Making a Connection, Part 14 of A Woman Scorned (H/D, PG-13)
Title: Making a Connection, Part 14 of A Woman Scorned
Author: sesheta_66
Rating: 14A
Word Count: ~ 3550
Pairing/Characters: Harry/Draco, Hermione
Challenge: AWDT's prompt of "You do realize I am still sleeping" and 100quills prompt 033 - "Midnight"
Warnings: No beta. Please point out any errors you find.
Summary: The potion is ready, and so is Draco.
Disclaimer: The characters contained herein are not mine. They belong to JK Rowling and her publishers. No money is being made from this fiction, which is presented for entertainment purposes only.
Earlier Parts:
Part 1 - A Valentine Surprise
Part 2 - The Plan
Part 3 - Without a Trace
Part 4 - A Beautiful Lie
Part 5 - Whatever It Takes
Part 6 - The Best Laid Plans
Part 7 - At His Wit's End
Part 8 - Last Hope
Part 9 - A Troubled Mind
Part 10 - A Mind at Rest
Part 11 - On the Edge
Part 12 - What Friends Are For
Part 13 - Running Out of Time
Part 14 - Making a Connection:
"Focus on the target."
"Don't dwell on the feeling."
Draco braced himself as Snape and Hermione continued to give him advice.
"It says here that you may feel a surge of adrenaline," Hermione said, reading from the potions book.
"You may feel euphoric," Snape added.
"It can also resemble a hormonal surge, so you could become aggressive or angry."
"Stop it!" Draco yelled. They both fell silent. He had never spoken to Snape in that manner before, but really -- the two of them were going to drive him crazy. "Thank you."
"We were just --" Hermione began.
"Yes, I know what you were just doing, and I appreciate it. Really I do. But you aren't telling me anything we haven't already discussed ad nauseum. I am well aware of the risks. This potion has been used only sparingly over the years, and there is no definitive clinical data on its effects. Some have adverse reactions, violent even, while others fall ill, and others adapt. The risk of addiction is strong, even with one use, because of the overwhelming surge of raw power that is the result of taking it. A weak mind is at much higher risk."
He stopped to flash a smile at the two of them. "There. Have I covered everything?"
They both nodded, and he continued. "I am confident that my mind is strong enough not to fall prey to the addictive nature of this potion, at least not after only one use. Furthermore, I believe that my motivation to reach Harry is fierce enough to prevent me getting distracted by whatever sensations flow through me."
"I do not doubt your determination, Draco," Snape said, not unkindly. "I merely wish to prepare you for the effects and side effects in the best way I can. It is, after all, dark magic we are using here."
"I know, Severus, and I appreciate it. I just don't want to waste any more time talking about it."
"Understandable."
"Now, the spell," Hermione said, turning to the correct page in the book.
"That is what worries me," said Draco, apprehension evident in his voice. "I am concerned about leaving Harry's mind open to suggestion."
"You just have to find him, open his mind, ensure you communicate the importance of your suggestion, repeat it many times, close his mind and retreat."
"Well, when you put it that way, Hermione, I have no idea why I'm nervous. It seems to be quite straight forward." He hadn't meant for his tone to be quite so cutting, but Hermione seemed to take it in stride, rolling her eyes at him. "While this does sound great in principle, my concern isn't so much my ability to carry out the task at hand, but rather my inability to control outside forces."
"For instance?" Severus asked. Draco had forgotten that he had not been privy to his and Hermione's earlier discussions on the subject.
"For instance, what if Harry senses my presence and shuts down?"
"That is always possible. You would just have to try again."
"Come on, Severus. You know Harry. If he senses something's wrong, he will be on guard from that point on. I have one shot at this, because he will ensure it can't happen twice."
"But if he senses it, if he suspects something," Hermione put in, "you can't lie to him. Better that he knows what you're doing but knows it really is you, and that you had no alternative."
"True, on both counts," Snape agreed. "So you'd best be able to convey your message in a timely manner."
"Time. That's another factor I cannot control. What if he's in a different time zone and he isn't asleep when I try?"
"It's a risk we have to take," Hermione said. "You know that. It's well past midnight here. There's nothing more we can do."
"Right. So that leaves my biggest concern. What if Ginny walks in? What if his mind is wide open, and Ginny comes in? I could be making things so much worse for him."
"Then you need to be sure he understands that it is you communicating with him, you trying to help him, you that will eventually rescue him," explained Snape. "Other than that, you cannot control what happens there."
"Moreover," Hermione reasoned, "I don't believe it could get worse for Harry than it is already. This whole thing is a calculated risk, but it's the best -- no, it's the only hope we have."
"Very well then. Let's get on with this," Draco urged, his confident voice belying his feelings of anxiety and dread.
