Chapter 23 – Nightmares Scream Louder than Reality

The next few days were uncomfortable not only for Anna and Lupin but for Remus who had to sit between the two of them. Anna and Lupin spoke very formally to each other and Remus had to force conversation between the two. On the third day after Christmas Anna went down to breakfast she hadn't slept well the night before as her head wouldn't stop aching. She knew this meant that Harry's scar was prickling which in turn meant that Voldemort was getting stronger. The night before she had woken up almost every half hour as her head gave nasty throbs. When Lupin and Remus came in and all the other students who had stayed for Christmas, Dumbledore stood up.

"Good Morning, yet I fear it is not." Dumbledore said addressing the 10 students in the hall. "I know there are so few of you, and I am going to give this speech again when the other students return. However this cannot wait, Lord Voldemort has returned. Last night he announced his return by killing a school full of muggle children. He and his Deatheaters went to the school at night and killed them including the teachers then set the dark mark up in the sky. Lucky there weren't as many deaths as there could have been if it hadn't been for Harry Potter and Ron Weasley, they came just in time. However, we must stand together through this treacherous time—"

"Didn't Harry Potter kill Voldemort all those years ago?" Asked a 5th year Ravenclaw.

"Voldemort killed Harry before Harry's spell hit Voldemort so it didn't work, no this day was to come." Dumbledore answered. "But I will tell it again when the rest of the students come back." Anna now knew what her dream was about last night, she had dreamt -- the time she had been asleep -- there were children crying and a giant skull with a snake protruding from its mouth. She glanced at Remus and Lupin who were looking worried as well.

A scream filled the air as a small girl who could be no more than 12 ran across a dark room. Harry watched as someone in black robes and a mask pointed a wand at the girl who was cowering in the corner and crying. The Death Eater raised its wand seconds later the girl was floating upside down her head just touching the floor. Suddenly she was spinning round and round so fast she was blurred. Harry felt sick to watch, helpless to stop the murdering; because that's all they were murderers. The chaos Harry was watching was disturbing, it was amazing how much destruction and pain one person could cause. The Death Eater walked with the girl still spinning to a door of to the side the Death Eater opened the door to reveal more screaming there was chaos as adults and children alike went running for their lives as jets of different coloured lights followed them.

As suddenly as it came it went, Harry found himself staring up at the ceiling of Ron and Hermione's guest bedroom.

"What wrong Harry?" Ron asked. Harry turned his head toward Ron's voice, he, Hermione and their 5 children were looking down at him, all crowded in the room.

"Voldemort… attacking… muggle… children," he panted as he found he was out of breath.

"Let's go," Ron said helping Harry out of bed.

"And just who do you think is going to look after our children?" Hermione said.

"Me and Jase will," Lily said. Hermione looked apprehensive.

"Hermione they will be fine looking after the kids they are almost adults themselves. You go alert the Order, I'll go with Harry and meet you there."

"Be careful Ron," Hermione said her eyes very bright.

"Don't worry I wouldn't leave you to raise the kids all by yourself," he grinned then in one fluid motion kissed her and hugged her tightly.

He and Ron Apparated to the school. The air was full of screams, flashes of green light could be seen through the windows. Harry felt his heart in his throat… it had begun and it seemed so much worse when he could do something about it. Harry and Ron crept around the side of the school. They came to a side door and opened it cautiously, there was no one there. They entered the room Harry had seen in his dream. Harry motioned silently for Ron to follow him.

"Harry do you expect us to just go in there and start dueling with them?"

"That was the plan yes,"

"That's not going to work. You may be the greatest wizard ever but I'm not. This is where all my chess playing tactics come in useful. Here's what we are going to do." Harry stood by the door listening for a sound of disturbance in the other room. Ron had told him to wait, Harry hated waiting while people could be dying, Ron could be so ignorant sometimes, Harry thought. A loud bang erupted from inside the room and Harry felt the door shake violently and a bright light frame the door. That was his signal. He wrench the door open and shot as many spells that would incapacitate the Death Eaters. It seemed as though they had been blinded temporarily, all the people in the room were rubbing there eyes. He could see Ron doing the same thing on the other side of the room. Harry searched quickly for Voldemort. He set eyes on his rival and hatred spread through him like wildfire. Unfortunately for Harry Voldemort also saw him.

