CHAPTER FOUR: Dreaming of...

Hogwarts, five days later

Hospital Wing

Hospital at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was almost empty. Almost, because there were only three persons inside. One was Madame Pomfrey, an older woman and talented mediwitch, or better say, healer. At the moment she was busy aranging potions, scrolls filled with healing spells and procedures. But she always looked from time to time at her current patient, Harry Potter. He was another individual of the three. His presence in the hospital wasn't so unusual , after all, he was every year her unwilling guest, due to his adventures and quidditch accidents.She checked his condition periodically, but nothing changed. The boy still seemed to be in deep coma, only his aura and magic signature betrayed presence of life. Phsycally he was all right, it was just small muscle spasms and skeletal shifts that showed upon her scans, and even those were barely noticeable. That was result of magical schock that struck boy upon passage thorough the Veil. It released yet another talent within Harry, ability to change his appearance, he was newly awakened metamorphomagus. Some could say he was a late bloomer, so to speak. It wasn't unusual, such ocurrence, but they should have known, he did regrow his hair as a boy when he received an unvelcome haircut by his abominable aunt. She suspected Dumbledore knowing about it, but old man never spoke a word. The only thing that remained unchanged was his chaotic magic, there wasn't any pattern there, everything was in motion, energies swirling around each other, coliding, merging. Maybe it was better for him to sleep, otherwise, who knows what would happen. The third individual in there, close to Harry's bed, was Alastor " Mad Eye " Moody, infamous, legendary Auror, and also a victim of an extremely disproportioned paranoia. He always prepared his own food and drink, he never really slept without his wand and warding spells and danger detectors, and so on. Albus Dumbledore aprecciated those qualities and assigned this man to stay guard over Harry, and Mad Eye took his job seriously. No one except her was allowed in the hospital, not even other members of the Order. So Moody lurked in shadowed corner near Harry's bed, he never slept and never talked to her, except few grunts and short sentences here and there. They both had their duties to Harry, so they just waited for Dumbledore to return, or hopefully for Harry's awakening, however small likeness of that happening.

Harry was lying in his usual bed, where he spent most of his time in Hospital during his schooling at Hogwarts. His glasses where at the nighttable next to it, joined with well wishing postcards and gifts by his friends, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Neville, Luna and others. Moody checked them just in case, CONSTANT VIGILANCE... he'd say. There was also one special framed picture of moving face, it was Sirius Black making funny faces at his godson. It was taken many years ago by Harry's mother, while Sirius was goofing above little baby Harry. Sirius wasn't aware of it, Lily enjojed her little prank. Now it was next to Harry, a good luck charm from Sirius.

...Harry dreamed. He wasn't fully aware of himself. He was twelve years old, and it was summer before his third year at Hogwarts . It was welcome respite from his troubles at school, where everybody thought he was the Heir of Slytherin and crazy . What he didn't like in particular was the fact that he killed Basilisk, Slytherin's beast , which was controlled by spirit of young Lord Voldemort, then known as Tom Marvolo Riddle, briliant student at Hogwarts fifty years ago, the true descendant of Salazar Slytherin. He set Hagrid to take blame for killings at that time, so Hagrid was expelled and forbiden to use wand. And now Harry was back at Privet Drive with his less than loving cousins. At least they didn't bother him as much as before, only his Aunt was trying to kill him by working him in the yard. He pruned bushes, potted flowers, mowed the lawn and so onm. And summer was hot, dry and he rarely had time to rest, not to mention eat and drink. He barely had time for his shoolwork, which was exactly Aunt 's intention, to drill magic away from him, and them. He hated Dursleys, their bigotry and antimagic attitude. Right now Harry was busy with one particularily unpleasant task, digging rocks from thee ground, so his Aunt could plant new flowers. They never lasted more than one year, and each summer she planted new set, chosen by colour and size. His back was killing him, sun was burning his neck, and beads of sweat were rolling right into his eyes...strange, did he not do that before? He was caught in a very strong feeling of deja vu, but he kept on pulling that stupid, annoying rock.

" How amusing, ahhhh... Harry Potter digging rocks muggle way! " said someone. Sudden intrusion startled Harry and he let go of the rock and fell on his ass.The voice laughed again. It made Harry angry, " Who's there?", he yelled. And suddenly remembered his Aunt, better not attract her attention. So he asked , this time whispering " Where are you?"

The voice replied, " Look down boy, in the bushes:" And Harry listened and spotted a snake there, looking at him. It was dark green colour, one eyed, and that one eye seemd to be ruby red. " You're snake!" It made Harry bit worried, why would snake come here to talk to him.