"The potion will take ten minutes to reach its most effective state, which will last for approximately one hour. You need to find Harry by then," Hermione instructed. "Remember to first adjust to the feeling by taking deep, calming breaths. Then as the potion reaches its peak, you need to focus on locating Harry."
She brought a book over, and placed it in front of Draco. "Cast the spell and use it to feel Harry's presence. Imagine him with you, surrounding you. Feel his pulse beating, his breath becoming one with your own."
"Once you have located him," Snape interjected, "cast the second spell to open his mind. Similar to Legilimancy, you will need to bore into his thoughts, but more subtly so that he is not immediately aware of your presence." He paused, seeming to ponder what he was about to say. "Create a vision, a dream if you will, in which you are both players. I realize that time is of the essence here, Draco, but as you so aptly put it, you have only one chance to do this, so do it right. An abrupt presence could shock him and cause him to pull back and close off his mind. Take your time, be cautious, and be gentle with him. You don't want to do any damage."
"Once you have his attention, mention wandless magic. Tell him we can find him if he uses it. Tell him again and again and again," Hermione directed. "A single thought spoken once will be forgotten, lost to the subconscious. You need to project the message clearly, decisively, and repeatedly. You can do wandless magic. You must do wandless magic. We will rescue you if you do wandless magic. Use the phrase every opportunity you get. Drill it into his head, but do it as subtly as you can, so he doesn't get suspicious and shut down."
"Right. Subtle as a hippogriff in a crystal ball shop. I've got it. Now let's get on with this."
Hermione rolled her eyes at his analogy. "Get yourself settled. If you are lying down, you can relax more, and it should make focussing that much easier. Just remember that we're here, but we won't be speaking to you or to each other, so we don't break your concentration. We will take notes, in case you say or do anything that might be important."
Draco smiled. "Yes, Hermione." She was so predictable. "And I'm sure this won't be something for your future research."
Hermione returned the smile, having the decency to blush. "Well, you know, there exists no documented data on the potion or either of the spells you will be using. We shouldn't waste the opportunity."
"Miss Granger is quite correct, Draco. I too will be monitoring your progress and taking notes. But most of all, I will be ensuring that you do not suffer any ill effects from the potion. I realize we have already stressed this point, but I feel the need to repeat it to you one last time. You are about to use very strong dark magic, and use of that is always accompanied by a high level of risk. Because we are using unconventional means, we have not informed anyone else of what you are going to attempt. So I will be the one ensuring your health is not compromised. At the first sign of distress, I will act."
No, Severus! Harry needs me. I ... we are his only hope. Don't do anything right away. I can take a lot. Believe me, continuing to live without Harry, knowing that he's being held against his will, would be much worse than anything this potion could do to me." At Severus' dubious look, he continued. "Seriously. I am a healthy, young wizard. I can withstand more than you think."
"Nevertheless, Draco, I cannot in good conscience let you injure yourself."
"Just promise me you won't extract me prematurely." He looked imploringly at his mentor. "Please, Severus," he begged.
"Very well. I shall not act hastily. But know this, Draco. If I am to choose between yours and Mr. Potter's lives, I will choose yours."
Draco didn't like hearing that, but he understood. Draco would choose Harry over anyone else, without question. Since Severus had no children, nor anyone of significance in his life, Draco suspected that he held the top position in Severus' heart. He nodded his acknowledgement and took his place on the bed.
"Bottom's up!" he said in an artificially jovial tone, as he drank the foul tasting potion. Why is it that potions always taste so awful? He needed to project confidence. He only wished that he felt as confident as he appeared. He knew that he was a powerful wizard in his own right, and that the bond between Harry and him was very strong. But he still had doubts. Pushing them out of his mind, he willed himself to focus, and lied down. Breathe ... breathe ... breathe.
As the potion made its way into his stomach, Draco felt a burning, not unlike the sensation when drinking Pepper-Up Potion or a large shot of Firewhisky. Once it reached his stomach, however, the effects were unlike those of anything he had taken before.
The burning heat seemed to multiply and spread. Fire surged from his stomach outwards to his extremities in waves that echoed his heartbeat. He could feel his blood pumping through his veins. Sweat was seeping from every pore on his body, but provided no relief, the heat still coursing through him. His breathing was coming erratically now, and Severus' face registered concern.
"I'm fine," Draco managed to choke out. Hermione looked frightened. Severus looked serious. "Could use ... glass of water, please."
Hermione handed him a glass of water. "Sip it slowly, and then lie down again."
Doing as Hermione had instructed, Draco drank the water slowly, marvelling at the instant cooling sensation that flowed through him, as though it were quenching the fire within. "Much better," he said as he lied down. "Thank you."
