Chapter Seven: Dreams and Threats



A/N: That you very much to my new beta Jo. I have problems with those pesky Americanisms. Thank you so much for catching them all!
"This is going to be a long night," Harry heard Lauren Kirkland mutter to his right.

"Yeah, tell me about it," Drew Ferington replied. Harry was on patrol with two of his fellow Aurors. They had just Completed thier studies at the Auror Academy. He knew these two people well; they had been through training together since the beginning.

The three of them were patrolling parts of London, looking for suspicious activity. Harry saw them first. There were two black-hooded figures, laughing in their horrible screeching laughs. Harry looked down to see what was so amusing to them. On the ground was a mangled body, twitching and twisting in the Cruciatus Curse.

"Death Eaters," Harry heard Lauren mutter. He shushed her and drew his wand. He glanced at Drew. There was an order they had been taught at the Academy. First you Disarm, then you Stun.

"Expelliarmus!" Drew yelled. The spell missed and instantly the Death Eaters were upon them. The Killing Curse was shot at them and Harry dove. He and Lauren fell onto the ground, and Harry got to his feet instantly. They were caught with the Imperious Curse, but Harry was able to throw it off. He Stunned both men and caught his companion as she fell to the ground. He stood her up and checked on the Drew, but he was dead. His eyes were glazed over and his mouth was slightly open having been hit with the Killing Curse.

Harry swore under his breath and turned his head away. He hated that particular curse with a passion. His attention was drawn to the mangled body. Lauren had bound the Stunned Death Eaters and was double-checking their bindings. Harry bend down to the body. It was a large man, and he smelt like a wet dog. Harry knew it had been raining for days, but it was odd. Harry rolled him over and froze. He stared into a mangled face of a man. His eyes were open but he wasn't conscious. Black hair stuck to his face and his brown eyes rolled in their sockets.

"Harry, who is it?" he heard Lauren ask, but Harry was unable to speak. She bent down and gasped. It was Sirius Black...
~~~~~~
Fifteen years later, Harry awoke with a start. Gasping for air, he sat straight up in bed. The dream had been so vivid, and so real. Harry ran his hands through his hair and tried to fight his tears. He hated having these dreams. He hadn't had one for a while. They used to be more frequent after Sirius had died, but lately his dreams had been peaceful. Harry squeezed his eyes shut, trying to lose the image of his beaten godfather's face. It wasn't possible. Harry fought his tears. He could always wake Ginny up, but she looked too peaceful sleeping to disturb her.

"I need some water," Harry muttered to himself. He glanced around to the room, briefly confused, then remembered he was in California in his cousin's house. He looked towards the door and fought to remember where the kitchen was.

"Harry?" he heard Ginny ask. She sat up next to him and rubbed her eyes. "What's wrong?"

"S'nother dream," he replied, straining to regain his breath. "I've got to get some water."

"Another one? You haven't had one for a while," she said. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm just thirsty," Harry got out of bed and walked down the hall.

"Daddy?" Reagan asked from the doorway to her room.

"Reagan, hon, why are you up?" Harry asked and knelt down beside her.

"I had a bad dream," she said rubbing her eyes.

"I know how that goes," Harry replied. "So, do you want some water?" Reagan nodded her head, and Harry lead her down to the kitchen. Each had a refreshing glass of cold water. No words were spoken between father and daughter, but reassuring glances were given from both. Harry placed their used glasses into the sink, and the two went back up to bed. Harry tucked Reagan into bed and stood up to leave the room.

"Daddy?" Reagan asked before he left.

"Humm?" he mumbled as he turned.

"I hope you don't dream about your godfather anymore," Reagan replied. "Seeing him get hurt like that again and again must be bad. I don't like those men in capes either." Harry stared at her.

"How did..." he began.

"Good night," she replied and turned over. Harry closed her door and stared at it. He hadn't told her what he had dreamt about and he had never told her how Sirius had died. So how did she know? Well, there are a lot of things she knows, Harry thought. And it was true. She always seemed to know what he was thinking, and visa versa. The two always finished each other's sentences and there was a special, and yet odd bond between them.

Harry shook it off and decided to ask Hermione about it. She always seemed to know something about everything, and she might know what this was about. If not, then she would look it up or something. Harry went back to his own bedroom and shut the door. He climbed back into bed and settled in with his arm around Ginny.

"You better now?" she asked.

"Yeah," he sighed and kissed her cheek. "Reagan was up too. She said she had a bad dream." Ginny gave him a concerned look.

"She's okay. We had some water and we're both ready for sleep with happy dreams." Ginny smiled and rolled back over. Harry snuggled into her neck and fell back a to sleep. This this time his dreams were pleasant.


~~~~~~~
Harry awoke the next morning with a vague memory of what had happened during the night. He opened his eyes to the beams of sunlight casting morning shadows around the room. He tightened his arm around Ginny and felt her sigh against him. This was nice. He tried to force himself to stay asleep but it was no use. He heard tiny feet tip-toeing across their room and he cautiously opened an eye. A small red-haired girl looked up at him beaming.

"Uncle Harry?" Abby asked.

"Good Morning, Bunny," he said to her, using his longtime pet name for her. She wrinkled her nose at her nickname, but went on.

"Come on, breakfast is almost ready," she replied. "Mummy told me to come and get you and Auntie Ginny up."

"Oh, and what if we don't want to get up yet," Ginny murmured.

"Mummy said we have to be nice about it at first," Abby said.

"But she said we could play Kidditch if you didn't get up," Andy cried as he jumped up from his hiding spot beside the bed.

"I'm the Blugger," Abby replied proudly.

"What Quidditch ball are you?" Harry asked Andy.

"I'm gonna be a Snitch this time!" he proudly responded.

"Well, Harry, you were the Seeker," Ginny said, winking at him.

