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Chapter 3: Through the Oak Tree
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Harry Potter lay awake in his Boston hotel bed, listening to the soft snores coming from the bed next to his. Harry rolled over and lifted his head to look at Ron.
"Lucky," he whispered and laid back down, "He doesn't have nightmares every single night."
Ever since the night that Cedric had died, he had had the same nightmare, the scene from the graveyard; that is, every night until the previous one. Harry could have sworn that in that one there had been a young girl, watching the events, horrified.
"And now this," he whispered to the dark. The dream that had woken him up minutes earlier had been the first dream not about Voldemort's return. This hadn't made it a comforting one though. There had been a girl, the same girl from the graveyard. Harry didn't know the girl, but she looked remarkably like him. She was standing in the middle of a room, staring wide-eyed into the corner. At first, Harry couldn't tell who she was looking at, but then he saw the snake-like eyes and heard the words, "Avada Kedavra!" and as the room was engulfed in a blinding green light, Harry had woken up.
Harry shook his head and rolled over to look at the clock; it was 2:45. He was now officially fifteen.
* * * * *
The room was dark and cold and although she couldn't see, she knew she wasn't alone. She could feel his presence: She could feel the evil cutting the air as if it were as tangible as a knife. She didn't move, didn't breathe, dreading what she would see if the lights came on. As an eerie green light filled the room, a horrible realization struck her: She was standing face to face with a man she had only seen in her dreams. He was the man who had killed the pleading woman; he was the man who had been under the turban; he was the man who had tortured the boy in the graveyard. Adrienne screamed, her voice echoing through the room, mingling with the echoing evil laughs of the man as he raised his wand. "Adrienne, Adrienne!"
Adrienne's eyes snapped open. She didn't know where she was; people were crowded around her, hastily dressed, wearing worried expressions. A light flickered on and Adrienne blinked. Professors Bell and Glenn were standing over her, several of her other professors standing behind them. Adrienne closed her eyes and took a few calming breaths.
"Adrienne, it's alright. It was just another nightmare," said Professor Glenn, reaching down and smoothing her hair.
"I know you don't want to tell us, but we can help you of you let us know what is happening once you fall asleep," urged Professor Bell. Adrienne didn't answer. She didn't know who the boy or the man was, she had never seen their faces clearly, or anything else clearly for that matter; they couldn't help her.
"No, I'm ok now," she whispered.
Professor Bell sighed and turned towards the door. "Go back to sleep then, Adrienne," she said.
The rest of the professors filed out after her. Professor Glenn was the last one to leave. He stopped at the door, his face contorted in a worried expression.
"Come on, kid, this isn't a great way to begin your birthday," he whispered and then slowly shut the door.
Adrienne didn't move, her mind drifted back to her nightmare, to the man: She had a bad felling, the feeling that this wouldn't be the last time she would see him.
* * * * *
Hermione, Harry, and Ron walked through the forest's brilliant morning light, chatting quietly as Hermione searched for the entrance to the Gallows.
"Sleep well, Harry?" asked Ron popping an M&M into his mouth.
"Hmmm," Harry mumbled, shrugging his shoulders.
"No nightmares?" asked Hermione, stopping short in front of a large oak tree.
Harry rolled his eyes. "Just one."
Hermione whipped around. "The same nightmare?" she asked.
"No, it was a new one."
Hermione raised her eyebrows. "A new one? About what?"
"There was a girl I didn't know," he replied.
"That's all?" asked Hermione, starting to feel relieved.
Harry's nightmares had really started to worry her. When she had first heard that Harry was have frequent nightmares she had put researching dreams at the top of her to do list for when she returned to Hogwarts. Unfortunately, they wouldn't be there for another month.
"Voldemort killed her," added Harry quietly. "Where's this entrance?" Hermione didn't answer.
"Don't say that name!" Ron winced, "You think it could have really happened? Like the one last summer?"
Harry shook his head, "I don't know."
"Come on Hermione!" Ron said, changing his attention to the silent, far-away looking girl.
Hermione snapped back from her confused thoughts. "Oh right," she muttered.
Harry breathed a sigh of relief; the sooner he got the vision of the scared girl being engulfed in green light out of his mind, the better.
Hermione turned to face the tree again. "It's like the barrier at Platform 9 ¾. We just walk through... I think," she added this last part hesitantly.
"You think?" asked Ron, his face bursting into a wide grin, "Miss Know-it-All doesn't know something for sure?"
Harry smirked: Ron hadn't looked so delighted since Draco Malfoy had been transfigured into a Ferret. Hermione shot Ron a death-stare before she walked right into the tree. She disappeared before their eyes.
Ron's smile fell. "For once can't she just be wrong? Once, that's all I ask!" he moaned.
As Harry entered the tree he was engulfed in darkness and then... "Merlin," he whispered.
He, Ron, and Hermione were standing in a large town square, bustling 18th century style shops were all around them. Wizards and witches strolled causally along the cobblestone paths, chatting pleasantly.
"This is amazing," said Ron, turning in circles to see everything.
Harry noticed at once that the town square seemed to be right in the middle of a gigantic path, which circled around a large patch of grass and the magnificent oak tree. A ways ahead of him, he saw a huge group of marble buildings gleaming in the bright sunlight.
"What is that, Hermione?" he asked, pointing toward the massive buildings.
