Characters: Draco Malfoy Location: Draco's flat, Diagon Alley Time: BACKDATED to Friday evening Summary: Another nightmare plagues Draco's sleep Warnings: Dead Molly appearance again, hints of Dumbledore, nightmares, language possibly of course Status: Incomplete/Threaded.
It had been almost a week since Draco's last nightmare, when Ginny had come over, so he hadn't even been expecting this one to strike him so suddenly. He'd fallen asleep in front of the Muggle television that Draco had set up in his flat, memories of those few simple, blissful moments with Justin floating around in his head even as he curled up on the sofa in front of it. Those days had been so simple, before he'd awakened...well, a monster within himself. Draco didn't know what he was doing anymore, in all reality. He'd jumped into bed with Blaise, not even thinking about the consequences. And then he'd blabbed. He'd told Pansy, he'd told Ginny...who no doubt told all of her brothers about this dilemma. What had happened to the proud Slytherin who could keep such secrets to himself? What happened to the proud Slytherin who had brought Death Eaters into Hogwarts with hardly a word whispered even in Slytherin House itself?
He'd possibly ruined one of the best friendships he'd ever had, and he sure as hell had ruined any chance at a normal life. He was thinking of rebuking his decision to court Ginny, seeing all the hell that simple statement had raised. Yet at the same time, he didn't want to lose her. Not so soon. These were the thoughts that plagued his mind as he fell into what he hoped would be a peaceful slumber, but what turned out to be one of the worst nightmares he'd ever had in his life.
He'd been walking. Walking for what felt like a long, long time, for his legs were tired and it hurt to take another step forward. Yet, at the same time, he couldn't seem to stop walking forward. His feet just kept putting themselves one in front of the other, flowing so naturally as he walked forward. "Draco," a voice whispered through the darkness, and his head turned round so suddenly that it hurt, too. "Draco. Are you looking after my little girl? Are you keeping her safe, protected?"
"Who are you?" he shouted out frantically, the tremor in his voice shining through. He didn't try to stop it this time. "Who the hell are you? What do you want?"
"You should know me, even if we never did know each other before. Molly," the ghastly figure introduced itself, looking awfully like Molly Weasley. Draco's eyes widened when he caught sight of the pale figure of a familiar woman hovering in the darkness before him. "I trust that you are looking after my little girl."
His eyes widened in surprise, as it dawned on Draco that there was clearly a reason Molly Weasley kept appearing to him in his sleep. She wanted him to look after Ginny. "I'm not the right person for Ginny. I'm not strong enough! I can't do this anymore," he admitted openly to the woman, who smiled indulgently and laughed politely in response to his words. She faded into the darkness, however, and another familiar voice appeared--one that Draco thought he'd never have to hear again in his life.
"My dear boy. You are stronger than what you think yourself to be." Draco whirled on his heels, going pale as he caught sight of the wizened old face of Albus Dumbledore. "I offered you sanctuary on my last night as a mortal, lad. I offered it because I saw what you still cannot see. You are meant for great things, if you would only allow yourself to see it. Do not keep hiding within your past, my dear boy. You are not that same wizard. You haven't been, not since my last night as a mortal. You are stronger than what you think. Draw that courage that you need now from us."
"From us?" Draco repeated, but the figure of Dumbledore smiled knowingly, and his eyes twinkled in that annoying habit that Draco remembered as the old man faded from view. "From us? What do you mean, from us? What's..." Before he could ask another question, however, darkness slowly faded away into whiteness...
Draco sat up so suddenly that the room spun around him for a few moments. Cold. He was shivering before he realized what was happening, and Draco drew the warm blankets close around his body. He was shaking still, trying to make sense of this nightmare. Molly had appeared to him once before, but now Dumbledore? What was happening? Leaning his head against his knees, Draco closed his eyes tiredly. If he wanted to survive Pansy's ball, he would need the rest.
Going into his night stand, Draco tugged out a diluted Dreamless Sleep potion and downed it a second later. He barely had the time to finish the bottle before his head hit the pillow, and Draco drifted off into a dreamless, quiet sleep.