Dreams
Chapter 8: The Plot Thickens
A/N: I would just like to thank all reviewers. Keep it up!
A/N2: Coulda, woulda, shoulda. I coulda started my English essay and I woulda but I did this instead. Since I need to do this essay, don't expect some chapters till next week (I always say that but when I get an idea I can't resist).
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or any characters, places, etc. associated with him. I only own the plot. (Pretty formal, right?)
Madam Pomfrey rushed up the stairs, said the password, and hurried to Professor Dumbledore's side.
"What happened here?" she whispers to herself. She quickly shouts orders. Hermione is supposed to get Professor Snape, Harry is helping Madam Pomfrey carry Professor Dumbledore, and Ron has to look for Professor McGonagall. They all do as they are told.
Ron is the first to accomplish his task.
As he bursts through the door he yells, "Professor McGonagall…where are you?"
"Weasley, don't you know how to knock. Ten points from Gryffindor. Now what do you want."
"Professor…Dumbledore…in hospital…something wrong," Ron said panting.
"Oh my god," she mutters under her breath.
As Ron and Professor McGonagall are going to the hospital wing, Hermione finds Snape. She, like Ron, burst through the door. The only problem was that he was teaching a class of first-years.
"Granger what the hell are you doing disrupting my class like that!?!," Snape shrieked.
"No time to explain," Hermione said," Dumbledore needs you."
"Tell him he can wait," Snape retorted.
Hermione walked up to his ear and dangerously said, "Something is wrong with him. He needs to NOW."
Snape put an alarmed face on and dismissed the first years.
"Lead the way, Ms. Granger".
"That's what I thought asshole," Hermione thought.
Finally the congregation Madam Pomfrey summoned was together.
"Something attacked him Severus," Professor McGonagall said. "Can you make him something?"
He replied with a shrug but after one look at Professor Dumbledore's face, he said, "I will do the best I can."
He then added, "So your in charge while he is sick?"
"Yes, Severus. Please hurry with the potion."
"Of course Minerva, of course." With another glance at the motionless body, he set of to the dungeons.
"Granger, Weasley, Potter, go to the Tower. And don't speak a word about this," Professor McGonagall said.
The boys were still staring at Dumbledore's lifeless body and with a little tug from Hermione, they all said, "No problem, Professor McGonagall."
The group was speechless as they slowly crept to Gryffindor Tower. They were all thinking the same thing but no one said a word.
**Meanwhile in Slytherin Tower**
(A/N: Do the Slytherins live in a tower or the dungeons. I wasn't sure. If you know please tell me."
Malfoy was sitting alone in the common room. His annoying friends, Crabbe and Goyle, were asleep. It had been awhile since Malfoy had some time to think by himself. He kept staring at the fire, his blonde hair shining.
"Hmm, I wonder what Hermione is doing?" he thought. He would've never said this aloud in front of his friends.
"Oh my god why am I thinking about that filthy Mudblood?"
A little voice, deep within replied, "You know why…you like her."
"No way. Never. Not even if hell froze over. Well maybe if hell froze over. Her smile is rather enchanting and…no no stop thinking that."
He proceeded to hit his head repeatedly. His fellow Slytherins were looking at him now.
"Okay calm down. You don't like her. Never will. Oh but her eyes, they are so beautiful. Like deep layers of brown and…crap I'm doing it again. What is wrong with me?"
He decided that all he needed was a cold shower. It would rid him of such feelings. Or so he thought. After three cold showers and more looking into the fire, he still liked her. The little voice in his head kept taunting him as well.
"Why'd you ask her to the Quidditch field if you don't like her idiot?"
The little voice was driving him crazy. He finally gave in.
"Ok ok I like her," he shouted. The other Slytherins now knew that Malfoy was off his rocker.
A big weight was off his chest. But the feeling didn't last. He then thought about what he was going to do. After what Goyle and Crabbe did to her how would she ever forgive him?
He kept brooding over possibilities as he climbed the stairs to his dorm.
"I'll just tell her that I want to talk to her tomorrow. It won't be that hard," he said to himself. He lay still, accompanied by Crabbe's snores, unconvinced.
**Hours Later**
"Minerva, I have the potion prepared for him."
"Great Severus. He'll be awake tomorrow. Let me have it please."
"Here you go."
"Poppy," Professor McGonagall said.
"Yes Minerva."
"Please give this to Albus. It's nearly dinner time and I must tell the students."
"Of course, no problem at all."
Professor McGonagall carefully gave the smoking goblet of potion to Madam Pomfrey. Cautiously, Madam Pomfrey propped Dumbledore's head on a couple of pillows and coaxed him to sip the potion.
"We must be going Poppy," Professor McGonagall said. She pulled Snape by the arm. As they were out in the hall Snape stopped and demanded to know what was going on.
"What are you doing Minerva," Snape said.
"If you speak a word, a single WORD, about Dumbledore's true condition to your House, you will be fired on the stop."
There was a cold severity in her tone. A cold breeze ran down Snape's back. If he was fired, Voldermort would kill him.
"I'm not saying anything," Snape replied angrily.
"Just making sure…You do have a habit of letting secrets out." She had obviously been making a reference to an old Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, Remus Lupin.
The two walked into the Great Hall. Professor McGonagall took Professor Dumbledore's seat. Before everyone could dig in, she told them about what happened. There were many worried faces but she quickly added that it was only a cold and that he should be up and about in days.
