Sea of Waking Dreams

Sea of Waking Dreams

By Cinnamon

Chapter Eight

Draco went down to the kitchens to get something for breakfast before going up to the battlements for a few minutes. He was too restless to stay there, however, and soon found himself wandering the halls. Now that his mission to wake Harry up had been completed, he didn’t know what to do with himself. He could help with the training of the younger wizards or he could help Lupin prepare for the coming siege, but neither of those options interested him.

He was heading towards the library when someone called his name. “Malfoy! Hey, Malfoy!”

He glanced over his shoulder. Oliver was hurrying towards him, grinning widely, and Draco was surprised. Usually no one spoke to him. They didn’t trust him. “Hello,” he said, smirking because he felt wary.

“I heard what you did for Harry.” He fell into step beside Draco, grinning. “Thanks. Listen, I wanted you to know… I’m sorry. About not trusting you before. I thought… Even after you saved Harry from the Dementor, I thought you weren’t really…” he shrugged.

Wondering why he felt so relieved that apparently at least someone in the castle other than Dumbledore and Ginny trusted him, Draco smiled a little. “It’s all right.”

“Anyway, a bunch of us are planning to have a little Quidditch tournament today in the courtyard,” he said, explaining the excited glimmer in his eyes. “Dumbledore agreed that it would be a great way to break the tension, give everyone a break. So we picked four team captains, and I’m one of them. The other three are Viktor Krum, Willow Larent, and Anthony Goldstein. Now all the captains are running around the castle recruiting a team. Wanted to know if you’d be Seeker for my team. Already got George and Fred Weasley to be Beaters, I’ll be Keeper, still looking for Chasers.”

Draco smirked. “You want me to be Seeker for the Gryffindor team while Harry’s too weak to play?”

Oliver shot him a look and smiled. “Not the Gryffindor team,” he said. “We don’t have houses anymore. I guess you could say we’re all the same house. Or castle. Either way. Besides, even if Harry was able to play, I’d still pick you.”

“Because I look better on a broom?”

Oliver laughed. “No. Well, maybe. I hear they’re trying to get Cho Chang to play Seeker for one of the other teams. Maybe you’ll be able to flash her a grin and she’ll swoon and fall off her broom.”

Draco grinned. “Alright,” he said impulsively. “I’ll play. And try Ron Weasley for Chaser. His sister told me he’s quite good.”

Oliver groaned. “More Weasleys?” Then he laughed. “Sure, I’ll try to find him before the others. We’re meeting in the courtyard in an hour to plan it out, and Dumbledore’s spreading the word. It’s gonna be huge, everyone’s gonna gather on the battlements to watch.” He was nearly bouncing with excitement.

Draco nodded. “An hour, in the courtyard, I’ll be there.”

Oliver hurried off to find some chasers and Draco made his way back up to the north wing. Ginny was just leaving her room to go wake the children when he called her name from down the hall. She glanced at him and smiled.

“I wondered where you went this morning,” she said.

“Walking,” he explained. “Wood’s decided to organize a massive Quidditch tournament for this afternoon, I thought maybe you’d like to bring the children to watch.”

“Will you come watch with us?” she asked.

“Even better,” he said, grinning. “I’m playing Seeker for Wood’s team.”

Ginny’s smile widened. “Of course we’ll come and watch! The children will love it!”

“Better hurry if you want to get a good spot on the battlements to watch from, apparently the whole castle is going to come and watch.”

They woke the children and helped them dress quickly, herding them all onto the southern parapet. Ginny had brought blankets for them to sit on, and by the time the rest of the castle began gathering, they’d already claimed the best seats. The children were excited, none of them had ever even seen real Quidditch played before, and Axel was even being quiet.

Draco got his broom and made his way down to the courtyard. Oliver and the other captains had constructed goal posts out of wastebaskets, after consulting Quidditch Through The Ages, chapter six, and the teams gathered. Everyone was very excited, the stress of the impending siege having been forgotten.