"Are you really feeling alright, Draco?" Snape's concern resonated in his words.
"Yes, actually. The water helped."
"Well, your colour seems to be going back to normal." Snape looked a little less worried.
Draco closed his eyes and focussed on breathing. In ... out ... blood pumping. In ... out ... blood pumping. The surging heat had relented, but he could still feel the blood coursing through his veins. If power could be manifested physically, Draco imaged that this was how it would feel.
Over the next five minutes, Draco maintained steady breathing, and he continued to have a sense that he was feeling his blood flow, only now he felt something else, something that seemed to reverberate throughout his entire body. It gave Draco the sense that his magic was enhanced and pulsing. He felt an overwhelming sense of energy. It felt good. Really good. He wondered briefly if this was what it felt like to be Harry, the most powerful wizard in the world.
"How are you feeling?" Snape asked.
"Powerful," Draco answered. He couldn't think of any other way to describe it. "Very powerful."
"Ready?" Hermione interrupted his thoughts.
"Ready."
Draco picked up his wand, and muttered, "Invenio Animus," resting his head on the pillow. He closed his eyes, picturing Harry's face. He felt a pull similar to that of a portkey activating, and his body felt as though it were lurching forward. In the darkness, he saw shadows of light racing past him, all around him.
He opened his eyes and he was back in the room, looking into Hermione's face which was leaning over him, entirely too close. "Geez, Hermione!" he yelled. "Get back!"
"Sorry about that," she said sheepishly, pulling back. "What happened?"
"I saw darkness, then shapes swirling past and around me."
"Ahem," Snape interrupted. "While I am sure this is fascinating, hadn't you better get back to it?"
"Oh, right. Sorry. It was just unnerving with everything swirling around me, and I opened my eyes and ... never mind."
He closed his eyes and was immediately surrounded by whirling shapes again, though he seemed to be stationary this time. The sound of muffled voices, as though caught in the wind, filled his ears, his head. He couldn't make out anything clearly, but somehow he knew these were voices, or perhaps thoughts. Ignoring the temptation to decipher what the disembodied voices were saying, Draco once again focussed on Harry. Instantly he felt himself propelled forward, the shapes and sounds whizzing past him at break-neck speed. Harry ... I'm coming for you, Harry.
Then he came to an abrupt stop, convinced he would have had a case of whiplash had this happened on the physical plane. There was silence and darkness. No shapes, no sounds, no movement. Draco wondered if this was what being inside a vacuum would be like.
"Harry?" he said, his voice barely above a whisper. At least it felt like he was actually saying the words. It felt oddly like he was in a dream. In his throat, he could feel the reverberation of his own voice, and when he pressed his hands together he could feel the sensation. This is so strange.
"Harry," he said again, this time at normal volume. "Harry, it's me. It's Draco. I've come to help you." Silence. "Harry, where are you?"
"Draco?" he heard from ... everywhere. Harry's voice was coming from all around him. He couldn't tell where Harry was, though the voice was most certainly Harry's, and it hadn't echoed. It was just everywhere. It was rather disorienting.
"Yes, Harry, I'm here. It's me, Draco."
"But how can you be here?" The voice continued to come from all around Draco, and there was no sign of Harry's presence. "Where is here?"
"I am here because I willed myself to find you. I used a spell to help me find you. I think we are in your dream, in your mind. But it seems so ... empty. I'm not sure why that is."
"I've had some nightmares, so I took a dreamless sleep potion. Only a little bit, but ... "
"That must be it, then," Draco said, finding the vacant surroundings unnerving.
"Then how --" Harry began, stopping abruptly. Draco felt pressure coming from all sides suddenly, as though the air around him was compressing his 'body'.
"Harry, wait!" he called. "Don't push me away! Don't close off your mind, please," Draco begged, realising what was happening. He also felt a wave of power pressing outward from his own 'body', no doubt thanks to the potion.
"How are you doing that?" Harry asked.
"Harry, listen to me please."
"How do I know it's you? Draco has never been able to push through my defences before. Who are you really?"
"It's really me, Harry. And I've never actually tried to push through your defences before." Draco didn't know if it would work, but he closed his 'eyes' and thought about their bedroom, every detail. He tried to visualize the room around him, and when he opened his 'eyes', he was standing in what seemed to be a perfect replica of their room. He smiled as he looked around for Harry, who was still nowhere to be seen. "There. Do you believe me now? How many people could replicate our room exactly, down to every detail?"
"I don't know how you could do this," Harry said. "This is some sort of cruel joke. You're messing with my mind." Draco could feel the pressure of Harry trying to close off his mind, and again he pushed back.
