Darkness Or Light. What Is Your Choice?

Darkness Or Light. What Is Your Choice?

Prologue - Dreams

Harry woke for the fifth morning in a row, drenched with sweat and shaking. He lay in his small bed; his covers twisted with his feet and stared at the ceiling for a few moments, trying to dispel the sick feeling in his stomach. He then groped on the side table for his glasses and put them on. Sitting up, he rubbed his forehead, over his scar and winced. The nightmare wouldn´t stop haunting him, causing him grief every morning. Fortunately he hadn´t screamed and woken up Hermione this time. He had woken up the last four times, screaming, bringing in a half asleep and deeply distressed girl in pyjamas. Hermione had been very helpful, from making him try some Muggle sleeping tablets for dreamless sleep, to trying to make a dreamless sleep potion with her limited supplies.

Hermione had asked him, the first two times she had been woken up by his nightmares, what he had been dreaming about. Harry had yet to tell her. He had mumbled something about Cedric and she had left it alone, just holding him in a tight hug until Harry had drifted off again. She was always gone when Harry had woken up. This time, Harry wrapped his own arms around himself and rocked himself back and forth gently. His dreams had two elements. One of them was something he never let himself think about. Something that made him feel dirty. The other was a more normal occurrence in his dreams. Voldemort, only not! There was always someone else standing beside the Dark Lord, yelling out instructions in a cold voice. A figure, whom was always standing in darkness and never showed his face. Voldemort never said a word in his dream. It was always the other figure. Someone familiar in stance but still a stranger.

This dream had ended differently this time. The burning agony of his scar usually caused Harry to wake, screaming. This time it had been a couple of voices that woke him. Two different statements, both with a slightly similar edge. They both burned next to his heart.

"You are mine Harry Potter! You will never escape my name or your fate! One simple act has changed you destiny!"

"You are mine Harry Potter! I love you and will never let you go! What ever happens, I will always be at your side!"

He didn´t understand. Neither statement made any sense and the whole thing was driving him crazy. It was times like these that he wished he could speak to Ron. He always had an answer, either amusing or straight laced, but it always made him feel better. Hermione was a constant worrier, making mountains out of molehills. It was reassuring for Harry sometimes to know someone cared that much about him, but at other times, it was a slight pain.

Ron was in Romania over the summer, visiting his brother with the rest of his family. Hermione´s parents had generously invited Harry to stay with them for the final week of the summer. Harry had been dubious at first, not wanting to subject himself to the torture of Hermione´s `Warm Up For Work´ regime. (OWLs were this year!) He had changed his mind when Hermione had nearly begged him and he thought of getting away from the Dursleys. Although they had been avoiding him like the plague, they had still managed to give him a list of chores to do. When Harry had bought up the name of his godfather as one extraordinary long list had been given to him, his Uncle had backhanded him into the kitchen table, destroying it on impact. His Uncle had finally decided that he no longer believed his nephew about his convicted Godfather and Harry had been punished. It had taken Harry a couple of days to remove all of the splinters from his hands after cleaning up the remains of the table.

Hermione actually hadn´t been that bad. She had taken him out to the town where she lived, visiting the cinema a few times and taking long walks. Her cat, Crookshanks actually followed them on these walks, scampering after birds and other things, even dogs. She only picked up her books in the evenings before she went to bed, urging Harry to do the same. Hermione spent a lot of her time in Harry´s company during that week, although she hardly ever mentioned Ron unless Harry himself brought him up. He assumed she was just missing him so he never pursued it.

