, ask one of the suits of armor. They'll point you in the right direction. Okay?"

"Thanks."

"No problem. Everyone else need directions?" I asked. The other first years shook their heads, but I knew they'd get lost anyways.

"Alright, then. See ya later."