Chapter Three: The Guardian
Dumbledore opened the door for Ron as he carried Harry inside the office, Sirius and the others following close behind.
"Just hold him for the moment," Dumbledore stated as he pulled out his wand and pointed it at them. Ron looked at the headmaster with alarm.
"You're not going to hur-"
Dumbledore raised his hand up, chuckling softly. "I won't hurt him Ron. I only wish to make him a little more comfortable."
Ron nodded unsurely and stood still firmly. Everyone watched as Dumbledore mumbled a few words, and emitting a bluish light, Harry began to slowly float above Ron's arms, laying straight, his arms folded across his chest. He breathed softly.
"You may all sit now, for I have much to explain," he replied, walking slowly around Harry, studying the boy carefully. Everyone sat in a chair around his desk except Ron who decided to stand by his friend, a simply hand over his own that lay on his chest. Sirius stared at this blank with confusion, as did Snape but Remus only smiled lightly. McGongall however, cleared her throat, her eyes full of worry, looking at Dumbledore.
"Albus, what is wrong with the boy?"
Dumbledore looked up from Harry's face, his blue eyes twinkling. Then he sighed and sat down on the surface of his own desk, leaning a bit, his hands in his lap.
"It would seem, that somehow Voldemort is abusing Harry, through his dreams."
Sirius gasped in shock. "What? You mean he is trying to kill my godson through his dreams, or his dreams?"
Snape looked at him with a slight sneer. "What? That made no sense Black."
"Sure it did," Lupin replied calmly. "He means, is Voldemort actually somehow going into Harry's dreams and corrupting them, or is Voldemort somehow pulling Harry's being.his soul.from his body and into some alternate?"
"Um.yeah.exactly what I meant."
Dumbledore thought for a moment. "I do believe, that somehow, Voldemort is entering Harry's subconscious and corrupting his thoughts, his dreams. Making them so frightful that it's sure to leave Harry unprotected or ready, in the case that he might want to attack him. Harry would be helpless." "So this is another way for Voldemort to kill Harry.without actually putting a hand on him? By doing it in his dreams?" McGongall asked slightly confused.
"Not actually, I don't think he means to kill Harry in his dream.only make him distraught.to make him fear him.it's for some reason however, but alas, I know not what it is."
Dumbledore rose from his 'seat' and walked around Harry to stand in front of him. He looked down at the boy, who breathed softly and did not move in his slumber. His eyes focused on the crest just below the boy's left earlobe. He frowned slightly in worry and turned to the others.
"But I do know that we can not let Voldemort corrupt Harry in such a way. He is the only one that can truly defeat him in battle, without Harry.we are lost."
There was a heavy silence in the room.
"Is he going to use Harry for something?" Ron asked quietly. Dumbledore stared at him questionably. "You said 'We can not let Voldemort corrupt Harry.' when you said corrupt, did you mean literally corrupt in a way that would turn Harry against us? Or did you mean just make Harry crazy to the point he won't be mentally or physically able to fight in battle?"
Dumbledore smiled a Ron, a light twinkle in his eye that made Ron sigh. When ever Dumbledore's eyes twinkled, that meant he knew more then he was letting on.and wasn't telling anyone and until he was ready.
"I know only that he wishes to corrupt the boy-in what way-I have no clue. Only that is up to us to protect Harry the best we can. Not letting him out of our sight just in case he does try to attack, and watching over him as he sleeps. Maybe by watching him, we can prevent the nightmares."
"But how can we do that with the barriers?" Sirius asked. "Once that goes up, we can't get near Harry."
Dumbledore thought for a moment. "You are right. So I will just have to place my very own barrier around Harry when he is sleeping.one on his mind. That way, perhaps, Voldemort won't be able to enter his dreams."
Then he sighed. "But until we can figure out exactly, what Voldemort's plan truly is and how he is able to carry it out, there is nothing more we can do."
They nodded at this, Ron's attention quickly turning back to the slumbering Harry, squeezing his hand lightly as if to comfort him.
"Don't worry Harry, I'm here for you."
