Basilisk Dreams: Chapter 7
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Disclaimer- Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling and Warner Brothers.
*
AN- Sorry it's been a while but here it is. Thanks to all my reviewers. I'm also working on another fanfiction that will have parallels with this one, concentrating on the Emma Nott, mentioned very briefly in this one- it will be called Espial and set during Lily and James' time, so watch out for it!
*
Ron hadn't slept much; he couldn't help worry for Hermione. Something wasn't right about what she was about to do and even though Ron knew that she could turn the tide of the war: he didn't want her to be in so much danger.
He didn't really want to know why he was so protective over her. Harry was obviously worried but he hadn't tried to stop her. Ron on the other hand had begged her not to do it. He knew he was being selfish but if anything happened to her.
They sat at breakfast; he took a sideways glance at her. She was pale and barely touching the bowl of porridge in front of her. The circle underneath her eyes where deep and haunting. Her usually so lively brown eyes had been dulled by fear and her curls seemed to have lost their shine.
He hated seeing her like this. It had been heartbreaking the previous night to watch her struggling through her schoolwork. Trying to concentrate but failing miserably.
She met his eyes and he gave an encouraging smile, she attempted to return the smile but couldn't quite pull it off.
When they had finished breakfast Professor Vablatsky beckoned them over.
They crossed the hall and went up to the teacher's table.
"Harry?" she asked.
"Yes?"
"Now I realise you want to support your friend." The woman said, "But Professor Lupin and Professor Black has requested you spend the day with them."
"Why?" He asked confused.
"I'm afraid I don't know."
"Go Harry," Hermione said, "They wouldn't ask if it wasn't important."
Harry nodded apologetically, "Good luck Hermione." He said before turning to go with Remus Lupin who was waiting for him.
"Now you two, if you'll follow me?
*
Hermione found herself being led up staircases and through passageways. She wondered where they where going and how far away it could be. Professor Vablatksy she had noticed was almost as pale as she was but was calm and almost reassuring in the business like way she went about things.
Ron walked beside her, looking worried and agitated. He caught her eyes and gave her an encouraging smile but Hermione knew that he was filled with doubt and wanted to stop her going through with the dream reading.
Eventually they reached a room at the top of a tower where Dumbledore was waiting his wand out, and a heavy looking spell book open on his knees. Hermione forgot her fears temporarily when she looked around it. They're where no stone walls, indeed their seemed not to be any walls at all. It wasn't a room- it was a platform- atop one of the castle's highest towers!
Hermione felt her knees go weak as she looked down- she couldn't see the ground. Ron on the other hand seemed less affected by the platform's sheer height- Hermione supposed that it was because he played Qudditch. She felt suddenly and inexplicably proud of him- people said he was an even better keeper than Oliver Wood!
Snow still fell but didn't seem to touch her and the wind that threatened to snap trees in half couldn't be felt. The only difference was the extreme cold that swept over Hermione.
"Don't worry," Dumbledore said smiling, "It's charmed so that you can't fall of the edge."
Professor Vablatsky waved her wand and a bed that looked like it came from the hospital wing appeared, as did three scarlet chairs.
"Right, now Hermione," She said, "Take off your shoes and lie down here."
Hermione did as she was instructed, cold fear gripping her. The dream seemed extremely close.
"Right now, if you take a sip of this, you'll go straight to sleep." Professor Vablatksy said offering her a goblet that had come from nowhere.
"To the dream?" Hermione asked her voice wavering.
"Yes, but don't worry. This potion will bind you to me and I'll be able to follow you."
Hermione was surprised, not only did she have to expose her mind to Voldemort but so did Professor Vablatsky. They where both risking so much!
"Good luck," Ron whispered as Hermione took a sip of the blue liquid.
As soon as she did the world seemed to fade and Ron's face faded, he whispered something to her but she didn't hear, as the world became black.
Gradually and she couldn't tell how long it took but eventually she became aware of being back in the Chamber of Secrets. The cold she had felt on the top of the tower was nothing to the cold that flooded her veins now for it was seeped with evil and despair.
