Winters Eve 

Chapter Three: The Gryffindor Tower

Year Seven  

            Ron sat in front of the fire sunken within the velvet red couch in the circular common room. In his lap he held his Nimbus2000. Slowly, he polished it trying to keep his mind off his friends, but even then it didn't help. Ron looked up as he saw Harry approach him. 

"Ron?" he asked as he moved closer.

Ron slowly exhaled, he then moved over so Harry could sit with him. Harry looked over to him waiting for an answer, but Ron had decided to play along with the no talking and said nothing. He leant his elbows upon his knees as he rested his chin in his palm slowly tapping his feet pretending to look around the room. He began to get up from the couch finding it hopeless to talk to Ron. "What – do you want?" Ron asked his voice a bit disgusted towards him.

Harry stopped walking away and quickly sat back down next to Ron. "I wanted to ask you about Hermione."

"What about her?"

"Well, do you know what is wrong with her? I would rather not lose our friendship over miscommunication."

Ron shrugged, he tried hiding the fact he very much appreciated Harry for coming to discuss the situations in which were taking place. "How am I supposed to know anything between the two of you? It would be much easier to help you if either of you told me what is happening once in a blue moon."

Harry cocked his head, "what do you mean: 'tell you what's happening once in a blue moon' we do tell you things!"

Ron stomped his foot as he threw his hands into fists punching the couch by his sides. "You two do NOT tell me anything, sure you tell me about your scar and how it hurts, or she tells me how to position my wand or how to annunciate, but when it comes to communication, actual thoughts, I am not apart."

Harry felt shocked from hearing the anger Ron had suppressed within himself. He never noticed how he hadn't really shared too much with him about his life, but what was he to share if he himself didn't know about his life either? If anyone was left out on details, it'd be him. Harry sneered, "Don't act up as though you have it all bad!"

"I'm not!" Ron gritted his teeth, "it is you who thinks they have it all bad," he mimicked Harry, "oh help, the dark lord is out to get me, I'm going to die, help me Dumbledore, I cannot do this on my own I am too big headed about my fame."

Harry leant back amazed by what Ron was saying, perhaps Harry had a mask on without knowing, a mask in which resembled Malfoy's face, or maybe he crossed one too many black cats over the summer break. Which ever it may have been, he knew it wasn't too long till Ron sided with Hermione.

Ron continued bickering as Hermione walked down to where the both of them sat. Harry's breathing came to a halt.  She approached him slowly paying no attention towards Ron who didn't notice her entry.

"Are you still dwelling upon what it is making me upset with you?"

"No," Harry answered promptly.

"No? Tell me Harry, how long is it going to take you till you do know?"

Harry said nothing; he looked up to Hermione who stood in front of him with her arms crossed. She tapped her left foot lightly anxiously awaiting an answer. 

Her eyes slanted in anger, forehead wrinkled and nose flared, "not going to answer then?" Hermione then put her hand into one of her robe pockets and pulled out a neatly folded piece of parchment. She then went to the table beside the window and sat down unfolding her notes, they crinkled loudly which caught Ron's attention. She unscrewed the cap to the bottle of ink lying on the table and lifted the quill to her lip. "Not answering questions," she mumbled as she wrote. When she was done writing she jumped up from the chair and folded the paper once again and placed it back in her pocket. "Goodnight," she nodded to them both before darting towards the girl's dormitory entrance.

Harry scratched his head and turned around peering over the couch as Hermione walked up the steps, once she was out of site he turned back facing the fire. He tried to think of reasons why she was furious with him, but nothing came to mind. Suddenly his scar burnt, it felt as though his face itself was in the fireplace. Harry made no sudden movement but sat stiff.

"See, see! I told you, what was she rollicking on about? Harry…HARRY?!" Ron looked over to him; his eyes blazed red as anger boiled within him.

Harry couldn't hear Ron or any other sound being made in the room. Quickly his vision became cloudy, soon everything vanished from site. Harry's hand clenched his scar tightly trying to stop the burn, but it only worsened. The circular room felt like a merry-go-round being pushed by three bullies on the play-ground, faster and faster, he lost control of his body slumping over the side of the couch. Harry began getting dizzier, slowly he tried to gain control of his body; he pulled himself off the couch. There he lied on the floor slightly shaking as sweat dribbled down from his face. He tried to get Ron's attention but nothing came out of his mouth. Am I dead? Harry thought to himself. He cringed as more pain stuck his entire body.

Ron stopped calling Harry's name. "Just like you too Harry, just like you to play that trick so I will feel bad for you and try to help." Harry didn't reply, Ron couldn't take another minute, he jumped from the couch and stomped his way up the stairs kicking anything that came in his path.

            Harry continued as he was before clearly not faking what was happening. Ginny listened intently for the boy's dormitory door to slam shut; when it finally did she rushed to Harry's side. "Harry," she grabbed his wrists and shook them, "wake up… wake up Harry, it's Ginny, it's alright." He continued lying on the floor emotionless; his lips began to turn purple. Ginny panicked and slapped his cheeks lightly trying to gain him consciousness.

***

            A vision appeared; Harry stood up and walked towards a man holding a long sword. A smile crept across the man's shadowed face. He was darkly cloaked and hard to recognize, the smile reminded Harry of someone, he knew this person, but from where? He took step forward, the man's arms came out like wings of a bird, slowly he bowed his head towards Harry hopping for him to come closer, and he did so. He examined the man once he stood close enough to touch him, but did not. The dark figure's head rose slowly, the smirk remained on his face. Suddenly he grabbed Harry's arm and drew him in closer, pulled the sword above Harry's hand and sliced his palm cleanly. He looked down to his hand which imminently pooled with black blood. He clenched his teeth and looked back to the man who now was further away from him. I'll find you in your dreams, he said before vanishing in gray smoke, Harry looked around, once again darkness.

***

            Ginny poked at Harry's side trying to revive him. His eyes cracked open, squinted from the bright light. Ginny smiled throwing her arms around him; Harry winced with pain. He looked to the couch hoping Ron was still there, then back to Ginny. She smiled cheerfully then back away from him as though he were a ghost.

            "What happened to you Harry? One minute you were here, then the next it was as though your soul was not."

            The vision of the man remained in his mind, who was he? Harry thought to himself.

            "Oh Harry, your hurt," carefully she pulled his hand into her lap.

            Harry looked down at his hand, in his palm sat a pool of blood, not just any blood, but black blood. I'll find you in your dreams, the man's voice replayed in his head. Harry looked towards the fire once more and mumbled I'll find you in your dreams…