hogwartsexpressed | Nightmares & Revelations (CLOSED

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Nightmares & Revelations (CLOSED - for Hermione & Draco)

A lot had changed since the end of the war. Harry hadn't gone back to Ginny as so many had assumed and they were both okay with that. More than okay, if he was honest. The only one who hadn't taken it so well... okay, the only two people who hadn't taken it so well were Molly and Ron. To them, they were supposed to be this giant happy Weasley family and well, Hermione and he had other aspirations.

After those months in the tent, after Ron had left them, Hermione and he had discussed their hopes, their dreams, their fears and even shared each other's beds. After the war, they hadn't let themselves or each other simply settle for the Ministry or to just get married and start having a family. They wanted and needed something bigger, where they could do more to the benefit of their society.

He had of course told Ron that nothing happened and to this day, he wasn't sure why he had insisted that nothing happened - maybe to make everyone else happy? But after it was all said and done, he knew how pointless that had been. Not only had their society changed but they had changed.

Hogwarts would always be his first home but neither of them felt ready to return to the scene of the war. Perhaps that was putting it nicely. They were done with the manipulations from Dumbledore and knew Hogwarts would only bring up bad thoughts and memories for the both of them. Instead, they had been approached by the International Confederation of Wizards to join their next recruiting class. It would be hard work, they were told, but they were used to that. After Hermione found her parents and returned their memories, they accepted the position and headed to Rome, much to Ron's disappointment and dismay.

They'd went in on a three bedroom flat of a wizarding world apartment complex, it wasn't as if Harry was hurting for money after the will reading of Sirius and his parents (whose had been buried intentionally by Dumbledore) and taking up his lordship. They had assumed they would use the other room for an office but when they met their fellow recruits, they realized there was likely another reason for it. They hadn't been the only ones from Britain to be approached by the ICW, imagine their surprise when Draco Malfoy had shown up that first day. Not only that, but in their training exercises, the three of them had been paired up a number of times and surprisingly (and unsurprisingly) enough... they worked really well together. It didn't take Hermione and him long to approach Draco about moving into the third bedroom.

The more surprising part was that he'd accepted.

It had been just over five months since Draco had moved in with them and he could honestly say they were starting to make headway.

It was just Harry's luck that the night Hermione was out of town working on assignment was the night he had his first nightmare since before they came to Rome. It was as it always was - Sirius' death, Voldemort's annoying monstrous face and Dumbledore's ever present manipulations - losing everything he loved and cared for. What he didn't know was that he was screaming, tossing and turning in his bed and his magic getting a little bit (a lot) out of control. Normally, Hermione was home and would be alerted the moment his magic got loose or that he was having a nightmare. But tonight, he was on his own. Or he might've been had the silencing spells on his room not broken on the onslaught of his magic, alerting Draco to the situation at hand.

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"Oh, I have no doubt about that at all," Harry assured him with a chuckle. "She has no idea about this conversation happening though."

Harry couldn't help it, a grin spread over his mouth when Draco told him about Pansy and his crush. "Hermione and Ron gave me a hard time about my crush on you as well," he admitted, though he had been absolutely sure Draco likely knew of it. He chuckled softly.

"It sounds like she approves of our living arrangements," he said, looking at the other man. It mattered to him that his friends and hopefully his mother would be okay with this, with them. First, they had to talk to Hermione when she got home. She was the most important factor of this entire thing.

"Your crush?" He asks it wide eyed, positively wicked. "So when you were stalking me it wasn't all professional, as it were?"

Though that reminds him.

"That day, on the Express," he says, ducking his head and looking away before dragging his gaze back to Harry. "I did that for your own good. I knew you were there, and realizing that you might follow us and be caught... I could have done it gentler," he admits, reaching up and tenderly stroking his cheek. "I'm sorry.

"And she does. She wants me happy. Pansy and I, we've recovered a lot from those days and worked to make our lives what we wanted, not what our parents wanted."

Harry smirked in amusement. "In the brain of a Gryffindor teenager it was definitely professional. At least, that's what I continually told them. They didn't believe a single word of it, as you can imagine."

He stayed quiet, letting Draco speak without interruption. Harry lifted a hand and cupped Draco's cheek, leaning into Draco's touch in return. "I was... upset at first but afterward, much... later, I understood. At least, I thought I understood. You've been forgiven long ago for things that happened during that time, Draco," he said, softly and looked at him. "I hope you know that."

"From what I understand, she's made herself indispensable with Dean and Seamus at their magical tattoo shop," he admitted with a chuckle. "I admit, we've been tempted to go get one of their tattoos." Harry was glad though that Draco and Pansy have made their lives into something they've wanted, what would make themselves proud to lead and not something their parents wanted. While he didn't have a parents expectation for himself, Harry knew on some level how it must feel with the wizarding world expecting things of him that he perhaps wouldn't want for himself necessarily.

