Temporal Transference

As Harry sat in the backseat of the Dursley's car beside his cousin Dudley, watching the houses and trees blur past, he couldn't shake the odd feeling that he felt. It was the fourth time in the last three months that he found himself in this situation, yet it felt entirely new to him. In all his ten years living with the Dursleys, he had never been allowed in the car before. It was a stark reminder of how much the Dursleys despised magic, willing to make exceptions only when it meant escaping from its influence and preventing Harry from learning his true identity.It was some what ironic that they were now escorting him to Kingscross station,even though they were going anyway to get Dudley's tail removed( something that somewhat amused Harry but he also partly felt it was unfair fore Dudley as it was Vernon who had angered Hagrid).

But he wasn't thinking about that now.What occupied his mind since morning was the Strange dream he had was having before Aunt Petunia's shrill voice woke him up. Harry was bit surprised to realize that he had gone back to sleep after waking up so early.Beside him lay a copy of the book 'Alice in Wonderland' .One of Dudley's book that he got for his sixth birthday but never read. So it joined the shelves of books he never read. He hadn't been able to sleep properly the previous night in excitement.When he woke up today his bedside clock showed that it was only 5 in the morning,still two hours before the Dursleys would be up.Too excited to go back to sleep Harry got up,brushed his teeth,showered and rechecked that he had packed everything into his trunk and gave Hedwig some owl treats.He looked at his watch,5:50.

Unsure on how else to occupy himself Harry looked through the dust covered books in the shelves for something to read.This particular book however drew his attention,Partly as how he felt it reflected his current situation,he was entering a wonderland-a real one at that.But mostly because Harry had never gotten around to reading popular children's classics.So he laid down on his bed and began reading ,he doesn't know when he went to sleep but the next thing he knew was Aunt Petunia's voice shouting to at him to get the breakfast.

Harry laid back against his seat and closed his eyes.He remembered the details of the dream with vivid clarity.

He and Uncle Vernon were at the station,Vernon was even pushing his trunk for him.And then he stopped dead.He looked at Harry gleefully and said,"Well there's platform 9 and there's 10.Your's should be somewhere in between no ?Doesn't seem like they built it yet."he laughed.

He was right of course.Harry could not see a Platform nine and three quarters."Have a nice term."Vernon laughed as he left leaving a behind Harry who was growing more and more panicked with each passing second.He tried asking a station guard  who grew irritated ,after Harry spent five minutes trying to ineffectually explain which train he was looking for,and went away muttering about time wasters.Harry had given up at this point,he realized Hagrid must have forgotten to tell him something important.And then he heard it.

"...packed with muggles as usual." A plump woman with fiery red hair and a kind face,was was talking too a girl who looked a little younger than him and who also had red hair.And following them were a group of red headed boys of various ages.He doesn't no why but he felt a deep sense of yearning for them.Like they were the family he never had.

One by one harry saw the brothers disappear suddenly behind the stretch of wall between platforms nine and ten and finally only the the woman,the girl and what appeared to be the youngest boy were left.Making up his mind he approached them."Excuse me," Harry said, his voice tentative as he approached the group. "Could you please tell me how to get to the platform?"

"Of course, dear," the woman replied, her smile warm and welcoming. "You just have to pass through that wall between the two platforms. Best to do it at a run if you're nervous. First time? It's Ron's first time too.""She pointed at the boy.He was tall for his age and had blue eyes.His face was freckled.....and had a black smudge on his nose.Harry smiled  at him and he smiled back.Harry felt that they might become good friends.

"Good luck."Said the girl,Ginny was it ?,and he felt a sudden warmth in his chest.He didn't know why but trusted this family completely.He took a position and began running towards the wall at full speed.The rational part of him knew that he wouldn't crash ,he just saw the brothers disappearing,but a larger part of him waited for the crash.He closed his eyes shut and waited for the impact....it never came.Instead Harry was standing on a platform.....But why was it so empty?White light filtered into the platform from everywhere.

