Chapter 27 Dreamers
"Yes we have the athame he took from my chambers here, he still had it on him. Did you recover the tome?" Headmistress McGonagall spoke quick and seriously. She let out a sigh of relief as the disembodied face in her floo spoke.
"Yes, he had it stashed nearby with one of his kind. We were able to capture his contact as well in the recovery. Hopefully this should lead us to the rest of the clan." The Auror spoke confidently and with good morale.
"Good, I'd like this to be over as quickly as possible, I have many other matters to attend too. I'd also like to point out that I expect a hasty return of all things recovered from the nest. Many are very important artifacts that have been with Hogwarts since the founders!" McGonagall added, hoping to put a little fire under the Auror's department.
"Yes Ma'am, Headmistress," The Auror plastered on his most respectful smile. "We will contact you when we have new information."
"Good, I'll speak with you then," she added sternly before the face disappeared.
One problem handled for now... she thought to herself as she set out to her next task.
Xxx
Swirling silver orbs shone out in the darkness. Faces, limbs like shadows passed before him. Words he couldn't quite make out. Something calling to him. No. Someone calling, calling, calling something important...
The quiet peacefulness he knew here was distorted, like ripples into his world these words carried some meaning to this space. Yet as eagerly as he sought its meaning he shied away from the feelings that were trickling back to him, shades of memories, the meaning of the voices...
Voices calling his name.
"Harry, please, it's been nearly three days. We're all so worried about you! Please you'll wake up soon, won't you?" A female voice, so full of fear, worry, hope, poured through the cracks of his consciousness.
A tingling sensation spiked through his mind sending waves of recognition to his drifting thoughts.
Another familiar tone sprang into life. "C'mon mate, we're all here, waiting for you. Even the ferret's been here, poking his dirty nose in here when he thinks we aren't looking."
"RON!" Voiced the female again, causing a violent jolt in Harry's quiet body.
Ron. Ron. RON! Hermione! I'm here, I'm right...here...
Harry struggled within the confines of his own mind, willing to break free of the crushing darkness that held him. Open your eyes idiot, just open...them...
Stinging hot lasers spilled into his eyes, burning him more and more softly as he moved his eyelids with its warm golden light. Blurry shapes formed around him, becoming more distinct as his irises adjusted to the light they'd hidden from for three days time. Soon faces materialized from blurred figures and awareness snapped back into him like a burst of lightening.
"Hermione! Ron! You're here! What- what… where's Draco?" He asked, his voice a hoarse croak that squeaked at the mention of the platinum haired boy. His eyes darted around the small room, panicked. Did Professor Albatross get him? He must have, the last thing I remember is him being dragged off by that monster, oh god, are they even looking for him? Do they even know he's missing? Do they even care?
Interrupting Harry's internal tirade was Hermione's gentle voice, "He was released two days ago, Harry. He's fine. How are you? Ron, get Madam Pomphrey, tell her Harry's woken up." She said redirecting her attention to the ginger boy who snapped up immediately, hurrying to get the Mediwitch, with a final glance of relief mixed with lingering concern.
"Err... a bit sore, I suppose. But How is Draco, I saw Albatross hit him in the face, I saw blood."
At these words Hermione seemed to tense up ever so slightly, almost unnoticeable, except to someone perhaps who was very suddenly trained on finding out the state of his former rival's well-being. She recovered quickly and spoke in soothing tones. "He's been … healed." She said pausing, but at Harry's stern face she tentatively began again. "It left something of a," she paused again, "scar. Wicked nails vampires have..." She added absently, drifting off.
Harry said nothing, merely processing the information he'd just received. Scarred, I wonder how he feels about that? A Malfoy? Scarred? His face no less. How is he coping with that on top of everything else. And why, Merlin, WHY can I not stop obsessing over it. I don't care what happens to him. Were not even friends! We HATE each other. Well, we did. I guess we don't really hate each other anymore, not since the war. Not since everything that's happened. So we just don't hate each other anymore. Nothing more. It just concern. About someone I live with. Who could even be a friend someday. That's all. …..who am I kidding?
Sensing Ron would return with Madam Pomphrey at any moment Hermoine retreated, leaving Harry to his thoughts for at least a few moments more. She noticed the changes in him recently. Ever since Ginny he'd been acting strange. Almost relieved. Somehow it struck her as odd even though the two had managed to maintain a safe friendship, the kind that with time would lead to a warm brother/sister type friendship. Something she couldn't quite put her finger on felt off. They had recovered from their failed relationship so easily, so why, once school was in full swing was Ginny happily dating and Harry still single. He had always been picky, she thought, but so many girls had tried to get to know him, and he'd rejected them all without a single thought. She wondered what this all could mean, though she had her suspicions. Then there was Malfoy. He'd been obsessed with Malfoy since day one sure, but since the war, the whole roommates thing, things had seem to take a different tone. He was still obsessed, that was sure, but not for the same reasons. She'd been initially dismayed when she began to see what Harry was intentionally blinding himself to, though as time had gone on and she'd observed Malfoy, she'd come to change her mind. She had begun to think perhaps it was not such a bad idea after all. Now all she had to do was help Harry figure that out.
