Disclaimer: Anything you recognize from the Harry Potter books and/or movies is not mine.

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A/N: Thanks to everyone who reviewed. Anyways. A note: I've let someone read this chapter before anyone else, and they asked if I'm implying any Incest or… well, whatever you'd call this - and NO, I'm not. Harry does not fall in love with Carey, or vise versa. They see each other as brother and sister, and that is ALL. If you're confused by this rant, just wait until you read the chapter, then maybe you'll understand why I'm saying this. Anyways. On With the story!

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Pretend World
By: xScenex

Chapter Five

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Upon arriving at Hogsmeade via Portkey, he stumbled and, surprise-surprise, fell to the cold ground after losing balance. He groaned slightly, having fallen enough times that night for his own liking.

The others landed on their feet, much to Harry's annoyance. He stood up before anyone could offer a hand and brushed the snow off his pants. He looked around and felt a small twitch in his shoulders. They felt tense, as if the wings that he knew were there wanted to be exposed. He, himself, tensed his back, hoping that nothing would happen in front of the others.

He noted that Arthur was levitating Carey now on a white stretcher and a dull light was creeping up on them. The morning light was finally chasing away the shadows.

Albus motioned for him to move forward on the snow covered cobblestone road, and he obliged to please the man. He really didn't feel like walking to Hogwarts - he didn't even want to go there. That's where some of the last events had taken place - the beginning of one of the last battles. He didn't want to see the grounds that had last proved to be a graveyard for his best friends.

But sadly, the others kept up a quick pace and he also knew it was the only place that he'd find Pettigrew at. As they came to the gates of Hogwarts, Harry stopped. He didn't want to look past them. He tried to look anywhere but at the vast, snow covered ground before him.

Poppy noticed him stopping. "There's no time to stop - you should stay with us. You'll catch cold if you deter anymore."

Harry nodded his head reluctantly and closed his eyes seconds later. He timidly took a few steps forward blindly, hoping he wouldn't trip on anything.

"Is something wrong?" the nurse asked.

He shook his head, but he knew the tight, undefined look on his face gave him away. He sighed heavily and opened his eyes to the vast expanse of white known as the Hogwarts Grounds.

Within seconds that his green eyes skimmed the surrounding area, flashes of memory surfaced into his mind, clouding his eyesight with red. Screams echoed in his mind as his closest friends fell, battered and bruised to the ground. The blood splattered the ground and the voices cried out…

Harry…

Harry! Harry!

The stench, the smoke, and the death around. He felt dread and fear. And those emotionless, dull eyes of his friends as he found them afterwards, one by one… the grief…

Harry!

He shook his head violently, only to realize he on his knees in the snow. He turned his head to the right where the voice was calling, half expecting to see the bloodied body of Seamus begging for his help. But it was only Molly Weasley.

He let out a small, shaky laugh and her face became more concerned. "That was unexpected," he muttered.

"I think we should levitate him, too. He doesn't seem to be in a state of reality," Poppy pronounced sternly.

"No, no, I'm fine," Harry grumbled, feeling stupid for over-reacting. He stood up again, this time not even bothering to brush the snow off. It felt good against his fevered skin.

"No, you're not fine. I think you should go to the hospital wing and get checked over properly - I've obviously missed something if you're going around having spasms. And you look like you need sleep."

Closing his eyes to calm himself a bit, Harry shook his head. "I'm fine, really. I just had a bad shock for a moment. I'll be okay, I promise."

The others didn't look convinced. He smiled slightly and gestured with his arms around him, showing them he wouldn't 'spasm' again. "So which way is it?"

"This way," Dumbledore intoned, his eyes sparkling slightly. The nurse was miffed, and the Weasley's looked quite unconvinced still.

Harry tried to pretend he didn't know anything about the castle, and listened as Molly told him about the Great Hall to keep his mind from wandering. He was grateful for it, since he didn't want to have another flashback anytime soon.

Oddly enough, though, when they did pass the Great Hall, there seemed to be quite a lot of noise coming from it.