Hermione turned and looked in the direction in which he was pointing. "The American Ministry of Magic," she said, "but look at this!" she grabbed his hand and Ron's and pulled them around the oak. Down the other side of the path, quite a ways, and atop a large hill, sat a glorious castle, not as large as Hogwarts, but it was close.
"Is that the Salem Academy?" Harry asked. Hermione nodded.
"This place is amazing," breathed Ron.
"It's famous!" sighed Hermione, "and we have to see all of it!"
She dropped her best friends' hands and strode over too the nearest store, Hecate's Attic. Harry reached in his robes and pulled out a bag of wizard gold, which somehow now felt like it wouldn't be nearly enough.
"Is there a Gringotts around here?" he asked Ron. Ron shrugged and colored slightly. "We can ask."
"Hermione! Wait, I want to go to Gringotts first and get some money sent from my bank account," Harry called, turning to look for someone to ask. He didn't have to look that far: Next to him stood three adults.
"Where do you buy these plane tickets again?" asked a sandy-haired young man.
"Ralph! I told you a hundred times: A Muggle travel agent! You're the Muggle Studies Professor, you should know this. Disapparate out of here and go wow the Muggles with your extensive knowledge of their world!" snapped an irritated man.
Ralph rolled his eyes and with a slight pop was gone. The man now turned to a pretty woman standing next to him.
"Robes, she needs black ones, Joe," the lady said.
"I know that, Mia, of course she needs black ones. I'll get the robes, you buy the owl."
Mia put her hands on her hips. "I'll get the robes, Joe, you get the owl. You don't even know her size!"
Joe glared at her. "I want to get the robes - I don't need to know her size - I happen to be good at buying women's clothing dear," he said, a smirk playing on his face. "I've bought you robes before."
The lady laughed. "And you've never gotten my size right. We've been married three years and you can't even buy me the right size robes. How will you buy Adrienne robes that fit?" she asked.
"Mia, Mia, Mia... come now, amuse me. This isn't that much of a sacrifice; I want to buy the girl's robes. You still owe me, you know, for not taking my name when we married."
Mia threw up her hands. "That's because having two Professor Glenns would be far too confusing. Fine, have it your way, but I'll laugh so hard when they don't fit her," Mia said, rolling her eyes. She turned on her heel and stomped off.
"Love you too, dear," her husband called.
Mia stopped and turned around, smiling, "How come I had to marry someone whose favorite pastime is instigating fights?" Joe laughed. "I don't know, I didn't make you do it."
Mia smiled and started again down the street. Joe shook his head and turned around, facing Harry and Ron.
"Sir," began Harry, "would you mind telling us where Gringotts is?"
Joe pointed down the street towards the Ministry. "Down by the British Embassy, kid," and with that, he walked into Hecate's Attic, not at all noticing the scar on Harry's forehead.
* * * * *
"Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear Adrienne, Happy Birthday to you!" sang all the professors as Adrienne blew out the fifteen candles on her fourth ever birthday cake. Adrienne smiled as Professor Glenn handed her a large piece of chocolate cake. Adrienne looked up and down the table; her professors smiled at her, but something about their smiles seemed strained.
"Something the matter?" asked Adrienne, mid-bite. All the professors shot hurried glances at the Headmistress.
"We're just worried about you, Adrienne, that's all," she said. Everyone nodded.
Adrienne looked at her, confused. "Why?" she asked.
Professor Bell tilted her head. "Your nightmare last night, of course, Adrienne." Adrienne dropped her fork. "I didn't have a nightmare," she said incredulously, "I would have remembered that."
"But you did, Adrienne," said Professor Glenn, "Your screams woke the entire castle."
Adrienne snorted and rolled her eyes. "Whatever, Professor."
Professor Glenn raised his eyebrows but didn't say anything.
"Well Adri, it is your birthday and you've already blown out your candles and had your cake, so what about opening the presents now?" asked Professor Hartel, setting a large package on the table.
Adrienne blushed. "You guys didn't have to do that."
"We know," said Professor Bell, "Open it."
Adrienne smiled and reached for the large box decorated in maroon wrapping and a gold ribbon. She slowly opened it and lifted out the tissue paper. Inside were seven black robes. Adrienne held one up, confused.
"I don't get it," she said. "My robes are supposed to be green."
A couple professors chuckled.
"Is it the right size, Adri?" pressed Professor Glenn.
Adrienne looked at the tag. "Yep."
"I told you Mia! I told you! Looks like you owe someone an apology!" he exclaimed, smiling smugly.
Mia shrugged. "So I was wrong," she muttered.
Professor Sloan slid a large gift bag onto the table. "Next!" she said.
Adrienne reached for it and slipped her hand inside. She pulled out a large cage holding a beautiful snowy owl.
"She's beautiful!" Adrienne exclaimed, reaching her fingers into the cage to stroke the sleeping owl.
"And we expect you to make good use of her too!" said Professor Bentley, the charms instructor.
"I - I - I don't get it," said Adrienne again. The smiles on the faces around her grew larger.
"Last present, Adrienne," said Professor Hartel as she handed her an envelope. Adrienne reached across the table, her fingers trembling. She opened it and pulled out a slip of paper.
"It's a plane ticket," she said, confused.
"For England," piped up Professor Ralph Mondel.
"London, England," clarified Professor Sloan.
Adrienne looked at it closely. "But why do I need one?" she asked quietly.
"How else are you supposed to get to King's Cross to catch the Hogwarts' Express?" replied Professor Glenn, grinning from ear to ear.