Chapter 2 - Letters and Dreams

Days passed by at Hermione's house slightly uneventfully except for the time Ron got really freaked out with the computer. In fact, Ron's been anything but stable these days. Harry thought it should be normal for Ron to get excited, but not to this state, and something fishy definitely was going on. After a week of no clock, Harry was convinced that that day was only an image in his mind, but then there's the suspicious feeling of why he would ever have such an image.

There came a lovely morning where letters from school arrived just as the trio of friends were ready to go out to a park to play Quidditch. Something was different about all three letters, there were bigger.

Dear Mr.Potter, the letter read

Welcome to your seventh and last year at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. In additional to your studies at Hogwarts, you have been given the duty of a Head Boy. Congratulations. The badge is included.

There will be several changes. Prefects and the Heads of Prefects have a separate Bathroom for them. The armour on the fourth floor outside the History of Magic classroom, password "Tame Light". The special meeting room which will be required for you to join us every Friday afternoon at 6pm can be entered through Princess Leer's portrait on the West Tower, password "Cocktailer". Lastly, the new Gryffindor common room password shall be "Lilies-of-the-valley". More allowerances/duties for you are listed in another parchment in this letter. Your school supplies are also here.

Professor McGonagall

"Woah Harry!" cried Hermione looking over his shoulders, "You've been made Head Boy too! Guess what! I'm the Head Girl!"

There was a groan. "Aww man, a prefect," said Ron, "Fred and George are going to kill me for this! But on the bright side, maybe mom'll buy me new robes"

Harry laughed, "Well, I guess we are all up a step. And hey Hermione, what's that extra yellow paper? Ooh, taking the N.E.W.T.s, are you? Come on Hermione, you really need a break!"

Hermione smiled with a tiny blush, "I like what I do."

At this, Harry noticed Ron staring at the floor. That's it, thought Harry, why didn't I think of it before? "Hey mione," said Harry, "um, are you still together with Victor Krum?"

Ron and Hermione looked up at the same time. Harry regretted that he ever asked the question and held his breath as his friends held their gaze.

"Yeah, where Vikky, Hermione?" Ron suddenly snapped.

"What's wrong with you, Ron?" Hermione's face darkened with pain, "you didn't have a problem with him last year! And Harry, not exactly. We kind of broke up last month. We just didn't hit it off anymore I guess."

Ron suddenly looked uneasy. Harry breathed through the tension and then said, "Come on guys, let's go play Quidditch."

~*~

Harry slept less soundly that night. His scar was hurting more painful than ever.

"Master, master, why didn't you just let him touch the clock? It would be so much easier a much better trap, my lord," said a confident slimy voice.

"Why Hemstinger," came a silky deadly voice, "as I have told you many times before it would ruin the plan! We need to take things slowly Hemstinger. Perhaps you do not have the patience to do so?"

Harry felt himself in a dark damp tunnel and in the distance was a small spot of light. He tried to conceal himself and listened carefully.

"If we perform a trapping-spell" the first man was saying.

"If we perform a trapping-spell, Hemstinger, Harry Potter would still exist," breathed the deadly voice angrily, and it sent a chill up Harry's spin as it was awfully familiar, "I do not want him to exist at all! No one will remember him he will be nothing, he will never be even born! Then this world will be mine Hemstinger, you will obey to my plans"

"Yes master, yes my lord," said Hemstinger, "the next destination is the soccer game between England and Germany the mudblood girl will be sure to show her friends to the game. That Weasley has not an ouce of Muggle knowledge, my lord."

"Wonderful," replied Voldemort, "go ahead with the plan, Hemstinger"

Harry felt himself hit the floor with a stump, his hands clutching his scar. He woke with a sudden start and then climbed back into the bed. He fell asleep again and the dream had laid forgotten.

~*~

Meanwhile, Sirius Black sat before Arthur Weasley at The Burrow.

"Yes, I believe I can get you a trial," Arthur was saying, "The entire Auror team are with you. I tell you, Fudge wouldn't have agreed, but as I'm the new Ministry of Magic this year, nothing's stopping me. There is one problem, I doubt that many people would approve of Harry Potter attending the trial. I know no harm will come of it, but ah, I just don't know if people will approve of it."

"Please Arthur," said Sirius, "he's my godson and he is — well, Harry Potter. He is an important piece of evidence I'm innocent too! Everyone will be given the World's strongest truth potion, and then, everything will come out nice and easy. Plus, Wormtail is in Azkaban with the Aurors. Please do this for me, Arthur, and I know he would really want to see my trial through too."

"Alright," said Arthur finally with a sigh, "He is currently at Hermione's house with my son, as you ought to know."

"Yes," nodded Sirius, "should I go get him?"

"No, no," said Arthur, "I haven't filed for his permission to be in the trial yet. But Sirius, could you consider him not being in the trial? You trial is on the day of the soccer game between England and Germany. Hermione's parents are taking the kids there."

"Soccer?" repeated Sirius.

"A muggle game," said Arthur his face lifting up. Arthur had learned much about muggle things that he could finally actually pretend to be a muggle now, "It's with all these players, eleven on each team, and a ball, and you have to shoot it -"

"Not now, Arthur," said Sirius with a smile, "I'm sure some other time would be more appropriate. Now I want Harry at my trial and that is it."

"Ok." Arthur gave in.

~*~

"Harry! Harry!" Harry was woken with a start.

Ron, Hermione, and her parents were all crowding around his bed, all wearing extremely worried looks on their faces. Harry felt very self-conscious and then found that both of his hands were covering his scar, and they felt wet. He lifted away his hands and then gasped. They were covered in blood!

"Call the ambulance!" Mr. Granger said to Mrs. Granger urgently.

"No, no!" cried Harry, "don't! I'm fine! And besides the scar's to do with the magic world. Muggle doctors will be dangerous."

Hermione quickly went and got a bucket of warm water and brought it to him. Harry washed his hands with a sick sinking feeling wondering how his scar came to be this bad, pouring blood! He then went into the bathroom, rejecting any assistance from his friends and the Grangers, then looked into the mirror. There was blood everywhere on his forehead and around, but his scar seemed to have closed back up again. Harry gave a sigh and started washing blood off his face.

When Harry came out of the bathroom, everyone was crowding over him again. He felt relieved when Hedwig came in with a letter, so that Hermione's parents let them alone.

"Hey, it's from my dad!" said Ron, "but to you"

Hey Harry,

Sirius Black's trial is on August 23rd. Don't worry, you will have time to purchase your school supplies the week after. He wants you to be there as witness, so we will come for you in the morning at 9am. Please be at the front door ready.

Arthur Weasley

"Hey, that's on the day of the soccer game!" said Hermione.

"Woah, Sirius got a trial! Woohoo! I bet he'll be free in no time." Ron was quite happy about it.

Harry expressed a smile too. It was a wonderful thought to have Sirius free. He was considering in going to a specialized school after Hogwarts anyway, so maybe when Sirius gets freed, he could bunk in. It would be much better than with the Dursleys. Plus, they could see each other anytime they want without hindrance.

"Yup, he has to be set free!" Harry said with determination.

~*~

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