Hogwarts: A History

Harry awoke that morning drenched in sweat, his body feeling light and airy. He had just escaped from a nightmare, its contents now a blur. Something awful was coming; he could feel it in his bones; in his scar. He sat up slowly to avoid any sudden movements and looked around his bed chamber. Reality gradually set in as he recollected the past night. Ron, Hermione and Harry had contorted into Ron and Hermione with Harry watching from the sidelines. Suddenly a tremor sent through Harry and a flash appeared in front of his eyes. The vision of his parents, their pale bodies returned to him once again. But before he had time to comprehend the moment, it had fled as soon as it had arrived. Harry rubbed his eyes hard with his fingers, as if attempting to push the image deep into the back of his memory once more.

This had happened to him more than once. What had occured that night had stayed with him. The fateful night where it seemed all his fears, dreams, and pains were stabbed at and dissected. He had encountered such fatal instances before this, but he had always been able to block it out, to store it deep in the caverns of his brain. This stayed with him; stabbed at his heart and flashed before his eyes each time he blinked.

He should the notion aside and slung his legs over the side of his bed. No one appeared to be in the room. Fearing he was late for something, Harry rushed to get ready.

-+*<>*+-

As he descended the stairs into the common room, he noticed that it was unusually empty, with the exception of a few first years. At this sight, Harry felt extremely uneasy and decided to find Ron and Hermione as soon as possible to see what was wrong. Pushing his feelings of betrayal from the two of them aside, he rushed towards the portrait hole.

-+*<>*+-

When Harry entered the Great Hall, the large room was packed with students. Each table was chaotic, an atmosphere of chatter leering over them. Harry noticed Hermione, stiff as a bored, staring vacantly at the nothingness in front of her. He hurried towards her and gently put a hand on her shoulder. She slowly turned her head to look at him and he saw the shimmer of her moist eyes, the late paths of tears etched onto her cheeks.

"Hermione? What's going on?" Harry was more terrified than ever seeing the fear, anguish and worry reflecting in her brown eyes.

"Oh God, Harry," she stammered. "It's Ginny. Something happened to her."

-+*<>*+-

Ron galloped aimlessly down the great halls of the school, tears falling like streamers down his cheeks. His sister was missing. He reached the entrance hall and slowed his pace. He wiped his eyes hard on his sleeve; pushed the door to the outside door open, and walked through. The cold wind stung his face and froze the tears that capped his cheeks. As he strode out into the beyond, he gave one final look back at the school, realizing that he might never return.