Chapter 34- Talking about dreams
The next morning, Sirius woke up before Harry and took out one of the two way mirrors he had so often used to talk with James during detention.
"Moony," he said into it. At first there was no answer.
"Remus."
In another moment Remus' face appeared in the mirror, looking tired. Sirius did feel guilty when he realized Remus hadn't answered right away because this was the morning after the full moon. He'd almost forgotten how tired that always left his friend. But he was sure Remus would want to know about this.
"Anything wrong?" Remus asked, looking slightly more awake.
"Well, not wrong exactly. I mean Harry isn't in any immediate danger that I know of, but he had this nightmare last night that seemed so real to him and his scar hurt when he woke up from it." Sirius told Remus all he knew about the nightmare from what Harry had told him.
"That was no ordinary dream," Remus said, looking worried.
"That's what I thought. Has Harry ever had any visions like that before?"
Remus thought back .
"Sometimes when he was little he'd have nightmares about when Lily and James died, but he said it was just the flash of green light and feeling the cut from the curse that gave him the scar. It was nothing as detailed as what he described last night, and those nightmares were always of the past, not like they were happening at the time he dreamt them."
"So there's a definite possibility the nightmare could have been real?"
Quiet a moment before answering, Remus said "At least one part of it could be. Bertha Jorkins has really disappeared and nobody has a clue what happened. Harry wouldn't have had any way to know that because it was only in the Prophet today."
"So if that part is real, the rest of it could be. Now what do we do?"
"I think the first thing is to tell Dumbledore about it. I'll go see him today and see what he thinks. And we'll be with Harry at all times until he goes to Hogwarts. Dumbledore seemed sure after Harry's first year Voldemort wouldn't try anything there again." There was a note of sadness in Remus' voice, and Sirius knew his friend would miss being right at Hogwarts with Harry like he had been last year. "You'll be coming back to Phoenix House tomorrow, right?"
"The sooner, the better," Sirius said. "And after that it's only a couple more days until the Quidditch World Cup."
Remus gave a shake of his head and said "I really shouldn't be going. There's still a lot left to do here, and I have no interest in Quidditch anyway."
"What's left to do? The books are all copied so all the students will have what they need. The house is almost completely clean again and we'll have time to finish that before the students arrive." There were nineteen children who would be coming to be taught, five adults who never had a chance at an education because they'd been bitten so younge, and two children who were too young to start school but simply had nowhere else to go. "And with the people Dumbledore contacted, me, and yourself, we have enough teachers."
"I'm still don't have anyone to teach transfiguration."
"I think I can help you with that problem," Sirius said, grinning. "You know, a certain metamorphmagus cousin of mine happens to be brilliant at transfiguration. Better even than James was, and you know transfiguration was his specialty."
"And she's bound to be busy now that she's graduating from the Auror academy. She won't have time."
"Aurors work in shifts the same as any other career, and she won't be sent on any of the big assignments for awhile until she's more experienced anyway. Since none of them have ever had any education before they'll all be starting at the same level so there will only be one class for her to teach. She'll manage."
Remus had a strange look on his face.
"And she wouldn't mind teaching werewolves?"
"She doesn't have anything against werewolves. Is that your way of asking if she'd be upset if she knew about your furry little problem?"
"No."
Sirius rolled his eyes.
"I still say you should tell her. You're starting a school just for werewolves and you always need rest after the full moon. You really think she won't figure it out?"
"But you're helping with the school and you're not a werewolf. And I'm not going to let her see me after the full moon."
They were both quiet a moment, and then Sirius let the topic drop.
"I really think you should come to the World Cup, Moony. It's been a long time since I've been able to do that type of thing, and now that I can I plan to take advantage of it. And you know Harry will want you to be there."
"I said I didn't think I should come. I never said I wouldn't. The more people with Harry, the better anyway."
Grinning, Sirius said "I know you'll have a good time." And he silently told himself he was going to have a good time here too. Before he and Harry left, the Dursleys were in for some surprises, he thought with a grin.
Dumbledore seemed deeply concerned, as close to distressed as Remus had ever seen the elderly headmaster, when Remus told him about Harry's nightmare.
"Do you think it was real?" Remus asked after Dumbledore had been quiet for too long a time.
"I don't believe it was only a nightmare." he said softly. "But whether it was happening at the time Harry saw it, or if it's something Voldemort is planning for the future, I don't know. I told you at the end of Harry's second year that Voldemort transferred some of his powers to Harry. I'm starting to feel that there is a stronger connection between the two than that. It seems Harry is able to pick up on Voldemort's thoughts and feelings."