Two weeks went by without incident or another dream. Ron had never left Harry's side at night when he slept, which usually was in his bed, and slept on the floor although Harry insisted he didn't have to Only when Harry looked as though he was comfortably sleeping, did Ron try to sleep as well, but a very lightly, as to hear if anyone were to come in.
Hermione, using the invisibility cloak to spy, heard of the whole ordeal and demanded that she help out. So she took it upon herself to complete all of Harry's assignments while he did not go to his classes, which Harry insisted she must stop doing...but not too much. He actually liked making A's on his assignments
Today was Friday; the end to that week and Harry finally was rested up enough to start going back to his classes. They sat in the Great Hall, eating that evenings dinner which tonight' theme (Dumbledore decided that each night of that week, they would have a different theme.) was Mexican. (A/N: Oh-lay!)
Ron turned to Harry and smiled, watching him laugh loudly as Neville began choking on his burrito that had been stuffed with Habanera peppers.
Ron hadn't seen Harry smile at all that week, and it really made him feel better to know Harry was happy again. Playing with some of the different foods on his plate with his fork, Ron watched Harry, studying his features closely for the hundredth time that day.
Startling eyes of shimmering emerald, his lips were full and had a very light tent of pink in them. His skin was the perfect shade of palish tan, soft under his touch he knew, as rose pedals that brush up against one's skin. His hair, ruffled and wild, only added to his looks for Ron, making him all the more desirable. And his smile alone he would give Ron was enough to melt away all of his troubles, even on his worse day.
Yes, Harry was special to him. Very special. And had been for the last two years of his life, when he realized that he had deeper feelings for him. From that moment on, he promised himself that he would look after Harry.like a guardian.to always protect and serve him the best way he could. And in return, he had the hopes that Harry would return his love, his affection, to him-and he had.
As things finally settled down an owl with midnight feathers swooped in side the Great Hall silently. It flew high over the Slytherin's table, then fixing its scarlet eyes on Harry, who at the time was finally taking his seat after helping Neville cough up the pepper, it swooped down and dropped the letter front of him.
Harry froze when he caught sight of it: it was in a black colored envelope with his name written in a bright red, cursive handwriting. It seemed to be a howler.
Ron eyed the letter cautious, then looked at Harry with worry, as he seemed that he didn't even want to touch it. Everyone in the Great Hall had grown silent then, everyone staring at Harry, waiting to see who had sent him the letter.
Neville leaned a ways. "Open it Harry, it only gets worse if you don't, you know that."
Harry gave Ron another desperate type of look, then slowly, tore open the envelope and unfolded the black colored paper inside. There was a horrible shrieking sound.the sound of something crying out in horror.in pain and helplessness.it was Harry's voice. What came after, was one of high, coldness:
Listen to me boy; if you refuse to join me by this nights end, another close to you shall parish! Here this warning and decide wisely.
The envelope burst into flames in his hands as everyone looked on in shock.
Ron snapped out of his state and cried out to Harry, but he seemed to only stare blankly, his face twisted in horror, his eyes never blinking.
"He's coming after me," Harry babbled, not changing his expression.
"Harry!" Lavender Brown cried out frantically, pointing at him. "Harry your hands!"
The flames had seemed to eat through the paper easily and had begun to start on his hands, but Harry, all the while, did not seem to notice or feel the pain.
"Harry!"
Ron quickly took a goblet from the table, which had been filled with water and quickly splashed the fire. Then he studied the damage down and almost gagged.
His hands. The flesh still seemed to disintegrate, as though acid had been thrown on them, the skin seemingly to melt into blackness. Blood seeped freely from the wounds and crakes, dripping out and onto the floor, some in droplets, others in on pours down the side of his arm. Muscle also pulsed through the cuts and burns, the meat exposed to the air and churning all the stomachs that saw it.
Yet still, Harry did not seem to notice.
Alarmed, everyone ran over to them, trying to get Harry's attention. Ron however took Harry by the arm and led him through the on coming crowd and out of the Great Hall, Snape and Dumbledore following close behind in a hurry as McGongall tried to restore order.
Ron kicked open the door to the Hospital wind and pulled Harry inside and sat him in chair, kneeling in front of him. He took him by the shoulders and shook him roughly as possible, calling out to him in frantic almost hysterical.
