Well on with the story!
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o
He moved across the room, wand still pointing at Summer, and with his free hand removed the dagger from Hermione. He stopped and knelt down infront of Summer, lifting her face to look at his by placing the dagger tip under her chin. She automatically did so; the pain she could feel had taken over everything, including resistance. Looking up, her eyes widened. Although most of his face was shadowed, she could still see his eyes that bored into her, mocking her and freezing her from the icy, blood hungry gaze.
"You, Summer…are you listening...Summer...Summer..."
She jumped suddenly, someone was shaking her. Snapping her eyes open, she could see Draco leaning over her, a look of concern on his face.
"Summer, did you have a bad dream? You were screaming and then you started shaking."
"Yeah…I'm…fine." She said shakily, sitting up. She was indeed shivering, and a cold sweat covered her skin, rubbing her forehead, she peered at her watch through the twilight that filled the room; it was seven fourteen. She felt Draco wrap his arms around her, so she leant back into him, glad to feel safe again.
"What was it about?" he whispered softly, kissing her face reassuringly.
"This…guy…the one who wrote Harry that horrible letter…he killed Hermione and left you practically for dead…and he put that curse on me…" her voice trailed off, the dream had been so real that recalling the events made her feel sick. She turned and buried her face in Draco's shoulder, breathing slowly before breaking down into tears.
0o0o0o0o0
(This goes back to earlier if you get confuzzled)
"What do you wanna do then?" Ron asked Harry as they made their way up the shadowy corridor toward the common room after seeing Summer off.
"Dunno." Harry shrugged, stopping as they came to the portrait of the fat lady. "What's the password again? Hermione told us, right?" Ron grinned at remembering something for once and nodded.
"Exploding snap." He announced, climbing into the opening as the portrait swung back.
"Who thought up that one?" Harry grinned, jumping down next to his friend, who shrugged.
"Wanna play chess or something?" he asked. Suddenly overcome with tiredness, Harry yawned and shook his head.
"I think I might just turn in actually." He said in a muffled voice as he finished yawning.
"Ok mate, if you want." Ron shrugged, making his way toward Dean and Seamus. "See you later!" Harry made his way up the stairs to the boys' dormitories and his room, rummaging through his trunk until he found his pyjamas. Dressing quickly, he flung himself on his bed, falling into a restless sleep of nightmares as his head hit the pillow.
"Harry, wake up!" Ron yelled. Harry jumped and shot up, scrambling out of bed and clutching his wand.
"Ah, Mr Potter, so glad you could join us." Harry turned to the voice, aware that the room was in complete turmoil. The voice was from a hooded figure, one which had Ron pinned to the wall from a spell. Ron was attempting to cast spells at the figure and failing miserably as his arm was plastered to the wall, his wand pointing at the door.
"Let him go!" Harry yelled, pointing his wand at the figure. Ron's face was now turning various shades of blue and purple as the spell tightened the grip around his throat. The figure in the black robes just laughed cruelly, turning to Harry. He could see the malicious glint in the figures eyes, and suddenly a cold realization hit him. It was him, the person who had sent him the note.
"Glad to see you remember my little note." The figure sneered. "Took you a while. Though, as promised, I will allow you to see all the fools that I kill." He turned to the other bed in the room. Dean was clutching the bed post, a look of terror etched across his face as he stared intently at the figure before him.
"No..don't.." Harry half whispered, but it was too late. The black robed figure shot aqua coloured sparks from his wand toward the bed, which cracked and split. Dean looked up in horror as the bed came crashing down on top of him, a large splintered part of the wood driving through his chest. The caster of the spell just laughed.
"Mud bloods don't even deserve to die like a wizard." He hissed suddenly, making Harry jump. He couldn't tear his eyes away from the pile of wood or the floor; Dean's hand could be seen sticking out, a small river of blood slowly sliding down it into the floors shallow grooves.
"Now, my dear boy, its time to move on." Before Harry could even blink, he could feel strong ropes wrapping themselves around him like snakes. Turning to see Ron, he could see his friend was also receiving the same treatment. The two were levitated off of the ground and led into the common room.
"What…are you doing?" Harry gasped. The ropes that bound him tightened as he has struggled, and he was now finding it difficult to breathe himself. Ron moaned slightly and then opened his eyes.
