Chapter 4: What Dreams May Bring

The door slammed hard into Ron's face. He coughed, as the air was full of bits of dust and particles that flew into his face. He knew by the slam of the door that Madame Pomfrey would not be allowing any more visitors today. The head nurse was always like that. One visit per visiting hours was all that anyone was allowed unless special circumstances applied. Only Dumbledore could grant that. In Ron's opinion, Harry was a special enough circumstance, but he knew Madame Pomfrey would not see it that way. Knowing this, Ron made his way down to the Great Hall and sat down beside Hermione for a bit of breakfast. She had her nose buried into two books and looked up at him as he sat down. She and the other Gryffindors at the table asked how Harry was doing. Ron told them Harry was awake and doing fine, and that they were actually able to joke and laugh a bit. This was a relief to them as the memory of the Harry of the past few weeks was still fresh on their minds. Ron told them that Harry had a bad wound to the head, but that was all. He failed to tell them anything involving what Harry had been hearing and feeling in regards to He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. Ron knew it would be best to not tell them anything about that conversation. Ron also reminded himself of how deep his feelings were for Harry, and just how close he had come to asking that very difficult question.

'Why of all times did Madame Pomfrey had to arrive then? Why couldn't she have waited five more minutes?' Ron's inner voice spoke to him.

Ron was snapped back from his thoughts and questioning by Hermione nudging him in the ribs. She had been rambling on about her test that she had next in Ancient Ruins, and that he had better complete his Potions assignment that Snape had given them. Once he had finished his breakfast, and had finally gotten away from Hermione, Ron made his way to his first class of the day, Herbology.

Getting thru this class was difficult as Ron was always used to pairing up with Harry for the assignments. Today he had to settle for pairing up with Neville. The day seemed to get worse for Ron as the plant they were preparing to pot bit him on his finger. Ron just wanted to drown the lousy plant in fertilizer and water. Professor Sprout simply told Ron to not tease the plant into thinking it was lunchtime yet, and continued with the lesson. Next up was Care of Magical Creatures. Hagrid usually was quite cheerful to the class, but today Ron could tell that the half giant looked saddened a bit by the missing presence of Harry. Ron knew exactly how he felt. To make matters worse, Malfoy kept taunting Ron about where Harry was and why he was in the hospital infirmary. Ron wanted to wheel about and beat the living daylights out of the bloke.

'One day Malfoy, you will get it. If what Harry done to you wasn't good enough then you just wait until I have my hands around that scrawny neck of yours.' Ron angrily thought.

Ron knew that right now beating the life out of Malfoy is not the answer to everything. He just gritted his teeth and struggled thru the rest of the class. Professor McGonagall greeted them as they sat down to her Transfiguration class next. Ron was getting very drowsy by this time, as he had been awake most of the night by Harry's bedside. Finally, the bell rang to signal the end of the class, but not before Professor McGonagall had given them a dose of homework to be completed. The midday break for Ron could not have come at a more opportune time. Double Potions wasn't until 3:30pm that afternoon, so he had a bit of time to rest and prepare for that dreaded class. Deprived of sleep, Ron made his way to his dormitory for a nap. his Potions book lay opened to the assignment but Ron ignored the book and crawled into bed. The red head was fast asleep almost as soon as his head hit the pillow. There the mystique of his dreams captured him and took him forth on his journey.

Ron's dream took him back to their first Quidditch match of the season. Their opponent was none other than Slytherin. On this day, the skies were overcast as a hint of rain was in the air. Perhaps this was a hint at the outcome of the day. It was Gryffindor's worst game in quite a while as they took a beating from Slytherin, 170-30. Harry, whom usually was very steadfast and reliable on his Firebolt, seemed to be having an even worse day. Nothing went right for the Gryffindors that day. With the loss, Harry seemed more angered and upset than usual. Normally, Harry would take the loss, and with a bit of a pep talk, rally the team's spirit. We all would leave the changing room with an upbeat attitude. You couldn't blame him for being so upset because there is no worse feeling than losing to Slytherin. Strangely, though later that night Harry was still growling about the match and how they would be lucky to win one game this season. Ron noted this unusual behavior in Harry. Ron made multiple attempts to cheer Harry up by trying to get him to play wizard's chess or taking a walk down by the lake. Each attempt was answered by a tantrum from Harry and then a verbal assault of how poorly they all played. One part of Ron said that it was just the will of Harry to not want to lose, and then another part of him cited that it was the pressure of juggling Quidditch along with all of their studies this year. It was true. Their studies had almost doubled in difficulty and the teachers were not slacking up one bit on the assignments. The third part of Ron just wanted to smack the sense back into Harry. This dream started to fade into shadows. The next stop on this journey would carry Ron to a point in time that had just happened about a week ago. Harry had seemed to become even more agitated and even more annoyed by everything. His temperament had definitely changed, as Harry was now prone to constant mood swings; usually going from bad to worse. Within these changes, Ron had felt the force of his new, brunt temper. Still, with all of his determination that he could muster, Ron tried his best to brush aside this darker side of Harry.

