66. Eavesdropping

Whispers echoed through the halls as Harry, Ron and Hermione made their way to the common room.

The voices accused him of a number of things, a glory hound, liar, dangerous and the like. Harry's friends looked over to him nervously at each comment, while the boy himself felt quite removed from it all. After years of receiving this treatment, he had learned to tune it out.

Hermione nervously licked her lips before she began a conversation, "Have you heard that the Ministry has officially made Umbridge the High Inquisitor of Hogwarts? It's just frightful."

Harry and Ron merely grimaced at the notion. Hogwarts was becoming a progressively dreary place with all the restrictions and punishments that was going around. Inwardly, Harry had to admit that the position suited the woman well.

A justly monstrous woman for a barbaric role.

Even the Professors weren't immune to the woman. She was a busybody that got in the way of their lessons and condescendingly advised them on their teaching styles.

Harry broke from his thoughts as they reached the common room. The boys separated from Hermione and got ready for bed that night.

Saying his good nights, Harry rested his head unto his pillow. No sooner did he close his eyes he found himself not in Hogwarts.

Blinking slowly, he looked at his overly dull surroundings. The walls were almost grey and rows of beds with pale beddings filled his view. It was almost unnatural how mundane everything appeared.

A voice called out causing Harry to turn. His eyes widened when he saw a younger Headmaster Dumbledore sitting on a bed across from him. While he couldn't make out the words, the man's appearance was soothing.

Before he could begin questioning what he was seeing, he felt his stomach drop as though he was falling.

And he was.

No words came out as he, along with the bed, kept free falling into an ever expansive emptiness. With a great shock he came to a complete stop. Harry felt taller, fuller, and more powerful. Sweet words left his lips as he gazed upon a group of pure blood Hogwarts students. The students lapped up every single word escaping him. He was equal parts disgusted and thrilled at their obedience, an obedience tainted with fear.

Once again he found himself moving without any control. It felt like hundreds of hands gripping on his body and pulling all once. Harry stumbled into the next room. This time he peered down on a Death Eater in the throes of a spasm, hearing their voice grow sore.

Harry felt his head turning to another Death Eater and his lips moved, "Speak now."

The unknown wizard shook for a moment, "M-My lord our forces within the Ministry grows steadily. I assure you that your plans will come to fruition."

Harry lips twisted into a sneer, "Do not presume to understand the depths of my plans. The Ministry is but a footnote in the great scheme of things, not a lynchpin. Have you found the base of operations of that pathetic order of Dumbledore's?"

The wizard's face grew pale, "... No my lord. I fear progress has been slow on that front."

In the midst of this conversation, a snake slithered towards Harry and his hand lowered to caress it. "So little progress? How very... mudblood of you. Poor results like these are what pushed my hand in punishing the Malfoys. Do not make me partake in further dispatching of precious bloodlines."

It was then that Harry woke with a start. Sweat poured down his temple as his scare pounded in pain. Harry gritted his teeth through the pain as he attempted to calm his beating heart. This dream had been troubling. Never before had he been so closely connected to Volder- no Tom.

Getting up, he sent a letter to Dumbledore requesting a meeting. As interesting as the experience was, this had to be brought up to the headmaster.