Hi all! Oh my gosh, I can't tell you how sorry I am for not writing lately. I have actually started this chapter twice now, but I just couldn't get it done. I'm ready now with these two as my inspiration.

"Inspiration? What are we inspiring?" Pippin

"Her story Pip haven't you noticed she's been talking about writing?" Merry

"Oh yes, her story.what was it about?" Pippin

"Just leave it Pippin." Merry

"But!" Pippin

"Shut up Pip I'm trying to read the disclaimer!" Merry

"What's a disclaimer?" Pippin

(Sighs) "I've got it Merry. I do not own Harry Potter blah, blah, blah. You guys get it by now." Neo- Kitty

"Get what?" Pippin

"I may regret having these guys around.(sigh) I can't win." Neo- Kitty

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ (Here we go!)

(A dream...)

Where am I?

I know this place.

It's.its Hogwarts!

I'm out on the front lawn! Near the pitch I can see the hoops from here.

Flames burst up beside me. I give a startled cry and edge towards the school away from the heat. After a few backward steps my back connects painfully with a wall of rock that has appeared out of nowhere. I turn to run towards the lake but water floods out and comes to my feet. There's no choice now, I have to try and climb that rock wall. I make a run for it water and flame close on my heels. I reach the wall and climb for all I'm worth. It seems endless as I continue my ascent. Finally after a long time I reach the top.

I collapse in a heap of exhaustion. I feel like someone just made me run twenty laps around Hogwarts. I feel a drop of water hit my hand and pay no attention. I am covered in sweat so I figured that was what dripped. Suddenly thunder crashes overhead and rain begins to pour down in sheets. I have caught my breath by now and I am able to stand.

'Get someplace low!' My thoughts scream as my common sense kicks in. I look over the other side of the wall hoping to find somewhere safe below. No such luck, it appears that my perch is not a wall but a round plateau that has been surrounded by fire and water. This did not make sense at all. The water should be smoldering the flames or turning into steam.

"What is going on here?" I ask no one in particular watching liquid and flame lick at the rock.

I receive no answer. Not that I expected one either. I'm getting nervous up here. Of course, it's much better than being down on the ground but I really don't want to get hit by this lightning. A bolt strikes dangerously close to my "haven" making my fear feel much more reasonable.

I don't know what came over me but at this moment I yell, "What are you trying to tell me? I don't understand!"

All of a sudden the growing tempest lessens, the once howling roar of the wind is much more like a purr and the water and fire below is still.

I begin to relax closing my eyes and allowing myself to enjoy the now gentle breeze caress my face.

'Seer.you must be strong.' gentle whispers on the wind reach my ears. 'The worst is yet to come and you must be ready.'

"What should I do? How can I prepare myself?" I whisper as I fall deeper into the warmth of the voice and wind.

'Find the other chosen ones.then you will know what to do.' It whispers encouragingly.

"How will I know them?" I ask softly.

'The marks will tell all.watch closely,' the wind pushes me towards the edge of the cliff and I open my eyes. Amidst the flames and water below silver and crystalline glows catch my eye.

'Silver flames.' as the voice whispers a bit of silver fire flashes brightly as it reaches above the regular flames. 'Crystal water.' the gentle waves below hit the rocks below throwing clear glasslike teardrops into the air. 'Bronze mountains.' the rocks beneath my feet shift up forcing coppery peaks into the sky.

"They were the ones from the prophecy," I murmur, "but what about lightning how will I know him?"

'You already do.' the voice assures me. 'Look above you and you will understand.'

I look skyward into the clouds. Bright flashes of lightning illuminate the sky. The lights are hypnotizing and I feel like I could watch them forever.

Suddenly the electricity gathers and comes down in one mighty bolt.

I don't even flinch as it strikes inches in front of me. The water on the rocks crackles and sparks but I am still. The water conducts the electrical force and I feel the current run through my body.

All I can say is, "This feels right.now I understand." Then it all fades away.

(5 o'clock in the morning)

Harry groggily blinked trying to adjust his eyes to the darkness. He opened his four- poster curtains and reached for his glasses. He cast a quick look at his watch and moaned. He had two hours before he had to meet Draco. As he tried to drift back to sleep a clap of thunder rattled the dormitory windows.

"Well, I won't get back to sleep now," he sighed as he got up and changed out of his pajamas. "Did the storm wake me up?" he asked himself thoughtfully.

He shrugged this thought off and opened his trunk so he could get Advanced Seeing. He pulled the book out and revealed a stack of letters.

