AN: Welcome to Only In My Dreams! First, the basic information.

Summary: Draco's in love with Harry. Harry doesn't know. How do you tell the person you're meant to hate that you love them? Would you even try? Luckily, a chain of events is on the way that might help Draco out.

Pairing: HPDM, duh.

Warning: This fic contains slash, or gay love. Don't like it? Don't read it.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything.

As of 16th January, 2007: This chapter has been completely re-written, so if it seems different to the chapter you remember…well, it is.

Now, on to the fic.

Alternate Dimension Draco

Friday, October 13th

It was night-time at Hogwarts, more specifically, that point in time after dinner where students either hung around in their common-rooms, studied in the library or snuck up to the Astronomy Tower for a session with their significant other.

Unfortunately for him, Draco Malfoy was not one of these students.

He sat in his usual chair, flanked by Crabbe, Goyle, Zabini and Nott. He listened to their inane conversation about the Dark Lord and their parents and their bloodlines and the other Slytherins and the cake they'd had for dinner that night (which, of course, was Crabbe and Goyle's choice of conversation).

"I heard a rumour that Eden in third-year is actually a bastard son of a Mudblood." Zabini said in his cool voice, with a light sneer.

"Eden? Half-blood? I don't believe it." Nott said dismissively. "My mother knows his father personally."

Draco resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Honestly, what did it all matter?

"Did you hear Douche tried to get onto the Quidditch team?" Zabini asked now.

As the discussion continued, every word polished and controlled to perfection, Draco looked around. He and his friends, for want of a better term, always sat in the centre of the room, near the fireplace. All of the other Snakes were clustered throughout the long, narrow room, holding their own conversations that were as controlled and polished as the one taking place around him.

He knew every intricate detail about the politics of his House. He knew who to flatter, who to freeze out, when to speak, when not to. He was a natural Slytherin.

He knew in the past that those politics had mattered greatly to him. His younger self had revelled in the tense atmosphere of the Common Room.

His current self didn't give a shit anymore, and for a reason that was so shameful he'd barely been able to admit it to himself, let alone anyone else.

The clock over the fireplace struck 10 o' clock. Draco stood at once.

"If you'll excuse me," he said curtly to his fireside companions, "I'm going to bed. Goodnight."

"Goodnight." The others murmured as one, before turning back to their conversation.

They pretty much summed up Slytherin house, Draco decided, as he left the fireplace and headed for the stairs to the boys' dorm. Muted. Precise. Careful. Controlled.

"Draco, darling!"

Yes, that was Slytherin, with the exception of the girl who currently stood in front of him.

He reluctantly met the gaze of Pansy Parkinson.

"Pansy." He greeted coolly.

"Draco, darling." She repeated, simpering up to him. By god, but she was not attractive.

"Yes, Pansy, what is it? Get to the point." Draco snapped impatiently.

Pansy's eyes flashed with hurt momentarily before she recovered. "I was wondering, Draco darling, if you'd finished that Potions homework yet." She said, twirling a strand of blonde hair in what he guessed she thought was a girlish, playful gesture. "Because I haven't, and I thought maybe you could help me out with some…private tutoring, in my room."

Eurgh.

"Actually, Pansy, I'd rather be in a room filled with starving Acromantulas than in a room alone with you." He bit icily.

Her eyes widened, and she looked at him reproachfully. "Now really, Draco darling, was that necessary?" she huffed.

Draco's head screamed 'YES', but he remained impassive.

"Ever since the start of term you've been acting oddly. You don't participate in things anymore. You don't flirt with me or hold my hand between classes or touch my hair when you talk to me. Honestly, I don't know what your problem is, Draco darling, and I'm getting tired of waiting to find out!"

With that, she turned and flounced away towards the Girls' dorms in a manner that she probably considered dramatic, but really just made her look like some kind of demented catwalk model with a bad limp.

Draco watched her go. "Wouldn't you like to know." He muttered after her, before continuing on his way to the Boys dorms.

HPDM

After he had brushed his teeth and changed into his favourite pair of green silk pyjamas, Draco collapsed into bed and performed his usual protection spells. This all being done, he allowed himself to get comfortable, preparing to go to the place that made him happy.

For you see, the secret that Draco hid from everyone was shameful indeed. Shameful enough to probably get him thrown out of Slytherin if they all knew. Shameful enough that his father might disown him if he knew.

Draco Malfoy was in love with Harry Potter.

Oh, shock, horror, someone call the nurse, he's gone 'round the loop. No, Draco was perfectly sane, in all aspects of his life, except for the tiny inconvenience he was in love with his archrival.

Every day, Draco was around Harry. Whether it was in or in between class, during the breaks, just before meal times, at least once a day they had face-to-face contact. Draco, of course, had to do what he was expected to, and thus sneered and teased and insulted Harry and his friends. But, try as he might, he couldn't replicate that pure hatred towards Harry that existed before. It was stilted by the new emotion he felt towards the dark-haired boy: love.

And so, from this, Draco's life had become a living hell. He didn't let it show outwardly – except from the little things that even Pansy could pick up, such as silently pushing away his Slytherin companions. Anyone could believe he was still the same Draco Malfoy he'd always been.

But he wasn't. So, nighttime had become his solace, the bright light at the end of the darkened tunnels that were his days.

Because here, in the privacy of his bed, he could pretend.

He could pretend that instead of insulting Harry, he kissed him.

He could pretend that instead of hating him, Harry loved him.

He could pretend that instead of the Weaselette, it was him Harry was going out with.

Because by night, he became another person. A Draco from another dimension. The Draco he wanted to be. Only in his dreams, did Harry love him.

He envied that other Draco more than anything in the whole world.

Because he was loved by Harry.

Reality Draco wasn't.

TBC

AN: End chapter. Thank you for reading. Note that obviously, there would be no slash to speak of yet, so calm down lol. Please review!