This time she found herself faced with Voldemort. Only it wasn't Voldemort- he faced her as Tom Riddle.
"Miss Granger," He said, "You've come back."
She could only nod, terrified as she was.
"Good, I knew that I'd get through that potion that Dumbledore was giving you sooner or later."
Hermione tried to find something to say but found her throat clogged up with fear and wanted more than anything to run away but knew that it wasn't possible.
"You know Hermione, the longer we talk the closer I am to taking over your mind completely."
"You can't do that!" Hermione said, unsure of her own voice.
"Oh believe me I can and once I have Harry Potter will be within my grasp."
Hermione was horrified as she saw his plan, "You can't!" She said finally realising his plan.
"Oh yes my dear, Harry Potter will die at your hands!" He said grinning manically, "You'll be possessed and unable to do anything to stop it."
"You can't" She repeated.
He just laughed maliciously, "There is no way out of it now." He said.
"No," She whispered, "No!"
But something had distracted him, an image formed next to his- one of a tall blonde haired man who reminded her vaguely of Lucious Malfoy- he had the same overconfidence.
"My Lord, there is interference with the dream transmission." The man said.
"What?" Voldemort asked, clearly incensed. Hermione's heart sank, they knew that they where being tracked through the dream.
"Break the transmission then Nott." Voldemort hissed.
"Yes My Lord." The image disappeared.
"I'm afraid we'll have to end our little chat for today," Voldemort said, "I'll see you again soon no doubt."
Hermione had the sensation of falling as the images of the chamber retreated and she fell into a normal sleep.
*
Cassandra's eyes flew open and she found herself shaking. That was harder than she'd expected it to be.
Ron looked at her expectantly, "Well?" He asked.
"Voldemort came to meet her," Cassandra said, "Looking like Tom Riddle. He's trying to take over her body so as to be near enough to kill Harry!"
The boy blanched, "Where is she now?"
"In normal sleep." Cassandra replied.
Looking around she found that she'd been in Hermione's dream for a lot longer then it had felt. The snow had stopped and the pale sun was a lot lower in the sky. Afternoon. She was surprised to see Sirius, Remiss and an angry Harry there as well.
"Using one of my best friends to kill me?" He asked furiously.
"No don't be frightened Harry we can control this." Sirius started.
"I'm not frightened!" He said, "I'm angry! How dare he?"
"Deception, lies and sneaky tactics are Voldemort's ways." Said Albus Dumbledore from the doorway, "Could you describe everything exactly Cassandra?"
Cassandra repeated what she had seen, the chamber, Voldemort- what he had said.
"Didn't he try and seize her mind then?" Remus asked, "It would have been easier for him."
"He was interrupted by one of his deatheaters, they said there was interference with their 'dream transmission'." Cassandra said.
"Who was it?" Remus asked automatically.
Cassandra bit her lip, she knew that this was coming, he always asked. Cassandra knew that she had the answer that always hurt him. She had recognised Crispin Nott straight away as the twin of Emma Nott, Remus' best friend, and the man who had been the most instrumental in taking her away from Hogwarts.
"Crispin Nott." She replied cautiously.
Remus shook his head, a familiar snap on anger in his eyes.
"I got enough information to begin establishing a lock on Voldemort's location." Dumbledore said.
"But they knew we were tampering with the dream." Ron said, "They might just kill her next time."
They all looked down at the sleeping figure on the bed; Hermione's face had assumed a more peaceful expression.
"No," Dumbledore said, "To even attempt binding his mind to Hermione's body Voldemort has had to put himself at risk. If he killed her he's kill himself too. He'd only break the bond." *
When Hermione awoke it was dark and only Ron sat by the bed. She realised the cold was gone and assumed it was something to do with the charmed blankets that covered her. Ron on the other hand looked positively frozen. He was snoring slightly in the armchair and was wrapped in his school cloak. He had a Gryffindor scarf pulled up around his ears and nose. The tips of his ears visible looked faintly blue.
She sat up and as the warm blankets fell away from her shoulders she cold invaded her and she hurried to wrap them back up.
"Cold huh?" Ron asked sleepily.