"I don't think us living together now is going to do anything to make them believe back then that you weren't just madly in lust with me, Potter," he teases, smirking though as he leans into that touch.

Leaning into it, eyes closing and enjoying the sensation of Harry's touch. Even as he smiles at that, though it's a tight, sad smile. "Honestly, no. I haven't known that. You might forgive me for that one event, but the world, our world? Hasn't forgiven me and it will likely never happen for may of them. All I can do is fight what I did with what I'm doing now," he says, believing that is all he can do.

"You should. She does beautiful, magical work. She keeps trying to get me in the chair to cover up the mark," he admits, even now wearing a long sleeve sleep shirt so that it isn't shown. "She thinks she can basically reverse the magic of it but I would be her experiment so she's perfecting the magic."

"Well now I can definitely admit that there were less... professional reasons to keep watching your arse," Harry said with a smirk, watching him with a soft gaze. He desperately wanted to press a kiss to Draco's mouth but he was resisting that urge. It wouldn't be right when Hermione wasn't here.

Harry's thumb slid over the arch of Draco's cheekbone and exhaled a soft breath. "The British hold a grudge like nothing else and are perpetually stuck in the past," he said, fully aware that he was British and talking about his own people. But honestly, was it untrue? He didn't think so. "Which is why we are no longer in England and can't imagine returning for a long damn time other than to help out where requested. I've found the citizens of Rome and the ICW care less. You have made a change and we all see it."

"You should," Harry said, looking at him. "We'd go with you. Dean and Seamus have told me how far along it's coming and that it's very promising. They said she's getting really close. What would you get?"

"I'm feeling entirely entrapped this minute. Is this why you worked to get me out here in my nightclothes? Wicked man," he says with a laugh, finding such comfort in the peace between them in that moment. It's easy to have these talks, to share in this moment and not have it be about the past, even as they're talking about the past.

"I'll only go back for friends, for Pansy and to see my Mum. I have no interest in returning there. I would rather live in the states," he says, making a face. "Not that I'm rushing off for their either."

He's quiet though, considering that and what he's thought about getting. He looks away, actually blushing though it's only the slightest tinge of flush to his cheeks. "It's dumb. I mean, it's not even original. I've thought about getting a dragon," he admits.

Harry chuckled. "Oh yes, I made sure to have a nightmare so you'd wake up and stay in your nightclothes," he teased him with a smirk. He was glad that they'd come to a point where they could talk about the past and tease each other about it instead of perhaps getting defensive. Though, if he were honest, the only person who ever truly was like that was Ron Weasley. He wasn't sure what the redhead would ever think if he knew Draco was living with him but to that extent, he didn't truly care either.

He nodded. "That's fair." Harry chuckled at the face he made. "Well there's plenty of time to make a decision. We are here in training for... a few years at the very least."

Harry watched him with a curious gaze and noticed the blush. "That's not dumb at all, Draco. It fits you," he said and paused for a moment. "If it helps at all, I've thought of a phoenix."

"I figured it was all a plot," he says with a smirk. "I mean, you were probably hoping I slept in my all together and you'd get a cheap thrill of me rushing to your air starkers," he teases, because it's easy to joke like this with Harry. It has been since he moved in here and they became a household together.

"Thanks for that. I know you put in a good word with them for them to bring me in. It's the new start I needed," he points out, as if it's nothing that Harry didn't already know. "So thank you."

He smiles at that, head canting slightly and then grinning wider. "Unimaginative dork," he says, as if he isn't as well. "What's stopped you?"

"You caught onto my nefarious plot," Harry said dryly with an amused smirk, watching Draco's expressions for a long moment. The man was bloody attractive, that was for damn sure. He slid a hand up and down the length of Draco's back, bringing him in just a little closer to him.

He tilted his head and feigned ignorance. "What do you mean? Who said I said anything to them about someone who needed a fresh start," he asked. "I know no such thing." He was glad though that Draco wasn't upset or anything - he just knew the man needed a fresh start, they all did after the war. "You're welcome."

Harry shrugged a shoulder. "Hasn't been the right time and Hermione hasn't decided what she wants to get yet. Perhaps we can all go sometime and get one done. We can shut the place down."

"Yep. Just like you Potter to torture yourself and inconvenience everyone else just for what you want," he says. It's the same voice, the same accent and words, and yet it's not the same tenor of their childhood when he'd been so angry about Potter for so many reasons.

"Want to know what I know? You're a bad liar," he murmurs, stroking Harry's cheek as he leans in, kissing the same cheek softly.

"Maybe we should take a trip back home soon then," He agrees, nodding. "All three of us," he says with a nod. "If and when she's ready."

