The Dream

Harry Potter Fanfic #3

"The Dream"

"Ha, ha, ha!"

Hermione turned and gasped. "No, you're not real! You're dead! Harry killed you!" she screamed.

"Do you really believe that a pathetic sixteen-year-old wizard could kill the greatest sorcerer in the world? Don't make me laugh! Ha, ha, ha!"

"Liar, you're a liar! You always have been and you always will be!" Hermione shouted at the smirking Voldemort. She could feel the tears streaming down her face. She heard a scream and then...she woke up.

She quickly sat up and realized that she was drenched in cold sweat. Panting, she stood from her bed and left her dormitory. Hermione tiptoed to the fifth-year girls' dormitory to talk to Ginny. When she found Ginny's bed in the darkness, stumbling and still shaking from her dream, she opened the curtains of Ginny's four-poster and found an empty bed. Dazed and confused, Hermione walked out of the dormitory.

'Maybe Ginny can't sleep and is relaxing in the Common Room,' Hermione thought anxiously.

She rushed down the stone steps, shivering as her bare feet touched each step. She heard the crackling of the fire as she came to the final step. She smiled as she turned the corner and expecting to find Ginny let out a long sigh. She walked up to the figure seated in the armchair and gasped.

"Ron?" she asked in mild surprise.

Ron turned and realized that Hermione was standing next to him.

"Hermione, what are you doing up? It's 3:30 in the morning," Ron demanded.

"I had a bad dream," she replied. "Why are you up?"

Ron hesitated before answering. Hermione could tell that Ron was very uncomfortable.

"I-I couldn't sleep," he finally answered.

Hermione knew he was lying. She could tell by his trembling voice. Suddenly remembering why she had come down to the Common Room in the first place asked, "Ron, where's Ginny. She's not in her dormitory."

"She's in the hospital wing," Ron answered.

Hermione gasped. "Is she okay?"

"She's fine, just a bit of a stomachache I think," he answered as if swaying the question away.

Hermione began to relax and nodded her understanding.

"Tell me about your dream," Ron suggested.

"Oh, Ron, I'd rather not relive it."

At that moment, they heard footsteps on the stairs and turned to see who was up at this time in the morning.

"Ron, Hermione?"

It was Harry.

"Let me guess. Can't sleep?" Ron asked as Harry came into full view.

Harry nodded and took a seat on the floor next to Hermione.

Harry yawned and then said, "I had a horrible dream." He shivered at the mere thought of it.

"Me too," Hermione replied shivering from her dream as well. She pulled her legs up to her chest to keep herself warm. Ron noticed that Hermione was shivering and offered her the armchair so that she'd be closer to the fire.

"Thanks, Ron," Hermione replied as she switched with him.

Minutes passed as they stared at the fire, lost in their own thoughts. Hermione fell asleep, her last thought haunting her until she allowed sleep to cover her eyes like a dark and heavy blanket.

Harry and Ron avoided each other's eyes. Ron lay down on the couch and then called to Harry.

"Harry, look at 'Mione," he called.

Harry smiled at the sight of his bushy-haired friend fast asleep in the armchair.

"Maybe I should take her upstairs," Ron said, more to himself than to Harry.

Harry nodded and watched as Ron stood and walked over to pick up Hermione. Ron took Hermione in his arms and was immediately surprised at how light she was.

"She weighs about as much as a rag doll," he told Harry.

Harry laughed weakly and followed Ron up the stairs. Harry entered the boys' dormitory as Ron went into the girls' to place Hermione in bed.

Ron walked over to Hermione's four-poster and placed her gently under the pink silky covers. He stared at her as she lay in bed looking so vulnerable.

"I'll always protect you, Hermione," he whispered into the night air. He leaned over and kissed her forehead. "Sweet dreams, 'Mione," Ron whispered in her hair. He tiptoed out of the girls' dormitory with one last backward glance at Hermione.

