CHAPTER 3 The Nightmare

But unfortunately time didn't stop for the young couple. Before they knew it they were in the front yard. They were walking extremely slow and did not seem to notice the aggravated Ron and dazed Hermione at the front door.

"Come on you guys. Why do you have to walk so slowly?" yelled Ron.

"Ron, you prat, they just got back together," snapped Hermione. "They're in love."

"Uggg. That's gross! Don't say that."

"What's gross about them? I think it's sweet."

"Everything about them is gross. The way they talk to each other. The way that they look at each other. And most importantly, the constant snogging. It's like they're glued together."

"Oh, Ronald, there's nothing wrong with it."

"Oh yeah!"

"Yeah."

"Oh yeah."

"Yeah!" Then Hermione leaned toward Ron. And out of nowhere they were kissing. Hermione grabbed Ron and held him tight. Neither one of them seemed to want to let go. They didn't know how long they were kissing for, but it was wonderful.

"Hey! We can't get into the house!" yelled Harry as he and Ginny arrived next to their two friends. The two snoggers finally broke apart. Both of their faces were cherry red. They looked at Harry and then Ginny. They became even redder.

"What?" asked Ron. "You did it too! Don't look at me like that." Harry smirked and so did Ginny. The four of them walked into the dark house. It was quiet, a little too quiet. Then suddenly the room was lite.

"Surprise! Happy Birthday Harry!" yelled booming voices.

Harry looked around the kitchen and almost everybody he knew was there. Lupin and Tonks were in the right corner of the kitchen looking into each other's eyes. Moody was near the door standing next to Hagrid. Charlie, Bill, and Fleur were sitting at the kitchen table and were now smiling at him. The twins were in a corner of the living room thinking about new products for their shops. "Wow! Thanks guys!" Harry walked over toward Mrs. Weasley and Mr. Weasley. "You didn't have to do this."

"Nonsense, Harry, dear," said Mrs. Weasley.

"It's your coming of age. You are now an official adult. And tomorrow I'm going to take you and Ron to your apparration tests." replied Mr. Weasley.

"Wow. Thank you." Harry said in shock. "I never expected it." He hugged Mr. and Mrs. Weasley.

After the hugs he chatted with everyone. It was one of the few times in his life where he actually had a birthday party, like a normal person. Harry asked Ginny to dance and she agreed. He even forgot that he hated to dance. Soon everyone joined in the dancing. Everybody but Hermione and Ron were out on the dance floor. In fact, Ron seemed to ignore Hermione all together.

Before long, Harry was magically cutting the cake. It was in the form of a Golden Snitch. Ginny had made the cake from scratch and Harry could tell. It was moist and tasted as if it fell from heaven. Harry couldn't help but have three huge pieces which seemed to make Ginny over thrilled. In fact, everyone seemed to thoroughly enjoy the cake. He gave her a quick kiss on her cheek.

"Just think, I couldn't use magic," Ginny whispered in his ear.

"Well, it tastes better this way. When did you make it?" Harry whispered back.

"Yesterday. I wanted to make it special for you. I knew that if my little kiss didn't get you, this would." Harry laughed. He forgot what a sense of humor his Ginny had.

"I missed you, Gin."

"I missed you more."

"I missed you more than more." Harry grabbed Ginny and kissed her in front of everyone. Mrs. Weasley started to cry from joy.

"Well, I guess Ginny beat me from giving you the first present," yelled Lupin as the couple looked up and realized everyone was watching them. Their faces turned red. They crowd looked extremely pleased and congratulated them. "Now if you're done putting on a show, its time to open presents."

Harry sat down in the chair nearest the small pile of presents. "You guys didn't have to get me anything. Just you being here is great."

"Nonsense, Harry. It's your big day," replied Lupin as he handed him a small package. "This is from me and Tonks." Harry opened the blue package. It was a necklace with a clear fake emerald in the middle. "It's a Foe Glass Necklace. Whenever someone untrustworthy is near, it will turn blue. When that untrustworthy person is trying to do something near you, it will turn green. When it turns red, you better watch your back because you are about to fall for their trick."

"Thanks," Harry said as he graciously accepted Hermione's gift. It was heavy and he knew what she must have given him. He opened it and his assumption was correct. It was a book. Advance Defense Spells By Quentin Trimble. "Thanks Hermione.

Ron stuffed a large package into his lap. Harry opened the orange wrapping paper and saw a large basket filled with some of his favorite treats. There were Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans, Drooble's Best Blowing Gum, Chocolate Frogs, Pumpkin Pasties, Cauldron Cakes, and Licorice Wands. "Thanks, Ron."

"Okay, Harry. This is from Fleur and I," said Bill as he passed Harry a small square-shaped package. There were potion ingredients and small bottles of pre-made potions. The Fred and George threw him a large package of products from their joke shop. They were Shield Cloaks, Hats, and Gloves. There Instant Darkness Powerders, U- No- Poos, and Extendable Ears.