Suddenly he remembered the spell that he should have cast already. "Attero Praesentia," he said quietly. At once, the pressure subsided.
"What did you do?" Harry asked, sounding weak and a bit frightened.
"It's a spell to open your mind, Harry. I am only using it to help you. I love you, Harry. I need you back. Come back to me. Use your magic to come back to me."
"You're messing with my mind. Draco would never mess with my mind. Who are you and why are you doing this?" He sounded angry, although his voice still sounded weak. Since this was all in Harry's mind, after all, it made sense that his presence would be weakened if his mind was.
"You're right Harry. I would never mess with your mind. And that's not what I'm trying to do. I'm just trying to communicate with you. You need to use your magic. We can't find you. We've tried everything. There is no trace of you or Ginny." He practically spit out her name. Apparently that clinched it.
"Draco?" Through the darkness emerged Harry -- or the image of him anyway.
Whatever it was, it warmed Draco's heart, and he beamed. He reached out and touched Harry's cheek with his hand. It felt like Harry. He caressed the familiar curves of Harry's face and neck, and watched as Harry's eyes closed and he leaned his face into Draco's hand.
"Use your magic, Harry. Please. We need to find you."
"But my wand is gone. She took it." He sounded almost ashamed. "I'm so sorry I didn't believe you, Draco."
"Harry, listen to me. Don't think about that now. We don't have much time. Come back to me. Use your magic. Wandless magic, Harry."
"But it doesn't work. I've tried."
Draco's heart sank at Harry's words. "You've tried?"
"Yes, and I can't even get an Accio to work."
"But you've done it before. I know you have. You are the most powerful wizard in the world, Harry. You must be able to do it."
"The only time it works is if I'm upset, angry or scared. And even then it's out of control. I can't focus the magic."
Draco felt a surge of relief. "Then don't focus it, Harry. We don't need you to do a particular spell. We just need it to be strong enough magic sustained for long enough for us to trace it. Use wandless magic. Let it go out of control. Wild magic is perfect."
"But what if I hurt --"
"If you dare say that bitch's name, and tell me that you don't want to hurt her, you'd better prepare for some serious therapy when you do get home."
"I'm sorry. It's just that she's not well, Draco."
"Obviously. But that doesn't mean I have to protect her. And it sure as hell doesn't mean that you should give a shit about her, when she's held you captive for months. Months, Harry. It's been months since I've been able to see you, touch you, taste you. Gods, Harry, you need to come home now."
"Now?"
"Yes. Wake up and use your magic. Let it go crazy, and let me come get you. Please, Harry."
"You won't hurt her, will you?"
Draco looked at Harry's imploring look, and his resolve crumbled. "I will not lay a hand on her, nor will I cast a spell on her, nor will I feed her any potion. Now come home to me."
"Okay."
"But first, come here." He pulled Harry into his arms. He knew this wasn't really Harry, but he didn't care. It was the essence of him, and it had been so long ...
Draco pressed his lips against Harry's, letting his tongue trace a path along his lower lip. He felt Harry shiver as his breath caught. He plunged his tongue into Harry's accepting mouth, and he knew he was home. Harry tasted the same, felt the same, smelled the same, even in this place. He pressed his body against Harry's, and felt their erections rubbing against each other, both of them longing for more, needing more.
Pulling back for a breath, Harry stated the obvious. "You do realize I'm still sleeping, right?"
"I know, Harry, but I just needed to kiss you once before leaving," Draco said, placing a gentle kiss on Harry's forehead. "Come home to me."
"Draco," Harry whispered. "Get me out of here. Please."
"I will --"
"Harry? Harry, is something wrong?" Harry's body stiffened, as the sound of Ginny's voice came from everywhere, attacking Draco's senses. Oh, God, she's in his room!
"Harry, use your magic!" Draco called as he let go. Harry was slipping away from him, their bedroom disappeared, and he was left in darkness once again. "Use your magic!" he called one last time before Harry disappeared.
Draco turned to leave, to go home, to wait. It was then that he realized he hadn't ended the spell. Frantically, he called out, "Expedio Praesentia!"
His eyes opened, and Draco was back in his flat, lying on the bed, Snape and Hermione staring at him.
"Shit!" he called as he got up from the bed and started pacing. "Shit, shit, shit!"
"Didn't it work?" Hermione asked. "It sounded like it worked. It sounded like you were talking to Harry."
"Oh, it worked alright. Maybe too well."
"What do you mean?" Snape asked.
"I mean that my worst fear came true." He stared wide-eyed at the two of them. "Ginny walked in."
"But we heard you say the counter-spell," Hermione tried to reassure him.
"But he was gone already. He had woken up. I don't know if I released his mind soon enough."
