Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters.

A/N: Thanks to MaeSilverpaws1, who is beta-ing this story.

Chapter Seventy-Six

Warning

Harry had woken up that morning with his scar burning and his mind reeling from what he had just seen. He pushed himself out of bed and ran to his window first, making sure that he didn't see anything out of the ordinary, for the last time that his scar had hurt, Voldemort was close to him. Then he ran to the kitchen where he was glad that he saw Remus drinking his coffee, though the werewolf put the cup down slowly as he took in Harry's expression and demeanor.

"What is it?" Remus asked.

Harry quickly told Remus everything he had seen in his dream, all the details that he could remember. Still, he could feel those details slipping from his memories as he talked and he knew he was missing things but he forced himself to continue. He tried not to pay attention to Remus's expression as the werewolf looked thoughtful and worried.

"And then he say that he was going to kill … someone," Harry hedged there because he wasn't sure if he could stand to make Remus any more worried than he already looked.

"Someone," Remus repeated and gave Harry a piercing look that he couldn't lie to.

"Me," Harry admitted. "He said that he needed me for … something. I really don't know what it was but he said something like I would be out of the way after that … I don't know, I can't remember exactly."

"And you think this was more than just a dream," Remus said calmly.

"My scar was hurting when I woke up," Harry said. "That's never happened before, Remus."

"I know," Remus sighed, and he put a hand on Harry's shoulder to try and make the boy relax a little. He could tell that Harry was hoping for him to say that it was just a dream, but Remus couldn't, not with certainty and he wasn't about to lie to Harry. "Is there anything else?"

"I …" Harry hesitated, trying to think of what he remembered and what he had told Remus and shook his head, "I don't think so … or at least I can't remember anything else."

"Okay," Remus said. "I'm going to go get Sirius now, and then you're going to try to tell him everything you told me. That might help you think of something that you hadn't mentioned to me in your rush to get the information out. After that, either Sirius or I will go to Dumbledore and talk to him. He would have a better idea if this is real or just a dream."

Harry nodded his head and Remus left only to return a few moments later with a Sirius that looked like he was trying to wipe the sleep out of his eyes because he knew what was happening needed his full attention.

"Okay pup, let's hear what happened," Sirius said after taking a big gulp of coffee and his eyes rested on Harry with concern as the boy recounted the story again.

"Okay, I think I get it," Sirius said frowning, his expression wasn't something that Harry was used to seeing and the boy realized that this was probably the face that Sirius used when he was working.

"The main points that I remember are that Voldemort is back in the country and was brought back by … the rat," Sirius started listing off, his professional manner breaking slightly as he mentioned his old friend turned traitor. "The rat had run across some witch that had turned out to be important to Voldemort … something to do with finding a faithful servant, but you don't remember who the witch was. Voldemort had then mentioned that he was after you, but your security was more excessive than you probably realized and that he couldn't make a move for you during the Quidditch World Cup. Is that about right?"

"I think so," Harry said frowning. "I'm sorry that I don't remember more."

"Don't be, Harry, what you have said is very important," Sirius said. "We just have to make sense of everything before Voldemort makes his move. I can't see how he thinks it will be any easier to lay his hand on you at Hogwarts, but he's probably making a plan about that as we speak. And Harry …"

"Yeah?" Harry asked when Sirius didn't say anything for a few seconds.

"When he mentioned that your security was so good … do you know if he was talking about the fake security that Dumbledore put up at the Dursleys or was it here?" Sirius asked.

"He didn't say," Harry sighed, feeling like he had disappointed Sirius.

"I supposed that was too much to hope for," Sirius sighed. "I just hope he's talking about the other house … it would be nice to know that we've put up all these extra measures for a reason."

"So you think this dream was real," Harry stated.

"I have to believe it's real, pup," Sirius said. "It's a threat to you and I'm not going to take anything lightly."

"Thanks," Harry sighed. "Does this change our plans any … I mean for the rest of the summer?"

Sirius and Remus shared a look.

"Are you asking if we're going to put you under house arrest or something like that?" Sirius asked.

"Sort of," Harry admitted. "But mostly I was wondering if I was still going to be allowed to go to the World Cup … and to Ron's house?"

"I think it will be safe enough for us to allow you to go to the World Cup." Remus said frowning. "But I'm not sure if you can stay at the Burrow after the Cup like we've planned. I know the protection on this house are far better than there and you're safety is the most important thing."

"Argh," Harry groaned. "This sucks."

"I know cub," Remus sighed. "We'll see what happens."

"Maybe if you can't stay over there, Ron could come here instead," Sirius suggested.

"That might be interesting," Harry said thoughtfully.

