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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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?"

Recovering their lives has been a slow and arduous process. Many seem to think they're blessed, that they won the war and so everything is perfect, but those that fought in that war, they knew better. They had been there and gone through so much with them, and all of them were working their way through all they say and did. Some having a harder time than others. Hermione believes that they have come this far means a lot, that Harry has come this far, means the world to her.

Snuggling in close, she sighs. "I just wish we could make things better for you. I hate how much you suffer, Harry," she whispers, because as much as they work, he still is tormented and it hurts her so much. She loves him and wishes he had the happiness all the way around he deserves and not being reminded of the most horrific things he's been through.

She laughs with him, even as she shushs him. Opening her mouth to speak when they're interrupted.

"I think you two are bloody loud, especially to the nice guy sleeping in the chair to be helpful to you both."

It only makes Hermione laugh more.

"I know," he whispered and continued to hold onto her. Honestly, Harry hated that she'd had to suffer along with him. He never wanted that to happen for her, much like hadn't wanted to wake Draco either earlier in the morning. He didn't ever want to become some sort of burden to anyone. Not that he really thought himself a burden most days.

The moment he heard Draco's voice, Harry couldn't help it anymore and started laughing before tilting his head so he could see Draco. "You can blame her - I tried to be as quiet as I can," he said, giving Hermione a teasing look. "Sorry to wake you... again."

He was tempted to ask if he'd like to join them but figured that was really up to Hermione as well.

She's laying in bed with Harry and whispering to him and then suddenly there's Draco Malfoy's voice. Hermione can't help herself either. She's laughing, clinging to Harry with a deep laugh.

"Wait. Did someone say something? I can't hear you all the way over there," she teases, just from what Harry told her.

Draco, grumbling, pushes himself up out of the chair and comes over, standing at the foot of the bed, staring at them. And then, blanket still wrapped around him, he falls forward and faceplants between their legs.

Hermione just finds herself laughing even more.

The moment Hermione invited Draco over, something in Harry's chest lessened and he found himself grinning. He wasn't sure what this would become but he liked the direction it was going. Besides. They'd been all living together for a while now and if they hadn't been driven insane yet like they did living in a tent with Ron... there was a good chance of this working.

He laughed even harder as soon as Draco fell forward in between their legs and adjusted his hold on Hermione so he could look down the bed at the blonde. "You heard the woman. Get up here. That's not going to be comfortable for long," he said with a grin. He liked the way this felt - Hermione's laughter and knowing that they were taking a rather large step with Draco.

"The sooner we're all comfortable, the sooner we can all get a bit more sleep." Although that was up for debate on if they'd actually get more sleep after this.

Smiling at Harry as Draco faceplanted at the foot of the bed, obviously having a lot of broken sleep and coping with that. Yet he looks so young and sweet and precious and she giggles. "I don't think I ever thought of Draco Malfoy as precious before," she teases, grinning as she reaches down and brushes her fingers through that shimmering, growing out veela white hair.

"You know, if we plucked him bald, we could make a good deal of money on wand hearts,' she teases, giving the tiniest of tucks.

"Keep it up, Granger," he mutters, the words muffled. "And I'll shave your head."

She only laughs more, giving another tug. "Come on, Pretty Boy. Up here so I can sleep."

Draco sighs, rocking so he can stand up and then moves to crawl up between them and lays down between them, not even waiting for them to move. Not caring. Knowing it's maybe too much but he just wants to lay there with them, close, cuddled.

Harry chuckled then shared a smile with Hermione before looking down at Draco. "You know, I'm not sure if precious is at all a word I would use to describe Draco Malfoy," he teased, and then laughed at the easy banter between the two.

"No losing hair for either of you - I like both of it too much," he said with a teasing smirk. Though naturally, his opinion hardly mattered, he was still going to voice it.

He grinned as Draco moved up and laid in between them. Harry liked this. There was something that felt so right about this moment that he wasn't going to put it into words. Harry exhaled a soft breath and adjusted his arm so it easily rests over both of them. "We comfortable? Warm enough?"

"Have you seen him right now? Precious is the only word," she says, laughing and so delighted. This is who they could have been through school if not for Dumbledore and Voldemort and all their fighting. This is the friends Draco could have had.

But he has them now.

Hermione sighs, shifting to snuggle in against Draco. "No headshaving. Fine. I'll see to the joke shop and find the proper charm then," she teases, sliding her hand along Draco's back. "You're like a bird," she murmurs. "Soft and warm and feel like your bones are hollow but so strong."

Draco makes a noise. "She always poetic?"

Harry chuckled. "True," he agreed with a grin, watching them both with an amused look. He liked this and although he knew he and Draco had discussed it earlier that morning, he wished they'd had this back at Hogwarts. But, they had each other now and that's what mattered.

He closes his eyes some and listens then chuckles at Draco's question. "Sometimes, when she's especially tired," he teases. "But she's right, you are soft and warm."

This, being in bed with both of them felt so... right. It honestly took his breath away. They surely had a road ahead of them - both in a personal sense and with training - but Harry looked forward to it if it meant seeing whatever this would become.

Hermione knew none of this would be easy. They would have to overcome a lot. Their own egos, the world outside, the death eaters that remain, and the others that they'll have to face. But they're not alone.

Draco realizes that most of all. He doesn't have others beyond this room but together they might actually make all of this work.

He can only hope, though he's aware enough not to be careful. Just in case. For their sake.

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Nightmares & Revelations (CLOSED - for Hermione & Draco)

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