Finally, Harry seemed to snap back into life and cast his worried eyes on Ron as Dumbledore rushed to their side, Snape quietly closing the door behind them and fetching Madam Promphy.
"H-he's gonna hurt someone!" Harry shrieked.
"Now Harry, just calm down," Dumbledore stated softly, as calmly as possible. "He's not going to hurt-"
"But he said so!" Harry insisted frantically, rising to his feet. "That's what the letter said! He sent me that letter! He's going to kill me if I don't join. Or worse," he paused to take a frightened look at Ron who stared back at him with worry.
"He'll hurt someone I care about!"
Dumbledore tried to comfort him, but whimpering, Harry backed away into a corner, avoiding his touch, shaking violently and sank down to his knee then buried his face into his knees. Dumbledore looked at the boy helplessly, then shooting a worried gaze at the returning Snape with Promphy, who only shook his head with sadness, not knowing what to do, Promphy gasping in concern.
Ron slowly approached Harry and bent down in front him, showing that he meant no harm to him.
"Harry," Ron said softly. Harry looked up at him, tears trailing his face. Ron wrapped his arms around Harry's waist and pulled him close to him, his face inches away from his.
"Now you listen to me. No one is going to hurt you Harry. I won't let them hurt you. And don't worry because no one is going to hurt me or anyone else you care about. I promise you that Harry. I promise. I won't let anyone ever hurt you. You know that?"
"I do Ron, I do."
"Then believe that Harry. Harry believe that because it is true."
He kissed Harry's tears away, then lightly on the cheek and smiled down at him.
Harry nods and leans his head on his shoulder, closing his eyes slowly.
"I love you Ron."
Ron smiled lightly and held the embrace. "Will you let them wrap your hands now?" Harry frowned lightly. Ron still could not tell him that he loved him, and he knew it was hard for him to say, but he had to admit, he was getting tired of waiting. He did look down at his hands however, and finally noticed how bad of shape they were in.
"Let me," Promphy stated as she came toward him, already tearing off gauze and medical tape. Slowly and carefully, she wrapped his hands, and then drenched them in a potion she explained that would close the wounds by morning and help them to heel faster, as if nothing happened. The she murmured about going to get chocolate.
"Come Harry," Ron replied, wrapping his arms around his waist and kissing him tenderly. "To bed."
Snape looked between the two, his expression bewildered then turned to Dumbeldore, frowning in confusion.
"Albus, why do they act as though they ar-"
"Come Serverus," Dumbledore replied abruptly, turning Snape toward the exit. "Let them be alone, for now."
Giving them one last confused back glance, Snape quietly walked toward the exit.
As they left, Ron is placed Harry down in a chair and concurred up a blanket. He covered him up to his neck and tucked in the sides as loving mother would to her child.
"Rest Harry," he whispered with a smile. "And don't worry anymore, my love. I will protect you."
Harry yawned as he closed his eyes, nodding slightly to Ron's comment.
'My love? I wonder if that means the same, as 'I love you...'
With this thought in mind, Harry drifted off to sleep, his last sight being that of Ron smiling down on him.
The boy can't save you Harry. Voldemort always finds a way to get to what belongs to him.
Harry's eyes shot open abruptly. It seemed that he was no longer in Dumbledore's office, but instead.nothing.
The scenery was that of a scarlet sky with grayish-black mist swirling around him slowly, clouding his view of anything beyond him. He seemed to be standing in some liquid, ankle deep. Bending down slightly, he stuck two of his fingers in the substance and brought it up to his face. It was thick, sticky substance.
Blood.
It was another nightmare.
A/N: Okay, I would seriously like to thank everyone that reviewed this story! And I'd also like to give a special thanks to Qserenity 2000 and Keitaro for putting me on their favorite author list. ::sniffles:: That was just.::sniffles:: beautiful.Now but serious, more chapters to come I won't let you down! And sorry if this chapter may have seemed boring but not every chapter can have sex, ya know? But then again.hee hee hee.::clears throat:: But anyway, on to chapter four and watch out for goriness!
