Dreams of Fire

Chapter 1 - Lighting the Match

He put his arm around her and pulled her close to him. He could feel her breath on his face, enticing him. He leaned in and pressed his lips to hers, she gasped. He pulled away from her and her arms immediately wound around his neck pulling his lips back to hersÂ…Â…Â…Â…Â…

Draco Malfoy woke with a start, and looked around the familiar surroundings of his bedroom in Malfoy Manor. Everything seemed to be as it should be, apart from the state of his mind. She had invaded his dreams for at least a week now. He was dreading going back to Hogwarts before he had his mind sorted out about her. One thing was for sure; he didn’t want anyone to find out about this, least of all the Gryffindors. ‘Potty and the Weasel would have a field day, as would that Mudblood Granger.’ He thought to himself.

He looked across at the calendar on the wall. It was the 31st July. ‘Oh God, I have to go back today. I have to get the train in three hours.’ He sank back onto his pillows, and then jumped up with a start, ‘I have to get the train in three hours!’ He leapt out of bed as if he had been told that Moody was right behind him, ready with his wand!

Two hours later, Draco was standing by the fireplace with his mother and father. His bags were packed next to him, ready to leave for the train.

‘Make sure you don’t forget anything Draco dear,’ simpered his mother, as Lucius stood beside her, scowling, ‘If he does, he can make do without it. Just you make sure that you don’t let Granger beat you in every exam this year, do you hear me?’

‘Yes, father. I’ll see you at the end of the year.’ Draco took a pinch of Floo powder, threw it into the fireplace and shouted ‘Platform Nine-and-three-quarters’ as he stepped into the cloud of green smoke. Thirty seconds later he found himself falling out of a fireplace on the platform, thirty feet away from the Weasleys and Harry Potter.

As he watched them, Hermione went over to them, waving and then hugging Ginny and Mrs. Weasley. They were all talking and laughing, and Draco felt almost jealous of them. Then from out of the fireplace, Colin Creevey arrived, knocking Draco straight into Professor Snape.

‘S…Sorry sir,’ stammered Draco as Snape straightened his black robes.

‘Oh, Draco,’ Snape said, with a scarily pleasant smile, ‘Good holiday?’

‘Yes thanks.’

‘Good, good, well, see you when we get there.’ Snape wandered off towards the teachers end of the train, leaving Draco standing staring in amazement.

‘Can’t keep your eyes off him Malfoy?’ came the cutting voice of Ron Weasley.

‘Weasel, how good to see you, still as poor as ever I see…’ Draco took an exaggerated look at Ron’s clothes and bags.

‘Drop dead Malfoy,’ said Ron as he stalked off towards the train. Draco took one last look around the platform, and at the fireplaces that would take him home in a second, and climbed aboard the train. He found an empty carriage, where he hoped no one would find him, and slid into the corner seat with his bags around him. As he sat there, gradually his mind wandered and he fell into an uneasy, disturbed sleep.

He was walking through Hogwarts castle when he saw her in the Charms corridor, talking and laughing with her friends. He saw her glance back and smile at him, and then she dropped a book. She half cursed under her breath and told her friends to go on ahead. He caught up to her and bent down to pick up her book. Their eyes met as their hands both closed onto the book. They stood and she pulled open the door to the nearest empty classroom. He followed her in. She turned and shut the door firmly behind them, dropping the blind as she did so. Then, she reached out to him, pulling him close. They kissed, more deeply and passionately than ever before. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her close, but still wanting her closer. She pulled away, and sighed, ‘I should be in class.’

‘Shut up and kiss me,’ he whispered huskily

‘Oh, Draco, ’ she murmured, ‘I have to go.’ He reached out for her as she pulled away. ‘Draco, later.’ It was the first time she had said his name.

‘Sleeping like a baby.’ That was the first sound that he heard as he awoke. He looked up to see Hermione and Harry standing there.

‘Well, well, if it isn’t Saint Potter and the Mudblood,’ he said scathingly.

‘Good afternoon Malfoy, you’re looking flushed…good dream?’

‘Potter, you’re pathetic. Leave me alone.’

‘Fine by me, just thought we’d let you know that we’ve arrived, thought you might like to get changed!’ Draco looked up, and for the first time noticed that they were wearing their robes. ‘Shit’ he thought ‘Must get ready’ As Harry and Hermione left the room, laughing, they noticed Draco frantically searching through his bag for his robes, finally finding them at the bottom of his bag. He pulled them on, and went in search of Crabbe and Goyle and his fellow Slytherins.

He climbed off the train at the far end of the platform. As he was picking up his bags, someone fell against him. ‘Steady there,’ he said; presuming it was a Slytherin who had fallen. He looked up to see Ginny Weasley standing there, red-faced and apologetic. ‘Oh, it’s you,’ he said in the most scathing tone of voice he could muster, ‘Watch where you’re going, Weasley.’

‘What did you just say?’ Ron’s voice cut in across the crowds.

‘I told your clumsy sister to watch where she’s going, she could have knocked me onto the track.’

‘Shame she didn’t. Come on Gin’.’ They walked away, Ron with his arm around Ginny. He glanced back to see an empty platform and Draco standing still in the centre, watching them leave. One single thought flew through his mind, but he banished it to the back of his head, not knowing what the next few weeks would bring.