Que Sera Sera

Chapter Nine

The grounds was covered in a blanket of pure white snow, in direct contrast to the flock of students dressed in black fighting their way through the knee high snow towards the glasshouses.

"You've got to be kidding," muttered Ron, lifting up his robes that were now drenched to the knee. "I don't know why classes start so early after Christmas. Bill never went back until after the New Year. It's so unfair!"

"Quit your whingeing," complained Hermione, struggling to keep up to Ron and Harry. "School should be a pleasurable experience."

"In who's perfect world?" Asked Harry sarcastically as they passed Hagrid's hut that was still empty. Not even Fang was in there.

Hagrid had left at the beginning of the school year to round up all of the giants to help them protect the school grounds after the Death Eaters stormed Azkaban, releasing all the prisoners.

Hermione scoffed at him as she dropped back to talk to Neville and Angie who were bringing up the rear.

"So, Ron," began Harry, looking around at the surroundings, "think anything interesting's gonna happen this year? I mean it's been pretty boring so far."

"I reckon," replied Ron, rolling his eyes, "there hasn't been any distractions to keep me from my study, or so Hermione says. But I keep telling her, there's been plenty of distractions, she's one for example."

Harry smiled.

"Ah yes, the wonderful Miss Granger, a distraction in many ways."

"The most annoying ones," grumbled Ron, punching Harry for what he was thinking.

Ron and Hermione had always liked each other, Harry knew it, but neither of them had ever plucked up the courage to ask the other if they felt the same way. For him, the all-seeing friend, it was so annoying.

"Ron," screeched a voice from behind them, "LOOK OUT!"

"What?" Yelled Ron, turning to face the person who'd screeched, which was Hermione.

Harry turned too and saw Hermione, Angie and Neville's face. All three had turned ashen and were staring not at Ron, but at the sky just above him.

Looking directly up, Harry felt his blood freeze before he was knocked to the side by a huge claw.

Harry fell headfirst into the snow and was pushed further in by somebody.

He was trying to get up as fast as possible, but he was too stuck, and was starting to freeze.

The screams, although muffled by the snow, were unbearable. Whatever had knocked Harry flying was wreaking havoc.

Worrying about who it was, Harry took his wand from his pocket with his hand that was not stuck in the snow and used a melting charm to free himself, but it was too late.

The students were scattered, thrown into the snow and trembling profusely, but no one seemed to be hurt.

That was until Harry saw red.

From the crumpled robes on the snow-white ground, spread a crimson stain, turning the world blood red.

Stepping forwards to see who it was Harry heard a faint cry.

"Harry, Harry, are you there?"

The crumbled robe was Ron, the blood flowing freely from the massive gashes in his also crumpled body. He was bent over himself and his face was already starting to bruise.

"I'm here Ron, you'll be alright, I promise, nothing will happen to you," Harry cried, tears streaming down his face as he crouched down to his bleeding friend.

"I'm not too sure about that," croaked Ron, his eyes clouding over.

Hermione walked up to the two friends and gasped.

"I'll go get Dumbledore."

"See, we won't give up on you," whispered Harry, taking Ron's hand and feeling for a pulse.

"I know that Harry," smiled Ron, barely audible, although Harry was only inches from his face. "But life isn't forever, sometimes things do come to an end, and I think this is the end of me."

"Don't give up on me, think about your family, think about everybody who'll miss you so much if you leave."

Ron smiled and turned his head, "look after Ginny for me, you're like a brother to her."

Harry was about to say something when a strong pair of hands pulled him from Ron's side.

"You'd best go to your lessons," said Sirius, taking his wand from his robes and conjuring up a stretcher.

Remus was standing beside Ron, using a levitation charm to lift him to the stretcher.

"Don't worry Harry," reassured Sirius, "he's in safe hands."

"I know Sirius, I know," muttered Harry, silently wishing Ron all the best.

"Have you heard anything yet Harry?" Asked Lexey, standing by the strangely silent Gryffindor table at lunch the next day.

"Not a thing Lex, not a thing," Harry replied, not even looking up at hie friend, but watching his fork as it pierced the fried eggs on his plate, sending the yolk to escape from its barriers, just as Ron's blood had.

The image of Ron lying there, completely helpless, had been burnt into Harry's mind and he was still cursing himself that he hadn't done anything to save him, he'd been too late.

"Well, wish him the best for me when you're allowed to see him," she muttered, brushing a tear from her eye.

The entire school had been shocked by the freak attack on Ron. Neville, Angie and Hermione had all been struck dumb and refused to tell what had attacked Ron. Even Malfoy was feeling particularly sympathetic, asking harry how he was feeling as well.

Harry wasn't hungry; he got up leaving his untouched lunch on the plate and walked out of the Great Hall towards his dorm. Dumbledore stopped him in the Entrance Hall.

