Chapter Three: Ron's New Memory
Harry walked over to Ron's bed and sat down as the others continued to listen to the conversation downstairs. Suddenly, everybody's face went rigid in panic. Fred pulled up his wand and George pulled up the sack that all of the extendable ears and eyes came from.
"Accio!" Fred whispered. All of the products from the joke shop shot away from everybody's hands. George held up the sack and caught all of the flying objects. Ron's doorknob turned. With another flick of his wand, Fred launched the sack under Ron's bed. The door opened and Mrs. Weasley stepped in.
"Hello mum." Said Fred innocently.
"Hello Fred." She replied hastily. "Everybody, pack your stuff. We need to get out of here."
Nobody moved.
"What's going on?" Asked Ginny. Harry thought this was clever, as she had just heard everything.
"We need to go. We're worried they might come here next." Seeing the look on everybody's face, she added, "We're just being extra cautious, just in case. So pack your stuff and we'll be leaving."
Harry felt as if a large pit at appeared in his stomach.
"Mrs. Weasley? Will I be-er-returning to the Dursley's?" He asked.
"We're not sure what we're doing. Right now we need to get ready to go." She replied.
Everybody stood up and hurried out of the room, with the exception of Ron and Harry. Ron began to pack his things and Harry walked glumly to his trunk. It had hardly been unpacked in the first place. He put the few belongings that he had taken out of his trunk and put them right back in. Four hours. He had been at the Weasley's for four hours before leaving again. Now he might have to go right back to where he started and have a miserable rest of the summer.
Ron, who had obviously seen Harry's discouragement, said, "You won't have to go back, Harry. We'll think of something."
Harry nodded. Mrs. Weasley bustled back in. Are you ready Harry?" Okay, good. You're going first."
"Locomotor" She said, her wand extended. All of Harry's belongings levitated a few inches off the ground.
"Er-Going where, exactly?" Harry asked.
"We're going to Diagon Alley, dear, the leaky cauldron. Ron hurry up!" She said. And walked out the door. Harry followed her down the stairs. The door smashed open. Harry drew his wand instinctively. It was only more members of the order. Many of whom Harry recognized, as they had rescued him last year. He saw Dedalus Diggle smile at him through the crowd. He looked at Tonks. She was still changing, but much slower, and she was now completely aware of what was going on. She stood up and approached the order. They talking in hushed voices for a minute or so, then she turned to Harry.
"All right, ready Harry?" She asked cheerily.
"Yeah." He replied.
Fred, George, Ron, Hermione and Ginny came down the stairs as Mr. Weasley magicked all of their belongings behind him.
"Okay, let's go." Said Mr. Weasley. Mrs. Weasley grabbed a pot full of what looked like dust, though Harry knew it was floo powder, and threw it into the fire. Emerald green flames shot up.
"Okay, Harry. You first." Said Mrs. Weasley.
"No," growled Moody. "They could be watching the floo network. Or they might have somebody waiting on the other side. You can't be too careful."
Harry thought this was a bit overprotective, but it seemed he was the only one. Mrs. Weasley nodded.
"Okay, Fred, you go first." She said.
"I thought we were Apparating." Said George.
"We need to make sure the network is clear. We're sending you through here." She replied.
"Oh, sure, send me as the guinea pigs." Fred said jokingly as he stepped into the fire.
"Have your wand ready." Said Mrs. Weasley.
"The Leaky Cauldron!" Shouted Fred. He disappeared as the flames shot up. A second later, Fred's head appeared in the fire and said. "We're all clear, mum, send them through."
"All right, we're sending all the trunks through now. Back up for a second." She said.
Fred nodded and his head disappeared.
"Okay, everybody through all your belongings in the fire." Mr. Weasley instructed.
Harry helped. Soon a large pile of trunks, broomsticks, and cauldrons was in the fireplace. Mrs. Weasley leaned down very close to it and said, "The Leaky Cauldron!" The flames entirely covered everything and took them away.
"Okay, George, you're next." Said Mrs. Weasley. George stepped into the fire.
"The Leaky Cauldron!" He shouted, and then disappeared.
It was at that moment that several cracks came from outside. Everybody in the order drew their wands. Lupin looked out the window.