"No I'm nice and warm she replied, "Unlike you."
"No I'm fine." He said through chattering teeth.
"Don't lie," She chided, "Anyway you shouldn't have stayed up here. I wouldn't have minded."
"No- somebody had to be there when you woke up so I volunteered."
She smiled, touched, "Thanks." She whispered.
The tips of his ears then went red, as he said, "Dumbledore said he wished it could be another room but this is the only one high up enough that wouldn't be affected by the wind."
"Really?"
"Yeah, apparently Cassandra does her dream readings better from a height."
"Oh," Hermione replied.
"Hermione?" He asked suddenly.
"Yes?"
"Are you." He stuttered, "I mean do you. would you.."
"What?" She asked, it wasn't like Ron to stammer incomprehensibly.
"Are you all right?" He said.
She nodded feeling that it wasn't what he meant to say.
"Here," She said passing him one of the many blankets, "Take this."
"No." He tried to protest but she gave him a stern look and he stopped.
So instead he wrapped it around his shoulders.
"You look better for having slept all day." He said.
"All day?" She asked surprised, "But the dream."
"Professor Vablatsky was only in it for ten minutes," Ron told her.
"Oh."
He smiled sympathetically, "It must have been awful."
"It was."
*
Ron looked at her feeling suddenly somewhat daring. The long sleep did seem to have made her better the bags underneath her eyes had lessened and there was some colour back in her cheeks. However the shadows still lingered in her eyes and the dreams still haunted her. How could they not?
Ron didn't quite know what overcame him but all of a sudden he knew that the protectiveness that he felt for her was something an awful lot more than just the brotherly affection that he had always assumed it was.
Impulsively he reached over and grabbed her hand causing her amber eyes to snap up and meet his own blue ones, questioning.
"Hermione." He said a little hoarsely.
It was her turn to stutter, "I.. Ron I.."
He allowed himself to smile, it wasn't often he had Hermione Granger speechless.
*
His smile was melting, and she burned with the electricity that his grip on her hand gave her.
"Ron." She started breathlessly but he pressed a finger against her lip and leaning out of the armchair kissed her softly.
It was soft shy sort of kiss but its memory was already implanted into her mind. Never in her wildest dreams had she expected Ron Weasley, her best friend to be the one to give her, her first kiss.
She wasn't to know where it would lead however as Professor Dumbledore arrived. Hermione wasn't sure whether or not he had seen their little exchange or not but he was smiling at their red faces.
"Ah, Hermione awake at last." He said pleasantly.
She nodded.
"Come on down then, you wouldn't want to miss dinner would you?"
* Sirius sat in his office pensively mulling over the events of the day and considering once more the implications of Cassandra's confession. A knock at the door brought him away from his thoughts.
He opened it and was surprised to find the woman herself standing there.
"Hello," She said shyly.
"Oh, come in," He said, "Tea?"
"Yes, thank you." She said sitting in the chair in front of his desk. A picture behind it caught her eye, it was one of Lily, James, Remus, Sirius and herself dressed in auror's uniforms. Wormtail hadn't been there on that occasion it made her sick to think that he must have been off plotting with Voldemort.
"It's a nice one isn't it?" he said following her gaze.
"Yes it is," She replied, "I gave up a lot of mine when Hagrid wrote to me asking for some to give to Harry."
"This one is a copy of one of Remus'" Sirius said, "I don't know what happened to the ones I had."
"Oh." She muttered, "Sorry."
"It's ok," He said hurriedly, "So wht brought you here?"
She blushed, "Yesterday when you found me in mone of my visions?£
"Yes."
"I for-saw soemthing horrible."
"Go on."
"The school was half destroyed and red-haired girl was shouting: they can't do it, he's too powerful."
Sirius was flooded with dread.
"Red-haired?" He asked.
"Could have been a Weasley. I didn't recognize her."
"Do you get Ginny?" He asked her.
"No." She replied, "Who's she?"
"Ron's little sister," Sirius said grimly, "very close to Harry."
"Oh no," She said, her eyes going worried grey, "That would mean the 'they' is Harry, Ron and Hermione."
