I do not own Harry Potter. Just playing in his sandbox for a while! :)

Chapter Eighty-four

Attack of the Snake

Hermione and Ron both had late patrol together. It was quiet which wasn't unusual for a Sunday night. Though every time they met a different prefect there was always a discussion about the Head Boy. Depending on which house the prefects were from decided the topic of how he made out. She thought it was really amazing how Taylor had been able to unite the school to keep the Head Boy here. She knew tomorrow would be the real test when parents found out and wrote demanding that he be removed. If the students stood together they had a real chance of making a difference. She had read in Hogwarts, A History that from time to time students had been able to make a difference, especially the ones who were of legal age. Their votes had a magical binding effect that even the school governors would be hard pressed to defeat. She wondered if Taylor had thought of that little fact when she called for a vote. She'd had to smile when her friend insisted that the whole school vote, that way Taylor could vote as well even if it didn't exactly count.

By the time Ron and her returned to Gryffindor Tower, she was tired. Last night had been a long sleepless one as she had sat up with Harry and the others worrying about where Taylor had disappeared. She really didn't blame Harry for being angry with the underage witch. She was angry as well. Taylor was just too impulsive, she never thought anything through. She just jumped in and hoped for the best. Her stunt to clear Greg by agreeing to have her mind read was just another example. It had worked but she had seen the toll it had taken on her friend. Harry had practically carried her back to the common room.

Straightening up she spotted Harry and Ginny sitting on their usual sofa in front of the fire and she headed over to join them. She noticed that the common room was nearly empty. Only two fifth years were sitting at a table in the corner studying. She sighed. Normally by this time of year she'd have revision tables made for everyone and be studying every waking minute. This year, with NEWTS less then six weeks away, she was struggling just to get her homework finished. She really needed to get her act together.

"Some day, yeah?" she said sitting in her favorite spot as Ron sat down beside her and threw his arm casually on the back of the sofa behind her. He often played with her hair, unnoticed by Harry, Ginny or Taylor when they were sitting all together.

"Yeah. So how was patrol?" Harry asked more to pass the time than the fact that he was really interested, unless something had happened of course.

"Quiet. That Slytherin git of a prefect was shooting his mouth off but that was all," Ron replied as he met his best mate's eyes.

"What was he saying?" Harry asked suddenly curious.

"Oh just rubbish really about werewolves. Though if they can stir up any trouble you know the Slytherins will."

Hermione sighed and then told them about the vote and how it was magically binding.

"Huh, do you think Taylor knew all that?" Ginny asked impressed.

"Well, she has read, Hogwarts, A History!" Hermione emphasized the read part.

"Really? I thought that's what we kept you around for?" Ron teased as he rubbed her shoulder.

Rolling her eyes she said, "One thing for sure, life is never boring is it!"

"I think I could do with a little boring right now," Harry said tiredly.

"Yeah, it's been a rough go of it, for sure the last little while." Ron agreed nodding.

"What do you think is going to happen tomorrow? Parents are going to have found out about Greg by then. I don't doubt it will be in the Daily Prophet as well." Ginny said as she looked over at Hermione.

They talked about the repercussions of what happened today, for some time.

The corridor was long and eerily lit as she walked slowly down it, looking constantly over her shoulder, feeling like she was being watched though she saw no one. Finally when she reached the door at the end she opened it and stepped into a dark, round room with many doors. Taylor recognized it immediately. It was the revolving round room in the Department of Mysteries at the Ministry of Magic.

Stepping through the door, the room spun just like she remembered. When it stopped she was standing in the middle of the room, doors surrounding her.

Thinking that she would need to mark the doors like the last time, when she had been here with Harry and the others, so that she would know which ones she had tried as she tried to get out, she gave her wrist a flick… and nothing happened. Lifting her hand she looked at her arm. She could see the wand holder there strapped to her arm as usual but her wand was missing.

That is when she heard it, faintly at first, and it grew steadily louder… a high, cold mirthless laugh. Only this time she recognized the laugh, had heard it in person just after Christmas.

It was Voldemort's laugh.

