Edited and Republished: 03/01/2018


Harry thrashed around on his bed, his legs tangling in the blankets. Sweat beaded on his forehead, and his eyes were scrunched almost painfully. It was Harry's harsh breathing and small whimpers that had awoken Ron from his sleep. He had climbed over to Harry's bed to tell him to shut up, when he was met with this sight. Harry looked to be fighting something, his back curving into an arc as if he was in pain.

"Harry." Ron said quietly, shaking his shoulder softly. When that didn't work, Ron repeated his name again, this time louder.

"Harry!" Still he refused to respond. Neville appeared at his side, blurry eyed and tired.

"What's going on Ron?" Ron didn't answer.

"Neville!" Naruto's voice came out of nowhere. "Go fetch Professor Mcgonagall. Quickly!"

Neville gave out a hasty reply, and then left the dormitory.

"HARRY!" Ron shouted, and he smacked him across the face.

Harry's eyes flashed open, and he stared at Ron as if in a daze. But then recognition burst forth in his eyes, and suddenly he was holding onto Ron almost as if his life depended on it. Harry's eyes locked onto his, his face desperate and scared.

"Ron," Harry gasped out, "Your dad, he's been attacked!"

Ron stared at Harry, bewildered.

"Mate, it was just a dream, that's all." Ron answered.

Harry shook his head furiously, his grasp on Ron's arm becoming stronger.

"No, it wasn't a dream. I mean, it was, but-"

"What it Merlin's name is going on here!?" Professor Mcgonagall appeared in all her robed glory, her hair disheveled from sleep and sounding angry. The moment Harry saw her, he grasped onto her like a dying man drowning.

"Professor," he gasped out, "Mr. Weasleys been attacked. A giant snake came and just attacked him! We have to tell Professor Dumbledore!"

Mcgonagall just stared at him with a stern look.

"And how did you come about this information, Potter?" She asked sternly.

"I-I was asleep-"

"So it was a dream?" Mcgonagle's eyebrow raised skeptically.

"No!" Harry shouted desperately. "I mean, yes, it was a dream, but also it wasn't. Please, you've got to take me to Professor. Dumbledore. I'm not crazy!"

Harry sat in his bed, gasping, trying to make them understand. His eye searched across the room, looking for answers. His eyes connected with Naruto's briefly, and he remembered that there were still some unresolved problems. There were still so many questions left unanswered between the two of them, so much confusion. Finally, his eyes fell onto Professor Mcgonagle's. In them was a cool, calculating manner, but behind them he could see that she almost seemed to be wrestling with herself. She stared at him for what seemed to be decades, and then finally seemed to come to a decision.

"I do believe you Potter. Quickly, get dressed, and come with me." Her eyes flitted over to Ron.

"Mr Weasley, please go fetch the rest of your siblings, and meet us at Professor. Dumbledore's office, okay?"

All she received was a mute nod in return. Ron had gone considerably pale, and left the room quietly. Harry considered offering words of comfort to Ron, but thought better of it. Now was not the time. Quickly as possible, Harry jumped up off his bed, and headed after Professor Mcgonagall's retreating form. He passed by Naruto as he left, and Harry briefly wondered why he seemed so disturbed. Naruto saw him watching and offered him an encouraging grin, which Harry returned with a tight lip. It probably wasn't fair that Harry was treating Naruto in such a way when he didn't even know what it was that he had seen last night, but that still didn't stop the fact that he was feeling betrayed. But this wasn't the time for such thoughts.

Harry lost track of what was happening, and only regained his senses when they were already in the Headmasters office, along with Ron, the twins, Ginny, and surprisingly Hermione. When Harry cast a questioning look in her direction, she gave him a "not now" look, and turned her attention to the Headmaster. Harry followed her lead. The Headmaster listened to Harry's story, however refused to look Harry in the eye. Now more than anything confirmed what Harry had been suspecting the last few months. Dumbledore was avoiding him. And that was really starting to piss Harry off. Dumbledore swept around the room, asking weird questions, giving instructions out, and still he refused to meet Harry's gaze. Harry wanted to rage about, and rip that seemingly calm face right of-

"Harry." It was like a bucket of cold water had been dropped over Harry's head, making him finally able to think clearly. Dumbledore was trying to speak to him.