"Harry, I've been searching everywhere for you," he said, his blue eyes glistening from tears.

"How's Ron?" Harry asked, looking at his feet.

"I think you should see for yourself."

They both walked to the hospital wing and upon reaching the door, Dumbledore knocked seven times and Madam Pomfrey opened the door, beckoning them to enter.

The room was stark and white. Many a time had Harry woken up to find himself in this room, but this time it was different.

There were two people in the room; a girl was lying in a nearby bed, peacefully sleeping. She looked familiar, but he couldn't quite place her. Lying in the corner most bed was Ron, not moving. Harry walked up to him and felt a hand on his shoulder.

"We did all we could do," said Dumbledore, with deepest sincerity.

"You mean?" Asked Harry, not wanting to say the words.

"Yes, Harry, he is dead."

Harry stopped by the bed, looking at Ron's now pale face under his red mop of hair. Even his freckles had lost their colour. It looked peaceful and serene, as if it had been completely painless. His eyes were closed and Harry thought that it looked like he might wake at any moment, but the deep gashes on his left cheek proved that it wasn't so.

Harry placed his hand over his dead friend's.

"Goodbye old friend," he whispered, allowing a single tear to fall from his face onto Ron's cheek.

He then turned to Dumbledore as Madam Pomfrey lifted a white sheet over Ron's head.

"I think we need to talk," stated Dumbledore, stern, but still seeming reluctant.

"Yes," whispered Harry, closing his eyes and allowing Dumbledore to steer him to his office.

"I know that this is a hard time for you, but you need to tell me everything. The others have been struck silent and I can't get a thing out of them," started Dumbledore, looking out the huge windows behind his desk, "what attacked Ron, Harry?"

"I don't know," he stammered, sitting in a chair and shaking his head, "I was pushed into the snow and couldn't get up until it was too late."

"Oh," said Dumbledore, somewhat dejectedly. "I also wanted to speak to you about some strange happenings."

"Yes?" Asked Harry, confused at the abrupt change in subject.

"I am not the only one that has experienced this, but many students and some teachers. Have you noticed anything strange recently?"

Harry thought, remembering the voices.

"I've heard voices and doors opening and closing."

"Ah," said Dumbledore, stroking his beard and sitting in his chair, "and what makes it different from the ghosts' behaviour?"

"Well, the voices have had names, names I recognise."

"Names like Sirius, James... and Lily?"

"Yes, the exact ones."

"And you know who they are?"

"They are my parents at school, aren't they?" Harry asked remembering his conversation with Sirius about his 'dream'.

"Yes they are, and they are the same things others have heard or seen. It appears that many of us are getting blasts from the past, seeing old students and hearing them once more. But I am yet to isolate the reason for this. I am thinking that is could be due to Miss Evans being at this school. She bears an incredible likeness to your mother and you have be told many a time-"

"That I look just like my father," Harry interrupted.

"Yes," agreed Dumbledore, "and I think this is triggering many forgotten emotions, and lost memories. In turn, we are seeing the events of that year played out once more, but they are like ghosts. We can see them, but they think they are in their normal lives."

"But if they're ghosts, then what about Remus and Sirius. They aren't dead."

"Yes, but I didn't say they were ghosts, they are memories. We cannot interact with them because they no longer exist in that form, at least I think that. According to Muggle science, it is impossible for time to collapse on itself, so they will not change their routine. James and Sirius will still be almost expelled for destroying a glasshouse in a prank sometime in May," he smiled and chuckled to himself, "but there is nothing we can do to stop it. We cannot interact with them, they are merely memories, nothing more, nothing less."

Dumbledore seemed to be crushing every one of Harry's thoughts as they came to him. If he had the chance, maybe he could tell his parents to not trust Wormtail with their whereabouts, maybe time could change and they could still be with him.

"Time does not repeat itself," continued Dumbledore, returning Harry to the real world. "However," he said after a few moments of thought, weighing up the possibilities, "if by some twist of fate you can talk with them Harry, it may be possible, thought I doubt it, do not tell them who you are or anything about their future. If they do listen to your instructions, it may change the future, today, forever and it will be nothing that we can expect. Who knows, what you say may bring about the death of Voldemort, but it may also destroy the wizarding world, as we know it. Understand?"

" Yes sir," Harry replied, standing up.

"Time is a valuable thing and it can not be treated lightly. If it is in the wrong hands, it can destroy many more than what you may expect. A step in the wrong direction may trigger a series of events," Dumbledore finished philosophically. "Now, you may return to the Gryffindor common room and tell your friends about Mr. Weasley or you can wait until the school is informed tomorrow."

Harry nodded and asked, "what about his family?"

"They were immediately notified and will be here tomorrow morning."

Solemnly, Harry left the office and walked towards the common room, more alone than ever.

Ron was gone.