"There here." He said. "Molly, get the kids out of here. Everyone else, come with me." The assembled at the door, ready to break it down.
"Harry, go, now. Mrs. Weasley said in a worried and hurrying voice. Harry stepped in the fire. The order busted the door open and ran outside. Harry saw curses immediately being launched from both sides through the window. He wanted to stay and help. But he knew he couldn't. They had stormed Sirius's house looking for a weapon, and no doubt that included him. So staying here would just be doing what they wanted.
"The Leaky Cauldron!" He shouted.
He felt the familiar spinning feeling as he tucked in his elbows and head so they didn't bang on all of the fireplaces he was zooming past. He landed with a thump face down. He looked up and wiped the ash from his glasses. Fred and George were waiting for him, grinning. All of his and everybody else's belongings were in a pile next to him.
"Hello, Harry." Said Fred.
"They were there." Harry said, shaking off Fred's greeting. "Right as I left. The order's fighting them outside your house."
The smiles wiped off the twins faces. "If they go near my room." Said George.
Hermione landed in the fireplace with a loud 'thump.'
"Ow." She said. Harry and Fred helped her to her feet.
"You okay?" Harry asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Just landed crooked." She replied.
A few seconds later came Ron. Then, finally, Ginny. Mrs. Weasley's head popped up in the fire.
"You all get rooms here. I'll be coming once this gets sorted out. Do not leave the Leaky Cauldron. Fred,George, you can check up on the store if you must." She said, and disappeared. Everybody got their own belongings from the large pile and then worked their way downstairs. They approached Tom, the innkeeper and bartender.
"We need four rooms for tonight please." Said George.
"Hello George, how's the shop?" Asked Tom pleasantly. "Listen, I gotta thank you for giving me those trick foods on short notice. They really cleared out the bad lot that was coming in. So how about I give you the rooms free, eh?" He added in a hushed voice.
"That won't be necessary Tom. We'll pay for at least two." Said George.
"All right, I'll give ya half off. That'd be, let's see, three sickles and a knut please." He said. Fred pulled out a large bag from somewhere in his robes.
"Rats, all I've got is Galleons."
"Not to worry, I'll break it for you." Said Tom. Fred handed him a large gold coin and Tom counted the change. "Okay, rooms 14, 15, 16, and 17 are ready for you. Our bellman will take your trunks up." He said. A hunched over man came from the door. He had an upturned lip and a rather mean look, except for his kind eyes. He gave a flick of the wand he was carrying and everybody's belongings disappeared.
"Thanks, Gerral." Said George. He pulled out a galleon and tossed it to him. As they walked up the stairs he said to Harry, "Poor bloke works here all day, just coming out and moving bags. We gotta give him something."
Harry and Ron took the key to room 16 and opened the door. Gerall came in behind them, flicked his wand, and left. Harry's and Ron's bags appeared and fell onto the twin beds in the room.
Harry had stayed here once before, prior to his third year. This was when everybody believed Sirius was after him, and the Ministry wanted to keep an eye on him. It was the most freedom Harry had had during a summer. He was always fond of the mirrors, because here they talked to the person standing in front of it, and he walked to the one in the room.
"Back for another stay, dear? Well enjoy yourself." It said sleepily. Ron jumped at hearing a third voice in the room.
"Talking mirrors. Clever, wish we had one." He said.
Fred and George walked in smiling. "We're going to check on the store." Said George.
"You know, you don't seem to be too worried about your house." Said Harry.
"Nah, we figure Dumbledore's going to help the order, he usually does. They scatter once they see him." Replied Fred. But Harry thought differently. He couldn't think strait. He was getting dizzy, and, suddenly, he fell over.
He was crouching down in the dark, staring at a battle going on outside the Burrow. Curses were flying from both directions.
"He is not here, Wormtail." He said in a cold, high voice.
"He was, my lord, I'm sure of it. He came here before, when I was disguised, and-and stayed with the family." Replied a nervous man next to him. "He must have just left."
"You were sure they'd be at Grimmauld place as well."
"Yes, my lord. That was a-a stupid mistake." Wormtail's voice was shaky.
"Indeed. However, with mistakes come consequences."