"Harry." Dumbledore repeated, still not completely making eye contact with him. "I am going to send you, the Weasleys, and Mrs Granger back to Grimmauld place. Sirius has already agreed, and you are to leave as soon as possible. But first, there is something that I must tell you."

Harry simply nodded mutely back. Dumbledore seemed to be trying to find the right words to say, but couldn't quite get to them. It seemed as if he was struggling with some inner turmoil.

"Harry," he began slowly, almost as if he were scared of Harry's reaction. "You are the chosen one. And because of that, I could not let you wander around school unguarded. Which is why I hired someone to take care of you.

With a small wave of his hand, four figures materialized in a puff of smoke. Harry, along with everyone else jumped in surprise, and scrambled for their wands.

"Now, now, there is really no need for that. Please, everyone, lower your wands. And please," Dumbledore gestured to the four figures who were crouched on the ground. "Stand, and introduce yourselves."

Hesitantly, everyone lowered their wands. As the four figures rose up from the ground, Harry was left to wander at their strange appearance. All of them wore long, forest colored cloaks, and hoods pulled low. But it was what was underneath the cloaks that surprised Harry. All four people wore porcelain masks, each with different markings. On their chests they wore green flak jackets, and on their legs they had black pants, which were strapped to the knee with bandages. On their feet they wore weird looking sandals, and on there hands they wore black gloves. There were many differences between the four people, for example their heights and maybe one of them had an extra accessory, and all four masks were different. However, all in all, they were quite identical.

"These are the four I have hired to protect you Harry, and they will be going with you to Grimmauld place. Please, if you would introduce yourselves."

The four figures took the floor that Dumbledore offered them, and each stood at attention with erect backs and a salute. The tallest one spoke first, stepping forward, and from his voice they could all clearly tell it was a man.

"In my own language, I am called Inu. However, translated to your language, my name is Dog. I am the leader of the Team, and they follow my orders. Please do not get in our way, or else it will just make it even harder to protect you. Nice to meet you.

The man stepped back into line, and the next person stepped forward.

"In my own language, I am called Karasu. However, translated to your language, my name is Raven. I am second in command and will not take any disobedience. Nice to meet you."

The voice coming from underneath the mask was quiet, but controlled. There was a hidden malice underneath it, but also a fierce determination. But that wasn't what made Harry pause. Not only did the voice seem familiar, but the boys voice (Because surely it was a boy) sounded no older than himself. Harry glanced around to see if anyone else had noticed, but was distracted when the third person stepped forward. Judging from the slight bump Harry could see around her chest area, he guessed it was a girl. His suspicions were confirmed when she opened her mouth to speak.

"In my own language, I am called Namekuji. However, translated to your language, my name is Slug. I am third in command, and like Raven, I have no patience for any type of disobedience. It's either my way or the highway. Nice to meet you."

Harry was really starting to doubt it. Once again though, her voice sounded no older than Hermione's, and he couldn't quite help thinking that her voice sounded so damn familiar. It was frustrating him to no ends that he couldn't figure out who the voice belonged to. However, once again, his concentration was broken by the last person stepping forward to speak.

"Hi. My names Fox. Nice to meet ya."

And then he stepped back into line. The boys voice had come out raspy, as if he had a cold, but that wasn't what made Harry, everyone else, and even his companions stare. He had broken away from the speech pattern that the other three had used, as if he was distancing himself from them, saying, I am not one of them! And he had done it in such a public matter as well, as if he wanted there to be no confusion, but for them, or his companions, Harry didn't know.

All Harry knew was that as Dumbledore got the portkey ready, was that he was unbelievably angry. Angry that Dumbledore had hid this from him, angry that Dumbledore thought he needed guards, angry that Dumbledore still refused to even look at him, just so bloody angry!

And as Harry, the Weasleys, Hermione, and his "guards" disappeared in a sea of light, Harry couldn't help thinking that he'd like to just tear Dumbledore apart.