Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot.
Chapter 9: Coming to Terms With Reality
Harry made his way up to Dumbledore's office. He had told Hermione and Draco about the weird dreams he had been having, and about not being sure what was real. He felt a bit odd talking to someone who might be a figment of his imagination, but he needed to tell someone. Their advice had been the same: Go to Dumbledore. So that's what he did.
He reached the stone gargoyle, almost without realizing it. He had been told the password by Hermione, "Lemon Drop," (A/N: I know, I know, so cliché.) and gave it to the gargoyle, which sprang to life and admitted him. He stepped onto the moving staircase. He knocked on the door and entered without waiting for a reply.
Dumbledore was sitting behind his desk, playing with one of his strange silver instruments. He would watch it as it spun one direction, producing blue-green smoke. Then he would tap it with his want and watch as it changed directions and emitted pink-purplish smoke. Harry cleared his throat and Dumbledore looked up, smiling.
"So sorry, dear boy," the headmaster said, placing the toy back on its shelf. "I have so much fun with my toys that I lose track of time."
"It's alright, sir," Harry said. Dumbledore sat back down, waved Harry into a chair, and clasped his hands in front of him.
"Now, young Harry, what is troubling you, my boy?"
Harry hesitated for a moment, then spilled everything. He told Dumbledore all about the events of the summer, including his and Hermione's breakup and Ron's death. He told Dumbledore about the strange dreams he had been having, and even confessed to feeling weird talking to someone who might not even exist. He told the headmaster about Luna, and their progressing relationship that might not be real. He told about the possibly imaginary befriending of Draco and Hermione. He finished off his story with the vision he had just had.
When he finished speaking, he sat back and looked at the headmaster. Dumbledore simply gazed back at him, his hands still folded on the desk, bright blue eyes boring into emerald green ones.
"Er…that's it," he said, somewhat lamely.
"I see," Dumbledore said quietly. He stood up and made his way over to a shiny black cabinet in the corner of his office. He pulled out a stone basin with strange runes carved on the side. He set it on the desk, and Harry recognized it immediately as the Penseive he had fallen through twice before. Dumbledore took his seat again and Harry looked at him curiously.
"This is a Penseive, Harry," the headmaster said, then sat back as though waiting for Harry to comment on it.
"Um…I know that, sir," Harry said slowly, wondering if the old man had lost his mind.
"Then you know what a Penseive is used for, yes?"
"Yes." Harry really didn't see where this was going, but he felt he should play along.
Dumbledore pulled out his wand and began chanting under his breath. As he did so, his wand tip roved around the rim of the Penseive. The silvery liquid inside began to swirl, and Harry watched, fascinated, as a whirlpool rose out of the basin. Dumbledore continued his ritual until the whirlpool nearly touched the ceiling. He slowed his chanting and began to hum, moving his wand in the opposite direction until the swirling liquid was back in the bowl. He snapped his gaze up so suddenly that Harry gasped.
"I have heard of this before," Dumbledore began in an explanation to Harry's unasked question. "I believe that your subconscious has been torn between two worlds. One would is reality, and the other is not. I have cast a spell on the Penseive so that it will be able to tell the difference."
"Wait," Harry interrupted. "How do I know that this isn't some trick Voldemort is playing in my mind to make me vulnerable?"
Dumbledore smiled, and instead of answering, reached across the table and pinched Harry's arm. Harry yelped and jerked away.
"I believe that this world is the reality," Dumbledore said, ignoring Harry's angry glare. "But I cannot be certain. Tell me, though, Harry, have you ever been physically hurt in your so-called 'dream world?'"
Harry though for a moment. "Well," he began slowly. "I've had a headache before, but I think I've read somewhere that a headache is caused by mental stress, and isn't considered physical pain. So no, I haven't been hurt there before."
"Well, just to be on the safe side, we're going to use the Penseive test. Simply think about your dream, and see it in your mind's eye. Then, place your wand tip on your temple and draw out that thought. Then place it in the Penseive." Harry began to obey, drawing a silvery string of thought from his temple, before an idea struck him.
"Wait," he said again, letting go of the thought. He felt it snap back against his head, like a rubber band, and yelped, glaring as the headmaster chuckled. "How exactly am I going to know what's real and what isn't?"
"The spell is designed to thrown you back into your correct world. If this is reality, then you will feel a small jolt of electricity, much like a static shock, but you will remain here. But if your dream is your reality, then you will feel an electric zap, but you will find yourself right back in the place where your dream last left off."
"And what if it doesn't work?" Harry asked nervously.
"The spell is absolutely flawless, my boy, it is guaranteed to work, or I get my money back!" HE chuckled at the horrified look on Harry's face. "Only joking, dear boy. Now, enough dawdling. Place your thoughts in the Penseive."
Harry took a deep breath and did as he was told. As he felt the thought being removed from his head, a small shiver passed up his spine. Suddenly, he gasped as he felt, as Dumbledore described it, an electric shock. His eyes snapped open and he found himself looking into the eyes of…
A/N: Dun, dun, dun! I am so evil! Mwahahahahahahah! I'm back and better than ever! Okay, not really, but I'm having a moment, so leave me alone.
………………………
Okay, moment over.
OMG! I am so so so sorry that I have not updated in forever! My computer died, AGAIN, and we had to delete everything, AGAIN. I had this entire chapter written, plus, like, three more. But the internet wasn't working, everything else was fine, it was just the internet, so before even talking to me about it, my parents dumped the computer! I lost all of my stories, AGAIN, so I had to type this one all over again.
But guess what!...Go on, guess!...Oh, wait, sorry, you can't. Hehe. I FINISHED THIS STORY! I AM TOTALLY DONE WRITING IT, AND I AM SO SO SO SO SO EXCITED! It has 20 chapters total. I'm working on posting the rest of them, but I really don't know how soon it will be completely posted. I'll let you know every chapter how many chapters are left. BUT I'M FINISHED!
Eleven chapters left to go...
I just want to thank all of you who gave me your support after that last note that I posted, like, two weeks ago. Things have started to get better, except for the fact that my boyfriend cheated on me with one of his ex's so I had to dump him. But really, things have gotten a whole lot better for me, and once again I want to thank you all for your support and loyalty. I hope you don't hate me too much for waiting so long to update.
Review responses for both chapter 8 and the authors note:
Fleury: I'm actually glad you feel that way. That's the way I want people to react to my stories. It lets me know that I'm putting enough emotion into them.
randomreaderguy: I'm glad you think so. I didn't want it to all be sad.
SilverTrinity: Well, you won't have to wait long. This story is actually going somewhere! Finally! You'll figure things out in the next few chapters.
Danu3: Sure you can have your own chair. If your computer chair has your name on it. LOL! The Fig Newtons are on the way! I'm sort of glad you could relate to me, by the way. I mean, I'm not glad that you had to experience it, but at least someone can relate. Oh, and just so you know, I have told her that, and she still doesn't believe me.
PadfootsLuvr: Thanks for the IM. But right now, the IM is causing a virus on our computer, so I can't use it until we get a firewall. But I'll return, don't worry.
MyStOrIeS: I'm glad you understand. No, you're not missing anything, I'm just taking a really long time to be specific about things. Things will clear up in the next few chapters. Oh, but I was wondering. How in the world can you be so critical of my story one minute, and then all of a sudden tell me that you love the story and hope I update? I mean, I really appreciate the pointers, but please, don't have such a split personality when reviewing. It really confuses me. I don't know whether you like the story or you hate it. Either give me an honest criticism, a flat out flame, or a good comment. Not all three in the same review. I'm really not trying to be mean, I'm just trying to clear a few things up in my own head.
