Chapter 13

Red eyes stared in amusement at the three cowering children. In an act of desire, Voldemort had his followers bring little Dennis Creevey to his side. Ever since he got a glance of the boy's picture in the Daily Prophet from Potter's trial, he wanted the little boy. He was quite excited when the boy was delivered to him, not even caring that his followers were forced to leave the parents alive; he believed their suffering from the loss of both children would suffice for now.

Shackled in chains, Ginny Weasley and Colin Creevey surrounded Dennis in an attempt to keep him safe. They didn't like those constant leering stares Voldemort was giving little Dennis, nor the sweeping glances over the boy's body. With a cherub face, bright innocence eyes, soft dark blonde hair, and a bright smile, young Dennis Creevey appealed to the tiniest humanity left in the Dark Lord. The rest of him reveled in the ability to desecrate that innocent body, to watch those bright eyes burn with pain, to taste the sweetness of a fearful child, and to hear those cries of pained help.

Nothing would stop Voldemort from enjoying that tender morsel of a boy. But as a gift to his loyal followers he would allow them to play with the other two. And no one would have his little Dennis, no one. Dennis was his, and his alone. "Sh, Dennis. We'll be fine. I know Harry will never let us down. Never."

"But...but, Ginny," Dennis hiccupped, trying to calm his sobs, "they sent him away."

"Ginny and I believe, Dennis. And that's all that counts." Colin rubbed two fingers over his ring, "Just remember." It was all they had left, hope and faith in someone locked away for their supposed deaths. But holding onto each other, they also dreamed of their families.

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Families who were demanding that Harry Potter be brought in to return little Dennis, "I want my little boy back!"

"Please, Mrs. Creevey, calm down. The Headmaster is doing all he can."

Albus gravely nodded at Minerva's honest words, "I have Ms. Granger and Mr. Weasley searching Mr. Potter's things as we speak. We believe there might be something we over looked that could explain all of this."

Said students suddenly rushed up the stairs and through the door, waving three identical books, "Headmaster!" Trying to catch their breath as well as speak, "We found these. One was in Harry's trunk. The others under Ginny's and Colin's bed; their doormates found them when cleaning their area. But we've seen them in Colin's, Ginny's, and Harry's hands at the beginning of school."

Mrs. Creevey frowned, looking down at the slim gray journal in her hands. When the Death Eaters had broken into their home, kidnapping her only living son, she and her husband tried to fight back. When the Aurors had come, the journal was the only thing she had been able to grab in trying to save her son. "Dennis had one as well. Both he and Colin said Ginny got one for each of them during the summer."

Laying the four books on his desktop, Albus raised his wand and said one word, "Reveal!"

The gray covers swirled in colors before settling upon charcoal black letters, reading, Colin's World, Ginny's Mind, Dennis' Heart, and Harry's Spirit. The covers slipped open to reveal more black words, three repeating the same as one was different; To the greatest younger siblings an orphan boy could have, To the orphan with a dream of a family.

"Why? Why would they do this?"

Flipping through the pages of the journals belonging to the three younger students, Albus found nothing, nothing but blank pages after the first few of pointless conversation. But opening Harry's he could see something scrawled upon every page. Glancing over the words, he turned his attention to the others. "Mr. and Mrs. Creevey, please see Madame Pomfrey for your injuries. Hermione, Ron, return to your Common Room." He watched as the others reluctantly left, "Minerva, please find Severus. I'll call the others. It's time for another Order meeting."

Within an hour of making the call, the Order members were seated around a large table, waiting to hear the reason they had been called so quickly. "Albus, what's going on?"

"Ms. Granger and Mr. Weasley found something quite useful."

Severus sneered, "So Potter and the others had journals. Most little children do, Albus."

"True, Severus. But these journals were made as a way of communication. It seems that Mr. Potter's journal is quite extensive and the only one with every page filled. It seemed he knew something was going to happen this year."

Arthur and Molly Weasley immediately jumped to their feet, "What!"

