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Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. Characters belong to J.

Chapter 3: Found

When Harry finished his story none of them knew what to think about it. Their heads were spining, desperate for some coherency. Nothing seemed to fit and everything they knew about the wizarding world wasn't enough to explain the picture Harry described.

"If I didn't know that Earth is a sphere and if there was an end of it I would probably paint it like that", Ron was the first to speak. "But, what the hell does that mean?".

Harry shook his head and Hermione wasn't moving. She had a small forwn on her face she always had when she was thinking. The silence fell again. It was already getting dark outside, but Ron and Harry didn't even mention the training week they were supposed to head off for. Hermione found some pleasure in that, even though the feeing she had about what was ahead of them quickly washed it away.

Ron was now her whole life and even a thought of losing him was terrifying. Even remembering those times when his life was in danger or something else on their way was too painful. In sixth year in Hogwarts when she almost died from that poison she was beside his bed the whole time holding his hand forgetting why she wasn't speaking to him before that. When he got splinched while Apparating in seventh year during their hiding, she almost felt his pain. And when he left after huge row with Harry she would cry herself to sleep every night. She then understood why Harry wasn't listening to the radio, but she listened anyway making sure she doesn't hear his name. Just to make sure he was alive. And then they will make everything better after the war is over. And then he came back and Harry had to put a Shield Charm between them because she was set on hurting him. She had to smile at the memory.

"I am going to make some tea", she said standing up.

"Great!", said Harry. "Although, I could use something stronger".

"We have beer", she said surprised. He wasn't much of a drinker.

"Excellent!", Harry forced a smile.

"Ron, honey, you want one?"

"No, I am fine. I'll just have the tea", he replied absently lost in his ideas. Hermione looked at him lovingly. He looked beautiful and so pensive, she could see his eyes working rapidly. Heading towards the kitchen she smiled again.

"So, you say you saw castle, nine… What were they? Creatures.", Ron was repeating everything Harry said. "And their pets?"

"Actually, nine thrones and eight shadows. Seven creatures, one was invisible…", Harry corrected him, but every time he said it out loud made less sense. "And eight pets, if you can call Behemot a pet, really".

They went silent again. After a while, Hermione came in with their drinks. Beer for Harry and tea for her and Ron.

"Maybe it was mistake I said anything. It's probably nothing… Just silly dream", Harry shook his head again.

"Harry, when a man whose mind was once connected to Voldemort's and whose visions and dreams basically saved us, comes to tell you he had a dream, you don't just take it as nothing", Ron assured him.

"Well, thanks for not thinking I am out of my mind", Harry replied with a small smile.

"You are, but that's beside the point now!", Ron laughed. His ability to brighten the mood was still alive and well. "So, you haven't told Ginny anything yet?"

"No, not yet. I just don't want her to worry about nothing. If it turns out to be something important I'll tell her", he said looking remorseful. "You know her. In the beginning she waking me for every noise I make in my sleep. She interrupted fair share of good ones…".

"Harry, it's my sister we're talking about here!", Ron glared at him.

"Sorry!", he said raising his beer bottle.

"How come you can turn every kind of serious conversation into something… less serious?", Hermione jumped in laughing. They both just shrugged.

"Ginny was hoping to see you this weekend", Harry said looking at Ron.

"I was, couldn't because of the weather yesterday", he said." I really miss her. I miss them all", Ron added sadly.

It was true. He barely got to see them anymore. After Fred died nothing was the same. Molly would burst into tears every now and then, Arthur was always at work, Charlie was still in Romania, Bill was with Fleur and Ginny is now living with Harry. George is the only one who stayed. He abandoned the Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes shop and returned to Devon. The Burrow is just not the same place it was when he was growing up.

Hermione tried to keep him posted about everything that was going on with them. She would just go and visit Molly at times. They bonded a lot over the years. But, that wasn't nearly enough. Ron was missing them and sometimes it was just too hard for him to see them all. They still spent Christmases and birthday's together. But he wanted the Weasleys' spirit back and he was afriad that it was lost forever. Ginny was the only one he was really seeing now. Once a month or so.

