Harry Potter and his Dreams

Harry Potter and His Dreams

Chapter Two

"Now," Dumbledore said moving behind his desk, "here is the work you've missed this week." He handed Harry a folder stuffed with pieces of parchment. "You may turn in your summer work as you go to your classes. You don't have to explain your absences to your teachers, I will ask them to allow you to make up the work and accept your summer assignments. Today, of course, is Saturday so you can do work, relax, whatever you want. What you tell your friends is up to you. I have only told Mr. Weasley and Miss Granger that you are safe and that I hoped you'd be coming soon. Now, I'll go find Arabella and talk to her, meanwhile I'll send Sirius up here. Nobody will interrupt you in my office." Dumbledore moved toward the door.

"Professor?" Harry bit his lip as Dumbledore turned back to him then continued, "Do I take too much on myself?"

"I think you do. Think about the trial. First, the whole reason there was a trial was because you took it upon yourself to protect Hogwarts. Second, you tried with all your might to protect Sirius. Third, you tried to protect me from having to make a hard decision. And, I'll tell you, it has been a long time since anyone tried to protect me." Harry smiled a little at that then asked, "But was I wrong?"

Dumbledore thought for a moment before he answered. "I don't know that it was right or wrong, the important thing is that there were other options, less dangerous to yourself. But at the same time, I do thank you sincerely for what you did. I would have liked it better if you had not put yourself in danger. Still, I cannot deny that you did protect Hogwarts. I just don't want you to take that the wrong way and try to do it again all on your own," Dumbledore smiled gently at Harry and left. A few minutes later the door opened and Harry found himself in the very tight grip of his godfather

"Harry, what happened? Why did you use magic? What happened at the trial?"

"You mean Dumbledore didn't tell you?"

"No, witnesses cannot tell outsiders what they know until after the trial. As I am not your guardian I am considered an outsider, not to mention the fact that I am a wanted man. Now tell me!"

"I'm sorry, I didn't realize Dumbledore couldn't tell you. I didn't want to get you worried."

"Harry, I'm your godfather, I am supposed to worry. Now tell me everything before I wring your neck!"

Harry grinned quickly and then sighed, "Well I had a dream, the night before my birthday." He told Sirius about it and then his decision the following morning and his conversation in the interrogation room with Dumbledore.

"Oh, Harry," Sirius said shaking his head, "you sweet, foolish hero. How do you always manage to get yourself in these situations?"

Harry shrugged.

"So, what happened at the trial?"

"Well, I had to tell the judge everything. I even had to tell him about the letter I'd been writing to you, but Mundungus Fletcher was the judge. He said he knew about you." Sirius nodded and waited for Harry to continue. "In the end he said my reasons were justified under some law, and that if Dumbledore wished, I could return here."

"So that's it? No other sentence?" Sirius asked relieved.

Harry scowled, "No. He said that I had to see a professional wizard counselor twice a month."

There was a moment of silence, then Sirius said, "You don't like that very much, do you?"

"That's an understatement. Why do I need to see a counselor?"

"Did Mundungus give you a reason?"

"Yeah," Harry said grumpily.

"Well, what did he say?" Sirius prompted him.

Harry sighed and sat back in his chair, "He said that I take too much on myself and that I need to learn how to trust the adults in my life."

Sirius wondered if he should say what he was thinking, he did, "I'd say that he was right."

"Oh, thanks a lot."

"Harry," Sirius said, a bit sharper that he meant to at Harry's rude tone.

"Sorry," muttered Harry.

"You always try to protect everyone else but you never let anyone protect you, nor do you take measures to protect yourself. People who live like that tend to end up dead."

"They end up heroes," Harry shot back.

"Sometimes," Sirius conceded, " but nobody is asking you to be a hero. You need to finish growing up and live your life, before you spend it on other people."