***

"Ha, ha, ha!"

Harry turned and gasped. "No, you're not real! You're dead! I killed you!" he screamed.

"Do you really believe that you, a pathetic sixteen-year-old wizard, could kill the greatest sorcerer in the world? Don't make me laugh! Ha, ha, ha!"

"Liar, you're a liar! You always have been and you always will be!" Harry shouted at the smirking Voldemort. He heard a scream and then...he woke up.

Breathing with much difficulty, he quickly brought his hands to his forehead. His scar felt as if someone had pressed a hot iron to it.

"Ah," he groaned holding his head in his hands. Blinded by the pain, Harry stumbled out of bed and ran out of the dormitory towards the bathroom. He splashed water on his face and looked up at the mirror.

"Why? Why are you haunting me, Voldemort? You deserved to die. You killed so many people. You deserved to die a slow and painful death, for all the suffering you caused to the world," Harry said to his reflection.

Harry's reflection rolled his eyes and threw his hands into the air. "Ya-da, ya-da, blah, blah, blah," he started screaming while making hand gestures. Then he screamed, in an extremely high-pitched voice, "Oh, Voldie is after me again, help me! Help me, I'm so freaking helpless! Wa, wa, wa! Let me run to my mirror and complain 'cause no one else will listen to me. Everyday! Complain, complain, complain! I'm tired of this shit!"

Harry stared open-mouthed at his reflection. His reflection sighed and took out a cigarette. "Got a light, Harry?" he asked in his usual calm voice.

"Um, no?"

The reflection sighed and turned his back to Harry. He walked away cursing under his breath. When he was gone, the mirror shattered.

Harry stood in shock at what had just happened. He heard a knock at the door.

"Come in," Harry whispered.

The knocking continued.

"Come in!"

Ron opened the door and peered inside. "Are you okay, Harry? Whoa! What happened to the mirror?" he asked.

"Yeah, I'm fine. My reflection just did an Oprah on me that's all."

Ron looked completely bewildered by this response. He didn't dwell on it for long. Harry walked past him and out of the bathroom.

"Come on, Harry, you'll be late for breakfast and Quidditch practice," Ron urged.

Harry went to his trunk and put on his Quidditch robes. He took out his brand-new Firebolt 3. (Harry had given Ron his old Firebolt 2 seeing as Ron was now Gryffindor's new Keeper.)

He and Ron hurried down to breakfast where they found Hermione snoring gently at Gryffindor table. Ron walked over to her and kissed her forehead. (A/N: Ron and Hermione are dating, for those of you out there who still haven't figured it out.) Hermione opened her eyes and looked up sleepily at Ron.

"Morning, sunshine," Ron greeted, smiling at his girlfriend. Hermione rubbed her eyes and sat up while Harry and Ron sat on either side of her. It seemed as if staying awake was costing Hermione all the strength she had.

"Sorry, I didn't get much sleep last night," she explained. "Can someone explain how I got from the Common Room to my bed?" she asked looking intensively at Ron.

"Um," Ron began. "Ok, I'm sorry! I know it's against the rules for boys to enter the girls' dorm, but you looked so uncomfortable, 'Mione," Ron explained in a breath.

"Okay! Breathe, sugarbooger, it's okay!" Hermione insisted.

Harry couldn't help but laugh at Ron's ridiculous pet name.

"Laugh, Harry, laugh all you want. All of Hogwarts will soon know your pet name. You know that embarrassing name that Ginny always calls you?" Ron warned.

That wiped the smile off Harry's face. "You wouldn't dare," Harry whispered, a clear trace of fear in his voice.

"Oh, wouldn't I?" asked Ron.