"No. Please, my lo-."
"Crucio!"
Harry's scar burned. He sat up. Ron, Fred, and George were looking at him worried. He felt his scar. It had opened again and was slightly bleeding.
"You okay?" Asked George, helping him up.
"Yeah." Said Harry. "But-Voldemort's at your house." He said tentatively. Everybody but Hermione flinched at the name.
They stared at him in silence for a moment.
"Are you sure?" Asked Ron. "I mean-last year, you, well-."
"Yeah, I know. But that was to bring me there. Here, he was just mad at wormtail because. I wasn't there."
"Was he doing anything?" Asked Ginny.
"No. I think he was just looking for me."
"Oh, well. Then no harm done, right?" Said Fred.
"Yeah-." Replied Harry, although he was still worried.
Thirty minutes later Mrs. Weasley called everybody out of their rooms.
"Is everything okay, mum?" asked Ginny.
"Yes, everything's fine." She replied. Harry breathed a sigh of relief. "They left a few minutes after you all did."
"Mum, Harry says he saw You-Know-Who outside our house." Said George. "Did you see him?"
"What's this?" She asked, completely shocked. "No, no Harry. You must be mistaken." Her voice made Harry believe that she was trying to cover up what he already knew.
"Anyway, now that that's aside." She continued. "We're keeping you all here until term starts. Some of the order members have offered to stay with you to keep watch." Harry knew exactly who it would be. "They'll be staying on this floor. If anything should happen, don't leave your rooms. Let them take care of it."
"All right, mum. Good-bye." Said George.
"Good-bye, everybody. Be careful." She replied. There was a crack and she disappeared.
"Damn, we bought an extra room for mom." Said George with a look of realization on his face. Harry laughed as he and Ron walked back into their room.
"Do you. do you think You-Know-Who was really there tonight?" Ron asked nervously. Harry waited a second before nodding.
"And when will you just call him Voldemort?" He asked.
"I-." He said, but then just stared with his mouth open. "I don't know. I'm just used to it, I guess. I've feared the name because I was brought up that way."
"I'm going to get people to say it." Vowed Harry. "I've got Hermione doing it. It's not that hard. Vol-de-mort." He said slowly.
"I don't know. I'll try. Just not tonight." He said, pulling his night robes out of his bag.
Harry was having an odd dream. He was walking through the great hall at Hogwarts. He was holding the Quaffle in one hand, and his broomstick in the other. He could hear himself talking in his sleep, but he, even in his subconscious, knew it wasn't him talking. He opened his eyes and looked at Ron. He had been talking for a while.
"-give it to my son, Harry. He will have the power to-." Ron murmured.
"Ron, wake up." Harry said.
Ron snorted and opened his eyes.
"What happened?" Harry asked curiously.
"I-I don't know." Ron replied. His face was fixed up into a look of deep thought and confusion.
"I- I had a dream. It was my. But it wasn't my voice, and I didn't know anybody around me, except your mom was there and Dumbledore." He said slowly, as if he was catching this as Harry was. "You were my son." He said. "Or maybe. I was your dad."
"That means the same thing." Harry said.
"No. No, I mean I was your dad, James. It wasn't my voice talking." He said. Harry looked at him as if he was crazy.
"Well, it was just a dream." He replied.
"No- It wasn't a dream. I can-," His face looked shocked now, "I can remember it! It's vague. In my dream I remember it, but also, kind of, when it happened" He was trying to remember everything that had happened and spoke even slower, "I said 'I, James Potter, am given the power entrusted to me to my son Harry. The magical bind that was given to me by Lord-." Ron paused. "I said his name! I said You-Know-Who's name! The magical bind that was given to me by Lord V-. Well, I can't say it now but you know who I mean, the magical bind given to me by the Dark Lord to my son, Harry James Potter, on this date of June the fifteenth, in the year nineteen- eighty one."
They were silent. Harry didn't believe it. This wasn't real. Ron wasn't the one who had weird dreams, he was. And besides, he knew there was no way Voldemort had given his dad powers. That wasn't possible, it didn't make sense. Ron seemed to be thinking along the same lines of Harry.