"why…going to find your mudblood friend of course." Their capture said, pulling a dagger out of his robe pocket and slashing a portrait to reveal a passage way. The portrait at the other end received the same treatment, and the two were dragged into the room and made to stand. Hermione was already there, holding her wand tightly, a look of determination on her face.
"I know what you are up to!" she exclaimed loudly, taking a step back as he stepped forward. Harry frowned, how did she know that the three of them would end up here? He glanced at Ron who was looking incredibly bewildered from the whole experience. "You can't get away with it!"
"Oh no?" the voice from the black robes said dangerously, taking a step forward again. Hermione swallowed nervously, but thrust her face upward, determined not to appear frightened. She pointed her wand at him and a red beam shot out, hitting the figure before her. He hissed angrily, clutching his arm where it had hit.
"You filthy little mudblood!" he screamed, advancing toward her again. "You are going to die, like the rest of your foul, impure species!" he reached toward her, his other hand slipping out of his robes, clutching the dagger again.
"Go to Dumbledore Harry! He's going to…" but before she could finish, she let out a small, breathless gasp. Harry and Ron's eyes widened in horror as he stepped back, revealing what he had done. Hermione's eyes were wide open, a look of utter pain and terror across her face.
"No...Hermione…no…" Harry whispered, his eyes travelling from her face to the rest of her body. The dagger stuck out of her chest, blood slowly seeping through her night gown. The figure threw back his head and laughed, as Hermione fell to her knees and then backward, her lifeless head rolling back to rest on the stone floor. Anger and hate began to well up in Harry as he turned from staring at Hermione to her killer. Ron had also fallen to his knees, but he had managed to sever the ropes that held him with his wand. Ron jumped up, flying toward the figure, screaming angrily and shooting spells as hard as he could, but to no avail. Harry began to struggle again, and as a spell from Ron hit the ropes, he was free. Ron's unconscious body suddenly came hurtling toward him, making him spiral backward. The figure advanced toward them, brandishing his wand and breathing heavily.
"You stay there." He breathed venomously through gritted teeth. Harry felt the ropes bound him again, and watched as the figure glided to the stairs on the right and bounded up them. He then heard muffled yells and furniture being thrown about, and realised with a sinking feeling who was up there. The figure came down again, pointing his wand at Harry and levitating him in the air. The ropes slipped away, and it felt as though just a hand was holding his neck, choking him as he hung in the air.
"Now, what to do with you…of course I have to keep my promise. Perhaps it is time we go on a little…treasure hunt shall we say?" he threw his head back and laughed coldly. Harry, suddenly filled with a new wave of anger struggled again, trying to yell at him. Although he did not manage to, he was still able to throw in a few kicks. A scream from upstairs made him stop, and then he could hear Summer yelling for help and running down the stairs. Harry watched as she surveyed the room in horror, and then jumped when the figure spoke.
"We can't have mudbloods ruining everything, can we now?" he said coldly. Harry stopped struggling again and looked at Summer who glanced back, a scared but determined look in her eyes.
. "You see Summer, I can't let our world be ruined. Only pure-bloods should be here, not pathetic mudbloods that poison the system. And I won't have betrayers either. That is why I have not yet killed Malfoy, but I will once he has had a child. Can't let the line die this early on. Our dear Mr Weasley here will live, of course, but not until I have dealt with him." He paused momentarily, filling the room with a laugh that made Harry feel cold, and he could tell Summer felt the same.
"I still have yet to keep my promise to Harry." He continued. Harry looked down at him, and then felt himself be released, causing him to fall to the ground on his back with his leg bent under. As he hit the floor, a pain exploded in his head before the room went black.
Harry woke up with a jolt, as though he had just landed on his bed from the fall. His breathing was shallow and fast, a cold sweat had broken out on his skin and he was shivering. Jumping out of bed quickly to check the room, he was relieved when he heard Ron snoring loudly and a Dean shaped lump under the duvet. He wondered over to the window seat and gazed out over the forbidden forest and Hogwarts grounds. The sun was just beginning to rise, causing the sky to be a deep blue to pale peach colour and the few fluffy white clouds that floated around to be tinted a warm pale pink. Glancing at the clock above the dresser, he groaned inwardly to find that it was only ten to five.
