Authoress' Note: Alright... this is my last postage until Thanksgiving break as I really need to concentrate on my schoolwork. I hope that this chapter is long enough... almost four pages in my word document. Anyways, this chapter is stock full of symbolism and hidden meanings. (Just to warn you) If you don't like it blame it on my English teacher, or just not read it. Or, you can ignore it and continue reading the story. Well... Enough of my insistant ramblings and onto the story...

Disclaimer: Sadly for me I do not own all the HP world that is cannon save for all characters and et cetera that you don't recognize. Espeically the plot. TIS MINE!!!!!!!!

Chapter Five: Dreams

The air was crisply fresh and soothingly still as the rain fell all around him, a sound so melodic that he could just barely hear whispered voices singing to him. The grass, though wet with rain drops, was a comfort to his cold and haggard body and provided a sentimental warmth that flowed through his veins giving him strength.

Breathing in deeply, Harry Potter kept his eyes closed as he slowly sat up and let the rest of his senses take control. The steady splash of raindrops in puddles and sliding down each blade of crisp, emerald blades of grass resounded in his ears. A refreshing scent filled his nose and consumed him till he was lightheaded. Tilting his head back, he stuck out his tongue to taste the silver rain drops and his fingers grazed the glistening blades and felt the cool wetness that covered his hands.

The rain surrounded him and he breathed it in hungrily. He felt at peace. Which was something that he hadn't been able to experience in a long time.

Even though his eyes were closed tightly, he could still see where he was, could still see the wonders that surrounded him. And as each second passed his vision grew clearer.

He was sitting in a patch of grass that was filled with bright, emerald four-leaf clovers that were jeweled with rain drops. A few feet away from where he sat was a gurgling brook that sparkled and glittered in the bright sunlight and sent off lights that were reflecting from the warm sun above. On the other side of the brook was a small meadow surrounded by a thick wood and wild flowers of every color.

". . . Harry! Come play with us!"

Looking up, Harry saw Ginny smiling and giggling playfully as she stood in the meadow. Her summer dress was the color of cotton with pretty little red flowers embroidered in the hem. Crimson hair cascaded down her shoulders and back and every time she tossed her head back to let out another burst of giggles it would fly around her head like a vibrant halo.

Harry laughed as he watched her skip around the meadow, laughing like all was right with the world. She came to a halt at the side of the brook holding out her arms to him, beckoning him over.

"Come on, Harry! Look how beautiful the world is now . . . " She turned and pointed behind her. Looking curiously, he stood up shakily and peered over her shoulder.

Surprised, he saw Hermione sitting cross-legged in a patch of four-leaf clovers cooing to something that was small in her arms. An exhausted, but tremendously happy smile played on her lips and she bent down to the bundle she carried. She looked up and Harry saw that her face was somewhat red, as though she had just been through a tiering ordeal.

"Ron . . . " Her voice was soft but full of joy as she looked lovingly to a tall, muscular man with light crimson hair. His face held traces of exhaustion as well, but his eyes were bright as he held out his arms to the bundle that Hermione was holding out to him.

"He's so beautiful, and so full of life." Harry could hear the pride in Hermione's voice.

It was then that Harry realized that their attention was directed to a baby that was swaddled in a blue blanket. The child was staring up at Ron with wide eyes, and then slowly, it turned toward Harry.

"Look Harry . . . He sees you."

Ginny's voice was soft and he had to strain to hear it.

"Look how he watches your every move, Harry. See how he looks like he sees and knows only you. You saved him, Harry. You saved him . . . "

The rain slowed to nonexistence and nothing was spoken nor heard. Ginny had stepped away into the shadows. Hermione slowly stood up and walked backward into the wood and disappeared from view. Next, Ron walked up to the brook slowly with his head down.

Stopping at the sandy bank with tears in his eyes he placed the babe on the rocks and removed the blue blanket so that the child lay naked before him. The tears were now streaming freely down Ron's cheeks as he bent down one last time to kiss the child's head.

Harry didn't dare breath as he watched Ron slowly stand up, as if he had the weight of the world on his shoulders. Ron took deep, unsteady breaths and started whispering quietly to the babe on the rocks.

"We'll always love you, Harry. And we'll never forget you..."

Suddenly, the sky opened up and a bolt of lighting streaked down from the sky and thunder erupted, sending shockwaves through Harry's body. Rain poured heavily down from the Heavens and soaked his body through and through. He could hardly see a thing and he was struggling to the edge of the brook, intending to make his way across.

"No! No, Ron! Don't do it! No!"

He didn't even know why he was shouting until he had wiped his eyes and saw that Ron was hunched on the ground shaking madly and choking uncontrollably on his sobs.

"Ron... W-what's wrong?" Harry could hear his voice in his ears, but wasn't aware of his lips moving.

"Ron? . . "

Stepping over puddles of mud that was collecting all around he couldn't see why Ron was so upset.

It was then that Harry happened to look down. And as he did so, he felt his stomach clench and he felt sick and felt a numbness consume him

Laying down sprawled eagle in the brook, being pelted unmercifully by the rain was... Was... Him. His face was pale and a trickle of ruby blood dribbled down from somewhere under his hairline. The soaked clothes he wore clung to his battered body and he saw that his right arm was slashed savagely.

Harry stumbled backwards, breathing in heavily and choking on the rain and sweat that accumulated on his brow. This wasn't happening. What was going on? Where was he?

A shriek exploded and hit Harry in the chest, making his blood run cold. Behind Ron, near the wood was Hermione. She was kneeling on the grass screaming madly, pain etched on her face and burst from her mouth.

"No! Oh, God, no!"

She was rocking back and forth crazily, her brown hair flying around in the wind and shrouding her anguished face from view. Harry wished the rest of what he saw was shrouded from his sight. . .

Lying crumpled in her arms, a bloodied mess was... Was Ginny.

"Oh, God! Please, please no!"

"No!!!!"

"No!!! Arrggghhhhh!!!!!"

Harry fell backwards onto the ground hard, hitting his head. Though everything went black he could still feel the rain pelt his skin. It had slowed down considerably, the rain. And the torment which had penetrated his skin and the anguish that had escaped the lips of his beloved friends were no more. All he head was the soft sound of the rain. . .

"Harry. . . Harry, you need to wake up. Harry. . ."

Frowning, Harry scrunched up his face trying to place the voice that was resounding in his brain. The female voice was familiar, though he had trouble placing it.

"Harry. . . Wake up now. Harry. . ."

Opening his eyes, Harry was hit with a sudden burst of cold hair and his body began shivering and shaking violently. Darkness exploded around him, save a bright beam of harsh light in the distance.

"What. . . What's going on? Where am I?"

"You're in Azkaban, Harry."

His vision cleared and his eyes met with a pair of hazel ones that were clouded with concern. Immediately recognition came to him and the remembrance of this woman from the day before came to him. All confusion and fright had vanished from his system and anger and resentment replaced their absence.

"What do you want?" He asked harshly, pulling away abruptly from her. "And how did you get into my cell?"

The young woman blinked in response and pursed her lips, apparently thinking of an appropriate answer.

"Have you thought about my deal? Are you willing to accept it?"

Harry glared angrily at her, breathing heavily with exhaustion.

"Yes, I've thought about it." He rasped out.

"And? What have you decided?"

"I've decided that. . . "