Episode Thirty Two

            The summer was steam-rolling by finding Gwen more confused than ever. While many of her questions had been answered and she was beginning to understand her magical powers she still had many questions.

            The eerie dream of standing before the mirror was back after a brief respite and Gwen was trying her hardest not to sleep if she could help it. She thought perhaps that if she learned her fey name the dream would go away. Maybe having a name to go with her face would help.

            But she plugged through the sleepless nights and often shook herself awake if the dream began to replay itself. Finally she concocted a terrific anti-sleeping draught with the help of an astonished Professor Snape (most students were too intimidated to ask for his help and with Gwen's class record it didn't seem like she'd come asking him for help). When she did sleep she was so thoroughly exhausted that she couldn't dream

            She took Gemma's advice and traded in her cast iron cauldron for a bronze one. It was a bit more flashy but she found her concentration cleared and that she actually had a talent for potions. Snape noticed this of course during their work together on the anti-sleeping potion and made a mental note. She wasn't about to explain that it was the new cauldron, but she thought he might have guessed as much anyway.

            In two more weeks the students would arrive on the Hogwart's Express and classes would begin. Gwen was amazed that the summer was almost over. As she was walking through the great hall one evening she found to her surprise that she was not the only student at school.

            Harry was standing before her his hair plastered to his forehead by the driving rain outside. They stood gazing at each other a full minute before either of them made a move. They spoke simultaneously.

            "Why are you here?" She asked.

            "What happened to you?" He asked.

            She sighed. "You first."

            "I came because I…" He looked at her a long moment. "Something's changed with you."

            "Yeah." She said quietly. "I can't really explain it just yet. But finish."

            "I was nervous about you. I had an awful dream. And my scar was hurting again."

            She took him into a soft hug. "I'm ok." She smiled. "Let's get you upstairs and into some dry clothes. Does Dumbledore know you're here?"

            He looked at her as if he'd never before seen such amazing calm. "No, he doesn't. I didn't even tell the Dursleys where I was going."

            "You flew here?" She said finally noticing that his right hand clutched his broomstick and that his invisibility cloak was tucked firmly under his arm.

            "I didn't know what else to do. I was in a panic. The dream was so real."

            She helped him up the stairs and into the common room. He smiled at her gratefully as she stoked the fire for him and turned an Arithmancy book into a teapot to start something warm for him to drink. "I'll be back shortly and then you can tell me everything."

            She left him to find her godmother, who might know better how to handle the situation. "Harry's here." She said when she finally found her, tending to her classroom. Classes would be starting soon and she didn't want anything to be amiss.

            "Harry Potter?" Minerva spluttered.

            "Yes, the Harry Potter. He was nervous about something. A dream he had and he said his scar was hurting again. He flew all the way here under his invisibility cloak."

            "Oh dear. I must tell Professor Dumbledore at once."

            "Harry and I will be in the Gryffindor common room." Gwen said wisely.

            "Keep him there."

            She forced a smile and ran back upstairs to tend to Harry again. He dried off some and was snoozing quietly in one of the giant cushy chairs. She sighed. At least he was ok and safe within the walls of Hogwarts once again.

            Minerva returned flanked by Dumbledore and Snape. "What happened?" Dumbledore asked calmly.

            "We didn't get that far." She said, trying as best she could to fill them in on everything she knew.

            "His scar hurt again?" Snape said, raising an eyebrow. "How interesting."

            Gwen looked at him with a little frown. Snape could be so creepy sometimes; it chilled her blood to think of him. No wonder so many first years cried after their first Potions lesson.

            "I feel like this is my fault." Gwen said. "After all, his dream was about me."

            "That's a perfectly reasonable way to feel." Dumbledore said. "But you must realize it is not your fault. Harry is not easily controlled by anyone."

            Gwen laughed at this. No, she thought, he isn't. Harry slept peacefully on while the four of them conferenced.

            "There's nothing to be done but keep him here." Minerva suggested. "I will collect his things from Privet Drive myself first thing in the morning. At least he's here where we can keep an eye on him."

            Dumbledore nodded in agreement. Snape kept up his usual mask of discontent. He didn't really like the idea of having to keep an eye on Harry, but he wasn't about to say so.

            The Professors decided to conference on their own and left Gwen and Harry alone in the common room.

            She gazed at him a long time before pulling a chair up to his. She sat down and snuggled up to him as much as the chairs afforded her to. She sang to him quietly. "Blackbird singing in the dead of night. Take these broken wings and learn to fly. All your life you were only waiting for this moment to arise. Blackbird singing in the dead of night. Take these sunken eyes and learn to see. All your life you were only waiting for this moment to be free. Blackbird fly. Blackbird fly into the light of a dark black night."

            Harry raised his head just a little. He opened his eyes and gazed at her while she sang. She was the most magical thing in his life. Even if he couldn't "have her" per say, at least he knew that she loved him. She smiled at him one of her most winning grins and blushed uncontrollably.

            "Don't stop." He said. "It was beautiful."

            She continued, "blackbird singing in the dead of night. Take these broken wings and learn to fly. All your life you were only waiting for this moment to arise. You were only waiting for this moment to arise."

            He took her hand in his own, squeezed it tightly. "This is the first time all month that my scar hasn't hurt."

            "You're at Hogwarts. You're safe now. You're home."