Dreamland

Chapter One - The Visitor

Ronald Weasley awoke slowly, he could still feel the phantom of the pain in his throat. He lay on a comfy surface, it was so comfy he could fall straight back to sleep but something was stopping him. At first he tried to lift his head, but he just fell so weak it was physically impossible, he couldn't't even remember where he was, how he had gotten there or why he felt so weak.

"Ah Mr Weasley you're awake" a familiar voice said from across the room, he couldn't't place the voice but it was extremely familiar and with it there was a number of memories flashing through his brain, a humiliating sensation of love, the burning pain and sensation of falling through darkness, he remembered Harry shouting but he couldn't't figure out what had happened, he could remember waking up on his birthday, and that's all he could do, nothing else seemed to fit into place, just a random series of events blurred into nothingness.

"I was hoping you could sleep through to tomorrow, I'm afraid you still have some of the poison in your system" the voice spoke again and Ron could hear someone moving around close by him, just outside his range of vision. The word "poison" brought it back to him and he placed the pieces together, he remembered the drink, the drink in Slughorn's office moments before the burning overtook him.

"What time is it?" Ron mumbled, it wasn't the first question he had thought off but for some reason it was the first to leave his lips.

"It's ten in the morning on the third of march" the voice answered back "you've been asleep for two days". The words echoed through Ron's mind, he had one drink on his coming-of-age birthday and he slept for two days, he would never hear the end of this from his brother's, it wouldn't't surprise him if Fred and George already had a list of jokes just waiting for the perfect moment to be told. "Your family have been very worried about you, your parents even came up to the school" and with that Ron did groan, his mother had heard, and he knew that meant he was in for some serious over-protective mothering in the foreseeable future.

"And your lady friend is always visiting you" and Ron's mood worsened at the mention of Lavender, getting poisoned would almost be worth not having to see her every five minutes of the day, bur apparently even that didn't't keep her away, she was unstoppable and the thought of a unstoppable Lavender was one that made him want to go down to Slughorn's office and have a much larger drink.

Hours past and Ron did nothing but lay awake in his bed, thinking over the past few months and mainly his relationship with Lavender, now knowing it had been a mistake, he wanted to make Hermione jealous, plus the fact that someone actually liked him felt nice, for once it wasn't Harry who they were after.

"Hey your awake, about time" a voice spoke out from the door and speaking of Harry he was now walking towards him with a big smile on his face "two days sleep, I would say a new record but with you we can't be sure" he laughed sitting next to him, and Ron couldn't't help but grin, finally having someone to talk to felt like heaven, he hated being alone.

"What happened to me?" Ron asked, he had already guessed most of it but he wanted to know, plus with it being him he may be completely wrong, which has be known to happen.

"Someone had spiked Slughorn's drink with poison, they think it's the same person who cursed the necklace. You're luckily to be alive" he answered, and the information processed through Ron, the same person who had cursed the necklace?, which meant that the person had never meant to hurt him, shame he thought, for a second there he thought someone thought him important enough to assassinate but apparently not he laughed to himself.

"We've all been worried, Your mom and dad, Hagird as well and Ginny though she would never admit it, same goes by the twins, they came to visits you as well" Harry smiled and Ron felt warmer suddenly "and Lavender has been crying ever five minutes, quite annoying actually, Hermione too, well she's not been crying but you tell she's worried about you, didn't speak to anyone until she was able to see you" Harry finished, and Ron turned his head quickly and far too painfully to Harry "Hermione was worried?, thought she didn't't care anymore" Ron responded, though he was unsure why he had annoyance in his voice, he wanted Hermione to care didn't he?, the answer was yes, but he didn't want to hurt her again, and it seems for the last two days he had been doing just that.

"She might come and visit you soon actually, I'll let her know you've woken up" Harry smiled, and Ron couldn't'help but feel that Harry knew more than he was letting on and Ron felt himself go red, and quickly changed the subject.

"So what about Quiddich, when's the next match?" Ron asked, and Harry suddenly appeared to be annoyed "Cormic McLaggen is replacing you for now, but can't wait to get rid of him"

"Can't blame you, he's a git" Ron laughed, though he couldn't help but feel annoyed that Harry had replaced him, despite he knew that he had too.

"Match is in a few days actually, I'm hoping you'll be able to rejoin after that, the whole team misses you, even Ginny"

"Cormic must be bad" Ron laughed and Harry laughed too.

"Anyway, I got to go, got Potions, I'll let Hermione and Lavender your awake" Harry said as he got to his feet, Ron groaned slightly "you don't have to let Lavender know if you don't want too" Ron muttered and Harry chuckled "no chance, you should of seen her when no one told her you had been poisoned, not going through that again" he laughed before turning to walk out the Hospital Wing.