Feeling the panic overtake her, she ran, trying desperately to open a door, it didn't matter which one as long as she could get away. The cold laugh seemed to be coming from everywhere at once.

There was a bright flash of green light and then it stopped.

Her hand was on an ancient looking door handle. She pulled desperately at it as the hissing of a snake started, looking over her shoulder she could see it. A huge snake was sliding across the round room towards her. Tugging frantically at the door she pleaded for it to open. To let her escape. She knew suddenly if she could just get this door open that she would be safe. Her whole body seemed to know that safety lay just on the other side of the ancient door. But it wouldn't open despite her best efforts.

Feeling her legs trembling, and a cold sweat break out all over her body, she slowly turned, as if her legs acted of their own accord, to look at the snake.

The snake rose up off the floor until it was eye height with her and she looked into its black soulless eyes, as its tongue flicked in and out and it spoke, hissing each word, "Thissss Potter'sssss sssssoul." Then before she could do anything, even scream, the snake attacked, rapidly coiling its body around hers until she was entirely within its cold coils, except for her head. Suddenly, even though she fought the desire with everything she had, her mouth opened and she began to scream, the snake's head dove for her soul as its tail wrapped around her heart.

Harry fought to stifle a yawn as he stretched, "Merlin I think I'm going to fall asleep! I wonder if I even know which bed is mine!"

Ginny grinned, "Yeah that's right, you slept down here in the common room Thursday and Friday night chaperoning! You ruined all Taylor's fun!"

"I'll fun her! I couldn't let her and Hunter stay down here all night alone!" Harry defended.

"Harry's right, Taylor shouldn't be staying all night with a bloke. It just isn't right!" Ron agreed.

"Oh really? I seem to recall she pointed out that she'd spent a fair number of nights alone with you and Harry!" Ginny shot back, raising an eyebrow in challenge.

"Well that's different! She's like a sister to us! It'd be like kissing you!" Ron said with a shudder, making a horrible face.

"Hey! Ahhh, Mate! I happen to like kissing Ginny!" Harry said as his face turned red, and Ron gave him a withering look.

Ginny and Hermione looked at one another and broke into a fit of giggles as they remembered a similar conversation not so long ago with Taylor.

Suddenly a blood-curdling scream echoed down from the girls' dormitories, stopping the laughter immediately.

"Taylor!" Harry yelled jumping to his feet, as his blood ran cold. He knew that scream.

Hermione jumped up too and just caught Harry's arm as he reached the bottom of the stairs, "Harry, you can't go up the stairs! I'll go! Touch her neck with a lit wand, right?" Hermione asked quickly as she started up. She could see the desperation in Harry's face.

"Yes! Go! Hurry!" Harry called as he stared helplessly up the stairs that he couldn't go up because they would turn into a slide. Hermione hurried up and disappeared as the sound of his sister's scream continued to echo down.

"I'll go too!" Ginny called as she raced up after Hermione.

"Bloody Hell! That isn't fair. There should be a way up!" Ron said as he paced looking up the stairs.

"Of course! Accio Firebolt!" Harry yelled palming his wand and pointing it up at his room.

Hermione reached the top of the stairs and pushed open the door to the seventh year girls' dorm, the sound of the screaming increasing as the door opened. Racing in, she could see Lavender standing beside Taylor's bed with the hangings pulled open and staring open mouthed at her visibly shaking friend.

"She won't wake up!" Lavender cried in a terrified voice over the screams.

"I know! Move!" Hermione ordered as she reached the bed. Pulling her wand, she ignited the tip and touched it to Taylor's neck. Almost instantly the screaming stopped, though Taylor's body continued to shake as she opened her terror filled eyes.

Ginny had arrived in time to see Hermione touch Taylor with her wand, and even though the screaming stopped, Ginny felt a shiver travel down her spine at the look of utter terror in her shaking friends eyes. Not sure what to do, she went over to Lavender who was staring horrified at Taylor. "Come on Lavender, why don't you come down to my room?"

"What's wrong with her?" Lavender asked in a frightened voice.

