Chapter Four: Bring the Rain

My feet were freezing even with the thick bed socks on, so my pace quickened. Corridor after corridor I traced out the well known path, resisting the urge to brush my fingertips against the dusty walls.

The Door comes into my vision and again I am captivated, I feel as if a string is attached to my heart, pulling me to towards The Door; promising a comfort and beauty I can't possibly fathom. There's a presence in this corridor I can't explain but it's addictive.

It's feels almost as if I'm not as alone as I thought.

Rather than staying staring tonight I decide to come closer, my courage fueled by my epiphany earlier today. My naked fingertips reach out and brush ever so gently against the wooden surface, after a few harmless caresses of the doors surface I assumed the next step was relatively safe. My fingers wrapped around the door handle...And as if struck by lightning I draw my hand back sharply, biting my lip to repress a small scream and clutching my hand to my chest.

Footsteps.
It's definitely footsteps I can hear coming from behind The Door.

The pain recedes from my mind as I begin to panic, turning back down the hallway. Running as fast as I dared down the labyrinth of stone pathways, I managed to make it back to the tower without incident.

Rather than thinking of crawling into the warth of my bed, as I climbed the stairs I was sharply reminded of the pain in my hand, as the fire flared again under my skin. Heading into the bathroom rather than the dormitory, I closed the heavy door as quietly as possible single handed. The candles flickered into life as soon as it clicked into place, making me blink in the harsh light, a stark contrast to the imposing darkness of the labyrinth.

Over the basin I let my hand go from the others grasp.
There was a fair bit of blood and a small burn-like mark in the center of my palm. Which was odd as it was the only part of my hand that had not even touched the handle.
For a moment I stared, watching my fingertips drip red, the rivulets of blood running down the inside of the basin, sliding gracefully across the white surface.

For a moment I'm back in my dream, and the tiles shift back and forth in my vision. The door creaks open and I consider hiding my hand, but the blood is everywhere now so the idea is pointless.

"Harry?"

It's Neville, probably the only boy in my dormitory that wouldn't sleep through a stampede of pissed off hippogriffs.

"I'll be right back, run your hand under the tap."

The door creaks again and I guess I should do as he says, given everything we went though last year at the ministry. I don't feel like Neville would betray me like the others, he just feels different...warmer...like Luna. There are so many I thought to be like family that feel so cold, that their presence has become unbearable.

"Harry, here, give me your hand."

I'm trying to co-operate, but instead my body decided to flop itself down onto the floor, so i pull myself along to the wall, proping my traitorous body up against it.

Neville just sighs quietly, and sits down next to me with a jar of sweet smelling salve in his hand. Slowly, as if not to scare an injured animal...which I guess in some way I am...Neville reaches out and takes my hand, soothing the salve into the burned flesh, and dabbing away the excess blood with his own towel. I've never been so glad that the towels in Gryffindor are such a dark red, or so grateful that Neville was sorted here with me.

"It's okay, Harry. Almost all better now, but there's no getting rid of that scar. I gather you were out wandering again but it doesn't matter anyway, lets just get you to bed."

Neville pulled me up and let me lean on him as we climbed the staircase, albeit a bit unsteadily, to our dorm. I was so dizzy he even had to help me get into bed, taking my cloak and folding it neatly before hiding it underneath my pillow, and my ugly glasses to then place on the rickety bedside.

"Night, Harry"

After that the dizziness was inescapable and the dimly lit dormitory slowly faded to black.

Feed the Muse! She eats Reviews!

Thanks to the new reviewers, my muse has so far not starved; :)

LIGHTNSHADOWS- Good job interpreting my not-so-subtle plot seedlings. I hope you like this chapter with more developments on 'The Door'.

Anniriel- It should get easier to understand soon as the fledgling plot comes to fruition. Hopefully I can make it just as interesting as some of the greater epics I've read over the years.

A triple-super thank you for reviewing per chapter. It really made my week.

music909- You're welcome.

GoddessonmyKnees- - nice penname. ;P I can't wait to see where this muse takes me too!

Mayday madmay- Thanks, I adore Luna for some odd reason - probably because she reminds me so much of myself when I'm overdosed with caffine.

Y U NO UPDATE- Super sorry, hopefully the quality of this chapter makes up for the considerable wait. And if the fairies smile on us all a longer even newer chapter will be up soon.

Jiji-chi- Om nom nom nom Ravenclaws for tea, if it's blue n' black, it'll fit in my belly!