[A/N] Thanks to Siblin for being my first reviewer on this story! I'm going
to pause to answer your question.
Is Voldemort still at large?
That's my fault for not making it clear, but yes, he is. He's now been back for three years or so, and the magical world is, of course, in disarray. That fact will be elaborated on more in future chapters/stories. But yes, in answer to your question, Voldemort is at large in the magical world.
That was three weeks ago. According to what Dumbledore had said, Harry was due to start his training in roughly a week's time, but he had heard nothing of it. He, Ron, and Hermione had exchanged so many letters in the past three weeks that Hedwig had even started to become irritated with him. Errol was hardly able to make the journey from Ron to Harry anymore, and had to be nursed back to health every time before he could fly back. Hermione, who was using the owl post, didn't have the same problem, though postage was starting to add up to quite a bundle. None of them had had any word on the new Auror situation.
Now, Harry was lying on his floor, watching the sky for a sign of Hedwig's return. Feeling that he lacked any other option, Harry had sent an owl off to Dumbledore, questioning as to what he was supposed to be doing. Now he waited for the reply.
The late afternoon sun streaming in through the curtains was making Harry feel pleasantly warm and drowsy. A slight breeze ruffled the curtain. Harry felt his eyes start to droop.
* * *
He was standing in a forest, tall, dark trees were swaying over him eerily. Soft music was playing in the background, but Harry didn't have a very clear idea of what the song was. It sounded vaguely familiar, but the volume was too soft for it to be recognizable.
Something was moving beside him. He felt it pass by his leg, ruffling the hem of his cloak. Hang on a minute. Cloak? Harry looked down quickly, and saw with a sudden jolt of surprise that he was wearing his old school robes.
His breath quickening, Harry's fogged mind realized that he was standing in the middle of the Forbidden Forest.
Before a sense of panic had time to set in, Harry's mind went blissfully blank again. He could hear the music once more. Where was it coming from? He needed to find it. It sounded beautiful.
Without knowing where he was going, Harry set off through the trees in what he supposed was the direction of the music.
He fought his was through several thickets and sharp brambles. Eventually, however, he came to a large clearing. Moonlight flooded the ground, turning the green grass a molten shade of silver.
Harry looked upward to where the moon sat in the heavens. The music was louder now than ever before. It seemed to be dripping from the moon itself.
As he watched, the moon began to expand. As suddenly as though someone had flipped a switch, the music disappeared and Harry's ears were filled with a terrible, deafening, ear-shattering scream.
Screaming in agony, Harry dropped to his knees, clutching his head. Above him the moon expanded like a supernova.
Suddenly, Harry tore his eyes open and looked up. The moon burst in an explosion of light, and Harry jerked awake, drenched in cold sweat and gasping for air.
**
"No!" he screamed suddenly, feeling lightheaded as air rushed back into his lungs.
His eyes open, he saw now that he was still on his bedroom floor, shaking, his body rattling with a pain such as he had not felt since he had been under the Cruciatus Curse.
There was a sudden stomping downstairs.
"What the bloody hell are you shouting about, boy?" Uncle Vernon roared up the stairs.
"Nothing," Harry called back. "I just...had a nightmare, that's all," he trailed off to a whisper.
"Well 'nothing' better not involve bloody shouting from now on, understand me?" Vernon yelled.
Choosing not to answer, Harry sat up slowly, sliding his glasses off the sweaty bridge of his nose.
As he wiped his face with his shirt, Harry couldn't help but wonder what had caused him to react so violently to a mere dream. He hadn't had one of these sort of episodes since Mr. Weasley was attacked at the Ministry of Magic during his fifth year.
'But no one was attacked this time,' he told himself firmly. 'Everyone is fine.'
And yet, Harry had definite trouble convincing himself of that.
[A/N] I know! Go on and beat me! I've given you another short chapter when I promised not to. I love you all, though, honestly. And I solemnly vow that the next chapter will be bsob long that I will be wishing you all Happy New Year again before you finish it! [And incidentally, Happy New Year to everyone!] Well, maybe it won't be that long, but still, it'll be more than two pages! Sorry and I love you all! Forgive me!