The sign confirmed that he was at the right place but there was not sign of a train.Hell! There were no people at all.Was there sort of mistake ?He didn't think the woman was lying.So...where was he ?Suddenly he realized he was no longer wearing the clothes he was previously,instead he was wearing robes.And why did the floor seem so much lower than it did before ?

And then he jumped.He heard a moan of pain coming from beneath a bench.He looked down and recoiled at the sight of a very ugly,but severely hurt....creature?Surely that can't be called a human baby.

"You,cannot,help."

He looked up and was surprised to to see he no longer was alone.In front of him stood a man.A very old man with long white hair,flowing white beard and a crooked nose.But his eyes were vibrant and full of life.He was wearing robes of midnight blue.Harry was really glad to see the man.For some reason he knew that this man can fix whatever went wrong.He felt relived.But a part of his heart also felt constricted as if this man was some long lost friend.

The man smiled at him,Pride reflected in his eyes.

"Harry.",He,spread his arms wide and,his,hands,were,both,whole,and,white and
undamaged.(Harry wondered why that thought came to his mind.),

"You,wonderful,boy.,You,brave,,brave,man.Let us walk."

Harry felt a surge of emotion as he looked into the man's eyes, a sense of recognition stirring within him.

And then he woke up,all thanks to aunt Petunia.He realized beads of sweat had formed on is forehead even though it wasn't particularly hot.

They were approaching the Kingscross station now.. He watched as the bustling crowds grew larger with each passing moment, the station looming closer and closer. As the car slowed to a stop, Harry felt a mix of anticipation and apprehension building within him.With a heavy sigh, he unbuckled his seat-belt and opened the door, the cool air of the station hitting him in the face. Stepping out onto the pavement, he took a moment to glance around, his eyes scanning the busy scene before him. Commuters hurried past, dragging their suitcases behind them, while families lingered near the entrance, saying their goodbyes amidst hugs and tears.Vernon got down as well."Well, here we are then," Uncle Vernon's voice broke the silence, his tone lacking its usual edge. "Better get your things, boy. No dawdling now."For some reason he wheeled Harry's trunk into the station,and then he stopped.He looked at Harry gleefully and said,"Well there's platform 9 and there's 10.Your's should be somewhere in between no? Doesn't seem like they built it yet."he laughed.

He was right of-course.Harry was suddenly felling a horrible sense of  Deja vu.

"Have a nice term."Vernon laughed as he left.Leaving Harry at a loss for what to do .He tried asking the station guard and got the same response.He looked at the wall between the platforms nine and ten.For some strange reason everything was playing according to his dream.What's the harm in trying to get through the wall.But then again, he reached some odd place last time.He looked at his watch,10:40.He has twenty minutes.... and he has to lug his trunk into the train,no point delaying.He positioned himself and began running towards the barrier.And then he heard it .

"...Packed with muggles as always."

Harry whipped his head around,still running and saw the family...just like in his dream.And then Harry passed through the barrier.

When he opened his eyes he was left awestruck.He was at the right place this,standing in front of him.Standing in front of him was a majestic scarlet train,the smoke from which filled the platform. Hundreds of people were on the platform itself. Some of the students were already in school robes others were talking to their family for the last time.Many were boarding the train.He better find himself a seat.

Harry was right,he and Ron became friends almost immediately.Like it was the most natural thing in the world.They talked as the scenery outside the window changed from cityscape to grassy meadows and countryside.It seemed Ron found Harry as interesting as he found Ron.After some of the initial shock wore of when he learned that he indeed was Harry Potter,Ron treated him like any other person.Which was nice,he didn't want to be treated like some celebrity which felt odd back in Leaky cauldron.

Ron told him all about his brothers and Harry was fascinated at the type of jobs Wizards did after completing school.Bill the eldest of the seven Weasley siblings worked with the Gringotts bank and was currently in Egypt on a  project on curse breaking.And Charlie was in Romania working in a Dragon emporium.

"Wow" said Harry,"I wish I had some wizard siblings."

