Oscillate Wildly

Voldemort spun around, his wand now directed at Dumbledore instead of Harry, sneer still plastered on his face, though Harry thought he noticed Voldemort's hand shaking a bit. With Voldemort suddenly distracted, Harry took advantage of the situation and rushed over to Hermione and Ron, his stomach churning over what he - their friend - had done to them. "Ennervate," he whispered twice, pressing his wand once to Hermione's head and then once to Ron's. As Ron struggled to sit up, he let out a groan and Harry was forced to clap his hand over Ron's mouth, struggling not to yelp when Ron bit him in protest.

Frantically pantomiming, he gestured at the action. Ron, now slightly more aware of his surroundings, moved silently and helped a groggy Hermione to her feet. Voldemort and Dumbledore's duel was raging on, though both were less inflicting real damage than simply avoiding the other's spells. Voldemort suddenly whipped his head around and stared straight at Harry, causing a bolt of white-hot pain to rip through his forehead. The sound of rushing water filled Harry's mind and he managed to weakly shout "No!" before hitting the ground, unconscious.

"Hey," said a soft voice, somewhere near his ear. "Awake again, are you?"

"Have to… have to get back," Harry said, struggling to sit up. His forehead was sweaty and someone was smoothing back his hair. "I can't be here."

"'Course you can." Lips lingered where a hand had been moments earlier.

Harry's eyes opened, focussing as well as they could without his glasses. Draco gazed down on him in a mixture of concern and fondness, and when Harry groped at the nightstand for his glasses, he found Draco already held them, gently slipping them back on his nose. "Thanks," he said softly.

"Anytime," said Draco, squeezing Harry's hand. "Dr. Mason, he's awake!"

Harry was back in the private room it seemed, which he figured was because he was being kept under observation. The door burst open, and his doctor, parents, and godfather rushed in, immediately followed by Nurse Bainbridge and Peter-the-Orderly pushing a cart. Without meaning to, Harry curled into a little ball, moving as far away from Peter as possible, but the orderly didn't touch him. He just handed Bainbridge instruments, while the nurse wrapped a cuff around Harry's upper arm and took his blood pressure.

Draco allowed Lily to take his place on Harry's other side and, once there, soothingly ran her fingers through his hair. "Is it over?" she asked in low tones.

The image of Dumbledore and Voldemort fighting popped back into Harry's head and he shook his head violently. "I have to get back there. My friends are in trouble, and we're all stuck in a cabin. Dumbledore and Volde -" He stopped himself abruptly, since no one present would really understand. Those were all people in his head, weren't they? Just figments of his imagination.

He remembered Voldemort glaring at him and he swallowed hard. How did he open the link like that? Voldemort admitted to Harry that it was he who set this all up, so maybe it wasn't all made up and Harry was now laying on the ground, useless… damn it.

"I have to get back there," he insisted. "They're going to kill me and this will all go away. I'm going to die. Everyone's going to die!" Harry was breathing hard and he yanked his arm away from Bainbridge's prodding.

Dr. Mason smiled encouragingly at him, which Harry thought was an entirely inappropriate response to his situation. "I know this is hard, Harry, but you're doing the right thing. You won't be killed; this battle is just your mind's way of making things difficult for you. Remember to sever your ties, remove all attachments to this other world. Be strong."

Harry knitted his brow as he thought this over. He couldn't just abandon his friends to whatever the whims of Voldemort happened to be. Lily, looking worried, rubbed his shoulder tentatively. "I believe in you. We all do."

James, nodding, added, "I know you can do this. I know you're a survivor. We'll always be here for you."

"We'll always be here for you," Sirius repeated. "No matter what, Harry."

They would be, wouldn't they?

Closing his eyes, Harry smiled and took a deep breath and inched to the edge of the bed, letting his family surround him. He hugged his dad and Sirius, placed a kiss on his mum's cheek, and - after a half-second of silent debate, due to his family's proximity - kissed Draco firmly, lingering there a little longer than strictly necessary. Caressing Draco's jaw, he settled in bed again.

This was too perfect.

"I suppose I am a survivor," Harry sighed, raising up one hand and unconsciously tracing his scar. "And I know you'll all be with me, no matter what. But my battle's still not done." Harry looked down at his hands, ignoring the shocked looks on everyone's faces. "I love you. Always. Goodbye."

Harry closed his eyes, immediately willing himself back to the Shrieking Shack. He knew he'd never wake up in St. George's again.