Things came to a head during Snape's Potion class. Here the full aura of Harry's new anger surfaced and showed its true face. They had been trying to master a very complex potion that Snape had assigned them. As usual the potions teacher was brooding on about how well the Slytherin's, in particular Malfoy, were having no troubles brewing the potion. Ron sat nervously as Snape commented on how miserable looking Ron's potion looked.

"Typical for a Weasley. You are without a doubt far worse than your brothers ever where in my class."

Ron's ears turned to an anger red at this insult to his family.
'One day i want to see him get his just deserves!' Ron thought.

Harry's cauldron was next. The black haired professor stood over the cauldron and stared at its contents.

"Absolutely pathetic, Potter! I really do not know why I even attempt to teach an insufferable remake of James Potter! Clearly, the both of you do share something; you both have a knack for failing miserably at Potions. Why don't you just drop my class and save us all the time and breath! I will not shed a tear to see you go. As a matter of fact, i can write a statement to the headmaster saying that you wish to leave Potions and spend your time doing less important issues."

Harry sat there looking at Snape without ever blinking an eye. This was very much unlike Harry to just take these insults upon him. Sensing this Snape turned his back to Harry and proceeded to continue with the lesson.

"Stupid, old, greasy git! Harry spoke with no emotion in his voice.

Snape stopped in mid-sentence and turned around. He walked back over to Harry. Placing his hands on either side of the cauldron, he peered at Harry with his black eyes over the light stream of smoke that was drifting up from Harry's cauldron.

"That slip of your tongue, Mr. Potter, will cost Gryffindor one hundred points."

A sly smirk formed at the corners of Harry's mouth.
"Anything else, professor?" Harry spoke arrogantly.

"Oh yes, another fifty points for your behavior in my classroom; now shall I continue on?" Snape demanded.

Sounds of stifled laughter came across the room from the Slytherin table.
Harry continued to just sit there and smile at Snape with his wry smile as the Potions Master nostrils flared with anger.

"You will stay after class, Potter! I would like to have a word with you." Snape spoke then turned and walked over to his desk.

"The only word you will hear from me is how much of a seething, jealous, dumb ass you really are ... Severus!"

"Silence! You ...Will Not Disrespect Me!" Snape quickly was mere inches from Harry's face now.
"I may have taken all of your father's abuse and antics, but I will be damned if I take any lip from a little...twit...like you. Another one hundred points from Gryffindor."

Ron sensing the out of control emotions between the two whispered to Harry.
"Harry, stop this! You're just making things worse for all of us!"

"No, Mr. Weasley, please do let him continue. If he wants to play mind games and run his infernal mouth then let him. Any more comments from our celebrity, Potter? I am more than prepared for your pitiful little remarks." Snape said while still glaring at Harry.

Harry just kept his staring gaze pointed at his Potions teacher. Suddenly all of the cauldrons started to shake. The contents inside started to boil and bubble forth a blue liquid. All of the students backed away quickly, except for Snape and Harry. They both stood there eyeing one another as the smoke from Harry's cauldron became thicker. A blue smoke started to vent from all of the other cauldrons. Then, all at once, an icy, blue fire erupted from each cauldron. The blue fire shot straight up to the ceiling and torched the ceiling of the room, then spread to the walls. The students ran out of the room leaving Harry and Snape in a blue, fiery standoff.

"Mind games it is, Severus." Harry said.

Harry waved his hand towards each cauldron and the fires were extinguished leaving a trail of blue smoke that drifted towards the ceiling of the room.

"Until next time, Severus." Harry said and chuckled as he walked out of the classroom.

Snape stood stunned and frozen to the spot. His gaze turned upwards at the diminishing blue smoke. His left arm started to throb as his eyes looked at the dim outline above him. Quickly, he turned and ran into his quarters. Ron crawled out from under his table and saw the smoke hovering in the air. He could not believe what he saw!