"Six."said Ron,for some reason he didn't look very happy."And when you are the youngest one it isn't very fun.Bill was Head boy during his time and charlie was the Quiddich captain.And now Percy is a prefect.Fred and George mess around a lot but they get really good grades and people think they are really funny.People want me to do well too but if I do it it wouldn't matter that much as they did it first."Ron sighed,"Also with five brothers you never get anything new I mean I got Bill's old robes,Charlie's wand and Percy's rat.Percy got new robes an owl for being made a prefect but mum and dad couldn't aff-I mean I got stuck with Scabbers instead."

He pulled out his rat from his pocket.It seemed he was sleeping,"All he does is sleep all day.Fred Gave me a spell the other day to turn him Yellow.Wanna see?It's probably a fake tough."He said pulling out his wand. Something white was shining at the end of the wand's handle.Unicorn air as  Ron explained.

"Doesn't matter Ron.Let's see it." said Harry eager to see more magic and also to lift Ron's mood.

But suddenly the door to their compartment opened and a girl with busy brown hair and and hazel eyes.She was already wearing the school uniform."Well excuse me,"she said in a bossy sort of voice,"But has anyone of you seen a toad. Neville here as lost his."She pointed at the round faced boy they met earlier.

"No we didn't. We already told him."said Ron somewhat irritably. Hermione nodded and was about to leave but noticed Ron holding a wand.

"Oh are you doing magic?"She asked excitedly."Let's see it then."

Ron looked a bit unnerved but cleared his throat and pointed the wand at Scabbers,and pronounced clearly,

"Sunshine,Daisies,butter mellow,

Turn this stupid fat rat yellow"

All of them looked carefully at Scabbers,waiting for something to happen.But nothing did.It was all very anti-climatic.

"Well,"said Hermione,"It not very good is it ?I have tried some simple ones and they all work.I am Hermione Granger by the way and you are...?"she said all this very quickly.

"I am Ron Weasley."Ron replied

"I am Harry Potter."Said Harry.

Hermione's eyes widened,"You...are Harry Potter?I have read every thing about you! You are in 'Rise and Fall of Dark arts','Modern Magical History', Great Wizarding Events of the Twentieth Century.”' she said excitedly.

"Oh,Am I?" Harry asked dubiously.

"Goodness, didn’t you know, I’d have found out everything I could if it was me,” said Hermione.

At the very moment a smiling trolley appeared near the door causing Neville to enter the compartment  to make space.Harry Who was very hungry imidiately bought a lot of very interesting looking snacks from the lady and paid a galleon for them.

"Well Hemione why don't you join us for lunch?You too Neville please have a seat."Harry pointed at the empty seats across them.They didn't refuse and soon enough they were making their way through each snack.Ron and Neville explaining Harry and Hermione what each snack was.Eating the Bertie bott's every flavour beans were fun if a little risky due to their odd flavour range.The cauldron cakes were tasty and so were the liquorice wands.Finally came the chocolate frogs,something Ron was very eager to dig into.

"The come with come with these collectible cards." He said through a mouthful of cake which earned a disgusted look from Hermione."Each depicts a famous witch or wizard.I am missing Agrippa...can I try one?I might get it this time."

Harry broke into one himself and after eating the chocolate pulled out the card...and nearly choked on his chocolate.Staring out of the card and smiling at him was that old from is dreams.

"You got Albus  Dumbledore, Harry." said Neville with a smile,"It's one of the more famous and common ones.I have about....twenty of him."

"Oh no Morgana ag-what did say."Ron gaped at Neville,"Merlin Neville,yes Dumbledore is common but...Twenty?! I only have five of him.:"Ron grinned,"You must have a sweet toot mate."

Neville for some reason looked very uncomfortable and Harry had a sudden feeling that they might be close to intruding on something private,so he changed the topic.

"So...this Dumbledore,is he a really great wizard?" He asked.And he felt stupid as three pairs of bewildered eyes fell on him.