Albus cleared his throat as he began to read one of the many passages, I had another dream. But they can't be dreams, for I have never remembered a single dream as long as I have lived. For in a house near a graveyard, I saw him. Him, the Dark Lord everyone fears. Voldemort. Tom Marvolo Riddle, switched to I Am Lord Voldemort. He is a shadowy corpse with red slitted eyes, much like a snake, much like the one wrapped about his shadowy feet. Before a single grave, a grave marked Riddle, he stood. A half-blood full of hate and pain.

Calling through a skull with a snake curled around it, marked upon a whimpering figure at his side, he called a select few faithful. He requests the domination of the world, the ending of a rival. I fear for my friends. He requests that something close to me be destroyed, taken away. I had waken within seconds of him saying that.

So, it can't be a dream, can it? And that scares me, more than my sudden knowledge of who the Dark Lord is. Over the summer I have grown closer to Colin, Dennis, and Ginny. So close, I would push them further away before I lose them. But even as the memory of his demands return I remember the small box in my vault, left behind by one Lily Potter. A box of four rings in onyx stone, thankful of my insatiable curiosity of what belongs to me. Just maybe, maybe, that'll ease my fears. As I once heard, better safe than sorry. And I can't lose them, not when I found someone who understands. But I'm also afraid to tell, what if they're just dreams? Maybe I'll just wait. They were the only dreams I've had that I remember. Just maybe."

Silence covered the table as Albus continued, Almost didn't make it to Diagon Alley. Aunt Petunia took me at the last moment. I had to rush through my school shopping, all beneath the stares. I had to even ditch my own friends to meet with the others. But I got them, the rings, paid extra for the spells. Useful money when dealing with greediness and urgency.

We received the rings with our color bolts; red for Ginny, gold for Colin; silver for me; blue for Dennis. We were doing Gryffindor and Slytherin but it wasn't right to push our traits unto young Dennis. I mean I was almost a Slytherin and Ginny was possessed by a Slytherin. Not to mention Colin has a knack for hiding in the shadows for some amazing pictures without anyone ever knowing. But it wasn't right. Dennis has yet to decide what House he wishes.

In return we've decided our favorite colours, colours that represent Hogwarts as well. In the end I was able to create location and protection charms upon them. Should any spell, whether Dark, unforgivable, or Light, be tossed it'll be absorbed and heal all injuries. No one, not even old Voldie, will break those spells, at least according to Lily Potter's spells and the Goblins. But I cannot let my siblings become harmed because of me. Nor will I lose them. Should one of us still live and breathe, we can find the other. Simply touch the rings, my little ones, and say the words, "Fido, fetch" and think of who to reach for. And I promise, my siblings, no matter where you are, I will find you. I will come when you call, nothing will keep me from that promise. And he shall remain until I break the charms. And those of true belief may do the same.

"We can find Dennis?" Such hope and joy in four words.

"Haven't you been listening, wolf? Everyone believes Golden Boy Potter murdered his little friends."

"But if those rings are real, then it's worth a try."

Severus sneered at Remus, "I still say Potter is an idiot. But I doubt he would ever lie about his friends. He wouldn't leave them behind."

Several of the Order members squirmed in their seats, not willing to admit Severus was right. Only Albus remained comfortable, blue eyes twinkling brightly, even at the dark glared his younger professor gave him. But it was only a matter of time before he would add more troubles to their doorstep, "Poppy, when you checked the bodies within the Hospital Wing, did you notice anything amiss?"

"Albus!" Poppy hated talking about the bodies of two young children, who did have their whole lives before them.

"Forgive my indecision, Poppy, but we must know."

Severus was the one to answer, considering he was at Poppy's side during the entire examination. "Nothing was amiss. Not even her magical scans nor my potions could prove anything but who they were. If Ms. Weasley and Mr. Creevey aren't dead, then someone obviously prepared a spell or potion that couldn't be detected. Nor did we feel or see any rings upon their hands."

The dawning hope all present had felt began to fail once more.