"Harry!" he heard Hermione shout distantly, then felt a hard slap across his cheek. "Wake up, wake up!"

Harry sat up, rubbing his face, then the back of his head. He winced and looked around him. Voldemort and Dumbledore were still duelling and Ron and Hermione were crouched over him. "I'm sorry," he whispered, not sure if he was addressing his parents or his friends.

Ron tugged him to his feet. "There's no time for that. We have to get out of here."

Harry nodded, though his head still throbbed painfully.

Spotting Bellatrix and Wormtail unmoving bodies, Hermione asked urgently, "What happened to them? How did they even get here?"

"I'll explain everything later," Harry apologised, frantically looking for a method of escape. Unfortunately, the way they came in was currently blocked by two powerful wizards and, because of its reputation, the doors and windows of the Shrieking Shack were all sealed. He doubted the boards would be destroyed by a simple Reductor Curse, and he didn't particularly want to draw any extra attention to them.

Luckily, Dumbledore had managed to debilitate Voldemort momentarily. "Harry, take this," Dumbledore said, reaching into his robes and throwing a sock to him. "All three of you, hang onto this portkey. In ten seconds, it will activate and bring you directly to my chambers. Wait there until help arrives!"

Ron and Hermione each took an end of the lavender sock, as Harry clutched the middle. The three stared at the prone form of Lord Voldemort for what Harry thought felt like the longest ten seconds of his life. Then, he felt a familiar tug behind his navel, yanking in from the shack.

Harry landed in Dumbledore's office, falling face first and slamming down hard on his knee. He groaned, wondering if travelling gracefully by portkey was even possible.

"Harry, what the hell was that all about?" demanded Ron, as soon as he'd recovered. He was gripping the edge of Dumbledore's desk, a deep red flush creeping its way up his neck and onto his cheeks. Whatever anger he'd suppressed back due to the danger back in the Shack seemed to have reappeared, full stop.

Harry blinked, hoping Ron wasn't about to deck him. Not that he didn't deserve it. "Uh. That was Voldemort attacking just after I stunned you both," he mumbled, examining his shoes.

"Yes, I'd gathered that much. Now why, exactly, would you take our wands and stun us?" Ron's voice was low, calm, with only a slight tremor belying his tone. Harry wished that his friend would rage because at least Harry had come to expect that; this voice was a little... scary.

Gaze still firmly locked with the polished wood of Dumbledore's office floor, Harry answered quietly, "Because I was trying to cut ties with this world, so I could exist in the other one. I figured if I got you both mad enough at me, you wouldn't want to be my friend anymore and I'd have no reason to stay."

Ron looked confused, but Hermione managed a soft, "Oh!"

"I know I've been sort of keeping you both in the dark about what's been going on, other than telling you that my parents and Sirius are there. Well, there's a doctor there, and he's really helpful; he thought that the more ties I cut with the Wizarding World, - the more isolated I became - the more likely it would be I could permanently stay in their world. So, I decided to cut them."

"By hurting us emotionally and physically," said Hermione. It wasn't a question.

Hesitantly, Harry nodded. "Yes, but during that battle, I realised I was wanting something that was just too good to be true. When I passed out before, I went back there and told everyone that my battle here wasn't done. I don't think I'll be going back there again. I'm really sorry for what I did to you both. I didn't mean what I said." Harry sighed heavily and said, "But I'll understand if you don't believe me... if you never forgive me."

Ron snorted. "For acting like a git, Harry? I would have stopped talking to you over a year ago, if that was all it took to get me to hate you." Harry looked up hopefully; Ron's mouth was still set in a straight line, but the colour was draining from his face again.

There was a loud pop, and the three of them turned to see Dumbledore reappear in his office.

Hermione gaped openly. "But you can't Apparate on Hogwarts grounds!" she shouted, before she could stop herself. Realising that she'd just yelled at the Headmaster, she clapped a hand over her mouth.

"Quite right, Miss Granger," Dumbledore chuckled. He didn't offer any other explanation and, as Dumbledore handed Harry back his abandoned Invisibility Cloak, Harry decided he'd never quite figure their Headmaster out.

Harry noticed that Dumbledore looked a little worn from the battle. He hunched over a bit and appeared to be clutching at his side. "Are you all right, sir?" he asked.

"I'll be fine, Harry," smiled the old man. "Nothing some cocoa and a good night's rest won't fix." From his perch, Fawkes trilled loudly, obviously agitated. Dumbledore shuffled to his pet's side, ruffling Fawkes's feathers gently, calming the bird.

