Fic: HP: Dandelions and Dreams (H/D Rated:R)
I keep forgetting to post this here. Originally written for acromantular for hpvalensmut.
Title: Dandelions and Dreams
Author: wook77
Fandom: Harry Potter
Rating: R
Word Count: ~7500
Warnings: none
Summary: Harry/Draco. Harry's not sure if he's dreaming but if this is a dream, he doesn't want to wake.
A/N: For acromantular at hpvalensmut. Many thanks to yodels for the beta. All remaining mistakes are my own.
When Harry stepped outside, he thought, at first, that it was snowing. There were thousands, hundreds of thousands, of tiny white balls of fluff falling through the sky that reminded him of the fat snowflakes at Hogwarts. As they cascaded down from the sky, it was tempting to spin about to try to catch them on his tongue. The only thing holding him back was the dawning realisation that it was not snow, as it was a bright beautiful day in late September and there wasn't much chance for the snow to have started yet, even as far north as he was.
Puzzled, he tipped his head back and watched as they fell from the sky until a memory of Uncle Vernon declaring that "no garden of his was going to suffer from an infestation of dandelions" made him realise just where these balls of fluff had come from. They were the dandelions he'd seen blooming a month ago when he'd first thought to investigate this farm and its connection to Godric Gryffindor, and then from Godric Gryffindor to Voldemort. He'd not had any luck with searching for the Horcrux but instead of dwelling on the disappointment, he spun in a circle in the midst of the dandelion clocks, stirring up the ones that had already landed while making them dance in the air.
The brick of the house blurred in his vision as he danced about. The sun was shining and it was, for one perfect moment, as if there was no such person as Voldemort. There was just the joy of the dandelion clocks, spreading their seeds and ruining someone's garden. He hoped that they made their way to Little Whinging and landed on his Uncle's grass and that Dudley had to go out and fix it.
In the lane in front of the small house, he opened his mouth to laugh for the sheer joy of it. For a moment, he felt like he was twelve and he hadn't really heard much about Voldemort. In this false snow, he was playing with Ron as snow fell and they tossed snowballs at one another. Harry had reveled in his first real friendship he'd ever known, happy to be out from under the thumb of his family and free to act the heathen if he chose. And act like heathens they had, as they raced one another around the various gardens, once encountering Hagrid and pelting him with a few ill-constructed snowballs. In this false snow, he wasn't Harry Potter and there wasn't a Lord Voldemort.
When he heard gravel crunching, he stopped his spinning and searched, hand reaching for his wand. As the breeze picked up, Draco Malfoy stepped through the dandelion clocks. Harry's grip tightened as he pulled out his wand and readied himself. He wasn't sure why Malfoy was here but he didn't have his own wand drawn or even have that too-familiar sneer on his face. Instead, he wore an indecipherable expression. As Harry started to call out, demanding the reason for his appearance amidst the dandelions, Malfoy only gave a shake of his head before looking over his shoulder.
Harry's eyes followed and suddenly they were in Diagon Alley, in front of Ollivander's and looking at a solitary wand resting in the window of the abandoned shop. Swinging his gaze from the window display to Malfoy, he saw that same indecipherable expression before Malfoy pointed at the window once more and then disappeared. Disappointment swept through him but with a shrug of his shoulders, he headed towards Fortescue's. A double chocolate sundae would go just about right after all that twirling.
**~~**
Ron Weasley paced the small confines of the room while Mrs. Weasley knitted in the small chair next to Potter's bedside. Granger would look up from the table occasionally to glance about the room or answer a query directed her way before going back to Malicious Mayhem: A Compendium of Darke and Mystical Harm. The room was expansively large but nothing else would do for Harry Potter as he lay ensconced in the bed closest to the window. Mr. Weasley was deep in discussion with Ginny as they gesticulated back and forth, obviously an argument. No one looked happy to be there and it wasn't any wonder, being where they were and for the reasons they were there.
With one last look through the glass that allowed the Healers to observe their patients without having to enter the room, the squat Healer turned on her comfortable and completely unfashionable shoes before making her way back past the station. Visiting time would be over soon but it didn't matter to Harry Potter. He didn't know that he had visitors.
She waved off the Healer that started to address her and made her way into the small storage room at the end of the hall closest to the steps. Once in there, she firmly shut the door, drew her wand and cast the strongest locking charm she knew. One last look at the timepiece in her pocket showed her she'd had just enough time.
When the door to the storage room opened again, the orthopedic shoes stayed in a small sack in the very back behind the industrial cleaner and the mops.
**~~**
Hogwarts was quite lonely when school wasn't in session. As Harry wandered down the hallway towards the Headmaster's - no, he corrected himself, Headmistress's - office, his shoes squeaked as he walked. Grinning, Harry turned on his toes with each step, drawing out the squeak and trying to make it longer and louder each time. It was childish but considering he was risking his life, he felt he was allowed to regress to the age of ten. After he thought about it a bit more, he realised that even as a ten year old, he hadn't been able to enjoy squeaking as he walked, he'd been too busy avoiding Dudley and his cohorts.
Disappointed that Filch hadn't come out to chastise him for causing so much racket, Harry continued on his way, impatiently waiting for the stairs to move so that he could get to the Headmistress's office. He wasn't quite sure what he was looking for but it was really important that he find it. The stair finally moved and Harry raced up it like he'd done with Neville, Dean, Seamus and Ron too many times to count. Dean, with his long legs, normally beat the rest of them but Harry didn't mind not winning. It was more about the companionship as they called taunts and laughed back and forth with each other. He laughed for the joy of those happy memories.
Knowing that he should remember what his friends were doing right now, his laughter faded as he fought the slight fog that hid those details from him. Pausing at the landing just off the stairs, he developed a headache as he battled the fog. His fingers rubbed circles into his temple as the pain lanced through his head.
He wasn't quite sure what made him look up but when he did, he saw Draco Malfoy standing at the top of the next landing. The git was looking down at Harry and wasn't that just like him to always be looking down on Harry? His expression was just as indecipherable as when they'd landed in front of Ollivander's though Harry didn't really remember how'd they gotten there.
He didn't question why he sprinted up the stairs or where his headache went. Instead, he was too busy cursing the stairs as they spun to a different landing on the opposite side from Malfoy as he laughed. With a glare, Harry took off down the hallway and caught a stair down before it spun away from him. After going up another staircase, he eventually ended up on the proper side of the floor.
Harry couldn't quite hear Malfoy's laughter but he could see the genuine mirth on his face as Harry panted. It didn't have that malicious edge to it that it'd always had. That gave Harry pause as he bent forward to catch his breath. Where was the Malfoy that had put the Weasleys down before thrusting out his hand imperiously? Where was the mean spirited git that had always tried for the upper hand while they'd been in school together? Why was Malfoy here anyway? After he'd tried to kill... the headache came back, lancing through his head and cutting off his thoughts. Touching his temples, he looked for Malfoy once more. When he found him, Malfoy looked far too serious as he stared at Harry from a few yards away.
The eye contact only lasted a few minutes before Malfoy looked over his shoulder and they were standing on top of the Astronomy Tower. Dumbledore was leaning against the brick while Malfoy's hand shook. Harry stared from the Malfoy with his wand raised to the other Malfoy, the one that had been beside him. They merged into one and the fog in his mind lifted a bit to remember what was being said even if the sound was distorted to the point of almost silence. He could see there were two brooms on the ground and his eyes were drawn to the spot where he had watched the next few minutes and their tragic end.
As his heart rate increased, he watched Malfoy's hand lower before Snape burst through the doors, killing Dumbledore. Harry shouted no even as he rushed over to the edge. He was too late and he was forced to watch Dumbledore's body fall for what seemed like miles. When it was out of sight, Harry turned to look at Malfoy but he was gone, as was Snape.
Relaxing suddenly, Harry shrugged before heading back down the stairs towards the Headmistress's office. Perhaps Dumbledore's portrait would be willing to talk to him. If not Dumbledore, perhaps Phineas Nigellus Black would be willing to tell him stories of when Sirius had been alive.
**~~**
The squat Healer removed her hand from the glass and looked to her timepiece. She was running behind schedule, had taken too much time. She muttered a curse as she turned from the glass. Harry Potter was still lying in bed in the same position he'd been in the day before and the one before that. He wasn't going anywhere and she would have to come back later.
She hurried down the hallway at almost a run. Pain started to curl at the back of her neck as she slammed the door to the storage closet behind her. Doubling over at the change, she cast the locking charm. Shedding the clothes that now didn't quite fit, the Healer removed a separate set of clothing while stashing the Healer's uniform behind the cleaning supplies.