Ron held cup in his big hands and stared at it.

"What if… I just thought of something", Hermione interrupted the silence. "What if the weather is somehow connected to the whole story?"

Ron and Harry looked at her, half – puzzled half – amused.

"'Mione, how can that be?", Ron asked, while Harry approved with nodding.

"Just think about it…", she ushered. "You read in the papers yesterday that the scientists didn't see the eclipse coming. It happened suddenly. And on the same day after the first Harry's dream!"

They exchanged glances…

"Maybe it was a sign! Maybe it was like before… With Death Eaters and The Dark Sign! I knew something was wrong with it!". Ron shoot her a look suddenly understanding her worry.

"Well, when you say it like that, it does make sense, but still… ", Harry said. "It's Sun, Hermione. No one is that powerful!"

Realising what he's just said he just made a straight face and muttered:"Oh, shit!"

It wasn't good. It wasn't good at all. They all knew it. If it had anything to do with what happened yesterday and if Harry's dreams turn to be about something real, they were doomed.

"Oh, God, not again!", he said.

They all went silent again just thinking about the idea that burst out of nothing. Is there anyone who could do anything like that? Is it possible they still know so little after everything they went trough?

"No need for panic yet!", Hermione said again. "Well, Harry's dreams are insuficient. If they were intended to be a message, they would give away something more. You don't even know what you saw. What are you supposed to look for?"

"She is right, mate!", Ron consoled Harry. "We should be going already. I really don't want Mouse on my back again. His name sounds tiny, be he is not!".

"You're right!", Harry says as lowered the bottle on the table. "Ok, let's make a deal. We don't say a word about this to anyone. Hermione, please, don't tell Ginny. If anything happens I will. And if anyone comes up with a new idea he shares it. And if a new dream comes up, I'll tell you".

"Deal!", Hermione and Ron agreed at once.

"I will just go to the loo and we can go then".

As Harry left the room Ron turned to Hermione. She was looking at him with the same concern and worry she was having hours ago. Something wasn't right, she knew it.

"'Mione, you should've said something. I knew you were worried.", he said coming closer to her and taking her hands in his. He got up and came in level with her face and started putting small kisses on her face. She giggled.

"I know", she said looking him in the eyes. "I just… I just didn't want to worry you. And it was just a feeling, nothing more. You'd think it's stupid."

"I would never…", he said smiling. "You are my little know-it-all". Then he kissed her like he always did. And it always made her forget about everything. He made her about the world and the ground bellow.

"Argh… Another week", Ron growled. "Sometimes I even consider leaving this stupid training. I wanna be with you all the time", he said between kisses.

"It's just for another six months", Hermione calmed him. And herself. "Just six months", she whispered.

In that moment Harry came back in the room. He was already dressed in his jacket he must have picked up from the hallway on his way to the living room and he had his backpack on. Ron kissed Hermione once more and jumped on his feet. They were ready to go.

As he was dressing and grabbing his bag from the bedroom Hermione was left alone with Harry.

"I really don't know what to say, Harry", Hermione said looking at him. "I really do hope it's nothing , but something is telling me different".

Harry just nodded. They stared at eachother understanding the silence perfectly. Ron appeared from the room ready to go.

"Be safe! Please!", she said to him. "And let me know if anything happens".

She kissed him, gave Harry a hug and they were gone. Hermione turned on her heel and went to the bookcase and pulled out the biggest book of all "Unsolved Mysteries of the Wizarding World".

''

She got up with a big headache. The night was exhausting. She went through every book she thought might have something useful but she found nothing. Not a word. Even when she searched for the dark signs and omens nothing there said anything about unexplained eclipses. Strange things did happen during the eclipses, but they were never described as sudden and unpredicted.