"Harry,"said Hermione slowly as if dealing wit an amnesiac patient." Professor Dumbledore is quiet possibly the greatest wizard to ever live.And,he will also be our headmaster at Hogwarts.Don't tell me you didn't read the number of titles he holds from the letter from school."

"Just turn over the card mate."Said Ron.And so Harry did,it read:

Considered by many the greatest wizard of modern times, Dumbledore is particularly famous for his defeat of the Dark wizard Grindelwald in 1945, for the discovery of the twelve uses of dragon blood,and his work on alchemy,with his partner, Nicolas Flamel. Professor Dumbledore enjoys chamber music and ten-pin bowling.

Harry flipped back the card.But Dumbledore's portrait was gone!Seeing his surprise Neville kindly explained it to him that wizarding photos are enchanted to move and behave like the person whose photo was clicked.Same applied for portraits.

Suddenly things made sense to Harry.He must have seen Dumbledore's photo somewhere in Diagon Ally.It doesn't explain how he saw the Weasley's but that doesn't matter right now.They were having fun.Ron and Neville tried to explain Harry and Hermione how Quiddich was played.The different teams who played  in the league and the up coming Quiddich star Victor Krum.

And just when Harry was was getting comfortable the door opened and the blond boy Harry met at Madame Malkin's entered.Following him were two thuggish looking boys.The boy looked at the others disdainfully before his eyes fell on Harry.Especially on his scar.

"So,it's true then."He drawled,"People down the train say that Harry potter is sitting in this compartment."He then noticed that Harry was looking at the boys behind him.

"Oh they are Crabbe and Goyle."he said casually."And I am Malfoy.Draco Malfoy."

Ron tried unsuccessfully to cover up a snort.Malfoy glared at him.

"Think my name is funny do you?I know who you are,my father told me all Weasleys have red hair,freckles and more children than they can afford."He smirked as Ron snarled and stood up. Malfoy mere ignored him and looked at Harry."You  will soon see some wizarding families are better than others.You don't want to hang out with the wrong sort,I can help you there."He extended his hand towards Harry.

Harry looked at him coldly and said,"I think I can tell who the wrong sort is for myself."

Malfoy's smile melded into a sneer and a slight pink flush appeared on his cheeks."Careful  Potter.Keep hanging arounf]d with riff raff like Hagrid,Weasleys,Longbottom and no names,and you are set to meet the same sticky end as you parents."

"Get out."Said Harry angrily standing up himself.Behind him Neville and Hermione were also getting up.But it didn't seem to affect Malfoy,who just smirked.

"Oh no we don't feel like leaving do we boys?We ave already finished our food but you seem to have some left."

Goyle reached for a packet of Bertie bots and suddenly yelped in pain. Attached to his,now bloody,finger was Scabbers-Ron's useless rat. Goyle jerked his hand repetedly to shake Scabbers off but it seemed he had Goyle in a death grip. Malfoy drew out is wand but it wasn't needed at-last with a final sake Scabbers flew off from his hand and landed with a thump on the floor.

Malfoy and his cronies left after that.Perhaps they thought there were more Rats lurking among the sweet boxes.Ron looked at Scabbers with disbelief,as he picked him up, that he had gone back to sleep.

"Blimey, what was his problem?" Ron muttered, his brows furrowed in annoyance.

Hermione sighed, adjusting her robes. "Some people just thrive on causing trouble. Best not to give them any attention."

"Well..."said Neville hesitatingly,"His family are not really good people."

"You are being too nice Neville"Ron spat."Did you see the way Malfoy looked at Harry's scar?" He said, his voice low with a mixture of anger and disbelief. "I bet he's just as bad as his father.My dad says, they were right in the inner circle of You-Know-Who. After he disappeared, Malfoy Sr. claimed he was being brainwashed or something. It's all a load of rubbish, of course."

"Oh by the way do you know someone tried to rob Gringotts?"Ron asked.

Hermione furrowed her brow, her expression serious. "That's troubling. Gringotts is supposed to be one of the most secure places in the wizarding world."

Ron nodded in agreement. "Exactly. And to think that someone could breach its defenses... It's unsettling."

