It was dark, near midnight. Harry sat in Dumbledore's office. There was no light; he didn't feel he deserved to see it. The warmth and cheer light brought didn't suit his mood right now.

He focused his mind on the task at hand as best he could. But images of the dead floated before his eyes, and he couldn't block them out as he prepared a new spell circle. He paused after ten minutes. He was getting nowhere. The spell circle was more like an oval. So he closed his eyes, and breathed slowly, trying to empty his mind.

The second it was clear, he went to work creating a new circle, making certain no other thoughts entered his head. To stop Voldemort and return to the life he knew, he couldn't think of the dead girl in Myrtle's bathroom. Or the cool wand in his pocket.

The spell book sat in front of him, waiting. When the circle was complete, he lit one candle. The writing shifted in the dim, flickering light. Harry blinked, and trued to focus. He considered lighting more candles, but still felt he deserved no light. He blew ot the candle and lay down, deciding to wait until morning.

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His eyes snapped open the next morning. What had woken him? And then he saw her.

She was just as alive, just as cheerful and vibrant as she'd been before this whole mess. Ron was standing beside her, with the other fallen Weasleys behind him. Professor McGonagall and Dumbledore stood off to the side, talking quietly with Moody.

"C'mon mate. Get up!"

"Ron?"

"Who else would I be? Blimey, you must really be tired. First you fall asleep where you're sitting, then you act like I'm not supposed to be here."

"This…this isn't real."

"Of course it is," Hermione said. "Do you think I can't tell what's real and what isn't? '

"But I killed you."

 "No you didn't. I'm right here. That must've been some nightmare."

"No." Harry said firmly. "This is the nightmare."

"Look, mate, I know these meetings are boring, but-"

"NO!" Ron and Hermione shut up, as did Dumbledore, McGonagall, and Moody. "Look. As much as I like this, this isn't real. You're…you're all…you're all dead. This is a dream." He noticed dream Dumbledore smiling sadly and nodding out of the corner of his eye. Even in dreams, Dumbledore always knew everything that went on. "And, Hermione…" his voice cracked as she cocked her head. "I killed you. I'm sorry. I had to make a choice. Forgive me."

"Harry, we aren't dead." Mrs. Weasley said quietly.

"Yes you are! Buy I'm going to try to fix it, so please, go away!"

"Harry," Hermione said softly. Her voice, filled with concern, still lingered in his ears as he opened his eyes.

Three am. The soul's midnight, he'd read somewhere. The time when people, if they are awake, are haunted by inner demons. And his were certainly haunting tonight.

Feeling as if angry eyes were upon him, Harry relit the candle, as well as a few others. He had a guess of what time he wanted to visit, and he may as well act now. He knew he wouldn't be getting any more sleep.

He took a deep breath, gently fingering the cold black wand in his pocket. He didn't know why he'd taken it, other than some inner sense had told him it might be useful.

"Lothlynen, Inspame, paseo reuno." The spell was slightly different this time, allowing for a day's time in the past.

And the office stood empty, save for invisible watchers of the night.

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July 2002

Harry appeared at the side of the Riddle house. The darkness hid him from view, inside or out. He looked for a window, and found  one a few feet away.

He peered in. Good. There were no Death Eaters standing guard; he could enter easily.

Harry raced around the house and entered. He halted, gaping at the dilapidated grandeur of the front hall. The ornate furniture was reminiscent of the eighteen century or earlier. A thick carpet muffled his footsteps as he moved toward the staircase.

A slight slithering noise caught his attention. Harry held his breath as he turned slowly around. He found himself staring into the wide yellow eyes of a snake. No wonder there'd been no Death Eaters. A name from his nightmares came to his lips, as the snake dropped back down to the floor and pierced his ankle.

"Nagini."

Harry felt a brief stab of pain as the fangs struck him again, and fell back onto the stairs. Footsteps sounded, and red eyes glittered above him.

"Harry Potter."

Harry blacked out.