That's my fault for not making it clear, but yes, he is. He's now been back for three years or so, and the magical world is, of course, in disarray. That fact will be elaborated on more in future chapters/stories. But yes, in answer to your question, Voldemort is at large in the magical world.
That was three weeks ago. According to what Dumbledore had said, Harry was due to start his training in roughly a week's time, but he had heard nothing of it. He, Ron, and Hermione had exchanged so many letters in the past three weeks that Hedwig had even started to become irritated with him. Errol was hardly able to make the journey from Ron to Harry anymore, and had to be nursed back to health every time before he could fly back. Hermione, who was using the owl post, didn't have the same problem, though postage was starting to add up to quite a bundle. None of them had had any word on the new Auror situation.
Now, Harry was lying on his floor, watching the sky for a sign of Hedwig's return. Feeling that he lacked any other option, Harry had sent an owl off to Dumbledore, questioning as to what he was supposed to be doing. Now he waited for the reply.
The late afternoon sun streaming in through the curtains was making Harry feel pleasantly warm and drowsy. A slight breeze ruffled the curtain. Harry felt his eyes start to droop.
* * *
He was standing in a forest, tall, dark trees were swaying over him eerily. Soft music was playing in the background, but Harry didn't have a very clear idea of what the song was. It sounded vaguely familiar, but the volume was too soft for it to be recognizable.
Something was moving beside him. He felt it pass by his leg, ruffling the hem of his cloak. Hang on a minute. Cloak? Harry looked down quickly, and saw with a sudden jolt of surprise that he was wearing his old school robes.
His breath quickening, Harry's fogged mind realized that he was standing in the middle of the Forbidden Forest.
Before a sense of panic had time to set in, Harry's mind went blissfully blank again. He could hear the music once more. Where was it coming from? He needed to find it. It sounded beautiful.
Without knowing where he was going, Harry set off through the trees in what he supposed was the direction of the music.
He fought his was through several thickets and sharp brambles. Eventually, however, he came to a large clearing. Moonlight flooded the ground, turning the green grass a molten shade of silver.
Harry looked upward to where the moon sat in the heavens. The music was louder now than ever before. It seemed to be dripping from the moon itself.
As he watched, the moon began to expand. As suddenly as though someone had flipped a switch, the music disappeared and Harry's ears were filled with a terrible, deafening, ear-shattering scream.
Screaming in agony, Harry dropped to his knees, clutching his head. Above him the moon expanded like a supernova.
Suddenly, Harry tore his eyes open and looked up. The moon burst in an explosion of light, and Harry jerked awake, drenched in cold sweat and gasping for air.
**
"No!" he screamed suddenly, feeling lightheaded as air rushed back into his lungs.
His eyes open, he saw now that he was still on his bedroom floor, shaking, his body rattling with a pain such as he had not felt since he had been under the Cruciatus Curse.
There was a sudden stomping downstairs.
"What the bloody hell are you shouting about, boy?" Uncle Vernon roared up the stairs.
"Nothing," Harry called back. "I just...had a nightmare, that's all," he trailed off to a whisper.
"Well 'nothing' better not involve bloody shouting from now on, understand me?" Vernon yelled.
Choosing not to answer, Harry sat up slowly, sliding his glasses off the sweaty bridge of his nose.
As he wiped his face with his shirt, Harry couldn't help but wonder what had caused him to react so violently to a mere dream. He hadn't had one of these sort of episodes since Mr. Weasley was attacked at the Ministry of Magic during his fifth year.
'But no one was attacked this time,' he told himself firmly. 'Everyone is fine.'
And yet, Harry had definite trouble convincing himself of that.
[A/N] I know! Go on and beat me! I've given you another short chapter when I promised not to. I love you all, though, honestly. And I solemnly vow that the next chapter will be bsob long that I will be wishing you all Happy New Year again before you finish it! [And incidentally, Happy New Year to everyone!] Well, maybe it won't be that long, but still, it'll be more than two pages! Sorry and I love you all! Forgive me!