0o0
Harry entered his room after having a long, hot bath. Ron was just getting up and grinned sleepily as his friend came in through the door. The grin turned into a worried frown from the look on Harry's face, however.
"Hey mate, what's the matter?" he asked, pulling on his robes and pocketing his wand.
"I…I'll tell you later." Harry sighed, making his way to his bed-side table to collect his glasses. "I need to see if Hermione is alright."
When Summer had stopped crying, she pulled back from Draco and gave him a watery smile.
"You ok now?" Draco asked, pulling some of her hair out of her face and tucking it behind her ear. Summer nodded and climbed off the bed.
"I think I'll go have a shower now." She said, making her way to the stairs. "I'll be back in fifteen minutes."
"Ok, see you then." Draco smiled. Fifteen minutes later, Summer came back into the head boy and girls rooms.
"Hermione, you're ok!" she shrieked, running over to a decidedly confused, worried yet quizzical Hermione and throwing her arms around her in a big hug.
"Yes, I'm fine. Shouldn't I be?" Hermione said eventually as Summer pulled away and smiled happily.
"Well, you see I…" but before she had time to finish, Harry and Ron came bursting in through the portrait of the Gryffindor founder.
"'Mione, you are ok!" Harry exclaimed, much like Summer, and hugged her as well.
"Would someone please tell me what is going on?" Hermione asked in an irritated tone. "First her now you! What on earth have you been up to?" Harry looked over at Summer and gave her a confused look, as did Summer to Harry.
"Well had this awful dream.." Summer began, and Harry nodded.
"Yeah so did I!"
"What was is about?" Hermione asked. At that moment, Draco came back into the room and frowned.
"What is this, the official Gryffindor club house or something?" he began, but muttered the ending at the look Summer was giving him. Ron scowled and folded his arms, but unfolded them and looked expectantly toward Harry and Summer.
"So what were your dreams about?" he asked. "And I'm hungry. Mind if we continue this over breakfast?"
Twenty minutes later, the five students were in the great hall, though Draco was sitting at his own house table; as he said, the Gryffindors were quite likely to curse him.
"That is very odd indeed, that you both had the same dream." Hermione commented thoughtfully, putting down her coffee. Summer and Harry nodded.
"He…he was going to tell me about this plan he had for me or something." Summer said as she pushed away her finished breakfast plate. "But Draco woke me up before he could say. I dread to think what was going to happen to the school."
The rest of the week that passed by was quite uneventful. The students of the seventh year were put under a lot of pressure from their work and were more often then not studying. As September neared the end, the first Quidditch match drew closer.
"At least we are against Hufflepuff first." Ron said as he, Harry and Summer exited the changing rooms. They had been practicing all evening, and the cool air was refreshing after hot showers. They three made their way up to the castle which loomed blackly against the deep blue sky, the candles which lit the windows twinkling invitingly.
"Yeah. Good to get a head start on the scores." Harry grinned, adjusting his broom that was across his shoulder.
"Oh, cos we are so going to win." Summer said sarcastically. "Ok, so Gryffindor have won the cup ever since you two have been on the team, but who said that we would win this year?"
"Well why shouldn't we? I think that staying with Snape for the holidays was bad for you, Summer, you have become amazingly sarcastic." Ron retorted, though he couldn't help laughing at the look Summer gave him for the Snape comment.
"It's just in my experience of being over confident, the team always does worse." Summer explained. "Ok, so I've not been playing Quidditch for that long, but I was on a school team in the muggle world."
"She has got a point, actually." Harry agreed. "After all, Slytherin are always saying that they will win but they haven't." Ron just snorted but then grinned as he thought of the cup they had won every year since he had attended Hogwarts. As they made their way through the portrait to the common room, Ron suddenly gave a loud groan as he caught sight of Hermione sitting infront of the fire, piles of parchment and books around her.
"I forgot about our potions homework!" he exclaimed, making a dash for his room to collect his work. Harry followed; he too had conveniently 'forgotten.' Summer rolled her eyes and made her way toward Hermione; she had nearly finished hers and only had seven inches left to fill.
"How come you aren't in your own rooms?" she asked as she approached Hermione, who turned and smiled as she saw who it was.
