Wonder-Boy wonders...
Harry stared down at his gold plate, his pile of mashed potatoes sat in a cold clump next to his half eaten sausage. Everyone around him chatted madly – they had just arrived back to school after the fall break and took this time to catch up.
"You have to eat a little more, Harry," Ron urged from beside him. His best friend's mouth was stuffed with string beans and a large clump of steamed potato; he was obviously having no problem eating. Across the table Harry's other closest friend, Hermione Granger, sat as she chewed politely on a bit of sausage.
"I'm not hungry, Dad told me that Voldemort's numbers are rising, I'm strong enough o face just Voldemort – but I don't know what I'll do if I have to face one hundred deatheaters!" Harry whispered.
"Don't worry, Harry, you have us and you have Dumbledore's army!"replied Hermione.
"Yeah mate, you're not alone, stop thinking you are," Ron said, Hermione cast a sideways glance at Ron and gave him a smile that made him choke on his peas.
"Thanks guys," replied Harry, eating a bit of sausage that had now gone cold.
"So, Sirius is doing ok?"Hermione asked and Harry nodded. "I'm sorry I didn't visit, but my folks dragged me to my cousins wedding in Sussex."
"It was the most boring three days of my life!" Ron agreed, Harry spun around to meet the red head's eyes.
"You went," spluttered Harry and watched as both Hermione and Ron went bright red.
"Yeah, I – I invited Ron to come with me, I was going to invite you but I knew your Dad would have you training most of the time..." Hermione explained, Harry stared at Hermione with a dropped jaw. Did Hermione really ask Ron to go to her cousin's wedding with her?
"Well, if it was that boring then I'm glad I didn't go," Harry said to his plate, trying to get his head around the wedding incident.
"Hello, Harry," Ginny beamed as she slid into a seat next to Hermione.
"Hey, Ginny," Harry replied, the same stupid grin that was on Ginny's lips was now spread across his own.
The pair had begun dating at the beginning of the year, Ron had objected at first but now he was over it – he accepted the fact that they were in love and were going to be together, with or without his permission. Hermione rolled her eyes as Ginny and Harry continued to stare at each other.
"So, Ginny told me that she went to your place over the holidays, Harry," Hermione said loudly. Harry turned to her and nodded.
"Yeah, while you guys were off in Sussex, Ginny was kind enough to visit me," Harry said and it made Ginny smile proudly.
"I swear I was going to invite you, Harry," Hermione insisted.
The night passed on in a loud haze accompanied with wild tastes of warm pumpkin pie, piles of mashed potatoes and steamed carrots. Suddenly Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny were the last ones up in the Gryffindor common room as they all stared sleepily into the leaping flames of the fireplace.
"I'm off to bed, I'm so tired," Ginny yawned as she stood up from her large red armchair and she strode past Harry; as she did Harry grabbed onto her arm and gently kissed her hand.
"Goodnight," he said up to her smiling face.
"Goodnight Harry," she said back, and then walked off to the foot of the stairs. She then turned and yelled back. "Night Ron, night Hermione!"
"Goodnight Ginny," they said back. Ginny dashed up to her dormitory.
Harry settled back in his seat, smiling into the fire. Ron and Hermione were smiling, but not at the fire, at each other.
"Dad's been really freaked out lately," Harry said after few peaceful moments of silence. "He's really stressing hard on the fact that I have to give things up to be able to win this."
"Well, that's what Sirius did," said Hermione. "He gave up on a lot of things to get this close to the end of the fight, he just figured that it was the way you would tackle the upcoming fight, give up on Ron and me, and stop seeing Ginny..."
"But it's not what I'm going to do," Harry replied, looking over at Hermione, then over to Ron whose eyes were slowly beginning to droop. "I think friends make you stronger – the more people around, the more people to catch you when you fall."
"We've been catching you since first year – your father isn't going to change that." Ron muttered sleepily.
"Come on," said Hermione standing. "Its time for bed."
Harry stood up and watched as Hermione helped Ron out of the chair. They walked together up the stairs then stood on the landing that divided their two dorm bedroom doors.
"Classes start tomorrow," she trilled excitedly.
"I'm totally looking forward to it," Ron muttered sarcastically, she laughed putting her hand on his upper arm as she did. Ron stood stunned – suddenly wide awake.