"What do you think happened," Hermione whispered to her two friends.
"We won't know till he wakes up," Ron replied. Harry added a reassuring smile.
"He'll be fine. No need to worry about it now. Like Ron said, we won't know until he wakes up." With that, the trio switched the conversation. They ate rather quickly and were getting out of the hall until a cold voice spoke.
"Hermione wait." It was none other than Malfoy.
Ron was ready and willing to kick Malfoy's ass. He didn't care that McGonagall was in the next room, along with the other teachers. Hermione held a hand up to his robes and whispered, "Let's see what he wants".
Ron didn't want to know what Malfoy wanted but a quick kiss settled him down.
"What do you want, Malfoy," Hermione asked in a icy manner.
"I wanted to talk to you. I just wanted to see if you would meet me again."
"Meet you again," Ron sputtered. "You must be out of your mind Malfoy."
"Ron, stop," Hermione said. He instantly halted.
"Whoa, Hermione really does have him wrapped around her finger," Harry thought.
"Malfoy, I'll meet you but Ron will be there, too."
Malfoy wasn't too pleased with what he heard but he knew he wouldn't be able to win. He grumbled an okay and went to his tower.
"Hermione what was that about," Ron asked.
"I want to see what he has to say. You'll be with me, it'll be okay."
Before Ron could fight the decision, he melted like butter with a much longer kiss.
"Umm, okay," he said, dazed.
Harry had enough. "Let's go to bed, guys."
**The Next Day**
It was Monday again. The group had to go to their classes. For Ron, Divination even seemed bearable, since he would see Hermione after. At lunch, the two of them cuddled. McGonagall didn't seemed too unhappy. She walked by and mumbled, "About time." Ron and Hermione flushed a deep red but they were satisfied. Harry kept looking over to Cho, daydreaming as usual.
"Mione," Ron whispered.
"Yup," she replied.
"Do you know if Cho likes Harry?"
"Um not right now. I could ask one of the girls though later. They might."
They kept embracing and Hermione had a random thought.
"Ron, did Harry ever tell you about his dream?"
"No, he hasn't mentioned it at all."
"Maybe we should bring it up later."
"Nah, we already have enough drama without bugging Harry. After everything is settled, remind me."
Hermione nodded her head and rested in Ron's arms for a little while longer.
"I have to go, Arithmancy."
With a little disdain on his face, Ron let go. As Hermione was getting up, Malfoy walked over. Instinctively, Ron jumped up and let out a growl.
"Hermione, will you meet me on Friday?"
Malfoy remembered that Ron would tag along. "Damn it, isn't there a way to have Hermione all to myself?". Soon after that thought, Malfoy was coming up with a plan.
"Friday, yeah that's fine, right Ron?"
"It's okay by me, what time and where," Ron snarled.
"Lake…9 at night…Is that too late for you Weasel? I know your bedtimes is pretty early."
Ron was cool and didn't do anything. He turned to Hermione and kissed her goodbye. Malfoy was growing hot with hate and envy.
They didn't have many classes in the afternoon. Before the trio knew it, it was dinner time.
"Let's go to dinner." Harry waited for a response and realized the couple was sleeping. He almost felt a pang of jealousy. Ron always had a family and now he had the girl. He didn't have anything except Galleons. The thought quickly vanished from his head as the two woke up.
"Okay, lets go," Hermione said with a yawn.
Dinner went smoothly. They talked about their classes, Malfoy, what happened to Dumbledore, Malfoy…well you get the idea. They finished and Professor McGonagall called Harry. Ron and Hermione looked anxious but were shooed away but McGonagall.
"Professor Dumbledore has asked to see you."
Harry didn't need anything else. He ran to Dumbledore's side.
"What is it Professor?"
"Something attacked me," a weak voice that Harry didn't recognize said.
He continued by saying, "It was a black cloak."
Harry looked very confused. "A black cloak attacked you?"
"Yes, do not doubt me Harry. Everyone else does. It tried to suffocate me."
"Okay Professor, I think Madam Pomfrey needs to take your temperature."
"Tell your parents," Dumbledore pleaded.
"You know?" Harry asked.
"Yes, I know what happened. It's extremely rare and it can be a gift sometimes. Ask them, describe the thing that tried to kill me".
Harry didn't need anymore proof. Dumbledore hadn't lost all his marbles yet.
"Okay, I'll ask them tonight. I'll come back in the morning."
Dumbledore smiled and had a twinkle in his eye.
"This is the Dumbledore I know," Harry thought.
"Alright, I'm going now. Good night Professor." Harry winked at Dumbledore, who just kept smiled.
"Let me go pay a visit to dear old mum and dad," Harry thought as he climbed into his bed. The hospital wing was pretty far from Gryffindor Tower but Harry felt like he was in the common room in seconds. It looked like Ron and Hermione were waiting up for him but they fell asleep too.
"No use in waking them up," Harry thought.
He was in his pajamas and in bed. He took off his glasses and ran his fingers over his lightning bolt scar. It hadn't been in pain for quite some time. He closed his eyes.
"Hi mum. Hi dad."
*END OF CHAPTER 8*
A/N: That was pretty long. I know you guys don't like cliff hangers but I do. R/R please!!!!!