"Yeah,Gran did mention something like that."Neville said."Makes people agitated...you know if he is the one behind it all." he finished looking somewhat disturbed.

Ron nodded gravely,"Yes,many believe he is not truly gone at all."

Harry and Hermione took all that in with a grave expressions.Perhaps it was a part of entering the wizarding world but every time Voldemort was mentioned Harry felt a prickle of fear.

They all chatted Idly after that,most of it was to give Harry a crash course on the wizarding world.When the topic of houses came up both Ron and Neville seemed subdued.Both seemed worried they might get put in the something other than Griffindor,the house all of their families were from. Hermione too seemed inclined for Gryffindor although she could settle for Ravenclaw.

After a while Hermione and Neville left to get their stuff in order,as the train neared Hogsmede station,leaving Harry and Ron to get dressed in their robes.

The first view of Hogwarts from the boats had left Harry in awe, a feeling that persisted as they climbed the stone steps to a door where Hagrid handed them over to a stern-looking woman with her hair done up in a bun.he led them to a sort of empty hall, explaining how the points system worked and that they were about to be sorted.Which brings Harry to his current predicament-the absolute terror of his sorting going wrong.

One by one, he watched his peers getting sorted. Hermione went to Gryffindor, and Neville followed, though he made a small scene when he ran towards the house table with the hat still on. Draco Malfoy got his wish to be sorted into Slytherin immediately. Harry noticed that the hat took different times to sort different people. Hermione's took a while, while Malfoy was sorted immediately. Finally, it was his turn.

"Potter,Harry!" called out Professor Mcgonnagal.

Harry walked forward as a hushed silence fell around them, whispers rippling through the crowd.

"-Potter did she say?"

"The Harry Potter?"

Harry sat on the three-legged stool, the crowd's excited whispers buzzing in his ears. The Sorting Hat was placed on his head, and everything went dark.

"Hmm, difficult. VERY difficult."suddenly a voice spoke in his head and he was somewhat startled to realize it was the hat.

"Plenty of courage, I see. Not a bad mind, either. There's talent, oh yes. And a thirst to prove yourself. But where to put you?"

"Not Slytherin"Harry thought,having no desire to be in the same house as Malfoy or Voldemort.

"Not Slytherin, eh? Are you sure? You could be great, you know. It's all here in your head. And Slytherin will help you on the way to greatness"

"-but....there's something else about you too Potter."the Hat's voice echoed in Harry's mind, its tone grave and contemplative. "There's something else about you, something... intriguing. It's as if you're bound by fate, destined for Gryffindor to fulfill a greater purpose. You're not the only one facing this predicament today, you know. You're the third I've encountered with such a unique aura."

"Huh?What do you mean?" Harry asked confused and flummoxed.

"That you would have to figure out on your own Potter.But some mysteries are best left to unfold in time. Just know that Gryffindor will provide you with the courage and strength you need for the journey ahead.For now,better be... GRYFFINDOR!" the hat shouted the last part out for every one to hear.

With those enigmatic words lingering in his mind, Harry slowly removed the Sorting Hat from his head, a sense of anticipation and uncertainty swirling within him,he made his way to the Gryffindor table, the Hat's cryptic message replayed in his thoughts, leaving him to ponder the deeper meaning behind his placement in the house of bravery. He didn't notice that he was getting the loudest cheer yet. The hat's words still drifting through his head.It reminded him of what Olivanders said to him a month ago.But he put those thoughts aside as he shook Percy's hand as he welcomed him.Shortly after Ron too was sorted in Gryffindor and as the sorting wrapped up Professor Dumbledore stood up and said,

"Welcome," he said. "Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Before we begin
our banquet, I would like to say a few words. And here they are: Nitwit!
Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!
"Thank you!"