The look of horror on Hermione's and Snape's faces did nothing to make him feel any better.
Part 15
Author: sesheta_66
Rating: 14A
Word Count: ~ 3550
Pairing/Characters: Harry/Draco, Hermione
Challenge: AWDT's prompt of "You do realize I am still sleeping" and 100quills prompt 033 - "Midnight"
Warnings: No beta. Please point out any errors you find.
Summary: The potion is ready, and so is Draco.
Disclaimer: The characters contained herein are not mine. They belong to JK Rowling and her publishers. No money is being made from this fiction, which is presented for entertainment purposes only.
Earlier Parts:
Part 1 - A Valentine Surprise
Part 2 - The Plan
Part 3 - Without a Trace
Part 4 - A Beautiful Lie
Part 5 - Whatever It Takes
Part 6 - The Best Laid Plans
Part 7 - At His Wit's End
Part 8 - Last Hope
Part 9 - A Troubled Mind
Part 10 - A Mind at Rest
Part 11 - On the Edge
Part 12 - What Friends Are For
Part 13 - Running Out of Time
Part 14 - Making a Connection:
"Focus on the target."
"Don't dwell on the feeling."
Draco braced himself as Snape and Hermione continued to give him advice.
"It says here that you may feel a surge of adrenaline," Hermione said, reading from the potions book.
"You may feel euphoric," Snape added.
"It can also resemble a hormonal surge, so you could become aggressive or angry."
"Stop it!" Draco yelled. They both fell silent. He had never spoken to Snape in that manner before, but really -- the two of them were going to drive him crazy. "Thank you."
"We were just --" Hermione began.
"Yes, I know what you were just doing, and I appreciate it. Really I do. But you aren't telling me anything we haven't already discussed ad nauseum. I am well aware of the risks. This potion has been used only sparingly over the years, and there is no definitive clinical data on its effects. Some have adverse reactions, violent even, while others fall ill, and others adapt. The risk of addiction is strong, even with one use, because of the overwhelming surge of raw power that is the result of taking it. A weak mind is at much higher risk."
He stopped to flash a smile at the two of them. "There. Have I covered everything?"
They both nodded, and he continued. "I am confident that my mind is strong enough not to fall prey to the addictive nature of this potion, at least not after only one use. Furthermore, I believe that my motivation to reach Harry is fierce enough to prevent me getting distracted by whatever sensations flow through me."
"I do not doubt your determination, Draco," Snape said, not unkindly. "I merely wish to prepare you for the effects and side effects in the best way I can. It is, after all, dark magic we are using here."
"I know, Severus, and I appreciate it. I just don't want to waste any more time talking about it."
"Understandable."
"Now, the spell," Hermione said, turning to the correct page in the book.
"That is what worries me," said Draco, apprehension evident in his voice. "I am concerned about leaving Harry's mind open to suggestion."
"You just have to find him, open his mind, ensure you communicate the importance of your suggestion, repeat it many times, close his mind and retreat."
"Well, when you put it that way, Hermione, I have no idea why I'm nervous. It seems to be quite straight forward." He hadn't meant for his tone to be quite so cutting, but Hermione seemed to take it in stride, rolling her eyes at him. "While this does sound great in principle, my concern isn't so much my ability to carry out the task at hand, but rather my inability to control outside forces."
"For instance?" Severus asked. Draco had forgotten that he had not been privy to his and Hermione's earlier discussions on the subject.
"For instance, what if Harry senses my presence and shuts down?"
"That is always possible. You would just have to try again."
"Come on, Severus. You know Harry. If he senses something's wrong, he will be on guard from that point on. I have one shot at this, because he will ensure it can't happen twice."
"But if he senses it, if he suspects something," Hermione put in, "you can't lie to him. Better that he knows what you're doing but knows it really is you, and that you had no alternative."
"True, on both counts," Snape agreed. "So you'd best be able to convey your message in a timely manner."
"Time. That's another factor I cannot control. What if he's in a different time zone and he isn't asleep when I try?"
"It's a risk we have to take," Hermione said. "You know that. It's well past midnight here. There's nothing more we can do."
"Right. So that leaves my biggest concern. What if Ginny walks in? What if his mind is wide open, and Ginny comes in? I could be making things so much worse for him."
"Then you need to be sure he understands that it is you communicating with him, you trying to help him, you that will eventually rescue him," explained Snape. "Other than that, you cannot control what happens there."
"Moreover," Hermione reasoned, "I don't believe it could get worse for Harry than it is already. This whole thing is a calculated risk, but it's the best -- no, it's the only hope we have."
"Very well then. Let's get on with this," Draco urged, his confident voice belying his feelings of anxiety and dread.
