Line Between Nightmare and Dream

Hermione burst through the front door and ran to her room.

“Hi to you too” Ginny said after Hermione

“Sorry Hi! I…um…want to take a shower before we go out” Hermione yelled through the door

“Hermione?! You ok?” Ginny asked

“Yeah I’m fine” Hermione peaked out the door “Give me 30 m…an hour and I’ll be ready to go”

The door slammed in Ginny’s face. Hermione hung the dress over the back of a chair and sat at the edge of her bed. She opened a drawer and pulled out her vibrator.

“This is the only way I’m going to be able to go into public tonight” Hermione said out loud and sat back in her bed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Wow you guys were right she is really wigging out about something” Ginny said as she joined the boys in the front room

“Yeah she’s having nightmares about her time at the Malfoy Manor” Harry said wrapping his arm around Ginny

“I wouldn’t be so sure they’re nightmares” Ron grumbled

“What?” Harry asked

“She has been writing dirty smut about Lucius” Ron answered “I caught her a few nights ago. She had scrolls and scrolls full and more waiting to be filled, and batteries …but I don’t understand the batteries”

Ginny giggled

“What?” Ron asked

But before she could explain there was a knock at the door. Harry got up to answer it but when he saw who it was he froze and turned to Ginny and Ron

“It’s Lucius!” Harry was shocked

“What! NO WAY he is NOT welcome here what the hell does he want?!!!!!” Ron screamed

“I don’t know, I didn’t answer the door yet genius” Harry answered

Ginny got up and walked past her hysterical brother to the door. Sure enough there was Lucius in all his glory. Hair pulled back in a silk ribbon, black cloaks flowing over his impossibly ripped body, but Ginny noticed a few differences. He had a new cane without a glaring snake on top, and he had something behind his eyes other than hate.

Ginny reached for the door knob but Ron pulled her away.

“What are you doing?” Ron asked

“Finding out what he wants” Ginny said and opened the door

“Hello Ms. Weasley, or is it Mrs. Potter now” Lucius grinned

“No he hasn’t even asked yet” Ginny glared at Harry

“Can we help you or did you just come to provoke my girlfriend” Harry said

“I was hoping I could speak with Ms. Granger” Lucius tried to keep his voice steady though he was shaking at the thought. He knew any meeting with Hermione was not going to be a picnic.

“She’s not feeling well” Harry explained

“She wouldn’t want to see you anyway” Ron glared from the other room

“I think we could leave that for her to decide” Lucius replied

Ron made a lunge for the door but Harry effortlessly pushed him into the kitchen

“I’m really sorry about them they have been dealing with a lot lately” Ginny apologized

“Nothing too bad I hope” Lucius delved

“I haven’t heard the whole story but Hermione is apparently having some strange dreams” Ginny tried to be as vague as possible

“Could you please tell her I came by” Lucius pleaded

“It might be more effective if I tell her what you came by for” Ginny said

“I think she’ll know” Lucius mumbled “Thank you” he tipped his hat and walked back towards the street.

Ginny was confused. He seemed genuine, he didn’t push his way into the house, he didn’t provoke Harry or Ron, he was…well…nice. She still wasn’t sure if she was going to tell Hermione, it might be a topic best left for when Hermione was trashed this evening.

An hour and a half and three new batteries later Hermione came out into the front room. Ron’s jaw fell open, unfortunately revealing half the sandwich he was eating.

Hermione had charmed her hair into a long elegant braid and twisted it on top of her head. She had found some yellow earrings that just dusted the top of her shoulders. Her make-up was classy but by far the most make-up she had ever had on at once. Her dress followed the shape of her body and her strides only emphasized the beauty of the dress.

“WOW Mione” Harry gapped from the couch

Ginny gave him a quick elbow to the gut then jumped up to hug Hermione.

