Bleed Me An Ocean

(Christmas Day)

Harry lay diagonaly across their lovely bed, staring at the cracked stone ceiling above him as he tried to shake the dream out of his head, it had been a source of great preoccupation since he\'d woken up. Once again he had dreamt of Draco being swept away in a tidal wave of blood and those words \'Bleed me an ocean\' haunted him endlessly, he could still hear them echoing in his head. It hadn\'t been the first time the dream had reoccurred, either, and that was even worse. He had it at least once a week and it rarely varied. He wondered what it could mean. He\'d thought of mentioning to Draco, then thought better of it.

Speaking of Draco, he was growing steadily more impatient as to where his lover was. Draco had woken shortly after he did that Christmas afternoon and had told him he needed to go and get his present. Harry was anxious to see what it was, but it wasn\'t only that, they each also had several more gifts to open. Much to his surprise, Mrs. Weasley had sent him a gift that year, with a small note attached to it. He had been unable to resist opening the letter and had been pleased to see what it said. Mrs. Weasley had written to him saying that regardless of how Ron may feel about him now, he should know that she and Arthur still thought of him as family and to never forget that. He had grinned foolishly and quickly re-read the letter before stopping Draco on his way out the door to show him. Hugging him tightly, Draco had whispered to him how happy he was that he still had a surrogate family; it was wonderful news. Then he had left, a mischievious sparkle in his eyes, to get Harry\'s gift.

\"Where is he?\" Harry asked the still air of their bedroom. It had been nearly forty-five minutes and he was on the verge of digging out the map and looking for his absentee lover. He resigned to wait until at least an hour had passed. He lasted five more minutes, though. He rose to get the map from the trunk it shared with his cloak. He\'d just lifted the lid when Draco flung the door open, his face flushed as he wrestled with the very noisy box that he barely held onto with one arm.

\"Draco? Where have you been?\" Harry asked, starting toward the tall boy as he hastily slapped the door shut while simultaneously plunking the whining box onto the floor.

\"Just a minute,\" was Draco\'s response as he reset their locking and silencing charms. Finishing his work, he turned to Harry and said, \"Ok. Now you can open it.\"

\"What is it?\" Harry said, giving the box a look that bordered between confusion and curiosity.

\"Open it and see,\" Draco responded, giving Harry a small, insistent push closer.

\"Alright already,\" Harry said, beginning to grin at Draco\'s impatience and barely contained excitement,\"Get your gift, too. It\'s that box there,\" he said, pointing to a large square package wrapped in shiny silver foil paper.

\"Fine, but you really need to open yours before it suffocates,\" Draco spoke as he went to retrieve his own package.

A small mewl from the box reminded Harry that it was definitely a live . . . something . . . in there. The package began to rock back and forth with renewed vigor as he squatted to begin opening it. Sounds of something scrabbling furiously inside made him grin as he started pulling the top flaps open. He had just pulled one half of the top free when a cold, wet, black nose popped through the small opening, sniffing the air questioningly. Seeing that spurred Harry on and he ripped the rest of the lid free, only to be assailed by a furry blur that catapulted into his chest. With a startled yelp, he fell over backwards onto the floor. He closed his eyes, fearing the worst, only to start giggling as wet tongue started licking his face. He opened one eye to glance suspiciously at his furry attacker and when he saw what it was, his other eye flew open, both orbs going wide at the creature standing on his chest. Beautiful amber-gold eyes stared quizzically at him and he felt the slight thump-thump-thump of its wagging tail on his ribs. A wolf. Draco had somehow gotten him a wolf cub for a gift. Harry tentatively reached out a hand to stroke the black face that hovered above his. With a happy whine, the cub lay down, its nose almost touching his chin. Threading his fingers through the downy soft hair, he turned to look at Draco who stood at his head, looking down at the pair.

\"So . . . do you like it?\" he asked anxiously.

\"Of course I like it! I love it, Draco! Gods, he\'s gorgeous!!\" Harry exclaimed,\"How in the world did you manage this?\"

\"I have my ways,\" Draco answered cryptically with a small smile on his lips.

\"I\'ll get it out you one way or another, eventually. But for now I\'m going to let it slide. What should we name him?\" Harry asked, still stroking the wolf\'s pelt. The pup had already fallen asleep and its warmth seeped through Harry\'s shirt; warming his chest.

\"I already named him. His name\'s Dreizehn,\" Draco stated as he sat down beside Harry and started petting the sleeping animal.