Ron's eyes flew open as he lay in his dormitory bed. He was sweating profusely. Frozen with fear, he was unable to make his legs move so he could get out of bed. Instead, he laid there with is horror memories cutting into his mind. Sacared and wondering what would be,

-------------------------------------------------------

Harry hated being in the hospital. It was so dull and boring. There wasn't a thing to do except lay in bed when he could be outside in the sunshine, or even more, be with his friends. Now of course Madame Pomfrey had to keep him here for another night. He did not see why. Aside from having a bump and a cut on his head, he was fine. He felt fine. Matter of fact this is the best he has felt in several weeks. Rather than fuss about it, and he knew Madame Pomfrey would not yield to his wishes, Harry decided to just make the best of the day. At least this way he could take a day off from his classes and sleep in. It had been several weeks since he had a good night of undisturbed sleep. Even now, Harry was having trouble going to sleep. If it wasn't for these weird dreams that he had been having as of late. Now, just ot make matters worse, he had these words from a song he knew that kept playing over in Harry's mind.

'Merlin's Beard, why of all times did this choose to happen now? What was Ron trying to ask me?' Harry's inner voice thought.

Harry finally drifted off to sleep as a blur of objects flew by him. He awakes to the Quidditch match Gryffindor had against Slytherin just a few weeks ago. Harry wasn't feeling too well that day as he had an awful headache, but did not let on about it.
For the last few nights, Harry would go to sleep and fight his dreams. He would always start out by running thru a forest. Each time he would hear strange voices as he ran thru the forest. They seemed to be telling him which way to go and where to go. With every dream Harry would seem to get closer to the strange voices, but always wake up before he could see who it was. Soon a cave would appear in his dream and Harry would enter the cave, then a blinding white light would appear and the dream would be over. When Harry would awake from this particular dream, his head would ache and throb. He also noted that he would be soaked in his own sweat.
To put it simply, as much as Harry loved Quidditch, this was not the best day for him to participate in a match. Wanting to end the game quickly, Harry made nonchalant efforts to retrieve the Snitch. Mercifully, the game ended and Harry seemed to be enraged at losing for the first time to Slytherin. He took his anger out on his teammates and blamed them for the loss. Even later that night, Harry was still going on about the match. In doing so, he snapped at Ron while his best friend tried to get him to calm down and forget the whole thing. All of the fellow Gryffindor students avoided Harry in the common room. Disgusted and feeling betrayed by his so-called friends, Harry stormed off to his bed. Ron followed soon with a nervous expression on his face. Harry was still awake and lay looking up at the ceiling.

"Harry?" Ron called to him weakly.

"What!" came a stern reply.

"What's wrong with you, mate?"

"None of your bloody, damn business!" came the reply from the bed across from Ron.

"Look, I'm only trying to help you, and by the looks of it, I'm about the only friend you've got left!" an angered Ron replied.

"Well you're surely not doing a very good job of helping, so shut up!" Harry snapped.

"Ya know what Harry, you can just piss off!" Ron shouted.

A smile broke across Harry's face as angered sobs came from the bed across from him. Inside Harry's mind, a low-pitched laughter began.

Harry's world changed as he witnessed the fire in Snape's classroom and the mark hovering in the air. The next stop in this dream placed Harry at the scene of a most memorable event. He was walking back to Gryffindor Tower. Professor McGonagall was making Harry serve a week long detention for his outburst and his theatrics in Professor Snape's classroom. On this walk back, Harry would come across his arch nemesis, Draco Malfoy.

"Out of the way, Malfoy!"

"Shut your filthy, little mouth Potter! How dare you talk to me like that!"

"Trust me, Malfoy you do not want to fuck with me, Draco. Not tonight!" Harry's eyes gleamed forth their green blaze.

"Is that a threat, Potter? Ha, I'm insulted by it! What's the matter with you, scared that the famous Harry Potter will get beat by me again?" Malfoy sneered.

"Look Draco, I'm warning you!"

"Warning me! Ha! You are not enough of a man to even touch my robe. One day you will see, Potter as the pure bloods will rule the wizarding world. Father says that the Dark Lord will return and when he does...I am going to enjoy seeing the decay of all the half bloods and all of the people that try to defy Lord Voldemort. The Dark Lord will favor my family, and all that we have done for him. My loyalties lie with him!"

"Piss on you and your loyalties! You are nothing but an egotistical, self centered, no good, bloody git!" Harry spoke slowly but so darkly to Malfoy. "You, Malfoy, are a complete disgrace to Syltherin and to Voldemort. The first sign of trouble you run to your father to save your ass. Voldemort could snap you in half if he wanted to. You are like a bug to him. A pest, a nuisance, a peon. The Dark Lord would not dare soil his hands by even touching or wasting his time with you." Harry's eyes glowed a dim red mixed with his green pigment.

"That's it, Potter, you're dead!" Malfoy said and swung wildly at Harry.

