Adriana

As soon as Harry's health was back to normal, Madam Pomfrey released him from the Hospital Wing.

Harry traipsed down the corridor to the Gryffindor common room, happy that he was free to leave the hospital wing. He reached the portrait of the fat lady, and brightly told her the password, and as she swung Ron and Hermione were on their way out.

"Harry!" Hermione exclaimed, her face breaking into a huge smile. Ron grinned at him too.

"We were just heading to the Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson," Ron said. "Go get your books."

In no time, they were all walking down the corridor together, laughing and talking as always. Hermione, however, sent him worried looks every so often, as if she were making sure he was okay.

"I'm fine, Hermione, really," Harry insisted, becoming annoyed by the not-so-subtle glances. "Stop staring at me like that."

Hermione blushed and stared at her feet as the trio entered the classroom. As they were taking their seats, Harry suddenly stopped dead in his tracks. It was the professor...Harry had seen her before. Or at least, he thought he had. She looked just like the girl in his dream; older, yes, but still the same blonde hair and green eyes.

"Is there a problem, Mr. Potter?" the Professor asked, coming to stand next to Harry.

"What? Oh. No," Harry mumbled, quickly taking his seat.

"I am Professor Murray," the Professor said kindly, smiling at the sea of faces. "I'll be teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts from now on, as you may already know. I myself am a graduate of Hogwarts, and quite glad be back." She moved to stand behind her desk. "And now, to business. Open your books, please, to page 219," Professor Murray instructed. "Who knows what a Kelpie is?"

To no one's surprise, Hermione's hand shot in the air. "A Kelpie is the British-Irish water demon that can take various shapes but it normally appears as a horse," she said, smiling triumphantly.

Professor Murray nodded. "Take five points to Gryffindor," she said.

The lesson continued without disruption, but Harry wasn't paying much attention. Was it a coincidence that Professor Murray looked so much like the girl in his dream? It has to be, Harry thought to himself. She can't have drowned in the lake if she's here teaching. He scarcely heard Hermione rattle off another answer and take five more points.

Before Harry had any more time to think, the lesson was over. The fifth-years filed through the door, and Harry felt a sharp tap on his shoulder. Looking up, he saw Professor Murray smiling down at him. "I'd like a word with you, Harry, if you don't mind too much," she said.

"Er...sure," he replied, and waved Ron and Hermione away, saying he'd catch up with them later.

"I'll tell Professor Sprout where you are," Hermione told Harry, before wandering off with Ron.

Harry silently followed Professor Murray into her office, wondering what it was that she could want. "Sit down," the professor told him, nodding at a chair. Harry sat.

"Professor Dumbledore told me about your incident with the lake," Professor Murray said, folding her arms on her desk. "I was just wondering if there's anything you'd like to talk about. I know we just...officially...met today, but it's my place as your Professor to be concerned."

Harry just stared at the woman for a moment. Who was she, and why did she seem so interested in him? And what did she mean, by 'officially'? Don't tell her, said a little voice in the back of his mind. It's not any of her business. A part of him, however, was intent on telling her about his dream. He didn't understand why, but he felt a certain bond of trust towards the professor.

"Actually, Professor, I'd like to ask you something," he said, feeling a bit awkward. "Do curse scars usually give people nightmares?"

Professor Murray looked mildly surprised. "That depends, I suppose," she answered hesitantly. "What sort of nightmares are they?"

Harry began to describe the dream to her, about the girl he saw with the blonde hair and the haunting green eyes in the lake. About how he tried to tell her to save herself, but she declined, and sank back into the murky depths of the water. "She looked remarkably like you," he added as an afterthought.

Professor Murray looked somewhat shaken.

"You saw Adriana?"