Harry had no answer to that. Sirius hugged him. Then, for the next hour they just talked about nothing and everything. Then Dumbledore returned. Following him was a woman Harry thought for sure he knew from somewhere. She was tall, her slender frame accentuated by her rather-tight robes. She had honey-brown hair that hung down to her waste and eyes the same color.

"Harry, this is Arabella Figg, the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher and she will also be counseling you. Arabella, Harry." Dumbledore introduced them. They shook hands.

Dumbledore handed him a piece of paper, "Here is your schedule. Your teachers have been told to allow you to make up work. Oh, and your wand." Harry took it, but he was still looking a Professor Figg, trying to place her. "Now," continued Dumbledore, "when is the best time for you to meet with Arabella?"

Harry shrugged.

"I don't want to disrupt your weekends, so how does Friday afternoon sound?" Arabella asked.

"Sure," then, because he still couldn't think where he knew her from, he asked, "Do I know you from somewhere?"

She smiled and nodded, "I'm surprised you remember. My mother is Mrs. Figg who lives a few streets away from you. I lived with her one summer, ten years ago. You were over there often because the Dursley's were taking Dudley from one attraction to another for his fifth birthday."

"And you gave me some ice cream on my birthday. I remember that!"

Dumbledore cleared his throat, "I believe Mr. Weasley and Miss Granger are waiting eagerly for you in the Gryffindor Common Room. Mr. Weasley noticed that your things had been moved into your dorm."

Harry jumped up, "See you Snuffles!" he said as he bounded out the door and hopped down the moving staircase.

Running all the way to the Fat Lady's Portrait Harry stopped to catch his breath--then realized he didn't know the password.

"Why, hello Harry. Nice to see you back! Where have you been?" She exclaimed.

"Um, busy. How about just letting me in?" Harry asked hopefully.

"Uh-uh can't do that." She scowled at him for even suggesting it.

"Rats!" Harry decided to go back to Dumbledore's office and ask for the password. He was just turning when the portrait swung forward, revealing Hermione.

"Harry!" she squealed as she saw him.

"Harry?" Ron's voice came from Hermione, who had just attacked Harry with a hug.

"Where were you? Dumbledore wouldn't tell us. He only said that you might be here soon. Then I saw your things in the room about an hour ago. So when I caught Dumbledore in the hall I asked him and he said you'd be here today. Where have you been?" the words tumbled out of Ron's mouth.

"Slow down, I'll explain everything as soon as we get someplace private," Harry said, dreading the reactions he'd get from his two best friends.

"Well, Hagrid is gone until Monday, let's go to his hut," Hermione suggested. Normally, Harry would have asked about this but he was presently too preoccupied with the impending confrontation.

The trio made their way through the castle and across the lawn, attracting a few startled looks from those noticing Harry.

They all settled around the table. "well, where have you been?" Ron asked again, impatiently.

"I've been at the Ministry Facility for Juvenile Wizard Offenders." He said.

Hermione shook her head, and Ron let out a bark of laughter. Then they both looked at him, waiting for him to tell them where he had really been.

Hermione spoke up first, "You're serious?"

Harry nodded. Ron looked stunned.

"On my birthday I was expelled from Hogwarts for using magic. I cast 18 spells so I was taken in to custody by the Ministry. Today was my trial, my suspension was revoked and the charges were dropped."

"Harry, this isn't even funny. If you dare say 'joke's on you' I will kill you with my bear hands." Ron said fervently.

"No joke," Harry said looking him straight in the eye.

"Well?" Hermione asked.

"Well what?" Harry said.

"Don't give me that! You are going to tell us the whole story, right now!" Hermione looked ready to curse him.

Harry sighed and fiddled with his wand and then told them about the dream and his trial. When he finished Ron and Hermione were both silent. Then Hermione jiggled her head, "I don't know whether to shake you because of your stupidity, or hug you for your bravery." Ron just nodded in agreement.

Harry shrugged.

"Was there no other sentence?" Ron asked.