\"You named MY wolf?\" Harry said, flabbergasted, although he had to admit - the name was a good one.

\"Well . . . yes . . . Are you mad? Please don\'t be mad,\" Draco begged; his face falling and his eyes growing wide with anxiety.

\"No, I\'m not mad,\" Harry said, patiently soothing the rather high strung blonde,\"Tell me what his name means.\"

\"It\'s German for \'thirteen\',\" Draco told him.

\"You speak German?\" Harry said in surprise, walling his eyes to look at Draco who flushed a little bit.

Recovering himself a bit, Draco looked back at Harry and said,\"Ein bisschen . . . a little.\"

\"Why didn\'t you tell me? That\'s really quite nifty,\" Harry said.

\"I don\'t know, it\'s not like I ever have an occasion to use it,\" Draco shrugged.

Remembering that Draco had still yet to open his gift Harry told him to hurry up and do it. He couldn\'t wait to see his face. The look on Draco\'s face said that he had forgotten about his gift as well and he quickly rose to get it. Harry sat up, cradling a still dozing Dreizehn against him as he watched Draco tear the paper from his package. Finally, Draco stood in a flurry of silver foil looking quizzically at his present. \"Wow, Harry. What is it?\" he asked.

\"You don\'t know what it is? It\'s a Muggle stereo, silly,\" Harry laughed as Draco\'s look of confusion turned to one of delight.

\"Oooh,\" was all he could manage at first, then,\"How\'d you . . .?\"

\"I took Hermione aside and asked her to buy it when she got back to the Muggle world. Knowing how much you seem to like music now, it seemed like a perfect idea. The best part is that she found a spell that makes it work with no electricity or batteries. Which means, it should be ready to use now.\"

\"This is amazing, Harry, thank you so much. You\'re right, it is perfect. I have to try it. Right now. Well, as soon as I figure out how to work it anyway,\" Draco said as he took off to rummage through his cds, then he paused and turned back to Harry and kissed him,\"There. I\'ll give you a more proper thanks later.\"

\"I\'ll help you with all that. Mmm and I can barely stand the wait,\" Harry grinned at him.

Less than an hour later they were in the process of cleaning up the debris left over from opening their presents, one or the other of them occasionally having to pause in their task to chase Dreizehn and pry an errant bow or piece of box out of his mouth. They collapsed on the bed, watching the black wolf cub frolic on the floor with and old shirt of Harry\'s. Turning to Draco, Harry said, \"I starved.\"

\"I\'m thirsty,\" Draco replied.

\"Let me call Dobby and you get the refreshments ready,\" Harry told him.

\"Can do,\" Draco said, yanking open their liquor drawer as Harry yelled the elf\'s name.

\"Merry Christmas Harry Potter and Mr. Malfoy!\" squeaked Dobby happily, that followed shortly after with,\"Ahh! What is this?\"

Harry giggled and Draco smiled as they saw Dreizehn madly tugging on the back of one of Dobby\'s many jumpers. The sound of cloth ripping set the two off into gales of laughter as the small elf flailed madly and swatted at the playful animal. \"Get it off of Dobby!\" he shrieked.

\"Dreizehn! No!\" Harry managed to choke out between giggles.

\"It is not funny Harry Potter,\" Dobby fussed as the wolf reluctantly let him go, a piece of bright blue wool now hanging from his mouth.

\"I\'m sorry, Dobby, I really am,\" Harry told him, sobering a bit,\"He was only playing. I didn\'t mean to let him scare you.\"

\"Where did the mean little thing come from?\" Dobby asked as he fingered the tear in his sweater.

\"Draco gave him to me for Christmas. Isn\'t he cute?\" Harry said.

\"He is,\" Dobby grudgingly agreed,\"But Harry Potter, sir, I do not think you are supposed to have any other pet than what is on the list they give you. If you are caught with the dog, you will be in many troubles.\"

\"He\'s right, Harry,\" Draco spoke,\"I knew it wasn\'t allowed, not really, but I wanted you to have him and, well . . .we can\'t let anyone see him.\"

Exasperated and monumentally disappointed as well, Harry said,\"How do you propose we hide a wolf, Draco? He\'s small now, but they don\'t stay that way. In fact, to the best of my recollection, they can get very big.\"

Clearing his throat nervously, Draco looked at Harry, then at Dobby, then at Harry again before speaking,\"I\'m not sure, but wolves are really intelligent and maybe, I dunno, we can teach him to wear the cloak?\"

\"That\'s ludicrous!\" Harry snapped,\"But we\'ll figure something out, or we\'ll get expelled because I am not giving him up. And that\'s that. Dobby, you won\'t tell anyone will you?\"

The house elf huffed and said,\"Has Dobby ever told one of Harry Potter\'s secrets? No, he has not and he will keep this one, too.\"

\"Thank you, Dobby. I should have known you wouldn\'t tell on us. We need some food, though, could you please bring us some?\"

\"Dobby is pleased to be helpful to Harry Potter. I will be back,\" Dobby squeaked and disapparated.

