Chapter 2: The Dream
Hedwig returned at about two in the afternoon with two letters. Harry had a feeling his friends didn't approve of his decision. First, Harry took Ron's letter.
Dear Harry,
You must be a bloody idiot, not wanting me to help you. I'm going with you, whether you like it or not. You can't stop me, and neither can my mum. I'm of age now; I'm free to make my own decisions. This is my decision.
Ron
Harry then took Hermione's letter.
Dear Harry,
I want to help you I really do! And I will! Besides, you could use the extra help. Horcruxes are very hard, almost impossible to destroy. You could get seriously hurt. I mean, even Professor Dumbledore couldn't get away unharmed. Remember what happened to his right hand last year? Anyways, Ron and I will help you, no matter what! This is a very dangerous task and you can't do it alone. You need all the help you can't Harry. We know that there are risks, but we're willing to take them Harry. We will do anything to help you and protect you. You should know that by now after all these years. So what if we don't finish school and don't take our N.E.W.T.S. We can finally destroy Voldemort and get rid of him once and for all. And, no Harry, Hogwarts doesn't need me. I don't have to be Head Girl. I probably wouldn't have gotten it anyways. Harry, Hogwarts just wouldn't be the same without you.
Love Hermione.
Harry knew that his friends' decisions were final. But Harrydidn't want them to come. He just thought it was too risky. But, he knew he couldn't change their minds. Plus, he could use help, especially since Dumbledore was gone. He knew he couldn't do this alone. He took out two pieces of parchment and wrote back to his friends
Ron,
I guess I have no choice but to let you come with me. You're a stubborn git you know that? I just don't want to see you get hurt or worse… But, as you said, your decision is final and I can't stop you. Oh, and could you possibly send me some food? Especially around lunchtime? I've been locked in my room for the next week, and am only allowed small portions of breakfast and dinner. I don't wanna get into too much detail, so all I'm gonna tell you is I almost killed my uncle and came close to hexing my cousin. That's why I'm locked in my room for a week. So, how about if you send me food, I'll let you help me with the horcruxes. (Although you'll help me even if you don't send food)
Harry
Harry then took out another piece of paper and wrote his letter to Hermione.
Dear Hermione,
I wish you would listen to me and not come. It's dangerous. I wish Ron would listen too, but you're both very stubborn. You're right, I do need help, but I don't want it if it means risking my friend's lives. I suppose I could use someone smart like you to help me. Oh, and Hermione, you have a better chance of becoming Head Girl than any one else. I mean, you are a prefect after all and are the smartest witch in our year. I don't think I could imagine life without you and Ron. I would miss you everyday. And, you're wrong, about Hogwarts not being the same without me. It would probably be better if I wasn't there. I mean, then McGonagall wouldn't have to worry about dealing with me every day, and have to protect me, and give me detentions at least once month. Oh, one more thing. Do you think you could send some food? The meals here aren't so good and I'm not allowed much. Also, I've been locked up in my room and have been punished with very little to eat. I don't want to get into to much detail, so that's all I'm gonna say.
Harry
Harry sealed his letters up and tied them to Hedwig's feet. He wished he hadn't told Hermione that he had been locked up in his room with not much food. She would be all worried and would ask why. "Here Hedwig, I know I'm making you fly like crazy. At least you're not cooped up with nothing to do." Harry opened the window for Hedwig. "You probably know that these are for Ron and Hermione." Harry said and then he watched his snowy owl fly into the sunny sky.
It was around dinner time and Hedwig still hadn't returned. Harry had sent her out about five hours ago. She was usually back by now, unless it was dark, then either Ron or Hermione would let Hedwig stay with them until morning. Harry hoped that Hedwig wasn't hurt. Maybe she was tired from all that flying. Harry just hoped she was all right. Harry had just received his very small portion of dinner. It was only a very small bowl of soup, which didn't look very appetizing. And, well, it tasted how it looked.
It must have been midnight when Harry fell asleep. He had been waiting up for Hedwig, who still hadn't returned.
He was slithering down a long hallway. He heard voices, and he was heading for them. These voices sounded very familiar. These voices were that of his master calling him.
He reached the end of the hallway. He pushed the door aside, and crawled in.
"My lord, Nagini's back." This was Pettigrew's voice.
"Why yes Wormtail, I can see that." Voldemort said. The snake slithered around Voldemort's chair. "Have you any news Nagini?" The snake just hissed back at his master. "Why yes, I see Nagini."
