Harry was starting to feel better. He had bathed, put on new robes and tossed the ones he had been wearing. Ron, Fred and George did not talk to Harry about or bring up some of the things he had said. They had convinced themselves into believing that Harry was rambling about a nightmare that seemed real to him. Then there was the fear that if they did Harry would go back to his previous state.
Hermione just knew that when Harry had been talking about those that had died and those that die he was not talking about a nightmare that was real to him. She also did not bring it up for fear of Harry going back to the state he had been in. The more Hermione though about it the more she wondered what was going on. As she started thinking about how had been since school started and add in what had recently happened she started to wonder if Harry had seen the future or possibly even been there and lived it. She didn't talk this over with the boys. They wouldn't understand. They didn't see Harry's face as he was talking. Harry was so sure, and the pain in his eyes was just too real for it to have been a realistic type nightmare or dream. Hermione wanted to badly to talk to Harry about it but the fear of Harry slipping away again wouldn't let her. Plus how would she even begin.
Harry was still allowed to stay in the Gryffindor tower for two more weeks. The first week Harry worked on the four days he had missed and started on the work for that week. The second week was just studying. He really wasn't looking forward to going back to classes it was so much easier to do all the work this way. He really was not in the mood to see Snape ever again after that detention, he was sort of regretting what he did. But thee was nothing he could do about it now.
The weekend before he resumed classes he thought about just hanging out in the common room but then thought better of that. He decided to go out side and enjoy the fresh air and the nice weather.
Harry found it refreshing to be out side. He was still tired and was not quite thinking clearly. Harry found a tree by a lake and sat down under it in the shade relaxing. He really didn't want to think about when he had broken down. As much as he was relieved he was also surprised that no one had brought it up, especially Hermione. He knew that he had slipped up quite a bit. He just couldn't help from seeing the faces of everyone that had died. 'I've got to prevent their de…' Harry stopped in mid thought, sat straight up and stared at the lake for a moment. Harry stood up, began to pace and mutter to him self. "What the bloody hell have I been doing and thinking? Aagh…. little things don't make a big enough difference. Fix the major things. Sirius is a start. Next on my list, Horcruxes, to the Department of Mysteries and destroy the Prophecy to ensure Sirius's life, find a way to get a large quantity of Felix Felicis to be on the safe side, keep Katie from touching the necklace, prevent anyone receiving the bottle of poisoned mead, find out if Lupin was able to do anything about Sirius." Harry stopped pacing and stood still, "as a precaution still do the D.A. they still need to be prepared, especially if Umbridge unfortunately ends up here. Well maybe if I make enough changes she won't ever step foot in this school."
Hermione had been looking for Harry. She wanted to talk to him and ask him something. She was not sure how to go about it, but she had to do it. Hermione had looked all over the inside of the school and she looked around briefly in the common room.
"Hermione, who are you looking for?" Asked Ron.
"I was looking for Harry. I can't seem to find him anywhere. He's not back in bed is he?"
"No. He said he wanted some fresh air and went outside."
"Thanks Ron." Hermione took off to look out on the grounds.
Hermione had looked all over the grounds and had not found Harry. She was about to head back inside to see if she may have missed, but then she saw Harry sitting under a tree. She walked towards him. Hermione was slightly concerned; Harry had suddenly sat straight up and stayed like that for a while. As she got closer he stood up and started to pace, and she could barely hear what he was muttering, but she could still hear it. She listened to everything he said. She knew that she was definitely talking to him and she knew how to start bringing it up. Once Harry had stopped pacing and was just standing still she walked up to his right side.
Harry was consumed by his ramblings and making his list of what to take care of that he did not notice anyone approaching or that this person was standing on his right side.
"Harry" Hermione said softly.
Harry jumped as he heard Hermione speak and standing right next to him. 'Oh crap. I hope she doesn't think that I have gone mad.' Harry thought.
"Hermione, what brings you outside on this nice day." Hermione had startled so bad that he said the first thing that came to mind with no pre-thought to it.
"Are you okay? How long have been talking to your self?"
"I'm okay. Just the past several minutes, I wasn't really talking to my self just thinking a loud."
"Okay…. uh…. Harry…well I have been looking for you because I wanted to talk to you about something and ask you something. At first I wasn't sure how to even start, but as I was walking over I heard you 'thinking aloud'.
'Here we go. What do I tell her? Do I tell her the truth? She's more than likely has figured it out with what I was saying as she came over here. I guess I should just tell her.' Harry thought to himself silently.
"Spill it Hermione. What did you want to talk to me about and ask me?"
"I wanted to talk to you about what you said to me when you had broke down. Between that and everything I just heard you say, well…uh…are you a seer?"
"Uh…. no…. I just know what has happened…I mean could happen…what could happen. Yeah that's it could happen."
"Harry how can you know?"
"I just do."
"Harry! Explain yourself or I'm going to Dumbledore and Madam Pomfrey and tell them that you have gone mad or are on Muggle drugs. It's your choice. What is it going to be?"
"Okay. I'll explain." Harry looked around quickly. No one was within hearing range. "First of all, please just listen and don't interrupt me. It might not make much sense at first but it's the only way I can think of to begin to explain. As I was finishing my seventh year at Hogwarts I was struggling with a heart brake. I wasn't paying attention in Potions; my head was not in it. So I messed up on the ingredients on the potion I was supposed to be making and it blew up. It was like an explosion had gone off; I flew backwards and hit the back of my head on the wall. It knocked me out. The next think I knew I was waking up at the Dursley's in the cupboard under the stairs. I'm reliving my life all over again. I know I told you that the Dursley's are horrible, well I have to go through reliving that all over again."