"I'll see you two at breakfast," she said but Harry figured it was more directed at Ron. She gave Harry a quick smile before hurrying into her dorm.
Harry and Ron turned and walked in to their own, Ron swaying slightly. Harry watched as Ron flopped backwards onto his bed. Harry watched with a smile as Ron slowly slipped his shoes off.
"Did you see her touch my arm?" Ron asked sitting up and Harry nodded with a smile.
"I think she likes you," Harry sang, but he was being serious – Hermione had definitely developed feelings for Ron. And she was putting her heart on her sleeve – Harry only hoped Ron would take the opportunity to admit that he loved her too, which he obviously did.
"Do you really think so?" Ron asked his eyes wide but he had a smile on his lips.
"Oh, there is no doubt in my mind." Harry replied honestly. Ron tucked himself into bed and looked over at Harry as he did the same.
"What should I do," asked Ron.
"Take some time to think about how you feel," replied harry. Not soon after that both he and Ron fell fast asleep.
Harry found himself in a small room; the walls were glowing gold with black drapes hanging everywhere. The room suddenly swarmed full of people, all draped in black, all moaning. At first Harry thought they were death eaters but he then saw there pale tear stained face, all crying. A female cry was heard over all the others, Harry turned to his left and saw who the wail belonged to. She was Harry's age, her blue eyes red and puffy.
She turned around and faced Harry, her eyes staring deep into his own. She lifted her right hand where red heart glowed from her ring finger; she took her hand and ran her fingers from his scar down to the base of his chin.
"Brother," she said clearly, Harry suddenly felt as if he knew those sparkling blue eyes. "We can help each other." She added her voice was sweet and soft. He knew that the help he needed was to defeat Voldemort, but he didn't know how he could help her.
Suddenly a photo flashed in front of his eyes, he saw his father, Sirius Black, but he had his arms wrapped around a woman, she had long brown hair and the same blue eyes as the girl, behind them stood a small cottage house.
This photo was washed away and in its spot and in its place sat a photo of two babies, one was a boy, and he had Harry's emerald eyes and what looked like a small lightning bolt scar on his forehead. Next to him sat a baby girl, her blue eyes staring lovingly over at the baby boy.
The photo was gone as quickly as it came and in its spot was two pictures side by side; one photo had a picture of the girl from the first part of the dream and she was hugging the woman that Harry's father had been hugging in the photo previous. The other photo Harry recognised because it was the same photo that sat on the mantelpiece in Grimmauld Place. It was one of Harry as he smiled proudly, Sirius's arm around his shoulder.
Suddenly he was staring back into the girl's bright blue eyes, the black clothed people swarming around them, her tears beginning to flow down her porcelain skin. A woman came up to them both, but didn't seem to realise Harry was there, her face was covered in a long black veil.
"I'm very sorry for your loss, Rory. Your mother was such a loving person," she said, walking off. Harry realised where they were – a wake!
Rory burst in to tears and ran up a winding stair case that began to twist and turn. Harry ran up after her, the stairs moving around making him sick to his stomach. He finally ran out onto a hallway where Rory was shrivelled up into a sobbing ball, she looked into his own eyes.
"Find me, Brother, you're all I have now!" she wailed. "We'll be stronger together, not apart!"
Harry woke up in a cold sweat, his heart throbbing and he still felt physically sick form climbing the slithering stairs. He sat up and slipped his glasses on, looking around the room, everyone else was slowly waking up as the clock neared 7am. He expected his scar to start throbbing painfully – as it did with most of his dreams, but it was not his scar that ached – but his heart. As he thought of the fact that he had a twin sister – and she was heart broken and lonely.
"You alright, Harry," Neville asked from across the room.
"Just a dream, Neville," Harry replied as he kicked his bed covers off.
Harry got up and changed into his school robes earlier then anyone else. He sat back down on his made bed and stared at Ron, his feet tapping against the floor impatiently. Ron stirred then awoke slowly with a long yawn. Once he realised that Harry was looking at him he sat up.
"What's wrong, Harry?" he asked as he rubbed his sleepy eyes.
"Hurry up, get dressed, we need to talk," Harry said.
(A/N) Next chapter, harry realises the benefits of having friends