-Kamirine
Dumbledore opened the door for Ron as he carried Harry inside the office, Sirius and the others following close behind.
"Just hold him for the moment," Dumbledore stated as he pulled out his wand and pointed it at them. Ron looked at the headmaster with alarm.
"You're not going to hur-"
Dumbledore raised his hand up, chuckling softly. "I won't hurt him Ron. I only wish to make him a little more comfortable."
Ron nodded unsurely and stood still firmly. Everyone watched as Dumbledore mumbled a few words, and emitting a bluish light, Harry began to slowly float above Ron's arms, laying straight, his arms folded across his chest. He breathed softly.
"You may all sit now, for I have much to explain," he replied, walking slowly around Harry, studying the boy carefully. Everyone sat in a chair around his desk except Ron who decided to stand by his friend, a simply hand over his own that lay on his chest. Sirius stared at this blank with confusion, as did Snape but Remus only smiled lightly. McGongall however, cleared her throat, her eyes full of worry, looking at Dumbledore.
"Albus, what is wrong with the boy?"
Dumbledore looked up from Harry's face, his blue eyes twinkling. Then he sighed and sat down on the surface of his own desk, leaning a bit, his hands in his lap.
"It would seem, that somehow Voldemort is abusing Harry, through his dreams."
Sirius gasped in shock. "What? You mean he is trying to kill my godson through his dreams, or his dreams?"
Snape looked at him with a slight sneer. "What? That made no sense Black."
"Sure it did," Lupin replied calmly. "He means, is Voldemort actually somehow going into Harry's dreams and corrupting them, or is Voldemort somehow pulling Harry's being.his soul.from his body and into some alternate?"
"Um.yeah.exactly what I meant."
Dumbledore thought for a moment. "I do believe, that somehow, Voldemort is entering Harry's subconscious and corrupting his thoughts, his dreams. Making them so frightful that it's sure to leave Harry unprotected or ready, in the case that he might want to attack him. Harry would be helpless." "So this is another way for Voldemort to kill Harry.without actually putting a hand on him? By doing it in his dreams?" McGongall asked slightly confused.
"Not actually, I don't think he means to kill Harry in his dream.only make him distraught.to make him fear him.it's for some reason however, but alas, I know not what it is."
Dumbledore rose from his 'seat' and walked around Harry to stand in front of him. He looked down at the boy, who breathed softly and did not move in his slumber. His eyes focused on the crest just below the boy's left earlobe. He frowned slightly in worry and turned to the others.
"But I do know that we can not let Voldemort corrupt Harry in such a way. He is the only one that can truly defeat him in battle, without Harry.we are lost."
There was a heavy silence in the room.
"Is he going to use Harry for something?" Ron asked quietly. Dumbledore stared at him questionably. "You said 'We can not let Voldemort corrupt Harry.' when you said corrupt, did you mean literally corrupt in a way that would turn Harry against us? Or did you mean just make Harry crazy to the point he won't be mentally or physically able to fight in battle?"
Dumbledore smiled a Ron, a light twinkle in his eye that made Ron sigh. When ever Dumbledore's eyes twinkled, that meant he knew more then he was letting on.and wasn't telling anyone and until he was ready.
"I know only that he wishes to corrupt the boy-in what way-I have no clue. Only that is up to us to protect Harry the best we can. Not letting him out of our sight just in case he does try to attack, and watching over him as he sleeps. Maybe by watching him, we can prevent the nightmares."
"But how can we do that with the barriers?" Sirius asked. "Once that goes up, we can't get near Harry."
Dumbledore thought for a moment. "You are right. So I will just have to place my very own barrier around Harry when he is sleeping.one on his mind. That way, perhaps, Voldemort won't be able to enter his dreams."
Then he sighed. "But until we can figure out exactly, what Voldemort's plan truly is and how he is able to carry it out, there is nothing more we can do."
They nodded at this, Ron's attention quickly turning back to the slumbering Harry, squeezing his hand lightly as if to comfort him.
"Don't worry Harry, I'm here for you."