"Taylor!" Harry's anxious voice called from the doorway, making all three witches look to see the wizard jumping off his broom and rushing to Taylor's bed.

Ginny felt a prick of irritation that her wizard was so obviously worried about the witch shaking in the bed and then felt immediately ashamed, knowing it wasn't a whim that brought him.

Harry looked down at his sister. He could see she was shaking and soaked in sweat. Her eyes, still unseeing, were filled with terror. He knew though, now that Hermione had stopped her screams, that she'd be alright. Now, whatever happened to her when she had these nightmares, it no longer had control and she would slowly return to him.

Hermione stared at Harry surprised yet not shocked to see he had found a way to get up here. She could also hear calls starting up and down the stairway asking what was going on. Turning to Ginny she said in a brisk tone, "Why don't you take Lavender down to your room like you suggested? Taylor will be fine now. I'll go and let the others know that everything is alright." Her eyes met Ginny's for a brief second and she saw the other witch nod.

"But why wouldn't she wake up? I shook her!" Lavender said, her voice rising.

Hermione glanced at Harry as if asking what they should say.

His voice was a little harsher then he would have liked, "She… had a type of seizure. She'll be fine now."

"That's right. Come on Lavender and Ginny." Hermione said as she helped usher Lavender out with Ginny's help, closing the door behind them.

Harry turned back to his sister as the door closed. He knew his coming up here like he did was bound to raise questions but it had been an instinctual act to get to her. To make sure she was all right.

She was shaking so hard he could hear her teeth rattling together, as recognition slowly came back into her eyes, as the terror began to fade. Suddenly she rolled over and was sick. He could see it was an effort to roll back over.

Palming his wand he vanished the mess, and dried the sweat from her, as well as issuing a warming charm before he sat on her bed leaning back against the headboard, quietly holding her as her shaking slowly receded, as well as the terror in her eyes.

He could hear Hermione's voice as she spoke to the girls who all wanted to know what was happening. He couldn't quite make out what she was saying but he trusted her, as well as Ginny, to gloss over what had happened and raise as little suspicion as possible. It was some time before he heard the door open and both Ginny and Hermione came back into the room.

"How is she doing?" Hermione asked quietly as she sat on the edge of the bed. Her friend was still shaking but it wasn't nearly as bad and the terror had diminished in her eyes though it was still there.

"Better. You got everyone back to bed did you?" Harry asked softly.

"Yeah, I'm not sure Lavender bought your story but the rest have all headed back to bed. A few boys were wondering what was going on too but Ron was able to get them back to bed. He's waiting in the common room in case a teacher shows up" Hermione informed him.

"What did happen?" Ginny asked, though she thought she knew.

"She had another one of her… nightmares." Harry could see the questions in Ginny's eyes.

"But why? What causes them?"

"I don't know." He said simply as he looked down at his sister. He could tell that she was at least listening to what they were saying and knew she'd be able to speak for herself soon. Her shaking had receded to tremors now. He didn't know what caused these episodes and that's what worried him. He knew that her first one was in Godric's Hollow last summer, and then she'd had one last fall in her room, as well as the one in the Hospital just after Christmas. He just didn't see anything that was the same in any of them so he didn't know what the common denominator was.

They all sat quietly for a while until in a shaky voice Taylor said. "I-I dddon't know either."

"Hey, it's good to have you back. How are you doing?" Harry asked softly.

Taylor nodded her head. She wasn't sure if she could force her voice to work very well just yet, though she'd wanted to ease the worry she could see in her friends' eyes as well as her brother's.

"You're going to be alright now." Her brother said reassuringly and she nodded again.

"Psst! Oi! You lot!" they heard Ron's hushed voice calling up the stairs.

"I'll go tell him what's going on before he wakes everyone up again." Hermione said with a heavy sigh as she stood and headed for the door.

Taylor watched as Hermione left and she struggled to sit up, still feeling incredibly weak and shaky. Her brother helped her. "Let's jus' go down. I… I can' sleep."

"You sure?" Harry asked and Taylor nodded. "Ginny you go down first and take my broom please. I'll slide down with Taylor. I'm sure the stairs will change as soon as I step foot on them."