Ron was left alone once more, and he didn't know why but he felt cold. Not because he was physically cold, but it was the strangest feeling, It was as if he wasn't actually cold yet, but he knew he soon would be, and it was making him incredibly uneasy. He looked over his shoulder at the window, the sky was overcast and the rain fell heavy, he threw himself backwards when he noticed two wrapped presents on his bedside table, he knew by the looks of them they were presents left over from his birthday, but he remembered opened all off his presents, which means these came later. Reaching over he grabbed the biggest one first, he dropped it gently onto his legs and read the note attached to it, the present was from Fred and George. Ripping the wrapping paper of, Ron was greeted by a large box full of products from the twins shop and a large smile emerged on his face, it was almost a cheeky grin and one could be forgiven for thinking him a younger version of the twins at this moment in time. Placing the box back onto his table, he reached for the second and much smaller package, which was wrapped much more elegant, picking up the card he read it once and suddenly he felt a little bit happier - the card was from Hermione.

With shaking hands, Ron slowly unwrapped the wrapping to reveal a small box which seemed oddly familiar, opening the box he looked inside it, inside was a necklace. The pendent was only small and seemed to be a mixture between a cross and a red lion, it didn't look like the most expensive thing in the world but Ron thought it must have cost her more than enough, especially after how he had treated her over the last few months. He had hardly talked to her now the waves of guilt were washing over him.

"Hi" a small voice rang out from behind him, which was apparently the theme of the day or something, but Ron didn't mind because he knew that voice all too well. He turned to see Hermione looking at him with a nervous expression on her face, she was bouncing up and down on her feet and twiddling nervously at her fingers. Ron now suddenly felt very nervous "Hey" he spoke, a voice which didn't sound very much like his own. Hermione walked towards him, sitting down on the chair beside him. She appeared very tense

"So, how you feeling?" she asked and Ron smiled at her slightly "I've been better, could use a drink though" he laughed and Hermione chuckled slightly too "I think you've had enough to drink don't you" she smiled and Ron wished the awkwardness would vanish so it could be as it used to be between them; Before Lavender and Vicky bloody Krum.

"So" Ron said, he was truly lost for words "have you, you know, been up to much lately?" he asked, before cringing inside slightly , what a stupid thing to say.

"Just school" Hermione answered, her voice was so small it was almost a whisper "nothing much else, just trying to prepare for my N.E.W.T.S, there coming up you know" and Ron had to laugh "Hermione you'll never change will you, N.E.W.T.S are next year and already you're worried about them" Ron laughed, and Hermione seemed a little hurt, something which Ron seemed to notice and began speak again "I don't say that as if it's a bad thing, I mean, its one of the things I like most about you" he said, growing a brighter shade of red everyone second and Hermione blushed too, and she smiled and small smile, though quite clearly she was holding back a even bigger one.

"So what've I been missing in lessons?" Ron asked and with those words Hermione peaked up with excitement "well, nothing much, we have to do a essay for Defence Against The Dark Arts, its actually quite hard since you missed the lesson, but I can help you if you like" she said, finishing the sentence a little uncertain, she was now staring at Ron seemingly nervous, picking at the fabric of her sleeve.

"Yeah, that'll be great thanks" Ron smiled and Hermione smiled brightly too, Ron seemed to suddenly remember something "oh, and thanks for the necklace" Ron smiled, picking up the necklace once more he dangled it in front of her

"You like it?"

"Yeah, it's great. Red lion, where did you get that idea from?" Ron laughed

"Its actually a symbol of England itself, not just Gryffindor, the connection is completely coincidental" she said quickly and Ron laughed, even with a sarcastic comment Hermione had to give a logical answer.

"Haven't you got dinner to go to?" Ron asked and Hermione seemed to be suddenly remember and seemed a little disappointed.

"Oh yeah" she said "I can stay though, if you wanted me too" and she sounded a little bit hopefully

"You could always get back, plus, no one should miss dinner" Ron smiled and Hermione smiled sadly, before climbing to her feet "I'll be back soon" Hermione smiled as she climbed to her feet, she and Ron exchanged small smiles before she left.

Hermione did not return that night, in fact nothing happened for Ron until it was almost past 3am. Ron was lay in a uneasy sleep, he couldn't just let his brain rest, he guessed it was a side-effect of sleeping for two days, because he never normally had a problem not thinking about anything. It started when he heard what sounded like the door to the Hospital Wing open, but he shook it off, he was hearing things, it was too late for visitors

"Ron" a female voice rang out, and this time Ron sat up and looked, and was shocked by what he saw. A girl, roughly around the same age as him but one he had never seen before, she had shoulder length dark blond hair, she wasn't the prettiest girl in the world, but there was no denying the fact she was attractive, her eyes were rather large, and deep blue but the most interesting thing about this girl, was that she was covered from head to toe in what looked like her own blood.