The first match was between Oliver’s team and Anthony Goldstein’s, whose Seeker was Cho Chang. That game only lasted an hour before Draco caught the Snitch, ending it. Willow’s team then played Viktor’s, and Viktor’s team won, meaning that, as the sun set, Oliver and Viktor’s teams were to play each other in the championship game.

The adrenaline of finally being able to play Quidditch again made Draco lightheaded. He circled the courtyard on his broom lazily, scanning the crowds gathered below. He was so high up that he could barely make out Ginny and the children, though her flaming hair should have made it easy. Viktor was circling around as well, his face drawn into a sullen scowl.

The Quaffle was thrown after the Bludgers and Golden Snitch were released, and Draco watched the Chasers and Beaters far below. He was glad he was a Seeker and not a Chaser or Beater, his position seemed a hell of a lot safer.

There was a glimmer of gold far below, and Draco dove straight down, moving so fast that the wind whistled past his ears. He heard Viktor pacing him, just a little behind, and he grinned. This was really the best part.

The Snitch was hovering above the ground, and he could hear the crowd screaming as he and Viktor raced for it. An instant before he caught it, the Snitch sped away, and Draco didn’t see where it went. Cursing softly, he came to a stop, glancing around. Viktor did as well, tossing him a grudging smile, which Draco returned. It had gotten easier to smile in the last few weeks.

They circled around, gaining altitude, until they were higher than the other players again, searching for the Snitch.

Draco searched for Ginny in the crowd again, and his eyes narrowed. Everyone was pressing against the inner wall of the courtyard, watching the game and cheering, everyone except for one very small person. Draco swore as he watched the little black-haired girl climb onto the outer wall, swaying a little. Lucky had threaded her way through the crowd and had climbed up onto the other wall. Viktor suddenly dove for the Snitch, but Draco wasn’t paying attention to that anymore, even as the crowd started screaming. He was speeding towards Lucky, who even now was gazing off into the distance and waving her wand wildly. The closer he got, the better he could see; she appeared to be shouting something, though he doubted that anyone could hear her. Some people were watching him, puzzled, as he sped towards them. Then Ginny turned and saw what was happening. She screamed, and Draco heard that above the crowd, but she was going to be too late as she pushed her way through the crowd to get to Lucky. Her arms started swinging wildly as she struggled to keep her balance, and then Lucky fell over the outer wall, tumbling towards the ragged rocks below.

Draco dove, speeding downwards as fast as he could. He pulled up a few feet above the ground, just seconds before Lucky would have landed and been torn apart by the rocks. His instincts honed by all his years as a seeker at Hogwarts, he reached out and grabbed her by the back of her robes as she fell, gently lowering her to the ground. She was sobbing, and he leapt off his broom, picking her up and holding her tightly, even as he shouted, “What were you thinking? You could have been killed!”

She was struggling wildly to get away from him, trying to shout something through her tears.

Draco stopped yelling and just held her tightly, still shaken by what had nearly happened. He could distantly hear Ginny sobbing atop the wall and others asking what had happened. Others were cheering what had obviously been a Viktor Krum victory.

“Draco,” Lucky wailed finally. “The monsters are coming.”

Narrowing his eyes, Draco looked in the direction Lucky had pointed. Far off in the distance, just a smudge on the horizon, he could see the advancing army of Death Eaters and Dementors. “Is that what you were doing?” he asked Lucky wearily. “Trying to scare them away?”

She nodded. “When I lived in the broken castle, they couldn’t find me if I used my magic.”

She had projected her magic and the Dementors couldn’t sense her through the mess of emotion she threw at them. “Don’t worry,” he said, prickles running up and down his arms. He was just beginning to feel the fear that Dementors projected, and Lucky, being more sensitive to emotion, could already feel it as if they were standing right in front of her. She was terrified.

“Come on,” he said gently, getting back on his broom and holding her tightly as he flew back up to the wall. He handed her to Ginny, who clutched her desperately, and then he said softly, “Get the children inside, Ginny. Hurry. They’re here, the Death Eaters are here.”

