Chapter 38 – In Your Dreams

- - - - - - - -

James stood in a dark hallway. He didn't know how he got here, but he knew he had to get out. Maria was suffering because of him…he had to let her know that it would be okay, she could go now…

He would be alright.

"You'll never be alright, James. You're foolish, you're weak, just like him. But oh, James…you could be great."

"What are you talking about?" James spun around, looking for the speaker, but he couldn't see.

"James, where is Sirius, hm? Endangering your friends, most like. James, I want Sirius…and you can help…you can end it all…"

- - - - - - - -

Maria opened her eyes the next morning, stretching out from under James's arms. She looked around. Everything seemed to be in order, everything intact…

'So what happened?' All she knew was that there had been a horrible buzzing in her head. James had said that he heard someone speaking to him, and that was the cause of her pain, because the voice was evil. In fact, the buzzing was still there, faintly.

She looked at James. He was still asleep…not for long, if she had her way. She reached out. "James…Jamie, wake up…"

He didn't even stir.

Maria frowned. James never slept in. "Jamie." She said firmly. "Get up!"

Still, nothing.

Maria sighed. Then, she noticed something. 'Hm, what's that?' She traced a finger under his nose. '…blood.' Scared, she looked at his eyes. Thankfully, nothing. But when she got to his ears…'Oh…sweet Merlin.' "Jamie!? JAMIE! Oh, Gods, Jamie, wake up!!" Maria bolted out into the hallway. "Madame Pomfrey! Professor O'Leary! Professor Dumbledore! Help, please!!" The buzzing intensified.

Madame Pomfrey came running. "Miss Ravenwood, what is the matter!?"

Maria pointed inside, panting. "It's Jamie!"

- - - - - - - -

"Ahem…"

It was time for breakfast. Professor Dumbledore stood up. "I have a few announcements…we have a few changes…in staff…"

Lily looked aghast. "So late in the year?" She whispered. Noel looked wary.

"Aiden O'Leary has resigned. I will now be taking up the position of Headmaster. Professors Tristan and Dyne have also resigned. We will welcome Professor Sprout as our new Herbology instructor, and Professor Flitwick as our new Charms instructor. Thank you."

Conversation broke out immediately. All were mystified by this sudden change.

"But why?" Noel said. "Is something going to happen?"

"It's out fault." Sirius said in sudden understanding. "They see what's happening to us. Voldemort wants us…maybe they're afraid he'll come to the school."

"That could be – " Remus started.

"Oh, Gods, Jamie, wake up!"

He shook his head. "Maria…?"

Lily looked concerned. "What's wrong, Remus?"

"I…I don't know…I thought I heard Maria just now…"

"Madame Pomfrey! Professor O'Leary! Professor Dumbledore! Help, please!!"

"The charm?" Noel suggested.

"But Maria's with James." Sirius frowned.

"It doesn't matter!" Lily said excitedly. "This is exactly what I was going for! See!? I told you guys we had connections…Remus can hear Maria because they're both Heirs…and he's her brother! We're all connected in some way…"

"But to this extent?" Sirius asked.

Lily paused. "…they're both Heirs of Ravenclaw. That's why it's stronger." She nodded.

"It's Jamie!!"

Remus stood up. "Something's wrong with James!" Without waiting, he sprinted off. Lily, Noel, and Sirius ran after him.

- - - - - - - -

Maria hovered around Madame Pomfrey as she checked James. "Well? Well!?"

"Miss Ravenwood, please! I cannot even hear myself think!"

Unabashed, Maria continued hovering and tsking.

When the nurse straightened, Maria opened her mouth, but Madame Pomfrey beat her to it. "James is…"

"James is what!?" Maria screamed.

Madame Pomfrey shook her head. "I don't know…"

"Well, make him not whatever he is!"

"Miss Ravenwood, you do not understand. We believe – " She stopped.

"Believe what?" Maria whispered.

"No, I cannot. If Dumbledore wanted you to know, he would've told you."

"Gods, you're all alike!" Maria shrieked. "If it's about us, don't you think we'd like to know!?"

"And you think you know what do do, do you?"

"What…is wrong…with Jamie?"

"I believe I can answer that, Poppy." Dumbledore had appeared in the doorway with Sirius, Remus, Lily, and Noel. "Miss Ravenwood…please come to my office."

- - - - - - - -

"James…?"

James shook his head. "I will not give Sirius to you…Voldemort!"

"Ahahaha…so he knows. James, I have more ways than one to torture people. Look at yourself. I can reach you through your dreams, James. And if I can reach you, I can get them, too. You had your chance, James. Things can only get worse now…"

James screamed as pain filled his head. He couldn't see anymore, couldn't feel…could only hear high-pitched laughing. 'Make it stop…' He had to be strong. He couldn't go like this. He had to see them again. "No! Sirius! Remus! Noel! Maria!"

'Lily…'

- - - - - - - -

"Now, I believe you wanted some answers…" Professor Dumbledore looked at them all.

Maria, for all her screaming earlier, was quiet. Remus spoke up. "Sir, what is wrong with James?"

"Ah…we aren't quite sure, Mt. Lupin. But we believe that it does, in fact, have to do with Voldemort. You see, James told us he could hear voices in his head. We believe that Voldemort has found a way to enter his mind, whether through dreams, or thoughts, or otherwise."

"But why, sir?" Lily asked.

"…we don't know."

"Sir!" Noel said accusingly. "What about the prophecy!?"

Sirius and Remus gave her sharp looks. Noel gulped. "I mean…"

Dumbledore smiled. "Well…I see you were busy while Miss Ravenwood and Mr. Potter were asleep. Very well, I will show you."

He took out the Pensieve. They all crowded around it.

"Years from now, the Wizarding World will see a darkness so terrible it will surely be the end. A Dark Lord on the rise, gathering followers and wreaking havoc. To stop him, we will be blessed with the Heirs of the Four Founders of Hogwarts. They will know friendship that will know no boundaries, as their forefathers and mothers did. Each will be identified by a colored pendant, but beware; should the pendant fall into the wrong hands, it will be destruction for the one to whom it belongs. And while they have the power, should they use it on the Dark Lord, it will surely take them down with him…"

Sirius whistled. "Sooo..?"

Dumbledore sighed. "Well…it seems that James, Sirius, and Maria are the Wizarding World's last hope…with Noel and Remus as backup. Voldemort will surely try to kill you all. I don't have to remind you what happened during holiday break…"

"But what can we do, Professor?" Lily asked.

Dumbledore leaned back. "…wait it out, I suppose. Rest assured…we will protect you as best as we can. Hogwarts is the safest place to be."

"But when the time comes…" Remus asked.

"You will know what to do." Dumbledore assured him. "Anything is possible with your friends by your side. Now…go see James. I daresay he's waking up by now."

"But sir! How could Remus hear Maria? They aren't connected by the charm – " Noel asked.

"All will come together…go see James." Dumbledore smiled and waved.

The five Gryffindors frowned and trooped off to the hospital wing.

- - - - - - - -

a/n: Another mystifying chapter. Sigh. Is Dumbledore just going to let them fight if the time comes? Thanks again to reviewers! –hands out Marauder plushies-