"What an odd thing to say," Harry wondered if the headmaster was a bit mad, but that thought was soon driven away as plates of food appeared in front of them, and Harry realized how hungry he was. The dinner passed quite amicably. Seamus, Dean, and Neville were talking about their families, while Hermione was discussing lessons with Percy. The ghosts showed up again to entertain them. Overall, it was one of the best nights that Harry had ever experienced. Even the warning that Dumbledore issued at the end of the feast to never visit the third-floor corridor couldn't dampen his spirits.

After dinner, the tired first years were led to their common room by Percy. From the common room, they took the stairs to their dormitory. Harry found his trunk placed beneath a four-poster bed with his name on it. He quickly changed into his pajamas, with Ron doing the same beside him, and Neville gingerly applying some sort of bruise-removing paste on his head where Peeves had dropped a bunch of walking sticks on him. At last, he laid down on the bed, which was far more comfortable than the cupboard under the stairs or indeed the bed in Dudley's second bedroom.

As Harry lay there, his mind buzzing with the events of the day, Ron piped up from the neighboring bed. "Hey, Harry, can you believe we're actually here? At Hogwarts! And in Gryffindor no less! This is amazing!"

"Yeah," Harry replied, a grin spreading across his face. "It's incredible, isn't it? I never thought I'd end up here."

Neville, overhearing their conversation, chimed in nervously, "I-I hope I can live up to Gryffindor's expectations. I don't feel very brave right now."

"Don't worry, Neville," Ron reassured him. "You'll do fine. We're all in the same boat, aren't we, Harry?"

Harry nodded, feeling a sense of camaraderie with his new housemates. Despite the uncertainty of what lay ahead, he couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement for the adventures that awaited him at Hogwarts. With that comforting thought, he drifted off to sleep, the sounds of his dormmates' chatter lulling him into a peaceful slumber.And even though he would go on to have a slightly disturbing,if brief,dream about Quirrell's turban and the mysterious Professor Snape. Harry potter ad the best sleep he had in a long long while.

In the other part of the castle, in the dungeon, Draco Malfoy couldn't sleep. Why did the dormitory mattress have to be so hard? They were not at all as soft as the ones at his home. He shifted uncomfortably, the unfamiliarity of his surroundings adding to his restlessness.

Despite the bravado he displayed during the day, Draco couldn't shake the feeling of apprehension that gnawed at him now. It was as if the weight of his family's expectations bore down on him, threatening to crush him under its immense pressure. He knew he had to prove himself worthy of the Malfoy name, but the thought of failure loomed large in his mind.

In the dimly lit Slytherin dormitory, Draco Malfoy lay awake, his mind consumed by restless thoughts. The plushness of the mattress beneath him did little to ease his discomfort, serving as a stark reminder of the luxurious comforts of Malfoy Manor. Draco couldn't shake the feeling of unease that gnawed at him.

As he stared up at the canopy above his bed, Draco's thoughts drifted to the events of the evening – the Sorting Ceremony, the whispers of his fellow Slytherins, and the weight of his family's expectations. He couldn't help but feel the burden of his father's legacy pressing down on him, a constant reminder of the path he was expected to follow.He couldn't afford to show any signs of weakness, especially not on his first night at Hogwarts.

In the quiet of the dormitory, Draco's mind began to wander, drifting into a fitful slumber plagued by fragmented dreams and half-formed memories. Images flickered before his eyes – the dark corridors of the manor, the imposing figure of his father, the whispered conversations of Death Eaters.

Then, suddenly, Draco found himself standing in the grand drawing room of Malfoy Manor, the opulence of the surroundings a stark contrast to the simplicity of the Slytherin dormitory. The room glowed with the soft light of flickering candles and the rich hues of velvet tapestries, a testament to the wealth and power of the Malfoy family.

Draco realized he was lucid dreaming.But what an odd and vivid dream.He is so much taller.He looks around,seated on a chair by the table was his father looking Agitated.He looks years older,and his Mother too!She is deatly pale and her eyes has bags underneath them.Just what happened to them.

"Narcissa, who are these intruders?" Draco's father, Lucius Malfoy, spoke with a cold edge to his voice, his silver eyes fixed on the Gryffindor students.

