Disclaimer: Well, I really don't see the point in disclaiming it. You don't honestly expect that I own the characters, do you? I mean, if I didn't own them last five chapters, how could I own them now? It makes no sense, does it? And if you really have to know (in case you didn't know before- in which case you should: 1) read the books first; or 2) look for another category to read in FFN; or 3) just read along and take notice of the fact that...) the characters and places belong to J.K.Rowling, a british writer. I just use them because I can't wait for the next book. I just admire her :)

A/N: Thanks to my wonderful betas Luinthoron (*waves*) and Puzzler ("Hi!"). Without them my grammar would be just horrible, I would get flamed on my grammar the whole time and stop writing in English forever. That's why we all should thank both of them- without them there would be no story. So repeat after me: "Thank you, Luinthoron and Puzzler!"



Chapter six: Just A Nightmare?

Harry could feel himself fly. He had been flying before, of course, but this time it was different. He hadn't his broom with him. It actually reminded him of a dream he had had earlier this year. The time he had been sleeping in Professor Trelawny's divination class. When he had seen Lord Voldemort speaking to Wormtail. He decided to just let himself float. He closed his eyes for a moment.
As he opened his eyes again, he found himself near a fireplace in a dark room. He was facing his archenemy, Lord Voldemort, in person. The Dark Lord didn't seem to notice him though. It must be one of these dreams, Harry decided. The Dark Lord was staring into the flames.
"My Lord!" a voice came from the darkest corner of the room. A cold voice, almost as cruel as the Dark Lord's own voice. Harry looked up from his Enemy's face into the darkness behind him. He couldn't see who the man speaking was. He didn't know this icy cold voice. It sure as hell wasn't Wormtail. Lord Voldemort didn't do anything, he just continued staring into the fire. It seemed like forever before the Dark Lord spoke.
"What have you for me today?" The man (Harry was more than sure it was a man) in the shadows stumbled back.
"Yes, my Lord?" he said as if he hadn't understood the question. "I have just come from Professor Dumbledore's office," he continued a moment later. Harry was confused. The man came from Dumbledore? Could it be that it was Snape, taking up his job as a spy again? No, this couldn't be that. The man didn't sound like Snape. Harry would have known, wouldn't he? He had to stand Snape for how long now? Had it really been four years already? No, it definitley wasn't Snape.
"From Dumbledore's office?" the Dark Lord drawled. "Go on."
"I must say it was... interesting, my Lord," the man went on. "He had company, if I may add. Someone I really wasn't expecting at all. I must tell I was pretty surprised, my Lord."
"Oh, and who, if I may ask, was it?" the Dark Lord asked with a drawl.
"A giantess, my Lord."
"A giantess?!" Harry winced. Lord Voldemort was angry now. So angry that he jumped out of his chair. Harry hadn't experienced him that angry before. It hurt. His scar hurt. "The giants are joining him, then?! I will make them regret their betrayal!" Betrayal? Harry didn't understand that? Well, he knew that the giants had been working for Voldemort last time, but it wasn't like they had made a deal this time, it wasn't, right?
"Oh no, my Lord." Harry could almost feel the panic the man in the shadows radiated. "The giants are not joining Dumbledore. Not all, that is. Only this one giantess is fighting on his side. She's called Fridwulfa" At this point Harry winced. He had heard this name before. Were they talking about Hagrid's Mum? "and she's old Rubeus Hagrid's long-lost mother. She says she just can't fight her own son, so she's staying at Hogwarts and fighting at the Headmaster's side. So, please, try to not loose your temper, my Lord. Think about young Harry Potter and the fact that he could be listening into our conversation right now."
The Dark Lord was still shaking with anger although not as much as before. How do they know about this, Harry wondered.
"Fridwulfa, you said?" the Dark Lord asked. Harry could feel the tension buid up in the room. "Hmm... She will pay for her disloyalty. She will pay for having betrayed me and the giants. But not yet. We have some more important matters to take care first. I want Harry Potter's relatives eliminated!"