"Professor Dumbledore, what happened to Voldemort?" asked Harry nervously. Dumbledore was here, after all, and relatively unscathed. For a few fleeting seconds, he hoped that the stupid prophesy was wrong and that it had all been a mistake. Maybe Dumbledore had torn that bastard limb from li--

"I attempted to magically bind him, but he woke too soon. He Apparated away, taking his indisposed associates with him."

"Damn it," Harry said under his breath, before he could stop himself.

Dumbledore smiled ruefully. "I expect the two of you will meet again another day." Sighing heavily, the Headmaster lowered himself into his chair. "Which brings me to a pertinent question. Knowing about Voldemort's impending attack, why would you think going off school grounds - tonight of all nights - would be wise?"

Wise? Harry had never thought it was wise. It was just another item on the long list of stupid events he'd caused.

He was just about to open his mouth to answer, when Ron interrupted, eyes flashing accusingly. "You said Dumbledore told you to stay there!" he exclaimed.

Harry nodded shakily, feeling as though misery had taken up permanent residence just under his skin. Suddenly feeling the need for catharsis, Harry launched into the whole story of his time in the hospital, trying to give a full account of everything from Bainbridge to the familiar residents to abruptly leaving his family. He did, however, leave out the parts that concerned him and Draco, wanting to keep a little piece of that life just for himself.

Ron, Hermione and Professor Dumbledore said very little throughout, a fact for which Harry was grateful. He doubted that if he'd been stopped, he would have been able to start up again. When the story was exhausted, he noted that Hermione's face was arranged in an expression of great sympathy and even Ron looked deflated, as though any righteous indignation had been ripped from him "I miss them already," he concluded honestly, unable to keep the anguish he felt completely out of his voice.

Dumbledore regarded Harry carefully. "I believe your story, Harry. It's sometimes hard to separate reality from fantasy, and the lines between the two have the tendency to become impossibly blurred."

Harry nodded, recalling Luna saying something similar to him. "One choice can change the world," he muttered to himself. Then, hesitantly, he met the Headmaster's eyes. "Professor Dumbledore, do you think it's possible that the place where I was actually exists? I know Voldemort was responsible for sending me there, but it was... I mean, it was everything I've ever...." He trailed off.

"Oh, Harry. There are many mysteries of the universe that I just can't begin to answer. I suppose it's possible, but I don't believe you could have existed in both at once. Are you sure you've made your choice?"

"Yeah," Harry said softly. This was where he belonged. He knew that now. "Do you think the potion Sn- er, Professor Snape is working on will be complete soon? I don't want to risk having to see them again."

"All right, then," Dumbledore said, sympathy softening his tone. "The potion Professor Snape has been working on has been completed. In fact, that why it took so little time to learn of your whereabouts. As soon as I heard the news, I visited the hospital wing to check to see whether you were awake, hoping to deliver it in person. I must say, it was something of a surprise to find you nowhere near the infirmary. Fortunately, I knew I hadn't missed you by much, as I overheard several students animatedly discussing how Harry Potter was seen tearing down the corridor in his pyjamas toward Gryffindor Tower with two other students in tow." Harry wasn't sure, but he thought he noticed Dumbledore's eyes glimmer at that. "That's how I knew to find you in the Shrieking Shack."

Harry looked confused. "But we didn't tell anyone we were headed there."

"I should mention that I headed to your common room first. In another fortunate coincidence, your friend Neville Longbottom happened to overhear you speaking to Mr. Weasley and Miss Granger. Mr. Longbottom informed me that he'd heard you say you were going to some sort of shack before hurrying off again with your friends."

"Neville?" Hermione interrupted, sharing an uncertain look with Ron. "We didn't see him, did we?" Ron screwed up his face in thought, then shook his head.

"I gather that he was napping in your room before being roused by some sort of commotion." Harry guiltily remembered making enough noise to wake the dead when they went to get his Invisibility Cloak. "Upon hearing Mr. Longbottom's somewhat bewildered testimony, I quickly deduced you'd gone to the Shrieking Shack. Just in time, I may add."

"I was an idiot," said Harry dejectedly. God! They'd been so close to being killed. "Thank you, sir."

"You're welcome, Harry. Just remember that you can't always survive on luck alone. One day only your skills will serve you."

Harry nodded, looking down at his lap again.

