Chapter 1: Loosing Control

Night had finally fallen over the town; a welcome sign to the teen as he stared out his window, signaling that another day was behind him. Another day without incident, another day that she remained hidden at home, and one more day closer to being reunited with all his friends. The summer days passed by more slowly than the one before it and the school year still seemed forever away. Even though in reality it would be starting in less than a month. With a deep sigh, he flopped down loudly onto his bed, causing the springs inside to scream. Staring up at the cold blank ceiling, he pictured the red velvet canopy he soon would be sleeping under, and this comforted him.

Sleep had never really been his friend; most of the nights of his life had been plagued with nightmares that would have caused grown men to never close their eyes again. But still, at the age of almost seventeen, he pushed on, trying to put what he saw every time he decided to chance a trip to the land of dreams behind him. This summer was no exception as most of his dreams caused him to wake up in cold sweats, and nearly screaming. He didn't know what it was that made them more horrific as of recently, but he knew it must have something to with his newest friend.

He knew that she was safe in her parents' house all the way on the other side of the ocean, but still at night he dreamed of her death. It all happened in slow motion as it did on that fateful day last December, as he watched her take a knife to the stomach instead of his best friend and her girlfriend. Racing to her side, the life drained from her and pooled onto the fallen snow. It by every right should have been a fatal wound, but some miracle she had managed to survive. But he could not let up the illusion that she had perished that night or else he would surely sign her death certificate. His dreams had never been a safe place for him, and were often invaded by his enemy, who also had an intense interest in his newest friend.

The eighteen year old female was no mere muggle. In fact she was a rare magical being called a soul piercer. A person who could, by simply making prolonged eye contact, see straight into another's soul. Flashes would fill her mind as important moment in that person's life that helped mold them into who they currently were, would play like a movie. It wasn't that much of a burden, and most times it ended relatively quickly, but there some instances where she totally lost herself. In order to remain in control of herself, she had to remain focused. If even for a split second she allowed the other person's current emotion to affect her, she would totally be consumed by it. It had only happened a few times in her life, but those were enough for her.

Soul piercers only appeared every few generations, which meant finding one was a task in itself. So when Lord Voldemort had one willing pledge herself to him to save her girlfriend, he couldn't help but be delighted in his find. He had many hopes for adding a soul piercer to his band of death eaters, but luckily for her he now, like the rest of the wizarding world, thought she was dead. If he ever found out that she was in fact alive and back home in the United States then he surely would return to retrieve his newest pledge.

Her secret was safe with a handful of people, who would rather give up their own lives then reveal her whereabouts. Unfortunately for one, he wouldn't even have to say anything to break the secret.

"I am sorry, I must saddle you with a very difficult task," the old headmaster had said right after he had returned her home to her family after months of her being missing. "As you already know, Voldemort is deeply connected with you and can peer into your mind at any moment. We also know that you are more susceptible to him in your dreams, but you must try to control your dreams."

"I don't understand, sir," he asked as he looked at the weary wizard, he hadn't been looking his best as of recently. "How am I to do that?"

With a gentle smile, Dumbledore took his seat behind his desk. "Every night before you go to sleep, you must think of only Rachel's death. That way if you happened to dream about her she will still appear to be deceased. You know what will happen if Voldemort would ever discover that she was in fact alive."

The Gryffindor grew silent, thinking about losing his friend all over again. They all already thought her dead once before, and it nearly destroyed them all, especially Hermione. Not only would he be devastated over losing Rachel but he knew that it would send his best friend back into that dark place over losing her love again.

"Yes, sir, I have a strong idea of what would happen," he answered inhaling deeply. "Don't worry you can count on me."

So now every night before he went to sleep, Harry Potter had to meditate on the last thought Voldemort had of the soul piercer in order to keep her out of harm's way. Harry knew they were just dreams, but it didn't matter as the nightmare got more and more intense as the nights passed. At first it was just the exact occurrence of that night in the forest, but after a few weeks more and more of his friends began to fall victim to the knife as well. Then most recently Harry became the wielder of the blade, slashing his friends to the ground, instead of the deranged Bellatrix Lestrange.

The burn in his eyes began as it did at this time every night, signaling that it was nearly midnight. Closing his eyes for a brief moment he couldn't help but smile knowing they would all shortly be reunited at the Burrow in a few days. Then from there they would all head back to Hogwarts while Rachel would begin her freshman year at the University of Glasgow.

It's worth it, he thought happily imagining all the happy memories she must be having this summer, if it keeps her alive.

In the time before sleep could grasp him completely, his ears filled with white noise. As soon as he realized what had happened, Harry shot up into a sitting position, the buzzing still loudly in his head. "No," he whispered loudly trying to hear his own voice over the static. "I didn't fall asleep, I couldn't have fallen asleep!"

