Stand By

    ‘Don’t you get it Potter?’ Voldemort hissed at the boy, his eyes flashing, ‘I will win the war, whether you win the battle or not.’

    Harry looked up at the dark lord, a sick sense of dread swirling in his stomach. ‘You’ll never win. Because good ALWAYS wins,’ Harry heard himself saying.

    ‘Aut vincere aut mori, my dear boy,’ Either to conquer or die. One skeletal finger reached out to stroke Harry’s cheek. He tried to move away from the touch, but he was frozen in place. ‘And now, for the final lesson. Non semper erit aestas, Potter. Omnia mutantur nos et mutamur in illis.’ It will not always be summer. All things change and we change with them.

    ‘What?’ Harry cried, unable to understand the words being whispered to him.

    ‘Veritas vos liberabit. One day, you will understand your position in this world.” The truth shall make you free. As he spoke, Voldemort began to change. His skin colored, his body shrank. Suddenly, Dumbledore stood before Harry, smiling kindly at him. ‘One day, my boy, you will understand,’ The old man leaned forwards, pressing his dry lips against Harry’s cheek.

    Harry gasped as he felt the man’s hands slide up to his throat, wrapping tightly around it. When he looked into Dumbledore’s face, there was nothing, only emptiness.

    ‘Abyssus abyssum invocat’ Hell calls hell. The whispered voice echoed in the sudden darkness. Suddenly, Harry was falling, falling, falling…

    “Potter!” Strong hands gripped his upper arms, pulling Harry from the dream and into reality. Blinking, he looked up into the pale face of Draco Malfoy.

    “What?” Harry grumbled, trying to pull himself from the grip.

    “You were talking in your sleep.”

    “I was?”

    “In Latin. I caught most of it,” Malfoy released him, settling on the opposite end of the couch as Harry sat up. “You said something about conquering or dying and things changing. Were you having a nightmare?” Harry was surprised to find Malfoy looking at him, concern softening his silver eyes.

    “Um, yeah. Sort of. Voldemort was there,” Harry answered, running a hand through his sleep mussed hair. Malfoy’s eyes widened in shock.

    “Who’d he…kill?”

    “What?” Harry’s brow furrowed in confusion as he glanced at the blonde.

    “In your vision, who did he kill?” Malfoy repeated.

    “How did you…?” His mouth dropped open in surprise. For a moment, he was silent. The look on Malfoy’s face brought him back to reality. His father, Harry realized. Malfoy was worried about his father. “It wasn’t one of those,” Harry reassured him.    

    “Oh,” Malfoy cleared his throat, a pink tinge coloring his cheeks.

    “How do you even know about those?” Harry asked.

    Realizing what he had revealed, Malfoy swallowed harshly, “I just do, Potter. Castle rumor.”

    “Bull,” Harry spat, crossing his arms. He was suddenly very upset with the blonde. “You’ve eavesdropped on me. And not just with Sirius. When was it? What did you hear? How do you do it?”

    Malfoy groaned, rolling his eyes as he pushed himself to his feet. “I didn’t bloody eavesdrop on you. You’re paranoid,” Turning back to face Harry, he smirked, “If I really wanted to know anything about you, I have many ways of finding out. I wouldn’t have to resort to silly tricks and fancy toys just to learn the latest gossip on Harry Potter.”

    “That still doesn’t explain how you knew about my visions, Malfoy,” Harry pointed out. Malfoy shrugged softly, striding across the room to gracefully settle in an overstuffed crimson chair.

    “If you must know, I overheard my godfather talking about them,” Malfoy answered.

    “Godfather?” Harry echoed. “Who?”

    “Severus Snape.”

    “He’s your godfather?” Harry cried, incredulous.

    “It would appear so, Potter,” Malfoy sneered.

    “I just never thought…”

    “That’s quite obvious. Don’t worry, I heard it hurts the first time, but it’ll pass.” Malfoy’s smirk widened. Harry was silent as he glared at the blonde. Suddenly, something struck him.

     “What are you still doing here Malfoy?”

    “What ever do you mean?” Malfoy asked.

    “I’ve been asleep for…” Harry cast a glance at his watch, “over two hours. I figured you’d leave first chance you got after dumping me back here.”

    Malfoy’s smirk widened as he met Harry’s questioning gaze. “Any first year could tell you, Potter. People on numbing potions aren’t to be left alone over night. I don’t want to get blamed when you stop breathing and Dumbledore finds you cold and dead in the morning.” Harry felt himself blushing. He should have known that. “Besides, you owe me and I’m not about to let you worm out of it.”

    “I have no intention of worming my way out of it as long as you keep up your end of the bargain,” Harry said, shooting him a warning glare. Malfoy smiled gently.

    “I am a man of my word,” Malfoy said.

    “Ha,” Harry gave a sharp laugh. Malfoy’s smile broadened.

    “Get in bed.”

    “Hmm. Malfoy…is that an invitation?” Harry smirked.

    “Potter,” Malfoy groaned.

    Harry laughed, sliding down as he tucked a pillow behind his head, “G’night Malfoy.”

    “Goodnight Potter,” Malfoy answered softly.