**~~**
He'd missed the Gryffindor locker room more than he'd thought. The room smelled strongly of sweaty leather and Harry breathed in the smell. To him, it smelled heavenly as it brought back memories of laughing with Oliver Wood and the twins. Oliver's inspirational speeches and that implied 'or else' at the end made Harry grin as he looked around the room. The Quidditch gear was missing but the benches were still there. Feeling nostalgic and glad for a moment away from the search for... he lost his train of thought and sat down on the bench. There was a dull ache behind his eyes and instead of concentrating on what he'd tried to think of, he remembered Ron coming off the Pitch with the triumphant strains of 'Weasley is Our King'.
Humming the familiar strains to himself, he spotted his broom in the corner. A smile spread across as his face and lit up his eyes. Surely he had enough time to take one last flight around the Pitch? Deciding that of course he did, he looked down to see himself in his Quidditch gear and his broom in his hand.
When he pushed open the doors, the glare of the sun stunned him for a second until his eyes adjusted. With a whoop of joy, he mounted his broom and soared into the sky. He didn't mind the lack of a Snitch as he swooped and dove. There was just the slightest breeze but it didn't affect his flying as he wheeled about on his broom. Feeling daring, he attempted a Wronski Feint. He pulled it off perfectly and his happiness multiplied.
As he flew back up into the sky, heading for one of the hoops at the end of the Pitch, he looked to the side and caught a faint glimmer of gold. Switching direction, he swung his way towards what he hoped was the Snitch. He had to pull up on his broom to miss the body that was suddenly in front of him. Draco Malfoy tossed a competitive grin over his shoulder as he sped along in the direction of the Snitch. Harry grinned back as he took off after Malfoy. When the Snitch darted away, they both came to a stop, hovering side by side.
Heat pooled in Harry's stomach as he stared at Malfoy. It felt odd and itchy as it spread through his skin. This was so different from anything he'd felt before that he wasn't quite sure what it was. It wasn't the happy glow he felt when he was around the Weasleys and it wasn't the fierce jealousy that he'd felt at the sight of Ginny in Dean's arms. It wasn't the triumph of catching the Snitch or the wonder of snogging Ginny. This was uncomfortable and, yet, just what he felt like might have been missing in his life.
He couldn't discern what Malfoy was thinking as he pondered that sticky itchy feeling. As he stared at Malfoy, he held off on blinking, knowing that it would shatter whatever this was between them. His eyes grew dry as he held them open. It was Malfoy that blinked first, slowly and heavy-lidded. Just as he had predicted, that beautiful moment shattered and Malfoy winked before soaring towards the end of the Pitch. Harry took off after him, seeing the glint of gold just out of reach of Malfoy's hand.
Leaning close to his broom, he edged past Malfoy, reaching and stretching, their shoulders bumping. Pouring on as much speed as he could, he curled his fingers around the Snitch and felt the small wings tickle his palm. As he held his hand up triumphantly, he looked around but Malfoy was nowhere to be seen. Disappointed for reasons he didn't want to question, he released the Snitch and took off after it once more.
~~**~~
The Healer startled as she was bumped by Hermione Granger as she entered Potter's room. She wasn't finished with her contemplations and she cursed mentally, barely keeping the words locked behind her pursed lips. Granger gave her an odd look and the Healer scribbled something on the records in her arms. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Granger finally shut the door to Potter's room.
With a snarl, she smacked the records down onto the station before stalking down the hall to the storage closet where she paced until the cramps started. Her gestures were impatient and abrupt as she ripped off the uniform and shoes before slipping on more acceptable clothing.
This obsession had to stop before someone got hurt. Someone like Potter perhaps.
~~**~~
Harry had always loved the zoo. He'd only ever gone to it during school trips when the Dursleys couldn't possibly deny his attendance but that just made the zoo all the more special. The monkeys swinging about in the trees and the lions roaring from the grassy enclosures made him smile. He really loved watching the gorillas as the mamas tended the babies. They made him wonder what would have been his fate if he'd been born in Africa and been adopted by a tribe of gorillas like that boy in the book and movie.
Wait, that wasn't right. Wolves had adopted the boy in the book. That was alright with Harry as well, especially after he'd met a werewolf and found him to be kind and caring. He missed Rem... the pain sliced into his head but Harry pushed through it, rubbing his scar and his temples. He missed Remus. It was Remus and no pain was going to stop him from remembering him!
Shoes appeared in his line of sight as he stared down towards the ground. His gaze slowly slid upwards until he saw the dark robes with the Slytherin logo before the fall of white-blond hair and Draco Malfoy's face. Malfoy didn't look happy as he stared at Harry, but the pain slowly dissipated as the memory of Remus slid away from him. When the pain finally disappeared, Harry's hands dropped to his side and Malfoy gave a pleased smile.
As he started to look over his shoulder, Harry grabbed Malfoy's arm, startling him out of the gesture. Puzzled, Malfoy cocked his head to the side and Harry only grinned before tugging him towards the reptile house. The empty walkways wound around the entirety of the zoo but Harry knew the way as he pulled Malfoy along in his wake.
When they were inside the reptile house, Harry pointed to the enclosure where he first learned he could speak to snakes. Malfoy gave him a disbelieving stare before trying to look over his shoulder once more. Harry stopped him once more and pointed again before stepping into the enclosure. The rocks were cool under his bum but there was enough room for the two of them to sit and Harry refused to budge until Malfoy sat next to him.
There they sat for countless moments, Harry swinging his legs slightly. This was a perfect moment with perfect company. The only thing that would increase the perfection would be if they were touching somehow, maybe holding hands? The idea sounded perfect (and Harry chuckled to himself at the repetition) but when he turned to tell Malfoy that, Malfoy was gone.
Crushed, Harry turned to the snake in the next enclosure and struck up a conversation.
**~~**
The squat Healer touched the glass and stared at Potter in the bed. Decision made, she finally entered the room. The Weasley twins sat at the table playing Exploding Snap as she bustled over and touched Potter's wrist. The pulse was steady and reassuring even as she wondered what had gone wrong.
Upset with herself, she ignored the questions of the twins and left the room. Thankfully, there was no one at the station this time as she hurried past and into the storage room. Obviously her plan needed tweaking with this new information. After the Healer changed, there was no attention paid to the faces watching the exit from the room.
**~~**
The chains creaked as he swung higher and higher. He couldn't contain his laughter as he swung back and forth, pumping his legs and wanting to reach that spot where he defied gravity, floating higher than the seat of the swing and bouncing when he came back down to meet the swing. Harry loved that moment of free flight almost as much as he loved flying on his broomstick. Whenever he reached the top of the path, he wanted to jump off, swinging his arms and yelling like he had as a child before he'd known that he could get hurt by doing it and no one would care.
He was fearless as he swung higher and higher, flying past the bar at the top of the swing set. As he curled into the backswing, he saw someone in front of him, watching. It was only as he straightened that he saw it was Malfoy. His stomach tumbled as he flew and, with a grin, he let go, flying through the air. When he landed, he bounced on his heels, bending his knees and laughing at the freedom of the flight.
Malfoy only shook his head while a bemused expression flitted across his face. When Harry grabbed Malfoy's hand to pull him towards the swings, Malfoy again shook his head before looking over his shoulder. The disconcerting whoosh happened again as they changed locations. Instead of the playground down the street from the Dursleys, they were in the middle of a dusty parlor that reeked of potions ingredients and cleaning solutions. The combined scents burnt his nose as he gagged.
As he stared at the tattered furniture and the dingy walls, Malfoy tugged at his sleeve and pointed towards the door. Another Malfoy entered, looking bedraggled while Snape stalked into the room and pointed towards a chair. The gesture was an emphatic demand, even Harry could see that though he couldn't hear any of the dialogue. Malfoy sat in the chair, petulant and defiant, though from the trembling of his hands, he was scared.
Snape strode over to the mantle over the fireplace and stared at a small cup that Harry hadn't noticed in his observations earlier. The cup looked familiar and as the reason danced just outside his memory, Malfoy tugged his sleeve again. Pettigrew scurried into the room, twitchy and wringing his hands, as he argued with Snape. The sound was foggy, just a realisation that there should be sound as Harry strained to understand the conversation.
When Malfoy tugged on his sleeve again, Harry looked at the Malfoy in the chair. His fear increased to the point where he looked like he had in the bathroom right before Harry had cast Sectumsempra. Before he could think, Harry turned towards the Malfoy standing next to him and touched his chest. Malfoy looked perplexed and pushed at Harry's hands. Harry only rubbed his hands down Malfoy's chest, trying to feel for scarring but he couldn't feel anything underneath the robes. Malfoy grabbed his hands and threw them away from him. The force turned Harry around to see the scene unfolding as Pettigrew gestured towards the cup and Snape responded negatively.
Pettigrew stormed out of the room, obviously agitated. The Malfoy in the chair and Snape spoke before Malfoy left the room as well. Snape sat and stared at the cup. The morose expression on his face looked out of place as Harry was far too used to a look of condescension instead.
The scene faded away and Harry was left completely alone in the room. Crossing the room, he tried to pick up the cup but his hand only passed through it. With a shrug, he left the ramshackle house and made his way towards the town. He was suddenly ravenous and wondered if they had trifle.