AN- Do what do you think? Review please!
AN- Sorry it's been a while but here it is. Thanks to all my reviewers. I'm also working on another fanfiction that will have parallels with this one, concentrating on the Emma Nott, mentioned very briefly in this one- it will be called Espial and set during Lily and James' time, so watch out for it!
*
Ron hadn't slept much; he couldn't help worry for Hermione. Something wasn't right about what she was about to do and even though Ron knew that she could turn the tide of the war: he didn't want her to be in so much danger.
He didn't really want to know why he was so protective over her. Harry was obviously worried but he hadn't tried to stop her. Ron on the other hand had begged her not to do it. He knew he was being selfish but if anything happened to her.
They sat at breakfast; he took a sideways glance at her. She was pale and barely touching the bowl of porridge in front of her. The circle underneath her eyes where deep and haunting. Her usually so lively brown eyes had been dulled by fear and her curls seemed to have lost their shine.
He hated seeing her like this. It had been heartbreaking the previous night to watch her struggling through her schoolwork. Trying to concentrate but failing miserably.
She met his eyes and he gave an encouraging smile, she attempted to return the smile but couldn't quite pull it off.
When they had finished breakfast Professor Vablatsky beckoned them over.
They crossed the hall and went up to the teacher's table.
"Harry?" she asked.
"Yes?"
"Now I realise you want to support your friend." The woman said, "But Professor Lupin and Professor Black has requested you spend the day with them."
"Why?" He asked confused.
"I'm afraid I don't know."
"Go Harry," Hermione said, "They wouldn't ask if it wasn't important."
Harry nodded apologetically, "Good luck Hermione." He said before turning to go with Remus Lupin who was waiting for him.
"Now you two, if you'll follow me?
*
Hermione found herself being led up staircases and through passageways. She wondered where they where going and how far away it could be. Professor Vablatksy she had noticed was almost as pale as she was but was calm and almost reassuring in the business like way she went about things.
Ron walked beside her, looking worried and agitated. He caught her eyes and gave her an encouraging smile but Hermione knew that he was filled with doubt and wanted to stop her going through with the dream reading.
Eventually they reached a room at the top of a tower where Dumbledore was waiting his wand out, and a heavy looking spell book open on his knees. Hermione forgot her fears temporarily when she looked around it. They're where no stone walls, indeed their seemed not to be any walls at all. It wasn't a room- it was a platform- atop one of the castle's highest towers!
Hermione felt her knees go weak as she looked down- she couldn't see the ground. Ron on the other hand seemed less affected by the platform's sheer height- Hermione supposed that it was because he played Qudditch. She felt suddenly and inexplicably proud of him- people said he was an even better keeper than Oliver Wood!
Snow still fell but didn't seem to touch her and the wind that threatened to snap trees in half couldn't be felt. The only difference was the extreme cold that swept over Hermione.
"Don't worry," Dumbledore said smiling, "It's charmed so that you can't fall of the edge."
Professor Vablatsky waved her wand and a bed that looked like it came from the hospital wing appeared, as did three scarlet chairs.
"Right, now Hermione," She said, "Take off your shoes and lie down here."
Hermione did as she was instructed, cold fear gripping her. The dream seemed extremely close.
"Right now, if you take a sip of this, you'll go straight to sleep." Professor Vablatksy said offering her a goblet that had come from nowhere.
"To the dream?" Hermione asked her voice wavering.
"Yes, but don't worry. This potion will bind you to me and I'll be able to follow you."
Hermione was surprised, not only did she have to expose her mind to Voldemort but so did Professor Vablatsky. They where both risking so much!
"Good luck," Ron whispered as Hermione took a sip of the blue liquid.
As soon as she did the world seemed to fade and Ron's face faded, he whispered something to her but she didn't hear, as the world became black.
Gradually and she couldn't tell how long it took but eventually she became aware of being back in the Chamber of Secrets. The cold she had felt on the top of the tower was nothing to the cold that flooded her veins now for it was seeped with evil and despair.
This time she found herself faced with Voldemort. Only it wasn't Voldemort- he faced her as Tom Riddle.