"Isn't it Christmas?" Harry asked aloud.

"Yes, dear, it is."

He looked at Molly and smiled slightly, "Shouldn't the students here go home to see their pa…"

He stopped, realizing why so many people were there. If it was Carey's fourth year, then… the Yule Ball… that meant that the Triwizard Tournament was taking place.

"Bollocks," he whispered so quietly that no one else could hear him.

"You're looking pale again," accused the nurse as they turned down a corridor that led to the hospital wing.

Harry turned his eyes on her and she looked away, unable to hold his gaze. Harry felt slightly triumphant as she dropped the issue.

After a few silent minutes, the group of adults and children entered the white walls of the hospital wing. Harry felt his heart fall, knowing what the white walls meant.

He automatically walked towards the bed he usually laid in and plopped down on it, his black hair fanning out onto the white pillowcase. "Bring on the potions," he mumbled halfheartedly.

"I've never seen someone so eager to take any potions from me," Poppy said irritably.

"Me neither," Harry mumbled with amusement. "I must have gone insane."

Dumbledore chuckled. "Molly, Arthur, I would like to speak to you in my office. Let's leave Poppy to exam the children for now."

The Weasley's nodded and Arthur levitated the girl onto a bed next to Harry's.

As soon as they left, Harry sat up and kicked his shoes off. He watched as the nurse walked away to go find some potions. He wasn't sure what he would be doing now that he was at Hogwarts - should he automatically make a grab for Scabbers? That would seem too obvious if he waltzed into the boy's dormitory, grabbed the rat and said, 'Hey, this is really a murderer!'

Pfft. Harry shook his head slowly, wondering who on earth would believe him. Even trying to find a way to expose Pettigrew would be tricky - he didn't want to blow his cover. Closing his eyes from the world, he pondered.

He didn't pay much attention as the nurse walked to and fro, handing him things varying from Pepperup Potions to thermometers. He took everything without complaint, still lost in thoughts.

Eventually, she left him to rest while she bustled over to where Carey lay, still asleep.

He took a glance at the girl, worried for a slight moment if she would be okay. She hadn't woken up through any of the commotion, and she did look pale. But he'd leave Madam Pomfrey to take care of her - she knew more about injuries than he did, obviously.

Harry sighed quietly and turned onto his side. His shoulders ached and he felt cold in the hospital wing. He suppressed a shiver and closed his eyes, realizing in those few moments just how exhausted he felt.

He wondered lazily before the darkness of sleep claimed him, if angel's were supposed to sleep.

"I guess they do," he muttered.

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He wasn't sure how long he slept but when he finally came to, Harry realized it was beginning to darken outside. At first glance, he had trouble remembering where he was and why he was there until he saw a figure sitting up in bed, looking out towards one of the windows where large, white flakes of snow was cascading down from the sky.

"You're finally awake," Harry said pleasantly through a yawn.

Carey's head snapped to him and she smiled slightly at him. "Yeah."

"How are you feeling? You were out for a while."

"I'm fine," she answered. "How about you?"

"I've never felt better," he responded. It was actually true - he felt refreshed. "I guess that's a benefit for being what I am."

She shook her head in amusement. "I can't believe I'm back here again."

"Where? Here? In Hogwarts?"

Carey nodded. He frowned slightly, "Is there something wrong with the place? I usually stayed during my holiday's."

"Well," she mumbled halfheartedly, but Harry couldn't help but notice the pain in her voice. "I'm not exactly what you'd call popular here."

"Neither was I. If tonight's the Yule Ball, why didn't you stay? You're old enough to go."

Her face turned a bright red, indicating she didn't want to talk about it. Harry guessed that she hadn't been asked to go with anyone, and he felt a bit saddened for her. He never really understood girls much, but he knew from experience that most girls enjoyed dances.

"Well," Harry said as he shifted off the bed and slipped his shoes on. "I'm bored and there's no way in hell that I'm staying in this hospital wing tonight. I think I'd enjoy going to a dance, even if it's just to bother the locals."