Her eyes widened and she looked terrified, but she nodded, swallowing thickly and saying, “Of course. Will you come by later? I know seeing you will calm them down.” And herself. But she didn’t say that, of course.

He nodded. “I will. I think we’ll have to give Lucky a sleeping potion or something, she can feel the Dementor fear more intensely. Hurry and go, I’ve got to tell Dumbledore.”

Ginny gathered up the children. Belle was holding Axel, and looking frightened, but she didn’t comment as Ginny led them all back inside. Draco flew quickly to Dumbledore.

“Sir,” he said solemnly.

Dumbledore smiled. “I saw what you did, Draco,” he told him. “Don’t worry, I do not fault you for losing the game.”

“It’s not that.” Draco’s voice was low. He didn’t want to cause a panic. “The Death Eaters are close, I can see them. They’re nearly here.”

Dumbledore nodded. “The sentries reported as such.”

“And you still let us play?”

“It may be the last chance to play many of us are ever going to have,” Dumbledore said gently. “By tomorrow, the siege will have begun.”

“Shouldn’t you tell everyone?”

“They will find out soon enough.”

Draco was furious. “They deserve to know now.”

“Knowing that tonight may be their last night will not make it any sweeter. I do not want a panic before it is necessary. Tomorrow is soon enough to get back to the business of war.”

“Do you think our side has a chance?” Draco asked in a low voice.

Dumbledore looked solemn. “There is always a chance.”

But somehow he didn’t sound too sure.

****

Ginny fed the baby while the children got into their pajamas. They could sense her disquiet, so the atmosphere was subdued, and Belle kept asking if she was all right. After the baby was asleep, Ginny tucked them in and she was sitting near the beds, in the middle of a bedtime story, when Draco appeared with a goblet. “Sleep potion,” he explained, handing it to Lucky. She drank it, making a face. “Hopefully she won’t be able to feel it. The closer they get, the worse it’ll be for all of us.”

“I remember,” Ginny whispered, memories of the fall of Hogwarts flitting through her mind.

“We’ll have to find a more permanent solution. With so many Dementors, it’ll drive us mad.”

“Let me fight them,” Lucky mumbled, closing her eyes. She fell asleep a second later.

Draco smiled tenderly at her, stroking her hair, and Ginny was amazed at the change in him. From awkwardly telling the children a bedtime story for the first time, to saving Lucky’s life, and then stroking her hair while she was asleep. She smiled at him and hugged him impulsively. “Everything’s gonna be all right, you know,” she told him, and he smiled.

“I know,” he said quietly.

They left the room together, and in the hallway, Ginny hugged him again, burying her face in his shoulder. “Thank you for catching her. I thought she was going to die.” Her voice was muffled.

Draco frowned, awkwardly putting his arms around her. It was strange, he always knew what to do whenever he was touching anyone with intent. This, he didn’t know how to react to. “Are you…” he trailed off. “You’re not crying, are you?” he asked finally.

Ginny sniffled. “A little.”

“Oh.”

She stepped away, wiping the tears off her face and smiling wistfully. “I wish this whole thing was over. I wish that I could take the children far away to where they never had to fear that their home was about to be attacked again.”

He tucked some of her hair behind her ear and smiled. “It will be over soon,” he promised.

“I’ll miss you when it’s over,” she admitted.

He scowled. “Why?”

“Because you’re my best friend.”

“No, I mean –” he blinked. “What?”

“You’re my best friend.”

Draco’s face had turned a funny shade of pink, and Ginny laughed. He scowled again. “I meant why are you going to miss me,” he said, ignoring her laughter. “I… I’ll probably come and visit.”

“You will?” she asked hopefully.

Draco was getting furious. He was feeling awkward and he hated it. “Of course,” he said. “I’ll want to see Lucky and the children again, and I’m sure, wherever they end up, it’ll be with you.”

