Disclaimer: Alas, tis not mine.

A/N: Yeah, this one's a bit on the short side, but I'm a little at a loss as to what happens next, and I figured y'all would rather have another chapter, regardless of the length, than wait for my muse to show back up.

Chad describes his preliminary findings, Sirius describes his favorite sweet, and Harry has another vision.

Chapter Twenty-Three: Of Impressions and Sweets

On January 12, after more than two weeks of information-gathering and careful thought, Chad grit his teeth and resigned himself to a meal with the mechanic. It will be far, far easier to just get it over and done with. You know you don't like him, and he doesn't like you, but he's one of Harry's friends, and you don't have any problems dealing with them, odd as they may be. He pushed the door to the kitchen open. Jenn and Harry looked up in surprise. Remus was away, as it was the night of the full moon, but Sirius was there, taking advantage of Jenn's excellent cooking. Allen glanced up and, determined to prove his wife wrong, proceeded to ignore his brother-in-law.

"Evening, all." Chad nodded to Sirius, Harry, and Jenn.

"Wasn't expecting you for dinner… Did you want a plate?" Jenn asked.

Chad shook his head, "To tell the truth, I'm not all that hungry. I just thought I'd let you all know that I've finished up my preliminary investigation."

Harry sat up straighter, "And?"

Chad sighed, "And it's my opinion that Voldemort is likely going to try to finish you off. What I've been able to ascertain is that he's primarily motivated by hate and anger. If he succeeds in getting you, then he'll likely try to take revenge on the rest of the world."

"Revenge?" Sirius asked. "What for?"

Chad sat at the table, "Apparently, this guy was raised in an orphanage. He wasn't treated all that well." He took a breath, "In fact, it sounds a lot like this nut would benefit greatly from some anti-psychotics and a stay in a rubber room with a very understanding therapist."

Oddly enough, Allen was the only one that snickered at Chad's attempt at humor. Chad, though, merely shot Allen a dark look and turned back to the other three.

"When do you think he might… erm… try to 'finish me off?'" Harry had set his fork down. He was suddenly not feeling all that hungry.

Chad shook his head, "Sorry, but I don't know that, just yet. It'll take me a while to ferret out the significance of miscellaneous dates. I do know, however, that he's got at least one witch helping him, possibly more."

Harry shook his head, "No… Not yet, anyway. There's only the one."

"And just how do you know this?"

Harry sighed, "I can't really explain how or why, but I know I'm right. I've been dreaming about him, and there's only ever the one witch with him…"

Chad turned to Sirius for an explanation. Sirius merely shook his head, "Don't look at me, mate. I have no idea what's causing it, either. I've tried to get him to talk to Albus about it, but he won't listen."

Harry scowled at the mention of the headmaster's name. Chad took a deep breath. "Harry, I'm going to give you a little unsolicited advice; you're involved in what will soon become a war – if it's not put to rest quickly and quietly. Sometimes, especially during wartime, you have to work with people you'd rather not in order to get things done. I don't pretend to know quite why you dislike the old man so much. Granted, he has his fair share of secrets, but I'm certain anyone that old would. Set aside your grudge for now," here, Chad was unable to keep his eyes from flickering to Allen, "and come back to it when Voldemort's no longer a factor."

Harry picked up his fork and poked at his dinner, "I see what you mean. I can't promise anything, but… I'll try."

"Quit laughing!" Harry scolded Remus and Sirius. They had asked him what his preferred sweet was and Harry had responded with a simple 'chocolate.' He failed to see what was so funny. "Fine. What's yours?"

Remus shrugged, "I'm rather fond of peppermint, but I also enjoy Acid Pops."

Sirius wrinkled his nose, "How you can stand those, I'll never know! I'm a bit of a Bertie Botts fan, myself. Especially the Winter Mix."

"Bertie Botts?" Harry inquired.

"Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans, of course. The Winter Mix has flavors including peppermint, hot coco, eggnog, chestnut, roast goose, fresh snow, mistletoe, and pine tree."

Harry arched an eyebrow. "Fresh snow, mistletoe, and pine tree?"

Sirius grinned, "Well… they are Every Flavor Beans, you know."

"Mmhmm…" Harry responded, clearly skeptical.

"We'll have to get you some. Make sure you have a rubbish bin handy for the flavors like vomit and earthworm."

"Gross." How could anyone enjoy an earthworm-flavored jellybean? Harry shook his head, "And with answers like those, I'm curious as to why you found my answer of chocolate so amusing."

Sirius looked at Remus. They held the gaze a moment before dissolving into laughter once more. After many interruptions of laughing – and actual giggling from Remus at one point – Harry finally got the story of the time the Marauders, over-stressed from end-of-year exams, had transfigured the entirety of the Gryffindor common room into various types of chocolate. What had been so funny was that Harry's mum had failed to notice the room transform around her as she'd been working on a History of Magic essay. It wasn't until she'd managed to eat half her quill – made into dark chocolate – that she'd noticed anything amiss.

Once properly explained, Harry had to admit it was a trifle humorous.

"Bella, sweetling, I want you to contact a house elf for me."

"A house elf, milord?"

Harry nodded, "Yes. A house elf."

"Any house elf, milord?"

Harry grinned, the expression feeling somewhat odd and alien on his face, "No, Bella. I've a particular one in mind. Yours was not the first successful escape from Azkaban."

Bellatrix blinked in surprise. "Who else, milord? And how?"

"Barty Crouch, the younger. And how… Were you referring to how he escaped or how I know?"

Bella smiled, "Either, milord."

Harry chuckled, the sound high-pitched and unnerving. "I'm sure he would enjoy letting you know when he arrives. For now, though, I need you to get into contact with the Crouch household's main elf. She will know what to do."

"As you wish, milord," Bellatrix bowed and turned to leave the room.

"Oh, and Bella?"

She paused at the door to the room, "Yes, milord?"

"Don't forget to let Nagini out after you milk her. It should be done no later than four."

"Of course, milord."

Harry woke up, slightly miffed about the lack of normal dreams. He normally enjoyed his dreams – they were often the inspiration for his artwork. If this keeps up much longer, I'll not be able to paint much beyond fire, snakes, and that Bella woman. Harry sighed and pulled the notebook wherein he'd been recording these dreams and scribbled down the most recent addition. Thumbing through it, he realized that this counted at the twentieth such dream. He closed the notebook and replaced it in his bedside table's drawer. It appears as though Remus and Sirius and Chad are right… Much as I may not want to, I think I'm going to have to speak with Dumbledore. Harry punched his pillow in frustration and tried to go back to sleep.

A/N2: Again, I apologize for how short it is, and will say that the next one ought to be at least twice this length. Probably longer, for even though I've only one scene in mind, it contains Harry, Dumbledore, Sirius, Severus, Chad, and Allen, among others. The sniping possibilities are mind-boggling.

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