I Understand

Dreamless Nights

Harry found himself, once again, throwing glances at Draco throughout the day. He couldn't help but feel better as he looked at Draco's silent frame in the halls. It was Tuesday, and they didn't share any classes. Harry found the schedule odd. Most days they went to class with all the 8th years, but Tuesdays, they had gotten to chose what classes to take, so everyone was split up. But Tuesday was the only day in which they had any choice.

A part of Harry didn't like the fact that Draco made him feel better. That part of him wanted to jinx and hex Draco every time Harry saw him. But he kept it under control. It was probably all those years fighting each other, it never seemed to let go. It longed for the normalcy of telling him to sod off and ignoring his sneers and smirks.

Another part though, wanted Draco around at all times. Wanted to always be able to see him, and be reassured that he wasn't alone. That someone knew, someone understood. And that someone had probably been the reason Harry had gotten dreamless sleep. He hadn't woken up to screams and flashes of green light and wild, unhinged, laughter. Or even just seeing everyone who died tell him it was his fault, seeing their love ones cradle their bodies and weep. Their voices shrill and never ending.

He also found himself willing the time to speed forward to the next morning. He wanted the silent calming presence that helped him feel better. Ron and Hermione noticed him getting more talkative. Almost like he was going back to normal. They had asked him about it, and he said it was due to the fact they were back at Hogwarts, doing something they had done so many times in their lives. Ron agreed that he felt more at home now too, but Hermione, true to herself, knew there was probably something more to it.

That was why, when Draco walked into the common room that night after dinner, Harry forced himself not to look too long at him. He wanted to get up, talk to him, walk with him, just be near him. But he knew if he so much as looked at Draco differently than normal, Hermione would catch on. He allowed himself a small look, and caught Draco's eyes for just a second. 

Thankfully, Draco moved on, appearing to not even notice him. Harry didn't want people to know just yet, not because he felt ashamed, but because it was more precious when it was in secret. It felt more his. He didn't really know how to explain exactly what he was feeling, even to himself. He also knew Ron would throw a fit. He loved Ron and all, but he could be over the top sometimes.

Harry went to bed round 10, not wanting to stay up any longer. He knew that tonight, he would get a peaceful sleep like he had done the night before, especially with the promise that Draco would  be there in the morning.  Unlike this morning, when he had still been in the Hospital Wing. Even though Harry hadn't woken up from a nightmare, he had still found himself up before everyone else. 

As he feel asleep, he continued to think of the comforting silence and the strange array of emotions that seemed to accompany Draco in his mind. They seemed oddly familiar, but still remained a stranger to him. He tried his best to ignore them, because he didn't like how they intruded in on the calm that engulfed him around Draco.

He quickly found himself in a dream world. White sea foam crashed into a rocky shore and a dull afternoon light hung loosely in the air. The sea, dark blue with shades of green rising from the deep, stretched on for as far has he could see. Gulls called from above his head, and he looked to see them. He followed their winged forms to a cliff behind him. The rock wall that rose menacingly up from the sand climbed higher and higher, until it disappeared behind clouds.

He suddenly felt like he was being watched. Infuriatingly slowly, he turned toward the sea again. Before his eyes could register what was there, it vanished in a poof of white mist. He didn't feel afraid of it, instead, he felt drawn to look for it. His eyes searched the rocky shore and found a shadow lurking among a pile of boulders that formed to look like a clutching hand.  He crept toward it, not wanting it to run away. 

As he got close to it, what ever it was, took a step forward, it's front right paw just resting in the sunlight. He recognized the paw. It was a lion. A huge lion from the looks to how big just it's paw was. He and the lion walked towards each other, carefully. Harry didn't want it to run, the lion seemed to look afraid. Funny for a lion to be afraid of him, he was tiny in comparison, and couldn't do much damage if he wanted to.

Then he looked down at himself and froze. He wore his Hogwarts uniform, but a dark stain was spreading from his stomach. It crept up his shirt and he felt it. Warm and sticky. Blood. The world threatened to turn dark, how had he not felt himself bleeding before? What had happened? He looked up to lion for help, not knowing how this lion could do anything.

Then the lion pounced on him, pushing him into the ground. It's hot breathe huffed onto his face. It looked into his eyes, as if searching for something. It's silver eyes, suddenly, with the rest of it's head, looked at the now large stain of blood on him. Harry thought the lion was going to rip him open, help the wound, kill him. But, it slowly licked the wound, once, and closed it eyes. Golden light seeped out from the lions head, traveling down to Harry's abdomen. Harry felt a warm, fuzzy feeling slowly start to heal him. 

The light didn't stop when he felt the gash close, it snaked up to Harry's heart and rested there, warming Harry's entire body. The lion moved away, and turned to the ocean. It then looked to the dark rock wall and roared deafeningly. It echoed around Harry, causing him to grow a head ache. As the world turned dark, he saw the lion leap into the silver foam, disappearing into the water.

Harry opened his eyes and saw a blurry world. He reached for his glasses and checked the time, 4:37 am. He rubbed his eyes and sighed. Slowly the dream left him, and he quickly forgot that he had dreamed at all. Making his way to the common room, he felt nervous. Then, as he saw Draco sitting there, sketch pad open, lazily drawing, the nerves flew away. Draco looked up, and Harry offered a small smile. As Draco returned it, Harry sat in front of the fire once again, in a different position. To him, it had been another dreamless night, thanks to Draco.

What a lovely forgotten dream. Don't forget to comment and vote. See y'all on the flip side.

Stay safe darlings.