Harry Potter and the City of Dreams
By Magma

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. Harry Potter was orginally created by J.K. Rowling, and it belongs to her and Warner Brothers with whatever rights they own to it. This is purely a story of fanfiction, not ever published or said to be written by a little girl who only writes occasionaly. Thank you.

A/N: This is a 6th year fic. Last year, nothing big happened. Learned a few spells, Gryffindor won the House and Quidditch Cup, etc. . . Also, this is the rewritten version of HP and CoD. It will be different, and I plan to update weekly, or daily. I will be replacing the old chapters with the new as I get them out. Please forgive any spelling errors.

Chapter One - Dreaming

Water. . . Water surrounding everything. . . And then, plink! Something shattered that perfect calm. Harry's eyes snapped open. "Where - Where am I?" All about him he saw water encompassing everything - and then! Swirling clouds revealed themselves, and there, in the mists, was a floating city!

Harry nearly wept out loud at the sight of it, this magnificent city, glittering in the sun like a diamond. The smooth elegent lines of the buildings fashioned themselves after a bird, sleek and glistening. Harry so desperately wanted to enter the city, but the largest gate of silver imaginable blocked him.

But as Harry sat in front of the gate, silently weeping, it opened every so slightly, and a tiny child appeared. Her brown hair was done in ringlets, and her blue eyes sparkled happily.

"Hello, Harry Potter." An echoing voice shocked Harry out of weeping. "Are you well?"

Harry quickly stood up, wiping away his tears. "I'm fine, thank you." He offered her a weak smile, not quite reaching his eyes. "See?"

"Follow me." And the girl started to walk, her slippered feet silent on the paved streets. "And you are not well."

"Wh-What?" Harry was shocked. What did she know? "Where are we going?"

She smiled mysteriously. "The City of Dreams." She pointed at the buildings around her.

"City of Dreams?" Harry asked, but she had already walked around the block.

The buildings stood there, stark in their cold and forbidding beauty. However, there were no people. How odd, Harry thought. How very odd.

"This city is where dreams are reality. Without this city, your world would cease to exist." She pointed to the empty streets. "Already the people vanish, for those who one dreamed are now gone. Dead."

Harry looked at her again, wondering about her odd voice and speech. "Exactly who are you?"

She smiled again. "I am merely called the Watcher. I see all." She started to walk again.

"Wait!" Harry reached out an arm, beseechingly. "What does this have to do with me?"

"Find this city of the clouds, and seek your answers there." The Watcher looked at Harry, her eyes sad and weary. "Goodbye, Harry Potter."

"WHAT?" Harry's mind was in shatters. What was the Watcher talking about? Find this city? How could he even be sure it existed?

"Goodbye, Harry Potter," she whispered into his ear.

"Days of Dark shall come and go,
yet for the light to keep it so,
one shall rise and conquer he,
he who seeks to destroy all that is free
."

She started walking again.

"WA-" But she was already gone.

~*~

"WAIT!" Harry woke up in cold sweat, gasping for breath. He frantically looked around, emerald eyes wide in shock. "Where did she go?"

"BE QUIET BOY!" a booming voice shouted. "You're interrupting MY sleep!"

Harry shut his mouth, thinking silently. This girl, she told him to find a city. Well, he'd try, just for a chance to see it again. Did it even truly exist?

With this question on mind, Harry Potter slept dreamlessly.

~*~

The next morning, Harry was cooking breakfast. He absently watched the bacon fry, wondering about his dream and what to do. But peace never lasts, does it?

Since the beginning of this summer, the Dursleys had taken to beating him and ordering him around like a slave. He couldn't use magic, and they forced him to burn all his letters upon arrival. They also locked up his books, wand, and broomstick. They even had locked up Hedwig, Harry's only comfort in the house. To put it simply, Harry's life was hell.

As Vernon took up drinking, Harry's beatings grew worse and worse, until it got to the point where Harry could not walk because of sheer pain and exhaustion. Aunt Petunia pretended that all was well, and continued to give Harry constant chores.

As the weeks went by, Harry grew weaker and weaker. He thought he had at least 3 broken ribs, and God knows only how many times he had to reset one of his legs or arms. With multiple bruises and cuts covering every centimeter of his body, Harry was not a pretty sight. He ached. Breathing hurt. Walking hurt. Hell, everything hurt! Harry just wanted peace. He was so sure he was going to die. So very sure.

~*~

Sometime during July or August (Harry lost track of time), Harry awaoke to screaming. Loud screaming.

"GET OUT YOU FREAKS! VERNON!" Aunt Petunia was in hysterics, surrounded by Death Eaters. They were dressed in black robes, ghostly masks covering their faces.

One of the Death Eaters smirked. "Worthless muggle. Avada Kedavra!" A jet of bright green light shot out of his wand, instantly silencing Petunia's cries. The other twelve Death Eaters quickly killed Vernon and Dudley before they could cause a problem. And then, they searched for their goal. Harry Potter.

Harry watched in silent shock, his breathing accelerating, eyes dilated. He tried to keep quiet, but all was too late.

"Get him!" A Death Eater pointed at Harry who was at the top of the stairs, wide-eyed with fright. Harry took off like lightening, running to the nearest room, wheezing in exhaustion. He wished he wasn't so bloody tired!

The thirteen Death Eaters crowded into the battered room, dried blood gracing the walls. Moonlight streamed into the room, giving the room a ghastly look. "There's nowhere to run, Harry Potter!" The head Death Eater smiled at Harry's wild gaze, and turned to address the others.

Too late! In a moment of desperation, Harry flung himself through the window, the glass slicing multiple new cuts into Harry's arms and cheeks. He fell, fell until he hit the ground heavily, crimson blood pooling around his body.

Harry ran, not looking back, hoping to find salvation soon. He thought for the closest safe place, and it dawned upon him. Ms. Figg's house! He dashed to the door, knocking frantically on the heavy oak door, hoping she was home.

She was. A wizened old face appeared out the door. "Harry?" She took in his horrible appearance. "What happened?"

Harry ran through the doorway, locking the door once he was in. Then, he collapsed, too weary to think or move. "Help. . . me. . ."

Arabella Figg worriedly looked at Harry Potter, quickly casting a temporary healing spell. Then, she started to write a letter to Albus Dumbledore, occasionally glancing at Harry as she did so.

The Death Eaters bypassed the dark house, thinking nothing of it. Not finding Harry, they returned from whence they came. But they left despair and ruin behind them.

~*~

To Be Continued. . .