"And doesn't the Seeker have to chase the Snitch to catch it?" Harry asked, rubbing his chin. Andy smiled at him and stole a glance at the door.

"Do you think you can catch it this time?" Ginny asked. Before Harry could reply Andy and Abby squealed and ran out of the room. Harry and Ginny laughed and made their way down to breakfast.
~~~~~~~


The day was boring. They had been here a week and every day had been filled with sightseeing and shopping and traveling around the state, and Harry was just plain tired. The adults had decided to make it a 'stay at home' day to relax and recuperate. So far the day had gone on slowly. In the early afternoon, Harry sat and listened to James and Garett discuss the differences between the British and American school systems.

"We have to different ways you can learn magic," Garett began. "Everyone goes through elementary school, which you start when you're five. After that you have two options. You can go to public school, which is free, or you can go to a private school. If you go to a private school, you go to middle school and high school in two different schools." James looked confused and Garett tried to explain better. "There are four middle schools and one high school near where I live. If I went to public school, then I would have gone to Mundor's Magical Middle School, and Samaranson High. But I went to a private school. There are only three in the United States. They're the kind of school where you go and live at the school."

"Oh, that's like Hogwarts," James commented. "It's the only one in Great Britain."

"There are only three in America," Garett continued. "There is one in Aspen, Colorado, called Aureus Arbor Academy of Magic, one in Washington State called Pasayten Pasayten School of Magic, and one in Maine called The Kennebec Institution for the Magical Arts."

"Oh, which one do you go to?" Darenn asked.

"I go to Pasayten," Garett replied proudly.

"So how do you know which school to go to?" James asked.

"You get a letter when you're in fifth grade," Garett replied. "They usually come in the spring. It gives you the application for the private wizarding school, and a list of public schools in your area. Depending on where you live determines which private school you go to."

"Oh. So do you have houses and headmasters and stuff like that?" James asked.

"Nope, we don't have houses. We all live in the Halls, and we all eat together in the Dining Hall. We don't get sorted or anything, but we do have classes with the same people. They're called Links. We also don't have headmasters. We have principals."

"So, do you have Quidditch?" James asked, anxious to get to the most important question. He looked like he was tired of hearing Garett drone on and on. Harry laughed to himself and stood up. He wondered where Ginny was and went upstairs to find her.

"No, I don't know!" a voice cried as he came to the top of the stairs. Harry froze. He cast a Silencing Charm on the floorboards and crept down the hall. There were voices, angry voices, coming from the door at his immediate left. He drew his wand and listened closely. They were arguing about something. He recognized Andrew's voice and Julie's. There were two other voices that Harry didn't recognize.

"Andrew, I don't know what you're talking about," Julie's voice was desperate.

"Jules, don't play games," Andrew replied.

"Mrs. Brown, we don't have time to mess around with this," a male voice said.

"My name is not Mrs. Brown, Harrison," Julie firmly stated. "I am a Potter, and nothing else."

"I wouldn't boast about being a Potter," a raspy voice said. "It won't save your life anymore than it did his. Family name doesn't mean anything to them."

"Don't speak of my husband that way," Julie cried.

"Jules, just tell us what you know and you'll be safe," Andrew said. "I promise."

"Andrew, I learned a long time ago not to trust your stupid promises and I don't ever intend to do so again," Julie huffed. Harry heard footsteps and realized that she was preparing to leave. He couldn't leave now, there was something wrong here. But he couldn't be found either. He concentrated hard on his invisibility cloak and muttered the Summoning Spell. Immediately his cloak flew out of his trunk, down the hall and into his hands. He threw it over his head just in the nick of time. Julie walked out of the room with her face in her hands. She took a few steps into the hallways and stopped. She turned towards Harry and stared at the hall. He knew she couldn't see him because her eyes weren't focused near him. She stood straight and wiped her eyes. Sighing, she turned and walked down the hall. He wanted to follow her, but he also wanted to find out who she had been talking to. He flattened himself against the door and listened again.

"She knows something," the raspy man hissed.

"I don't think she does," Andrew said.

"Don't be so sure, Andrew," a male voice replied, undoubtedly the man Julie had named as Harrison. "She'll tell us where he is."

"Don't hurt my sister," Andrew said, slightly raising his voice. "She is my blood."

"Blood is not thicker than duty, and loyalty," the raspy voice replied. "Don't forget what you gave away to gain in return."

"We've all had sacrifices," Harrison stated. "That is not the issue at hand. Andrew, keep a watch on the Brit. He and his friends are nosy. They will want to work it out."

"Harry?" Andrew asked and Harry froze. "He has no idea. Believe me, Julie has him wrapped around her finger. He won't get anything from her."

"You need to do more than hope, Andrew," the raspy voice said. "I'll leave it to you to work that part out."

"I'm on it," Andrew said, and his footsteps moved towards the door. Harry flattened himself up against the wall again and waited for Andrew to come out. A few more words were said, but they were spoken too quietly for him to hear. Andrew left the room and walked down the hall, not giving a backward glance. Harry crept to the door and listened, but heard nothing. He stepped into the room still covered by his invisibility cloak. The room was empty. Whoever had been in here moments ago had either been in the fireplace, or had already Disapparated. Harry threw off his cloak and looked around the room for anything else. It was a basic study and nothing appeared to be out of the ordinary. He walked quickly back to his room, replaced his cloak in his trunk and left to find the three people who would help him figure this out.
A/N: Okay, Samaranson High is named after one of my friends, Samara, who lives across the hall. Aurues Arbor is Latin roughly translated into 'golden leaf or tree,' Pasayten is a river in Washington, and Kennebec is a wilderness in Maine. I absolutely had to put a school in Aspen, Colorado. I had to put my home state in somewhere, somehow :)