"They say they've captured Potter," Narcissa replied, her tone as icy as her husband's. "Draco, come here."

Narcissa's voice cut through the silence, commanding and cold, as she ushered Harry Potter and his friends into the room. Draco's heart clenched in his chest at the sight of them – the Gryffindors, his rivals, (he doesn't know how he knew it was them,seeing as how these people were basically adults but he knew it,even if Potter's face was horribly swollen)now prisoners in his family's home.

He couldn't bring himself to meet Potter's gaze any longer, couldn't bear to see the defiance in those emerald eyes.The extreme hatred he saw in them.Instead, he kept his distance, his hands clenched at his sides as he struggled to maintain his composure.

"Well, boy?" Greyback's voice was like a growl in the room, sending a chill down Draco's spine. "Is it? Is it Harry Potter?"

Draco's throat felt dry as he struggled to form a response. "I can't— I can't be sure," he stammered, his eyes darting nervously between his father and the Gryffindors.

"But look at him carefully, Draco," Lucius Malfoy insisted, his voice filled with anticipation. "Come closer."

Suddenly, a flash of memory surged through his mind, vivid and overpowering. He saw his mother, her face streaked with tears, seeking solace in his father's embrace. They were alone in their room, their voices hushed in despair as they whispered of their fears and uncertainties. Draco, heard all of it, looking through the kkeyhole,could only watch in silent anguish.

In that moment, a thought pierced through Draco's consciousness, a thought so startling that he could scarcely believe it was his own. They would never be truly happy as long as Voldemort lived. Potter, despite being his enemy, represented their only hope for a future free from fear and oppression.The realization struck him like a bolt of lightning, illuminating the darkness of his doubts and fears.How poetic.

Amidst the turmoil and Draco's thoughts of his family and the fragile bonds that held them together. He grappled with the realization that their happiness was entwined with the fate of the one called Harry Potter.

And as he uttered his final words, a sense of resignation settled over him. "I'm sorry," Draco whispered, his voice barely audible above the din of the room. "I can't remember."

Draco's eyes snapped open, his chest heaving as he gasped for air. A sheen of sweat coated his forehead, his body trembling with residual fear. Disoriented, he fumbled for his watch on the bedside table, his fingers shaking as he grasped the familiar timepiece. The numbers on the watch face glowed softly in the dim light of the Slytherin dormitory, casting an eerie glow on the scene before him.

6 AM.

The realization hit Draco like a ton of bricks, the weight of the early hour adding to his disorientation. He blinked, trying to shake off the remnants of the nightmare that still clung to his consciousness. The memory of the drawing room and the prisoners lingered in his mind, a haunting echo of the past.Except it wasn't the past was it?They looked so much older.

With a shaky exhale, Draco forced himself to sit up, his breathing gradually steadying as he rubbed his eyes wearily. The events of the night before felt like a distant dream, yet the unease that lingered in his chest told him otherwise. He couldn't shake the feeling of foreboding that hung in the air, a sense of impending doom that seemed to follow him even in sleep.

Draco, still drowsy from the restless night, allowed himself to drift back into a fitful slumber. With a determined resolve, he convinced himself that whatever had disturbed him was merely a figment of his imagination, a fleeting nightmare that held no power over him.

As he succumbed to the comforting embrace of sleep, Draco's mind struggled to shake off the lingering unease that had plagued him since his awakening. He clung to the hope that the warmth of his bed would shield him from the shadows that lurked in the recesses of his subconscious.

Yet, even as he slipped into the realm of dreams, a sense of foreboding lingered at the edges of his consciousness. Despite his best efforts to dismiss his fears, Draco couldn't shake the feeling that something sinister loomed on the horizon, waiting to ensnare him in its grasp.

But with a determined resolve, Draco pushed aside his doubts and surrendered himself to the gentle embrace of sleep. In the soft darkness of the dormitory, he sought refuge from the tumultuous thoughts that threatened to overwhelm him, allowing the soothing rhythm of his breathing to guide him into the realm of dreams.