Chapter 8: The Dream

Little Hangleton had become almost a desolated place to live in, which was strange for a small village. A Victorian Country house laid in darkness, except for its second floor window, where the drawing room was located. Voldemort sat in his chair looking into the fire as he decided his next plan of action.

'What do you think?' Voldemort asked the snake that laid in his lap.

The snake looked at him attentively but then something happened that made the snake to leave him in such a hurry. Voldemort frown. Suddenly a light breeze entered the room and the nightly sounds could barely be heard over the screeching noises that seemed to be coming from inside the house. Voldemort looked towards the window that was still closed. Where is the bloody wind coming from? Voldemort wondered.

Voldemort's eyes narrowed as his attention was quickly drawn towards the fire. Something moved within in the burning flames of the big gothic fireplace. There was nothing there but Voldemort still clutched his wand in his right hand. His breath had laboured as his pulse had begun to quicken.

What's happening to me? Voldemort angrily thought, as he found his body unable to move from the chair. His whole body was now covered in sweat as fear arose in his chest.

The wind had now stopped but the heat had left the room, making it cold enough for Voldemort to see his own breath. 'I fear nothing!' Voldemort stated as he attempted to stand up again.

Voldemort stopped moving at the moment he saw a bloody skeleton hand emerge from within the fire, with little pieces of flesh still clinging to its bones.

HB

Mrs. Weasley was quietly humming to herself as she carrying the last entrée to the dinner table. 'Almost done!' Mrs. Weasley said sounding please with herself. The Dinning Hall was a very cozy room and yet it was a great big rectangular room, which was just as richly decorated as the main landing. The gold, silver and the oak flowed in such a manner that only left you in awe. A big fireplace could be seeing on the middle-left side of the room and a window that was just as big as the fireplace, was also located across from it. Leaving the dinning table right in the centre of the two, which was bewitched to extend or shrink, depending on the number of people in attendance.

Mrs. Weasley sighed as she looked out the window for she missed the Burrow greatly. The site of the luscious forest and the beautiful rose garden that surrounded the house only brought homesickness to her. Mrs. Weasley took a deep breath once more before heading towards the kitchen, which lay just below the Dinning Hall.

Mrs. Weasley now wished she had used the bewitched kitchen table to transport the food to the dinning table but it was better this way. She enjoyed exploring the big house but the only thing she didn't like was the location of the kitchen.

On her last trip to the kitchen to pick up the drinks, Mrs. Weasley felt very cold. As she reached the spiral staircase that led to the kitchen, the lights suddenly became dim almost making it impossible to see. Mrs. Weasley almost tripped on the stairs as she continued to make her way down, her wand illuminating the way for her.

Upon finally making it to the basement, Mrs Weasley noticed that the basement was even colder than upstairs. Then she saw something move just ahead of her. The outline of a woman with long hair could be seen from where she stood, for a moment Mrs. Weasley thought it was May, but she was wrong. The moment Mrs. Weasley took one step towards the silhouette but then stop as the figure began to move towards the kitchen. Mrs. Weasley heart just stopped when she saw the figure's broken body moving ever so slowly. The creature's head rested against its back exposing its neck, its arms were twisted and one of its legs faced the wrong direction.

Mrs. Weasley then felt a cold hand touch her shoulder and she did what any decent woman would do…she screamed her lungs out.

'Such a scaredy cat!' teased Tonks, as she faced Mrs. Weasley. 'Oy! It is very cold down here!' exclaimed Tonks as she hugged herself but then stopped. 'Molly…are you okay?' Tonks asked as she saw Mrs. Weasley shaking like a leaf.

HB

Most of the First year students had been sorted into their respective houses and Harry was surprise that Alex and Eliza had not been called yet. After a few seconds of searching for them he found them seated at the Slytherin table of all places. Harry shook his head. How could I forget! Harry though, for he had just remembered that Alex had already visited Hogwarts once before. As the last student was being sorted, Hermione began to whisper to them what she had heard from another Prefect.

'I can't believe it! What is the git trying to prove by getting himself into detention…on his first day at Hogwarts!' exclaimed Hermione after telling Harry about Alex's detention with Malfoy and his goons.

Harry just smiled at though of seeing Alex serving detention with Professor McGonagall. As for Sirius…Harry would just have told him, if he ever asked, that there are some things you couldn't help anyone out of…and detention was one of them.

'Shhh…Professor Dumbledore is going to speak.' Neville whispered to them as Dumbledore stood up to give his usual speech before the feast.