Two weeks went by without incident or another dream. Ron had never left Harry's side at night when he slept, which usually was in his bed, and slept on the floor although Harry insisted he didn't have to Only when Harry looked as though he was comfortably sleeping, did Ron try to sleep as well, but a very lightly, as to hear if anyone were to come in.
Hermione, using the invisibility cloak to spy, heard of the whole ordeal and demanded that she help out. So she took it upon herself to complete all of Harry's assignments while he did not go to his classes, which Harry insisted she must stop doing...but not too much. He actually liked making A's on his assignments
Today was Friday; the end to that week and Harry finally was rested up enough to start going back to his classes. They sat in the Great Hall, eating that evenings dinner which tonight' theme (Dumbledore decided that each night of that week, they would have a different theme.) was Mexican. (A/N: Oh-lay!)
Ron turned to Harry and smiled, watching him laugh loudly as Neville began choking on his burrito that had been stuffed with Habanera peppers.
Ron hadn't seen Harry smile at all that week, and it really made him feel better to know Harry was happy again. Playing with some of the different foods on his plate with his fork, Ron watched Harry, studying his features closely for the hundredth time that day.
Startling eyes of shimmering emerald, his lips were full and had a very light tent of pink in them. His skin was the perfect shade of palish tan, soft under his touch he knew, as rose pedals that brush up against one's skin. His hair, ruffled and wild, only added to his looks for Ron, making him all the more desirable. And his smile alone he would give Ron was enough to melt away all of his troubles, even on his worse day.
Yes, Harry was special to him. Very special. And had been for the last two years of his life, when he realized that he had deeper feelings for him. From that moment on, he promised himself that he would look after Harry.like a guardian.to always protect and serve him the best way he could. And in return, he had the hopes that Harry would return his love, his affection, to him-and he had.
As things finally settled down an owl with midnight feathers swooped in side the Great Hall silently. It flew high over the Slytherin's table, then fixing its scarlet eyes on Harry, who at the time was finally taking his seat after helping Neville cough up the pepper, it swooped down and dropped the letter front of him.
Harry froze when he caught sight of it: it was in a black colored envelope with his name written in a bright red, cursive handwriting. It seemed to be a howler.
Ron eyed the letter cautious, then looked at Harry with worry, as he seemed that he didn't even want to touch it. Everyone in the Great Hall had grown silent then, everyone staring at Harry, waiting to see who had sent him the letter.
Neville leaned a ways. "Open it Harry, it only gets worse if you don't, you know that."
Harry gave Ron another desperate type of look, then slowly, tore open the envelope and unfolded the black colored paper inside. There was a horrible shrieking sound.the sound of something crying out in horror.in pain and helplessness.it was Harry's voice. What came after, was one of high, coldness:
Listen to me boy; if you refuse to join me by this nights end, another close to you shall parish! Here this warning and decide wisely.
The envelope burst into flames in his hands as everyone looked on in shock.
Ron snapped out of his state and cried out to Harry, but he seemed to only stare blankly, his face twisted in horror, his eyes never blinking.
"He's coming after me," Harry babbled, not changing his expression.
"Harry!" Lavender Brown cried out frantically, pointing at him. "Harry your hands!"
The flames had seemed to eat through the paper easily and had begun to start on his hands, but Harry, all the while, did not seem to notice or feel the pain.
"Harry!"
Ron quickly took a goblet from the table, which had been filled with water and quickly splashed the fire. Then he studied the damage down and almost gagged.
His hands. The flesh still seemed to disintegrate, as though acid had been thrown on them, the skin seemingly to melt into blackness. Blood seeped freely from the wounds and crakes, dripping out and onto the floor, some in droplets, others in on pours down the side of his arm. Muscle also pulsed through the cuts and burns, the meat exposed to the air and churning all the stomachs that saw it.
Yet still, Harry did not seem to notice.
Alarmed, everyone ran over to them, trying to get Harry's attention. Ron however took Harry by the arm and led him through the on coming crowd and out of the Great Hall, Snape and Dumbledore following close behind in a hurry as McGongall tried to restore order.
Ron kicked open the door to the Hospital wind and pulled Harry inside and sat him in chair, kneeling in front of him. He took him by the shoulders and shook him roughly as possible, calling out to him in frantic almost hysterical.
