Chapter Eight:

Fallin' For You

A/N:

I don't know but, I think I maybe falling for you

Dropping so quickly, Maybe I should keep this to myself

Waiting 'til I know you better.

I am trying not to tell you,

But I want to - I'm scared of what you'll say

So I'm hiding what I'm feeling, But I'm tired of holding this inside my head.

I've been spending all my time just thinking about you,

I don't know what to do, I think I'm falling for you

I've been waiting allm y life, and now I found you

I don't know what to do, I think I'm falling for you.

XXXX

A long, slimey finger caressed its way down the side of his face. He shivered, cold night air hitting him, the raw stench of blood infesting his nostrils.

"You will know the pain of death," hissed the creature, unworthy to be called a man crouched before him. His eyes slitted with putrid hatred, concentrating on his own.

Looking up with vehemonce he spat, "But you will never know the feeling of love," He knew nothing more as the hand of the monster flew backwards and struck hard across his face. The world suddenly went black, but the last thing he recalled was pain.

"Harry!"

"What's wrong with him?"

"Oh thank Merlin, you're finally up you tosser," Draco breathed with relief, leaning back on the balls of his feet.

Chester, Migel, and Quinton all were standing crowded around Harry's bed along with a concerned blonde.

Harry came to slowly, his mouth was parched by every inch of his skin was soaking with perspiration. He came to sit up and found his rounded glasses being handed to him by Malfoy. "W-what happened?" he croaked.

The boys exchanged glances and Quinton spoke up, "You had another nightmare it seemed,"

"You weren't all screaming your 'ead off this time though,"

"A lotta thrashing, though. You alright, mate?" the twins countered back and forth.

Harry smiled wearily and nodded, "M'fine, just bad tremors," he lied and cast a look off to the side. "Sorry, I forgot the silencing charms last night," he mumbled apologetically.

"Come, breakfast has started," Draco cut-in, stopping any further inquiry by the other Aequor's.

Harry was leaning tiredly on the House Table, staring dully down at his unappetizing breakfast. His dream, though vague, he knew it was important. There was a feeling inside of him that told him it meant more, there was no way it could be just a dream so intense, so vivid. He needed to speak with Dumbledore and Sirius in person...but how? His only current option was using one of the Professor's Floo Networks and he doubted they would do him that favour.

"You really ought to take some Dreamless Sleep, Potter," Migel said from across the table.

"I'm sure Madame Sephiora wouldn't mind giving you some," Quinton added.

Draco looked seriously at Harry, catching and holding his weary gaze, "I must agree Harry, you need to get more rest. It is not healthy," he frowned concernedly.

Harry forced a half-smile onto his face, "Thanks guys, really. I'll just put a silencing charm on my bed every night,"

"Oh, c'mon Potter, no need. Just take the drought, it's not like Madame's going to poison you," Chester said as everybody chuckled.

"You guys don't get it," Harry mumbled and then jumped when he felt a hand lightly grasp his lower thigh. He turned to look at Draco's face, softened with worry.

"What do we not understand? Make me understand Harry," he whispered, the three other Aequor boys exchanged knowing smirks.

Harry blushed, looking down at his plate as he willed his mind to not think about the previous day when Malfoy had kissed him. Or the day before that where he had done the same. Now his hand, comforting him...Harry's mind raced with his heart and he swallowed a heavy lump in his throat; Why was being so close to Draco all the time making him so suddenly nervous? He was a near wreck at every touch and glance.

"It's just that some dreams are far too important to miss,"

Draco frowned and squeezed his leg reassuringly. Harry was glad that hand seemed to refuse to move all breakfast, or else he wouldn't have made it through. Whatever was the animosity between them had now vanished and there were no questions of loyalty left. Harry trusted Draco, in a way he knew he shouldn't but couldn't help himself. After years of knowing Draco through his mask, now he finally knew beneath it and he couldn't detach himself.

Oh, what would Ron and Hermione think.

Harry leaned closer to the blonde to whisper lowly, "I need to get into Greyback's office,"

Draco turned to him suddenly, dropping his fork to his plate with a clatter and opening his mouth. Harry looked away so as to not cause attention to be drawn to them, "Why?" hissed the ex-Slytherin.

"Talk to Dumbledore and Black...it's important," he added quietly, eyeing their classmates pointedly around them.

Malfoy pursed his lips and slowly nodded, "Fine," he muttered, "I'll help but we might lose our heads doing it,"

Harry chuckled and shook his head, avoiding the glare he knew he was getting from Malfoy. There were other more important things to be concerned with, more important than his recent infatuaion...'Don't go using that word Potter! You're not infatuated you're just...curious,' he lied evenly to himself. He had to focus his attentions on getting a face-to-face meeting with Dumbledore. If Greyback had his fire connected to the Floo Network, he could get right into Hogwarts that way - knowing that Remus' Floo Network would bend the school wards to let him in.

The day passed by slowly and uneventfully, unless one could count Harry being deducted 125 Aeuqor House points during Dark Arts by Greyback - even though he was top of the class. Soon it was just after dinner; Chester, Migel and Quinton were all at their usual study table in the Common Room by the snow-lined window sill, quietly rummaging over their daily assignments. Harry and Draco snuck away into the Durmstrang corridors as soon as they could.

Once by themselves, out of earshot of the House Tower, Harry explained his plan. "I just need you to keep guard when I'm entering and returning. I'll be gone one hour, no more. Is there anyway you can ensure the room will be empty when I come back? I know Greyback likes you, so maybe you could distract him somehow?" Harry asked with a pleading gaze.

