Shadows and dreams

Author's note: this is a chart to know what is what when you are reading my story.

1: italics someone is speaking

2: italics someone is thinking

3: {italics} Parseltongue

When I add this to the chart I will be putting it here and at the beginning of the chapter it happens. I hope you enjoy the story.

Harry Potter was perfectly sane, thank you very much. Though the Daily Profit and other such rags would have you believe otherwise. This abrupt change in opinion came about at the end of the Tri Wizard Tournament the year before. Along with the fact that Harry refused to recant his statement that " Voldemort had returned". The Ministry, now unwilling to see the truth, began a smear campaign against Harry and anyone who believed him including Dumbledore.

This brings us to today. Harry is pulling weeds in the front garden while the news report pours from the open window. "And it seems water skiing has become the fashionable way to keep cool this summer...". He sighs, if they had gotten to water skiing then there was nothing more to hear. He had taken to doing his outside chores in the afternoon so he could listen to the news without his relatives thinking he was up to something. So, when his Uncle inevitably asks what he's up to Harry just holds up a hand full of weeds.

He was frustrated at the lack of news but couldn't blame his friends nor could he be angry at Sirius and Remus. The only one to blame in fact was Dumbledore. Harry sat back on his heels and wiped sweet from his brow as he remembered the letters they had all sent only a week ago.

He had never read anything like it from Hermione before and it would have been funny if she wasn't so pissed. She ranted about how stupid it was that they couldn't tell him anything, that the Headmaster was going so far as to check Harry's mail. She also hoped the Headmaster knew she thought this was idiotic. Ron's was much the same, though with more swearing.

What was strange to Harry was he had a lot more people writing him this summer then he ever had before. The older Weasley brothers, except Percy, had all started sending letters two days into summer break. He didn't mind really and it was fun getting to know Bill, Charlie, Fred, and George. He could even tell which Twin wrote which letters now. They did all agree that keeping Harry in the dark was not a good idea, though Bill thought it was more to do with not wanting to mail the information. With that thought in mind everyone seemed to calm down.

The first weekend of summer break was when things really started looking up as Dobby had shown up in his room smiling madly. "Dobby is having Harry Potter Sir's letters, he is. Harry Potter Sir is to be meeting his Pads and his Lupin at the normal place he is". Harry beamed at the little elf taking the letter out of his hand. "Thanks Dobby!" With that the elf bowed deeply and disappeared with a sharp crack.

Harry grinned broadly as he opened the later.

Dear Harry,

First, please tell Dobby thank you for his help. We weren't sure how we were going to get this to you till he offered. Second, we will be meeting up with you as normal for more training. We are both very proud of the progress you have made, but want to remind you to not show off too much in class. We don't want to give too much away, Cub. Sirius is looking forward to being away from his parents' house and The Order for awhile. Although, Harry, he's mostly just looking forward to seeing you. We will be at the same hotel as last time and will meet you at the same time.

See you soon,

Moony

Harry had been spending almost every bit of his free time with Sirius and Moony.

Sirius was furious at the fact that Harry had not been taught about wizarding culture or what his duties would be as Lord of the ancient and Noble House of Potter. The fact that he hadn't been told that he was a Lord at all was highly suspicious. So Sirius and Remus took it upon themselves to teach him. What they found was a boy hungry for knowledge and a very quick learner. Harry soaked up everything like a sponge and soon was showing that he had been playing at average for years. When Remus asked him why, the boy looked at him and smiled "If people knew what I could really do then I would lose the element of surprise." The two adults just stared at him till Remus spoke, "That's a very Slytherin way of thinking Harry." The boy just smiled back.

Harry had reached N.E.W.T levels long ago and was starting to work on non-verbal spells. They got away with meeting this way by having the hotel suite registered as Remus' summer residence, so of course he would do magic in his rooms. The hotel in question was a small one owned by a squib who was very active in the equal rights movement within the Wizarding World. Because of that he had a room in the basement that could be used for Remus' moonlight problem. That made life during the summer a lot better for all of them. However they would move closer to Hogsmeade once school started.

Harry found this summer was shaping up to be his best one yet, at least until he had to sleep. Keeping as busy as possible had helped keep his mind off of things but once the day ended and he was alone, it all came back. Cedric's blank eyes, Voldemort's high pitched laughter, a young boy turned into a monster, it was enough to make any one not want to sleep. As the days passed, however more dreams got mixed in with it. A battlefield where he thought he knew the faces around him but the only one he could hang on to was Cedric's. There were parties where he was alive and laughing with everyone else, moments where he would comfort Harry telling him things would be alright. In some of the dreams it was the Cedric as he knew and in others he was older, a bit more like his dad, those were the worst.

Once again Harry had a rough night waking to the sound of a sharp crack in his room. Dobby stood there look apologetically at Harry. "Dobby is sorry Harry Potter sir, but Dobby is to be giving him a note Sir." He said holding the small bit a parchment out for Harry. Thanking Dobby, he took the letter and read it. Harry sighed, "No meet up today. Thanks again, Dobby, please let them know I got it." Dobby nodded and left with another crack. Harry flopped back down on the bed. "Stupid Order, what am I supposed to do now." Getting up he decided he would rather go to the park than wait around for his Aunt to find him something to do.

