Chapter Four: The Dream

When Harry came back upstairs to the fifth floor an hour before his first class, tired and confused, he heard familiar voices talking in the common room. Lauren and Nick were talking, Lauren frantically and Nick calmly. Harry decided to stay under the Invisibility Cloak to hear what they were saying.

"Nick, I know I made a big mistake… but you know how vulnerable I've felt since we learned about Gianni's death. I just needed someone to hold onto!" Lauren sighed.

Nick moved closer to his sister. "Lauren, you didn't make a mistake. I never said that and you know it. And I don't think it was necessarily a mistake, or that he's just someone to hold onto. I know you just want to finally rest your head on something real after all this. I will admit, the way that we were told about the death wasn't the best way, but babe, we have to move on. So keep that proud chin up, kiddo!" he said, lifting her chin.

"Nick, don't call me that! I'm twenty two minutes younger than you!" Lauren said in mock seriousness while trying to fight back a laugh.

"Ok kid." He laughed. "But come on, if you like him I changed my mind. Go for it. I like him a lot, he's a cool dude." Nick put his arm around Lauren's shoulders and continued. "But kid, you need to understand that what I said before about not rushing into anything too fast still holds true. But I think a year or two is much too long. You'll know when you're ready. So will I. Because I love you, kid, and I'll do anything for you." Nick gave Lauren a big hug and she buried herself in his shoulder.

After a minute she let go and exclaimed, "Gosh, how much deodorant do you put on every day? I can smell the Axe from here!" They both laughed and went upstairs to their dormitories to get their books.

Harry was genuinely touched by this. He never had anyone to share things with like that, never had someone who loved them enough to do anything for him… except Sirius. Sirius, however, was gone. Even Ron could not understand all of what he was going through.

"Speaking of Ron," thought Harry, "I wonder how he and Hermione ended up?"

Harry felt guilty about not thinking of that in the first place. He had to tell Ron what happened, and of course hear Ron's story also. Finally his best friends were hooking up! Why was his own life so hard?

In perfect timing, Ron came bounding down the stairs, with an extra spring in his step. He saw Harry and ran over to him, almost running over him.

"Harry! How were you and Lauren?" Ron asked in excitement.

"Erm… not too good. How were you and Hermione?" Harry asked uncomfortably.

"Oh, she's a good kisser." Ron replied, turning red all the way to the roots of his hair. Harry noticed he had become different, more obvious even, in just that one night. "But what happened with you and Lauren?"

"Well, we were doing great until we got to the lake. Then I kissed her. Twice." Harry replied, blushing. If Ron was honest, he should be too.

"What's wrong with that? Did she kiss back?" Ron asked, confused.

"Yeah… a little bit. But then she looked scared and pulled away… then she ran to the castle after she said it wasn't a good idea." Harry said, feeling even worse.

Ron was about to say something, but at that moment Lauren and Hermione, who Lauren must have told, came down the stairs. Hermione gave Ron a peck on the cheek and he turned crimson. Ginny had just come down and saw it, which made her giggle uncontrollably until Seamus came and took her to class.

"They really are nice together, you two were right." Nick appeared and came bounding down the stairs, two by two, to pick up the taller Lauren and give her a big hug. When he put her down he asked Harry how he was doing.

"Not too great." Harry responded, giving Lauren a quick glance. She gave him a shy smile and Hermione, sensing the tension, dragged her away to double potions with the Slytherins, the first class of the day. Nick gave Harry an amused look.

"Yes, that's why I'm looking." Said Nick, as if reading Harry's mind.

"What? How…?"

"Well, in the US most magical babies are born with rare talents because of the mixing of nationalities. Lauren and I happen to have an intuition and slight ability to see into minds… but since we're twins it only works completely when we're together. When we're not, however, I still get a vague image." Nick enjoyed the looks of amazement on the two boys' faces.

"Well Harry, no dirty thoughts about Lauren when Nick is around!" Ron joked, and the three boys cracked up.

