Disclaimer: I own nothing. Harry, Hedwig, Severus (as much as I love him), and everyone else, all belong to JKR and whoever else is in the long list of Harry Potter owners. Tidmag owns the basic plot as he/she (which?) gave me the idea for this story. Also, this is another answer for Severitus' challenge. This story has no relation to my other story written partly in answer to Severitus' challenge because there is no Saerry (except for yours truly). I also do not own Heart or their lyrics.
Summary: Fifth year and Harry finds himself changing. But are they for better or for worse? And what secret lurks behind these changes? A secret only Remus Lupin seems to know.
These Dreams-Saerry Snape-
* Sweetest Song is Silence *
~*~
Is it cloak n dagger
Could it be spring or fall
I walk without a cut
Through a stained glass wall
Weaker in my eyesight
The candle in my grip
And words that have no form
Are falling from my lips
~*~
Two weeks later Harry was being driven down to King's Cross. He had convinced Uncle Vernon to drive him there by commenting on how angry his godfather would be if he didn't get to Hogwarts. Uncle Vernon's face had turned a lovely shade of violet and then he had gruffly told Harry to be ready at six o' clock sharp.
So now here he was, heading for his fifth year at Hogwarts. Uncle Vernon had (not too kindly) put his trunk on a trolley then hurriedly driven off. Harry placed Hedwig's cage on top of his trunk then headed in the direction of Platform 9 ¾. As soon as he passed through the barrier something smacked into his chest and hugged him tightly.
"Hermione! Geroff!"
Hermione ignored him and continued to hug him. She cried, "Harry! I was so worried about you! Professor Dumbledore told me not to write but I almost did I was so worried!"
Harry patted her shoulder and said, "Thanks, Herm, but as you can see I'm fine. But do you have to hug me so hard? I kind of need those ribs you're bruising."
"Oh, sorry, Harry." Hermione took a step back and looked up at him. She blinked then said, "You've grown! And your hair's longer."
Harry grinned. Not only have his hair grown to his shoulders but he had also sprouted up from a measly 5'4 to a few centimeters about 6'0. He suspected that he was close to Ron's height now.
"Yea. Just a little."
"A little? Harry, you're taller than Ron!"
Harry blinked. "Pardon?"
Hermione blushed as she said, "Erm, I visited Ron over the summer. You're about an inch taller than him if I guess right."
"What?"
"Harry! Herm!"
Ron suddenly ran up and blinked at Harry.
"Wha? How? Your taller than me!"
Harry nodded and said, "I know." He looked at the Hogwarts Express then added, "Maybe we should get on the train."
"Yea, sure."
The three of them lugged their trunks onto the train and into an empty compartment. Harry and Ron put Hedwig and Pigwidgeon's cages above their heads and Ron threw a blanket over the minute owls cage to muffle his twittering.
A few minutes later Hermione was buried in Hogwarts, A History and Ron and Harry had begun a game of Exploding Snap.
************************
A few hours later they were walked down the halls to their dorms. The Sorting Ceremony had went well (except for the part where almost everyone had panicked when Dumbledore had told them Voldemort had returned) and the Welcoming Feast was wonderful as usual.
Harry and Ron were talking about Quidditch as they lagged along behind the group of scattered fifth and fourth years. As they passed the Slytherins on their way to the dungeon, Professor Snape, who was heading in the same direction as his students as his rooms were in the dungeons, glared at them. His glare fell to a shocked expression when his eyes fell on Harry but that was replaced quickly by a sneer as Harry looked at him. In a swirl of black robes he turned away.
Harry blinked then look at Ron, who looked just as surprised.
"What was that about?"
Ron shrugged and they launched back into their conversation.
************************
Later, as Harry lay in his four posted bed listening to Ron and Neville's snores, he pondered over why Professor Snape had looked at him. Harry swore the Potions Master had looked – of all things – surprised. Was it his hair?
Idly, Harry reached up and fingered a lock of his long hair. It did look like he was trying to imitate the dreary professor but anyone who really thought about it would find that insane. Harry and Snape had never liked each other, not since that first Potions class.
Sighing Harry rolled over and pulled his blanket up over his shoulder. In a few moments he was asleep, his dreams rolling with the memory of a beating Uncle Vernon had given him over the summer. Dream-Uncle Vernon then changed into Voldemort, who laughed and fired Avada Kedavra at him.
Harry shot awake, dark hair flying about his face. He had not woken anyone as he had trained himself over the summer not to cry out from his nightmares. Instead he drew his knees up to his chest and looked out the window at the glowing sliver of the crescent moon.
~*~
The sweetest song is silence
That I've ever heard
Funny how your feet
In dreams never touch the earth
In a wood full of princes
Freedom is a kiss
But the prince hides his face
From the dreams in the mist
~*~