Draco raised an eyebrow elegantly and leaned forward, ducking his head as he did so, "Anything for you Harry," he breathed so smoothly Harry nearly lost his balance, "Karkaroff is having a Professors meeting at the moment. If we make haste, you can return before they are even finished," he added more seriously.

Harry ignored his slightly tinted cheeks and nodded, turning to take off in the direction of Greyback's office. "Wait, Harry!" Draco called after him, grabbing onto his shoulder.

Harry stopped and cocked his head around questioningly. "If we are seen getting to the office, we will get a detention. How do you suppose we get about that?" Malfoy asked.

"Oh, right. Here, just come underneath this with me," Harry said, pulling from his large fur cloak a smaller, folded up cloak that looked velvet from a distance.

Draco eyed it curiously, "What is it?"

"My Father's old Invisibility Cloak now c'mon," Harry urged again, the quicker this was over with the sooner he had the answers in which he desperately wanted.

Unfolding the cloak, Harry slipped under it and made sure it covered him from his head to his feet before he proped open a small opening to allow Draco to walk underneath as well. "Stay close, the cloaks not big enough for Ron and I - I doubt it's big enough for us either," Harry whispered, beginning to lead the way again.

Draco didn't seem as though he was in the least trying to keep his distance underneath the Invisibility Cloak. In fact, unless Harry was mistaken, it seemed as though with each step the blonde was closer to his behind. He could feel his hot breath ghosting across his neck, sending shivers down his spine.

Harry shook it off and continued down the hall. The stairs were a difficult task; two growing teenage boys crouched beneath a cloak, attempting to walk at the same pace and not stepping on one anothers heels.

"Are you sure you need me?" Draco hissed quietly, in case a Groundskeeper or Professor were lurking around the corners doing night patrols.

"You didn't have to come. The last thing I need, however, is Greyback running into me sneaking out of his office," Harry responded tightly.

Draco nudged him lightly from behind, "I was kidding, Potter," he smirked. Upon reaching the Dark Arts corridor, Draco soflty grabbed ahold of Harry's shoulder and brought him to a full-stop. "Be careful and fast Potter," he said, imploringly staring down at him.

Harry looked down at his toes only for his face to be lifted up gently, Draco's hand cupping his chin, "I will, thank you for this," he blushed.

"Do not thank me Potter, it is always my pleasure," he whispered and quickly pecked him on the lips.

Even that smallest of touches made Harry weak at his knees, he slunk shyly away from Draco's touch, embarassed for he was not able to bite back his blinding smile. As he slipped out of the Invisibility Cloak, Harry immediately grabbed ahold of his wand. If need be, he could perform a very quick, effective Confundous Charm or Obliviation.

"Alhohamora," he whispered, causing Professor Greyback's door to unlock with a click. He pushed it open quietly, gave the small, dark room a survey Just as suspected; empty. Harry made a dash for the unlit mantle place. On the top right hand corner of it lay an ornate jar of thick iron. He reached up to it, pulled it off and inside felt his fingers graze across a pile of Floo Powder.

Grabbing a handful, he ducked his head inside the fireplace and thrust it on the ground saying "Professor Remus Lupin," and as being engulfed in green flames, he felt a tug somewhere at his naval much like Apparition, and his vision went blurry momentarily. When he could see clearly once more, the green flames were subsiding about his ankles. He was glad Professor Dumbledore had bent the wards so he could come by Floo Powder through Remus' office whenever need be, in cases of emergencies. It would only allow him and other specific people, suchas Sirius or Mr Weasley passage.

Righting his glasses and sliding his wand back into place, Harry took a quick look around the room. It was empty. Quickly, Harry disillusioned himself as he knew he would not be able to make it all the way through the Castle unnoticed otherwise, and left Professor Lupin's offices. It was late enough for the curfew to be in effect at Hogwarts as well.

Beneath his thick, fur cloak Harry felt himself sweating as it was much hotter there. He had forgotten that unlike at Durmstrang, it would not be snowing. So he pushed down the urge for going immediately to Gryffindor Tower to see Ron and Hermione, and knew he had more important matters to attend to first before his time was up.

He rushed through the familiar hallways, nostalgia slowly kicking through his shock of returning to the place that felt so much like home. It was easy to navigate through the deserted corridors he knew so well, and up to Professor Dumbledores office. He wasn't the least bit surprised to see the Pheonix staircase was already open for any to enter.

Harry climbed the marble stairs up to the Headmaster's office and reached the door, ajar slightly as light seeped through it. Enraged voices flowed outwards, Harry listened in.

"Albus, this cannot go on for much longer!"

"Remus, please do sit down, it may clear your head," Albus Dumbledore's calming, tired voice sounded over him.

There was a scuffling of chairs inside the room. "He's right though Albus, I won't stand for Harry being there any longer. It's too dangerous for him,"

Remus cut in, "And with our inability to contact him, anything could be happening to him!"

"Sirius, Remus," Albus spoke deeply, "I can assure our Harry is perfectly safe and out of harms way,"

"How can you be so sure?" Sirius snapped icily.

"He is just outside the door, old friend, if you would like to ask him yourself," Dumbledore smiled crookedly.

Quickly feet hurried around the room now and suddenly the door was flung open just as Harry was disillusioning himself again.

"Harry," Sirius breathed, a large smirk forming on his face as he bent down to take the brunette into his arms.

As I'm standing here, and you hold my hand

Pull me towards you and we start to dance

All around us, I see nobody

Here in silence, It's just you and me.