"That's my business," Harry answered a little louder than he meant to. Ron raised his eyebrows in surprise but didn't press the issue.

"Come on, let's go back up to the castle. I have a lot of make-up work to do," Harry said heading for the door.

"I'm impressed, Harry--eager to do work?" Hermione said dryly, following him.

"Funny. Tell me about Professor Figg," Harry said, changing the subject.

"Oh, this year Defense Against the Dark Arts will be as good as with Lupin," Ron answered enthusiastically.

"Professor Figg was an Auror the first time You-Know-Who was in power. After he fell she started a rehabilitation center for witches and wizards who had lost loved ones, or who had had horrible experiences. She's a professional counselor and an Auror now." Hermione explained.

"Really?" Ron and Harry asked together. Harry laughed, "Don't tell me--you looked her up in the library, right?"

"No, she's in a book I bought this summer, called The Years After the Dark Lord: A History of English Wizarding Society 1981-1986."

Harry and Ron rolled their eyes at each other.

That afternoon, Harry finished up about half the work he had missed and he finished the rest after dinner.

When classes started again on Monday he turned in all his summer work and make-up work. Most of his teachers just accepted it, the exception being Snape, who looked like he wanted to have a bonfire with his parchment.

In classes Harry found that he was doing much better that he had the year before. Those weeks of using the JWO library must have paid off.

His first defense against the dark arts class came Friday morning[1]. Harry was nervous, what if she mentioned his counseling? He needn't have worried though. After an intense lesson on wand-less defenses he decided that it would probably be his favorite class--though, despite Snape and the Slytherins, he had actually enjoyed Potions on Wednesday.

As he was leaving the class, Arabella pulled him aside for a moment, "meet me here, right after your last class," she said.

Herbology seemed to fly after lunch and Harry wondered exactly why he was dreading going to see Arabella so much. He slipped away from Ron and Hermione and hurried to the defense against the dark arts room.

"There you are. Follow me." Arabella led him to the back of the room to the storage closet; tapping it with her wand she said, "Ice mice perfected the Wronski Feint." Then she pulled open the door. There was no longer a storage closet there, but a comfortable looking sitting room.

"This is where we'll meet. Just do as I did to enter." She said motioning him ahead of her, "If you ever need to talk to me during the night, like if you've had another dream, knock on that door over there." She pointed to the other side of the room. "That leads to my private suite of rooms. Have a seat."

Harry chose an armchair and Arabella sat down on a couch, propping her feet up on the coffee table.

"I know you don't exactly want to have counseling, but it might actually help you. So give it a chance, ok?"

"Sure." Harry shrugged.

"Let me just tell you a little about myself first. My mother was a muggle-born witch and my father was pure-blood. I have one older brother, Thomas and two younger sisters, Maria and Katie. Katie, the youngest, is a squib. I grew up next door to your father; Sirius lived on the other side of your dad's house. We all started at Hogwarts the same year. I had a crush on James for years, and Sirius had a crush on me at the same time. When James and Lily, became an item and I got over my crush. Lily was my best friend, and I knew my chances were nil, because they were so obviously perfect for each other. Then I realized that Sirius liked me. We were together from our fifth year until he went to Azkaban. And, no," she answered the question forming in Harry's head, "so far we have not renewed our relationship. Sirius is still not completely over Azkaban and, frankly, he has his hands full helping Dumbledore, dodging the Ministry, and trying to be your godfather, all at once." She fell silent for a moment, studying Harry for any reaction. Then she continued, "Why don't you tell me a little about yourself?"

"You already know my story."

"Pretend I'm a complete stranger, then what would you say about yourself?"

"Are you muggle or magical?" Harry asked.

"How about Muggle first," Arabella said.

"Hi, my name is Harry Potter, I'm 15 and I go to St. Brutus' Secure Center for Incurably Criminal Boys," Harry stuck out his hand and grinned.