**~~**
The glass felt cold under the Healer's hand as she stared at Potter laying in the bed. He was alone, for once. It was tempting, far too tempting, to make her way into the room and do what she'd planned for later.
It would only take a minute, possibly two. No one would suspect her. She was a well-respected Healer, after all. She'd been assigned the Boy-Who-Lived. It took a special sort of Healer to receive that honour and level of trust. She'd worked hard to be given it, as well. Long, hard hours of dealing with spell damaged Wizards and Witches of disreputable blood.
When a colleague tapped her on her shoulder, she was thankful for her patience. It wouldn't do to get caught. Not now and certainly not later.
**~~**
The rock skipped across the water, one, two, three. Harry frowned as he picked up another pebble, this one a bit flatter and smoother. Cupping it against his index finger, he swung his arm back and then forward, releasing the rock to sail out and skim across the surface. This time, it went five bounces before the Giant Squid sent out a tentacle and batted the pebble back towards Harry.
Grinning, Harry grabbed the next pebble without worrying over its smoothness and sent it soaring out towards where the tentacle disappeared back into the water. When the tentacle shot out again, batting the pebble back at him once more, Harry had to dodge it as he laughed. As he bent to scoop up a handful to keep the game going, a pebble sailed over his head.
When he turned, Draco was standing there, arms crossed as he leaned against a very large tree. As he stared at Draco, the Giant Squid batted the pebble back and it impacted with the back of Harry's head. He rubbed the spot and felt quite relieved that there wasn't any blood. Draco shook his head in amusement.
The urge to run over and embrace Draco while he was grinning swept through him. Any other time, Harry might question it but right now, with bemusement and happiness warring for control, he decided that it was time to let his impulses loose. He completely forgot to drop the pebbles in his hand as he raced forward. Laughing as Draco's expression changed from amusement to consternation, Harry reached out a hand and snagged Draco's, pulling him along in his wake.
There was something freeing about running about the Lake like a couple of ill-behaved children. Harry forgot that there was something he should be remembering, forgot that Draco wanted to do that creepy look-over-his-shoulder-thing, forgot about the world beyond right now. Instead, he ran along, and soon Draco was running beside him.
Harry veered to the left, leading the way into the Forbidden Forest and Draco slowed his steps. When Harry looked questioningly at him, Draco only shook his head. Harry nodded and continued to lead the way deeper into the forest. His feet traced the path they had years previous until they came to a clearing he'd never forget.
His amusement faded when Draco pulled his hand out of Harry's and, with a glare, started to make his way back towards the Lake. Harry followed, trying to call out after Draco but either Draco didn't hear him or was ignoring his calls. Exasperated, he reached a hand out and grabbed Draco's shoulder.
Draco flipped about so fast that his hair took a moment to catch up. The long fingers fisted into Harry's shirt and then thrust him away. Instead of leaving Draco alone as he obviously wanted, Harry pushed Draco back into a tree.
Without thinking about what he was going to do, Harry pressed his lips against Draco's. That first touch of lips was more than he'd had with Cho or even Ginny though he couldn't quite remember their faces. The small headache behind his eyes coupled with Draco's hands in his hair threw Harry back into the kiss. When their tongues touched, he gave a small mewl before pressing his advantage. Soon, their heads cocked this way and that, trying to get just a bit closer, touch a bit more. His hands grew frantic and frustrated with the clothes in their way, he wanted to touch Draco's chest and feel that skin under his hands.
When he pulled back for breath, his hands cupped Draco's face. The stare lasted as his hands dropped to the far too many buttons of the white shirt covering pale flesh. They panted almost in time while Harry undid button after small button. Inch by inch and second by second, that chest came into view.
Finally, the shirt was open and Harry stopped to stare. Draco's hand reached out to touch his face and then…
Harry looked around the clearing. He'd been doing something but he wasn't quite sure what it was. Shaking his head, trying to dislodge that last bit of headache, he headed back to the Lake. It was then that he remembered his hand had been full of pebbles.
**~~**
The Healer barely bit back a curse as Granger bumped her. No 'excuse me' or 'ever so sorry' passed her lips. This time, the curse was on her lips, filthy Mudblood, but, at the last moment, she remembered her place. Instead of cursing, she gave an imperious glare before hurrying into the room to check Potter's vitals.
His pulse was elevated and his skin was flushed, like he'd been running through a forest. She pressed her hand against her lips while she fussed with the bedding with the other. The youngest Weasley started to interrupt her ministrations and the same stare that hadn't quite done the trick on Granger worked quite well on the silly bint. After checking the prescriptions against her chart, she walked out, not even acknowledging whichever Weasley it was that held the door for her.
After all, the Weasleys, Granger and Potter were far below her. They'd find out their place soon enough.
**~~**
The cupboard was smaller than Harry remembered. He wasn't quite sure how he'd fit as a child as there wasn't even room for Harry to stand or sit in any place other than with his back to the door.
He didn't like being here, had never enjoyed the cramped space except for the lack of Dudley. Aunt Petunia wasn't bad, maybe even in her own way, she liked him. It could be worse. He'd heard from a boy who'd heard from someone that there was one boy whose parents had died and he'd been left in the wilderness to die. Wolves had adopted him and he'd been forced to eat raw meat and walk around on all fours.
At least Harry could eat cooked meat. Sometimes, the nurse at school would even slip him a chocolate bar and give him a smile. Harry always slid the candy bar behind the small brick where he could come back after classes finished. Then, snatching it, he'd run all the way back to Privet Drive and toss it into his cupboard before starting whatever chores he'd been assigned for the evening. That night, after the lock clicked, he'd nibble at the edges of the bar, rich and dark and so very forbidden.
Right now, though, there wasn't any chocolate. In fact, there wasn't any light or any air. Harry started to hyperventilate, panicking as the walls closed in on him when the door popped open, sending him flying into the hallway and the immaculate carpets Aunt Petunia had him vacuum three times a week plus right before Sunday dinner if there were guests.
As he grappled with the sudden freedom, his eyes opened and Draco stood above him. Harry's bemusement faded in the light of the joy that swept through him, more from Draco's presence than the freedom. Draco shook his head and reached out a hand. Harry took it but when Draco went to look over his shoulder, Harry pressed his lips against Draco's as he'd done by the... the… the thing. That too familiar headache started and Harry ignored the memory.
The memory didn't matter. Only right now mattered, the feel of Draco's tongue sweeping into his mouth while he fumbled with buttons. At the end of his patience as Draco had… done something, something bad, the last time he'd fumbled over the buttons, Harry decided the smartest thing was to rip it up and over Draco's head. Those lips that had just been snogging him started to curl into a sardonic grin but Harry put a stop to that by forcing Draco back against the wall, hands ranging along the torso.
A flash of black out of the corner of his eye had him reaching out, grabbing the wrist that had been about to sweep around his neck. The ugly mark brought Harry's headache back full force, crippling and debilitating in its magnitude. Draco caught him as he crumpled and laid him out on the Dursley's best sofa, the one reserved for Very Important Guests and certainly not Harry Potter. Harry tried to tell Draco but a finger touched his lips and quieted him.
Gentle kisses pressed against his forehead, soothing the pain away. Harry melted into the cushions of the slightly uncomfortable sofa, the rough edges of the trim irritating the bare skin of his arm. The kisses moved further down and with each feather light touch, the pain dissipated just a bit more until all that Harry could feel was the need for more. Draco's motions took him over Harry's nose and brushed past his cheek and then his chin to nibble at the notch of his neck.
The smile on Draco's face wasn't one Harry had ever seen. It was mischievous, light-hearted and completely open. Harry couldn't resist reaching out a hand and brushing the hair from Draco's eyes. When Draco blinked, the moment was broken and he went to work on Harry's shirt, opening it to continue his path of kisses, over collarbone and down hard chest.
When lips clamped over his nipple, Harry's body arched up into the touch, head falling back. He'd not been touched like this before. He wasn't quite sure how he knew it but he did. It wasn't worth pursuing anyway, not with Draco's hands delving into his trousers and sliding the zipper down. There was a brush of air before Draco's warm hand grasped his cock. Harry figured the mischievousness extended from smile to hands as Draco teased at his skin, barely touching enough to torment and not enough to move Harry beyond this wantneednow stage.
When those hands disappeared and air brushed across his cock once more, Harry opened his eyes to see Draco staring up at him. He'd always thought that he'd feel odd or awkward being naked with someone like this especially when Draco was completely clothed but it felt natural. Without breaking eye contact, Draco shifted and licked up Harry's cock, base to tip, tracing the vein that pulsed.
Harry tried to keep eye contact, tried to do anything but moan and toss his head back or reach out and push Draco's face back towards his cock, begging him to do it again. To keep from doing any of those things, Harry fisted his hands into the cushions, mussing the fabric. Draco gripped the base of his cock before he slowly slid his mouth over the tip. Here, Harry no longer was able to resist, he tossed his head back and reached out to hold onto Draco's head and begged.