They were still laughing at a new joke Ron had told when they reached the potions dungeon. They gasped when they saw that there were assigned seats, with each Gryffindor assigned with a Slytherin.

Harry sat down in his seat, which was unfortunately next to Goyle. Ron looked in disgust at Crabbe, his partner, as did Hermione to Pansy Parkinson. What shocked Harry most was the girl that Draco was trying to start conversation with… Lauren! She talked back to him, but it was obvious to someone who knew her she would rather be anywhere else in the world.

Snape, the meanest and greasiest teacher in school walked in at that very moment. He looked a bit frazzled but other that that looked as mean as usual.

"Class, open up your books to page three hundred and seventy two." He said, in an evil tone which Harry knew all too well. To Harry's surprise and disgust the potion was a potion to make non magical scars disappear. He knew Snape must be mad at him for some reason for doing this.

Class went by slowly, with Malfoy nonstop talking to Lauren. Snape, who usually hated talking, didn't seem to mind when Malfoy did it, which was pure torture for his partner. She kept up the talking, however, and they managed to make an even better potion than Hermione's. This resulted in 10 points to Slytherin and the talk of the year… five points to Gryffindor from Snape!

When class was excused the whole Gryffindor body circled around Lauren in congratulations. She just looked confused and tired. Luckily for her, all classes outdoors were cancelled that day and she got to go back to the common room, where she disappeared into the dormitory.

"Harry, you know Lauren really likes you. You heard us talking." Nick stated as they walked into their dormitory.

"How?...Who…?" Harry was again confused by Nick.

"Well, I could feel your presence. It's not magic, all twins have it. Don't worry though," added Nick, eyeing Harry's scared face, "She was so upset she didn't feel your aura. It's all cool, dude."

Hermione came again down the stairs. "Hello. Lauren went to sleep, she's just exhausted. Thank goodness winter break starts tomorrow. Since we're all staying, why don't we organize a ball like two years ago? Only, it'll be more like prom."

"Prom? What's prom?" asked Ron, confused.

"Oh Ron!" Hermione laughed, launching herself into an explanation of a prom.

Meanwhile, Nick felt something disturbing. "I need to sleep. Now." He told the others, rushing upstairs. He knew what this was. He could feel the dream throughout his bones that was not meant for Lauren to experience alone. The necklace heated and shot through him, just like it had the day Gianni was in danger. Thank god he had this necklace.

He lied down in his bed but the necklace would not let him sleep. He tried every sleeping spell he knew, but nothing worked. Lauren was obviously meant to go through this by herself… but that was his baby sister. If anything happened to her like what happened to Gianni… well, he just could never live with himself again. He couldn't let another innocent person die when he had the chance to save them. It was all Lord Reldemort's fault, Nick thought furiously. He knew that no one could interrupt Lauren's dream, it was just too important. Instead he stood by the stairs of her dormitory, waiting for her to come down.

Meanwhile, Lauren was lying in a deep and troubling sleep in her room. She found herself in a black room with four walls and no windows or doors. There was a faint light, but she had no idea where it came from. Then, all of the sudden, a great white light exploded in the room, making Lauren have to cover her eyes. She immediately grabbed her necklace, which sensed danger, but it was only cold. That meant there was no way Nick could save her now, no matter what he tried.

Suddenly a thundering voice boomed out, "Lauren, do you know why you are here?"

Lauren shuddered at the voice, but stood her ground. "No. But I can feel an idea coming on… I'm quite good at that, you know."

Suddenly the voice laughed. It was not a mean laugh, it was actually quite comforting as the sound quieted and became normal while the light stopped much of its rays. However, there was still enough to see a man with his face and body completely cloaked walked over to her.

"My dear, I know you are." said the voice, touching her cheek softly, as if she was not really there. "But you must listen to me. This is not what you believe it is."

"Well then what is it?" asked Lauren, no longer afraid but purely interested.