What the hell was going on, she thought. She took a bath and had breakfast and she haven't stopped thinking about Harry's dream for a second. The picture Harry described wasn't bad, it self. She was sure that the place was breathtaking. But, he mentioned voices and cries and angry faces… She just had to find out. There must be something about it somewhere.

Hermione had to go to the one place she thought might help her. Everytime she had dilemma about something, she would go there. The Ministry Library. They had a copies of every wizarding book ever published. Even Rita Skeeter's. Luckily, listed as a weekend novels. Good thing was she was a History of Magic student so she had access to almost every section. And, honestly, she wasn't expecting to find a book about this anywhere except in the restricted one.

She got ready in less than fifteen minutes and headed out. The library wasn't far away, but she chose to Apparate this time.

The entrance of the Library was across the street from Ministry's. She was glad she didn't have to flush herself in this time. Instead, there was a portrait of Bathilda Bagshot in the darkest of hallways. The password was "Knowledge is Power" and it was never changed. The Library was public and anyone who had the password could come in and it was acquired quite easily. Bathilda would say the words, you just had to repeat them.

Hermione was always stepping into the library with a huge respect. All those books in one place felt like heaven. The room was enormous and all walls were covered in bookcases. The the gaps between the shelves were filled portraits of well-known historians, ministers and other famous wizards. The light was not bright, not enough bright for reading, but every desk had its own lamp. She usually took her time as she walked towards the librarian's desk. This time she almost ran to it.

The woman behind the desk had big thick glasses and Hermione always thought that she was blind when she wasn't wearing them. She was reading a book and she put her chubby finger between the pages when she saw Hermione. The procedure had to be done. Hermione had to give her student's card so she can receive her pass for the restricted section. Those books weren't for everyone's eyes. But, as she gave the card to the woman and came one step closer she almost tripped over something.

Hermione looked down and saw a book. Seeing books on the floor or used as a coasters or any situation in which they are being abused, drove her mad. She picked the book from the floor and handed it to the woman never paying attention what was on the covers.

"I think someone dropped this", she said.

"Oh, dear, can you please return it to the Herbology section?", the libraran asked. "I hurt my anckle. The doctors said I should stay at home but I love the smell of the books".

The woman was nice.

"Yes, of course", Hermione replied with a smile. But, when she lowered her eyes to the covers of the book she was, to say the least, puzzled. "Excuse me, are you sure that this is for Herbology section?", she asked the woman showing her the title of the book.

"Yes, dear, of course. Where else would you put How To Grow Magical Plants In Your Own Garden, dear?", the woman asked confused, but she wasn't as nearly as confused as Hermione was. To her the title read something completely different. Ancient Legends of the Wizarding World. Is it possible that the woman's sight was so bad she couldn't read the title?

But, Hermione saw her reading her name written in tiny letters on the card and then writing it down on her list. And then she didn't know what to think. Was the book made that way? Was the title really visible just to her?

"Here's your card, darling", the woman interrupted her thoughts.

She thanked her with a nod and a small smile and stepped away from the desk. Instead of going to the restricted section she sat at the first free reading desk she saw and turned on the lamp.

The book was rather small. Much smaller than the ones she intended to search. On it's covers all kinds of creatures were painted in black and white and the letters were silver. She opened it and went through the its pages quickly scanning the illustrations. Some of them she recognizes from her school books and others were completely unfamiliar. And then she stopped dead.

Those were the last pages of the book. Possibly the last story. She stared at the picture of wide circle of thrones occupied by nine different figures. And they were exactly as Harry described them. Some of them had faces, some of them were beautiful, the others were terrifying. The picture was drawn in hand and details were very blurry and not visible. She couldn't possibly tell what were the creatures beneath their legs.

Her hands were shaky and sweaty and she had to wipe them against her pants before she started inhaled deepy, muttered few curses and read the first line.

"The legend old, old as the world alone… ". Oh, shit!