"Miss Granger," He said, "You've come back."
She could only nod, terrified as she was.
"Good, I knew that I'd get through that potion that Dumbledore was giving you sooner or later."
Hermione tried to find something to say but found her throat clogged up with fear and wanted more than anything to run away but knew that it wasn't possible.
"You know Hermione, the longer we talk the closer I am to taking over your mind completely."
"You can't do that!" Hermione said, unsure of her own voice.
"Oh believe me I can and once I have Harry Potter will be within my grasp."
Hermione was horrified as she saw his plan, "You can't!" She said finally realising his plan.
"Oh yes my dear, Harry Potter will die at your hands!" He said grinning manically, "You'll be possessed and unable to do anything to stop it."
"You can't" She repeated.
He just laughed maliciously, "There is no way out of it now." He said.
"No," She whispered, "No!"
But something had distracted him, an image formed next to his- one of a tall blonde haired man who reminded her vaguely of Lucious Malfoy- he had the same overconfidence.
"My Lord, there is interference with the dream transmission." The man said.
"What?" Voldemort asked, clearly incensed. Hermione's heart sank, they knew that they where being tracked through the dream.
"Break the transmission then Nott." Voldemort hissed.
"Yes My Lord." The image disappeared.
"I'm afraid we'll have to end our little chat for today," Voldemort said, "I'll see you again soon no doubt."
Hermione had the sensation of falling as the images of the chamber retreated and she fell into a normal sleep.
*
Cassandra's eyes flew open and she found herself shaking. That was harder than she'd expected it to be.
Ron looked at her expectantly, "Well?" He asked.
"Voldemort came to meet her," Cassandra said, "Looking like Tom Riddle. He's trying to take over her body so as to be near enough to kill Harry!"
The boy blanched, "Where is she now?"
"In normal sleep." Cassandra replied.
Looking around she found that she'd been in Hermione's dream for a lot longer then it had felt. The snow had stopped and the pale sun was a lot lower in the sky. Afternoon. She was surprised to see Sirius, Remiss and an angry Harry there as well.
"Using one of my best friends to kill me?" He asked furiously.
"No don't be frightened Harry we can control this." Sirius started.
"I'm not frightened!" He said, "I'm angry! How dare he?"
"Deception, lies and sneaky tactics are Voldemort's ways." Said Albus Dumbledore from the doorway, "Could you describe everything exactly Cassandra?"
Cassandra repeated what she had seen, the chamber, Voldemort- what he had said.
"Didn't he try and seize her mind then?" Remus asked, "It would have been easier for him."
"He was interrupted by one of his deatheaters, they said there was interference with their 'dream transmission'." Cassandra said.
"Who was it?" Remus asked automatically.
Cassandra bit her lip, she knew that this was coming, he always asked. Cassandra knew that she had the answer that always hurt him. She had recognised Crispin Nott straight away as the twin of Emma Nott, Remus' best friend, and the man who had been the most instrumental in taking her away from Hogwarts.
"Crispin Nott." She replied cautiously.
Remus shook his head, a familiar snap on anger in his eyes.
"I got enough information to begin establishing a lock on Voldemort's location." Dumbledore said.
"But they knew we were tampering with the dream." Ron said, "They might just kill her next time."
They all looked down at the sleeping figure on the bed; Hermione's face had assumed a more peaceful expression.
"No," Dumbledore said, "To even attempt binding his mind to Hermione's body Voldemort has had to put himself at risk. If he killed her he's kill himself too. He'd only break the bond." *
When Hermione awoke it was dark and only Ron sat by the bed. She realised the cold was gone and assumed it was something to do with the charmed blankets that covered her. Ron on the other hand looked positively frozen. He was snoring slightly in the armchair and was wrapped in his school cloak. He had a Gryffindor scarf pulled up around his ears and nose. The tips of his ears visible looked faintly blue.
She sat up and as the warm blankets fell away from her shoulders she cold invaded her and she hurried to wrap them back up.
"Cold huh?" Ron asked sleepily.
"No I'm nice and warm she replied, "Unlike you."
