A Nightmare Come True

(Chapter Twenty One)

Harry slept soundly the rest of the night. No dreams, no visions, nothing. It was as if his mind had just shut down.

"Harry! Harry!"

A familiar voice was sounding in his ear and he was being shaken awake. Harry opened his eyes and starred up into the round face of Neville Longbottom.

Harry sighed deeply and rubbed the sleep out of his eyes.

"Everyone's awake Harry," Neville said and moved away from his bed.

Harry sat up, confused. He usually woke up before everyone else. And when he didn't, Ron would wake him up. Not dwelling much on the peculiarity of the situation, Harry crawled out of his bed and stretched.

He looked around the room and saw that Neville, Dean, and Seamus were all up and putting their clothes on. Harry looked around more vigilantly, but still did not see who he was looking for.

Neville noticed Harry's confusion. "Ron was gone when we woke up Harry…he probably went to breakfast already," He explained.

That couldn't be it though. Ron always waited for Harry. Maybe he went down early today to talk to Hermione, He thought.

Just then a loud knock came at the door to the boys' dormitory. All four boys exchanged bewildered glances. People didn't usually come up to the dormitory and knock on the door.

"Who is it?" Harry finally asked.

A muffled voice quickly came from the other side of the door.

"It's Hermione, can I come in?"

The boys exchanged curious glances once again and then Harry moved to the door and opened it. Hermione was standing in the doorway, already dressed head to two in her school uniform and robes.

Hermione looked flushed and worried. She moved close to Harry but didn't quite step into the dormitory.

"Is Ron in there?" She said very quietly not wanting to come in if he was in there.

Harry looked at her strangely. "No, I-er-thought he was with you."

Hermione looked taken aback a bit by this information, but continued on with whatever was concerning her.

"Well then, is Ginny in there?"

"No," Harry said growing impatient. "Why? What's going on?"

Hermione suddenly began to look scared.

"I couldn't find Ginny when I woke up this morning. I thought maybe she left without us so I went to look for her in the Great Hall…She's not there, and now your saying Ron isn't with you-"

Harry held his hand up signaling her to stop talking.

"Look, Let me get dressed and we'll go looking for them, I'm sure there here somewhere, probably having a sibling heart to heart or something," Harry said confidently though he wasn't totally convinced.

Hermione nodded breathlessly and left the dormitory.

Harry emerged from the dormitory minutes later and made his way down the stairs where he met with Hermione who had been pacing.

When she took notice of Harry, she suddenly stopped and looked at him for an answer.

Harry appeared surprisingly calm "Let's go."

Hermione shot him an annoyed glanced. She was frustrated with his lack of empathy.

"Go where?" She asked.

"The great Hall," Harry responded as he continued to walk out of the portrait hole with Hermione on his heels.

"I told you, I already looked there!"

"Well maybe they are there now!"

Harry and Hermione moved at a fast pace down the stairs towards the Great Hall. As they turned a corner they ran right smack into-

"Professors!" Said Harry, startled. Albus Dumbledore and Minerva McGonagall stood before the two teenagers looking very disturbed.

"Excuse us, we didn't mean to-" Hermione stopped short on her apology when she noticed the deep concern etched on the adults faces.

"Er…What's wrong?" Hermione asked now with a reflected look of concern.

"Miss Granger, Mr. Potter; would you step into the classroom please," McGonagall requested grimly and she, Dumbledore, Hermione, and Harry all walked into an empty classroom a few feet away.

They were all silent as Dumbledore carefully closed the door behind him. Harry looked from professor to professor, bewildered.

"What's going on?" He asked and stole a quick glance in Hermione's direction. She was standing close to him starting to look panicky.

McGonagall and Dumbledore moved together and closer to the two nervous teenagers.

"Last night," McGonagal said shakily. Harry noticed that he had never seen her look this distraught before. She took in a jagged breath and Dumbledore gently patted her back and continued for her.

"Last night, Voldemort and his followers attacked a government office building in London. There were casualties," He explained.

Both Harry and Hermione held their breaths fearfully. Dumbledore breathed lightly and continued.

"About five muggles died, some death eaters, and three members of the order…" He finished softly and grimly.

Hermione seemed unable to speak, but Harry asked the question both of them wanted the answer to.

"Wh-Who was it?"

Harry saw Dumbledore swallow hard before he answered. "Emmiline Vance, Kenny Jarabeck, and…Charles Weasley."

Hermione gasped beside him and Harry saw tears threatening her glassy brown eyes.

"Where's Ron and Ginny?" Harry asked.

"They are with their family at the burrow mourning their loss."

Hermione sniffed softly and wiped at her eyes. Harry instinctively wrapped his arm around her shoulder, attempting to offer her comfort.

"If you wish, you may join Minerva and I tomorrow morning as we travel to the burrow for the funeral," Dumbledore said softly. Harry nodded.

Hermione was now crying on Harry's shoulder who was acting quite calm and he noticed that McGonagall was also silently crying.

"The both of you are excused from classes today if you choose," McGonagall offered. Hermione's head shot up, her teary eyes matched McGonagall's.

"No professor," Hermione sniffed. "I need to go to my classes; it will keep my mind of Charlie."

McGonagall frowned with sympathy

"Come here, dear," She whispered and opened her arms to Hermione, who willingly accepted and they hugged each other supportively.

Harry had never seen McGonagall act so…motherly. He also had no idea that she and Hermione were so close.

"We will be leaving tomorrow at 7:30am in my office," Dumbledore said softly and he and McGonagall exited the classroom holding the door open for Hermione and Harry to do the same.

Harry and Hermione paced down the hall together, Harry still with his arm around her supportively.

"I don't believe this Harry," Hermione cried. He looked at her sympathetically.

"Why Charlie? And just when Ron and I were having problems, I can't imagine how upset he is!"

Harry gave a little shrug. "It will be ok."

Hermione's grief was ebbing, but at Harry's words she grew angry.

"You're taking this pretty lightly!" She accused bitterly. Harry stopped in his tracks and opened his mouth and closed it repeatedly.

"Well I-er-I –I've had to deal with death longer," He said carefully.

Hermione looked at him with disgust. "Are you bragging?"

Harry was taken aback and quickly tried to rephrase.

"No Hermione! No, I guess I, I'm just used to it. That's not a good thing, you think I like having everyone I love dead?"

Hermione looked down at her feet, tears flooding her eyes once more. "I'm sorry Harry, I didn't mean to, I-"

"It's ok, it's ok," Harry said quietly as he took Hermione into a comforting hug once more.

Charlie Weasley was dead. His best friend's brother….Harry suddenly remembered A woman on the floor being tortured by Voldemort….A tall red haired man…Charlie running at Voldemort.

Harry pulled out of the hug in shock and wide eyed.

"Harry, What's wrong?" Hermione asked with concern.

His dream had been a vision after all. Harry had seen it happen and done nothing to stop it.

"Nothing…I'm fine…Come on," Harry said directing Hermione off to their first class.

Well, what do you think? Let me know and keep on reading!