An hour and a half later found Harry sitting on a swing. In one of the parks he thought had long since been given up on. Dudley and his little gang had been busting up the play parks for the last two summers. The ones too far gone were just left, so normally it was a safe place for him to hide out. Today however was just not Harry's day and Dudley, gang in tow, comes striding up the path. "There! Yeah, see told you I saw him." Pierce shouted, "hiding like a little baby eh Potter" Harry scowled as they began laughing. "You beating up another 10-year-old Dudikins?" Harry asked his voice cold and sarcastic. Dudley glared, "He was twelve and he deserved it. Anyway at least I'm not afraid of my pillow, Potter." "Don't kill Cedric, not Cedric" said Dudley. "Who's that your boyfriend?"

Harry growled, jumping to his feet, pulling out his wand as he went. The other boys were laughing harder but Dudley froze. Putting his wand under his cousin's chin he hissed "Shut your mouth before I make you Dudley." As Harry spoke the sky darkened and the temperature began to drop. "Come on Big D it's just a stick, let's kick his ass." Dudley turned to his friends shouting for them to leave; he would take care of Potter. Once they we're gone Dudley turns to his cousin shouting, "What do you think you're doing!? You better cut it out or I'll tell Dad!" Harry was screaming back "Are you crazy? I'm not doing this!" as he looked around, fear etched on his face. Dudley had never seen his cousin look this freaked out before. Suddenly Harry was moving towards him. "We have to leave Dudley. We have to run, NOW." Grabbing his cousin Harry pulled them along looking up at the sky and all around for what was chasing them.

Harry couldn't believe this. How could Dementors be in Little Whinging? He had to get Dudley to safety. Rain was now pouring down and the air had unmistakably chilled. Finally, they had reached the alley that would get them back to Privet Drive. Halfway down however, he realized his mistake. At the far end of the alley Harry saw a hooded figure taking deep sucking breathes. He turned pulling Dudley with him, hoping to escape the other way, but they were cut off by another Dementor. "What are you looking at? What's that noise?" quavered Dudley. Pushing Dudley behind him and drawing his wand Harry reassured him "I got you Dud I won't let them hurt you."

Harry could feel the rain freezing in his hair, his cousin shivering at his back. The Dementors were coming, he had to work fast. Concentrating on his happiest memory he turned to the horror on his right, "Expecto Patronum!" A stag erupted from Harry's wand charging the creature down. At the same moment he felt Dudley being yanked from behind him. Harry's Patronus had made quick work of the first Dementor. When the second horror leaned over Dudley, the stag charged again and the monster fled.

Taking his first good breath since the attack began Harry ran to his cousin, "Dudley, Dudley can you hear me? Come on we have to get out of here." Putting his arms under the massive weight that is his cousin, Harry hauls him to his feet. They only take a few steps when his wand is out again pointing at the far end of the alley. A moment passed as Miss Fig, of all people, turned the corner. Harry put his wand down at his side hoping she hadn't seen. Walking over to the two boys she hissed "Don't put your wand away Harry, they may come back!" He nodded, dumb struck at what was going on. Miss Fig puts her thin arms under Dudley's ham hocks, helping Harry move him.

They walk in silence for a while as number four comes into view she turns to him saying "Now get in the house boy and don't leave it for anything. Understand I'm not sure what those things were doing here but they might come back." He gaped at her, " you...are you a witch or...?" She nods, "Not a bad assumption, but I'm a squib, glad to see you have a brain up there though. Now get going and don't worry I only report the things I have to." She winked at him. Harry nodded in acknowledgement. Then pulling Dudley to the house he rang the bell and waited as Miss Fig disappeared around the corner.

Aunt Petunia was rubbing Dudley's back as she tried to get him to talk while Uncle Vernon just stood there and yelled. Dudley was now looking a bit green and Harry knew if he didn't get chocolate in him soon, he would be sick. Looking coolly at his Uncle, Harry shouted" Shut Up!" He then turned to his Aunt. "Dudley needs chocolate Aunt Petunia, do we have any?" Vernon tried to interrupt, but Petunia just nodded and pointed at an unmarked tin on the coffee table. Harry walked over to the tin and opened it up.

"Now wait just one second..." Vernon bellowed.

" Hush." Petunia said sternly.

Vernon stared at his wife baffled, as Harry began to feed his cousin chocolates. After a few bites Dudley's color improves and his breathing slows down. Harry sighed in relief. "You okay now Dud? Feel any better?" The smaller boy asked looking at his cousin with concern. Dudley just nodded and whispered a thank you before nibbling on another piece of chocolate.

By this time Uncle Vernon was nearly purple in the face and began shouting for an explanation. Harry took a steadying breath, but before he could even get his first word out an owl flew in through the open window. It dropped a letter in front of Harry and swooped back out again. Looking down at the letter feeling numb, his hands shaking, Harry saw it had a Ministry seal on it. He picked it up and read through it quickly.

"What does it say Harry?" The scrawny teen looked up at his whale of a cousin with surprise.

"It says I've been kicked out of school for using magic and they are coming to snap my wand." He replied quickly, his voice shaking. Dudley stood up, wobbling slightly. "Oh no they won't, you saved me from... from whatever they were. They can't do that!" Both his parent's stared at him.

Petunia spoke up, "Is that what you are in trouble for? Saving my Dudikins?" Harry nods and is about to say something when yet another owl flew in, this one from Remus.

"Cub, we are on our way back. Don't surrender your wand and don't leave the house. Dumbledore has gone down to sort this out. We will be picking you up tonight. Everything will be alright, don't worry, be there soon."

Harry stood up looking at his Aunt and cousin. "I have to pack, Aunt Petunia. Some people are coming to help me. The Headmaster is at the Ministry trying to straighten this out."