It was too much as Draco slid up and then back down, lips pressing against his fingers where they held his cock steady. Harry started to jerk into that mouth when Draco's tongue traced that vein once more but Draco's hand kept him in place, and prevented his hips from bucking.
His lips opened to cry out as his balls tightened but no sound emitted. The pleasure was too much, almost painful in its intensity, as his orgasm ripped through him. After his heart rate decreased and he was able to open his eyes, he saw Draco staring at him from between his thighs. The sight was more erotic than he'd thought possible.
Reaching out a hand, he smiled when Draco grasped it and then pulled him up so that he could press his lips against Draco's again. His hands were unsteady as he fumbled with Draco's trousers and pants. The zipper wouldn't slide and the buttons were too tight and…
What was he doing? Harry blinked as he looked around the room. The memory was there, dancing about the edges but until then, he was alone in the house and it desperately needed dusting else Aunt Petunia would be upset with him.
**~~**
The Healer pressed a hand to her flushed cheeks as she stared through the window at Harry Potter. She'd been startled at just the wrong moment. Her gaze searched the area and there, just there was that filthy Mudblood. As she growled in the back of her throat, she couldn't quite contain the glare that accompanied the sound.
Granger only glared back and the staring contest would have continued if it wasn't for Weasley coming out of the room. With a sniff, nose high in the air, the Healer sauntered into the room. Granger started to follow but the Healer locked the door.
No more games, the Healer didn't have time for them. It was time to do what she'd come here to do, want or need be damned. She'd vowed to complete this task and complete it she would.
**~~**
Harry'd barely had time to grab the polish and a rag from the cabinet beneath the sink when a hand grabbed his shoulder and spun him around. He flinched, dropping to the ground with his hands braced over his head. When the hit didn't come, he looked up through his hands and saw Draco standing over him.
The glare didn't faze him as he stood and their chests brushed. Just as he was about to kiss Draco, Draco grabbed his arms and looked over his shoulder.
That disconcerting vertigo swept through him as a battlefield spread out in front of him. Spells flew everywhere. Just to the side, Dean Thomas was hit with something and fell to the ground. Seamus cried out and dropped to protect them both. As he tried to absorb the scene, Lavender was hit and Parvati and Padma came to her aid. Shock and horror took the place of the want and need for Draco's lips he'd just felt.
It was after Zacharias Smith fell that the area around Draco and himself cleared and Harry could see Ron and Hermione fighting back-to-back, hexes and spells flying. A familiar mop of messy brown hair took a Curse, its purple light also strangely familiar as it engulfed the boy he recognised as himself.
The headache increased, pounded behind his temples and took over his sinuses. He couldn't breathe for the pain. When he made to cover his face, search out a happier place, Draco tightened his grasp on Harry's arms and pinned them to his sides. The dream Harry fell to the ground and Ron and Hermione called out, their words not quite reaching where Harry stood with Draco. Their gestures conveyed their meaning though as it became obvious they were ordering people to Apparate away. Parvati and Padma grabbed Lavender while Seamus grabbed Dean. Soon, Hermione and Ron were the only ones left and after grabbing Harry, they, too, disappeared.
Harry's vision blurred as the Death Eaters swarmed around, their robes and masks hiding everything about them. He tried to fight off Draco's hands, tried to block everything and go back to the Lake or even Aunt Petunia's house but Draco wouldn't let him. In desperation, he closed his eyes.
Soon, it felt like he was laying on a bed, trapped under hands and blankets and tubes. When he opened his eyes, he saw Draco standing over him while Ron and Hermione pulled at his shoulders. For some reason, Draco was no longer in the black robes of Harry's dream. Instead, he was in ill-fitting Healer's garb, the white uniform sliding off his shoulders while the small hat covered one of his eyes.
When he struggled to sit up, Ron and Hermione froze, their mouths in matching "O"s and Draco shrugged off their hands. It took a few moments to think, as the memories of those fantasy times with Draco fought with the realisation that they were just that, fantasy. They hadn't happened, not if he was currently lying in what seemed suspiciously like the Spell Damage Ward at St. Mungo's.
"About time, Potter," Draco sounded relieved even with the harsh tone. Ron came out of his shocked stupor and grabbed Draco again, pulling up his sleeve and showing the Mark to the room.
"We caught him about to hurt you. Hermione's been watching her…him for weeks, always hanging around and staring in the window all suspicious like. We knew it was you." Ron went to hit Draco on the side of the head but Harry called out, stopping him.
"He's helping us." Harry wasn't sure why he was so certain, but dreams of cups and wands and Draco were surfacing.
"He's Marked, Harry, bloody well Marked and you've been in a coma for months! How do we know it wasn't him?" This time Ron didn't stop, his fist impacting with Draco's head.
"It wasn't. I remember." Harry remembered more than the stolen kisses against the tree, he remembered the scene with Snape and the cup, the swirl of dandelions in the air and the wand in the window at Ollivander's. "It was Dolohov, wasn't it? It was his spell and someone cast something else and instead of dying I just ended up in a coma and…"
"Brilliant exposition, I applaud your powers of observation and reasoning." Draco yanked his arm away from Ron and clapped slowly.
"I remember everything." Harry wanted to say more but with Ron and Hermione there, it was awkward and uncomfortable.
"Do you? Then you shouldn't have a problem getting on with your rescuing…" Draco gesticulated wildly, "thing."
"It's not just that. I remember the lake and the Dursleys." When Draco blanched, Harry knew that it wasn't just a dream or a hallucination. "You were using Legilemency, weren't you?"
"What of it?" Draco pulled away from Ron and crossed his arms. He looked defensive to Harry.
"Ron? Hermione? Could you both…err… leave us alone a minute?"
"What? No, not a chance, he was trying to kill you and you just want us to go?" Ron sputtered and when he went to lunge for Draco, Hermione caught his arm.
"We'll be watching through the window, Harry." Hermione dragged Ron towards the door.
"One move, you pointy git, one move and it's your last, you got that?" He tried to sound threatening but Ron failed miserably what with Hermione leading him away.
"Not the most intelligent thing you could've done, Potter. Leaving yourself alone and defenceless with a known and Marked Death Eater?" Draco thrust his arm out from his body.
"You're trying to help and I know it. If you hadn't…" Harry's voice trailed off as he tried to think about what he was saying. "If you hadn't done that head thing you kept doing, I wouldn't know about the cup or the wand. I'd still be trapped by whatever it was that did it. Thank you."
Wrapped up in that 'thank you' was more than Harry could put words to. Through the course of all the dreams and moments, Harry had fallen for Draco, fallen for the lad that had led him such a merry chase through the staircases of Hogwarts and after the Snitch on the Pitch. He'd fallen for the serious face that pointed out the Horcruxes and the soft touches beside the Lake.
"You're welcome." Draco's voice was soft as well and Harry could see it, right there, lurking about the downcast face and tapping foot, that Draco felt the same.
"I don't think I can get out of this bed very well, you know." Harry flushed even as he said it.
"If you think I'm going to cater to you…" Draco didn't finish. Instead, he walked over and sat on the edge of the bed.
Harry's hand just barely reached far enough to trace along Draco's jaw. "Thank you."
"You've said that." They were speaking in whispers and still Draco wouldn't look at him.
"You're not going back to Him." Harry didn't have to spell out whom he meant.
"You can't tell me what to do. I'll go where I'm needed."
"You're needed here." They were still whispering and Harry felt like a royal prat but he was afraid to raise his voice. "I need you here."
"They were just dreams, you know. Just images that weren't real." This time, Draco looked up and turned his face to look at Harry. It was probably an accident when his lips rested against Harry's thumb but he couldn't resist rubbing his thumb against Draco's lips.
"They were real enough." It took more energy than it should've, but Harry pushed off the wall and leaned closer to Draco.
"They were figments of your coma, that's all." Harry leaned closer so that his breath brushed against Draco's lips and his own thumb.
"If they were figments, how come you had the same dreams?"
"I never said that I did." Draco sounded nervous, his voice shaking and going even quieter than the previous whisper.
"You did and you know it." This time, Harry shifted his thumb and pressed his lips against Draco's. His hand continued back along Draco's jaw until it threaded into his hair. There was a banging against the window but Harry ignored it in favour of the kiss that slowly deepened. A disappointed moan slipped past his lips when Draco pulled back.
"It doesn't matter, Potter. None of this matters if you don't destroy the Horcruxes." Draco didn't shift any further than the distance it took to breathe and Harry took that as an encouraging sign.
"You've shown me two, Dumbledore destroyed one, and I've destroyed two, that just leaves two more pieces of his soul. We can win this, I know we can. Don't go back to him."
"Alright." It was just one word but it was enough. If they lived through this, there'd be time for romance and flowers and declarations. Until then, it was enough that Draco was staying.