"Oh," he whispered as he picked up the stack and shuffled through them, "my birthday letters from Ron, Hermione, Sirius, and Hagrid." He named off the senders as he recognized each person's handwriting. "That reminds me I need to ask Hagrid about that stone he gave me. Wait a minute, who sent me this?" Harry opened the last letter in hopes of recognizing the writing inside.

He scanned through it quickly and froze.

"Fire, water, earth, and lightning." He whispered as a feeling of déjà vu swept over him.

The dream came flooding back the heat, the pain, the wetness, and the comfort rushed at him all at once. He grabbed a quill and ink- bottle and began to write on the letter.

"Silver flames, crystal water, and bronze mountains." He spoke softly as he wrote. "The marks will show the chosen ones and they will help fight the evil." He scanned over the manuscript checking to see if he had forgotten anything. "Lightning," he whispered and then paused before he slowly wrote the last sentence. "Lightning is me."

Harry set his quill down and carefully folded the parchment. He opened his Advanced Seeing book and placed the letter inside. Then he pulled his invisibility cloak out of his trunk and draped it over himself. Picking up his book he headed for the portrait hole. He carefully opened the painting and slid out shutting it behind him. Luckily the fat lady was dozing and did not notice.

Harry made his way to the staircase and froze.

'Now left, or was it right, I'm not sure,' someone slurred drunkenly.

Harry looked around wildly and heard a small hiccup. He turned towards the wall and saw the source of the noise.

Sir Cadogan sat on his fat pony drinking deeply from a bottle. He brought it down and looked from left to right and hiccupped again. Suddenly he toppled off the pony and landed in a heap on the ground. Shrugging the little man righted himself and put the bottle to his lips and drank deeply again. 'Oh well, I'm not going anywhere anyway.'

Harry sighed and then realized what had just happened. Sir Cadogan had been drinking when he had last spoken so, 'I can read the painting's thoughts.' Harry thought in astonishment. He glanced quickly at the painting and then continued down the stairs as fast as he could.

Harry was making his way down the halls to the doors that led to the lawn. He was swift but silent as he looked around corners and slipped down the empty passageways. He was about to come around a corner when a voice met his ears.

'Nothing,' a tired but satisfied voice sighed. 'I guess those rodents finally learned whose boss.'

Harry's breath caught in his throat. Who in the world was this; it certainly was not a painting. He carefully looked around the corner and gaped. Mrs. Norris was sitting in front of a small gap in the rock. Obviously it was a mouse hole and she was thinking about the inhabitants. Well, previous inhabitants.

'Animals too then.' Harry thought. 'Now that is surprising.' He carefully slipped past the preoccupied feline and continued on his way.

He finally reached the doors and gently pushed them open. The storm was still raging outside.

Harry held his book in front of him while he brought out his wand. He whispered the water- proof charm Hermione had used on his glasses third year. The book shined briefly then went back to normal. Harry stuck a corner of the text into the rain and smiled as the water ran off in beads not even dampening the book.

Harry walked straight into the storm. He needed to get someplace open where no people would come, and there was no place in the school that fit this description. The spot had to be outside but the question was where outside? He could go into the forest but it wouldn't be open enough. He definitely was not going to practice on the lawn. This left him one choice, the quidditch pitch.

Harry made his way into the Gryffindor team locker room and placed his book on a bench. He was about to take off his sopping cloak but after a moments' thought he left it on and made his way onto the field.

Lightning skipped across the clouds and Harry felt the hair on the back of his neck stand on end. This storm, this terrifying yet beautiful storm, was so much like himself. Both had innocent beginnings and no one would suspect they could do anything great. Then something unexpected occurs and they would surprise everyone. Every time people believe they have figured storms out something new would always be discovered. Now the same was true with Harry.

Water dripped down Harry's nose as he stood in the middle of the pitch. The thunder cracked like a whip above him as Harry raised his hand. At this moment he was glad he had kept the cloak on because if someone in the castle were awake this would look very odd.

Harry wasn't quite sure what he was going to do or what he could do for that matter, so he tried the simplest thing he could think of.

"Come here," he stated.

It was like he had reigned the whole storm and let it loose on himself. The rain came at him from every direction, lightning struck at his feet, and the wind literally swept him off the ground and held him in the air.

"Don't panic, don't panic, don't panic." he chanted under his breath. "I can do this. All I have to do is understand what I did."

Harry shut his eyes and focused on the tempest around him. Voices began to surface and they all seemed to be saying the same thing.

-We're here for you- whispers on the wind, hisses from lightning, crashes from thunder, and gurgles from the rain all spoke to him in one mighty voice that was the storm.