"Harry- If your dad got a power from You- Know-Who. He must have, well. Worked for him. You-Know-Who doesn't give out his powers to random people. And maybe," He continued, actually sounding remotely excited, "That's how you have all these powers that You-Know-Who has-because your dad gave them to you."
Harry couldn't believe what Ron was saying.
"Are you suggesting that my dad was a Death Eater?" He asked, his teeth clenched together.
"I-I don't know. I mean; You-Know-Who doesn't exactly give his talents to anybody. And, and no, he couldn't have been a death eater. I don't think. I would think we'd hear about that? Or-maybe he backed out, and that's another reason why You-Know-Who came to your house."
"You had a dream, Ron." Said Harry. He couldn't believe Ron believed this.
"No, it wasn't a dream. It happened, I know it did." He replied. "And you, of all people, should understand this!"
"I have dreams about Voldemort because this scar connects the two of us." Harry said, raising his voice a little. "You don't have dreams like that. You don't know what a dream feels like when it's real!" He was now yelling.
"You didn't realize it was only a dream at the end of last year." Said Ron, staring daggers at Harry.
The blow hit Harry hard. He felt terrible about the incident, but to be judged about it by Ron was infuriating. He had been this angry at Ron once before, during their forth year. Harry would very much have liked to walk over and punch Ron across the face. Ron realized he had pushed it. The mean look in his face faded and he looked apologetic.
"Listen-I-that was uncalled for." He said, letting his head hang a little and avoiding Harry's eyes.
"Yeah. I know. And so you know, it wasn't a regular dream. Voldemort put it in my mind. He can't do that with you. You don't have dreams like that, and you don't want to. Sometimes people think I enjoy the life dealt to me. They're sorely mistaken. I would change lives with anybody in a second. I'm sick of the fame, the deaths, the problems that comes with the fame of being the boy who lived. I don't like having the fate of the wizarding world on my shoulders. And it doesn't help having you point out the mistakes I made, especially not right now." Harry was almost shocked when he finished saying this. He knew it sounded nothing like him, really.
Ron didn't reply. Harry got back to bed and tried to fall asleep, although it didn't come until much later.
Harry walked over to Ron's bed and sat down as the others continued to listen to the conversation downstairs. Suddenly, everybody's face went rigid in panic. Fred pulled up his wand and George pulled up the sack that all of the extendable ears and eyes came from.
"Accio!" Fred whispered. All of the products from the joke shop shot away from everybody's hands. George held up the sack and caught all of the flying objects. Ron's doorknob turned. With another flick of his wand, Fred launched the sack under Ron's bed. The door opened and Mrs. Weasley stepped in.
"Hello mum." Said Fred innocently.
"Hello Fred." She replied hastily. "Everybody, pack your stuff. We need to get out of here."
Nobody moved.
"What's going on?" Asked Ginny. Harry thought this was clever, as she had just heard everything.
"We need to go. We're worried they might come here next." Seeing the look on everybody's face, she added, "We're just being extra cautious, just in case. So pack your stuff and we'll be leaving."
Harry felt as if a large pit at appeared in his stomach.
"Mrs. Weasley? Will I be-er-returning to the Dursley's?" He asked.
"We're not sure what we're doing. Right now we need to get ready to go." She replied.
Everybody stood up and hurried out of the room, with the exception of Ron and Harry. Ron began to pack his things and Harry walked glumly to his trunk. It had hardly been unpacked in the first place. He put the few belongings that he had taken out of his trunk and put them right back in. Four hours. He had been at the Weasley's for four hours before leaving again. Now he might have to go right back to where he started and have a miserable rest of the summer.
Ron, who had obviously seen Harry's discouragement, said, "You won't have to go back, Harry. We'll think of something."
Harry nodded. Mrs. Weasley bustled back in. Are you ready Harry?" Okay, good. You're going first."
"Locomotor" She said, her wand extended. All of Harry's belongings levitated a few inches off the ground.
"Er-Going where, exactly?" Harry asked.