Finally, Harry seemed to snap back into life and cast his worried eyes on Ron as Dumbledore rushed to their side, Snape quietly closing the door behind them and fetching Madam Promphy.
"H-he's gonna hurt someone!" Harry shrieked.
"Now Harry, just calm down," Dumbledore stated softly, as calmly as possible. "He's not going to hurt-"
"But he said so!" Harry insisted frantically, rising to his feet. "That's what the letter said! He sent me that letter! He's going to kill me if I don't join. Or worse," he paused to take a frightened look at Ron who stared back at him with worry.
"He'll hurt someone I care about!"
Dumbledore tried to comfort him, but whimpering, Harry backed away into a corner, avoiding his touch, shaking violently and sank down to his knee then buried his face into his knees. Dumbledore looked at the boy helplessly, then shooting a worried gaze at the returning Snape with Promphy, who only shook his head with sadness, not knowing what to do, Promphy gasping in concern.
Ron slowly approached Harry and bent down in front him, showing that he meant no harm to him.
"Harry," Ron said softly. Harry looked up at him, tears trailing his face. Ron wrapped his arms around Harry's waist and pulled him close to him, his face inches away from his.
"Now you listen to me. No one is going to hurt you Harry. I won't let them hurt you. And don't worry because no one is going to hurt me or anyone else you care about. I promise you that Harry. I promise. I won't let anyone ever hurt you. You know that?"
"I do Ron, I do."
"Then believe that Harry. Harry believe that because it is true."
He kissed Harry's tears away, then lightly on the cheek and smiled down at him.
Harry nods and leans his head on his shoulder, closing his eyes slowly.
"I love you Ron."
Ron smiled lightly and held the embrace. "Will you let them wrap your hands now?" Harry frowned lightly. Ron still could not tell him that he loved him, and he knew it was hard for him to say, but he had to admit, he was getting tired of waiting. He did look down at his hands however, and finally noticed how bad of shape they were in.
"Let me," Promphy stated as she came toward him, already tearing off gauze and medical tape. Slowly and carefully, she wrapped his hands, and then drenched them in a potion she explained that would close the wounds by morning and help them to heel faster, as if nothing happened. The she murmured about going to get chocolate.
"Come Harry," Ron replied, wrapping his arms around his waist and kissing him tenderly. "To bed."
Snape looked between the two, his expression bewildered then turned to Dumbeldore, frowning in confusion.
"Albus, why do they act as though they ar-"
"Come Serverus," Dumbledore replied abruptly, turning Snape toward the exit. "Let them be alone, for now."
Giving them one last confused back glance, Snape quietly walked toward the exit.
As they left, Ron is placed Harry down in a chair and concurred up a blanket. He covered him up to his neck and tucked in the sides as loving mother would to her child.
"Rest Harry," he whispered with a smile. "And don't worry anymore, my love. I will protect you."
Harry yawned as he closed his eyes, nodding slightly to Ron's comment.
'My love? I wonder if that means the same, as 'I love you...'
With this thought in mind, Harry drifted off to sleep, his last sight being that of Ron smiling down on him.
The boy can't save you Harry. Voldemort always finds a way to get to what belongs to him.
Harry's eyes shot open abruptly. It seemed that he was no longer in Dumbledore's office, but instead.nothing.
The scenery was that of a scarlet sky with grayish-black mist swirling around him slowly, clouding his view of anything beyond him. He seemed to be standing in some liquid, ankle deep. Bending down slightly, he stuck two of his fingers in the substance and brought it up to his face. It was thick, sticky substance.
Blood.
It was another nightmare.
A/N: Okay, I would seriously like to thank everyone that reviewed this story! And I'd also like to give a special thanks to Qserenity 2000 and Keitaro for putting me on their favorite author list. ::sniffles:: That was just.::sniffles:: beautiful.Now but serious, more chapters to come I won't let you down! And sorry if this chapter may have seemed boring but not every chapter can have sex, ya know? But then again.hee hee hee.::clears throat:: But anyway, on to chapter four and watch out for goriness!
-Kamirine