"Uh," Harry stammered he had not been prepared for this. "Thank you, but this isn't exactly what I meant."

- You are unhappy! - It moaned. - You are upset with us! -

"No!" Harry cried, as the storm seemed to get worse. " I'm not upset. I'm just not used to this."

The storm settled back to its' previous level and the voices of the storm spoke together. - We want you to be happy. -

"I understand," Harry stated soothingly. "You can make me happy by putting me back on the ground."

- Of course, - the happy chorus rang in Harry's ears.

Harry soon felt his feet connect with the earth and sighed, "Much better." He opened his eyes and noticed the rain had lightened up but the bolts of electricity were getting closer to him.

Suddenly he reached out and touched one on an impulse. The feeling was incredible. The electricity running through his veins felt just as natural as blood. This feeling ran from his fingers to the very tips of his hair and toes.

Then just as quickly as it had begun it was over. Harry shivered a little and rubbed his hands together. Sparks of electricity crackled across his palms.

"Oops," he murmured as he quickly pulled his hands apart. His cloak was thoroughly drenched by now and was getting wetter. The wind wasn't helping much either. The worst part was the lightning was still getting closer and he was afraid to touch it again. Sure it felt right but he was worried that if he touched another bolt he would start sparking more than he was already.

"I need to set things back the way they were." Harry murmured. He thought it over a second then nodded to himself and stated, "Thank you for your help. I really appreciate this but could you settle back to the way you were before I bothered you? Please."

'Well, that sounded lame.' Harry thought riley before he heard a reply.

- You did not bother us. We were only too happy to help. - The storm answered happily. - Goodbye great one. - Then the storm was back to the way it should have been like nothing had happened at all.

Harry sighed and trudged back into the lockers. He threw off his invisibility cloak in order to see the damage the lightning must have caused to his person.

"What the." he trailed off as he inspected his clothes. They were fine there was no sign that he had even touched the bolt of electricity. Even his watch was in perfect condition.

'That doesn't make sense!' Harry thought. 'The lightning should have fried my watch.'

~ Why should it? ~ A little voice broke in.

'It should have because that huge surge of electricity would have fried the battery.' Harry answered.

~ Shouldn't the lightning have killed you when you touched it. ~ The little voice piped up.

'Well I guess. Hey! Wait a minute! Am I arguing with myself? That makes about as much sense as my watch working.' Harry thought.

~ You're right it doesn't make sense for you to argue with me. ~ The little voice stated smugly. ~ Oh and you should probably check your watch that "shouldn't be working.'

"What? Oh no!" Harry cried as he realized that his watch read 6:45 a.m. "I have fifteen minutes before I have to meet Draco!"

Suddenly he was a flurry of movement. He cast the few drying charms he knew on his clothes, flipped his cloak back on, grabbed his book, and was out the door in one fluid movement. Then he raced up the lawn and slipped though the large wooden doors at the front of the castle.

Upon entering the castle Harry slowed down and began to walk carefully through the halls. He was looking for an empty hallway to take the cloak off in when he nearly ran into the person he really did not want to see.

Severus Snape swept down the corridor and Harry was barely able to avoid running into him. The potion's master looked grave as he went past Harry.

'I must get to the Headmaster. He needs to know someone was out on the field this morning tampering with that storm.' The Professor's thoughts entered Harry's mind.

'So Snape was awake and he knew what was going on.' Harry thought to himself as the teacher disappeared around the corner. 'I guess I'm going to have to be a lot more careful from now on.'

Harry checked to make sure he was alone and took the cloak off. Then he folded it and tucked it under his belt.

'Okay,' Harry thought. 'Mental list of what I learned from this mornings fiasco. One always wear the invisibility cloak while experimenting. Two cast water repellent charms on clothes. Three always be careful when talking to a storm since they are sensitive. Finally four never argue with yourself.'

~ Especially when you can't win. ~ The voice finished.

Harry sighed as he made his way back to the Great Hall.

'I thought you were gone.' He spoke in his mind.

~ Sorry, you are just too much fun to pick on. ~ It chuckled lightly.

'Humph, well aren't you just sweet.' Harry thought bitterly. 'Wait a minute. If you make fun of me doesn't that mean you're making fun of yourself too?'

~ Nope. ~ The reply was crisp.

'How does that work?' Harry asked mentally.

~ It is very simple actually. ~ The voice answered. ~ I'm not you. ~

'Pardon!' Harry thought. 'What do you mean you aren't me?'

There was no reply.