""

"I can't believe we overslept!", Ron yelled as he marched forward. "And today, when Mouse's training is the first training of the day!"

Harry followed Ron's long steps and tried not to complain too much.

"How the hell am I going to find fresh pears for him now! In this time of year! And… and on this market in the middle of sodding nowhere!", he had no intention of slowing down and Harry had to run every couple of steps to keep up with him. "Are you crawling there or what!", he shouted and turned to look at Harry who almost jumped away.

"Ron, you're feet are like boats! For God's sake slow down a bit!", Harry defended.

He almost choked when he saw Harry panting,all red and with his hair glued to his forehead with sweat. It was May, but it was already too hot in the desert they were in.

"I am sorry… It's just… Ughhhh, I hate that idiot", he breathed out. "You know what? When we're done here, I'll find a way to beat up his ass".

"I am sorry", Harry said.

"What are you talking about. It's not your fault…", Ron frowned."Well, it is, but, that's not important. It's not your fault you couldn't sleep. It's your fault I couldn't sleep". He looked at Harry again who really did look like he was sorry. "Really,mate,it's nothing… So, same dream again in the end?"

Harry nodded.

"I mean… I tried so hard to fall asleep and I couldn't. And when I finally did it was all the same. Just pictures, no voices".

They both just stood there, in the entrance of market, and breathed havily as the sun burned their skin. Ron was alredy too red and with his ginger hair he looked like a campfire.

"Listen, mate, I know that you're tired but if I don't get in there quickly they might serve me for dinner tonight. But, don't tell Mouse I said that. He'll take up the offer", Ron said and passed the archway made of red clay and into the river of people where air was so wet and smelled of spicy food, dirty clothes and dust.

Harry had to laugh. Mouse was probably the one person Ron hated. He was their instructor in the Auror training and head of their group and the two of them clashed terribly from the first day. Ron was complaining about food and Mouse took it as a sign of weakness. He tried to prove him wrong, and he is still trying, but the man just won't take it. In the process Ron became very strong and solid. Harry could've sworn he sometimes saw Mouse smiling while looking at Ron. He even thought that Mouse actually liked him quite a lot and that he is doing everything on purpose. And this they had to do was nothing… He did it to everyone. Mouse thought that it's extremely funny to send those who would sleep a bit too long to the market to buy fruit for the whole squad.

"Harry!", Ron shouted and Harry could recognize him among all those people because of his hair.

"Coming!", Harry shouted back. It was terrible trying to get through that crowd. Everything fels sticky. When he finally got to Ron he was barely breathing. "Please, let's just take the first thing that looks like pear and head back. This heat is insane!"

"I wanna look for something for Hermione. I can't remember the last time I bought her anything", Ron said and blushed. Even more.

Harry smiled at him. "Ok… You look for something for Hermione and I'll look for pears. We meet outside in a half an hour. Don't make me wait or I'll burry you in the sand!"

Ron and Harry parted their way. Harry headed towards the food market and Ron went to the part where they sell shawls and all kinds of ornaments and jewelery. It had so many colours it made his eyes hurt. Behind every one of them stood a man who shouted showing off his goods. Some of the jewelery was pretty nice, but he couldn't picture it on Hermione.

He finally stopped in front of one with what seemed like thousands scarves. In all kinds of shapes and colours and with different ornaments on them. As he was browsing them trying to decide which one would be best for Hermione his eyes darted to the stand and onto the little figurines on it.

Animals, humans, plants, castles… There was basically everything. He even thought that it might be better to take something like that for Hermione. She loved everything that was somehow connected to the history and this looked like it was. Ron abandoned the scarves and came closer to look at it. They really looked great.

Ron looked at the man behind the stand. He was the only one who wasn't shouting or showing anything. He was sitting peacefully in his chair and smoked a hookah. His beard and hair were white and he had white turban on his head.