Harry chuckled. "Naturally, it's always been my number one move. It impresses everyone," he mused. Had he considered being there in their kitchen years ago, he'd have though it just being a passing fancy. Although it started off complete shit, he was glad that... it turned out the way it had. He felt as though they had broken down a few walls standing in their way. He was sure Hermione was going to be surprised when she got home later.

"Well, you know, must not tell lies and all that shite," he mused with a little smile, leaning into his touch. He presses a soft kiss to Draco's cheek and exhales a soft breath. "I thought out of anyone, you likely needed a fresh start just as much as we did."

"Agreed. This will likely get her thinking of a tattoo once we tell her. Wonder what she'll choose," he said with a hum. Wishing he had in some ways told her to come home early simply because he wanted both of them there with him (he was greedy like that sometimes) but she'd be home soon and it was nice spending this time with Draco.

It's funny now, but it hadn't been back in school when so many of their classmates had acted as if that is exactly how Harry lived his life at Hogwarts. Even then, if one looked, it was obvious that wasn't what Harry was doing, but it was also easy to twist it onto him. Both to benefit Voldemort's plans and Dumbledore's as well. Draco hadn't wanted to kill him, but he hadn't liked him then and he doesn't like him now.

His eyes narrow then, his hand taking Harry's before he can stop himself. Staring into Potter's eyes, he lifts his hand and lightly kisses it. "Not funny," he says, another time when he had played along for his family, for the Death Eaters, and he should have been there for Harry. Even if he knows logically, he couldn't.

"You should get back to bed and get a nap before she gets home," he says. "If you want I can crash in the room in case it happens again."

Harry had always been well aware about how people back at Hogwarts viewed him, especially professors who should have been looking out for him and the multitude of health problems he'd had from the Dursley's. No, his behavior was always 'attention seeking' and 'self benefiting'. He wouldn't say he'd gotten over it but it was definitely on the rather long list he was working through with his mind healer. He will never forgive either Voldemort or Dumbledore for putting him in the middle of the blood war but he had to find some way of moving on from that. If taking a position with the ICW was the way to move on, then he was going to be the best bloody Hit Wizard that he can be.

His mouth curls up in a wry smile as Draco lifts his hand up and kisses it. "It wasn't," he agreed, his voice soft. "She's being tried but if I could...," he exhaled a breath. If you asked him, She was just as evil as Voldemort had been and if anyone deserved a kiss from a Dementor, it would be her. He didn't finish the sentence, figuring Draco could probably connect the dots.

He glanced over at the clock. "It's about two now... I'd say we have a good four hours or so," he agreed and sent him a smile. "You would?"

Looking back on the world they had known, it's painful to think about. To think about the way the adults at Hogwarts had closed their eyes to things. How much Dumbledore had treated Harry as bait and a weapon, but not a child. How even Snape who had truly been on his side, and yet he tormented Harry all along while being there as well. Looking back it was obvious how bad things had been and while they had come out alive and stronger on the other side, they weren't the only ones and many of them had died because of how the adults in their lives had been. They would never do that.

He kept hold of Harry's hand, starting to back for the bedroom. "Come on. I promise, I'll behave myself but if anything happens, I'll be there," he says.

It's a vow he's making about more than here and now, but for them, for a long time.

Harry knew he could have gone down a similar road to Voldemort and any other dark wizard all things considered. He had the power to spare and the influence. If it wasn't for Hermione, he likely would have. Harry put that out of his mind for the time being and gave Draco's hand a squeeze.

He desperately wanted to make a joke but he could feel the exhaustion settling in again. "Only if you promise," he said and walked into his bedroom a moment later. Walking over to the side of the bed, Harry glanced over at Draco. "Thank you, Draco. For... everything tonight."

"You have my word. As a dark wizard and a Slytherin," he says with a smirk, knowing how that sounds and amused with himself as he moves to grab a rug off the foot of the bed to wrap himself in while he's sitting in the chair.

"Put up your wards. If it happens, I'm here with you when it comes. And you don't owe me thanks, Potter. It's what mates do for one another," he points out, settling into the chair. "Sleep and then we'll explain everything to Granger when she gets home."

Harry chuckled softly and sent him an amused look. "Oh good, then I have nothing to worry about," he said and slid under the covers. Which was true. He trusted the other man more than most and knew Draco would stay to his word. He was half tempted to invite him over to the bed but that was perhaps a bit too far without discussing things with Hermione yet.

He flashed Draco a smile and nodded. "I like that," he admitted to the mates part and knowing he was definitely looking forward to telling Hermione when she got home.

Harry took a slow breath and started working on the wards in his bedroom, keying Draco and Hermione into them as usual. To anyone who was sensitive to it, they probably felt heavy and very protective of the occupants in the room. "Night, Draco," he said, finally laying down and slowly closing his eyes.

"Good night, Harry" he murmurs softly, laying there and watching him for a long time before he drifted away thinking about how much his life was changing once more.