Harry waited a few more seconds then sighed again. "Things jus keep on getting more complicated. It is just one thing after another." He walked a bit then muttered angrily, "As if I didn't have enough trouble already. Now, I have to deal with this."

"Something bothering you?" Someone spoke from behind him. "Would you mind letting me in on the secret."

Harry whipped around and came face to face with Draco. The blonde was leaning against the side of the archway that leads into the great hall.

"Morning," Harry smiled at the other boy. "Sorry about the time."

"What do you mean? You' re right on time," Draco commented looking down at his watch. "Though, you probably would have been late if you had kept wandering down that corridor."

"Yeah, thanks for getting my attention." Harry chuckled. "I don't think Ron or Hermione would forgive me if I didn't show up to see them."

Draco's smile faltered and turned into more of a grimace. "Are you sure about this?" He asked Harry sincerely.

Harry studied him a moment and stated, "Yes." He then started off towards the wing.

Draco came up beside him and they both walked in silence.

A thoughtful look came over Draco's features and he turned to look at Harry. "What was bothering you earlier? You were talking to yourself when you walked by." He asked curiously.

Harry thought a moment then replied, "I will tell you, Ron, and Hermione when we get in the wing."

Draco looked at him for a couple more seconds then nodded.

"There is something else." Harry started.

Draco looked at him again. "What?"

Harry stopped walking and closed his eyes. Then he murmured softly, "The castle is full of voices thoughts from people, animals, and even the paintings."

"Can't you shut them out?" Draco asked bewildered.

Harry smiled wearily and opened his eyes; "I try to ignore them but they just keep on breaking in. I haven't had a moments peace since we learned I could read minds yesterday."

Draco was astonished. He could not fathom how terrible it must be for the other boy. "What are you going to do?" He asked finally. It was the only thing he could think of.

Harry sighed and stated, "What I always do when I can't figure something out alone."

Draco looked at him and waited for him to finish.

"Ask Hermione," he answered softly. Suddenly Harry began to walk again. He made for the wing with renewed dedication.

Draco had to quicken his own pace just to keep up. For a moment Draco wished he had had friends he could fall back on. Friends he could ask for help. Not just lackeys he could depend on in a fight. He glanced quickly at Harry remembering what he could do. The other boy seemed preoccupied or he was just a good faker. Either way Draco was grateful. He would rather die than be pitied.

"Here we are," Harry smiled as he stood in front of the part of the castle that was Madam Pomfrey's domain. He knocked politely as Draco came up beside him.

The nurse answered the door and looked like she was about to berate them but relented when she saw who it was.

"I was expecting you to turn up," she sighed gently.

"How are they?" Harry asked softly.

"They will be fine." The nurse confirmed, "You can barely tell what happened. Just a few cuts and bruises left."

Harry nodded and then asked hopefully, "Can we go see them?"

The nurse's eyes seemed to ask the same question she thought, 'We?' She turned and looked at Draco who looked quite sorry he had come. After looking at him a minute she stated, "You can come in and see them. But, don't upset them and if they are tired you let them sleep. Understand?"

Both boys nodded.

"Good, now come in." She turned and bustled back in the room.

The two teens followed her quietly. Harry stole a glance at the beds and found the two occupied ones. He nudged Draco and began to make his way over to them. Draco followed reluctantly.

They both were sleeping and Harry was afraid to wake them. The wrath of Madam Pomfrey was something he really did not want to have to deal with.

Suddenly Ron yawned and rubbed his face. His eyes swept the room until they landed on Harry.

"Harry?" Ron croaked.

"What, Harry?" Hermione murmured sleepily. She groggily opened her eyes and looked up.

"Hi Ron, hi Hermione," Harry smiled. "I didn't mean to wake you up."

"It's alright," Ron shrugged. He rubbed his neck and grimaced when he hit a bruise. "I'd really rather talk than sleep." He hissed as he quickly lifted his hand off the painful spot.

Hermione absently picked at the bandage around her neck. Harry could tell she didn't like being down like this either. He could feel the sense of helplessness around them. It was a feeling he knew well.

Draco had slipped away quietly. He felt wrong being there. Suddenly a hand clamped onto to his wrist and he whirled around. Madam Pomfrey shook her head as she looked at the old bandage on his wrist.

"You can probably take this off now." She stated. "I'm sure that it is healed up."

Ron and Hermione had stopped chatting with Harry and were looking towards where he was standing with the nurse. Draco would have given anything to be able to melt into the floor right then and there. No such luck.