He took his fork and tapped his goblet exactly how Professor McGonagall does when she wants the Hall's attention. Ron stood on his seat and addressed the waiting Hogwarts audience. "Everyone, Harry Potter, better known as the Boy-Who-Lived, has kindly asked me to reveal to you what his beloved girlfriend, Ginny, calls him. She calls him 'Bubbles'. I, for one, would greatly appreciate it if from now own you would call Mr. Potter 'Bubbles," Ron yelled. All at once, the Hall erupted with laughter...

"Harry!" Ron yelled. "I said, 'wouldn't I?'"

Harry shook himself and realized that he had imaged the whole "Bubbles" scene.

"Um, yes. Yes you would, Ron," Harry answered.

The doors to the Great Hall suddenly opened and in marched Ginny. By the look on her face, she wasn't the least bit pleased. Harry watched as she stormed down the Hall making everyone in the Hall cower in her presence.

"Uh, oh," Harry whimpered as his girlfriend made direct eye contact with him.

"HARRY POTTER!"

Harry cowered in his seat. He could tell that Ginny was fired up (and no one wants to come across Ginny when she's fired up).

"Remember Harry, a Gryffindor is known for his bravery," Ron said, trying to calm Harry down.

"Hi, Gins," Harry whimpered when Ginny was level with him.

"Come with me right NOW!" Ginny ordered.

She grabbed Harry by the ear as if she were his mother. Harry could hear the Hall explode with laughter.

"Oh, look everyone," called out Malfoy. "Potter's in trouble with his mummy!"

Harry followed Ginny out of the Hall, stumbling because of the fact that she had him by the ear. Ginny stormed out in front of him. She opened the doors to the Hall and pushed Harry out of the door. She pinned him to the wall, her eyes shooting daggers at him.

"Ginny, hon. What did I do?" Harry asked in a tiny voice.

Ginny's face relaxed a little and Harry thought he saw a hint of a smile. He soon found out it wasn't a smile.

Ginny sighed. "Harry, I know I should explain, but I'm going to give you a minute to see if you remember," she told him, her voice trembling and tears forming in her eyes.

Harry racked his brain. He couldn't remember what he had done that could upset Ginny this much. Then it hit him like a ton of bricks; he'd forgotten their two-year anniversary.

"Oh, no," he whispered. "Gins, I'm so sorry."

By this point Ginny was in tears. Harry embraced her. Ginny cried into his shoulder. She seemed to have so much pain bottled up inside; all of the pain Tom Riddle had caused her and all those years of being ignored by Harry.

"Gins, you know I love you. The only reason I forgot is that I've had something bothering me ever since Voldemort died," Harry explained.

Ginny continued to sob. Harry took her face in his hands and wiped the tears from her eyes. He kissed her and allowed her pain to fill him. He felt tears run down his cheeks, but he didn't care. Ginny gave into the kiss and allowed herself to, once again, be swept off her feet by the Boy-Who-Lived.

***

That night...

"Ha, ha, ha!"

Ron turned and gasped. "No, you're not real! You're dead! Harry killed you!" he screamed.

"Do you really believe that a pathetic sixteen-year-old wizard could kill the greatest sorcerer in the world? Don't make me laugh! Ha, ha, ha!"

"Liar, you're a liar! You always have been and you always will be!" Ron shouted at the smirking Voldemort. He heard a scream...but he didn't wake up.

(A/N: What Ron doesn't know is that Harry and Hermione are both having the same dream.)

Ron stared at Voldemort as he laughed. Suddenly, Voldemort took out a wand, pointed it at the sky and shouted, "Apario Ivanesca!"

The sky was flooded with a piercing white light. As Ron looked up, the sky tore open and falling through it were Harry and Hermione. They landed with a sickening thud next to Ron. Ron tried to get to them, but his feet were stuck to the grassless ground. Harry and Hermione stirred. Moaning, they stood, but as Ron's were, their feet were stuck to the ground as well.

"Now I've got you where I've wanted you for the past five months.