As always, I'd love to hear what you think. Concrit welcomed.
Title: Dandelions and Dreams
Author: wook77
Fandom: Harry Potter
Rating: R
Word Count: ~7500
Warnings: none
Summary: Harry/Draco. Harry's not sure if he's dreaming but if this is a dream, he doesn't want to wake.
A/N: For acromantular at hpvalensmut. Many thanks to yodels for the beta. All remaining mistakes are my own.
When Harry stepped outside, he thought, at first, that it was snowing. There were thousands, hundreds of thousands, of tiny white balls of fluff falling through the sky that reminded him of the fat snowflakes at Hogwarts. As they cascaded down from the sky, it was tempting to spin about to try to catch them on his tongue. The only thing holding him back was the dawning realisation that it was not snow, as it was a bright beautiful day in late September and there wasn't much chance for the snow to have started yet, even as far north as he was.
Puzzled, he tipped his head back and watched as they fell from the sky until a memory of Uncle Vernon declaring that "no garden of his was going to suffer from an infestation of dandelions" made him realise just where these balls of fluff had come from. They were the dandelions he'd seen blooming a month ago when he'd first thought to investigate this farm and its connection to Godric Gryffindor, and then from Godric Gryffindor to Voldemort. He'd not had any luck with searching for the Horcrux but instead of dwelling on the disappointment, he spun in a circle in the midst of the dandelion clocks, stirring up the ones that had already landed while making them dance in the air.
The brick of the house blurred in his vision as he danced about. The sun was shining and it was, for one perfect moment, as if there was no such person as Voldemort. There was just the joy of the dandelion clocks, spreading their seeds and ruining someone's garden. He hoped that they made their way to Little Whinging and landed on his Uncle's grass and that Dudley had to go out and fix it.
In the lane in front of the small house, he opened his mouth to laugh for the sheer joy of it. For a moment, he felt like he was twelve and he hadn't really heard much about Voldemort. In this false snow, he was playing with Ron as snow fell and they tossed snowballs at one another. Harry had reveled in his first real friendship he'd ever known, happy to be out from under the thumb of his family and free to act the heathen if he chose. And act like heathens they had, as they raced one another around the various gardens, once encountering Hagrid and pelting him with a few ill-constructed snowballs. In this false snow, he wasn't Harry Potter and there wasn't a Lord Voldemort.
When he heard gravel crunching, he stopped his spinning and searched, hand reaching for his wand. As the breeze picked up, Draco Malfoy stepped through the dandelion clocks. Harry's grip tightened as he pulled out his wand and readied himself. He wasn't sure why Malfoy was here but he didn't have his own wand drawn or even have that too-familiar sneer on his face. Instead, he wore an indecipherable expression. As Harry started to call out, demanding the reason for his appearance amidst the dandelions, Malfoy only gave a shake of his head before looking over his shoulder.
Harry's eyes followed and suddenly they were in Diagon Alley, in front of Ollivander's and looking at a solitary wand resting in the window of the abandoned shop. Swinging his gaze from the window display to Malfoy, he saw that same indecipherable expression before Malfoy pointed at the window once more and then disappeared. Disappointment swept through him but with a shrug of his shoulders, he headed towards Fortescue's. A double chocolate sundae would go just about right after all that twirling.
**~~**
Ron Weasley paced the small confines of the room while Mrs. Weasley knitted in the small chair next to Potter's bedside. Granger would look up from the table occasionally to glance about the room or answer a query directed her way before going back to Malicious Mayhem: A Compendium of Darke and Mystical Harm. The room was expansively large but nothing else would do for Harry Potter as he lay ensconced in the bed closest to the window. Mr. Weasley was deep in discussion with Ginny as they gesticulated back and forth, obviously an argument. No one looked happy to be there and it wasn't any wonder, being where they were and for the reasons they were there.
With one last look through the glass that allowed the Healers to observe their patients without having to enter the room, the squat Healer turned on her comfortable and completely unfashionable shoes before making her way back past the station. Visiting time would be over soon but it didn't matter to Harry Potter. He didn't know that he had visitors.
She waved off the Healer that started to address her and made her way into the small storage room at the end of the hall closest to the steps. Once in there, she firmly shut the door, drew her wand and cast the strongest locking charm she knew. One last look at the timepiece in her pocket showed her she'd had just enough time.
When the door to the storage room opened again, the orthopedic shoes stayed in a small sack in the very back behind the industrial cleaner and the mops.
**~~**
Hogwarts was quite lonely when school wasn't in session. As Harry wandered down the hallway towards the Headmaster's - no, he corrected himself, Headmistress's - office, his shoes squeaked as he walked. Grinning, Harry turned on his toes with each step, drawing out the squeak and trying to make it longer and louder each time. It was childish but considering he was risking his life, he felt he was allowed to regress to the age of ten. After he thought about it a bit more, he realised that even as a ten year old, he hadn't been able to enjoy squeaking as he walked, he'd been too busy avoiding Dudley and his cohorts.
Disappointed that Filch hadn't come out to chastise him for causing so much racket, Harry continued on his way, impatiently waiting for the stairs to move so that he could get to the Headmistress's office. He wasn't quite sure what he was looking for but it was really important that he find it. The stair finally moved and Harry raced up it like he'd done with Neville, Dean, Seamus and Ron too many times to count. Dean, with his long legs, normally beat the rest of them but Harry didn't mind not winning. It was more about the companionship as they called taunts and laughed back and forth with each other. He laughed for the joy of those happy memories.
Knowing that he should remember what his friends were doing right now, his laughter faded as he fought the slight fog that hid those details from him. Pausing at the landing just off the stairs, he developed a headache as he battled the fog. His fingers rubbed circles into his temple as the pain lanced through his head.
He wasn't quite sure what made him look up but when he did, he saw Draco Malfoy standing at the top of the next landing. The git was looking down at Harry and wasn't that just like him to always be looking down on Harry? His expression was just as indecipherable as when they'd landed in front of Ollivander's though Harry didn't really remember how'd they gotten there.
He didn't question why he sprinted up the stairs or where his headache went. Instead, he was too busy cursing the stairs as they spun to a different landing on the opposite side from Malfoy as he laughed. With a glare, Harry took off down the hallway and caught a stair down before it spun away from him. After going up another staircase, he eventually ended up on the proper side of the floor.
Harry couldn't quite hear Malfoy's laughter but he could see the genuine mirth on his face as Harry panted. It didn't have that malicious edge to it that it'd always had. That gave Harry pause as he bent forward to catch his breath. Where was the Malfoy that had put the Weasleys down before thrusting out his hand imperiously? Where was the mean spirited git that had always tried for the upper hand while they'd been in school together? Why was Malfoy here anyway? After he'd tried to kill... the headache came back, lancing through his head and cutting off his thoughts. Touching his temples, he looked for Malfoy once more. When he found him, Malfoy looked far too serious as he stared at Harry from a few yards away.
The eye contact only lasted a few minutes before Malfoy looked over his shoulder and they were standing on top of the Astronomy Tower. Dumbledore was leaning against the brick while Malfoy's hand shook. Harry stared from the Malfoy with his wand raised to the other Malfoy, the one that had been beside him. They merged into one and the fog in his mind lifted a bit to remember what was being said even if the sound was distorted to the point of almost silence. He could see there were two brooms on the ground and his eyes were drawn to the spot where he had watched the next few minutes and their tragic end.
As his heart rate increased, he watched Malfoy's hand lower before Snape burst through the doors, killing Dumbledore. Harry shouted no even as he rushed over to the edge. He was too late and he was forced to watch Dumbledore's body fall for what seemed like miles. When it was out of sight, Harry turned to look at Malfoy but he was gone, as was Snape.
Relaxing suddenly, Harry shrugged before heading back down the stairs towards the Headmistress's office. Perhaps Dumbledore's portrait would be willing to talk to him. If not Dumbledore, perhaps Phineas Nigellus Black would be willing to tell him stories of when Sirius had been alive.
**~~**
The squat Healer removed her hand from the glass and looked to her timepiece. She was running behind schedule, had taken too much time. She muttered a curse as she turned from the glass. Harry Potter was still lying in bed in the same position he'd been in the day before and the one before that. He wasn't going anywhere and she would have to come back later.
She hurried down the hallway at almost a run. Pain started to curl at the back of her neck as she slammed the door to the storage closet behind her. Doubling over at the change, she cast the locking charm. Shedding the clothes that now didn't quite fit, the Healer removed a separate set of clothing while stashing the Healer's uniform behind the cleaning supplies.
**~~**
He'd missed the Gryffindor locker room more than he'd thought. The room smelled strongly of sweaty leather and Harry breathed in the smell. To him, it smelled heavenly as it brought back memories of laughing with Oliver Wood and the twins. Oliver's inspirational speeches and that implied 'or else' at the end made Harry grin as he looked around the room. The Quidditch gear was missing but the benches were still there. Feeling nostalgic and glad for a moment away from the search for... he lost his train of thought and sat down on the bench. There was a dull ache behind his eyes and instead of concentrating on what he'd tried to think of, he remembered Ron coming off the Pitch with the triumphant strains of 'Weasley is Our King'.
