"Turn around!"
                              
"Dad..." he started, but Lucius whacked him good with his cane across the stomach. He turned, letting his father have full access to his back. 
                              
Lucius shoved him hard into the wall and he braced himself against it, ready for the onslaught of pain. Lucius spread his legs apart, letting everything dangle. He was completely open and it terrified him. His father grabbed the collar and stitched it tighter.
                              
"No... don't..." he pleaded, but a sharp whack between his legs made him quiet.
                              
"Don't you dare complain! You embarrassed the family today. You deserve this. Say it!"
                              
"I deserve this," he mumbled, his voice restricted by the collar that was choking him.
                              
Potter chuckled approvingly. He turned his head toward the wall and waited for the cane. Lucius showed no mercy. The cane hit him across the back, shoulders and his butt brutally. He had to fight to cry out in pain. The collar was suffocating him. His vision faded and he blacked out, both from pain and lack of air. Of course, that hadn't stopped his father. It wasn't as bad as when he had first come home from his first year, even his second year. His father had been irate that he had stayed at Hogwarts at Christmas just to avoid him. He couldn't walk for a week after that. 
                              
He laid on the floor, pain remnants lashing through his body. Potter was hovering over him. He shrunk away, bringing his arms to his chest that wasn't bare anymore. There was light coming in the room, but he couldn't focus on anything but the floor. Eye contact wasn't allowed. 
                              
"Draco..." Potter's voice called to him, but he trembled more and wouldn't look at him. 
                              
The panic was building, like the collar was still wrapped around his throat. He couldn't breathe. Tears filled his eyes. Potter sat down next to him and put his arms around him. Draco didn't fight him as Potter pulled him toward him and up against his body. Potter's arms wrapping tightly around his chest and Draco's head rested on his shoulder. 
                              
"You're dreaming Draco. It's just a dream. Come back to me," Potter whispered in his ear, behind him.
                              
Draco's quick, short breaths slowed. From his viewpoint, he could see he was in his mother's flat, not back at the Manor. Potter's tightened his grip.
                              
"There you go, breathe. I'm right here, Malfoy," Potter said, quietly. 
                              
He did. Matching his breathing to Potter's. In and out slowly. He got his breathing under control, but he couldn't stop shaking. He couldn't lose the feeling he had from his dream, of Potter watching him be shamed and beaten by his father and laughing at him. It hurt him more than his father's brutal treatment.
                              
"You want to talk about it?" Potter said, his voice low and concerned.
                              
It wasn't the same person as in his dream. He knew that, but the feeling of rejection and abandonment he felt last night wasn't. He cursed his dream cycle for mixing memory with his muddled, unspoken feelings.
                              
"You're awake. I know it. Come on, talk to me. What happened?" Potter said.
                              
Draco relaxed, feeling content. Though Potter had touched him without permission, yet again, he felt safe, protected. Potter's arms were warm and strong. He resisted the urge to bury his head in Potter's neck. He smelled amazing, clean even.
                              
"I thought we weren't going to play that game," he muttered, shuttering from the thought.
                              
"I have to ask. You don't have to tell me anything. I was... offering," Potter said, his voice awkward.
                              
Draco considered telling Potter about the dream, but he was embarrassed, not just for the humiliation his father inflicted upon him, but the fact that he was dreaming about Potter being there. That was opening himself up to more pain, especially if it upset him. Draco didn't think he could handle it if Potter left, now. This was getting complicated.