" Good perception, kid. Those glasses sure help, don't they. And yes, I'm snake. Is there anything wrong about it ? "

"Well, not really, it's just I didn't have good experiences with them, you know it leaves a certain impression when you get attacked by Basilisk. " Harry suddenly realised he slipped in parseltongue, snake language. It disturbed him how natural it came to him, more so because he got that ability from the man who killed his family and tried to kill him, three times. " So who are you, and why did you come ? "

That question made snake lift his upper body highe in air so that they were on the same eye level. It stared at him with his one red ruby-like eye, as if trying to see his very soul. Harry could'nt hold his gaze, he looked away. It was obvious who won the staring match. It chuckled suddenly, sounding almost sinister, " Ah forgive me for my rudeness, kid, it's a rare occurence that someone can talk to me directly. My name is Logrus. As to the reason I came to see you , why wouldn't I ? You caught my interest and I decided to check you out. We have some things in common, you'll see later. I'm really intrigued, whom will you choose, me or her. ". The last sentence confused Harry, "What are you talking about, whom do you speak of, and why would I choose anything?" . Logrus turned away and begun slithering on the groun towards bushes, "See you kid...later!" and everything suddenly collapsed in darknes, Harry was losing consciousness...

... He woke with gasp, eyes wide open, his heart hammering in his chest. He almost screamed. It was dark, and it took him a moment to figure out where he was. Forbidden forest , place full of dark creatures, most of them considered humans a good meal. Like Aragog, giant spider, acromantula who could speak. He shuddered. So he got on his feet and started walking out of the forest, always on alert. He never wondered how he got there. Soon he realised he wasn't alone. He caught glimses of some creature, and decided to follow. His curiosity was taking better of him, unusually strong. After awhile he saw tracks on the ground and recognised them from Hagrid's stories, it was unicorn leading him somwhere. Tracks and glimpses of creature led him to a small glade, basked in moonlight. And he saw unicorn there. And it was more magnificent than any of his kin, instead silvery skin, it was pearly white, golden horn on his head, and most magnificent green eyes, they shone with inner power and wisdom. And it looked straight at him, seeing right into his soul. Nothing else mattered except his gaze. Then a flicker of shadow passed over him, causing his gaze to turn skywards. And he saw translucent shape ther, hanging like a ghost below moon. It was city, but he could not say what city. He felt urge to go there, it sang to him. It was home, or at least it could be. He looked again at unicorn, but it was not there any more, but it was replaced by his mother. She had long red hair, white dress and same green eyes like unicorn. The eyes were dead giveaway.

" You are not my mother,are you? "

" I'm afraid so. No, I am not her , though in a way I could claim to be in a similar relation to you. "

" Then why did you take her shape?"

" It suits me for this encounter, my true shape is not something you could grasp or understand, you never will. Besides, like I said, this form expresses my attitude towards you, althoug not fully. Even I myself am not certain of the nature of our relationship. " . Womans voice was soft, yet it carried a certain note of finality to it, and mirth was there mixed in as well. Harry couldn't resist her , he smiled. She was pleaed by his reaction. " Why did you come?"

" To see you, to know you. To tell you that you are not alone. "

"Why didn't you come before?"

" You were not ready to see me. And you have life of your own to live. I cannot be part of it, your pain and joy had to be your own, that way you are more alive , more real. And you'll be ready for your future.Iit would be selfish to take that from you. "

"I don't understand."

"True, but you might, someday."

"What do you want from me?"

"Nothin, really. I like watching over you and others. I wonder whom will you choose to go to first. Me , or him." It sounded familiar, then he remembered. Logrus said something like that.so he mentioned him, to see if she knew that sarcastic snake.she said she knew him, " Yes, we both are related as well. Although we don't see the things same way, so we fight . "

" What are you two?"

" We are.As simple as that. No more, no less. We are the very embodiment of our nature, predestined to constant struggle, opposition, or contest would be better way of saying. So are you part of our contest, although a mere symbol of our desire to best each other. Very important to us, but to you and others, not so.It is up to you to decide what will you do-go left or right, up or down, me or him. You'll see when the time comes." And suddenly she wasn't there any more. Harry didn't even have time to ask her to stay, and he wanted it so. There was certain connection between them, no doubt about that. And then he heard unmistakable sound of someone walking behind him. He whirled around, half crouched, wand in hand. He took one step forward looking for better view of the silhuette in the shadow. What he saw made him stumble. It was man dressed in black cloak, silver rose as buckle on it, black trousers and jacket, and silver shirt undertneath. But his hair was black, and eyes green. Similarity was astonishing. If Harry could comb his cair he would have resembled this man very much. They were definitely family. Man smiled at him, saying

" Good thinking, Harry , but I'm not him. I just took his form to be able to communicate with you. "

" Who atre you?"

" Wrong question. What am I, is what you should have asked. But to answer you would be wrong thing to do because there is no clear answer at all. I am what I am, just like those two before me. And I came to warn you, nothing is as what it seems, and don't trust anyone, unless you have to."

" Why should I listen to you ? What's your stake in this ? "

" A lot more than you could guess. To cut it short, I am in need of more company, right now there are only two guys I have on my side, so you'd be the third. Don't worry , I will not force you to do anything, and I must leave before others figure out I'm here. Take care kid. Remember, constant vigilance!"

And everything faded away.

... boy was digging rock from the earth, cursing silently, sweat drenched him. He was thirsty, and it seemed like the day will never end...