"We're going to Diagon Alley, dear, the leaky cauldron. Ron hurry up!" She said. And walked out the door. Harry followed her down the stairs. The door smashed open. Harry drew his wand instinctively. It was only more members of the order. Many of whom Harry recognized, as they had rescued him last year. He saw Dedalus Diggle smile at him through the crowd. He looked at Tonks. She was still changing, but much slower, and she was now completely aware of what was going on. She stood up and approached the order. They talking in hushed voices for a minute or so, then she turned to Harry.
"All right, ready Harry?" She asked cheerily.
"Yeah." He replied.
Fred, George, Ron, Hermione and Ginny came down the stairs as Mr. Weasley magicked all of their belongings behind him.
"Okay, let's go." Said Mr. Weasley. Mrs. Weasley grabbed a pot full of what looked like dust, though Harry knew it was floo powder, and threw it into the fire. Emerald green flames shot up.
"Okay, Harry. You first." Said Mrs. Weasley.
"No," growled Moody. "They could be watching the floo network. Or they might have somebody waiting on the other side. You can't be too careful."
Harry thought this was a bit overprotective, but it seemed he was the only one. Mrs. Weasley nodded.
"Okay, Fred, you go first." She said.
"I thought we were Apparating." Said George.
"We need to make sure the network is clear. We're sending you through here." She replied.
"Oh, sure, send me as the guinea pigs." Fred said jokingly as he stepped into the fire.
"Have your wand ready." Said Mrs. Weasley.
"The Leaky Cauldron!" Shouted Fred. He disappeared as the flames shot up. A second later, Fred's head appeared in the fire and said. "We're all clear, mum, send them through."
"All right, we're sending all the trunks through now. Back up for a second." She said.
Fred nodded and his head disappeared.
"Okay, everybody through all your belongings in the fire." Mr. Weasley instructed.
Harry helped. Soon a large pile of trunks, broomsticks, and cauldrons was in the fireplace. Mrs. Weasley leaned down very close to it and said, "The Leaky Cauldron!" The flames entirely covered everything and took them away.
"Okay, George, you're next." Said Mrs. Weasley. George stepped into the fire.
"The Leaky Cauldron!" He shouted, and then disappeared.
It was at that moment that several cracks came from outside. Everybody in the order drew their wands. Lupin looked out the window.
"There here." He said. "Molly, get the kids out of here. Everyone else, come with me." The assembled at the door, ready to break it down.
"Harry, go, now. Mrs. Weasley said in a worried and hurrying voice. Harry stepped in the fire. The order busted the door open and ran outside. Harry saw curses immediately being launched from both sides through the window. He wanted to stay and help. But he knew he couldn't. They had stormed Sirius's house looking for a weapon, and no doubt that included him. So staying here would just be doing what they wanted.
"The Leaky Cauldron!" He shouted.
He felt the familiar spinning feeling as he tucked in his elbows and head so they didn't bang on all of the fireplaces he was zooming past. He landed with a thump face down. He looked up and wiped the ash from his glasses. Fred and George were waiting for him, grinning. All of his and everybody else's belongings were in a pile next to him.
"Hello, Harry." Said Fred.
"They were there." Harry said, shaking off Fred's greeting. "Right as I left. The order's fighting them outside your house."
The smiles wiped off the twins faces. "If they go near my room." Said George.
Hermione landed in the fireplace with a loud 'thump.'
"Ow." She said. Harry and Fred helped her to her feet.
"You okay?" Harry asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Just landed crooked." She replied.
A few seconds later came Ron. Then, finally, Ginny. Mrs. Weasley's head popped up in the fire.
"You all get rooms here. I'll be coming once this gets sorted out. Do not leave the Leaky Cauldron. Fred,George, you can check up on the store if you must." She said, and disappeared. Everybody got their own belongings from the large pile and then worked their way downstairs. They approached Tom, the innkeeper and bartender.
"We need four rooms for tonight please." Said George.
"Hello George, how's the shop?" Asked Tom pleasantly. "Listen, I gotta thank you for giving me those trick foods on short notice. They really cleared out the bad lot that was coming in. So how about I give you the rooms free, eh?" He added in a hushed voice.
"That won't be necessary Tom. We'll pay for at least two." Said George.
"All right, I'll give ya half off. That'd be, let's see, three sickles and a knut please." He said. Fred pulled out a large bag from somewhere in his robes.