"No need to dwell on this now, Harry. Mr. Weasley, will you please locate Professor Snape? I believe he is currently in his workrooms. And Miss Granger, if you would, please head to the third floor on the west side of the castle and ask the portrait of Leland the Loquacious to summon Professor Flitwick. Do inform him that you are in a bit of a hurry, however, as he has a tendency to chatter on." Ron and Hermione both nodded, looking determined. "When you return, the password to this office is 'fruit pastilles'. I believe we have a protection ritual to perform."

Once Hermione and Ron hurried off, Harry and Dumbledore sat in silence. "Professor Dumbledore," Harry said timidly after a few uncomfortable moments, "may I ask you something?"

"Yes, Harry?"

"Is..." Harry didn't know if he wanted to do this, even with his friends gone. But he had to know. "Is Draco okay? I mean, what happened to the other Death Eaters? I thought they were going to attack Hogwarts tonight, but everything here looks all right." There certainly had been no mass attack on Hogwarts, at least. "Did he, uhm, not do his job?"

Dumbledore shook his head. "No, I am quite sure of that Draco left the grounds at the appointed time. I can only hazard a guess that when Voldemort retreated from us, the attack was prematurely aborted. But," Dumbledore said, rising from his desk, "you can ask him for details yourself. You may enter, Mr. Malfoy!"

Surprised because he hadn't heard anyone approach, Harry swivelled around in his chair. How the hell does Dumbledore do that?

Draco, with one eyebrow quirked, was standing at the top of the landing. He appeared as confused over the Headmaster knowing about his presence as Harry. "I've just come to tell you that they've all left, sir."

"Yes, we'd noticed that!" Dumbledore said merrily. "And I've just remembered something I need to take care of in my rooms. I'll return shortly!" Disappearing in a swirl of robes that would have even put Snape to shame, Dumbledore nimbly climbed the short set of stairs at the back of his office.

"Potter." Draco's mouth was set in a straight line, but he was fumbling with his hands, like he didn't know where to put them. "How'd you get yourself in trouble this ti-"

Draco's jibe was cut off by Harry swiftly crossing the room and pinning Draco against the door jamb, kissing him hard. When he was allowed the tiniest breath of air, Draco panted, "This can't keep happening, Potter. It's just too dangerous, and besides," he said, sounding less sure of himself, "I don't like you."

"Shut up," Harry ordered softly. "I know that. Just... I need this." Without waiting for an answer, Harry kissed Draco again, running his hands up Draco's arms, across his neck, then gently stroking his thumbs over Draco's cheeks. Biting lightly at Draco's lower lip, Harry pushed his tongue inside Draco's mouth the moment his lips parted, sighing when it came in contact with Draco's. Noticing that Draco's hands were no longer at his own sides, but rather gingerly pulling and twisting the fabric of the back of Harry's dressing gown, - which, holy hell, Harry just realised he'd been wandering around in the entire time - Harry grasped that Draco was either nervous or uncomfortable. But, notably, he wasn't pushing Harry away.

Pressing Draco firmly against the doorway and moving his hands up and up so he could tangle his fingers in Draco's blond hair, Harry pretended that he could pour all of his frustrations into that kiss. Revelling in swallowing each sound Draco made, he explored the inside of Draco's mouth, letting the other boy's tongue battle fiercely with his own. There was nothing tender about this Draco, Harry was forced to remind himself. That Draco didn't exist, not that it mattered much. He wasn't any less attracted to this one.

"I'm glad you're okay," Harry said, breaking the kiss. They were both a bit breathless.

Draco shifted uncomfortably. "And I'm glad you're not dead. Though your choice of attire leaves something to be desired."

"Shut up, Malfoy," retorted Harry, not able to put any real anger behind the words. Then he remembered the question he'd asked Professor Dumbledore. "What happened to the attack? Did they all just leave?"

"I'm really not sure what happened, exactly. For a bit, everyone was waiting for the Dark Lord to give orders, but then my Mark burned and Avery told me to go back to the school. Then they all disappeared again."

"Dumbledore and Voldemort fought," Harry explained. "But, really, nothing happened. He got away. They all did."

"All?"

"Wormtail and your auntie. We all had a good time catching up."

Draco's eyes widened. "You were there? But, you weren't supposed…"

"Yes, I'm a world-class idiot. Don't worry, I'm well-aware of that fact." Harry and Draco were still firmly pressed together; he knew the others would return in a moment and he had no idea how long Professor Dumbledore would be looking for… whatever it was that he needed, but Harry couldn't seem to bring himself to move away.

Eyebrows knit together, Draco said, "Dumbledore's asked me to spy for him, you know."