"What is it my lord? What is she telling you?"
"Silence, Wormtail!" Voldemort said, looking back at his precious snake.
"Nagini tells me that you have been betraying me Wormtail."
"No, lord, it isn't true!" Wormtail said, begging his master for mercy.
"Silence!" Voldemort lifted up his wand. Within seconds, Wormtail was on the floor twitching, screaming in pain. Voldemort had used Crucio on him. Voldemort stopped. He too, was also weak, but unlike Wormtail, he was not in much pain.
"My lord, please forgive me. I didn't betray you." Wormtail said, getting on his knees and bowing to his master.
"Crucio!" Voldemort screamed. Once again, Wormtail was on the floor screaming in pain. The curse didn't last as long this time.
"My lord, please. I'm sorry. I never meant to do anything against you. You know I'd never betray you."
"How dare you lie to me! How dare you betray me! Crucio!" The curse hit Wormtail again, and once again he was twitching on the floor. Except, this time, his screams weren't as loud.
Nagini slithered back over to Voldemort and hissed something in his ear.
"Yes, Nagini." Voldemort said in Parsletongue. "You have betrayed me Wormtail, you filthy little rat! You know what the consequences are."
"Please, no my lord, please." Wormtail begged.
"Yes." Voldemort said, and then said something to Nagini in Parsletongue. "Good bye, Wormtail." Then, Nagini turned towards Wormtail and started slithering towards him.
He could sense Wormtail through his red, gleaming eyes. He saw the little rat try to escape, but he couldn't. Then, he attacked him. He heard him scream in pain. His fangs plunged deep into his skin……
Harry woke up, screaming in pain. His scar was throbbing. He put a hand to his forehead. He stopped screaming; realizing he probably woke his everyone up. And he was right.
"What the bloody hell is going on in there?" Uncle Vernon exclaimed. Harry could tell he was very angry.
"Nothing." Harry answered back. "It was just a bad dream is all."
"Well, don't have anymore. You'll wake up the neighbors!"
"Sorry." Harry sounded a bit annoyed. "I just won't go to sleep."
"Well, that works. Now be quiet." Harry heard his uncle go back down the hallway to his own room. Harry looked at his clock. It was two in the morning. He looked over at his window, and saw Hedwig sitting outside. Harry accidentally closed the window before he fell asleep because there was a slight breeze. He went over to it and let Hedwig back in.
"Sorry girl." Harry said, stroking her. "I forgot that you were still out there." Harry realized that Hedwig had two letters tied around her feet. Harry untied them and read them.
Dear Harry
Bloody hell mate! You almost killed your uncle? And your cousin? Wow! What the bloody hell did they do to you this time? I'm telling you mate; maybe you should have just hexed them. It may have been for the best. Of course I'll send you some food. I'll give you mum's leftovers or just any other food I don't like. But, even if I didn't send you any food, I would still help you destroy these Horcruxes.
Ron
Harry then took Hermione's letter. He was almost sure of what her response was.
Dear Harry,
You've been locked in your room without food? What did you do? You must have done something very wrong. Harry, you should know better by now not to get your aunt and uncle angry. And, thank you for having so much confidence in me about Head Girl. Although you're being silly about the whole Hogwarts and McGonagall situation. You're wrong about them both. You're almost as bad as Ron. Well, okay, you're not as bad as Ron. At least you have confidence in me. And I thank you for that. And, yes, I will send you some food. Although, I must say, I'm not sure if you deserve it. You obviously did something to get locked up in your room. Seriously Harry, when will you ever learn? Also, I have an idea to run by you. Yes, I'm going to help you destroy the Horcruxes. But, my idea is maybe we could do everything we need to from Hogwarts. I mean, we could get books from the library, and do other stuff there. That way, we could still be figuring out a way to destroy the Horcruxes, and we would still be going to school. Then, we wouldn't have to worry about not having done our N.E.W.T.S. Also, that way, we would be able to finish Hogwarts. Please put this into consideration. I'm sure, almost positive, Dumbledore would have wanted you to go back to school. But, he also would have wanted you to destroy the Horcruxes, but I know he wouldn't want them to get in the way of school. So, please just consider it.
