Chapter Eighteen.
Back to classes and a dream.

The ending to Christmas couldn't have gone more smoothly for Harry but it was now the day before the end of the holidays and Harry and Ron were panicking about how little homework they had done. They had left their Charms and Herbology homework till last, as they were essays. All Lupin had given them for Defence was practising certain spells which Harry, Ron and Hermione already knew how to do and Potions was easy enough, Moody had been too busy in the order to be a tough teacher and had given them hardly any. Harry, Ron and Hermione were sitting in the common room on Sunday afternoon. Ginny had gone to the library with some of the other Gryffindor's in her year to do her own homework. Hermione who had started day's ago was writing the end to her Herbology essay. Ron and Harry who had been stuck inside all day doing homework were frantically trying to get it all done.

"Do you know anything about Werdulums?" Harry asked Ron cluelessly his quill raised over his parchment ready to write anything that came into his head.

"No, I don't even know what one is, sounds like something Luna made up to me." Ron said hopelessly glancing every so often at Hermione's page which she was bent over and writing rapidly in silence. Harry sighed and fell back into his chair, a few seconds later Hermione looked up at them.

"Sitting there doing nothing isn't going to get the essay done." She said exasperatedly putting down her quill. "If you two would just listen in Herbology this wouldn't be a problem."

"Right, thanks Hermione we'll just grab a time turner go back in time and listen shall we?" Ron said sarcastically. Hermione ignored him and carried on.

"And next time, it will teach you to listen to me when I tell you to make a start on your homework. What would you do if I refused to help you? We've got Herbology first thing." She looked at them both sternly.

"Were sorry Hermione, we really need your help though." Harry said knowing she would eventually give in and help them. Ten minutes later with some persuasion from Harry and Ron, Hermione agreed to help them, as they knew she would. But she made them both promise not to leave their homework so late again. When Harry and Ron finished their essays Hermione went up to bed leaving them with the last piece of homework they had. They stayed up till early hours in the morning finishing off until they finally went up to the boy's dormitory feeling exhausted.

Harry was frozen, he could not move, he was once again under the invisibility cloak. Dumbledore was pleading but Snape raised his wand and green light shot out of it. Harry screamed as it hit Dumbledore in the chest and he fell to the floor. The scene changed, he was in the department of mysteries and he watched as Sirius fell through the veil. Flash again. Clutching Cedric's body in the maze. Another flash, Harry arrived at a scene with jets of light flying everywhere, he saw Voldemort laughing cruelly as he raised his wand to James Potter, James face full of determination shouting something to Harry's mother who wasn't in the room. Harry shouted in fury and horror as he was forced to watch the scene of Voldemort killing his dad.

"Harry…Harry…" He felt arms shaking him awake, he opened his eyes and realised he was laying on the floor of the boy's dormitory, still yelling and was surprised to feel tears rolling down his face, his scar piercing with pain as he had felt it before. Harry stopped shouting as he saw Neville looking at him worriedly. Harry caught his breath still in shock from what he had just seen. He pulled himself up onto his bed with Neville still watching him. Ron hadn't awoken from the noise and was still sleeping.

"What happened Harry?" Neville asked him anxiously standing in the middle of the room. "You were shouting so loud I'm surprised Ron and Seamus are still asleep."

"Just a bad dream Neville" Harry was extremely grateful Neville had woken him up when he had. He had a strong feeling if he hadn't he would have seen his mother die next.

"Well if you're sure your ok Harry." Neville said looking at Harry uncertainly.

"Thanks Neville, I'm gunna go back to sleep, don't want to be falling asleep in classes tomorrow." Harry got into bed and watched as Neville got back into his own. Harry knew he wouldn't go back to sleep, Harry wasn't sure if he would ever be able to sleep again. He ignored his scar, which ached throughout the night.

The next day Harry walked down to breakfast earlier than usual wanting to avoid everyone. He didn't fancy pretending to be in a good mood when he wasn't at all. He hardly ate anything sitting in the great hall and started walking to Herbology half an hour early. He sat outside the greenhouse with few people passing him. Soon enough when the bell rang everyone was rushing off to their lessons and Harry was let in early Harry slumped into his chair feeling too tired to think. He folded his arms onto the table in front of him and rested his head on them as people piled into the room. He saw in the corner of his eye two people sit either side of him.

"Where have you been this morning?" Ron demanded.

"And what happened last night?" Hermione said in a concerned tone. Harry opened his mouth in surprise that she knew about last night but merely shrugged.

"I got up early, haven't been anywhere. And what do you mean about last night?" He said trying to arrange his face to have a confused expression. Professor Sprout started to talk and Harry could tell Hermione was struggling to decide whether to start taking notes or continue to question him.

"Neville told us about last night." Ron whispered leaning in towards him. "Is it the dreams again?" Harry sighed and knew he would end up telling them sooner or later.

"After class." He said loudly enough so that they could both hear him, Ron nodded and Hermione immediately took out her quill and began writing. Harry spent the rest of the double period occasionally closing his eyes but as soon as he did Hermione would nudge him awake and tell him to pay attention becoming more frustrated every time. What she didn't know was that Harry was thankful for this, as he didn't want to fall asleep. When the class was finally dismissed for break Ron, Harry and Hermione went out further into the grounds (the snow had finally faded) and sat down under a tree far away from anyone so that no one would hear them.

"That settles it then." Hermione said finally after Harry had told them about his nightmare.

"Settles what?" Harry said confused.

"Well, that wasn't your memory obviously. Which means someone made you see it. There's no one else with that memory except Voldemort and your dad." Hermione said looking at Harry sympathetically. "You have to tell someone, you need to start learning occlumency again."

"No, I'm fine, just a little shocked that's all." Harry said calmly.

"Harry he's trying to wear you down. And it's working." She turned to Ron who was looking in the opposite direction in a daze. "Ron back me up, you can't just say its just dreams now. You think Harry should do something don't you?" Hermione said firmly to Ron, who looked around at them as if just noticing they were there.

"Huh?" Ron said with a blank expression.

"Don't you Ron?" Hermione said in an even firmer tone, now gripping Ron's arm.

"Yeah sure." Ron said looking confused.

"Ron were you even listening to us?" Harry asked him.

"Yeah why wouldn't I be." Ron got up slowly pulling Hermione's hand off his arm.

"Where are you going?" Hermione demanded getting up hastily as Ron began to walk hurriedly back towards the castle.

"I forgot something, I'll see you both next lesson." Ron said turning around to face them for a second and then carried on walking.

"Ron, we've got a free period next…and Hermione's got Ancient Runes!" Harry told him, feeling slightly worried about Ron's weird behaviour.

"Ron are you ok?" Hermione said now running to keep up with him.

"Yeah I'm fine. See you both later then." Ron said his eyes fixed on the castle. Hermione stopped running and walked slowly with Harry as the bell rang watching Ron walk up ahead.

"What was that about?" Hermione said looking troubled.

"Dunno, I'll talk to him later come on." Harry and Hermione walked back to the castle both wondering why Ron was acting so strangely.