A/N- sorry for like NO updates. Sorta writers block, sorta just VERY busy with fundraising for my high school sb team. KateM- Yes, you age. Rob, for instance, has been in the infants, toddlers, the younger, and older boys section. He continues to age, just like his body does back in the real world. If something were to happen to his body, he would disappear and move 'beyond'.

Chapter Five

Hermione and Ron were once again visiting the infirmary where Harry still lay unconscious. His head was laying lightly against his pillow as the setting sun cast its long rays threw the window. Although neither Hermione nor Ron wanted to admit it, they were in a small sense glad Harry had left them for a little while. Harry being gone had brought the two together to become closer then they had ever been before.

Harry's eyes remained shut no matter how long the two of them sat there together, hand in hand, waiting for his return. But no matter how much they longed for his to come back, they continued to bicker anyway.

"I told you, Ron, you should have done that essay weeks ago!" Hermione spat, removing her hand from his.

"I know Hermione, but I've still got four more days-"

"But it's 10 feet of parchment! You should have done it when-"

"When it happened?"

Hermione went silent at his remark. Weeks ago, or more like 4 weeks ago to be precise, Harry had fallen into his comma.

"I'm sorry 'Mione, I shouldn't have-"

"No, you're right. We both have a lot on our minds right now. I'm sorry."

They both again fell silent.

While sitting there in silence, staring off into space, Harry mind continued to try and come back…

HARRY'S POV

The group was silenced by his words. Harry was sure no one else there could come even close to equaling his amount of time here.

Rob slowly stood up, "That's all for today. We go outside this afternoon. I don't know what you all think but I definitely think it's worth my life. I don't want to stay here forever. I want to move on and have a, what'd you call it Jason?"

A man towards the bake mouthed a word and triggered something in Rob's mind. "Oh yeah, a family. I've never had one but it sounds nice."

Most of the Group's jaws dropped as Rob stood up and left the sleeping area.

As one, the group followed Rob back out on to the main landing of the home.

"Rob's an idiot." Harry heard a boy his age who sounded American mutter from the back. "He doesn't know how good he's got it here. Back home we didn't have nothing. I told you I lived in New York, right Travis? Well, I wasn't no rich boys kid. I lived out on the streets and shit. I'd rather be here any day then go back there. At least here I got warm food on the table and a bed to sleep in. Back home it was robbing a store or taking from a dumpster or sleeping under a bridge. Here is better then any place back home."

Travis answered, "If here is so much better, why do you still refer to New York as home?"

The American boy continued walking to the stairs but had a solemn look on his face. Harry could tell he was trying to cover up for his real need and want to go back to New York, but Harry didn't know why.

After about 10 minuets of T.V. time, it was lunch time already.

They all went through the same ritual, though this time Rob came and sat next to Harry.

With food on the table Harry began to chow down, but Rob really needed to speak to him.

"We're going outside today Harry. In fact, we're going right after lunch. You must listen very carefully. You must stay in the designated areas that are assigned to you. The Ar do not tolerate it when people just get up and leave. When ever people do, and they go and venture into the Darkness, they are never seen again."

A curious thought crossed Harry's mind.

"But upstairs you said that the Darkness may be the key to going back home. Why shouldn't we go close to it?"

"We need to learn more first. We need to know that we will succeed in our attempt-"

Almost shouting now, Harry turned heads as he said , "No! I am willing to loose everything, and even my life to leave here! I don't know about you, but the life I left behind was too great to loose! I'm willing to enter the Dark-"

Harry's shouts were silenced when a man behind him covered his mouth. He bent down and whispered into Harry's ear. His voice was kind and seemed to be full of wisdom, yet hard and commanding at the same time.

"Do not speak your mind so loudly in the Eating Room. The Ar are always listening and will hear you. We all want back and I may be in the only one who wants it as much as you, but you must be careful. Remember, the Ar are always listening."

The hand slowly moved away from his mouth. Harry turned his head and saw a man who looked years beyond his age, yet also had the look of the 25 year old be probably was. He had brown hair that reached his shoulders and hazel eyes that seemed to speak themselves.

His skin was a dark, tanned color and he was at least 6' 5" tall.

"Harry," Rob said from behind him, "I think it's best you talk with Elijah. He's always best about making people understand and getting used to everything."

Elijah nodded and Rob ended with, "You have half an hour. We leave after that."

Elijah turned and Harry followed. He led him to one of the couches, but chose the floor himself, and Harry did the same.

"Harry, " he spoke, his words being chosen carefully, "I haven't been here long enough to not know who you are. And from what I've read in the papers, and heard from the media-" Harry groaned. He probably thought he was a psycho maniac or something. "- I can tell that you will push for what is right and needed when ever it is necessary." Or, Harry thought, maybe not… "For about two years now I've been pushing on the entire group entering the Darkness, but the leader has never agreed. With this new bit of information from the counselor, Rob is a bit keener on the idea of entering the Darkness. I need to convince Rob to enter the Darkness. That's where you come in. The counselor will re-visit with us only once in our stay here. Most of us go back just after we have arrived. You still have that chance. Go to the counselor and find out all you can about the Darkness. When you return, tell Rob, and we may be on our way to freedom. Are you willing?"

He had no other answer possibly going through his head. He wanted out and was willing to die trying. Death had to be better then the Group place. "Yes, 100."

"Good," Elijah smiled, revealing a gap in between his two top front teeth. "Now what I'm supposed to talk to you about. The Ar have punished those they have caught entering the out-of-bounds area. Those they don't catch are never seen again. The punishments are not friendly. You are physically touched by the Ar," a shudder went up Elijah's spine that was visible to Harry, "and they torture you. The attempt to drown you, cast their magic on you, but there is a most terrible punishment. They extract from your mind the memories of your happiest time back home, make you feel like you're their again, and that somehow you got free, and then they bring you back into reality by dumping a liquid that smells like vinegar on you head. That's what I'm supposed to tell you. I'm to warn you. But on the other note, do you think after the outside session you'd be willing to ask Rob to go and see the counselor?"

Harry nodded, "Yes."

A/N- You've now met all the really important characters, give or take one or two. The visit to the counselor and outside will happen next chapter. Elijah is supposed to be sorta like Aragorn. Or at least that's what I'm picturing in my mind. one more thing- About one day happens for every month that happens back in the real world.

On and on, does anybody know what we are living for?

-Ziddler, Moulin Rouge