Silver and Gold // Dramione

Jewels

6th Year, October 14th

"Draco what the hell?" Blaise whispered once they were out of earshot from the classroom.

Draco only mumbled, in response, his eyes still wide from pain.

"Granger doing this much to you?" he whispered even quieter than before.

"Not, Granger..." Draco managed to mumble out.

Draco felt the instant sense to punch Blaise out for his insinuation, but stopped himself when a flash of pain was sent down his legs, causing his knees to buckle beneath him. Blaise caught him on the side and Draco could his idly disguised smirk as he did so.

His head was searing. Any noise seemed to tick something in his head and send him over a new wave of pain. The voice was so loud, as if someone was actually whispering in his ear right next to him.

"Then what the hell?"

Draco could register that Blaise was holding him up by his arm, his grip was ironclad above his elbow. Almost his whole body weight was leaning into his side. It normally would have caused him a slight stinging uncomfortable annoyance, but now it was grounding him to reality as another wave of pain shot through his head.

Draco hissed through gritted teeth, causing Blaise to look at him concerned.

"Pomfrey or Dorm?" Blaise asked a sudden shock of sincerely drifting into his voice. Draco looked at him, astonished that he was giving him the choice, after he was sure Slughorn had insisted he be taken directly to the infirmary.

"Dorm-" he managed to rasp out, it was all he could muster.

The pain in his head caused his whole body to feel numb and disconnected. He felt like he was floating in reality, and he couldn't reach ground now matter how hard he tried. He tried to focus on Blaise's grip on his arm, but the more he concentrated, the more pain he felt behind his ears.

Draco knew that going to Pomfrey would incite Snape's appearance. Snape was aware of Draco's predicament with his dreams, but he had not let on that he thought they were more than just dreams. Not that Draco was particularly eager to admit that these were anything more than manifestos of his realities: at least until now.

Being brought to the infirmary, barely gripping to reality, would mean Snape would start to think otherwise, and likely turn him either home, away from his mission, or directly to St Mungoes: all of which Draco was not prepared to endure.

It would also alert the other teachers that something was happening, and if Draco knew anything, it was that whatever, or whoever, was happening, there was likely dark magic involved. If the other professors knew it would endanger his mission, endanger him. Hell they would probably throw him right in Azkaban: he thought.

but going to the dorm would mean Hermione would follow suit.

She had already seen his out-burst in class, and would go looking for him in the dorms, to study him: he thought. She always lingered around when something went wrong. Always.Always was around the corner when he stuttered, always there when he woke up screaming. She was everywhere at exactly the worst moments.

 At least her presence wouldn't endanger the mission, not that she was any the wiser than the professors, at least she was fixated on her dissertation that whatever was happening in his dreams. She had never pestered about his meetings with Snape, not even a comment about why he had to take them, she just went with it. For someone who was so bright you'd think she had half her brain up her arse sometimes.

She was the only one aware of such knowledge. Except for all of the bloody potions class now: Draco thought to himself.

Blaise pulled him through the hallways to where his dorm was. Despite Draco never showing them the dorm, he had described the paint with which the door was concealed behind. The gradient protaras of Hogwarts castle he had ever seen, and Blaise found it quickly amongst the others in the corridor.