"Sure Harry," Ginny agreed in a tight voice before retrieving the Firebolt as she went out the door.

"I think Ginny's a little put out with me." Harry muttered as he stood from his sister's bed, threw her comforter over her and picked her up.

"I'm sorry," Taylor whispered, she didn't want to cause problems between her brother and Ginny but right now she needed him. Even just thinking that he might go made her shake harder again as the vivid images from her nightmare assaulted her already laboring mind.

"Hey, shh. Don't worry." He could feel her body shake harder and he paused and looked down at her. "I'm not going anywhere, okay? I'll deal with Ginny. It's nothing a good snog won't fix." He teased gently and was pleased to see a ghost of a smile on his sister's pale face. He kissed her reassuringly on the forehead before he stepped onto the threshold of the seventh year girls' dormitory and as predicted the stairs folded into a slide and he slid down with his sister firmly in his arms.

Ron helped Harry up at the bottom of the slide and the five of them settled on the sofas, Harry with Taylor on one and Ron, Hermione and Ginny on the other.

They sat in silence for a long time when Ginny spoke up in a slightly clipped voice. "Well I think I'm going to head to bed. I'll see you all in the morning."

Taylor watched as her friend left, a part of her felt bad that she was hurting her friend, though the thought was soon consumed by the images from her nightmare.

"Mate, I think my sister is pissed at you!" Ron said a short while after Ginny disappeared up the stairs to her room.

"Of course she is!" Hermione said wisely. "Your rushing up to Taylor, Harry, has upset her more then she's letting on."

"What was I supposed to do Hermione?" Harry asked heatedly. "I was worried sick about Taylor. If something was happening to her I'd have done the same thing!"

"I know Harry. You need to tell her that. I know she will understand. I think she was a little shaken up over seeing what happened to Taylor as well." Hermione continued in her knowing voice.

Harry nodded and sighed. Ginny wasn't the only one who was a little shaken up. Even though he'd seen it happen twice before, it was still extremely unsettling.

They talked occasionally about different things but soon Ron fell asleep. A while later Taylor finally spoke up. She would have liked to talk just to her brother but maybe Hermione would be able to help as well.

"This one was a little different." Her voice sounded hollow to her own ears.

"Different? How?" Harry asked in a slightly groggy voice as he shook his drowsy head to clear it.

"The… the snake… attacked."

Harry felt the shudder that that went through his sister.

"What else was different?" Hermione asked gently.

"Maybe we should see if Dumbledore is in the painting. He would want to know about this." Harry said as the thought occurred to him. Hermione nodded and, going to fetch the painting, was back shortly, sitting the frame on the coffee table.

"Good evening," the painting of Professor Dumbledore said politely. "I am glad you included me in your discussion. Miss Porter, I heard you had another nightmare, Miss Granger informed me of it when she called to me." The painted blue eyes shifted from one teenager to the other.

"Yes Professor," Taylor confirmed.

"I see. I would very much like to hear about it if you could please Taylor." Dumbledore's painted blue eyes took on a slightly troubled quality though his voice remained cordial.

Taylor shifted and Harry patted her arm encouragingly. Haltingly she began describing some of what had happened in her nightmare. She couldn't tell it all, some things were just too… So she told about being in the eerily lit corridor and about going into the round revolving room and about the laughter. As well as how the snake seemed to attack her this time. The rest she left out, unable to tell anyone any more. When she finished, the painted blue eyes stared hard at her for a long moment.

"Professor? Do you believe the difference in the nightmares is significant?" Hermione asked astutely.

"It certainly is interesting, Miss Granger." The painting of Dumbledore had a few more questions before the discussion turned to what had happened since the last time they had talked.

The sky was starting to lighten when Dumbledore said goodbye and walked out of the picture frame.

A/N Well there you have it one more chapter. I know this one is rather short but when I wrote it this just seemed to be the natural stopping place. Life is rather busy right now for both me and my amazing beta but I will post the next chapter as soon as I can! Hope you enjoyed!

Thank you to those who left a review! I love every one! Thank you for reading this far! Well until next time, cytpotter.