"The potion will take ten minutes to reach its most effective state, which will last for approximately one hour. You need to find Harry by then," Hermione instructed. "Remember to first adjust to the feeling by taking deep, calming breaths. Then as the potion reaches its peak, you need to focus on locating Harry."
She brought a book over, and placed it in front of Draco. "Cast the spell and use it to feel Harry's presence. Imagine him with you, surrounding you. Feel his pulse beating, his breath becoming one with your own."
"Once you have located him," Snape interjected, "cast the second spell to open his mind. Similar to Legilimancy, you will need to bore into his thoughts, but more subtly so that he is not immediately aware of your presence." He paused, seeming to ponder what he was about to say. "Create a vision, a dream if you will, in which you are both players. I realize that time is of the essence here, Draco, but as you so aptly put it, you have only one chance to do this, so do it right. An abrupt presence could shock him and cause him to pull back and close off his mind. Take your time, be cautious, and be gentle with him. You don't want to do any damage."
"Once you have his attention, mention wandless magic. Tell him we can find him if he uses it. Tell him again and again and again," Hermione directed. "A single thought spoken once will be forgotten, lost to the subconscious. You need to project the message clearly, decisively, and repeatedly. You can do wandless magic. You must do wandless magic. We will rescue you if you do wandless magic. Use the phrase every opportunity you get. Drill it into his head, but do it as subtly as you can, so he doesn't get suspicious and shut down."
"Right. Subtle as a hippogriff in a crystal ball shop. I've got it. Now let's get on with this."
Hermione rolled her eyes at his analogy. "Get yourself settled. If you are lying down, you can relax more, and it should make focussing that much easier. Just remember that we're here, but we won't be speaking to you or to each other, so we don't break your concentration. We will take notes, in case you say or do anything that might be important."
Draco smiled. "Yes, Hermione." She was so predictable. "And I'm sure this won't be something for your future research."
Hermione returned the smile, having the decency to blush. "Well, you know, there exists no documented data on the potion or either of the spells you will be using. We shouldn't waste the opportunity."
"Miss Granger is quite correct, Draco. I too will be monitoring your progress and taking notes. But most of all, I will be ensuring that you do not suffer any ill effects from the potion. I realize we have already stressed this point, but I feel the need to repeat it to you one last time. You are about to use very strong dark magic, and use of that is always accompanied by a high level of risk. Because we are using unconventional means, we have not informed anyone else of what you are going to attempt. So I will be the one ensuring your health is not compromised. At the first sign of distress, I will act."
No, Severus! Harry needs me. I ... we are his only hope. Don't do anything right away. I can take a lot. Believe me, continuing to live without Harry, knowing that he's being held against his will, would be much worse than anything this potion could do to me." At Severus' dubious look, he continued. "Seriously. I am a healthy, young wizard. I can withstand more than you think."
"Nevertheless, Draco, I cannot in good conscience let you injure yourself."
"Just promise me you won't extract me prematurely." He looked imploringly at his mentor. "Please, Severus," he begged.
"Very well. I shall not act hastily. But know this, Draco. If I am to choose between yours and Mr. Potter's lives, I will choose yours."
Draco didn't like hearing that, but he understood. Draco would choose Harry over anyone else, without question. Since Severus had no children, nor anyone of significance in his life, Draco suspected that he held the top position in Severus' heart. He nodded his acknowledgement and took his place on the bed.
"Bottom's up!" he said in an artificially jovial tone, as he drank the foul tasting potion. Why is it that potions always taste so awful? He needed to project confidence. He only wished that he felt as confident as he appeared. He knew that he was a powerful wizard in his own right, and that the bond between Harry and him was very strong. But he still had doubts. Pushing them out of his mind, he willed himself to focus, and lied down. Breathe ... breathe ... breathe.
As the potion made its way into his stomach, Draco felt a burning, not unlike the sensation when drinking Pepper-Up Potion or a large shot of Firewhisky. Once it reached his stomach, however, the effects were unlike those of anything he had taken before.
The burning heat seemed to multiply and spread. Fire surged from his stomach outwards to his extremities in waves that echoed his heartbeat. He could feel his blood pumping through his veins. Sweat was seeping from every pore on his body, but provided no relief, the heat still coursing through him. His breathing was coming erratically now, and Severus' face registered concern.
"I'm fine," Draco managed to choke out. Hermione looked frightened. Severus looked serious. "Could use ... glass of water, please."
Hermione handed him a glass of water. "Sip it slowly, and then lie down again."
Doing as Hermione had instructed, Draco drank the water slowly, marvelling at the instant cooling sensation that flowed through him, as though it were quenching the fire within. "Much better," he said as he lied down. "Thank you."