Leaping to his feet, Harry began to slap and pinch himself as hard as he could hoping it would snap him back to reality before a dream could form. How could I be so stupid, he thought angrily sinking his teeth into his own forearm. To his relief he slowly began to feel a warmth bath over his body and the glow of the sun on his face. A rush of relief filled his body as he was certain he had made it to morning without spilling her secret, but it only took a moment before her realized he was sorely mistaken.

Under his feet he felt the soft squish of Astroturf replace the hard wooden floors of his bedroom at the Durselys. Spinning he saw a whole stadium erupt around him, complete with a cheering crowd in the bleachers. The excitement could be felt in the air, as the melody of "Pomp and Circumstance" floated on the evening breeze.

Where am I, he thought his eyes adjusting to the bright sun.

Once his eyes were focused he saw that before him stood hundreds of teens all dressed identically in graduation robes and mortarboards. They all were screaming and cheering as each one of their classmates' names was called and they walked to the middle of the stage to receive their well-earned diploma. Watching the scene in front of him he couldn't help but be affected by the cheerful environment. Even though he did not recognize any of the names, he joined in the clapping watching them graduate. Inside he hoped that this is what it would be like when he completed his seventh year at Hogwarts the following June.

As he stood against the chain link fence he watched the next row stand and head toward the stage. "Adam Walters," the man at the podium announced.

The first teen in the newest line raced to the stage to wild applauds. Grabbing his diploma he leaped off the stage to laughter, it was apparent he was a class favorite.

"Samantha Wagner!"

A tall blond strutted up the steps and across the stage receiving whistles and cat calls the whole way. With a wink and a wave to the crowd she descended the steps and headed back to her seat.

"Such a delightful scene," the whisper came from behind him.

Harry straightened up immediately recognizing that hiss of a voice. With a quaking hand the young wizard began to reach toward his wand that was normally hidden in his pocket. To his horror he discovered an empty pocket, knowing that he had placed his wand on his desk before he had lay down. The next name was called but Harry didn't hear it, as the voice continued. "So many young people, their lives just beginning, it's a shame you will never know this moment, Harry Potter."

"That's what you think," Harry snarled and whirled around, wand or no wand, he was going to face his enemy.

"Rachel West!"

The voice boomed over the loudspeaker as Harry's emerald eyes met the red snakelike eyes of Lord Voldemort. For a moment the world stood still, and after a brief second Harry realized it wasn't just a figure of speech, it was literally. Every person in the stands was frozen mid cheer or clap. Turning he saw that even the trees had stopped midway in the evening wind, the only two things that remained unaffected where him and the Dark Lord. That is until he heard footsteps from someone walking across the stage.

The dark wizard's face lit up like a Roman candle causing Harry to whirl around. Walking to the middle of the stage was a very familiar figure; she was concentrating so hard on not tripping on her walk that she hadn't noticed the world had stopped. Upon getting to the principal, she finally figured out something was not right.

"Mr. Haugh?" Rachel asked waving a hand in front of his frozen smile.

"Well, well if I'm not mistaken Mr. Potter, and please correct me if I'm wrong. But I believe that is the soul piercer that pledged herself to me," Voldemort said loudly causing the girl to stiffen up. "Who I thought perished at the hand of Bellatrix."

Turning toward the bleachers it was easy to spot the only two moving people amidst the masses. "No," she whispered her body beginning to quake. "NO! How did you find me?!"

A chuckle erupted from You-Know-Who as he glided through the fence. "Young Harry led me straight to you," he said placing a pale hand on Harry's shoulder. "I truly couldn't have done this without him."

Rachel's face fell; feeling betrayed by someone she considered to be a very close friend. "Harry? How could you do this to me? I trusted you!"

The fear in her voice was like daggers to his heart. "I didn't mean to do it," he cried tossing his enemy's hand off his shoulder, and broke into a run toward the girl. "I feel asleep before I could meditate, I'm so sorry!"

Fighting back tears of fear Rachel shoved him away from her, pushing him completely off the stage. "I hate you, Harry Potter!" she shrieked as he hit the ground.

Staring up at her from the track he watched her recoil in horror. Before he could react the words were from Voldemort's mouth.

"Avada Kedvra!"

The green light enveloped her in an instance causing her to drop like a ragdoll to the stage, with a sickening thud.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Harry screamed flying upward and off his bed.

Sweat was pouring down his face and his hands were violently shaking, as he tried to get his bearings straight. He was no longer in the warmth of the sunlit stadium, but was now in his dark room lying on the floor. What have I done, he thought tears stinging his eyes.

Wallowing his self-pity was not what needed to be done at this moment and he knew that. So before he could second guess himself he leapt to his feet and hastily scribbled a note on a scrap of paper.

He knows . . . be ready to go tonight.
-H

Prodding Hewdig awake, who bit at his fingers a few times before she left her cage, he handed the note to her. After Harry instructed his owl who he was delivering the letter to, he almost threw her out into the dawn air. If he timed it right Rachel would have just enough time to gather her things before he was to arrive. As he watched the sun slowly begin to rise and Hedwig disappear into the horizon, Harry Potter vowed that he would keep Rachel West safe… no matter what it took.