"My dear, you know very well that your father supposedly was killed after your mother. Why do you say different?"

"Because," Lauren sighed, "It almost makes it believable."

The voice softened. "Well, my dear, it is believable, because it is true. Your father was alive until a year ago."

"No! That can't be! Didn't he love us? Couldn't he…" Lauren, however, was cut off by the voice.

"My dear, if he knew you were alive he would have. But he did not. He moved on, but he was quite the fugitive for false accusations placed upon him. In fact he was on the run when you were born."

"Well, how do you know all this? Are you a ghost?" asked Lauren, confused.

"Yes… but no. My dear… tell that young man Harry Potter about your dream. He should understand. Good- bye, my child. Send my regards to Nick. I would have sent him, but your destinies do meet at a certain point and have completely different endings. This, child, is a path of yours. My dear girl, since I have seen you, you have grown so much. My dear, darling daughter." The voice and the man disappeared.

"NO!!! Dad, don't go! I have so much to ask! Who are you? Dad! Dad! Dad!" Lauren screamed as she awoke from the dream.

When she awoke, she felt her necklace and scar burning her skin. She looked up and found the cloth the man, her father, had worn. She screamed and half ran, half fell down the stairs into her brother's arms.

At this point, everyone in the common room, which consisted of the twins, Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, and Seamus, stared. Lauren was wide eyed and terrified and hung to her brother's robes as she looked at him wildly.

"Lauren!" screamed Ron and Hermione together. The rest just stared, terrified, except for Harry who ran to his room. He returned back with his potion, the one he used when he had awoken from that kind of dream.

"Here, drink this." He said calmly, stroking her hair. Her face was drenched with sweat and her scar was burning red. She was shaking but accepted the potion. Her brown eyes had turned a vibrant green. Nick gasped when he saw them, and suddenly his eyes glazed over and he closed them. When he opened his eyes back up they were the same amazing color, just like Harry's. Harry figured it must be an American thing.

"Nick… the dream… you couldn't come… I thought I didn't want you… but it was our destinies… Oh Nick! Soon we're going to have to fight! Nick, what do I do?" Lauren was frantic with worry.

Nick sighed. "Lauren, I felt you in the dream. You need to calm down. Here, give me your necklace. No, not the shells. The diamonds… you know why."

Lauren shakily took off the necklace and handed it to her brother. He hugged her and put it on. The necklace turned green like their eyes and changed colors rapidly as Nick looked shocked. Lauren's necklace was obviously a way for Nick to get into her dreams. Harry looked to see if their eyes were still his own shade. He gasped when he saw that as rapidly as the necklace changed colors, their eyes did too. When it stopped the two of them fell on the floor.

Hermione ran over to Lauren to give her a hand up. When she rose, she looked perfectly calm. Ron did the same to Nick, but he had a far off fear in his eyes.

"Lauren, I don't like this. Tell Harry." Nick encouraged Lauren.

"I have a better idea, Nick. This might not work, but if it does then he obviously has great mental or emotional connections with us or our problems." Lauren took the necklace off of Nick and fastened it around Harry's neck.

"Erm… nothing is happening." Harry sighed, discouraged.

Lauren gave him one of the shy smiles she had been giving him lately, replying, "Harry, I know. I just need to warn you that if I can make it work, you need to trust Nick and I. We'll be fine, no matter how bad we look. We really aren't in much pain, but we will be if you reach out. You'll see this dream as you would in a pensive. Ready?"

Harry nodded and Lauren did the same to Nick. The two walked towards Harry with tense arms extended. They touched the necklace and screamed. Harry tried to reach out, but remember Lauren's warning he did not. Instead he was instantly transported to the dream. He saw the bright light and out came the figure towards Lauren. Harry knew this man's walk. He knew his voice. He knew the accent he put on his name. He couldn't take it anymore. He took the necklace off and gasped, breathing heavily from shock when he saw the faces of all of his friends again.

He gaped at the twins. "Your father's name was… Sirius Black."