"Are you really feeling alright, Draco?" Snape's concern resonated in his words.
"Yes, actually. The water helped."
"Well, your colour seems to be going back to normal." Snape looked a little less worried.
Draco closed his eyes and focussed on breathing. In ... out ... blood pumping. In ... out ... blood pumping. The surging heat had relented, but he could still feel the blood coursing through his veins. If power could be manifested physically, Draco imaged that this was how it would feel.
Over the next five minutes, Draco maintained steady breathing, and he continued to have a sense that he was feeling his blood flow, only now he felt something else, something that seemed to reverberate throughout his entire body. It gave Draco the sense that his magic was enhanced and pulsing. He felt an overwhelming sense of energy. It felt good. Really good. He wondered briefly if this was what it felt like to be Harry, the most powerful wizard in the world.
"How are you feeling?" Snape asked.
"Powerful," Draco answered. He couldn't think of any other way to describe it. "Very powerful."
"Ready?" Hermione interrupted his thoughts.
"Ready."
Draco picked up his wand, and muttered, "Invenio Animus," resting his head on the pillow. He closed his eyes, picturing Harry's face. He felt a pull similar to that of a portkey activating, and his body felt as though it were lurching forward. In the darkness, he saw shadows of light racing past him, all around him.
He opened his eyes and he was back in the room, looking into Hermione's face which was leaning over him, entirely too close. "Geez, Hermione!" he yelled. "Get back!"
"Sorry about that," she said sheepishly, pulling back. "What happened?"
"I saw darkness, then shapes swirling past and around me."
"Ahem," Snape interrupted. "While I am sure this is fascinating, hadn't you better get back to it?"
"Oh, right. Sorry. It was just unnerving with everything swirling around me, and I opened my eyes and ... never mind."
He closed his eyes and was immediately surrounded by whirling shapes again, though he seemed to be stationary this time. The sound of muffled voices, as though caught in the wind, filled his ears, his head. He couldn't make out anything clearly, but somehow he knew these were voices, or perhaps thoughts. Ignoring the temptation to decipher what the disembodied voices were saying, Draco once again focussed on Harry. Instantly he felt himself propelled forward, the shapes and sounds whizzing past him at break-neck speed. Harry ... I'm coming for you, Harry.
Then he came to an abrupt stop, convinced he would have had a case of whiplash had this happened on the physical plane. There was silence and darkness. No shapes, no sounds, no movement. Draco wondered if this was what being inside a vacuum would be like.
"Harry?" he said, his voice barely above a whisper. At least it felt like he was actually saying the words. It felt oddly like he was in a dream. In his throat, he could feel the reverberation of his own voice, and when he pressed his hands together he could feel the sensation. This is so strange.
"Harry," he said again, this time at normal volume. "Harry, it's me. It's Draco. I've come to help you." Silence. "Harry, where are you?"
"Draco?" he heard from ... everywhere. Harry's voice was coming from all around him. He couldn't tell where Harry was, though the voice was most certainly Harry's, and it hadn't echoed. It was just everywhere. It was rather disorienting.
"Yes, Harry, I'm here. It's me, Draco."
"But how can you be here?" The voice continued to come from all around Draco, and there was no sign of Harry's presence. "Where is here?"
"I am here because I willed myself to find you. I used a spell to help me find you. I think we are in your dream, in your mind. But it seems so ... empty. I'm not sure why that is."
"I've had some nightmares, so I took a dreamless sleep potion. Only a little bit, but ... "
"That must be it, then," Draco said, finding the vacant surroundings unnerving.
"Then how --" Harry began, stopping abruptly. Draco felt pressure coming from all sides suddenly, as though the air around him was compressing his 'body'.
"Harry, wait!" he called. "Don't push me away! Don't close off your mind, please," Draco begged, realising what was happening. He also felt a wave of power pressing outward from his own 'body', no doubt thanks to the potion.
"How are you doing that?" Harry asked.
"Harry, listen to me please."
"How do I know it's you? Draco has never been able to push through my defences before. Who are you really?"
"It's really me, Harry. And I've never actually tried to push through your defences before." Draco didn't know if it would work, but he closed his 'eyes' and thought about their bedroom, every detail. He tried to visualize the room around him, and when he opened his 'eyes', he was standing in what seemed to be a perfect replica of their room. He smiled as he looked around for Harry, who was still nowhere to be seen. "There. Do you believe me now? How many people could replicate our room exactly, down to every detail?"
"I don't know how you could do this," Harry said. "This is some sort of cruel joke. You're messing with my mind." Draco could feel the pressure of Harry trying to close off his mind, and again he pushed back.
Suddenly he remembered the spell that he should have cast already. "Attero Praesentia," he said quietly. At once, the pressure subsided.