"Oh, I Draco has some of his more intelligent friends over tonight, and I couldn't bear being in the same room." she explained, her nose slightly wrinkled in disgust. Summer laughed and picked up her work that she had left on the table and began to finish it.
"I don't think they are his particular bestest friends either, but he still has to maintain some sort of respect and status amongst them all." She said, flicking through a particularly large and heavy book she had 'borrowed' from her uncle; a book of which dealt with the assorted potions that the sixth and seventh years were expected to learn. Harry and Ron came rushing down the stairs, jumped into chairs and hurriedly began to start their work, only gaining a disapproving stare from Hermione.
Fifteen minutes later, Ron threw down his quill and sighed loudly and theatrically.
"It's impossible. I can't finish this!" he exclaimed, looking pointedly at Hermione, who just as pointedly ignored him. "Hermione…." He began in a pleading voice.
"Yes, Ronald?" she replied haughtily, folding her arms and looking at Ron in an incensed way. Ron scowled at being addressed by his full name, but then turned it into a pathetic smile.
"I need help with my homework." He stated, holding out the work he had already done. Hermione sighed and took it off of him, reading it. She lifted her head and raised an eyebrow at him, handing it back.
"Well, I have to say that is a bit better than usual. However, you have failed to mention the long term effects of the potion, and how to counteract those. If you add that in, it should finish the rest plus an extra two inches." She replied, also handing her own work over somewhat reluctantly. Ron grinned and took it off of her, and finished off his work. Harry snuck a look at what Hermione had written and hurriedly added to his own before Hermione noticed. Summer held back a laugh at the look on Harry's face as he did so, stacking up her own books and homework. After the two had finished, they bid goodnight to Hermione as she disappeared behind the portrait and made their own way to bed.
The next morning, the four Gryffindors shoved down a hurried breakfast and made their way to the dungeons as potions was their first lesson and they had woken late.
"The potion that you are about to brew is very susceptible to damage, so I expect you to take great care when adding the wallowtrout juice. Do not add the nettleweed ashes until the juice has had time to mix in, about three minutes. Get to work in silence." Snape ordered, tapping the black board so the ingredients and few instructions appeared. The students at once got to work collecting the ingredients and preparing them. Harry was concentrating particularly hard on his potion, and sighed when he noticed he had forgotten something. As he crossed the classroom to collect it, Ash bumped into him, making Harry collide with the table at which Ash was working. As he straightened his glasses and glared at Ash, Ashes cauldron suddenly erupted into flames and began spitting its burning, acidic contents around the other students and onto the desks.
"What the heck did you put in my potion, Potter!" Ash exclaimed, but from the look in his eyes, Harry could tell that he was trying not to laugh.
"Nothing." Harry replied in an annoyed tone. "I was going to get some ingredients that I had forgotten."
"Silence!" Snape snapped, waving his wand and putting the flames out. "I specifically said at the beginning of the lesson that precision and caution was to be taken. Explain."
"Well sir." Ash began before Harry could open his mouth, attempting to look hurt and annoyed, "I just turned to pick up a quill I had dropped whilst taking notes, when Potter here came past and obviously added something. I certainly wouldn't ruin it on purpose."
"No he didn't!" a voice exclaimed from behind. The class turned to stare at Summer, who had stepped forward, arms crossed with Hermione and Ron who nodded fervently.
"Yeah, he was only going to get ingredients!" Ron added, but not with as much indignance, as he retreated slightly behind Summer to block out Snapes glare.
"And did I, Miss Chainley, Mr Weasley, ask for your viewpoint on the situation?" Snape asked in an icily calm manner. Summer had to bite back the smile she had for being called 'Miss Chainley' by her uncle, so she quickly turned it into a frown.
"No sir." She and Ron replied in unison, giving Harry a sympathetic look as Snape turned back to him.
"I know he put something in it." Lewis added, turning to Draco. "Draco'll say so as well, won't you?" Ash smiled contentedly, throwing Harry a mocking, smug look. Draco looked uncomfortable for a moment at being dragged in to it, but put a sneer on his face all the same.
"Wouldn't put it passed him." He agreed. Harry glared at him, but Draco threw him a sort of apologetic look before anyone noticed. Snape gave a sneering, satisfactory smile toward Harry.
