Title: The Fifth Year
Author: Cactuskitty
Chapter Five: Ashes and Tears
Summary: Harry wakes up from a awful dream and goes in search of Dumbledore…
Disclaimer: I do not own any characters from the Harry Potter book series, they belong to J. K. Rowling, so please don't sue.
Chapter Five:
Ash and Tears
Harry abruptly sat up in his sweat-drenched bed, grabbed his smoldering forehead with one hand and tried to find his glasses with the other. It had happened again, he had had one of those dreadful dreams and he had to find Dumbledore. He staggered out of bed, reached for his robe and invisibility cloak as he some how managed to get out of Gryffindor Tower with his eyes closed and not breaking his neck. That was quite an accomplishment but Harry didn't have time to applaud himself, he was in too much pain. Though once again he had been more than fortunate, as he happened to run into a gray, bearded, old man, with half moon glasses. He knew that otherwise he never would have made it to his office.
"Was it just me, or was that an invisible person I just ran into?" Dumbledore said with a chuckle, and Harry took of his cloak and the head master continued. "Now, may I ask? What are you doing out at three o'clock in the morning? Not getting into trouble I hope, or should I say look for it, my dear Mr. Potter?"
"No, actually professor, I was looking for you. I need to tell you something…" Though before he could finish, the poor boy passed out on the icy hallway floor.
* * * * *
"So, you have finally decided to come around." The headmaster said with an odd stern expression on his face. "You gave us all quite a scare."
"How long was I out?"
'You've been unconscious for two days. Though, moving on to more imperative things, what was the reason why you were looking for me the other night? It seemed to be very urgent."
"Yes it is professor, I have had another dream. This one was much worse than any of the other ones." The professor's blue eyes darkened and he cut in.
"This dream wouldn't have to do anything with an incident at a school would it?" Dumbledore's expression was now unreadable.
"Yes professor, how did you know?" Harry did wait for him to answer, he just stared into space awkwardly and told Dumbledore his story, "All these innocent people were brutally slaughtered it was awful. The death eaters somehow managed to get in to the academy and were setting things on fire and killing teachers… It was terrible… They even killed some students, poor innocent students. Young ones, probably only first years, older ones my age, one who looked like Hermione, about a dozen! Everyone was running and ear piercing screams; it was so terrible... He blew up the kitchen and the library… So many unlawful deaths… all those innocent people…" Harry paused for a moment and a tear rolled down his pale cheek, "Then, all of a sudden Voldemort told them to stop. It was weird he could have taken down the entire school but he didn't. He said that that was enough to refresh my memory of what he was capable of. And with that they left. Nothing more, they just left. Like that, as if what they had just done was as simple as anything. It was so awful, professor."
The headmaster just stared at him with such a look of sympathy that frightened him. Harry didn't know what was wrong, though for some reason he was absolutely positive he wouldn't like it. The stillness between them had lasted so long that when the headmaster finally spoke, Harry jumped at the sound of his calm voice.
"Harry, I really don't want to tell you this, especially after what happened last year… but I would rather you heard it now from me, than later." He paused for a moment and looked at the fifteen-year old boy lying in front of him, and said quite sternly, "Harry, the reason why I knew that it had to do with a school was because the same thing happened to a small wizarding academy just outside of Oxford yesterday."
The color drained from Harry's face and he started to cry. The feelings of self hatred that he had forgotten over the summer came back in a sudden rush ten times worse than before. How could I have let this happen? How could I have been so weak as to pass out…
"Just think," He said between his sobs, "If I had never passed out this may have never happened."
"Harry, you can't blame yourself. No one saw this coming; we tried to warn everyone, though no one would listen. At least they all know that we were telling the truth. Well, that's as far as we are going to discuss this topic right now, you need to get your rest."
"Professor, I really don't think I could sleep right now even if I wanted to."
"That's why I had Madame Pompfry bring in a dreamless sleep potion. Please drink it and I will see you tomorrow." The professor got up and reached for the door. "Sleep well Harry."
"Thank you professor." Though before the headmaster could leave Harry realized something, ad he somehow managed to ask, "Wait a moment professor, this school wouldn't happen to be called Alberic Grunnion's Academy for Young Witches and Wizards by perchance?"
"Yes, how did you… Oh yes of course you recognize it, Ron's cousin goes there, correct?"
"Yes. Is she? Is she…"
"Don't worry, she is only a bit shaken. You should all thank God that she looked nothing like a Weasely or she would… Well… You know… Don't worry about her; she is one of the many that are transferring here in a few weeks once they recover. I do believe that our school will become quite packed, but it is the least we can do to help. Especially after all they went through." Dumbledore paused awkwardly.
"I agree, that is the least we could do…" He stopped and whipped the remaining tears off his face before he finished, "Thank you professor. If there is anything you would like me to do to help fit in just ask…"
"Of course Harry, I was going to ask you anyway. Ron and Hermione we some of the first I asked to help show the fifth years around once they have been sorted. So if that's all, I suggest you drink that potion before you use up all your energy and won't be a help to anyone."
"Yes professor." With that Harry picked up the goblet next to his bed and gulped down the foul tasting potion, and passed out a few seconds later.
A/N: Sorry it took me so long to put out, but I have been really busy with drama and writing other things. I am surprised my friends haven't killed yet for not writing in so long… Oh well, what can I say other than please review!