He nodded at Ron's direction and he greeted him back the same way. He tried to ask how much was one of the figurines but then remembered that he can't speak their language. But, the man surprised him.

"Ten dirhams… that", he said in broken english and showing number ten with his long fingers."She not like that".

Ron was so surprised that he couldn't react immediately. The man showed him to wait and Ron obeyed. He crouched under the stand and got up again quickly. He was holding remarkable, almost white figurine made of clay. Even if it was something else, Ron couldn't tell.

But, when he saw it better, when he realised what is the man showing him, he blanched. It stood on the white chassis; nine thrones forming a circle open on one end and nine figures sat on them. The man took his silence as a sign of admiring the work but Ron really couldn't say a word.

"Thirty dirhams… for", he pointed his index finget at Ron, "twenty five", the man added smiling.

"No, it's ok,I'll take it for thirty", Ron said pulling the money out of his pocket. The man frowned but gave it anyway. He backed away from the stand, looked at the man once more and headed off towards the exit and really hoped that Harry shows up soon.

He was walking fast shoving people off his way. He was about to reach the exit when he felt a strong push on the back and almost fell over,but somehow managed to stay on his feet. However, the figurine didn't. It laid in the send and when he knelt to pick it up he realised that it's broken. Ron saw the little glimmer few feet away and reached to grab it. It was head that fell of from one of the figure on the thrones. When he got up holding both parts in his hands Harry was standing in front of him.

"What are you doing down there?", Harry asked and almost laughed.

As he saw what was in Ron's hands his laughter died.

"Where did you get that?", he asked feeling his throat is dry.

"On a stand", Ron replied looking serious.

Harry looked once more. It was it. It was almost the same. Without all the details, of course, but that was it. And he counted. Fourht figure from the right was missing a head.

"We have to go! Now!", Harry shouted. "We have to tell Hermione about this!".

They both went behind the first corner and apparated straight to the camp.

""
When they landed on the ground Ron was clutching the statue firmly in his arms and Harry had his arms full of pears. They looked at eachother and exchanged the things they were holding. Mouse wanted Weasley to bring him the pears. Idiot, Ron thought.

As Ron entered Mouse's tent he was sitting on the bunk in the corner reading a letter. Mouse was a huge man, so the nickname they gave became ridiculous once you see the guy. His skin was dark and glowy and his black hair was pulled in a tail. With all the straps and leather bracelets he had on, he looked like some barbarian worrior. Ron respected that, but still hated him. Even if he was in his fourties he looked as strong as a bull.

"Here!", he said.

"Thank you very much", Mouse replied not half amused Ron had expected him to be. "You can go now".

Ron was quite surprised but still said nothing as he turned to leave. "Oi, Weasley!", the voice stopped him. Ron cursed under his breath and turned around to face the man again.

"Yeah", he said almost prepared for another share of Mouse's showing off.

"An owl came with that for you today", he said pointing at the little table. Ron saw small scroll on it and came closer to it.

"Thanks", Ron muttered seeing that it was still closed.

"No problem", Mouse said and then lowered his head again continuing his reading.

When he came back to the tent Harry and he shared with several other guys, he found Harry on the ground with the fallen head in his fingers. He was looking at it so closely, but the man that it belonged to had long hair and beard which covered most of his face.

He raised his head when Ron came in.

"What is that?", he asked pointing at the letter in his hands.

"Don't know. It came today", he said opening it.

I think I may have found something.
Get to me as soon as you can.
Love,
Hermione.

Not waiting a second more, Harry jumped to his feet and ran out of the tent. Ron stayed there staring at the letter wondering what will happen next.

""
They were silent as they packed their bags again. Harry was thinking about Ginny and what to tell her, and Ron just about how much his life changed in the last two days. He had everything set. Finish the training, marry Hermione, have kids and work as an Auror. His road to happiness. Now, it was just the unknown in front of him.

"I still don't understand how you got Mouse to let us go?", Ron broke the silence.