"Harry Potter I thought you might be joining us," said his cold voice. "However, Harry today I will not kill you. Today was to announce my return. Don't worry though your time will soon come."

"As will yours," Harry replied coldly, hatred dripping off every word. Voldemort gave the order and the remaining Death Eaters Disappeared leaving one behind who sent up the dark mark then Disapparated. Harry searched the wreckage for the girl he had seen in his dream. Along with the rest of the Order, who had all shown up now, he helped clean up and move the bodies of the dead away from the others. As he searched through the bodies he saw the girl; she was dead. That evening Anna sat by the common room fire, she couldn't believe she had been worrying about Lupin all this time when there were more dangerous things happening out in the world. Her father had been in terrible danger, who did he think he was going off and fighting Voldemort, didn't he listen to his own prophecy? She had to stop thinking about herself and start concentrating on how she was going to help her father defeat Voldemort. Although as she looked over at Lupin who Anna had not seen smile since Christmas she felt her stomach give a lurch. She didn't know what to do, she was not experienced in the matters of love or death. She glanced over at Lupin again hoping to see some answer on his face but he was talking to Remus again. All of a sudden Remus got up and said goodnight to Anna and went to bed. Anna whose head was pounding again stayed where she was.

Anna sat lost in her own thoughts too many thoughts for her. She needed to let them out she needed to tell someone about it. She didn't even notice the tears coming down her face. It was 12am and she wasn't even tired she didn't think she would go to sleep even if she was tired. She felt sure she would dream about the killings again, she couldn't take it the screaming the cry's of children for their parents. The evil laugh of someone watching and enjoying the sight. How could someone enjoy doing that to people especially children?

"You ok?" Lupin asked sitting down next to her. Anna let out a strangled sob. Was she ok? What was he drunk?

"No not really," she said knowing she said too much already and regretting in but she was finding it harder and harder to hold everything in.

"I know things have been funny between us lately but I want you to know I will always be here for you. I know Voldemort being back must be frightening for you, but it is for all of us," he said putting an arm around her. Anna stood up she was angry, he knew nothing of her life she was beyond scared of Voldemort being back it meant she couldn't hide anymore. People were soon going to find out who she was and she didn't know if she would live or die in the next few years. She didn't want to live up to the expectation of being the famous Harry Potters daughter, she just liked being herself. She didn't want to live up to the expectation of being the famous Harry Potters daughter, she just liked being herself.

"Fine," he said standing up and turning away. "I was just trying to be nice."

"Look you don't know anything about me—"

"Because you won't tell anybody but I am willing to find out. I want to find out. Please let me in."

"I can't, please don't make me," she pleaded.

"Look either you let me and we go back to being friends or you keep everything to yourself until one day it all becomes too much and you break down," he shouted.

"I can't. Why can't you understand that? There are things in my past you can't know about—"

"Because you won't let me know about them, whatever they are they won't make me think less of you," he said coming towards her.

"No you can't know, I won't let you. Vous ne pouvez pas me faire m'a envie de ceci." she said, and suddenly Lupin was right in front of her. "You can't do this to me," she sobbed and his hands were holding her face his soft gentle hand which were warm against her cold face, she felt very venerable, she didn't like it. He wiped away her tears he was leaning forward towards her his blue eyes closed. Anna felt lost all feeling were boiling right at the surface. She was closing her eyes and leaning up towards him. Suddenly her head gave a nasty throb. She snapped her eyes open she couldn't do it she couldn't let him in her life. He would hurt her. Wouldn't he? She couldn't take much more heartache. She pulled away and ran up to her room and laid down on her bed crying until she had no more tears left.

Lupin stood in the common room he had been so close to kissing her. Then she had panicked she had almost let her heart open to him. Well he wouldn't stop trying to open it he would do anything. She was the most interesting and beautiful girl he had ever met. She brought the best out in him, a side he liked. Remus had told him he was a better person when she was around. No he wouldn't give up he would help her open up to him.