Humming the familiar strains to himself, he spotted his broom in the corner. A smile spread across as his face and lit up his eyes. Surely he had enough time to take one last flight around the Pitch? Deciding that of course he did, he looked down to see himself in his Quidditch gear and his broom in his hand.
When he pushed open the doors, the glare of the sun stunned him for a second until his eyes adjusted. With a whoop of joy, he mounted his broom and soared into the sky. He didn't mind the lack of a Snitch as he swooped and dove. There was just the slightest breeze but it didn't affect his flying as he wheeled about on his broom. Feeling daring, he attempted a Wronski Feint. He pulled it off perfectly and his happiness multiplied.
As he flew back up into the sky, heading for one of the hoops at the end of the Pitch, he looked to the side and caught a faint glimmer of gold. Switching direction, he swung his way towards what he hoped was the Snitch. He had to pull up on his broom to miss the body that was suddenly in front of him. Draco Malfoy tossed a competitive grin over his shoulder as he sped along in the direction of the Snitch. Harry grinned back as he took off after Malfoy. When the Snitch darted away, they both came to a stop, hovering side by side.
Heat pooled in Harry's stomach as he stared at Malfoy. It felt odd and itchy as it spread through his skin. This was so different from anything he'd felt before that he wasn't quite sure what it was. It wasn't the happy glow he felt when he was around the Weasleys and it wasn't the fierce jealousy that he'd felt at the sight of Ginny in Dean's arms. It wasn't the triumph of catching the Snitch or the wonder of snogging Ginny. This was uncomfortable and, yet, just what he felt like might have been missing in his life.
He couldn't discern what Malfoy was thinking as he pondered that sticky itchy feeling. As he stared at Malfoy, he held off on blinking, knowing that it would shatter whatever this was between them. His eyes grew dry as he held them open. It was Malfoy that blinked first, slowly and heavy-lidded. Just as he had predicted, that beautiful moment shattered and Malfoy winked before soaring towards the end of the Pitch. Harry took off after him, seeing the glint of gold just out of reach of Malfoy's hand.
Leaning close to his broom, he edged past Malfoy, reaching and stretching, their shoulders bumping. Pouring on as much speed as he could, he curled his fingers around the Snitch and felt the small wings tickle his palm. As he held his hand up triumphantly, he looked around but Malfoy was nowhere to be seen. Disappointed for reasons he didn't want to question, he released the Snitch and took off after it once more.
~~**~~
The Healer startled as she was bumped by Hermione Granger as she entered Potter's room. She wasn't finished with her contemplations and she cursed mentally, barely keeping the words locked behind her pursed lips. Granger gave her an odd look and the Healer scribbled something on the records in her arms. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Granger finally shut the door to Potter's room.
With a snarl, she smacked the records down onto the station before stalking down the hall to the storage closet where she paced until the cramps started. Her gestures were impatient and abrupt as she ripped off the uniform and shoes before slipping on more acceptable clothing.
This obsession had to stop before someone got hurt. Someone like Potter perhaps.
~~**~~
Harry had always loved the zoo. He'd only ever gone to it during school trips when the Dursleys couldn't possibly deny his attendance but that just made the zoo all the more special. The monkeys swinging about in the trees and the lions roaring from the grassy enclosures made him smile. He really loved watching the gorillas as the mamas tended the babies. They made him wonder what would have been his fate if he'd been born in Africa and been adopted by a tribe of gorillas like that boy in the book and movie.
Wait, that wasn't right. Wolves had adopted the boy in the book. That was alright with Harry as well, especially after he'd met a werewolf and found him to be kind and caring. He missed Rem... the pain sliced into his head but Harry pushed through it, rubbing his scar and his temples. He missed Remus. It was Remus and no pain was going to stop him from remembering him!
Shoes appeared in his line of sight as he stared down towards the ground. His gaze slowly slid upwards until he saw the dark robes with the Slytherin logo before the fall of white-blond hair and Draco Malfoy's face. Malfoy didn't look happy as he stared at Harry, but the pain slowly dissipated as the memory of Remus slid away from him. When the pain finally disappeared, Harry's hands dropped to his side and Malfoy gave a pleased smile.
As he started to look over his shoulder, Harry grabbed Malfoy's arm, startling him out of the gesture. Puzzled, Malfoy cocked his head to the side and Harry only grinned before tugging him towards the reptile house. The empty walkways wound around the entirety of the zoo but Harry knew the way as he pulled Malfoy along in his wake.
When they were inside the reptile house, Harry pointed to the enclosure where he first learned he could speak to snakes. Malfoy gave him a disbelieving stare before trying to look over his shoulder once more. Harry stopped him once more and pointed again before stepping into the enclosure. The rocks were cool under his bum but there was enough room for the two of them to sit and Harry refused to budge until Malfoy sat next to him.
There they sat for countless moments, Harry swinging his legs slightly. This was a perfect moment with perfect company. The only thing that would increase the perfection would be if they were touching somehow, maybe holding hands? The idea sounded perfect (and Harry chuckled to himself at the repetition) but when he turned to tell Malfoy that, Malfoy was gone.
Crushed, Harry turned to the snake in the next enclosure and struck up a conversation.
**~~**
The squat Healer touched the glass and stared at Potter in the bed. Decision made, she finally entered the room. The Weasley twins sat at the table playing Exploding Snap as she bustled over and touched Potter's wrist. The pulse was steady and reassuring even as she wondered what had gone wrong.
Upset with herself, she ignored the questions of the twins and left the room. Thankfully, there was no one at the station this time as she hurried past and into the storage room. Obviously her plan needed tweaking with this new information. After the Healer changed, there was no attention paid to the faces watching the exit from the room.
**~~**
The chains creaked as he swung higher and higher. He couldn't contain his laughter as he swung back and forth, pumping his legs and wanting to reach that spot where he defied gravity, floating higher than the seat of the swing and bouncing when he came back down to meet the swing. Harry loved that moment of free flight almost as much as he loved flying on his broomstick. Whenever he reached the top of the path, he wanted to jump off, swinging his arms and yelling like he had as a child before he'd known that he could get hurt by doing it and no one would care.
He was fearless as he swung higher and higher, flying past the bar at the top of the swing set. As he curled into the backswing, he saw someone in front of him, watching. It was only as he straightened that he saw it was Malfoy. His stomach tumbled as he flew and, with a grin, he let go, flying through the air. When he landed, he bounced on his heels, bending his knees and laughing at the freedom of the flight.
Malfoy only shook his head while a bemused expression flitted across his face. When Harry grabbed Malfoy's hand to pull him towards the swings, Malfoy again shook his head before looking over his shoulder. The disconcerting whoosh happened again as they changed locations. Instead of the playground down the street from the Dursleys, they were in the middle of a dusty parlor that reeked of potions ingredients and cleaning solutions. The combined scents burnt his nose as he gagged.
As he stared at the tattered furniture and the dingy walls, Malfoy tugged at his sleeve and pointed towards the door. Another Malfoy entered, looking bedraggled while Snape stalked into the room and pointed towards a chair. The gesture was an emphatic demand, even Harry could see that though he couldn't hear any of the dialogue. Malfoy sat in the chair, petulant and defiant, though from the trembling of his hands, he was scared.
Snape strode over to the mantle over the fireplace and stared at a small cup that Harry hadn't noticed in his observations earlier. The cup looked familiar and as the reason danced just outside his memory, Malfoy tugged his sleeve again. Pettigrew scurried into the room, twitchy and wringing his hands, as he argued with Snape. The sound was foggy, just a realisation that there should be sound as Harry strained to understand the conversation.
When Malfoy tugged on his sleeve again, Harry looked at the Malfoy in the chair. His fear increased to the point where he looked like he had in the bathroom right before Harry had cast Sectumsempra. Before he could think, Harry turned towards the Malfoy standing next to him and touched his chest. Malfoy looked perplexed and pushed at Harry's hands. Harry only rubbed his hands down Malfoy's chest, trying to feel for scarring but he couldn't feel anything underneath the robes. Malfoy grabbed his hands and threw them away from him. The force turned Harry around to see the scene unfolding as Pettigrew gestured towards the cup and Snape responded negatively.
Pettigrew stormed out of the room, obviously agitated. The Malfoy in the chair and Snape spoke before Malfoy left the room as well. Snape sat and stared at the cup. The morose expression on his face looked out of place as Harry was far too used to a look of condescension instead.
The scene faded away and Harry was left completely alone in the room. Crossing the room, he tried to pick up the cup but his hand only passed through it. With a shrug, he left the ramshackle house and made his way towards the town. He was suddenly ravenous and wondered if they had trifle.
