Harry Potter dreamed. Of course there was nothing unusual about that, Harry Potter had had many dreams throughout his life. In his happier moments he dreamed of loving friends who welcomed him into his home, like the Weasley's had done on many occasions. Sometimes he dreamed of the family he had once lost. Other times the dreams were more sinister, visions into the mind of the madman who haunted his steps. But this dream was different, different because it felt so real and yet not at all like the vile visions of his enemy.
In the dream, Harry was walking down a long hallway that seemed to trail off into interminable darkness. Along the walls on either side of the path strange carvings and statues loomed with an ominous familiarity. Studying the art that adorned the walls Harry felt that he should have recognized the characters within.
One painting showed a heroic warrior clutching a magnificent sword. The warrior seemed to tower over his enemies and friends alike, commanding a sense of respect and awe. His men behind him were inspired by his bravery to attempt great feats of courage and daring. The title of the painting was "The Leader".
The next image was one of a young witch. She sat at an ancient table amongst the towering shelves of a grand library. She was bent over a dusty scroll. All around her were the indistinct outlines of students and scholars who hung upon her every word. This image imparted the feeling of keen intelligence combined with an unquenchable drive to pursue and spread knowledge wherever it lay. The title of the painting was "The Teacher".
On the opposite wall hung another image. A tall, imposing figure with a dark, focused gaze stood beside an opulent desk. The man was in an impassioned conversation with another who seemed to be drinking in his advice. A sharp cunning radiated from the tall figure's smile. This was not a man to be taken lightly in any dealings. The title of the painting was "The Advisor".
One last image sat upon the wall. Where the other images had been primarily focused on one specific person and all the others were merely the backdrop, this image was full of people, each one carefully and lovingly painted in exaggerated detail. At the center of this cornucopia of activity stood a young woman with fiery red hair. Her arms were spread wide in welcome to each and every one of the individuals depicted. The title of the painting was "The Nurturer".
"Do you know them?" Harry searched for the source of the voice but couldn't see anyone else in the dark hall around him. "Their vision has been twisted by the passing of time but it is still there, buried amongst the myths and legends, if only anyone cared to look for it."
In a clearer state of mind Harry may have pulled his wand and searched further for the speaker but in the strange world of dreams nothing seemed out of the ordinary.
"Sometimes the Leader is replaced by the Fool who would charge ahead without a clear sight of the goal. Likewise the Teacher can become the Hoarder when she chooses not to share her great knowledge with others. I need not tell you, of all people, how the Advisor is wont to stray. Your enemy has shown you repeatedly how great cunning can be used to harm rather than to help. And even the Nurturer is prone to stumble if she believes that someone has wronged those that she protects."
A silence settled in and Harry looked again at the paintings, trying to place the familiar characters. Something tickled at the back of his mind but no names came to him.
"I suppose you shall know the truth of this better than most before your journey is complete."
And with these ominous words Harry felt an oppressive darkness close around him. The four scenes and the walls they hung on faded from view and were replaced by nothingness.
And then, just as Harry could no longer take the forlorn emptiness, a new vision exploded into existence before him. A small cluster of wooden huts and ramshackle longhouses appeared below him. And all at once Harry realized that his feet were not standing on anything at all. This realization led him to wonder if there was any credibility to the claim that death in dreams translated to death in the real world. Harry was still pondering this question when he hit the ground.
A.N. And here is the promised second chapter. For those of you who are checking the character tags, never fear, the founders are going to begin showing up in the next couple of chapters which are well on their way.