Remus paled realizing what this could also mean.
"Can Voldemort read Harry's thoughts and feelings in return then?"
Dumbledore hesitated before answering.
"It might be possible, but I don't think Voldemort knows there is a connection yet. He is a very accomplished Legilimens though, and if he does learn of the connection I have no doubt he will use it to his full advantage. I can arrange for Severus to teach Harry Occlumency."
"Harry won't like that idea," Remus said to himself. "But if it helps Harry, it's worth it."
As he left the office, Remus thought back on the expression on Dumbledore's face as they had talked. It wasn't just worry. It was as if he thought Harry's nightmare had confirmed a terrible fear the headmaster had been hiding. A fear of something that was destined to happen to Harry, Remus thought. And when he had suggested the Occlumency lesson, the tome of his voice made it sound like it was a last effort to try to prove that fear wrong. What did Dumbledore know that he didn't?
"Can't you teach me it, Dad? Or have Sirius do it? Why does it have to be Snape?" Harry asked when he and Sirius came home.
"Because Voldemort is probably the most talented wizard at Legilimency who ever lived, and for Severus to have survived as a spy tells you how good he is at Occlumency. He's the one who will be able to teach you best."
"But you must be good at Legilimency too. There have been times when I was almost sure you were reading my mind," Harry tried.
Remus smiled, and shook his head. "That's because I know you so well. I never learned Legilimency or Occlumency. I'm sorry but it has to be Severus. Dumbledore and I will both speak to him to be sure he isn't too hard on you. We don't want Voldemort to have any ways to hurt you that we can prevent."
Harry didn't think he'd ever seen a busier place than the World Cup. It was almost as fascinating to watch the people as it would be to see the actual game. One group was trying to get the wizard with them to change out of the flowery nightgown he was wearing and put on some trousers, and a little boy was happily poking a slug with a wand he must have taken without his parent's knowing, and others were having trouble starting fires the muggle way.
The group wandered around looking at the different tents stopping occasionally to talk to people they knew. If it hadn't been for the way people looked at Sirius they would be having a wonderful time. Some people were still giving him looks that made it clear they still believed he was guilty. A few of them even gave Harry a frightened look once they realized who he was with, as if Sirius would suddenly turn and try to kidnap him or something. It didn't help when they ran into Barty Crouch. Sirius never would forgive him for sending him to Azkaban without a trial, and when Harry and Remus saw the way Sirius was glaring at him the both grabbed an arm and led him away "to get a better look at the pitch" before he could go for his wand.
"If he comes up and says one word to me-" Sirius said, eyes narrowed.
"He won't," Remus said. "And nothing can change what happened, Padfoot, so it's no use holding grudges or making enemies who could get you in trouble. What he did was wrong. I was wrong for not helping you." Harry could tell by the tone in his dad's voice it would take a long time before he stopped blaming himself for that. "We just have to try to focus on the future now. And don't worry about the way people are looking at you. They'll come around and see the truth in time."
In fact, by evening most people were too focused on the upcoming game to worry whether or not Sirius really was guilty. A few even came up and shook his hand and said they should have known him better than to think he'd ever be a death eater. Before the game started, Sirius realized there were far more people who believed the truth than who still believed he was guilty, and started to relax.
"What's so funny, Dad?" Harry asked as they left the top box when the game was over.
"Fudge," he said laughing, then explained. "The Bulgarians were asking why they hadn't been given twelve extra seats, and Fudge thought they were asking where the tweezers were. Obviously he doesn't speak a word of Bulgarian, although he was trying to pretend he did."
They all had a good laugh at that.
"Serves him right. I can't believe we had to share a box with him and the Malfoys. I'm just glad Crouch didn't show up."
"Felt bad for his house elf though," Harry said, thinking of Dobby. "Afraid of heights like that and then having to save him a seat when he never even showed up."
The talk ended up switching to the game, and why if Krum was supposed to be such a great seeker he had caught the snitch when the Irish were more than a hundred and fifty points ahead and would win the game because of it.
"Who cares?" George asked, grinning. "It means we win our bet with Bagman."
They talked about the game into the night, not knowing their good time would soon be violently interrupted.
AN: Sorry this took so long. I had a hard time with this chapter and trying to make it different from cannon. Thanks to all my reviewers.
Note to gibby 101: I am not Paddyandmoony. She's my friend and puts my stories up for me, although I do take inspiration from her incredible stories. I'm glad you enjoy the story though and hope you'll like the future chapters.