“I am so excited to be going out tonight! Are you ready?” Ginny asked

“Yeah let’s go” Hermione managed, she was still a little concerned about the night but she knew she needed this outing more than anything in the world

“Behave yourselves” Harry warned

“We will do no such thing” Ginny said with a kiss good-bye

“I have the perfect place for us to go! It’s new and classy and you will look like a goddess in the lighting” Ginny bubbled as she pulled Hermione out the door


The bar was packed to say the least, but Ginny had called ahead and gotten a table near the center of the bar.

They ordered drinks and began talking about the past months. Ginny was careful not to bring up any subject that may cause Hermione to bolt for the door. The night was going well…very well. After about 3 Magictinis the girls were having a great time.

Ginny was proud of Hermione she was even talking to men who approached her. Then Hermione tensed up and gasped for a breath. The man she was talking to took a step back and fell silent. Ginny bumped Hermione’s elbow

“Mione? You ok?” Ginny whispered

“I think we should dance! Would you like to dance?” Hermione asked the man still frozen in front of her

He led her onto the dance floor and Ginny sat back into her chair, confused. She kept a close eye on Hermione but after a few songs Hermione seemed to be having a good time so Ginny relaxed and got to her 4th drink.

Suddenly she felt a tug on her arm and the last sip of her drink spilled all over her lap.

“What the hell!” Ginny said as she turned around to see Hermione looking nervously over her shoulder.

“Can we leave?” Hermione asked breathless

“Yeah what happened?” Ginny gathered her stuff and left enough money to cover the tab twice over

“I thought…I think… I..um…lets go to the Unicorn” Hermione stumbled

“Dear you are wearing a Freadrek original I don’t think you will fit in at the Unicorn” Ginny took Hermione’s arm and lead her from the club

“I don’t care I want to go somewhere we can talk” Hermione pulled to make Ginny walk faster

“We could go home” Ginny offered

“No Harry and Ron will be there” Hermione said it as if it should be obvious to Ginny why they couldn’t go home

Ginny just followed Hermione. If she had learned anything it was to let Hermione ride out her tantrums. There was nothing she could do until she knew the whole story. But as she took the last step out of the club Ginny caught a glimpse of long silvery hair tied in a green silk ribbon.

The Unicorn was a grimy bar that smelt like it hadn’t been cleaned in years and the patrons didn’t go there to be law abiding.

“Ok tell me what is going on” Ginny urged Hermione

“I am freaking out!” Hermione began being overly dramatic with her hand gestures

Ginny grabbed her hands and looked into Hermione’s eyes “Ok so talk to me” she said

“I have been having dreams, and visions, and now I’m hallucinating” Hermione had tears building up in her eyes.

“Slower hun I don’t understand” Ginny said calmly

“I am seeing a shrink I FUCKING SHRINK!!! But I don’t think its working I see him everywhere” Hermione’s hands broke free and she let her face fall into them

Ginny got up to sit next to her friend and put her arm around her

“Harry told me about the dreams, and Ron told me about the stories” Ginny said, Hermione looked up horrified

“You’re not crazy they’re just dreams and fantasies, I don’t blame you he’s a gorgeous man” Ginny tried to sound reassuring

“He tortured me Ginny, The man…he…” Hermione fell silent and stared at the door

Ginny looked up but nothing was there

“Ok so it’s not a fantasy I would expect you to have but Harry likes me to pretend I’m McGonagall so nothing is out of range” Ginny tried to ignore the horrified look on Hermione’s face

“Please just calm down lets go home and talk about this in the morning” Ginny suggested. Hermione accepted and they walked home in silence

Lucius was left in the Unicorn feeling distraught. He wasn’t sure Ginny would tell Hermione he had stopped by so he followed them to the bar. Hermione however looked like she was enjoying herself and with the endless line of men at her side he thought it was best to stand back.

He wanted so badly to talk to her, to see if she was still willing to discuss that kiss. He had spent many restless nights trying to push Hermione from his mind; he was at his wits end. Maybe if they talked it through they could find a common ground. The only reason for the kiss he could come up with was that he needed her forgiveness for the awful things he had done to her. He hoped talking it through could end the dreams he had been having about her.