Harry woke up with a start, crying out in pain while cluching both of his hands over his scar. He glanced around in his room around him, trying to make sure where he was. There were footsteps behind his door, he heard it open and a very angry uncle Vernon popped his head in.
"What the hell were you thinking?" he growled at Harry. "Don't you know what time it is?! We're letting you live here with us, despite your... ABNORMALITY, and you don't even have the DECENCY to let us SLEEP at nights. You could have woke up your aunt, you know. She needs her sleep, she's working hard around the house every day. And Dudley needs his rest as well. He's a growing child and needs his regular sleep. I won't have you screaming around the house all night!"
Harry just nodded, not daring to open his mouth, afraid he'd burst out laughing if he did. His aunt? working hard around the house? Not if she could make Harry work instead. And she could. Dudley being a growing child? Oh, yes, he was. He was growing every day. Forwards, backwards and to the sides. He was so fat he could hardly get through the door to his room, for God's sake!
"Did you hear me, boy? One more sound from this room tonight and I'm having your stupid owl stuffed, you got it?"
Harry just nodded. He was used to his uncle threatening to make something to Hedwig. But this time he seemed to be dead serious. As soon as uncle Vernon's head disappeard from the doorway Harry climbed out of his bed and stumbled to his desk. He opened the door to Hedwig's cage and let her out.
"You heard what he said," he told her sadly. "It'd be too dangerous for you to hang out here for now. Would you mind staying by Ron for a while?" It seemed that Hedwig had no objections to that one. "Good," Harry continued. "I'll give you a letter for him, too. I'll explain it to him. Is it OK with you?" The bird just nibbled on Harry's finger affectionately. "I'll take that as an OK," Harry smiled. He sat down behind the desk, then turned himself to Hedwig once more. "Could you take a letter to Sirius before flying off to Ron's?" Harry could have sworn that the bird was nodding in agreement. "Good girl."
Harry sat down behind his desk and looked for a sheet of parchment. After finding one he opened his ink vial, grabbed his quill and dipped it into the ink. Then he sat back in his chair, thinking. What was it exactly he was going to write? He tried to remember his dream. It had been so vivid. Damn uncle Vernon! He had made Harry so mad that he had almost forgotten his whole dream. It had been a dream, right? He brought his hand up to touch his scar. It didn't hurt. Maybe it had been just a nightmare? No! He had had such dreams before and they NEVER were just mere nightmares.
He tried to concentrate on his dream. There had been two men. And they had been talking. Harry let his eyes wander through his room to the window, to the starry night. It was dark outside. He wondered how late it was, but he wasn't really eager to find out. It was late and that was enough for him. Damn, he thought, I wasn't supposed to wonder what time it is, I was supposed to try and remember what the men in the dream were talking about! He started concentrating again. There had been two men. One of them had been Lord Voldemort. The other... He didn't know the other man. He had been standing in the darkest corner of the poorly illuminated room and Harry was sure he hadn't heard this voice ever before. The iciness and cruelty of his voice could almost match Lord Voldemort's. Harry shuddered thinking about what these two could achieve working together. They had been talking. About what? Harry tried to concentrate harder. They had been talking about the giants. The giants had joined Lord Voldemort! Harry couldn't believe it. He tried to remember some more. Lord Voldemort had been furious... But why? Harry brought his hands up to his head once more, massaging his temples. One of the giants had joined Dumbledore's resistance force. They had been talking about punishing her. But how had they found out? Harry tried and tried to remember, but he couldn't. He just couldn't. He let his hands fall down again. They had been talking about him, too. Lord Voldemort... he knew that Harry could hear him in his dreams! How could he know that?! Harry tried to remember. Of course! Dumbledore had told Minister Fudge! Everybody knew that Fudge discussed anything with Lucius Malfoy. Lucius Malfoy was a Death Eater. And now they knew... A moment later a realization hit Harry. Suddenly he could hear Lord Voldemort's last words befors ha had woken up in his head. He was after the Dursleys now!
It wasn't as if Harry would have cared if anything happened to his aunt's family. It wasn't that. But he felt guilty. The Dursleys were just innocent bystanders, after all. If it weren't for him, they weren't in mortal danger now. He felt responsible. For a moment he thought he should go warn them. But then he decided against it. He wasn't allowed to speak about 'his world' in the Dursleys' house, so he didn't. Besides... he wanted to ask his godfather for advice first...
Someone tapped Harry onto the shoulder. He was torn out of his thoughts and brought back to the reality. He turned around to see Hedwig hovering at his shoulder height and tapping it as if trying to wake him up.
"Hey, stop it," he whispered, laughing. Hedwig glided to her cage and sat down on top of it. "I'm writing already, OK? No need to panic!" With those words Harry reached for his quill and started to write.


Dear Snuffles and Professor Moony!

How are you? And Beaky? I hope this letter finds you well. I'm doing quite well, concidering I'm living with the Dursleys. I mean, you know how they are. I miss you all horribly. Could you please talk to Dumbledore and ask when I can go visit Ron?
I had one of these dreams tonight. He was speaking to another man I didn't recognize. It wasn't Wormtail though. It appears he is aware of my 'ability' to hear into his conversations from time to time. They also talked about the giants. They have joined Him, with one exception. Whoever she is, she needs protection. She is going to be punished for joining Professor Dumbledore. They also talked about me. They have a new target now. It's the Dursleys. Should I tell them?
Please, answer soon. I don't know what to do, else.

Your

Harry Potter


Harry put the letter into an envelope, scribbled "Snuffles & Moony" on it and tied it to Hedwig's leg. Then he reached for another sheet of parchment for his letter to Ron. He picked up his quill, dipped it into the ink and began to write


Hi, Ron!

I'm sorry for not having written to you sooner, but you know my aunt's family. They don't like me using the owl post. They don't like me sending/recieving letters anyway, but that's not the point.
How are you? And your family? Fred and George haven't blown up the whole Burrow yet, I hope. I can imagine your Mum wouldn't be too pleased with that. And Percy? Still getting on everybody's nerves with his cauldrons? Believe me, you have my sympathy for having to live with him for the whole summer.
OK, I figure you wanna know why I'm risking my relatives getting angry with me by writing you. Well, I had a nightmare tonight. I happened to scream in my dream and unfortunately I woke up my uncle. He told me if he hears another sound from my room he's going to get Hedwig stuffed. That's why I'm asking for sanctuary for her. I want her as far away as possible from my uncle. Could you please take care of her for a while for me, please? It's an emergency.

Harry.


He put his quill down, folded the letter and stuffed it into another envelope, scribbled "Ron" on it and tied the letter to Hedwig's another leg. That done, he petted Hedwig for a while, then took her to the window and let her out. She flew out of the window and into the night.



A/N: First of all I'd like to thank all my reviewers. It's you I write for. And for me. But that's not the point. I really love your reviews, so please don't let me without one, OK? I live on your reviews. They make me write as much as my betas Luinthoron and Puzzler. And I thank you all for that. So go on. Review. And I'll write. I promise.
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