Harry rubbed his eyes and glanced at the clock sitting on the side where his glasses had been a few moments before. The luminous green numbers displayed the time of 2.17 A.M. Still another five hours until he had to get up. School was that morning and Harry was exhausted. Sighing, he removed his glasses and lay back down. He closed his eyes, willing sleep to return.

~~~~~~~~

With a moan of frustration, the eyes of Draco Malfoy popped open to pitch black. He already knew without moving that his pyjama bottoms and sheets were soaking wet. His whole body was as taught as a string and he was hard. He growled and pushed back the bed sheets, getting up and heading into the bathroom. Why? Every morning he had the same dream. He continuously woke up hard and wet. It was driving him insane. Malfoy´s did not wake up, moaning in pleasure! Malfoy´s did not dream about the same person over and over again, especially when that person happened to be a boy!

Draco removed his pyjama bottoms and turned on the shower. Just like every morning, he felt unclean. He wasn´t gay! There was no guy he fanaticised over. Actually, there was no one he fanaticised over. No one had actually sparked his interest as yet, so why was he dreaming about some guy?

He jumped under the hot water and began scrubbing himself clean with a flannel. He made himself think about the day to come. School. Draco winced as the water scalded his shoulder and he turned the heat down slightly. Fifth year! Another year of receiving high marks, being worshiped by his fellow Slytherins and thrashing the Golden Boy, Harry Potter. Draco shuddered involuntarily. How he hated that boy! Prince Potter and his faithful followers, the Mudblood Granger and the pet Weasel. He snarled suddenly and absentmindedly punched the side of the shower stall. Potter had got him into trouble at the end of last year when his father had found him lying on the floor of the Hogwarts Express, covered in hexes. He expected retaliation from the Wonder Boy, but in the form of words, not action. The Weasel, he understood, Granger, maybe but not Potter. He enjoyed antagonizing him. Making him glare and mutter angrily. As much as he hated to admit it, his attacks on Granger and Weasley were done to get a rise out of Potter.

Draco turned off the water and stepped out of the shower, grabbing a towel and heading back to his room. Drying himself off, he noticed that his bed sheets had been changed. The Malfoy House Elves were very efficient. It wasn´t surprising since they were all terrified of his father. His mother relatively ignored them unless she needed a drink. He personally couldn´t care less. They were just servants. The only exception had been Dobby. Dobby had actually had a personality and Draco had got on with him, which was, until Potter had tricked his father and freed him. Draco scowled again as he got back into bed, not bothering to put a new pair of pyjamas on. It always came back to Potter! He pulled the sheets over himself and willed himself to sleep...

Chapter 1 - The Hogwarts Express

Ron Weasley hummed to himself as he pushed his trunk into an empty compartment on the Hogwarts express. Summer had been excellent this year! Visiting his brother Charlie in Romania had been great fun, but he only wished Harry and Hermione had been allowed to go along with him. Hermione had flat out refused, stating she had too much studying to do and that her family couldn´t afford to send her on the trip. Harry was a different matter. He had jumped at the chance, considering he had never been on a holiday, and not even seen the sea! Harry´s high spirits had faded when he received a letter from Dumbledore and Sirius, stating that it wasn´t safe and he couldn´t go. He had been disappointed of course, but still told his best friend to have fun and to bring him back a souvenir. Ron had been angry with both of these so-called `adults,´ for their refusal. Harry was still suffering from the stress of last year. He still hadn´t forgiven himself for Cedric´s death and he hardly ever smiled anymore. He, more than anyone had needed a break away from everything.

Ron had decided over the holidays, to be a more attentive and understanding friend to Harry. After last year´s fiasco of their stupid argument, Ron had realized just how much Harry was going through. After a week of silence, Harry had finally broken down and told his two best friends everything about what had happened in the graveyard with Voldemort. Harry didn´t cry usually, but he had shed a few tears while Hermione had held him tightly, rocking him slightly in her arms. Ron had rubbed his shoulders gently, keeping silent in this moment of intimacy between them.

He was jolted out of his thoughts when he heard giggling in the corridor behind him and the carriage door open. He dropped his case and swung around, just in time to see Pansy Parkinson walk into the carriage, waving to someone and not watching where she was going. He had time to give a startled `eep´ of shock, before the girl walked into him, knocking him over his case and onto the floor beyond, Pansy falling onto him. The door slid shut on its own.

"Oww," Ron muttered as his head collided with the floor. His feet were still on the case and he couldn´t move, as Pansy was still laying on him.

"Ditto that." Pansy´s voice was muffled as her face was still buried in the folds of his cloak. "What did I hit?"

As he watched, Pansy lifted her face and stared at the red faced Ron below her. He was speechless. Pansy had changed somewhat. Gone was that slightly ugly pugged nose and in its place was an almost dainty replacement. She had high cheekbones and full red lips and her eyes were raised questioningly. Her straight blond hair was tied back with a few strands framing her face. Ron had never really looked at her before, them being in separate houses and Pansy being in the company of one Draco Malfoy, his most hated nemesis, but she was actually rather pretty.

"Oh, Weasley, she said lightly. No scorn or evil tones in her voice. "Sorry about that." She got up, pulling her head upward, and then she bent back down again and hissed in pain.

"Are.... Are you okay?" Ron asked, his face getting slightly red. Pansy had buried her face into his neck.

"No. My necklace is caught on your robe."

Ron looked around Pansy´s blonde hair, which was pooled on his chest to see a heavy gold chain caught around one of the fastenings of his cloak.

"I don´t want to break it," she muttered.

Ron lifted his hand and touched Pansy´s chin with a trembling finger.

"Raise your head Parkinson and I´ll see if I can undo it."

Pansy lifted her head and stared into his eyes. Blue met blue and his heart stilled.