"You'll get in trouble," Carey pointed out, her eyes wide in horror at the thought of leaving without permission. Harry just snorted in amusement.

"Do you really care? I've left the hospital wing numerous times without permission. Dumbledore wont care - he wants everyone to have fun."

She bit her lip slightly. "There's no reason for me to go. Besides, I don't have dress robes."

Harry looked at her for a moment, contemplating the situation. He didn't want to sit in the hospital wing all night, and the ball gave him opportunity to find out how things were happening in that world. Either way, he was going, whether or not Carey went but he would prefer if she did. Then an idea clicked.

"Time to work some magic," he said flamboyantly, a grin spreading across his face.

Without another word, Harry swiftly turned around. He looked at his surroundings for a second before realizing again that he didn't have a wand. Huffing in annoyance, he waved his hand in a sweeping motion in front of him.

His clothing slowly changed, turning into dark black dress robes with silver stitching elegantly placed along the cuffs and collar. His hair wound itself magically into a loose ponytail that hung down his back with a few wisps of hair hanging in his face.

Matching shoes adorned his feet, and he stared expectantly at Carey.

"Your turn."

"No," she squeaked. "I can't go! I can't even dance!"

"That's alright, you don't have to know how to. I'll lead," he smiled and walked over to her bed.

Before she had a change to dart away, he reached out and pulled her up and onto the marble floor.

Without much word, he quickly changed her hospital gown into a bottle green dress robe much like his had been, except they were made for a young woman.

She gaped at him, feeling insecure in the newly adorned clothing.

"How would you like your hair?" he questioned without hesitation.

She shook her head in horror. "I don't want my hair put up."

He laughed lightly and with a wave of his hand, her hair became untangled, clean, and to his amusement, even wilder than his ever was.

"I think it looks nice," he told her with a wide grin. She gave him a horrified glance before darting into the bathroom that was located at the other side of the hospital wing.

Harry waited for a while until he became too impatient to wait any longer. He marched to the bathroom and, pushing open the door that was slightly cracked open, he said, "Do you not like it?"

Carey stood in front of the mirror, staring unsurely at herself before turning her gaze onto Harry.

"Why?"

"So we can have fun," he told her, unsure if he'd done something wrong. "Do you not like what I did? I can change it."

She shook her head, "I think it's wonderful, but why are you taking me? Doesn't it seem a bit odd?"

Harry laughed outright. "Carey, it's not like that. Loads of people I knew danced with family members. I'm doing this so that you can go and have fun. Plus," he hesitated for a second, "I'd like to see how people are in this world compared to mine."

Carey didn't say anything for a second. Eventually, she huffed, "Well, I'll go so that you can find out things, but remember - I'd never go to a dance otherwise!"

"I'll take your word on it," he responded smoothly before pulling her out of the bathroom. "You look beautiful, dear sister," he mocked lightly.

She blushed brightly and Harry purposely bumped into her. "You're embarrassed easily. That can come as an advantage for me."

She shot him a horrified glance again, but it soon turned sour. "If you ever do anything to embarrass me, you'll find yourself…"

The boy was slightly surprised to hear the curse words coming from her mouth, but it amused him to no end.

He watched her scrunch up her face in a familiar look of exasperation - he'd seen it so many times in the mirror himself as a child.

The walk was now in silence, but a comfortable one. Harry looked kept his ears open for anyone or anything in the halls - he was too used to being on alert mode. Eventually, the two of them neared the doors that would lead them into the Great Hall where they could hear a loud chatter from the students inside, mingled with the music from the Weird Sisters.

"Shall we?" Harry asked in an overly dramatic voice as he entwined his arm to hers.

She nodded hesitantly and Harry remembered how he was nervous at the time of the dance. But he had also been put on the spotlight…

He didn't really want to think about it, so he pushed one of the doors opened and led them into the lightly lit room and into the crowd.

--Chapter End--

A/N: Short, yes. But, I thought that a quick update would be nice. I'm trying to update a lot of my stories right now to make up for the absence of chapters before, so maybe if I have the time, I'll get another one out in a few days. Cheers!