"Ron" she spoke again before collapsing to the floor, Ron dragged himself out of bed, his head span and blurred from the movement, moving slowly towards her,

"You need to take this, tell no one" she spoke, and as Ron arrived next to her, he realised she was holding what looked like a package, this one looked to have been wrapped quickly in old paper, Ron's name was written across it in handwriting he couldn't place but it was extremely familiar. Suddenly a thought shot into Ron's head

"Help!" he shouted at the top of his voice, but the girl's hand shot up and covered Ron's mouth "take the package, and tell nobody about it" she spoke so quietly Ron had to lean in closer towards her to hear "you're gonna be fine, okay we're gonna get help" Ron spoke, about to shout again, but her hand shot up again "hide it!" she insisted, thrusting the package into his hand, Ron looked at her, to the package, then as quick as possible raced back to his bed, shoving the package into his pillowcase before rushing back to her. His vision blurred and he felt his feet slips beneath him and he crashed to the floor next to her. He noticed her eyes were slowly closing, he didn't know how she was injured but he knew that it was bad enough.

"What's your name?, tell me your name" Ron spoke quickly trying to keep her talking and she turned to him "Alison" she answered "you having no idea how special you are do" she laughed and Ron felt himself go slightly red

"Me?, you hardly know me, I'm not special" Ron laughed, this was good he thought, he had her talking. Ron looked around, spotting a wand she must have carried with her, picking it up, he pointed it at a empty table and yelled "Stupefy" and with that the desk exploded loudly, someone surely had to come running now, Ron noticed that Alison was trying to talk again, he leaned in closer to listen but he couldn't make it out, suddenly she threw herself upwards and kissed Ron fully on the lips. It was the shock more than anything that made him responded, he felt her arm wrap around his neck for a second but it became limp, and her lips fell from his and she became perfectly still. She was dead.

The Hospital Wing was now full of teachers, Ron was sat on his bed still shocked by what has happened, every now and then his eyes would travel towards his pillow, and the words of the girl who had called herself Alison "take the package, and tell nobody about it", the words ran through his head over and over again, and he had decided that he wouldn't tell anyone until he had a chance to see what was inside it. Ron looked sideways at McGonagall, Flitwick, Sprout and Snape were talking, each of them had confirmed that the girl was not a member of their house, and therefore was not a student of Hogwarts School. Her body had been moved from the floor to a bed, where she had been respectfully covered up and the curtains pulled across as the teacher's tried to understand who she was and where she came from. Ron had already spoken to both McGonagall and Dumbledore about what had happened, though he had kept a few things to himself - mostly the package and he also neglected to tell them that the girl had kissed him, he didn't know why she had done that, he knew for a fact that he had never met her, but yet there was something in that kiss, it had been both passionate and tender, nothing like when he kissed Lavender.

Tine went by, and Ron pretended to sleep to stop being questioned by the teachers, though he didn't sleep a second, he only wanted to be alone so he could open the note, the nagging curiosity wouldn't leave him alone. Finally just before dawn arrived the room was empty again, and Ron quietly pulled the package from his pillowcase, he slowly ripped it open, off all the wrappings he had opened recently, the excitement off this one beat them all, and the first thing he noticed was a ripped, crumbled piece of paper, Ron gently pulled out the fragile note and read it quickly, which made him even more confused, for the letter read.

"Ron

You'll know when the time comes

Harry"

A letter from Harry?, of all the things he had expected this surely was not one of them, he tried to think what it could mean, it was obvious that he was meant to understand. It was then Ron noticed a second object in the wrapping, and slowly he pulled it out and this made him more shocked than anything before; Ron had pulled out a long sharp antique dagger which had dry blood smeared on the blade. Ron quickly wrapped it back up into the wrapping and shoved it into the pillow once more. Ron knew he would get no more sleep, all he wanted to do was talk to Harry and get to the bottom to everything, curiosity ran through him and he guessed that Harry knew at least something about what had happened tonight, and then he could put the events behind him, but Ronald couldn't possibly have known about the events which were about to descend on Hogwarts School.

A/N - So there you go, the first chapter to this tale. The second second will be up Tomorrow so you don't have long to wait to see what happens next. While you're waiting however I would love to get your views and theorys on this chapter in your lovely Reviews which are greatly appreciated.