"Rats, all I've got is Galleons."
"Not to worry, I'll break it for you." Said Tom. Fred handed him a large gold coin and Tom counted the change. "Okay, rooms 14, 15, 16, and 17 are ready for you. Our bellman will take your trunks up." He said. A hunched over man came from the door. He had an upturned lip and a rather mean look, except for his kind eyes. He gave a flick of the wand he was carrying and everybody's belongings disappeared.
"Thanks, Gerral." Said George. He pulled out a galleon and tossed it to him. As they walked up the stairs he said to Harry, "Poor bloke works here all day, just coming out and moving bags. We gotta give him something."
Harry and Ron took the key to room 16 and opened the door. Gerall came in behind them, flicked his wand, and left. Harry's and Ron's bags appeared and fell onto the twin beds in the room.
Harry had stayed here once before, prior to his third year. This was when everybody believed Sirius was after him, and the Ministry wanted to keep an eye on him. It was the most freedom Harry had had during a summer. He was always fond of the mirrors, because here they talked to the person standing in front of it, and he walked to the one in the room.
"Back for another stay, dear? Well enjoy yourself." It said sleepily. Ron jumped at hearing a third voice in the room.
"Talking mirrors. Clever, wish we had one." He said.
Fred and George walked in smiling. "We're going to check on the store." Said George.
"You know, you don't seem to be too worried about your house." Said Harry.
"Nah, we figure Dumbledore's going to help the order, he usually does. They scatter once they see him." Replied Fred. But Harry thought differently. He couldn't think strait. He was getting dizzy, and, suddenly, he fell over.
He was crouching down in the dark, staring at a battle going on outside the Burrow. Curses were flying from both directions.
"He is not here, Wormtail." He said in a cold, high voice.
"He was, my lord, I'm sure of it. He came here before, when I was disguised, and-and stayed with the family." Replied a nervous man next to him. "He must have just left."
"You were sure they'd be at Grimmauld place as well."
"Yes, my lord. That was a-a stupid mistake." Wormtail's voice was shaky.
"Indeed. However, with mistakes come consequences."
"No. Please, my lo-."
"Crucio!"
Harry's scar burned. He sat up. Ron, Fred, and George were looking at him worried. He felt his scar. It had opened again and was slightly bleeding.
"You okay?" Asked George, helping him up.
"Yeah." Said Harry. "But-Voldemort's at your house." He said tentatively. Everybody but Hermione flinched at the name.
They stared at him in silence for a moment.
"Are you sure?" Asked Ron. "I mean-last year, you, well-."
"Yeah, I know. But that was to bring me there. Here, he was just mad at wormtail because. I wasn't there."
"Was he doing anything?" Asked Ginny.
"No. I think he was just looking for me."
"Oh, well. Then no harm done, right?" Said Fred.
"Yeah-." Replied Harry, although he was still worried.
Thirty minutes later Mrs. Weasley called everybody out of their rooms.
"Is everything okay, mum?" asked Ginny.
"Yes, everything's fine." She replied. Harry breathed a sigh of relief. "They left a few minutes after you all did."
"Mum, Harry says he saw You-Know-Who outside our house." Said George. "Did you see him?"
"What's this?" She asked, completely shocked. "No, no Harry. You must be mistaken." Her voice made Harry believe that she was trying to cover up what he already knew.
"Anyway, now that that's aside." She continued. "We're keeping you all here until term starts. Some of the order members have offered to stay with you to keep watch." Harry knew exactly who it would be. "They'll be staying on this floor. If anything should happen, don't leave your rooms. Let them take care of it."
"All right, mum. Good-bye." Said George.
"Good-bye, everybody. Be careful." She replied. There was a crack and she disappeared.
"Damn, we bought an extra room for mom." Said George with a look of realization on his face. Harry laughed as he and Ron walked back into their room.
"Do you. do you think You-Know-Who was really there tonight?" Ron asked nervously. Harry waited a second before nodding.
"And when will you just call him Voldemort?" He asked.
"I-." He said, but then just stared with his mouth open. "I don't know. I'm just used to it, I guess. I've feared the name because I was brought up that way."