"'St. Brutus' Secure Center for Incurably Criminal Boys'?" Arabella repeated with a raised eyebrow.

"Yeah, that's where Uncle Vernon told Aunt Marge I go."

"How about a magical introduction then?"

"Ok. Hi, I'm Harry Potter; I'm in my 5^th year at Hogwarts. I'm the seeker for the Gryffindor House Quidditch team."

"That's all you'd say?"

"Yup."

"You're obviously not one to boast about yourself."

"No."

"What's your favorite class here at Hogwarts? Or least favorite?" Arabella asked.

"Well, if you'd have asked me that last year, I'd have answered that Potions was my least favorite. I think I'm actually going to like it this year though. Defense Against the Dark Arts has been my favorite since third year--I didn't care for it first or second year. I think Divination is my least favorite this year. Trelawney is just an old bat. She's only ever made two true predictions in her life. I wouldn't even mind that she was a fake if she didn't predict my death every other class. Third year she was constantly saying the Grim was stalking me."

"And?"

"I almost believed her because I kept seeing Snuffles, and he looks like a Grim." Harry suddenly started laughing.

"What's so funny?"

"I just realized something. My Divination exam third year. We were supposed to See something in a crystal ball. I just made up that I saw Buckbeak, alive and flying away safely. Which, of course, is exactly what happened. I wonder if she ever gave me credit for my prediction coming true."

Arabella smiled and then asked, "Why do you like Potions this year?"

"Well, right now we're working on a unit where he tells us to make a potion with these certain attributes and we come up with the recipe based on our knowledge of what different ingredients do. Of course, I'd never tell Ron that I'm actually enjoying Potions."

"Why not?"

"Because he'd go straight to Dumbledore and tell him I was having a nervous break down."

Arabella laughed and then changed the subject, "Did you tell Ron and Hermione about your summer?"

"Yes. Hermione said she didn't know if I was brave or stupid. Ron was just kind of stunned."

"Did you tell them about meeting me for counseling?"

"No."

"Why not? You told them everything else." Arabella pointed out.

Harry shrugged.

"Harry, seeing me for counseling doesn't mean you're weak or can't handle your own life. It means that you are like everyone else; you depend on other people."

"I don't like having to depend on other people.

"I know. It's understandable. You grew up basically depending only on yourself. But you need to realize that you aren't alone."

"But how can I depend on the protection of others, if they can't protect me?" Harry asked.

"Explain to me what you mean by that."

"How can I depend on adults here when every summer I am sent back to the Dursleys? How can I depend on anyone when every time they've tried to protect me, it hasn't worked? First year, second year, last year, they couldn't protect me. Third year the protection wasn't needed. How can I depend on someone who, despite their best intentions, cannot fulfill the role they want me to depend on them for?"

"You have a very good point. But Harry, dependence doesn't mean total dependence. What you need to learn is how to recognize when you need an adult's intervention. For example, how much more could Professor Dumbledore have protected and helped you your second year if you had told him all you knew?"

Harry had never thought of that before.

"Think about it. If you have anymore dreams, I don't want you taking matters in to your own hands. Just because the knowledge is given to you doesn't mean that the responsibility of doing something about it is yours too. Your responsibility is to notify Dumbledore, or myself. Understood?"

Harry nodded.

"How about you come back next Friday afternoon. If it is ok with you, I'd like to see you once a week until I get a feel for you. Sound good?"

Harry nodded and stood to leave.

"By the way, you did a great job in class today. You and Hermione were the quickest to catch on."

"Thanks." Harry said as he left and hurried down to dinner.

"Where have you been?" Hermione asked as he slipped between her and Ron.

"Sorry, I was asking Professor Figg about the stuff you learned last week. I was having a bit of trouble," he lied quickly.

"Right, Harry. You've been able to do the Patronus since third year. And all we did was talk about the theory of mental force behind it," Ron said suspiciously.

Harry pretended not to hear and asked Neville to pass the potatoes.

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