The Raven

Dreaming

Harry woke up in a terrible mood. 

He slept awfully after dreaming about the Slytherins betraying him all night. The nightmares had been plaguing him lately. 

In the end, he decided it was the not-knowing that was really eating away at him. Winter break was fast approaching and he still knew nothing about his situation. 

He had avoided it this far because he needed the Slytherin's help. Plus, he needed their friendship and he didn't want to risk losing it. 

Now however, he decided it was time to ask Draco what he knew. Harry fully believed that he would go mad unless he found some answers to his questions. 

In the end, Harry decided to pull Draco aside after their double potions lesson, 

"Hey Draco."

Draco turned away from his conversation with Castor, "Hey Harry," 

"Can I talk to you?" Harry wiped his sweaty palms on his robe. "Privately?" 

Draco nodded and the two of them found an abandoned classroom down the corridor. Harry closed the door behind them and cast privacy spells on the door so they wouldn't be overheard. 

When he turned around Draco was watching him curiously. "What is it?" 

Harry reached into his pocket and handed Draco a crumpled piece of paper. The same one Draco gave him the day after his name came out of the goblet. The one that read, 'Be careful Potter, things are not as the seem. You are being watched.'

Harry watched as Draco's eyes widened. "I didn't know you still had this," he said quietly. 

"I've been meaning to ask you about this for weeks now, but I couldn't seem to work up the courage," Harry admitted with a shrug. "I need to know why you warned me."

Draco's face paled. "I… I don't know."

"No!" Harry clenched his fists and shouted suddenly. He forced himself to take a deep breath and calm down. 

"You must have known I would ask eventually," Harry tried again. "I am sick and tired of everyone hiding things from me. No one is telling me anything. I thought… I

I thought we were friends, Draco."

Draco's eyes widened and he nodded, "We are Harry. I promise we are. I'm not hiding things from you to hurt you. I'm hiding things to protect you. You're not ready to know."

Harry pulled on the chain of the raven pendant and pulled it out from underneath his shirt. "Why did you seem to recognize this?" 

Draco blinked slowly and appeared to be at a loss for words. "Harry-," 

"Don't lie," Harry shook his head. "You're one of my best friends. I can't handle a lie from you, not now."

"Harry!" Draco exclaimed "Listen, I'm not lying to you. I have never lied to you. Yes I recognize the pendant."

"So you know who sent it to me?" he asked. 

Draco's shoulders slumped. "Yes, I do."

"And? Who is it?" Harry demanded. 

"I can't tell you. No - Harry listen," Draco held out a hand in front of him to stop Harry from storming out. "I can't tell you, but not because I don't want to. I can't tell you because I took an oath not to tell you before it was time."

Harry was stunned. Who would make Draco and the others swear an oath? 

"However, I can promise you that everyone is on your side. We are just doing whatever we can to help you and protect you."