Stopping in front of the pulpit stand, Professor Dumbledore extended his arms in greetings, "Welcome ev—" his voice stopped in midair as all the candles dimmed off and everything in the room went cold and dark. The only thing illuminating was the fireplace that was located at the far end of the room.

Not a single sound was heard from the students or teachers as everyone waited for the Headmaster to continue or to explain to them what was happening, but Dumbledore didn't utter a single word. As if on cue, a hard breathing sound echoed the hall. All gazes turned around the room to find where it was coming from. Harry's gaze fell to the fireplace where the breathing got heavier and heavier.

"Harry…" Ron nervously poked Harry's shoulder, seeing that something or someone was coming from the fireplace.

Paying no attention at Ron, Harry concentrated on the flames where the hard breathing turned to a high pitched sound.

"Peeves, Peeves, Peeevvees…"

Everyone in the room jumped, even the headmaster who stood still at the stand.

The poking from Harry's back continued, "Ron, stop po—" as he turned around, he found that Ron wasn't poking him but Peeves the resident poltergeist of Hogwarts, who was hiding on the ground.

"Please, Potty, protect me from that witch demon. I know you got powers…so protect me if you know what's good for you," Peeves muttered before sinking back to the ground.

HB

Outside the School grounds, a big black dog stood a mile away from the castle. The dog growled upon seeing the school in darkness, having the moonlight to lighted their way. A woman dressed in a long white dress approach the dog from behind, the skirt of her dress played in the wind, along with her long black hair. She placed a hand on top of the dog's head to calm him down but her face couldn't be seen.

'I sense it too, love.' the woman spoke, her voice sounding like an animal growl instead of human. 'We most be cautious…if Crok is behind this…we can expect the worse.'

A cloud shifted over allowing more moonlight to shine upon the grounds of the school. The woman and the dog looked at each other and then made a run for it. As they run towards the castle, the dog trailed behind her and ran as fast as he could. The woman would just look back once in while just to make sure he was still behind her. In the moonlight you could see that she was not human, but a tiger demon.

HB

Just great! thought Alex bitterly as the lights of the castle came back, for he had been enjoying a certain girl's grasp. The girl who sat beside him had taken hold of his left arm when the lights had gone out. Alex then made a note to thank Allistar later, maybe over some Butterbeer and junk food.

'Sorry,' muttered Nicole, as she let go of his left arm. She looked embarrassed and angry with herself.

Alex couldn't blame her after all…with such a fine specimen as himself, there wasn't a single girl who could resist him. Alex grinned, 'Glad I could be of service.'

Nicole didn't say anything and just ignored him. Alex wasn't please at her attitude as he saw her talking to her friends from before, who sat across from her. Stacy was still hugging Todd, even though the lights were back on. 'Stacy let him go! You are choking him!' Nicole almost screamed at Stacy.

The rest of the students had started talking…making the noise level almost unbearable even for Alex, who was used to big and noisy social events.

'Did you see that thing?' Allistar asked, his voice sounding a bit shaky.

Before facing his friend, Alex took a quick look at his new charge. Alex saw that Harry was okay and that he was talking to his friends. A swept of relief filled him, for he had kept his promise to his mother.

Professor Dumbledore then cleared his throat to quiet all the students, to Alex he looked pale…almost sick. 'Every one please calm down…we have all experienced a very bad prank. Those of you, who are responsible will be seeing me in my office after supper.' Alex found it interesting that Dumbledore was looking towards the door and not to any particular student as he said this. 'With no further interruptions…I would like to welcome you all back to another year at Hogwarts. Now tuck in!' Dumbledore said cheerfully.

Before Dumbledore had a chance to sit down and the students to pick up their forks, someone from the High table had cleared her throat almost too loudly that almost had its own echo. The old Headmaster had a look of surprise and amusement upon his face as he turned to the woman who had cleared her throat.

'You are supposed to present me as the new Defence Against the Dark Teacher.' a woman spoke in a girlish high-pitched voice, which reminded Alex of a big ugly toad only dress in a lilac dress with a matching big hair ribbon.

It didn't take Alex long to realize whom this woman could be, since the look that Harry had on his face told him everything. This toad was Dolores Jane Umbridge!

How dare she show her face! Alex thought full of rage.

Before the Headmaster had a chance to speak the doors of the Great Hall burst open almost making everyone jump in the process. Alex smile as he saw his mother and father come into the Great Hall. Umbridge you are about to become dinner! Thought Alex wickedly.

'Sorry I'm late Professor Dumbledore but I had other matters to which to attend.' May delicately spoke as she approach the High Table. Umbridge looked enraged, much to Alex's amusement.