Harry nodded. He was hoping Draco was just going to be under protection, but he'd seen enough to know that Dumbledore was going to take an advantage when he saw it. Especially now that Voldemort knew Snape was a spy.

"So, this will have to stop now."

"I know. We can't keep doing this; it's not safe for either of us." Harry's thumb traced lazy circles on Draco's palm.

Briefly, Draco's fingers tightened around Harry's thumb. "And Headmaster Dumbledore will be returning at any moment."

"True." Harry still didn't move, choosing to examine Draco's pale face for a bit longer.

"Move away, Potter," Draco said with a sneer and shooing motion.

"In a minute."

Harry was just about to chance it, to move in for one last kiss, when they heard Ron's voice complaining loudly at the bottom of the stairs. Harry jumped back and hurried back to his seat near Professor Dumbledore's desk, quite convinced the newcomers would have no doubt about what he and Draco had been up to. In fact, when Ron and Snape reached the top of the stairs a moment later, Ron shot Draco - who'd moved only just enough to comfortably allow others entrance - an accusatory look. However, Harry wasn't sure whether that was just because Draco hadn't been there when Ron and Hermione had left, or because of Draco's dishevelled hair and swollen lips. Harry ran one hand through his own hair in a futile effort at taming it, and crossed his legs, willing himself to control his breathing and look natural.

Snape, carrying a vial of greenish-blue liquid and wearing a dour expression, just looked put out. Harry was relieved when Dumbledore swept back in, right on Ron and Snape's heels. The man had impeccable timing. "Ah, Severus! So nice of you to join us."

"Headmaster, I don't expect to be at this... boy's beck and call all hours of the night." Harry slumped down in his chair as Snape gave him the evil eye.

"Severus, it's nine o'clock," said Dumbledore pleasantly. Snape sneered in response. "Also, you know as well as I that this is a one-time process."

"If it works," Harry muttered under his breath. The idea of accidentally having to see the dream again - to see everything he'd given up - filled him with as much dread and horror as the prospect of any future confrontation with Voldemort.

Snape instantly flew into a rage, only reinforcing the lesson that Harry was better off keeping his big mouth shut. "You insolent, stupid, ungrateful brat," he seethed. Harry noticed Draco taking a step toward his Head of House, ready to pull him back. "Are you insulting my ability to brew one experimental potion? The amount of time I've spent on your petty -"

"There are many elements to this ritual, Severus," Dumbledore interrupted, just as Harry had leapt to his feet, hand already flexing around his wand. He shook off the warning hand Ron had placed on his shoulder. "And, as you say, it's experimental. Harry's doubts are not unfounded. Please tell Professor Snape that you weren't insulting his talent."

Harry shot Dumbledore a filthy look. The Headmaster had been right, of course, but apologising to Snape because the git misunderstood Harry was beyond the pale. "I didn't mean anything by it, Professor. Sorry." Harry probably didn't sound as sincere as he might have, but that was the best they'd get out of him.

Luckily, Hermione and Professor Flitwick returned a few moments later, breaking the tension. Hermione did a double-take over Draco's presence, much as Ron had minutes earlier, while Flitwick looked flushed and nervous, brandishing his tiny wand already.

"Filius, you seem ready to begin! Good, very good. Shall we?" Dumbledore asked Harry, regarding him carefully. Harry swallowed hard and hesitantly nodded.

Flitwick pulled Harry over to the centre of the Headmaster's office, arranging him with his hands at his side. Satisfied over Harry's positioning, he stepped away from Harry, waving Dumbledore and Hermione over. The three of them began reciting a string of Latin so quickly that Harry was only able to catch a couple of words here and there, -"Claustrum... alucinari... interclusio..." - while a golden ring began circling the floor surrounding Harry. Out of the corner of his eye, he could make out Ron and Draco inching away.

The chanting came to an abrupt stop, and Snape's hand breached the circle, yanking Harry's arm up to press the potion to his palm. Dazed, Harry blinked a couple of times, looking from Snape to the liquid-filled vial, until Snape let out an exasperated sigh. "Drink, you dim-witted boy."

That shook Harry out of his bewildered state; he tipped back the vial, wincing at the bitter taste. A rush of wind passed through him, roaring in his ears and nearly knocking him to the ground. In the distance, he heard something that distinctly sounded like a door slamming shut, and the golden circle dissolved.

Everyone in the room was looking at him expectantly. Taking a deep breath, and letting his shoulders slump, Harry simply said, "It's over."