Charlie tossed him a heavy package. Inside were two large books. It was Dark Spells For Dummies By Arnold Watson and Perfect Potions by Daniel Prince. Hagrid handed him another medium-sized package. It was some of his famous rock cakes and another defense book. This was one present he knew that he would only half use. Moody gave him the most accurate,small-sizedsneak-o-scope that was on the market.

Mr. and Mrs. Weasley handed him a little black box. It was a watch just like they had given Ron on his coming of age. It was golden with twelve hands but no numbers. Instead it had little planets were moving on the edge. "Thank you, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley."

The party didn't end until two in the morning. Harry said goodbye and thanked everybody. Just when he was about to exit the living room, Ginny stopped him. "You didn't open my present yet."

"Gin, you didn't have to get me anything. You made me a cake and I got you."

"Now, Harry, stop kissing up or I will not give you your present." She gave him a small purple package. Harry carefully opened it up and saw two tiny golden rings. They each flipped opened and revealed a little glass screen.

"This is a two way ring. You give this ring to someone and you can talk to them no matter where they are." Harry was in awe. He couldn't believe how much Ginny had thought about him.

"Here, Ginny. I want you to have the other ring. I always want to be able to talk to you." He placed the ring on her right hand and she placed it on the same finger on his hand.

"I hoped you'd say that." She gave him a quick kiss him and they headed toward the stairs.

Harry kissed Ginny good night and headed up the stairs with Ron. Unlike Harry, Ron didn't kiss Hermione good night. Harry was so happy. It had been one of the best days of his life.

Harry got dressed for bed quickly and fell asleep almost immediately. The party had worn him out and he knew he had a hard test to pass tomorrow. He was trying to think about the three D's but it had been so many months. Then his brain started to drift.

All he could think about was his darling Ginny. Everyone at the party was thrilled that they had gotten back together and so was he.

It was a beautiful fall day and Harry was standing in the backyard of the Burrow. He was in emerald green dress robes and Ron was standing beside him. Then beautiful music, that sounded familiar to the phoenix's song, started to play. Ginny appeared wearing a beautiful, white, silk dress.The strapless dress showed her thin torso. Her flaming red hair was curled and flung around her shoulders. Mr. Weasley began to walk her down the aisle. As she reached him, her father gave her a quick kiss and Harry took her hand.

He stared at her. The dress showed her chest very well and he couldn't wait till later on that night. She stared back at him, thinking the same thought. It was like they were reading each other's mind. She smiled at him through her tears. "Harry..."

Suddenly, the backyard disappeared and so did Ginny. His Ginny. Then this cold feeling had entered Harry. What was going on?

Harry was in a small secluded room. The dark room was filled with Death Eaters. They were standing quietly around him. They were watching the helpless teenager on the floor. It was Draco Malfoy. He was twitching on the floor. Harry knew what kind of dream this was. He hadn't had one of these dreams in a long time, but he couldn't help but watch. No matter how much he would regret it.

"You failed horribly, Draco," said Harry in a cold voice. "Like father like son. Nobody fails me and gets away with it. Crucio!" Malfoy started twitching again with pain and screamed higher than Harry ever expected he would.

"Please stop, Master!" yelled a woman.

Harry stopped and he looked at the girl. It was Narcissa Malfoy. "Well, well Narcissa. Think you can talk back to me. I'll show you. Crucio!" Pain inflected onto Narcissa and she started screaming and twitching like her son. Draco couldn't watch. He turned his head away from his mother. He knew better not say anything.

"Now, because of your son, Severus, had to lose his cover as a spy. He was very valuable to us. Now, Draco must pay. And for sticking up for him and back talking me, you will pay." Harry pointed his wand at Narcissa. She stood tall and knew what lay ahead of her. "Avada Kedavra!"

A bright green light flashed and hit Narcissa right in the chest. The lifeless woman fell to the ground with a satisfied look on her face. She had defended and spared her son. Draco dropped down next to his mother and began to cry.

Harry woke up with his scar full of pain. He grabbed his forehead and made a small yelp. Ron jumped out of his bed and stood next to his best mate. "What's wrong?" asked Ron. He looked at him. Then he gulped. "Did you have one of those dreams?"

Harry nodded. Then he began to tell Ron about him being Voldemort and how he tortured Malfoy because of what happened last year. And how he killed Narcissa for standing up for her son. When he was done, Ron looked shocked and terrified at the same time.

"I thought he was blocking you from seeing things."

"He is. I can't figure out what changed. I think I should tell your parents tomorrow."

"No way. Not yet. Maybe it was an accident. Unless it happens again, I think we should keep it between us. We should only tell the girls, but for now let's go back to sleep. We have our apparation tests tomorrow and I can't remember the three D's." Ron climbed back into his bed and fell straight asleep, but Harry couldn't.

He kept thinking about what he just saw. Why the hell could he see these damn dreams again when Voldemort was blocking him? Ever since Sirius's death, Harry vowed he never wanted to see one of these dreams again. Harry couldn't help but stay up the rest of night. Even if his test was only in a couple more hours.