Harry grabbed Malfoy's swinging arm and locked it behind the blonde's back. Running forward he smashes Malfoy's face violently into the cold, hard wall. Malfoy falls into a crumpled heap and a bloody mess after making impact. The Slytherin's nose is broken as blood splattered on his robe and face. Harry stands over the bloody mess and begins to punch Malfoy viciously over and over in the head and face. He curses and swears at the blonde with every swing and every breath he takes. After pummeling the Slytherin, Harry then proceeded to kick him from head to toe. Blood and teeth fly as Harry's foot connects with Malfoy's face. A gurgled cough and low howl emerges from the blonde as Harry pounds his ribs and midsection with his foot. A venomous anger spews forth from Harry as bones crack and break with every kick that Malfoy receives. Finally, Harry stopped as Malfoy lay in a fetal position on the floor. Harry looks down at his devastation and carnage. Draco's left eye is swollen shut and he had numerous deep bruises all over his face. A number of his ribs are broken as well as his nose. The blonde is coughing up blood as he grasp for air. Harry leans down and grabs Malfoy by his blonde and blood stained hair.

"Never, will you ever talk to me like that again!" Harry sneered.

That being said he rams the back of Malfoy's head into the floor. A cold, hard smile emerges across Harry's face as he stands over Malfoy. He stares down at the blood on his hands. The blood of victory.

Images swirl around again into a multitude of figures and colors. Harry opens his eyes and looks up at the ceiling of the hospital infirmary. For an odd reason Harry's legs felt heavy. Harry tries to look down at his legs but instead his efforts are met by two yellow slit eyes looking back at him. A forked tongue darts in and out of the mouth as the eyes move closer. The creature has Harry's legs in a suffocating grip. In the shadows a low, hissing voice comes from across the room.

"Play nice now, Nagini. We do not want to spoil everything just yet. "

Harry shudders at this voice.

"Do make Harry more comfortable, my sweet."

Obeying this command, the snake constricts its coils even harder around Harry's legs. Harry grunts as he struggles to try and free himself from this grip. Slowly, the hissing voice draws closer as a figure emerges into the moonlight. Harry looks on in sheer horror at the sight of Voldemort comes into frame. Panic begins to set in on Harry.

"How did you get in here? Where's is Dumbledore? What have you done to everyone? Help! Professor Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall! Help me!"

"Harry so many questions, and yet so little time. It will do you no good to scream. I've placed a Silencing Charm on this room. No one can hear your screams. Do not worry, Harry, I won't kill you; at least not tonight."

Voldemort stops after saying this and with an evil grin looks at Harry who is struggling effortlessly against Nagini.

"What do you want with me then?" Harry asks.

"You see Harry, I'm here of my own free will to...well, to simply pay a visit to you and to make sure you are recovering nicely from your incident."

A low chuckle escapes the Dark Lord.

"I know that these last few weeks have been so difficult for you. It's not easy having the power of me inside of your mind."

Harry looks puzzled at this.

"Oh please, Harry, were you too stupid enough to not figure it out? Or did you simply deduce it all to simple teenage hormones? How a simple fool like you can be prophesized to kill me, i shall never understand. Instead, I will simply rid the world of one more useless wizard; just like I did to your parents."

"I'll kill you!" Harry screamed.

"I see there is a bit of anger and fire in you after all. Please, allow me to tap into this anger ever so slightly."

Voldemort lightly places his finger on Harry's scar. In an instant, they both feel a rush of fire flow thru them. This fire contains a thirst for vengeance towards the Potter's murderer. The finger is quickly lifted as Voldemort turns his back to Harry.

"Come Harry. Even as dense as you are, you are still a warrior. Through all of the battling and adversity that you have overcome, you have managed to foil my plans thus far. Ah, but there is one plan that you shall not overcome. When the time is right, i shall call upon you for our duel."

"When I am finished with you, you will regret everything you ever said and done to my parent." Harry said with full hate and anger.

"No, Harry. When, and oh, it will be me, that will be standing over you as you take your dying breaths. Just remember it will be me that your eyes will see as you die."

Harry turns to Nagini and smirks at the snake very arrogantly.

"Don't you worry either, I have a very special surprise waiting for you."

The snake starts to attack Harry until Voldemort stops her.

"Come my precious, let us go and leave Harry to his rest. By the way, before we take our leave let us give him his get well gift."

The angered snake bits down upon Harry's leg with its razor sharp teeth as Harry screams with all of his might at the pain.

Harry wakes up with a scream that is stuck in his throat. He looks around expecting to see Voldemort and Nagini there. There is no sign of either one, just the usual hospital wing. A bright ray of sunlight shines thru the window as a new day is upon Hogwarts. Harry feels a bit of pain in his left leg. He pushes back the sheet and is horrified by what he sees. Blood is oozing out of a wound in his leg. Looking at his fingernails Harry sees blood on them; his blood. Quickly, his mind tries to rationalize everything about his dream. Or was it a dream? Somewhere deep in the depths of Harry's mind a low, hissing laugh begins.