Chapter 3

Uncle Vernon's Gone Mad and More Dreams!

Uncle Vernon was crouched down in front of the front door drilling a wooden plank across the mail entrance. For the three weeks, even on Dudley's Birthday, Harry had been getting letters. Every time that he got one, it was in many strange places. In the milk carton box, with the mailman, jutted under doors or through any little space that they could be put in. Harry and Serena were kept busy all the time so that they wouldn't open the letters, especially Harry. After the snake incident yesterday, the Dursleys had become worse. Last night before they had went to sleep; Uncle Vernon was beginning to put locks and pieces of wood against windows and doors.

With that said, it was no wonder that the Dursleys had wanted an excuse to lock Harry up. It helped strengthen their moods to also put Serena into the cupboard but they did treat her better.

When Uncle Vernon was done, he looked ready to explode when he found both of them staring at him as if shocked. He glared at them and said in a loud voice; "What are you to do doing there? Get to work now!"

Serena nor Harry didn't need to be told twice and went immediately into the kitchen to prepare breakfast for the Dursleys. Aunt Petunia was already in the kitchen and told Serena to hurry up with helping her cook while she told Harry to set the table. It was a normal Sunday morning for a bit even with Uncle Vernon looking ruffled, tired and his actions were bordering the weird. When everyone was seated at the dining room table, he even gave Serena a large grin when she put coffee into his cup though he did tell her to not waste time.

Therefore, it was that they were eating breakfast and Uncle Vernon began chatting with everyone around the table.

"Sunday, what a fine day it is." He said with his beady eyes glinting madly. No one dared to speak. No one commented when he spread jam over his hand or began cutting up his newspaper.

"There's no post at all and none of those-" he stopped mid sentence when something whizzed past his ear. More noise came past and soon letters zooming down the fireplace was flooding the entire dining room and kitchen. While the Dursleys ducked out of the way and were looking almost terrified, except Uncle Vernon who was becoming irritated, Serena and Harry tried getting a letter.

"No!" Uncle Vernon yelled. He grabbed hold of Serena's arm and Harry by the wrist. Aunt Petunia and Dudley ran out of the dining room following Uncle Vernon out into the hall. He slammed the door shot but all of them could hear the letters bounce off the walls and door. After a few moments where all of them caught their breath, Uncle Vernon glared down at the family.

"We are leaving." He said feigning calmness even as though he resembled a panicked warthog. "You will all be packed in five minutes, ready to leave. Don't even think about arguing!"

No one said a word because Uncle Vernon looked positively terrifying. Ten minutes passed and the boards and other locks that Uncle Vernon had placed around the doors were wrenched away. When the Dursleys went to pack, Serena and Harry were in the cupboard quietly getting their knapsacks ready as well.

"Uncle Vernon has gone mad!" Serena exclaimed.

"Yeah but I wish I could read those letters!" Harry replied.

"Do you think we should sneak in there and get one?" Serena asked. Harry shook his head.

"No. We'd risk getting beaten up." Harry said. Serena nodded sadly and returned to silence. It was another five minutes when they were all in the car and going to the motorway.

Dudley was sulking because he had held the rest of them up by trying to pack his television, video games and computer into his sports bag. Uncle Vernon had cuffed him round the head. Aunt Petunia was pale faced and shaking.

Serena and Harry were quiet with Serena between the two boys in the backseat. She laid her head against Harry's shoulder half an hour later when they were on to the highway. It was not exactly quiet since Uncle Vernon would mumble under his breath about 'shaking them off'. Serena didn't even think of whom they were trying to get away from. She was too tired to respond or react. Her eyes were drooping and she felt Harry hold her hand comfortingly. He leaned against the window and she was slightly cosier than before. Her eyes began to droop.

Serena found herself outside looking down at the earth! She felt calm as strong arms went around her, protectively. She began to feel chills run down her spine. Even though she was ten, at least in her mind, she felt older. She sighed.

"This is beautiful." She said leaning against whomever was holding her. She wasn't sure exactly what was going on. Her dream-self was talking and moving while Serena was watching from this dream-self's point of view.

"My little bunny," she heard someone whisper against her ear. "You are beautiful."

She wasn't sure but this voice was familiar. Almost as if it was, Harry's except deeper and calmer.

"I don't know Taiyou." Serena replied.

"You are and you know it." He said urgently and she could feel him kiss her on her head. They fell back into calmness.

'Taiyou, how familiar.' She thought to herself.

"Why must you marry him?" Taiyou asked.

"You know why." Serena answered with her heart heavy.

"Do you not love me Shizukesa?" he asked and his hold tightened.

"Yes." She responded.

"Why do you torment me with knowing that you are now promised to him?" he spat and Serena held his hands in hers to keep him from hurting her.

"I do not wish to hurt you." She said and felt tears in her eyes. "He is like you in many ways Taiyou."

"Never. I am not like that earth mongrel!" he said.

"Taiyou, think reasonably! I was making comments about your personalities!" she said.

"I am not sorry." Taiyou said coldly.

"Then this is nothing but a dream." She said aloud and let go of his hands, moving away from him.

"Shizukesa." Taiyou whispered, all pretence of being chilling gone. He sounded hurt. She turned around and-

The car had stopped and Harry was attempting to wake her up. Serena rubbed her eyes and looked surprised when she saw that they were in the parking lot of a depressing building with the word hotel over the main entrance. Both of them followed Uncle Vernon who looked positively gleeful. They got into the building, rented two rooms. Aunt Petunia, Uncle Vernon and Dudley shared a room while Serena and Harry shared another. Harry was already sleeping and snoring lightly. Serena felt hungry and wondered about her dream. She didn't understand what was happening at all. Ten years old and she was dreaming about a phantom lover. It was positively sickening at least from her point of view. She after all, only thought of liking one boy and that was Harry but then again he was her best friend. Turning on her side, she closed her eyes and forced herself to sleep. The boy that had been in her thoughts was already sleeping and dreaming of something else. It was in this hungry state of dreaming that both children went into.

They had been gathered in the throne room to greet the ancient priestess Faia Dokusha, the great grandmother of one of Shizukesa's great friends. Faia had sat down in front of a bowl containing flames from the planet Mars. It was a great day and everyone was crowded around to see what it was she was going to say. Taiyou and Shizukesa were sitting with their families and waited. Faia began chanting words and almost instantaneously flames began rising to meet the ancient crone. Words began to spill from her mouth and no one could understand what it all meant.

"An empress fair, just and strong will take the brunt of many wrongs. She will die and will rise like a Phoenix bird, becoming the protector of all. She will right wrongs and aid those whom fall. An emperor dark, wise and deemed alone will be left within a shielded home. He will carry the burdens of another's prophecy and go through challenges shamelessly. He is the King of the Brave and will fight the darkness. He will save others from an early grave. Friends of renown, all guarding them strong and proud, will aid them.

"Empress and Emperor will complete each other. They are friends, lovers, husband, and wife together. A dark lord will materialise, corrupted and both will have a power that he knows not. Though power this evil force will sought. She is the Empress, he is the Emperor and both are strong together. Both will drive the darkness away and both will keep that evil at bay.

"They will die in each others arms after living long and out of harm. One thousand years will pass in peace and descendants will purity keeps. Darkness will come again. Empress and Emperor will once again be awakened."

The cold light of morning woke Harry from his dream and he saw that Serena was awake as well.