Hermione
Sometimes Harry wished Hermione didn't get into so much detail or ask so many questions. Then he had to respond to all them and sometimes it made her worry a little too much. At least Ron was short and too the point. But, that's what made his two best friends different. He then thought about what Hermione had said. About still going to school and figuring out how to destroy the Horcruxes. It did seem like a good idea, but then maybe Harry would be too focused on school, and wouldn't spend enough time with the Horcruxes. Harry decided to write back to his friends in the morning.
Harry went back to sleep and luckily didn't have any more nightmares. When he got up, he wrote back to Ron and Hermione.
Dear Ron,
Thanks mate. I really appreciate it. Well, my uncle and Dudley were just making me very mad, especially my uncle. They've been making me mad for as long as I can remember, and I just finally had it. I was gonna leave, and my uncle wanted me too leave, but I promised Dumbledore I would stay until my birthday. So the only reason I'm here is because my aunt gave in and let me stay. Luckily, it's not much longer til I turn of age and can come back to the burrow. Also, I woke up this morning and my scar hurt. Well, I had a nightmare. I was Nagini, and I attacked Wormtail, because I guess he betrayed Voldemort. It was kinda like what happened to your dad. I attacked him the same way. I just hope this dream isn't trying to tell me something, which it probably is.
Harry
Harry then wrote his letter to Hermione.
Dear Hermione,
Well, I got mad at my uncle and cousin and threatened to hex them. So, I got locked in my room. Luckily, I only have to stay here for one more week. Anyways, I thought about your idea. I think I might need more time to think about it though. Anyways, I need to tell you something. I woke up this morning and my scar hurt. I had a nightmare, like the one I had when I attacked Ron's dad. I was Nagini, and I attacked Wormtail because he betrayed Voldemort. What do you think he did? I just hope I'm not in trouble again and don't get tricked like I did two years ago.
Harry
Harry decided to wait a while before he sent Hedwig out again. She was tired. After all, she had been flying back and forth non stop for about two days. Harry was just hoping that Ron and Hermione would send some food soon. Aunt Petunia had just brought up his very small portion of breakfast, which was only grapefruit. Luckily, Ron had sent Pig with some food. Harry saw that he received some pancakes and sausage. Thank you Ron, Harry thought to himself. Harry took out the letter he had just written to Ron, and scribbled "thanks for the food."
When Harry finished eating, he put his letters into envelopes and gave them to Hedwig. Harry watched her fly out into the sky. It was such a beautiful and sunny day. Harry wished he didn't have to be locked in his room on such a nice day. Luckily, he would be leaving soon, and would never have to come back.
Harry started to think about his dream again. He hoped that it wasn't the same situation that he was in a couple years ago. He wanted to know what Voldemort did to Wormtail. Did Nagini really kill him? Did Harry, as the snake, kill him? Harry hoped that his friends, especially Hermione, would know the answer. Though he didn't want them to worry too much.
Hedwig returned with responses from Ron and Hermione. Harry took Ron's first.
Dear Harry,
You had a dream that you were Nagini? That doesn't sound good. You told Hermione, right? Well, if Wormtail is dead, then good! He was a stupid pathetic rat and deserved to die! You probably did something good by killing him. But, I wish I could help you more but I can't. I don't know why you would be having these dreams. You'll probably get more help from Hermione. She'll probably know. Let's just hope this isn't something too bad. Well, see you in a few days.
Ron
PS: Hermione is coming over tonight. So, if you want to come sooner you can. I reckon you'd rather come sooner than have to wait a week. But, it's your choice. Also, you can now just write one letter to both us. See you soon.
Next was Hermione's letter. Harry knew that it was going to be really long.
Dear Harry,
Your scar hurt? This is probably really serious. Voldemort might be near. And, you had a dream again, like the dreams you had a couple years ago? When you attacked Ron's dad? This doesn't sound good Harry. I think we should tell Professor McGonagall. She might know more about this stuff than me. And, oh Harry, how could you hex your uncle? You could loose your wizarding privileges. You really should know better by now. I can't believe you Harry! Honestly, when will you learn? Anyways, you should seriously talk to McGonagall about your scar. And please really consider my offer. See you soon Harry.
Hermione
How could Hermione tell Harry to talk to McGonagall about his scar and his dream? Harry didn't think McGonagall would be able to help him. She might not know about this kind of stuff as much as Dumbledore knew. Harry could barely tell Dumbledore about his scar, so how would he tell McGonagall. Harry just hoped he wouldn't have anymore dreams. He didn't want to think about what would happen if he did.