'What is she doing here and with such an animal at that?' Umbridge demanded in her highest-pitched voice, which had almost damaged Alex's delicate hearing.

Alex saw his father, who was in his animagus form covering his ears at the sound of Umbridge voice.

May turned towards Umbridge and walked dangerously towards her. 'I'm the appointed Defence Against the Dark Teacher and you are in my seat!'

Umbridge turn towards Dumbledore, who quickly wiped the amusement look on his face to smile. 'I believe…you got the last memo I send to the minister.' Dumbledore politely began. 'In the memo stated that my new teacher is not longer indisposed and would be able to retake her appointed charge. I was inform that you where just going to monitor the quality of teaching and learning of the students.'

Dumbledore then turned towards May, 'Now, now lets play nicely. I believe two more chairs are in order.' Dumbledore declared and with a wave of his wand as two more chairs appeared at the High Table that had just magically expanded.

Alex saw his mother and father sit beside Snape, who didn't seem too happy to see them.

'Without any further ado, let's tuck in!' Dumbledore said cheerfully.

HB

'She has been like this for a very long time.' Tonks commented to Remus who sat beside her at the dinner table. The both of them had been observing her since Tonks brought her up from the kitchen. Arthur, who had tried to convince Molly to at least take a bite of food, was becoming very weary and upset. Molly had refused to say a single word of what had happen downstairs to anybody.

After dinner Tonks decided to go and find out for herself what had happen to Molly but she didn't get very far. For she had barely opened the basement door that led to the kitchen when she someone grabbed her by the arm and turned her around.

Remus didn't look too happy with her at that moment. 'What do you think you are doing?' he asked her in his usual calmed voice but this time there was a genuine concerned tone in voice.

Tonks wanted to kiss him as she almost burst with happiness that he was worry about her. In comparison with the cold manner he had treated her just a few hours before. 'I was going to see what happen down there' Tonks explained, 'Do you want to join me?' she asked wickedly.

Remus lifted an eyebrow as he look from her and to the door. 'Just to make sure you are safe.' Remus explained.

Tonks let out a sigh. It is a start…even if we had already been intimate. She thought bitterly as she gave Remus a fake smile.

HB

'What do you think?' asked May as she began to unpack their things.

Sirius looked at the small bedroom they shared together. He had to admit that even the room he had in his parents home was even bigger than this. The room was only equipped for one occupant and the bed was not big enough for the two people, even if it was a four-poster bed. The only way this could work was only if they… 'It's great!' Sirius answered wickedly.

May lifted an eyebrow at him and was about to say something, before she became very pale. 'I think …I'm about to be sick!' she informed him as she dashed towards the bathroom.

Sirius was only two steps behind her when she had slamed the bathroom door close, before he had a chance to reach it.

HB

'Regulus, over here!' exclaimed a younger May as she held her wand up high to light their way out of the cave.

Regulus was right behind her. His face sported a look of victory that reminded May of his older brother Sirius. To May the two brothers looked so much a like…yet she could never understand why they never got along.

'That bastard is going to wish he never messed with me!' Regulus happily stated as he follow her to the exit of the cave. His wand extended also up high, encircling them in a big ring of fire.

Regulus collapsed once they had reached the outside of the cave. 'Don't die on me just yet! You still need to take me to my wedding…for which I'm already three hours late…thanks to you!' May reminded him as she caught him before he hit the rocky ground. 'We are safe now. We are out!' she told him as she held him in her arms and then proceeded to moved a strand of hair away from his face.

Regulus opened his eyes as a smile spread upon his lips, 'Tell my brother that he is lucky to have you and to not screw it up!'

May laugh as she looked at her now ruined wedding dress. 'Too late for that.' She whispered before proceeding to get the both of them out of there.

Then everything when dark and May saw herself in a jungle. She was standing in the middle of swap infested with crocodiles. There was no a single empty space empty of those animals. The big tall rock where she stood was her only refuge, for it was very steep and narrow, that made it almost impossible for those horrible beasts to climb.

Then out of the waters a woman arose, her long black hair covered her face as she made her way towards her. The beast swam away from her. May had her wand ready as the creature approached her. Then the corpse stop and looked at her, this time her hair was out of the way revealing her face which held almost half of its flesh, making her still look human.

The corpse was her!

May awoke screaming. Sirius held her in his arms as he rocked her back and forth as he whispered words of reassurance to her. May cried and cried until she couldn't cry anymore. Sirius didn't question her or pressure her to tell him but he only held her in his arms as he place kisses on her forehead.