"Okay," she said quietly. Her eyes left his and she raised her head until she was looking at the ceiling. Ron´s hands went to the fastenings on his cloak and undid them, then began to untangle the gold chain.

"Parkinson. Could you take off the necklace? I might be able to undo it then."

Pansy nodded her head and reached behind her to undo the chain. It was then that the carriage door opened again. Both Pansy and Ron stiffened.

"Well well. What have we here?" a familiar drawling voice said from beyond the case. "Parkinson. I thought you had more taste than to associate with a Weasel."

Pansy´s face that, although had not contained a smile, was still gentle, had now changed into a scowling frown. Ron realized that this was why he had never seen Pansy Parkinson before. The frown twisted her features, making her look ugly. She never smiled while in the company of Draco Malfoy, and she was always in the company of the Ferret.

"For your information Draco, my necklace is caught," she sneered. "Maybe if you stopped sniggering for once and helped me, I wouldn´t be in this predicament."

"Whatever Parkinson." Malfoy stepped over to them and looked down. The frown on his face turned into a twisted grin. "Actually, I think I´ll leave you like this. Punishment for the attitude you understand." Malfoy then ignored Pansy and turned to Ron. "Weasel, where´s Potter?"

Ron growled. "I have no idea Ferret! Probably keeping his distance from your stench!"

He almost missed the slight smile, which appeared on Pansy´s face at Ron´s `Ferret´ endearment, but the scowl was back on her face in seconds.

"Piss off Weasel!" Malfoy sneered. "You´re no fun at all without Potter. Why should I waste my time? Parkinson, when you´re finished, we`ll be in the last carriage."

With that, he turned around and left, the door slamming shut behind him. The carriage was silent for a moment, with Ron staring at the ceiling.

"Weasley," came Pansy´s voice from above him. "The necklace."

Her voice was back to the light tenor it was, before they were interrupted. Staring back at her, Ron noticed that the scowl was gone again and he stared into her eyes.

"Ron?"

The voice of his best friend awoke him from his stupor. He had no idea of how long he had lain there, staring at Pansy, but she hadn´t complained, or moved. Harry´s voice urged him to fumble once again for the gold chain and try to untangle it from his clasp, his hands shaking.

"Parkinson! What are you doing? Get off him now!"

Ron winced. Hermione. No one else had that piercing tone of voice that suggested trouble. Pansy´s expression mirrored his exactly.

"In for it?"

"You betcha!"

They gave a small grin to each other before Harry´s face loomed close to his and smiled gently.

"Ah. I see. Here, let me help." Using his nimble fingers, Harry untangled the chain, releasing Pansy from her entrapment. "There you are."

Pansy leapt to her feet, blushing. Ron got up slower, brushing down his robes, now feeling the pain in his back.

"Thank you Potter!" Pansy muttered, blushing. She gave a quick glance to Harry, and then to Ron, then ran out of the compartment.

"Okay, so what was that all about?" Hermione turned to face Ron, arms folded and a stern look on her face.

"Nothing, I swear. She fell over me and her necklace got caught up in my robes. That´s all!"

Ron realized that his face was still red when he saw himself reflected in Harry´s glasses. Wanting to change the subject, Ron turned to his best friend and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Hey mate. How have you been?" He noticed that Harry hadn´t actually changed much. Ron himself had grown a few more inches over the summer and was rapidly catching up with the twins in height. Harry was still small and slight, but seemed to be healthier in appearance. It seemed to be due to the week he had spent at Hermione´s house, although there were bags under his eyes.

"Fine Ron," Harry replied with a small smile. "Mione´s parents were wonderful and we went out every day. Cinema, shopping, walks. It was fun."

"Sin emma?" Ron asked, confused, and then shook his head. "Never mind. No studying?" Ron smirked suddenly. "I was sure Hermione would drag you into the `Warm Up For Work´ regime that we discussed last term." He ducked as he saw Hermione´s fist move towards him.

"OWL´s Ron. We have OWL´s this year," she huffed, folding her arms again and moving so she was standing next to Harry. "You don´t want to fail them do you?"

"Yeah, well. I live during summer and fill it with fun. I leave the schoolwork for school." Ron sat down and opened his case. "By the way, I have your pressies in here!"

"From Romania?" Harry´s eyes lightened at this. "How is Charlie anyway?"

"He´s great. He´s having a blast out there."

Ron pulled out two small boxes and handed one each to his friends.

"Here. Charlie had these made for us. It´s not much." He watched as his two friends opened their boxes and gasp simultaneously.

"What are these?" Hermione gasped in awe, pulling out two silver chains from her box. On the end of each chain was a snake, curved in a half circle. One was red with a silver eye and one was green with a gold eye. "They´re beautiful."

"An Ouroborus," Ron explained. "It´s like a loophole..."

"A continuous circle," Harry continued. "A snake eating its own tail means infinity. Forever!"

Ron looked over at Harry and nodded.

"Yes. I got these as a special present. If you look," Ron took the necklaces out of Hermione´s hands and clicked the snakes together, "when completed they make a complete circle. One necklace is for yourself and the other is for the one you love."

Here, Ron blushed.

"They are kind of like a love identifier. They won´t click together properly unless both people wearing the chains are actually right for each other. All other times they just slip out." He moved his hands apart and the snakes un-clicked again. "See?"

"What happens if the two people are right for each other?" Hermione asked.

Ron nearly missed her quick look at Harry before turning back to himself. Strangely enough, he didn´t feel even slightly jealous in that affectionate display to Harry from Hermione. Harry, bless his soul, didn´t notice and just kept staring at the box in his hands.

"Which one do we wear Ron?" Harry asked, fingering the necklaces

"The green one. I´m not sure why." Ron pulled a similar necklace from under his robes. "Charlie just said that the green snake was the hunter and the red was the prey. The green one calls the red and if you are right for each other, the eyes glow."

Harry slipped the green snake necklace over his head and then so did Hermione.

"Thanks Ron. It´s lovely." Hermione leaned over and kissed Ron on the cheek.

Harry nodded his head, still running his fingers over the snake.

Ron smiled

"You´re welcome!"