Dream a Little Dream

Chapter 4

Becci sat on Ron's bed, the other three standing around her.

"It's just... so hard to take in..." she murmured. "I had no idea that you were..."

"Hardly anyone does," Hermione said in a reassuring tone. "Most people just think he's a sort of famous hero type."

"People like me," Becci said with a weak and unconvincing smile.

"It's not like you could have known any better," Harry said a little awkwardly.

"How do you deal with it?" Becci asked, suddenly looking up at Harry.

"What?"

"Well, I mean, you live with Muggles, don't you? Can you go to them when you - y'know - have a dream or something...?"

Harry snorted. "Not likely."

"So, how do you deal with it? When, when you're not here or at school, I mean..."

"Um... Well - my godfather has quite a bit of experience in dealing with Dark Magic..."

"Yeah?" Becci said, interested. "Is he, like, an Auror or something?"

"Not exactly..." Harry looked at Ron and Hermione for help.

"Should we tell her?"

"She knows this much already."

"Would she tell anyone else?"

"I don't know..."

"Excuse me!" Becci said, waving a little. "I am right here!"

"All right," Harry knelt down so his head was level with Becci's, and looked directly into her eyes. "But you have to promise not to tell a single soul."

Becci nodded, not wanting to risk speaking - this sudden intense eye contact had caused her stomach to contract slightly.

"My godfather is..." Harry took a deep breath and stood up again, "...Sirius Black."

Becci choked. "S-Sirius Black? The Sirius Black? The Sirius Black that murdered thirteen people?"

"No no no no," Hermione said hurriedly. "He didn't, it was someone else, it... would take a very long time to explain. The fact is, Sirius is innocent. You just have to believe us on this one."

"O - okay," Becci said faintly.

"We should go downstairs," Ron said. "The others will be wondering where we've got to."

"Right," Hermione said. She, Ron and Harry headed towards the door. Becci stood up slowly, sighed to herself, then followed the others.

---

Standing at the top of Diagon Alley outside Gringotts, Becci listened to Mrs Weasley speaking whilst looking around at the bustling street a little excitedly.

"...so meet Ginny and I in the Leaky Cauldron in about two hours, all right?" her aunt said. "Take Rebecca to buy her Hogwarts robes and then get anything else new you need."

"Fine," Ron said. "See you later." Becci followed as he, Harry and Hermione started walking down the street. "We'll go to Madam Malkins first," he told Becci, "then we can go get books and stuff." They reached a shop with a sign that said Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occaisions, and stepped inside. Madam Malkin appeared from the back of the shop.

"Um - hi," Becci said. "I need Hogwarts robes -"

"Stand on the stool, dear," Madam Malkin said, gesturing to a small wooden stool at the back of the shop. Becci did as Madam Malkin said, and waited patiently as her measurements were taken. Once they were finished, Madam Malkin went through a door to find some robes that would fit Becci, just as a girl walked in through the front door of the shop. They all automatically looked up, and Harry suddenly gripped onto a shelf to stop himself falling over.

"Harry, what's wrong?" Hermione said in a shocked voice.

"Ex-girlfriend?" Ron whispered, smirking.

"Very funny," Harry muttered, as the girl started flicking through a rack holding dress robes. "It's worse than that... I saw her in one of my dreams..."

"What?" Hermione, Ron, and Becci gasped.

"So," Ron began, "that girl is going to -"

"Ssh!"

"Well, we have to tell her!" Becci said, still on the stool.

"Oh, what," Ron said in a sarcastic tone, "'Hi, we've never met before, but just so you know, there are probably evil overlords who want you dead. Take care now!'"

"Ron, be quiet," Hermione hissed.

"We have to do something," Harry said, his brow furrowed with anxiety.

"What, then?" Becci said - but it was too late, apparently, because the girl appeared not to find what she was looking for, and left the shop.

"Great," Harry said tonelessly. "Just great."

Don't worry, Harry," Hermione said consolingly. "If you're meant to save these people, it'll be possible. That's how the world works."

"Right. Sure." Harry's face was set, as though he was trying to hide his feelings of worry and unease. That's the Harry Potter I've read about, Becci thought, as Madam Malkin re-emerged from the back room. The classic hero. Maybe I was partly right after all.