The Halls of the Blind
Chapter Four
Dreams of His
A/N: 'Thank you's go to all of you who commented and are being patient enough to wait for each chapter as it comes. I had a minor case of writers block hence the reason for the delay. It will eventually be explained as to how Harry got to Hogwarts but I enjoy taking my sweet time.
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He dreamed like he was still able to see. He dreamed in color so precise and so detailed, it would make an artist envious and sick with shame over his own pathetic attempts at capturing life. He was in a meadow. He did not actually remember ever being there, but a place he would have liked to have visited. The tranquility of the quiet openness was broken as the ground below him trembled and opened. He fell. He didn't fall for too long before landing, stuck between the never ending ocean and the tantalizing sand of the shore, not being able to keep the ocean from pulling him down, but clinging vainly to the shore in hope that he could somehow escape the insistent grasp of the foreboding waters. Forever unable to let go.
***
Harry woke with a thin sheet of sweat over his skin. Sitting up he put his head in his hands, thinking about the dream. He'd been back at Hogwarts for a week now, and he started getting the dream a few days ago. It never changed, never varied. What did it all mean? Why was he trapped between the two? Why was he holding on in vain? Why couldn't he let go?
He knew that the dream was trying to convey something to him, but what? Why did this dream start when he tried to learn the Hearing Charm? Why then?
He scoots back and leans against the arm of the couch. He could feel the heat from the fire in the fire place glide against his skin. Reaching out, he straightens the blanket tangled around his legs.
"Are you okay, little man-snake?"
Startled, he turns his head toward the sound. "Pelikara. I'm fine."
Pelikara shakes her head slightly though Harry could not see it. "You scream in your sleep and yet you say you are fine. I do not understand you, little man-snake, I do not understand you at all."
He doesn't say anything, just turns back toward the fire. He did not know how long he sat there like that and he did not care. He had been there for awhile when Pelikara interrupted his thoughts. "The man stands outside your door, little one."
Harry nods. When any of the snakes refer to 'the man', Harry instantly knows that it is Snape they talk about. He has even began to refer to Snape as 'the man' when conversing with the snakes, though he was sure Snape wouldn't approve. He does have a name, after all.
Raising his voice, so as to be heard from the other side of the door, he calls out. "You can come in, Professor."
The student-teacher relationship between Snape and Harry has become more of an understanding friendship, though it's bond was still tentative. Snape speaks with less scorn and sarcasm toward Harry, though he is still curt.
The door opens and Snape walks in. He stops short when his eyes take in the vision before him. 'Adonis...' The flickering light of the fire played over Harry's hair and skin, highlighting and concealing all at the same time. Snape lets out a soft whoosh of air. 'He is a student, you are old enough to be his father, nothing can happen there, Sev, nothing at all...' Though that didn't stop the Professor from dreaming about it late at night. How his feelings had changed so drastically, he did not know, but this feeling was one he did not want, nor was he likely to act on it. Ever.
Acting as if nothing has happened within him, he goes and sits in the arm chair across from Harry. "Why don't you sleep in your bed, Potter?"
Harry shrugs. "It's too big for just me. I'm not use to having so much space when I sleep."
Snape nods though he knows Harry can not see it. "So the nightmares have stopped?"
The first few nights found Harry screaming in terror from the memories playing like a movie through his dreams, but now that nightmare seemed to be replaced with this new one.
"Yes... and no."
Snape raises an eyebrow, waiting for Harry to elaborate.
"I had a nightmare, yes. But it was a different one. It wasn't a memory, and I didn't think it was too nightmare-ish, but Pelikara said I had screamed again."
Snape nods once again, remaining silent as he watched the flickering flames.
"Professor?"
Snape looks at Harry. "What?"
"Did anyone ever tell Hermione or Ron that I was here?"
"Yes, they have been informed that you are here."
"Then, why have I not heard from them," Harry mutters to himself.
A/N: Ok, I know, it's short, but as I said, writer's block is not my friend. Neither, as a matter of fact, are my muses. Everyone say everyone say hello to Ryu and Shi. They are being pains and decided they wanted to write something else for awhile, but don't fret, we'll continue to work on this. Remember, ideas are always welcome. If someone decides to go through and beta my stories, go ahead. Just send me what you've done and I'll find time to make the changes, I swear I will. I know this is a cliffie, but it's supposed to be that way. Next part: Back to School Reunions and the Resorting.