Chasing a Dream

Chapter 8

Creepy

"Oh! We're here!"

Sirius stepped out of the car. Harry looked around. They were in the driveway of a huge house. The house was two stories high, white, with enchanted vines climbing up the front.

Harry got out of the car and walked around to the other side to collect Hermione. Harry led her slowly up the stone pathway to the front door, which was a crimson red. Harry looked distractedly up at the house.

The vines were a deep green with royal blue flowers blooming here and there. The windows leered emptily at him and the wrap-around porch sported a nice porch swing, pots of plants and flowers on the floor.

The yard was the largest Harry had seen. It stretched for about three acres of land, one and a half covered in dense woods. It was the most beautiful house Harry had seen. Mind you that he hasn't seen too many.

Sirius opened the big red door and Harry and Hermione followed him through it. The inside was just as impressive as the outside.

The hall had a hard-wood floor. Paintings covered the wall. After Hogwarts, it was strange for Harry to see paintings that didn't move. There was a dining room and conservatory that had a transparent ceeling. The kitchen wasn't remarkably huge. Crookshanks was napping on a rug, lying in the sun.

Sirius trudged them up the stairs. There were five bedrooms, three guest and two regular. The master bedroom was very large and decorated handsomely. The guest bedrooms were lovely, though not nearly as much time had been put into decorating them.

Harry took Hermione into what could only be her room. There were large french doors that led out to a balcony. The walls were a light lavender. Her daybed had white netting pulled back by royal purple ties. There was a single nightstand with a vase of white roses setting on it. There were no pictures on the walls, however, there were a set of two shelves that held numerous items.

There were several pictures of Hermione when she was young and a small stuffed rabbit who looked as if it'd seem better days on the top shelf. On the second were more pictures, but these were not only of her, but Harry and Ron, too. There were even some of Ginny. In one Harry was playing Quidditch. In another, Ron and Harry were talking at a table in Three Broomsticks, butterbeers in hand. Harry smiled.

Sirius walked in and sat down next to Hermione on her bed.

"Why don't you go explore the house and get unpacked. I've already put your things in your room."

Harry nodded.

He explored the places he hadn't seen yet. There was a large library, as expected, but the most impressive room was towards the back. The ballroom.

It was the biggest room in the house, as big as the Great Hall only not as tall. There were a few tables around the edges of the room, but the center was undoubtedly used for dancing. The walls were a deep gold and the floor was made of polished wood.

Harry found "his room" next to Hermione's. He took all of his clothes and put them in their places. Since Harry didn't have many items it didn't take him more than an hour to complete. He was just propping his Firebolt up in a corner in the closet when Sirius came in with a plate and a sandwich.

"I'm so sorry, Harry, but I'm afraid that I have to leave you. I have to go to the court room. You understand don't you?"

"Of, course."

Though part of Harry didn't want his godfather to go, the other wanted to be alone with Hermione. Sirius smiled.

"Then I'm out of here."

Sirius drew out his wand, and with a small pop, he was gone. Harry stood and walked next door to Hermione's bedroom.

She was still sitting on her bed. Harry took her hands, thinking that some exercise and fresh air would do her good. Harry took her through the kitchen and led her out to the backyard.

The back yard had a small fountain and bushes sprouting up everywhere. There were statues littering the grass. Flower patches sprung up at the corners of the house. Out in the distance he could see the shimmering waters of a lake on the outskirts of the forest.

Harry sat down in the grass. He motioned her to sit but she remained standing. She turned her face to the sky. They stayed like that for a minute until Harry got tired of just sitting there.

He stood and took her back inside, depressed that she hadn't reacted at all. Harry decided to exercise the doctor's advice. He took her to the library.

He sat her in a deep leather chair and picked up Hogwarts: A History. Harry sat there reading for God knows how long. The sun had long set before he gave up, his voice cracking and tired. Hermione looking entirely unfazed. Harry sighed.

He yawned and stretched. Hermione looked at him, catching Harry's eye. As he watched, she lifted a hand and pointed it at the shelves on the far side of the room.

Creepy. Harry thought to himself as he got up to investigate where she was pointing. On the wall were shelves upon shelves of records and cds.

A cold hand on his shoulder made him jump and give a strangled yell. Hermione was looking over his shoulder at the music. Harry was starting to get creeped out, alone in this big, quiet house with a girl incapable of thought, yet kept walking around on her own like a zombie.

He took her by the forearms and led her back upstairs to her bedroom. He pulled down the sheets of her bed hastily. Then he proceeded to tuck her in as he'd done at the hospital. He closed her eyes, walked to the door, whispered goodnight, and turned out the lights. Locking the door behind him.

He went back to his own room. Wearily, he changed and climbed into bed. He stared at the ceeling for a while but only for a while. Harry was very tired, and soon he was fast asleep.

He wasn't sure what it was exactly that woke him up. Whether he'd been having a nightmare or heard a noise. Whatever it was, it caused Harry to sit bolt upright in bed.

It was apparently Midnight. Harry glanced uneasily around the room to see if he could find what had woken him up. Silence.

Harry shook his head and kneaded his forehead with his fist. You're loosing it, Harry. He thought to himself.

Harry threw the covers off himself and crossed the room to the door. He picked up his light blue bathrobe and tied it around him, deciding he'd check up on Hermione. I shouldn't have freaked out earlier.

He went next door, unlocked it, and stopped dead in his tracks. A gentle breeze entering through the french doors leading to the empty balcony ruffled his hair. The covers on Hermione's bed were lying messily on the floor. Hermione was gone...