"Forty points from Gryffindor. Any more of these antics, Potter, and I'll see to it you are banned from your coming match. Detention, seven o clock, my office." Harry opened his mouth to protest, but shut it again from the glare that Snape gave him, so he settled on finishing his potion.
"The nerve of that git." Harry seethed as they left the dungeons on their way to DADA. "He knew perfectly well I didn't add anything to that idiotic Slytherin's stupid potion!"
"Well…that was a bit unfair. But he's been really stressed lately." Summer agreed. "I doubt me talking to him will do a lot of good though." She added, seeing the look on Ron's face.
"At least Draco was apologetic for sticking up for Ash." Hermione said as they turned down a narrow passage way.
"Yeah. What did you do to him Summer?" Harry grinned, his anger melting away.
As they entered the class room, Lupin's beaming smile greeted them.
"Hey professor!" Harry and Ron exclaimed, going forward to shake hands with him.
"How come you're back?" Ron asked, dumping his bag on one of the front desks.
"Well, the teacher you had last year moved country, and seeing as the ministry are no longer suspicious of my involvement with the order, I'm free to teach!" Lupin replied, smiling at the other students as they filed into the classroom. Summer and Hermione got out their parchment, ink and quills before going over to join in the conversation.
"Ah, Summer, nice to meet you again." Lupin smiled as Summer advanced toward them. She grinned and shook his hand.
"Likewise." She replied.
The lesson went well, and the points that Snape took were more than made up as every Gryffindor and the few Ravenclaws that shared their lesson, were awarded twenty points for getting the shielding spell on the first try; even Neville to the surprise of everyone.
"I'm glad Lupin's back!" Ron exclaimed as they made their way to lunch.
"Yeah, he's such a good teacher. Nice to actually learn something for a change!" Harry agreed.
"Well, the teacher last year wasn't bad." Hermione said, picking up some ham sandwiches off of the silver dish infront of her. "She let us practice spells as well as gave us plenty of theory work. A good balance if you ask me."
"If you ask you, any work that requires two foot of parchment is great." Ron snorted, though with difficulty due to the fact he had his mouth full.
"What do you think of Lupin, Summer?" Harry asked, but when he turned to her, she was standing about three foot away talking to Draco. Ron scowled at that.
"I just don't get why she is attracted to that git." He said, glaring in Draco's direction.
"Aww, not jealous are we?" Harry grinned, poking him in the arm.
"No." Ron replied hurriedly, but his ears went a bright shade of pink.
"Well, he's not that bad looking." Hermione said, glancing around the hall. "But I think I like Pete better." She smiled, somewhat dreamily as she looked over to the seventh year Ravenclaw prefect. Ron's ears went even pinker at that, but he didn't say anything. Harry however noticed and tried not to laugh.
"I don't think it was Ash who wrote that letter, no." Draco replied to Summer, frowning slightly as he thought.
"Oh. It's just he seems to be really laying in on Harry." Summer shrugged. "Well see you later then." She smiled and stood on tip toes to kiss him on the mouth, and then walked toward the Gryffindor table.
"Decided to join us then?" Ron greeted, adding more to his plate. Summer raised an eyebrow at that, but smiled in response.
"I was just talking to Draco about that letter, Harry." She began, filling her own plate. "I thought perhaps it was Ash, he really seems to hate you at the moment." Harry looked up, and a thoughtful look flashed across his face.
"Yeah, I never thought of that. So what did Draco say?"
"He doesn't think it was him. Apparently he was away with his family last Christmas until the beginning of September, in hiding from the ministry, and had no contact with anyone until then, so he's only just this minute found out about Voldemorts down fall." She replied with a sigh.
"I defiantly think that your dreams were related to whoever sent that letter. I've been doing research into dreams that are connected and so forth, and apparently there is a dream inducer, a bit like a crystal ball, which the owner can choose his victims and control the dream from it. The victims have to be in a close proximity as does the controller." Hermione explained enthusiastically. "I just don't understand why, whoever this person is, has involved you, Summer."
"Me either. And I wish he hasn't." Summer shuddered, remembering the dream.
"Well, I wish who ever it was would hurry up and get over playing mind games." Harry sighed, pushing his plate away and gazing out of the window.
0o0o0o0o00o
hmm a long chappie, this one! Review please! Its actually turning out better then I first thought, I think…