**~~**
The glass felt cold under the Healer's hand as she stared at Potter laying in the bed. He was alone, for once. It was tempting, far too tempting, to make her way into the room and do what she'd planned for later.
It would only take a minute, possibly two. No one would suspect her. She was a well-respected Healer, after all. She'd been assigned the Boy-Who-Lived. It took a special sort of Healer to receive that honour and level of trust. She'd worked hard to be given it, as well. Long, hard hours of dealing with spell damaged Wizards and Witches of disreputable blood.
When a colleague tapped her on her shoulder, she was thankful for her patience. It wouldn't do to get caught. Not now and certainly not later.
**~~**
The rock skipped across the water, one, two, three. Harry frowned as he picked up another pebble, this one a bit flatter and smoother. Cupping it against his index finger, he swung his arm back and then forward, releasing the rock to sail out and skim across the surface. This time, it went five bounces before the Giant Squid sent out a tentacle and batted the pebble back towards Harry.
Grinning, Harry grabbed the next pebble without worrying over its smoothness and sent it soaring out towards where the tentacle disappeared back into the water. When the tentacle shot out again, batting the pebble back at him once more, Harry had to dodge it as he laughed. As he bent to scoop up a handful to keep the game going, a pebble sailed over his head.
When he turned, Draco was standing there, arms crossed as he leaned against a very large tree. As he stared at Draco, the Giant Squid batted the pebble back and it impacted with the back of Harry's head. He rubbed the spot and felt quite relieved that there wasn't any blood. Draco shook his head in amusement.
The urge to run over and embrace Draco while he was grinning swept through him. Any other time, Harry might question it but right now, with bemusement and happiness warring for control, he decided that it was time to let his impulses loose. He completely forgot to drop the pebbles in his hand as he raced forward. Laughing as Draco's expression changed from amusement to consternation, Harry reached out a hand and snagged Draco's, pulling him along in his wake.
There was something freeing about running about the Lake like a couple of ill-behaved children. Harry forgot that there was something he should be remembering, forgot that Draco wanted to do that creepy look-over-his-shoulder-thing, forgot about the world beyond right now. Instead, he ran along, and soon Draco was running beside him.
Harry veered to the left, leading the way into the Forbidden Forest and Draco slowed his steps. When Harry looked questioningly at him, Draco only shook his head. Harry nodded and continued to lead the way deeper into the forest. His feet traced the path they had years previous until they came to a clearing he'd never forget.
His amusement faded when Draco pulled his hand out of Harry's and, with a glare, started to make his way back towards the Lake. Harry followed, trying to call out after Draco but either Draco didn't hear him or was ignoring his calls. Exasperated, he reached a hand out and grabbed Draco's shoulder.
Draco flipped about so fast that his hair took a moment to catch up. The long fingers fisted into Harry's shirt and then thrust him away. Instead of leaving Draco alone as he obviously wanted, Harry pushed Draco back into a tree.
Without thinking about what he was going to do, Harry pressed his lips against Draco's. That first touch of lips was more than he'd had with Cho or even Ginny though he couldn't quite remember their faces. The small headache behind his eyes coupled with Draco's hands in his hair threw Harry back into the kiss. When their tongues touched, he gave a small mewl before pressing his advantage. Soon, their heads cocked this way and that, trying to get just a bit closer, touch a bit more. His hands grew frantic and frustrated with the clothes in their way, he wanted to touch Draco's chest and feel that skin under his hands.
When he pulled back for breath, his hands cupped Draco's face. The stare lasted as his hands dropped to the far too many buttons of the white shirt covering pale flesh. They panted almost in time while Harry undid button after small button. Inch by inch and second by second, that chest came into view.
Finally, the shirt was open and Harry stopped to stare. Draco's hand reached out to touch his face and then…
Harry looked around the clearing. He'd been doing something but he wasn't quite sure what it was. Shaking his head, trying to dislodge that last bit of headache, he headed back to the Lake. It was then that he remembered his hand had been full of pebbles.
**~~**
The Healer barely bit back a curse as Granger bumped her. No 'excuse me' or 'ever so sorry' passed her lips. This time, the curse was on her lips, filthy Mudblood, but, at the last moment, she remembered her place. Instead of cursing, she gave an imperious glare before hurrying into the room to check Potter's vitals.
His pulse was elevated and his skin was flushed, like he'd been running through a forest. She pressed her hand against her lips while she fussed with the bedding with the other. The youngest Weasley started to interrupt her ministrations and the same stare that hadn't quite done the trick on Granger worked quite well on the silly bint. After checking the prescriptions against her chart, she walked out, not even acknowledging whichever Weasley it was that held the door for her.
After all, the Weasleys, Granger and Potter were far below her. They'd find out their place soon enough.
**~~**
The cupboard was smaller than Harry remembered. He wasn't quite sure how he'd fit as a child as there wasn't even room for Harry to stand or sit in any place other than with his back to the door.
He didn't like being here, had never enjoyed the cramped space except for the lack of Dudley. Aunt Petunia wasn't bad, maybe even in her own way, she liked him. It could be worse. He'd heard from a boy who'd heard from someone that there was one boy whose parents had died and he'd been left in the wilderness to die. Wolves had adopted him and he'd been forced to eat raw meat and walk around on all fours.
At least Harry could eat cooked meat. Sometimes, the nurse at school would even slip him a chocolate bar and give him a smile. Harry always slid the candy bar behind the small brick where he could come back after classes finished. Then, snatching it, he'd run all the way back to Privet Drive and toss it into his cupboard before starting whatever chores he'd been assigned for the evening. That night, after the lock clicked, he'd nibble at the edges of the bar, rich and dark and so very forbidden.
Right now, though, there wasn't any chocolate. In fact, there wasn't any light or any air. Harry started to hyperventilate, panicking as the walls closed in on him when the door popped open, sending him flying into the hallway and the immaculate carpets Aunt Petunia had him vacuum three times a week plus right before Sunday dinner if there were guests.
As he grappled with the sudden freedom, his eyes opened and Draco stood above him. Harry's bemusement faded in the light of the joy that swept through him, more from Draco's presence than the freedom. Draco shook his head and reached out a hand. Harry took it but when Draco went to look over his shoulder, Harry pressed his lips against Draco's as he'd done by the... the… the thing. That too familiar headache started and Harry ignored the memory.
The memory didn't matter. Only right now mattered, the feel of Draco's tongue sweeping into his mouth while he fumbled with buttons. At the end of his patience as Draco had… done something, something bad, the last time he'd fumbled over the buttons, Harry decided the smartest thing was to rip it up and over Draco's head. Those lips that had just been snogging him started to curl into a sardonic grin but Harry put a stop to that by forcing Draco back against the wall, hands ranging along the torso.
A flash of black out of the corner of his eye had him reaching out, grabbing the wrist that had been about to sweep around his neck. The ugly mark brought Harry's headache back full force, crippling and debilitating in its magnitude. Draco caught him as he crumpled and laid him out on the Dursley's best sofa, the one reserved for Very Important Guests and certainly not Harry Potter. Harry tried to tell Draco but a finger touched his lips and quieted him.
Gentle kisses pressed against his forehead, soothing the pain away. Harry melted into the cushions of the slightly uncomfortable sofa, the rough edges of the trim irritating the bare skin of his arm. The kisses moved further down and with each feather light touch, the pain dissipated just a bit more until all that Harry could feel was the need for more. Draco's motions took him over Harry's nose and brushed past his cheek and then his chin to nibble at the notch of his neck.
The smile on Draco's face wasn't one Harry had ever seen. It was mischievous, light-hearted and completely open. Harry couldn't resist reaching out a hand and brushing the hair from Draco's eyes. When Draco blinked, the moment was broken and he went to work on Harry's shirt, opening it to continue his path of kisses, over collarbone and down hard chest.
When lips clamped over his nipple, Harry's body arched up into the touch, head falling back. He'd not been touched like this before. He wasn't quite sure how he knew it but he did. It wasn't worth pursuing anyway, not with Draco's hands delving into his trousers and sliding the zipper down. There was a brush of air before Draco's warm hand grasped his cock. Harry figured the mischievousness extended from smile to hands as Draco teased at his skin, barely touching enough to torment and not enough to move Harry beyond this wantneednow stage.
When those hands disappeared and air brushed across his cock once more, Harry opened his eyes to see Draco staring up at him. He'd always thought that he'd feel odd or awkward being naked with someone like this especially when Draco was completely clothed but it felt natural. Without breaking eye contact, Draco shifted and licked up Harry's cock, base to tip, tracing the vein that pulsed.
Harry tried to keep eye contact, tried to do anything but moan and toss his head back or reach out and push Draco's face back towards his cock, begging him to do it again. To keep from doing any of those things, Harry fisted his hands into the cushions, mussing the fabric. Draco gripped the base of his cock before he slowly slid his mouth over the tip. Here, Harry no longer was able to resist, he tossed his head back and reached out to hold onto Draco's head and begged.
