Chapter Two

Voices

Harry walked into the station glumly. The station was packed with muggles as usual. Harry walked up to the bar between Platforms 9 and 10. He ran into the barrier, and went into the Magical Platform, 9 ¾, where the red Hogwarts train was awaiting him.

He shoved his trunk into the train and then hurried in to find a compartment. Usually he seeked out to meet his friends first, but today he couldn't be bothered.

Harry stared at the window as the train began to set off. Into the magical journey to Hogwarts.

Harry was hoping for at least five minutes of peace, but, soon enough, his carriage was packed with Griffindors.

'Hi, Harry!' said Dean.

'Hi…'

'Harry, look at my new rat!' Neville walked up to him. 'He's called Henry! Trevor's at home, he doesn't feel well.'

'Oh, that's…'

'Hey, Harry, how about a kiss for your lovely girls, then?' that was Parvati. Leading a bunch of girls up to him. They loved teasing him.

'Um, I'm gonna…go…over, here…now,' stuttered Harry and backed off.

Suddenly a hand grabbed him and pulled him into an empty compartment.

'Hey, who's…' started Harry.

Ron and Hermione appeared ginning. For the first time that day, Harry laughed. 'Thanks, you guys,' he said. 'I was getting a bit claustrophobic in there!'

'Yeah, happened to us, as well!' laughed Hermione. 'But we managed to escape.'

'Yeah, seems everyone's just hyped up about this being our last year and everything,' Ron added.

Harry shuffled his feet. He hadn't needed that. Hermione glanced at Harry, and then gave Ron a meaningful look. Ron nodded and quickly and cleverly changed the subject.

'So, who wants some chocolate frogs? I have about fifty…' Ron stuffed his hands into his pockets and pulled out what was more likely to be a hundred chocolate frogs, onto the table.

Harry laughed again. Then he sighed. 'I've missed these.'

He looked at Ron and Hermione. 'You two still going out?' he grinned at them.

Ron hugged Hermione and kissed her. 'Yep. I love this girl. Can't take my hands off her!' Hermione just smiled.

Harry opened his chocolate frog and looked at his card. He was just about to stuff his mouth with chocolate as well, when decided against it, and sat down.

'You all right, Harry?' asked Ron nervously.

Harry's dizziness came back. He felt ill again. 'Yeah, I'm fine,' he lied. Ron and Hermione looked at each other and raise their eyebrows. Whenever Harry Potter said he was fine, he was lying.

Harry stared hard at his card. It was Dumbledore's. He studied the face closely. The Dumbledore on the card went slightly red and smiled. Harry shook his head and placed the card facedown on the table.

We love you son…

Have a nice summer, Harry…

I will return…

See you next year, Harry! …

I love you, Harry…

Harry could hear a million voices in his head all at once. Ron and Hermione's, Voldemort's, his dad's, Dumbledore's…all swirling, swirling…

Harry's headache got worse. He clasped a hand to his head.

'Harry?' asked Hermione very worried.

'I…I'm fine…It's just…It's too loud…too loud…' murmured Harry, uncertain of what he was saying. The voices got louder and louder, and faster as well. Soon it was just noise. Then, Harry screamed aloud with pain, dropped to the floor, and blacked out.

*          *          *

When Harry woke up his headache had gone. He opened his eyes slowly. He was staring at a white ceiling. White. Huh, thought Harry. White. Interesting.

He sat up slowly and looked around him. "The Hospital Wing" his brain told him. Huh, thought Harry again. A woman bustled over to him.

'Harry, are you ok? Lord, you've been in here more times than I have!'

Harry asked his brain who this woman was. "Madam Pomfrey, the Hospital Wing nurse", came the silent reply.

'Um, fine, thanks,' Harry lied.

Madam Pomfrey smiled. 'I'm sure you'd like to hurry along to the hall to see the sorting, but I'm afraid it's Professor Dumbledore's orders: You're to stay here for the night.' To Madam Pomfrey's surprise, Harry nodded gently with no protest at all, closed his eyes slowly, lay down again and fell back asleep.

Harry woke up again. It was light. Light shone onto his eyes. He opened them and shaded his eyes with his arm. He waited for them to adjust to the light, and then removed his arm.

His head didn't hurt. And he didn't feel dizzy. But he still felt terrible. God, I can't do this, thought Harry. This time, it had been summer, and he, James, Lily and Catherine had gone out for a picnic. Together. Happy. Alive.

Harry rubbed his face and then shook his head crossly. Harry, shut up. Now get out of bed, get dressed and go to your lessons. That's what you need to do, you want to pass your exams. That's what Mum and Dad would've wanted. Stop moping and get up…NOW!

At this command, Harry dragged his feet out of the bed covers and pulled the curtain covering his bed across. He dresses into the clothes he'd been wearing on the train, which were piled neatly on a little stool next to his bed.

When he'd finished, he pulled the curtain back across and headed to the door.

'Harry!' called a voice from across the room. It was Pomfrey.

'Harry, are you sure you don't want another day of rest? I really think you should, just in case…'

'No, I'm fine, really.' Harry smiled his cheek grin with effort. Pomfrey gave in.

'That's the Harry I know,' she said smiling. 'Off you go, then. But be careful, and don't go getting too excited or anything, ok?'

Harry nodded and left the Hospital Wing. He turned left at a corridor, climbed up some stairs, and went into his common room, to find his robes.

Harry entered his Charms lesson. It was the second lesson. The first had been Potions, which he was so sorry he'd missed! He walked in slowly, and all eyes turned to him. He walked up to Flitwick, mumbled something to him, and handed him a slip of paper that Pomfrey had given him.

Flitwick read the paper and nodded. 'Very well then,' he said in his squeaky voice. 'Go and sit yourself down, Potter. And welcome back.' Flitwick smiled at him and Harry just managed to smile back.

He walked somewhat wobbly to an empty desk next to Ron and Hermione.

Ron leaned over. 'Harry! Are you all right?'

'You really scared us there on the train,' said Hermione looking worried.

'We wanted to come and wait for you to wake up, you know, that way we could miss potions as well.' Ron grinned. 'But we weren't allowed.'

'Well,' started Harry, 'don't worry. I'm fine. I'd just got a bit dizzy, that's all. I'm fine, really.' Hermione and Ron didn't look so convinced. So Harry added a laugh. 'Hey, has anyone seen Draco yet? I can't wait to see him. Dudley's not as fun to torment as Malfoy is!' Ron and Hermione nodded in approval, and laughed with Harry.

a/n: hi sorry its been a while but I dint fink any one was reading this – well, whoever is, hope your enjoying it J sorry for any spelling mistakes; I wrote this a while ago and I cant be bothered to check it!!