Shortly thereafter, Dobby returned with their food, including some things for Dreizhen. After telling Dobby farewell and good naturedly ringing the tiny brass bell that hung off one of his multitude of hats, they dismissed him with their wishes for him to have a happy holiday. They settled in to eat, Harry was as ravenous as ever and Draco, though he ate better than he had before, still picked at his food, grousing over \'nasty bits\' like corn and tomato. By the time they were through, there was small pile of unsavory foods piled onto the rim of his plate and Harry was shaking his head, calling him nitpicky and trying not to laugh. Seeing the laughter glinting in his eyes, Draco sighed theatrically and without a word, vanished their dishes back to the kitchen.

All through dinner, they had passed the whiskey back and forth between them. Now they were sufficiently tipsy and growing more bored by the minute. \"What do you say to me grabbing a fresh bottle and we go walk around the castle, maybe even go back down to the lake?\" Harry asked a fidgeting Draco.

\"I say that\'s a genius idea. I am going to miss being able to do this when everyone starts coming back from their vacation,\" Draco said.

\"Me, too,\" Harry stated, already having risen and retrieved a full bottle of alcohol,\"Let\'s just enjoy it while we can.\"

\"I suppose,\" Draco said, rising as well and joining Harry where he stood by the door.

Turning to look at Dreizehn who gnawed happily on a ham bone, Harry said,\"You be good, young man,\" and then grinned as the cub lifted its eyes to his and cocked his head to the side. Already Harry was amazed at how truly intelligent the pup seemed to be. It was in his eyes, the animal simply looked smart. He briefly wondered just what kind of a wolf it was - a regular wolf, or something more magical - he could swear he seemed to understand what was said to him. Shaking his head a little, he opened the door and they departed from their room to ramble around the near-empty school.

=*|*=

Night had fallen on Hogwarts, blanketing the school in its velvety darkness as Harry and Draco wandered the halls that were lit by dim torchlight now. They were thoroughly inebriated and having a great time, completely unmindful to how loud they were being. And they were being very loud. Their drunken voices belted out Christmas carols at the tops of their lungs, Draco\'s own talented voice blending with Harry\'s decidedly off key stylings kept them in stitches and they hadn\'t made it through an entire song since they had started. Every time they would end up doubled up with laughter as they held on to each other. They had been up to this for some hours and both were vaguely aware that they should\'ve went back to their room sometime ago. But they were having far too much fun to be worried with something as silly as curfews. They\'d briefly discussed it, coming to the conclusion that having a curfew during the holidays was a ridiculous thing and they refused to be a party to it. Nodding sagely after their mutual agreement, they had once more staggered off into the bowels of the school.

After yet another round of drinks from the bottle, they paused in a corridor to get their bearings before setting off again. They walked in companionable silence until a loud, \"STOP!\" from Draco brought Harry up quickly. Turning to look at the sloshed blonde, Harry waited for him to compose himself. His face was flushed and he was grinning madly. Walking to Harry, he grasped him by the shoulders and pressed a rough kiss on his lips. Harry melted into the touch as he took over the kiss, his hands sliding down Draco\'s back to settle on his hips. They stumbled backwards, totally unaware of the suit of armor that was directly behind them. Urgently running his hands down to cup Draco\'s firm ass, Harry lost his balance and toppled over backwards. With a shout that was soon followed by the loud clangs and bangs of the armor falling apart and scattering across the floor, Harry landed in a cursing heap right in the middle of the now dismantled suit of metal.

Looking at Draco who was still on his feet, Harry said, \"Whoopsie,\" then started to giggle riotously.

\"We\'re dead,\" Draco said, starting to giggle himself.

A cold voice broke them from their laughter with,\"Well, well, Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy. So what I\'ve been hearing is true then. Congratulations, it\'s a match made in Hell.\"

Draco whirled to find Filch standing behind them with his lantern raised and an ugly smile on his face.