Ginny’s face fell and she opened her mouth to reply, but Draco sighed, screwing up his face. “And… I guess…” he took a deep breath. “You’re my best friend too.” Damn it, why did he feel like a six-year-old boy?

Her face lit up and she grinned at him, and Draco smiled back, a boyish, lopsided twist of his lips, and the awkwardness was gone again and they were just best friends, just like before.

Ginny looked thoughtful. She opened her bedroom door and motioned Draco inside. “Come and talk to me,” she said. “I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep tonight.”

He shrugged easily and sprawled in the armchair before the fire. Looking mischievous, Ginny conjured up a bag of marshmallows and two sticks, handing one to him. He conjured up some butterbeer and they spent the night roasting marshmallows and talking, drinking more and more butterbeer. By three in the morning, they had drunk enough butterbeer to make them slightly giddy, and they were exhausted enough not to think straight.

Ginny was sitting on the floor, leaning against the armchair, and she asked sleepily, “Tell me your deepest secret.”

Draco considered for a moment and then drawled, “I’ll tell you mine if you’ll tell me yours.”

Ginny giggled, though she couldn’t say why, and then went quiet, thinking. Then, slowly, she said, “I only started dating Hadley because he looked like Harry Potter.”

Draco choked on his butterbeer. “Are you serious?”

She shrugged. “But by the time we married, it didn’t matter. I loved… I thought I loved him.” She cleared her throat. “Now you tell me yours.” Draco mumbled something in a low voice, too fast for her to catch, and Ginny sat up, glaring at him. She had marshmallow on her nose and Draco wiped it off, smirking. “What was that?” she asked, scowling.

“IthinkIhadacrushonHarryinschool.”

Ginny frowned, trying to work out what he had said, and then her mouth fell open. “You what? Ohmygod. You’re — are you… I didn’t know you were gay!”

Draco scowled. “I’m not! I just… I don’t know. It was strange. I just… I…” he trailed off. “It’s hard to explain.”

Ginny smiled a little gently. “Trust me, it’s not. Remember? ‘His eyes are as green as a fresh pickled toad, his hair is as dark as a blackboard…’” she trailed off, laughing.

Draco smirked. “I remember that. But that’s sorta different.”

“So you liked him in school.”

“Maybe,” he was quick to say.

“And you’re not gay.”

“I’m not.”

She nodded slowly. “Okay. That’s your secret?”

He sighed. “There’s sorta more to it. He…kissed me.”

Now Ginny leapt to her feet in shock. “You’ve snogged Ron and Harry? Are you sure you’re not gay?”

“I told you!” Draco snapped. “That Ron thing was a spell. And the Harry thing… It was on that mission to Hogsmeade, I walked in on him just after he had…slept with a camp follower. He was furious at Hermione for something, and I guess he thought he’d… add me to the list of revenge fucks?” he shrugged. “He kissed me. And uhh…” he was actually blushing a little.

“Did you… stop him?” Ginny was having a hard time accepting this and didn’t even want to wonder why.

“Not… not at first. I guess I was caught off guard at first, and then I forgot to. I mean, after spending so many years wondering what it would be like…”

“Did you like it?” she asked quietly.

He smiled, though he looked a little weary. “I always like it,” he said rather bitterly, but Ginny didn’t comment. “I pushed him away eventually, he got furious, ran out, and got himself caught by a Dementor. I went after him and scared the thing away before it finished the Kiss.”

“That’s…weird,” Ginny confessed. “Kissing him.”

“He kissed me.”

“Just like Ron kissed you.”

Draco nodded. “Only Harry wasn’t under a spell.”

She smiled, though her eyes were dark and didn’t meet his. “Everyone seems to want to kiss you,” she joked.

“Everyone but you,” he replied.

She nodded and leaned back against the chair, staring into the fire. “Marsh me a roastmallow,” she murmured sleepily.

Draco laughed. “What?”

But Ginny didn’t answer; she had fallen asleep.