"No I'm fine." He said through chattering teeth.
"Don't lie," She chided, "Anyway you shouldn't have stayed up here. I wouldn't have minded."
"No- somebody had to be there when you woke up so I volunteered."
She smiled, touched, "Thanks." She whispered.
The tips of his ears then went red, as he said, "Dumbledore said he wished it could be another room but this is the only one high up enough that wouldn't be affected by the wind."
"Really?"
"Yeah, apparently Cassandra does her dream readings better from a height."
"Oh," Hermione replied.
"Hermione?" He asked suddenly.
"Yes?"
"Are you." He stuttered, "I mean do you. would you.."
"What?" She asked, it wasn't like Ron to stammer incomprehensibly.
"Are you all right?" He said.
She nodded feeling that it wasn't what he meant to say.
"Here," She said passing him one of the many blankets, "Take this."
"No." He tried to protest but she gave him a stern look and he stopped.
So instead he wrapped it around his shoulders.
"You look better for having slept all day." He said.
"All day?" She asked surprised, "But the dream."
"Professor Vablatsky was only in it for ten minutes," Ron told her.
"Oh."
He smiled sympathetically, "It must have been awful."
"It was."
*
Ron looked at her feeling suddenly somewhat daring. The long sleep did seem to have made her better the bags underneath her eyes had lessened and there was some colour back in her cheeks. However the shadows still lingered in her eyes and the dreams still haunted her. How could they not?
Ron didn't quite know what overcame him but all of a sudden he knew that the protectiveness that he felt for her was something an awful lot more than just the brotherly affection that he had always assumed it was.
Impulsively he reached over and grabbed her hand causing her amber eyes to snap up and meet his own blue ones, questioning.
"Hermione." He said a little hoarsely.
It was her turn to stutter, "I.. Ron I.."
He allowed himself to smile, it wasn't often he had Hermione Granger speechless.
*
His smile was melting, and she burned with the electricity that his grip on her hand gave her.
"Ron." She started breathlessly but he pressed a finger against her lip and leaning out of the armchair kissed her softly.
It was soft shy sort of kiss but its memory was already implanted into her mind. Never in her wildest dreams had she expected Ron Weasley, her best friend to be the one to give her, her first kiss.
She wasn't to know where it would lead however as Professor Dumbledore arrived. Hermione wasn't sure whether or not he had seen their little exchange or not but he was smiling at their red faces.
"Ah, Hermione awake at last." He said pleasantly.
She nodded.
"Come on down then, you wouldn't want to miss dinner would you?"
* Sirius sat in his office pensively mulling over the events of the day and considering once more the implications of Cassandra's confession. A knock at the door brought him away from his thoughts.
He opened it and was surprised to find the woman herself standing there.
"Hello," She said shyly.
"Oh, come in," He said, "Tea?"
"Yes, thank you." She said sitting in the chair in front of his desk. A picture behind it caught her eye, it was one of Lily, James, Remus, Sirius and herself dressed in auror's uniforms. Wormtail hadn't been there on that occasion it made her sick to think that he must have been off plotting with Voldemort.
"It's a nice one isn't it?" he said following her gaze.
"Yes it is," She replied, "I gave up a lot of mine when Hagrid wrote to me asking for some to give to Harry."
"This one is a copy of one of Remus'" Sirius said, "I don't know what happened to the ones I had."
"Oh." She muttered, "Sorry."
"It's ok," He said hurriedly, "So wht brought you here?"
She blushed, "Yesterday when you found me in mone of my visions?£
"Yes."
"I for-saw soemthing horrible."
"Go on."
"The school was half destroyed and red-haired girl was shouting: they can't do it, he's too powerful."
Sirius was flooded with dread.
"Red-haired?" He asked.
"Could have been a Weasley. I didn't recognize her."
"Do you get Ginny?" He asked her.
"No." She replied, "Who's she?"
"Ron's little sister," Sirius said grimly, "very close to Harry."
"Oh no," She said, her eyes going worried grey, "That would mean the 'they' is Harry, Ron and Hermione."
AN- Do what do you think? Review please!