O

Dumbledore wasn't happy. Over the last few years, ever since Harry had made his re-entrance into the wizarding world, things have been happening that he didn't like. Voldemort had already been sighted once, trying to take something so he could regain his body and if what Sirius had just told him, Voldemort was now trying a different means to do that. Dumbledore thought carefully as Sirius told him what Harry had seen in a dream. He never imagined that Harry would be able to see something like this, but he couldn't believe that this was just a coincidence. He knew that the connection between the boy and Voldemort went deeper than anyone … anyone but him … could imagine.

Dumbledore pinched his nose as he closed his eyes. What he had feared since the moment he had heard about Voldemort's disappearance seemed to be true. His fear had grown during Harry's first year when the scar had pained the boy and there was even more proof of it now that Harry could see a vision like he had of Voldemort. He hated the fact that there was nothing he could do to change the truth of his fears.

"Dumbledore?" the voice of Severus Snape said and he looked up into the emotionless face of his Potion Master. "You asked to see me?"

"Yes," Dumbledore said in a tone that Snape immediately realized meant that whatever it was, it wasn't good. "I have reason to believe that Peter Pettigrew had succeeded in finding Voldemort."

Snape flinched at the name involuntary before his expression grew angry. "That was quicker than I expected. Do you know where they are?"

"I have my guesses, but I'm sure that he won't be there by the time I get there," Dumbledore said. "What I need to ask you, Severus, is if you know of anyone that Voldemort would consider as a faithful servant?"

Snape didn't say anything for a long time and then shook his head. "He would not trust anyone that had denounced him and said that they were cursed into doing his bidding. He could be talking about someone that had gone to Azkaban, but he wouldn't go to them. I assume you meant someone that could help him out."

"I thought as much," Dumbledore frowned. "But apparently there is someone out there and Voldemort knows about him."

"Do you want me to ask around to see if I can find out whom that might be?" Snape asked.

"No," Dumbledore shook his head. "If Voldemort does find a way to return to himself, which I believe is what he's trying to do right now, it would not be good if he found out that you were looking for someone like that."

"So you mean me to continue my role as spy?" Snape asked, his face was control and he didn't show any emotions, but Dumbledore knew how terrified he must have been.

"Yes," Dumbledore said gravely, he knew what he was asking was nearly impossible for anyone to pull off, but if anyone had a chance it would be Snape. "It would probably be good if you make up a reasonable explanation for what has happened since his downfall, especially with what had happened two years ago."

"I've already been working on that," Snape admitted.

"Good," Dumbledore smiled, because this was the reason why Snape was the best at what his job was; he was always prepared. "One last thing, Severus. I believe that Harry might be Voldemort's target … that he needs the boy for something. Do you have any ideas why he might need Harry?"

Snape frowned, looking thoughtful. "I'm not sure. You think it might have something to do with his resurrection?"

"I do," Dumbledore admitted.

"I'll look into it," Snape said shortly, obviously not happy about this.

"Thank you Severus," Dumbledore said and Snape left. Dumbledore then walked over to Fawkes. "We're going to have to check a place out." The bird gave a thrill and Dumbledore smiled at him. "That probably would be best."

Dumbledore then grabbed onto his phoenix and the next thing he knew he was standing in Little Hanging looking at a house that he had been to only once before, his wand in his hand as he walked cautiously. Fawkes flew away and stayed out of sight, but Dumbledore knew that the phoenix would be there to help him if there was danger nearby. He had used Fawkes as transport because the phoenix could land in any area without being detected, even if there were spells to alert if intruders had appeared there.

It took him a while to make his way through the house, making sure that he didn't miss anything, but as he had expected there was no one there but an elderly man's body that had a look of fear that was froze on his face when he was killed. Dumbledore bowed his head to the man that had died, feeling sorry that he had gotten involved. Then he looked through the house and was able to confirm most of the facts that Harry had seen in his dream. Once he was done in the house, he went outside to get Fawkes, but his eyes traveled to the place where he knew that once held other members of Tom Riddle's family. It had been a long time since he'd been to the house that was just outside of Little Hanging.

Dumbledore decided that it was probably a good idea to check this place out, too and walked through the woods. He wasn't exactly sure where he was going, but he knew the general direction the house was in and Fawkes was now flying with him. The phoenix decided to find the place and then fly back to Dumbledore. The bird was only gone for a few seconds before it thrilled a warning to Dumbledore and he stopped where he was.

He concentrated on the direction that he was going and he could now feel what the phoenix was warning him about. There was magic in the air. Not something most would notice, as it was very subtle, but it was definitely there. Dumbledore frowned, as he tried to figure out what this magic was and what it meant. He was wary of the fact that this might have been put up recently and perhaps Voldemort had decided to stay at the Gaunt's House after he had killed the Muggle. But that didn't seem right to Dumbledore.

Then Dumbledore smiled. The magic in front of him was old … very old. Several decades old, actually. If Dumbledore wasn't much mistake, he had just found one of Voldemort's hiding places.