Chapter 9: The Dream

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the below characters. They all belong to the world of Harry Potter so cleverly created by JK Rowling.

A/N: Ok, first of all I want to thank everyone who reviewed very much. The reviews encourage me to keep writing and they give me some insight which is always nice. Second of all I

got a comment about the formatting and it being difficult to read with everything really scrunched together so I am going to attempt to fix that and I hope it works. I definitely agree

that it gets very hard on the eyes and difficult to read after a while. Once again please comment and as always, and tips, ideas suggestions, and constructive critsicms are always

welcome. Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!!!

*****************************************************************

"Now, just tell me where Potter is and I'll let you go." hissed a low voice.

"Never," came Ron's even response.

"You'll never find him," added Hermione in a triumphant tone. "He is going to win, and there is nothing you, or any of your death eaters can do about."

"You insolent little…"

"Enough!" hissed a different voice.

Harry tossed in his sleep, he knew that voice all to well.

"These two, won't talk. Kill the traitor, but the mud blood…let the boys have a little fun with her."

"No!" Ron shouted, jerking violently at his restraints in an attempt to reach her.

"Adva Kedevera!" hissed the first voice.

"Ron!" Hermione yelled tearfully, but it was no use. Ron was gone.

"Now, let's see, where shall we began," teased the voice. "Ah, yes, I know Cruciatus!"

"HERMIONE!!!!!!!!!" Harry bolted upright, in his sleep. Hermione, who had nearly fallen out of bed at his outburst, was by his side in an instant.

"What's wrong, what is it?" She asked, slightly scarred by his condition. He was covered in sweat and shaking badly."

It took a moment for Harry to register where he was, but the moment he did, he pulled Hermione close. "Thank God, thank God, it was only a dream," he said quietly.

Hermione who was thrown off guard by his sudden embrace, immediately realized that he must have had a nightmare.

"It's okay, Harry," she said kindly, returning his embrace. "I'm here, everything is okay."

"It was horrible, he had you and…oh God, Ron!" Before Hermione even knew what was going on, Harry ran over to his desk and began furiously writing. In seconds he attached the

parchment to Hedwig's leg. "Take this to Ron straightaway and wait for his response and come right back. Please girl, this is important to me."

"Harry," Hermione pleaded, "what is going on?"

As soon as he looked at Hermione, he immediately felt a little calmer. "I had another nightmare. They," his voice faltered a little but he continued. "They had you and Ron captive, and

they were trying to get you tell them where I was, but you guys refused so, sotheykilledronandstartedtotortureyou." Harry finished in a hurry, not really wanting to even say it.

Hermione immediately understood. "The letter you wrote, it was to make sure Ron was okay, wasn't it?"

"Yes"

*****************

Meanwhile, a very disgruntled Ron, was opening his window for Hedwig. As soon as he realized it was Hedwig though, he became a little more alert. Quickly taking the letter from

her, he opened it, instantly recognizing Harry's untidy writing.

Ron,

I am sorry to wake you, but I just need to know that you are okay. I had a dream, and well, just please owl me back as soon as you get this.

-Harry

Ron sighed, "Harry's dreams must be starting again" he thought. Looking around his room for parchment, Ron quickly wrote a response.

Yeah mate, I'm fine. I hope you are doing well, and the muggles are treating you right. I hope that you're dreams aren't bothering you to much, but at least you know they aren't real because

I am fine. Try to get some rest. You are going to need it cause I assure you that you wont be getting any once you arrive here. Mum's going mental with the wedding. Enjoy your peace while you

have it.

-Ron

Finishing his letter, he gave it back to Hedwig and watched her fly off. He desperately wanted to tell his friend what was going with the Order, and invite him to come earlier, but

even he wasn't that thick. He knew that Hedwig could be intercepted, and it would be stupid to disclose where and when Harry would be going. With one last sigh, Ron lay down and

went back to sleep knowing there was nothing else he could do.

********************

"I wonder what's taking so long." Harry said anxiously.

"Harry, look at me," Hermione said sternly. "Ron is fine. You barely sent Hedwig out 20 minutes ago. She is just an owl, it is going to take her some time to get there, and some time

for Ron to write a response and send her back. Also keep in mind the fact that Ron is a heavy sleeper and might not even respond until the morning."

Harry sighed, but he knew Hermione was right. "It's just that, Ron was my first real friend. We may not agree on everything, but he was the first person to ever really be nice to me.

Just like you were the first person to stand by my side and defend me. You guys were my first true friends, and I don't know what I would do if anything happened to either one of you.

Back in second year, when you were petrified, Ron and I were a complete mess, especially me. And then there was the Department of Ministries in fifth year, seeing Dolholv hit you with

that curse, it was horrible. I watched you collapse almost in slow motion, and all I could think was "It's all my fault, its all my fault. And then last year, when we almost lost Ron…"

"Harry, I'm here now, and in a little bit, Hedwig will return with a response from Ron." Hermione said in a gentle but slightly stern voice. She knew that the thought process Harry was

headed down was a dangerous one. "Although I cannot personally speak for Ron, I am 99.9% positive he would agree with me when I say 'We made the choice to stay with you Harry.

I think after first year I realized the risks of being your friend Harry. But your friendship Harry, is worth more than anything to me. You saw first hand what I faced in muggle schools. I

never had any friends until I came to Hogwarts. I would rather die fighting at your side, than spend my life wondering what could have been if only I hadn't left you. Harry, if I left now,

and you didn't survive, I could never live with myself knowing I let my best friend down when he needed me the most. And I mean that Harry, I mean it with all of my heart." Hermione

finished looking straight into his eyes.

All Harry could think to do was embrace her. "Since when am I the one to initiate the hugs," he thought to himself. He didn't really care, it was just a thought that flitted across his

mind as he held Hermione. They were both so lost in their own thoughts that they jumped about a foot when Hedwig tapped on Harry's window. Harry quickly let her in, removed the

letter, and read it. When he finished he collapsed heavily onto his bed, before passing it to Hermione. Smiling at Ron's comments about his mum and the wedding, Hermione set the

letter aside before looking at Harry. He was lying there staring up at the ceiling. Lying down next to him she asked "Feeling better now? I mean, you definitely know it was Ron. Who

else would crack a joke about his mum at three in the morning?"

"Yes, thank you." He said with a small laugh. They laid there for a while neither one of them speaking. "I've been thinking," Harry said breaking the silence, "the first place we should

start is with Remus and Tonks. According to the letter, Remus is one of the few people that knew about you, and Tonks is technically your cousin. Then depending on what they tell us,

we can tell Ron." Pausing for a second he added, "that is if you want to."

"Lets think about that tomorrow," Hermione murmured, already halfway asleep.

Harry mumbled an agreement, and within minutes, both were sound asleep.