"I'm going to get people to say it." Vowed Harry. "I've got Hermione doing it. It's not that hard. Vol-de-mort." He said slowly.
"I don't know. I'll try. Just not tonight." He said, pulling his night robes out of his bag.
Harry was having an odd dream. He was walking through the great hall at Hogwarts. He was holding the Quaffle in one hand, and his broomstick in the other. He could hear himself talking in his sleep, but he, even in his subconscious, knew it wasn't him talking. He opened his eyes and looked at Ron. He had been talking for a while.
"-give it to my son, Harry. He will have the power to-." Ron murmured.
"Ron, wake up." Harry said.
Ron snorted and opened his eyes.
"What happened?" Harry asked curiously.
"I-I don't know." Ron replied. His face was fixed up into a look of deep thought and confusion.
"I- I had a dream. It was my. But it wasn't my voice, and I didn't know anybody around me, except your mom was there and Dumbledore." He said slowly, as if he was catching this as Harry was. "You were my son." He said. "Or maybe. I was your dad."
"That means the same thing." Harry said.
"No. No, I mean I was your dad, James. It wasn't my voice talking." He said. Harry looked at him as if he was crazy.
"Well, it was just a dream." He replied.
"No- It wasn't a dream. I can-," His face looked shocked now, "I can remember it! It's vague. In my dream I remember it, but also, kind of, when it happened" He was trying to remember everything that had happened and spoke even slower, "I said 'I, James Potter, am given the power entrusted to me to my son Harry. The magical bind that was given to me by Lord-." Ron paused. "I said his name! I said You-Know-Who's name! The magical bind that was given to me by Lord V-. Well, I can't say it now but you know who I mean, the magical bind given to me by the Dark Lord to my son, Harry James Potter, on this date of June the fifteenth, in the year nineteen- eighty one."
They were silent. Harry didn't believe it. This wasn't real. Ron wasn't the one who had weird dreams, he was. And besides, he knew there was no way Voldemort had given his dad powers. That wasn't possible, it didn't make sense. Ron seemed to be thinking along the same lines of Harry.
"Harry- If your dad got a power from You- Know-Who. He must have, well. Worked for him. You-Know-Who doesn't give out his powers to random people. And maybe," He continued, actually sounding remotely excited, "That's how you have all these powers that You-Know-Who has-because your dad gave them to you."
Harry couldn't believe what Ron was saying.
"Are you suggesting that my dad was a Death Eater?" He asked, his teeth clenched together.
"I-I don't know. I mean; You-Know-Who doesn't exactly give his talents to anybody. And, and no, he couldn't have been a death eater. I don't think. I would think we'd hear about that? Or-maybe he backed out, and that's another reason why You-Know-Who came to your house."
"You had a dream, Ron." Said Harry. He couldn't believe Ron believed this.
"No, it wasn't a dream. It happened, I know it did." He replied. "And you, of all people, should understand this!"
"I have dreams about Voldemort because this scar connects the two of us." Harry said, raising his voice a little. "You don't have dreams like that. You don't know what a dream feels like when it's real!" He was now yelling.
"You didn't realize it was only a dream at the end of last year." Said Ron, staring daggers at Harry.
The blow hit Harry hard. He felt terrible about the incident, but to be judged about it by Ron was infuriating. He had been this angry at Ron once before, during their forth year. Harry would very much have liked to walk over and punch Ron across the face. Ron realized he had pushed it. The mean look in his face faded and he looked apologetic.
"Listen-I-that was uncalled for." He said, letting his head hang a little and avoiding Harry's eyes.
"Yeah. I know. And so you know, it wasn't a regular dream. Voldemort put it in my mind. He can't do that with you. You don't have dreams like that, and you don't want to. Sometimes people think I enjoy the life dealt to me. They're sorely mistaken. I would change lives with anybody in a second. I'm sick of the fame, the deaths, the problems that comes with the fame of being the boy who lived. I don't like having the fate of the wizarding world on my shoulders. And it doesn't help having you point out the mistakes I made, especially not right now." Harry was almost shocked when he finished saying this. He knew it sounded nothing like him, really.
Ron didn't reply. Harry got back to bed and tried to fall asleep, although it didn't come until much later.