"Here we go," Madam Pomfrey was oblivious to the tension in the room. She unwrapped the bandage and looked at his wrist. "Fit as a fiddle." She stated as she took the old bandages and threw them away. "Now you can go visit," the nurse told him briskly as she made her way back to her office and closed the door.

"Visit?" Ron looked at him incredulously. "Why would you want to visit us?"

Hermione looked coldly at Draco.

Draco stammered a second and felt completely caught off guard. The room was silent but the tension was so thick you could feel it in the air.

Harry however heard differently. Thoughts of anger, confusion, and regret filled his mind. He sat quietly until he just couldn't take it anymore.

Harry groaned and put his hands to his ears. "Stop," he moaned as he sank to his knees, "just stop."

Ron and Hermione looked at him in astonishment. Draco stared at him a moment then merely hung his head.

"We haven't said a thing," Hermione whispered in awe. "How can we stop if we aren't doing anything?"

Harry looked up at her and whispered. "You are doing something though you are unaware of it." He paused a moment, "Ron think of something anything."

Ron watched him curiously and Harry could sense his confusion. He looked steadily back a Ron urging him silently to comply with his request. Suddenly thoughts of people came to Harry. He stood up slowly and faced Ron.

Harry smiled and chuckled, "I remember when we decided that. Trelawney still does look like a giant moth."

Ron gaped at him stuttering, "H- how did you. I m- mean there's no." He was at loss for words.

Hermione looked at him then that familiar gleam came to her eye. "Mind reading. Fascinating," she said in awe. Then she went straight to business, "Did you do any research?"

Harry smiled and nodded, "Yep, and look what we found." He gave Hermione Advanced Seeing. "It's a form of divination."

She flipped to the pages he had marked and started scanning.

Ron had regained his voice and stated, "We?"

Draco tensed as Ron looked at him. 'I shouldn't have come.' He thought as he looked away from Ron.

Harry sighed as Draco's thought came to him and answered Ron, "Yes, Draco helped me. In fact he's the one who figured out I could read minds."

Hermione raised her head from the book and asked, "How?"

"I," Draco faltered. They had no reason to believe anything he told them and this sounded a little strange.

"I heard him on the stairs," Harry supplied quickly. "I was following the man who attacked you and Draco came up behind me. I kept on hearing Draco thinking to himself and I freaked him out a little. After the attack we figured out what was going on."

"Why do you trust him?" Ron asked quietly, "It's not like he has always been a good friend."

'That was a good question,' Draco realized. 'Why did he trust me?'

Harry spoke after a moment of silence. "Because he helped me save you."

His two friends were astonished. Ron gaped and Hermione shut the book.

"While we were on the stairs I figured out what was going on." Harry continued, "Draco wanted help so I agreed to help him as long as he helped me save you. He came in the common room with me and ended up stunning the attacker." He paused a moment then looked at his friends and stated sincerely, "I am going to help him. Not only because of what he did for me but because no one else will."

Draco stared at Harry. This boy who he had treated terribly wanted to help him. Perhaps Harry Potter really was a hero.

Ron and Hermione were silent. Then Hermione smiled a little and whispered, "Then I'll help too."

Ron was still his face was void of emotion. "You know I still don't think I trust you." He murmured to Draco, "But I will stick with Harry."

Draco nodded. That was okay with him.

"What do you need help with?" Hermione asked curiously.

Draco looked at her and then started to rub at his wrist. "Well, you see my father." He broke off and looked down at his arm.

Harry looked over at the other boy and a flash of silver caught his eye. "Draco what is that?" he asked urgently as he moved towards the other boy.

Draco stopped rubbing and covered his wrist. "It's nothing," he murmured as he avoided everyone's gaze.

Harry gave him a look that said, 'I know you're lying so spill.'

Draco relented and removed his hand. Hermione and Ron leaned forward on their bed's to get a better look.

There was a scar on Draco's wrist. Hermione gasped, "Who did that?"

Draco didn't answer and they were all silent.

"They look like something," Ron murmured suddenly. "Fire I think."

It was like someone had flipped a switch in Harry's mind. Flashes of the dream returned once more after Ron had made that innocent comment. He staggered a bit and felt darkness creep up on him.

Draco looked at Harry and whispered, "Are you alright?"

Harry looked at him and he felt the hairs stand up on the back of his neck. His eyes seemed to be glowing.

"Silver flames," Harry whispered. "The first is found." Then his eyes darkened and he collapsed on the floor with a dull thud.

#######

Well guys that is that for now. Not really a cliff- hanger. Sorry again for not writing for so long. Please review!

Oh and this story is now being written in the memory of my dog. He was a good friend. Thank you.