Hermione listened and did not interrupt Harry once. She was a little surprised, not so much of what he said but that he had said it all. She didn't know what to say, she wasn't sure that she could say anything.
"Hermione I am not just breezing by in my classes. I am genuinely studying. Yes there are a lot of things that I know but there are things that I might not know. I want to try and make my life better and I don't want to regret anything this time."
"But Harry…"
"Hermione if you could go back in time to relive your childhood up to know, knowing and remembering what you had gone through, you can't tell me that you wouldn't change something's."
"I wouldn't change anything."
"Bull shit!"
"Excuse me!"
"Hermione, did you enjoy grade school?"
"Well, not really."
"Why?"
"No friends."
"Did anyone ever pick on you? Or play horribly pranks at your expense embarrassing you?"
"Yes"
"Did you ever want to change schools or move out of the country?"
"On a few occasions."
"If you had to relive your life, wouldn't you avoid those pranks and those that were doing the pranks?"
"I suppose so."
"Okay, if someone you love were killed in a car crash, wouldn't try and keep them from leaving the house?"
"Well, putting it that way, yes. So you really know what could happen, wow!"
"Oh…. Hermione…. I won't tell you what I know and won't change, especially when it comes to boy's you like or if, I mean who likes you. You do know a few things that I am going to change. I might tell you some of it. Now here is some advice, and please don't take it the wrong way, 'Life happens outside of books', in other words hang out with more than just me and Ron once in a while. Hermione you can't live in the library, have some fun. You do know what fun is, right?"
"Yes, I know what fun is. Harry can't you tell me anything about my future love life?"
"No."
"Not even if I have one?"
"Okay. You do have a love life. That is all I am going to tell you about it. Well, just trust me if I give any future advice on someone you like."
"You might have to remind me."
"Okay, now do you want to have some fun?"
"Depends on what you mean by that."
Harry points his want at Hermione grinning, and says 'Rictusempra'.
Hermione starts laughing uncontrollably to the point of crying while begging Harry to make it stop.
Harry non-verbally casts 'Finite Incantatem' and she stopped laughing instantly.
Once Hermione calmed down and caught her breath, she says 'Wait. Have you purposely been letting me succeed first in all classes?"
"Yes." He said reluctantly. "It just seemed right not to change that. As for Potions, not much I can do there. The first time I was horrible, this time I'm doing loads better and Snape is still, well Snape."
Hermione had to laugh at the last thing Harry had said. After a few minute they headed back inside.
* * * * * * *
Dumbledore stopped along the way back to Hogwarts at the Hog's Head to have a drink. He had just finished the drink when an owl flew right into the back of him. Dumbledore turned around, found the owl on the floor with a letter in its mouth. He leaned over, took the letter and found it was addressed to him and recognized the writing as McGonagall's. He quickly opened the letter,
Albus,
I thought that you should know Ronald Weasley, Fred and George Weasley have come to me on different occasions. From Ron I found out that Harry has been in bed since he returned to the dormitories after the detention with Snape and has not had anything to eat during this time. Fred and George informed me that Hermione Granger had been able to get Harry to talk. The twins over heard part of the conversation and said that Harry was talking strangely. They said that Harry was talking about Witches and Wizards that are dead or will be. I am not sure what that is all about but I will tell you that I am concerned about it. I have not been up to see Harry. I will try to, but can't guarantee that I will be able to.
Sincerely,
M. McGonagall.
Dumbledore nearly dropped the letter. He quickly left the Hog's Head and went straight to the castle. Once he arrived he sent a message to McGonagall letting her know that he was back and wanted to talk with her immediately.
McGonagall left her classroom and went quickly to Dumbledore's office.
"Albus, you're back. Did you get my letter?'
"I did get it, not as soon as I probably should have. I am interested in how Harry is now."
"He is better. I am giving Harry two more weeks of no classes so he can get caught up."
"So as a result of Hermione Granger getting Harry to talk, he has improved. Would that be a correct conclusion?"
"Yes it would be."
"Minerva, I would like you to find Fred and George Weasley for me. I want to have a work with them immediately. Do tell them that they are not in trouble."
"I will go find them now."
"Thank you Minerva."
* * * * * * *
Minerva found the twins in Defense Against the Dark Arts.
"Professor Quirrell, could I have Fred and George Weasley?"
"Y-y-yes."
Once out in the hall the twins asked, "What is this about?"
"Dumbledore would like to have a word with the two of you. Don't worry you're not in trouble."
McGonagall led the twins to Dumbledore office. On the way they were wondering why Dumbledore would want to talk to them.
"Please have a seat. I wanted to know whose names Harry said had died or will die."
"He had said that everyone he cares about dies. The names we know are, Cedric, you and myself."
"He also said, Moony, Tonks, Moody and Dobby. Who are they?" George added.
"Oh and he also said his Godfather." The twins said.
Dumbledore was shocked with the first three, he knew Tonks, he was pretty sure that 'Moody' was Mad-Eye Moody. He was sure that Dobby was the Malfoys house elf. Dumbledore became very pale at the discovery that Harry knew about Sirius. He just didn't know how he knew of Sirius and how much.
"Thank you both. No need to know who they are. You may go."
Fred and George left Dumbledore's office and headed to their next class. They were a little confused after talking with Dumbledore. To them Dumbledore seemed to know who the other people were.
As they walked to their next class they started thinking about it again. What they heard Harry tell Hermione and what just happened in Dumbledore's office, maybe Harry had not been rambling on about a nightmare so vivid it seemed real. The more they thought about it, the more they really didn't want to know what was going on. Harry was acting normal again why mess with a good thing. Fred and George gave it no more thought, at least for now.