It was too much as Draco slid up and then back down, lips pressing against his fingers where they held his cock steady. Harry started to jerk into that mouth when Draco's tongue traced that vein once more but Draco's hand kept him in place, and prevented his hips from bucking.
His lips opened to cry out as his balls tightened but no sound emitted. The pleasure was too much, almost painful in its intensity, as his orgasm ripped through him. After his heart rate decreased and he was able to open his eyes, he saw Draco staring at him from between his thighs. The sight was more erotic than he'd thought possible.
Reaching out a hand, he smiled when Draco grasped it and then pulled him up so that he could press his lips against Draco's again. His hands were unsteady as he fumbled with Draco's trousers and pants. The zipper wouldn't slide and the buttons were too tight and…
What was he doing? Harry blinked as he looked around the room. The memory was there, dancing about the edges but until then, he was alone in the house and it desperately needed dusting else Aunt Petunia would be upset with him.
**~~**
The Healer pressed a hand to her flushed cheeks as she stared through the window at Harry Potter. She'd been startled at just the wrong moment. Her gaze searched the area and there, just there was that filthy Mudblood. As she growled in the back of her throat, she couldn't quite contain the glare that accompanied the sound.
Granger only glared back and the staring contest would have continued if it wasn't for Weasley coming out of the room. With a sniff, nose high in the air, the Healer sauntered into the room. Granger started to follow but the Healer locked the door.
No more games, the Healer didn't have time for them. It was time to do what she'd come here to do, want or need be damned. She'd vowed to complete this task and complete it she would.
**~~**
Harry'd barely had time to grab the polish and a rag from the cabinet beneath the sink when a hand grabbed his shoulder and spun him around. He flinched, dropping to the ground with his hands braced over his head. When the hit didn't come, he looked up through his hands and saw Draco standing over him.
The glare didn't faze him as he stood and their chests brushed. Just as he was about to kiss Draco, Draco grabbed his arms and looked over his shoulder.
That disconcerting vertigo swept through him as a battlefield spread out in front of him. Spells flew everywhere. Just to the side, Dean Thomas was hit with something and fell to the ground. Seamus cried out and dropped to protect them both. As he tried to absorb the scene, Lavender was hit and Parvati and Padma came to her aid. Shock and horror took the place of the want and need for Draco's lips he'd just felt.
It was after Zacharias Smith fell that the area around Draco and himself cleared and Harry could see Ron and Hermione fighting back-to-back, hexes and spells flying. A familiar mop of messy brown hair took a Curse, its purple light also strangely familiar as it engulfed the boy he recognised as himself.
The headache increased, pounded behind his temples and took over his sinuses. He couldn't breathe for the pain. When he made to cover his face, search out a happier place, Draco tightened his grasp on Harry's arms and pinned them to his sides. The dream Harry fell to the ground and Ron and Hermione called out, their words not quite reaching where Harry stood with Draco. Their gestures conveyed their meaning though as it became obvious they were ordering people to Apparate away. Parvati and Padma grabbed Lavender while Seamus grabbed Dean. Soon, Hermione and Ron were the only ones left and after grabbing Harry, they, too, disappeared.
Harry's vision blurred as the Death Eaters swarmed around, their robes and masks hiding everything about them. He tried to fight off Draco's hands, tried to block everything and go back to the Lake or even Aunt Petunia's house but Draco wouldn't let him. In desperation, he closed his eyes.
Soon, it felt like he was laying on a bed, trapped under hands and blankets and tubes. When he opened his eyes, he saw Draco standing over him while Ron and Hermione pulled at his shoulders. For some reason, Draco was no longer in the black robes of Harry's dream. Instead, he was in ill-fitting Healer's garb, the white uniform sliding off his shoulders while the small hat covered one of his eyes.
When he struggled to sit up, Ron and Hermione froze, their mouths in matching "O"s and Draco shrugged off their hands. It took a few moments to think, as the memories of those fantasy times with Draco fought with the realisation that they were just that, fantasy. They hadn't happened, not if he was currently lying in what seemed suspiciously like the Spell Damage Ward at St. Mungo's.
"About time, Potter," Draco sounded relieved even with the harsh tone. Ron came out of his shocked stupor and grabbed Draco again, pulling up his sleeve and showing the Mark to the room.
"We caught him about to hurt you. Hermione's been watching her…him for weeks, always hanging around and staring in the window all suspicious like. We knew it was you." Ron went to hit Draco on the side of the head but Harry called out, stopping him.
"He's helping us." Harry wasn't sure why he was so certain, but dreams of cups and wands and Draco were surfacing.
"He's Marked, Harry, bloody well Marked and you've been in a coma for months! How do we know it wasn't him?" This time Ron didn't stop, his fist impacting with Draco's head.
"It wasn't. I remember." Harry remembered more than the stolen kisses against the tree, he remembered the scene with Snape and the cup, the swirl of dandelions in the air and the wand in the window at Ollivander's. "It was Dolohov, wasn't it? It was his spell and someone cast something else and instead of dying I just ended up in a coma and…"
"Brilliant exposition, I applaud your powers of observation and reasoning." Draco yanked his arm away from Ron and clapped slowly.
"I remember everything." Harry wanted to say more but with Ron and Hermione there, it was awkward and uncomfortable.
"Do you? Then you shouldn't have a problem getting on with your rescuing…" Draco gesticulated wildly, "thing."
"It's not just that. I remember the lake and the Dursleys." When Draco blanched, Harry knew that it wasn't just a dream or a hallucination. "You were using Legilemency, weren't you?"
"What of it?" Draco pulled away from Ron and crossed his arms. He looked defensive to Harry.
"Ron? Hermione? Could you both…err… leave us alone a minute?"
"What? No, not a chance, he was trying to kill you and you just want us to go?" Ron sputtered and when he went to lunge for Draco, Hermione caught his arm.
"We'll be watching through the window, Harry." Hermione dragged Ron towards the door.
"One move, you pointy git, one move and it's your last, you got that?" He tried to sound threatening but Ron failed miserably what with Hermione leading him away.
"Not the most intelligent thing you could've done, Potter. Leaving yourself alone and defenceless with a known and Marked Death Eater?" Draco thrust his arm out from his body.
"You're trying to help and I know it. If you hadn't…" Harry's voice trailed off as he tried to think about what he was saying. "If you hadn't done that head thing you kept doing, I wouldn't know about the cup or the wand. I'd still be trapped by whatever it was that did it. Thank you."
Wrapped up in that 'thank you' was more than Harry could put words to. Through the course of all the dreams and moments, Harry had fallen for Draco, fallen for the lad that had led him such a merry chase through the staircases of Hogwarts and after the Snitch on the Pitch. He'd fallen for the serious face that pointed out the Horcruxes and the soft touches beside the Lake.
"You're welcome." Draco's voice was soft as well and Harry could see it, right there, lurking about the downcast face and tapping foot, that Draco felt the same.
"I don't think I can get out of this bed very well, you know." Harry flushed even as he said it.
"If you think I'm going to cater to you…" Draco didn't finish. Instead, he walked over and sat on the edge of the bed.
Harry's hand just barely reached far enough to trace along Draco's jaw. "Thank you."
"You've said that." They were speaking in whispers and still Draco wouldn't look at him.
"You're not going back to Him." Harry didn't have to spell out whom he meant.
"You can't tell me what to do. I'll go where I'm needed."
"You're needed here." They were still whispering and Harry felt like a royal prat but he was afraid to raise his voice. "I need you here."
"They were just dreams, you know. Just images that weren't real." This time, Draco looked up and turned his face to look at Harry. It was probably an accident when his lips rested against Harry's thumb but he couldn't resist rubbing his thumb against Draco's lips.
"They were real enough." It took more energy than it should've, but Harry pushed off the wall and leaned closer to Draco.
"They were figments of your coma, that's all." Harry leaned closer so that his breath brushed against Draco's lips and his own thumb.
"If they were figments, how come you had the same dreams?"
"I never said that I did." Draco sounded nervous, his voice shaking and going even quieter than the previous whisper.
"You did and you know it." This time, Harry shifted his thumb and pressed his lips against Draco's. His hand continued back along Draco's jaw until it threaded into his hair. There was a banging against the window but Harry ignored it in favour of the kiss that slowly deepened. A disappointed moan slipped past his lips when Draco pulled back.
"It doesn't matter, Potter. None of this matters if you don't destroy the Horcruxes." Draco didn't shift any further than the distance it took to breathe and Harry took that as an encouraging sign.
"You've shown me two, Dumbledore destroyed one, and I've destroyed two, that just leaves two more pieces of his soul. We can win this, I know we can. Don't go back to him."
"Alright." It was just one word but it was enough. If they lived through this, there'd be time for romance and flowers and declarations. Until then, it was enough that Draco was staying.
As always, I'd love to hear what you think. Concrit welcomed.