"What did you do?" Harry asked, sounding weak and a bit frightened.
"It's a spell to open your mind, Harry. I am only using it to help you. I love you, Harry. I need you back. Come back to me. Use your magic to come back to me."
"You're messing with my mind. Draco would never mess with my mind. Who are you and why are you doing this?" He sounded angry, although his voice still sounded weak. Since this was all in Harry's mind, after all, it made sense that his presence would be weakened if his mind was.
"You're right Harry. I would never mess with your mind. And that's not what I'm trying to do. I'm just trying to communicate with you. You need to use your magic. We can't find you. We've tried everything. There is no trace of you or Ginny." He practically spit out her name. Apparently that clinched it.
"Draco?" Through the darkness emerged Harry -- or the image of him anyway.
Whatever it was, it warmed Draco's heart, and he beamed. He reached out and touched Harry's cheek with his hand. It felt like Harry. He caressed the familiar curves of Harry's face and neck, and watched as Harry's eyes closed and he leaned his face into Draco's hand.
"Use your magic, Harry. Please. We need to find you."
"But my wand is gone. She took it." He sounded almost ashamed. "I'm so sorry I didn't believe you, Draco."
"Harry, listen to me. Don't think about that now. We don't have much time. Come back to me. Use your magic. Wandless magic, Harry."
"But it doesn't work. I've tried."
Draco's heart sank at Harry's words. "You've tried?"
"Yes, and I can't even get an Accio to work."
"But you've done it before. I know you have. You are the most powerful wizard in the world, Harry. You must be able to do it."
"The only time it works is if I'm upset, angry or scared. And even then it's out of control. I can't focus the magic."
Draco felt a surge of relief. "Then don't focus it, Harry. We don't need you to do a particular spell. We just need it to be strong enough magic sustained for long enough for us to trace it. Use wandless magic. Let it go out of control. Wild magic is perfect."
"But what if I hurt --"
"If you dare say that bitch's name, and tell me that you don't want to hurt her, you'd better prepare for some serious therapy when you do get home."
"I'm sorry. It's just that she's not well, Draco."
"Obviously. But that doesn't mean I have to protect her. And it sure as hell doesn't mean that you should give a shit about her, when she's held you captive for months. Months, Harry. It's been months since I've been able to see you, touch you, taste you. Gods, Harry, you need to come home now."
"Now?"
"Yes. Wake up and use your magic. Let it go crazy, and let me come get you. Please, Harry."
"You won't hurt her, will you?"
Draco looked at Harry's imploring look, and his resolve crumbled. "I will not lay a hand on her, nor will I cast a spell on her, nor will I feed her any potion. Now come home to me."
"Okay."
"But first, come here." He pulled Harry into his arms. He knew this wasn't really Harry, but he didn't care. It was the essence of him, and it had been so long ...
Draco pressed his lips against Harry's, letting his tongue trace a path along his lower lip. He felt Harry shiver as his breath caught. He plunged his tongue into Harry's accepting mouth, and he knew he was home. Harry tasted the same, felt the same, smelled the same, even in this place. He pressed his body against Harry's, and felt their erections rubbing against each other, both of them longing for more, needing more.
Pulling back for a breath, Harry stated the obvious. "You do realize I'm still sleeping, right?"
"I know, Harry, but I just needed to kiss you once before leaving," Draco said, placing a gentle kiss on Harry's forehead. "Come home to me."
"Draco," Harry whispered. "Get me out of here. Please."
"I will --"
"Harry? Harry, is something wrong?" Harry's body stiffened, as the sound of Ginny's voice came from everywhere, attacking Draco's senses. Oh, God, she's in his room!
"Harry, use your magic!" Draco called as he let go. Harry was slipping away from him, their bedroom disappeared, and he was left in darkness once again. "Use your magic!" he called one last time before Harry disappeared.
Draco turned to leave, to go home, to wait. It was then that he realized he hadn't ended the spell. Frantically, he called out, "Expedio Praesentia!"
His eyes opened, and Draco was back in his flat, lying on the bed, Snape and Hermione staring at him.
"Shit!" he called as he got up from the bed and started pacing. "Shit, shit, shit!"
"Didn't it work?" Hermione asked. "It sounded like it worked. It sounded like you were talking to Harry."
"Oh, it worked alright. Maybe too well."
"What do you mean?" Snape asked.
"I mean that my worst fear came true." He stared wide-eyed at the two of them. "Ginny walked in."
"But we heard you say the counter-spell," Hermione tried to reassure him.
"But he was gone already. He had woken up. I don't know if I released his mind soon enough."
The look of horror on Hermione's and Snape's faces did nothing to make him feel any better.
Part 15