"I guess Remus and Sirius won't be getting back tonight," Harry said as he continued gazing out the window for any sight of his guardians returning. "What if they're in trouble? Do you think–"

"Harry!" Hermione snapped for the fifth time that evening. "Would you stop brooding? They're perfectly fine, and are probably having a romantic escapade at the new house."

A small smile broke out on Harry's face. "I didn't need that picture Hermione. Thanks for that." He turned and glanced out the window once more before he felt a sharp tug on the back of his jacket. Turning around, he looked down into the eyes of Ron's little sister, Ginny.

"Please stop worrying," Ginny said; her face the color of her hair. "Mr. Sirius and Professor Lupin will be back tomorrow. It's eleven-thirty and mom is going to have a cow if she realizes we're all still up."

Smiling down at Ron's sister, Harry nodded and sat down on his bed. The girls bid him and Ron goodnight before leaving the room. "At least Ginny's not so shy around ya anymore, ay 'arry?" Ron said, getting into his own bed.

Harry chuckled once as he took off his glasses and turned out the lights. He crawled under his bed covers and asked "Ron, is it bad that I'm so worried? I mean, do you get worried when your parents are gone out a long time?"

A sigh emanated from his friend. "There's nothin' wrong with worryin' 'arry, but no, I don't get worried about them too often. Just try not to get yourself to stressed out, 'k? Sirius wouldn't want you to be losin' sleep over him or anythin'."

"You're right Ron. Night."

"Night 'arry."

Harry lay gazing up at the ceiling for a long time. Sirius, Remus, why did neither of you send owls then to tell us where you would be for the night? Did you not realize that I would worry? What if something went wrong while they were out? What if… Harry's thoughts trailed off as a realization struck him. Will I end up having nightmares tonight? I best put a silencing charm around my bed just in case.

Reaching over, Harry grabbed his wand from the nightstand and muttered: "Silencio." Placing his wand back down, he rolled onto his side and fell into a troubled sleep.

"Hello?" Harry's voice called out as he stood in a cemetery. In front of him was a large statue of a cloaked figure. Looking down, he recoiled as he read the name upon the stone: Tom Riddle. Jerking backwards, Harry tripped and landed in a heap on the ground. Beyond the cemetery, he could hear the howling of a werewolf. Something about the howl sounded familiar. "Remus?"

Shifting into his dog form, Harry silently crawled towards the sound until a scream of pain echoed through his ears. Sirius! Running forward at full speed, he flew across the cemetery to where he saw a circle of darkly cloaked figures laughing. From within the circle, Harry could hear Sirius' cries of pain. Lunging at the circle members, he knocked his way inside and saw his Godfather collapsed on the dirt as one of the cloaked figures performed a pain-inducing curse on him.

With a loud growl of malice, Harry attacked the figure that was placing the curse on Sirius. A chuckle came from the man as he ended the spell. Sirius' screaming stopped as well. The figure pulled down his hood. A shudder ran through Harry as he took in the man's wrecked face. All along the length of his were five scars that looked like an animal or something had scratched him deeply. Brown hair fell to his shoulders in a shaggy matted mess. A look of evil joy was written on his face. Harry's fur bristled as he watched the man.

"Harry, so glad you could join us!" the man chuckled evilly. "I'm Caine Renwick, and I don't suppose you've heard of me." Harry could hear Sirius groan as the silence drowned on. He growled at the man as he backed up so he was standing over his Godfather.

Caine Renwick laughed again. "Please transform Harry so we can discuss matters civilly."

Harry weighed it over in his head before transforming back, wand in hand. "Where's Remus? I heard his howl."

"He's being held up by Greyback at the moment, but that's not what we're going to talk about. I am the Dark Lord's successor my dear Harry Potter, and I will kill you when we meet." At Harry's confused face Renwick continued. "You're dreaming Harry; I'm only here to show you what I'm going to do to those you care about. Crucio!"

A million hot daggers seemed to plunge into Harry at that moment as pain he'd never experienced before filled his mind and body. He'd heard of this curse before, Sirius had mentioned it once. A loud yell of pain escaped Harry's lips as the pain dragged on. Half a minute passed, than a minute until Renwick stopped. Harry lay on the ground shaking and panting. "Now watch Harry Potter as you see what I will do to your Godfather when we finally meet. Avada Kadavra!"

A bright green light struck Sirius, and Harry mustered up enough strength to scream as he watched his Godfather get murdered. It's not real, Harry thought to himself over and over again, but it did nothing to stop the screams or the tears that fell. "SIRIUS! NO!"

Then Harry woke up.