Nightmares (HP) (Drarry)

four: threats & presents

Well shit on a stick, Harry thought. That was fun.

The detention ended an hour and a half after it started, his hand cut up but not badly; it wouldn't leave a scar, at least. Umbitch had then warned Malfoy that if he disrespected her again, he'd get the same treatment. Malfoy and him had left the scary ass room, not looking at each other as they left.

Dolores also talked about herself as if she was God. She spoke as if her pronouns were "She/Her" and not "she/her," if that makes any sense. She spoke as if respect to her (to Her) was supposed to be instinctual; as if she didn't have to do anything to earn it. Her mere existence earned it.

Harry thought briefly if he could do some research, trying to figure out if there was some law againist physical pain administered by teachers, but he decided against it. He told himself he shouldn't look into it because she was in the Ministry and knew her stuff; of course she wouldn't do anything illegal. The real reason Harry didn't research this is because he's an idiot.

As Harry law in his dorm room bed (he had returned to the infirmary after his detention, but he was dismissed shortly after. Nothing seemed to he wrong with him, except for the cut on his hand from Her which he forgot to mention), he fought off sleep. He didn't want another nightmare, as was soon to come with slumber. But he could not fight off the soft lull of sleep for long.

He dreamt, yes, but it was different. Different good, not different bad. He expected dreams of Cedric dying, oh that was a fun one, or of Voldemort, or a world where Umbridge was the God she saw herself as.

But, as I said, things were different.

There was no boogeyman; no unjust God; no Voldemort; no death. And that was new. Harry, in the dream (Dream Harry, or Drarry if you will) was celebrating Christmas with the Weasley's. He had had nightmares starting like this before. Ron had given his a card that said "I blame you for his death," and the entire family had mocked him. But this was different for two main reasons.

One, Ron gifted him good vibes and chocolate. And, two, Malfoy was there.

Draco Malfoy was smiling (not smirking, smiling). Something Harry could not remember ever seeing before. And he was smiling at Harry, an even more unusual sight. He handed Harry a box, wrapped in Slytherin green wrapping paper, and said, "Merry Christmas, Harry. I hope you like my gift."

Harry? He thought. He called me Harry? That, too was different and new, but not unwelcome. He decided that this just be a dream. There were too many unrealistic factors. This wasn't real. Though saddened by that realization, Harry still enjoyed his fake Christmas.

Once he woke up, though, he decided that it must've been a nightmare after all, because it ended.