"Me neither. I gave it a try and it worked. Oh, and he said that the pears are great", Harry smiled.

"Ready?",asked Ron.

"Ready!".

And the whirpool of air closed aroud them.

''

Hermione was pacing nervously in her living room. She was doing that ever since she got back from the library and sent an owl to Ron and Harry. She wondered why weren't they responding while she tried to remember everything she read in the book. Other than the illustrations that reminded her of Harry's dreams she didn't find out much. Only that someone before saw it or he wouldn't be able to draw it. And a legend that wasn't telling much.

It was older that the world alone…

She heard a loud noise in front of her door and jumped immediately. She rushed towards them. She knew the Apparation sound to well. Opening the door she saw Ron who was trying to put a key in the look. He looked all red and he was panting.

Behind him was Harry who looked terrified. They rushed past Hermione into the flat.

"What are you doing here?", Hermione asked confused. "When I sent you the message I wasn't calling you to come. It's not that important really".

"We found something, too", Ron said approaching her andkissing her in the forehead. She looked at him startled and then at Harry who was already reaching into his back. What he pulled out made her gasp.

"What is that?", she asked covering her mouth with her hands.

"A statue. Ron found it on the market. I don't know what it is,", said Harry, "but it looks just like the one from my dream. And this one with a missing head. He is the one missing in my dream

"Oh, my God", Hermione muttered, went to her bag and pulled out a book. She searched the pages rapidly until she finally stopped at the page with the drawing that matched the figurine perfectly.

"What does the story say?", Ron asked eyeing the illustration and comparing it with what Harry was holding.

"I just need to sit down", Hermione said and rushed to the sofa and Ron followed. "I just don't get it. First, it doesn't make any sense and now, somehow, we all came across something connected to it. You had a dream, I found a book and Ron found a statue".

Harry joined them in the sitting area and placed the statue on the table. They all just stared at it.

"But, story says nothing, Harry. It's just a story, a legend, with nothing we could possibly search for… " , Hermione added. "Who knows, maybe someone saw this figurine and made a drawing of it. Or vice versa. But, that still means…".

"That someone had to see it first… Yeah.", Ron said.

"What about the author of a book?", Harry asked.

"Unknown", she said defeatedly. "I looked everywhere. This is the only book that had anything about it. And it basically landed in my lap."

Harry nodded his head few times. Then he looked up at them and that look meant one thing. He had an idea.

"Maybe… Maybe there's someone who can help us connect everything", Harry said as a small smile appeared on his face.

"Who can possibly know something about this?", Ron asked shaking his head even Hermione's hand tried to stop it.

"Can you really think of no one?", Harry raised his eyebrow.

"Harry… You're not thinking…", she shook her head.

"Why not… McGonagall is the headmistress now. She will let us into her office", he insisted. "And if anyone knows something it's him. We have to see Dumbledore's portrait!"

"Harry, I don't know…", Ron didn't think it was such a great idea like Harry appeared to.

"We want to know, don't we? We had to know! There's a reason we all got involved in this at the same time! Come with me and if he says there's nothing to it, I'll drop everything", he looked at them and Ron and Hermione looked at eachother. "Please".

"Ok", Ron stood up from the sofa. He looked down at Hermione and she stood up.

"Ok, I am in, too", she said.

"Thank you", Harry smiled at them. "Bring the book Hermione. Ron, you take the statue! Whenever you're ready", he said.

"Let's go!", Hermione said as she clutched the book with one hand and her wand with another. They all counted to three and closed their eyes.

Few moments later they landed on the ground of Hogsmeade.

My plan was to publish this and the next chapter together. But, it's Hogwarts. And with all the stuff I had to fit in there… It would be just too long; over 30 pages and since my first 2 were about 10 pages… Just didn't felt right and I didn't want to cut anything out.

I hope you like this one, though. Don't forget to say few words.

Sandra

P.S. Chapter 4 will be uploaded soon.