Harry Potter and the Emerald Staff

All of the characters and ongoing storylines in this fic belong to J K Rowling. I am not making any money out of this; it's just a bit of fun.

Chapter 2 – Dreams and Decisions

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry shuddered again as it was struck again by another barrage of spells. Voldemort stood in the middle of the grounds as his forces surged backwards, the force of their spells making them cower into their black cloaks.

Harry Potter stood motionless, helpless inside Gryffindor Tower. All he could do was watch as the school he loved was pounded again and again by the terrifying might of Voldemort's army of Death Eaters. Harry wished he could get out to face Voldemort but he couldn't seem to move his legs, try as he might to get there he just couldn't. He screamed in outrage as the school was hit again but he couldn't even hear his own voice over the thunderous noise of the school collapsing around him. Harry continued to scream as huge pieces of stone and enormous wooden beams fell from the ceiling above him.

Harry was still screaming when his eyes popped open and he wasn't the only one.

"WHAT THE BLOODY HELL ARE YOU YELLING ABOUT BOY?!" Came the booming voice of Harry's uncle Vernon.

Harry ignored his uncle and sat up looking around at his room, the darkened space in which he had spent the past several weeks just sat in. Harry sat in silence and tried with all his might to remember what the nightmare had been about, knew it had been horrific and possibly important but he just couldn't quite remember it. He heard his uncle grunt and make his way down the stairs; he had obviously figured that Harry wasn't going to dignify him with a response. The darkness welled up inside Harry again just as it had every morning during the holidays so far. Since he had gotten the knife he felt that he could control this darkness and stay sane. This morning when he reached for the knife he remembered Ginny and stopped himself. He couldn't just carry on like this. Instead of the knife he grabbed a piece of parchment and a quill and started to write short notes to Ron, Hermionie and Mr and Mrs Weasley apologising for his lack of correspondence and telling them he was fine. Last of all he wrote to Ginny. He felt like he owed her for bringing him out of his trance, and felt like he could open up to her like he couldn't with his friends.

Dear Ginny

You were right; I can't just carry on like this. I have written to Ron, Hermionie and you're parents apologising to them and telling them that I'm fine. I feel like I owe you the truth though. I haven't been fine at all. I've been crying every day and I've done some stuff that I'm not proud of. I can't really explain it in a letter but if you could spare some of you're time when I'm at The Burrow I could try and explain to you then. I feel like I can talk to you about it because of what you went through in you're first year at the hands of Voldemort. Thank you so much for your letter.

Harry

Harry then tied the 3 letters for the Weasleys into a bundle and then gave this bundle along with Hermionie's to Hedwig, Harry's snowy owl.

"Hedwig," Harry said, "this letter is for Hermionie and the rest are for the Weasleys. Do you understand." Hedwig nodded, eager to get into the air again and deliver the letters. Harry watched her soar out of the window and out of sight.

Harry remembered how graceful Hedwig had always been and how loyal and prompt in delivering any letter that Harry might want to be sent. He remembered how useful she had been when he had been contacting Sirius while he was on the run from the ministry.

He sat back down on his bed, tears in his eyes, and looked at the knife on the floor where he had left it the previous night. He felt an overwhelming urge to feel that sharp steel blade bite into his skin again, but he knew he couldn't. Ginny had been right, he couldn't let the emotion get to him. He must be strong. Right now he did not feel strong at all but he knew he could not hurt himself. He flung himself face down into his bed clothes and cried what felt like enough tears to fill the lake at Hogwarts as he thought about Sirius' escape from prison and flight from the ministry. He remembered how supportive Sirius had been of him and how Sirius only wanted him to be happy and safe. He remembered Sirius' offer of having Harry live with him when they were at Hogwarts and had thought Sirius would be able to clear his name.

Hogwarts. Suddenly Harry remembered his dream. Could Hogwarts really be in danger? It was so well protected but what if those wards were to fail? Harry felt his jaw set, his eyes hardened. He would be ready. He would train. He had to kill Voldemort and he was buggered if his friends were going to he hurt or killed in the process.

Harry had thought a lot about the prophecy ever since Dumbledore had told him what it contained at the end of the last school year. However, this was the first time that Harry had felt so sure about what he was going to do. He could feel the power running though his veins. He could see himself standing over the lifeless body of Voldemort. Harry now felt no qualms about killing him. It was what he had to do.

***

Voldemort stood in a small clearing in a forest many miles away from where Harry was living, a satisfied expression upon his snakelike face. He knew that Harry Potter was ready to face him. He finally had a worthy adversary who he could crush in battle with some sort of pride in his own abilities. Voldemort took one last look at the quiet forest, turned around and was gone with a swish of his cloak.