They were both well out for the night when Hermione came in. Setting down her bags, she slips out of his jacket before heading to Harry's bedroom. She knows the "keys" to the wards, and a moment later she slips into the room.

It isn't until she is nearly moving up on the bed to lay down beside Harry that she realizes his room is not empty. Pausing, leaning onto one arm, staring at Draco for a minute. Well then.

Leaning down, she curls into Harry's side. "I'm home," she whispers, trying to wake him slowly and not startle him.

The moment Hermione entered their apartment, something inside Harry settled further. After his childhood and being on the run for the year before, Harry wasn't exactly a deep sleeper. Unless of course he was in the middle of a nightmare. The moment she opened his bedroom door and join him on the bed, he was already slowly waking up.

Harry smiled and slowly opened his eyes, turning so he could wrap his arm around her. "Welcome home," he murmured, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. There was so much to tell her - all of which happened hours before - but for a moment, he was content to just have her there. He was also careful to not wake up Draco.

Wrapping her arms around him, Hermione snuggles in closer with a sigh. Glad to be there with him, to have him close. She strokes her hand over his arm, kissing his cheek tenderly.

"I'm glad to be home." She falls quiet for a moment, just keeping him close, being thankful to be there and be home where she belongs. "You doing okay?"

Between feeling the nightmare that had taken hold of him, and now finding him with Draco asleep in his room as if he's watching over Harry, she can't help but wonder. "Is he babysitting you for a reason?"

Harry exhales a soft content sigh and brings her in closer, pressing a soft kiss to her cheek. "Very glad to have you home," he whispers softly and slides his fingers over her cheek gently, taking a moment to just drink her in. He loved to have her back home, there with him.

"Yeah, better than I was," he said, keeping his voice soft. His mouth quirked up at the question. "Well, he was rudely awakened by my magic when it broke through the wards of my room. And then, I'm rather certain it assaulted him before he got into my dream to help wake me up. After a lot of... deep talking, he said he'd make sure to watch over me in case the nightmares came back and my magic became rampant again." There was so much to share with her that he simply didn't know where to start but starting with that was enough to get them started at least. "You didn't rush home, did you? I didn't want you to worry."

"So Draco Malfoy acted just the way we thought he would, proving that his family made him the way he was," she says softly, sounding so happy about that. So glad to hear that when things had gone wrong.

"It was that bad that it broke the wards, though?" She sighs thinking about that. "WE're going to have to come up with something more," she adds. "A way we can work to try and control them even if we have to combine them."

And then, because she can't help herself, nudging him. "So you didn't invite him to sleep in the bed with you?"

Harry hummed in agreement and watched her reaction, hearing the happiness in her tone and in her eyes. "I would primarily say it was his father. His mother did help us... ultimately as did he," he said, his voice remaining soft.

"Apparently so. Agreed. So far I haven't come across anything in the various advanced ruins books that I've been reading... if worse comes to worse, we may have to come up with something completely new," he murmured. "Combining them or something." His mouth quirked up as he thought about Draco's words from earlier in the morning. "He said he knew what he was getting himself into when he moved in with us."

He chuckled. "I thought it would be rude to invite him into my bed without discussing it with you first." Harry paused and watched her expression. "You know, he's attracted to both of us and would potentially be interested in joining us..."

"She did," Hermione murmurs, clinging tighter to Harry. It's easier to get beyond the pain now but every now and again it rears its ugly head, reminding her acutely of the horrible things they went through. All of them.

"You have some of the greatest magical minds in this room," she says, adding in completely even tones. "And then there's you and Draco," she teases, trying not to smile. "We'll find something. We're brilliant,' she adds.

"Oh so he knew moving in that you had a crush on him and I'm very susceptible to veela charm?" Not that it's only that and she knows it. Not for either of them.

She thwapped Harry's arm. "He said that?" She hisses the words, wide eyed. "Really?"

Harry brought her in tighter to him, relishing the feel of her pressed close like this. Slowly and the more he talked to the mindhealer, Harry was able to push through the pain but it was still so fresh. There were times, much like this morning, where it was harder than other times. He was glad that he had Hermione here with him and he was glad that they had Draco there with them now too. They could all help each other heal from what they had to go through.

He hummed in agreement, slowly grinning. "I really do have some brilliant minds in this room," he agreed and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead. "If anyone were to come up with something, it'd be us. At least the wards around the flat held."

Harry chuckled and gave her a mock affronted look. "Give me some credit, I'm not nearly susceptible to veela charm as others we know," he said with a grin.

"Hey, hey - rude," he said, holding in his laughter when she hit his arm. "Yes, he said that," he continued, watching her face closely. "He even suggested walking around naked when you returned home but I said we needed to explain things to you first." He became serious and trailed his fingertips over the curve of her cheek. "So, what do you think of that?"

Nightmares & Revelations (CLOSED - for Hermione & Draco)

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