Learning to Understand

by ADuskWithoutDawn

Disclaimer: If I owned Harry Potter 1) I'd wouldn't need to write an AU 2) I'd be rich. 3) One of my friends would call me the goddess. None of those are true... Therefore I don't own Harry Potter.

THIS IS AN AU STORY. THEREFORE IT DOESN'T FOLLOW SOME THINGS IN THE BOOKS. IF YOU DON'T LIKE, DON'T READ.

Chapter 3: Mind

Harry awoke to blazing heat, but it was not burning him. He felt groggy as though... well his uncle had beat him, so it did make sense that he was feeling off. His mind finally completely hearing the screams of his cousin echoing through the house. Harry got up, limping slightly because of his twisted ankle. Okay, maybe he was limping more than a bit.

He walked up the stairs, parting the fire with his hands without realizing it. "MUM! DAD!" Harry heard Dudley scream in the room to his left. Harry assumed that the other two Dursley's were either outside or dead. After all, usually people scream in a situation of mortal peril. He walked into Dudley's room, grabbed his hand, pulled him to the floor where the smoke was less dense, and led him outside. All the way to the front yard, Dudley screamed in protest, wanting to go back for his parents, but Harry tugged and kept strong, wanting to keep one family member after this ordeal.

"WE CAN SAVE THEM!" he yelled. "THEY STILL COULD B-"

"They are dead," Harry interjected bluntly. "Either that or outside." Dudley stopped is tantrum at those words. When Harry and Dudley were out of danger from the burning house, Harry collapsed on the ground. He was completely exhausted. His last coherent thought was, 'Funny, life is. It is completely ironic that now Dudley and I are the only people left in our families. Orphans.' And with that, the world faded to black.

"See? He's just passed out," Maya said comfortingly to her sister while she got to work putting out the fire. "I'm sure he'll be okay." Senka rushed over to her fallen descendent and picked him up.

"Harry," she whispered into his hair. Harry relaxed in her arms. Sen was so happy to see him, maybe not in perfect condition, but alive in her arms. She turned to siblings and said, "Maya, when you leave make sure the fire is out. Edan, make sure the fire doesn't spread further, it might be of help to Maya. Nitesh, look at the plants and grass and make sure they recover. Aira... do whatever. Help someone else out. Ilo, be taskmaster. You're best at that job anyway."

"You'd never guess she's the youngest when she bosses us around like that," Edan grumbled to himself, but nonetheless did as Sen said.

Sen glared at Edan. "I don't need your stupid comments, Ed. I'm taking Harry with me."

"What about the other child?" Aira asked.

"You decide whether he should come with us or not," Sen replied. Sen placed her hand over the ground where Harry had been laying and concentrated. Suddenly, another Harry was laying on the ground. The only difference between the two was the burn marks marring the other's body and charred clothing. It would be easier to explain when Harry came back if one remained there. She also made another Dudley. "If you decide you don't need the fake one, dispose of it," Sen said and disappeared into the night with a boy in her arms.

Sen had taken Harry somewhere special. She was not about to take him where her siblings would disturb his healing. It also would probably stress him out less to meet her first. Senka was in the house she had been living in when she gave birth to her first child. She hadn't been there in so long that the dust must have been two feet thick.

Senka wasn't sure she wanted to go back at first. It had so many memories. Who wants to watch those you love pass out of life knowing that you will never join them? Her husband had gone first. Then her beautiful daughter's husband. The hardest one of all was her daughter's. That was when she saw her flesh and blood be put into the earth with such a blank look on her face.

She had cleaned up the kitchen and a few of the bedrooms in the first two days she was there. It was now the third day and Sen was going to do the living room and other rooms in that area of the house. She was honestly becoming a little worried that Harry wasn't waking up. The poor child must have had a lot happen to him because his relapse was certainly long. She had managed to force a few healing potions down his throat and heal the sprain but it was up to him to wake up.

'It's so cold and so dark,' Harry thought, scared. 'Where am I?' A figure came out of the shadows of wherever he was.

"You, young one, are currently stuck in your mind," the figure said.

"What do you mean?" Harry asked. "Who are you? Why am I here?"

"I'll answer your questions, young one," the figure replied. "But do not interrupt."

"Okay," Harry agreed.

"You over used your strength and therefore you have gone within yourself to regain the energy," the figure said. "I am Manasa also called Lady of Mind and of Soul. Do you have any more questions?."

"How can I get out?" Harry asked.

"Sit down on the floor, young one," Manasa replied, "I shall help you leave." Harry sat on the floor and waited for further instruction. "Reach out with your mind," she continued. "Keep reaching until you find your true body and then pull yourself into it." Harry did as he was told. "Easy now. We want to make sure that your mind connects."

For the first time in a week, Harry's eyes fluttered open to see a woman's face hovering worriedly over his. His eyelids felt heavy along with everything else in his body. It was tough not to pass out again. "Can I have some water?" he rasped out.

To be continued...

Okay... here comes the tough part... SHOULD DUDLEY GO?

Read, review and answer my confusion as to whether Dudley should come along.

Thanks to all my reviewers... I love you to pieces.

I'll try to update soon but I do have school so...