Harry laughed, a harsh sound devoid of any humor and said,\"With all due respect, sir, go fuck yourself.\"

Turning to Harry, his face white with shock, Draco involuntarily flinched at the murderous glare he was giving Filch.

\"What did you say to me you little snot?\" Filch squawked, his face pale from shock, but his eyes hard with anger.

\"You heard me,\" Harry replied coldly as he began to struggle to his feet.

\"I\'ll have you both expelled for this. Just you wait and see,\" Filch threatened, taking a step towards the now standing Harry.

With a wince at what he was about to do, Draco took a deep breath and spoke. His voice sounded bored and condescending all at once, \"Mr. Filch, are you so sure about that? Do you really want to be the one to expel Lucius Malfoy\'s son from Hogwarts? I don\'t think he would receive such news very well. In fact, I bet he would be quite unhappy about it. Do you not agree?\" he finished, drawling out the last sentence as Filch had turned to look at him.

Moments passed in silence, Draco could see Harry seething behind Filch and the man just stood there, aghast at the veiled threat Draco had just presented him with. He hated behaving like a Malfoy and was growing terribly impatient and more nervous than he could stand. Draco once more forced a haughty tone and asked,\"Well?\"

\"You wouldn\'t . . .,\" Filch said.

\"Yes. I would,\" Draco said, picking at one of his chewed nails and looking bored.

\"Both of you, back to your rooms. Right this instant. If I catch you in my hallways after curfew again though, I won\'t be so lenient on you,\" Filch spoke, defeated.

\"Oh, but you will,\" Draco sneered,\"Come on, Harry, let\'s go now. He\'s not going to do anything.\"

Harry stepped around Filch and gave him a hateful glare. He started to speak, but Draco\'s anxious tug on his wrist made him change his mind and he left with the blonde. Draco was shaking by the time they made their way around the corner. Stopping he took an anxious slug of whiskey and shrugged off Harry\'s hand that was on his shoulder, \"You know how lucky we were? Any idea? My father wouldn\'t have done anything more than beat me bloody if we\'d been expelled. Why\'d you have to fucking say that, Harry?\"

\"I just . . . I\'m sick of their cruelty, Draco. I can\'t stand this anymore. Seems everywhere we go there\'s some jerkwad waiting to harass us. I\'m angry all the time and I resent them so much! I\'m sorry, I really am. I wasn\'t thinking is all. It\'s just that when he said that, I lost it,\" Harry said, looking thoroughly abashed now.

\"Please try and think from now on. I don\'t know if I could do that again. And just so you know, I don\'t like the way people treat you either. I can deal with them treating me like trash, but seeing the only person I love in this world get kicked around all the time because of me is dreadful,\" Draco said, his voice soft and sad.

\"For the last time, stop blaming yourself, love. This is not your fault!\" Harry choked out as he reached for Draco once more, happy to feel him give in and let himself be held. He nuzzled Harry\'s neck gently before placing a soft kiss on his jaw,\"Let\'s just go back to our room,\" he said with a sigh as Harry stroked his still slightly trembling shoulders.

They broke the embrace and settled for clasping hands unless one of them wanted a sip of liquor and ambled their way back to their chambers as snow began to once more fall silently outside. By the time they reached their room, they were once more laughing. They linked arms and danced a small jig outside of their door and giggled furiously at their silliness before they flung it open and stumbled drunkenly to bed. They gathered a happy Dreizehn to them on the way and the three of them collapsed onto the bed and were soon asleep. Draco\'s face was smooth and angelic as he slept peacefully, but Harry\'s face grew troubled from time to time as haunting dreams came to claim him against his will.

\"Stay,\" he muttered once in his fitful sleep, his voice breaking with an ache that went soul deep.

A/N: Ok, so now we\'re really getting somewhere. Wherever will the culmination of events lead our fine young gentlemen? Pay attention to subtleties. All I can say. Now I must tinker.*rubs palms together*

About Dreizehn, I wasn\'t sure what to give Harry for xmas from Draco and through a mad brainstorming session in the drive thru line at KFC yesterday, my friend Timothy and I settled on a wolf. It\'s been nerd tested, geek approved now and the wolf stays. *pats her nerd*

And a note about my German - I understand it quite well and my speaking isn\'t too bad either, my spelling on the other hand may be a bit iffy.

I will say that this chapter doesn\'t feel entirely complete to me and I am more than open to any tactful suggestions you all may have to offer.

Please keep reading and reviewing. It\'s the shit. Woo! :D