"Potter, you and your annoying sidekicks have made my life a living hell for the past 2 years. I was reborn more powerful than ever that night by my filthy father's grave. Enlighten me, Potter! How is it that a teenage wizard with no extraordinary magical powers could defeat me so many times? TELL ME!!!"

"Because good will always triumph over evil," Harry answered through gritted teeth.

Voldemort ignored him and continued speaking to them with hatred dripping from every word.

"I couldn't stand for it any longer. So the day you killed me, Potter, I preserved myself in your dreams. That way, the dream would slowly consume you and I'd have you trapped in here; with no way out. Just as you are now. All for the pleasure of torturing you as you have done to me for so long."

Harry, Ron, and Hermione couldn't get the fear out of their faces. They were trapped in this dream forever, with no way out.

"In a few hours, someone will notice that you're all missing. They will run up to the Tower to look for you and only find you lifeless bodies, still in their pajamas," Voldemort explained.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione stared at him as he revealed his whole evil plan.

"They will believe you to be dead," he continued. "Then, they will have a lovely ceremony and bury your bodies. Once they do, even if you do find a way out, you'll have no body to return to. For you see, I have only taken your spirits."

He turned his back towards them and walked over to a fire that was burning fervently behind him. Harry, Ron, and Hermione had been so horrified by what they'd just heard that they hadn't noticed the fire was there. He began working with a titanic caldron that was sitting on the fire. He consumed himself in his work. Harry knew what this potion was. This potion was the draft of "The Living Dead".

"Wait a second," Hermione whispered. "He said, 'even if you find a way out', remember. That means there is a way out."

Her face twisted into deep thought. About fifteen minutes passed before she whispered, "I've got it."

Harry and Ron turned their attention to Hermione.

"What is it, 'Mione?" Ron asked.

"I've got a way out. Mind you, it will be difficult. I'll need a wand and I don't have one."

Harry gasped. He'd looked down and seen that in his rushed attempt to start work on his potion, Voldemort had dropped his wand. Harry pointed to it and said, "'Mione, there's a wand right there."

"How thick could you get?" Ron asked, his eyes on Voldemort.

Hermione bent and reached for the wand. She groaned. It was out of her reach by a tiny centimeter. Hermione struggled and finally reached the wand. She sighed and gripped the wand in her hand.

"Now all I have to do is perform the counter-curse," Hermione explained.

"How do you know what the counter-curse is?" Harry asked.

"Trust me, Harry." Hermione looked down at her feet. "This is a simple Sticky-Feet curse," she explained matter-of-factly. Then she pointed the wand at her legs and whispered to the wand, "Cistem Stickious."

Her feet sprang from the ground. She smiled as she unstuck Harry and Ron's feet.

Just as Hermione was about to perform the dream's counter-curse, Voldemort turned his attention to his prisoners. He smirked and started walking towards them.

"Hurry, Hermione," Ron whispered.

"No, I have a better idea," she answered. "Pretend you're still stuck to the ground," she ordered.

When Voldemort was a foot from them, Hermione pointed the wand at him and shouted, "Stupefy!" A stream of red light ejected from the wand. Voldemort was shot backwards when the spell hit him. He lay stiff as if he'd been recently stuffed.

Hermione then pointed at the sky and shouted, "Ienzas Moorial!" The sky turned bright blue and grass appeared beneath their feet.

" Comiza Destruya!"

As Hermione was casting this spell, the sky and everything around them began to crumble.

"Diaperio Ivanesca!"

Harry felt something grab him by the neck and drag him up, up towards the sky; through the sky and into his body.

Harry panted as he sat erect in his bed. He saw Ron panting the same way and realized that it had all been real. He and Ron stood and ran to the girls' dormitory. Hermione was sitting erect in her bed as well. She sat there staring as Harry and Ron ran to her and hugged her.

"Thank you, 'Mione," they said at the same time.

The Trio hugged for what seemed to be an eternity, grateful to be alive, grateful that "THE DREAM" was over. Only this time, it was over forever.

THE END