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Author: Sugarquills23 Story: A Dream Unlocked Rating: Teens Setting: Pre-HBP Status: Completed Reviews: 7 Words: 76,074
Harry turned to Moody and asked, "What's going on? I guess I expected a bit more activity around here. Why did you come for me now anyway?" Moody looked at the twins and then back at Harry. "Dumbledore got word from an informant that that "blimp" of a woman was coming today. He felt it better to take you away rather than let you get into trouble again by hexing her and her slobbering mutt to smithereens. We were coming for you next week anyway, it just seemed prudent." Harry looked at them a little irritated at the implication that he couldn't control his temper, but he knew deep down they were probably right on this occasion. Besides, anything that got him away from Privet Drive was okay with him. "So where is everyone? Where's Ron? I thought he would be here." Harry asked as he began to calm his temper. It was the twins' turn to respond now. "Well, he and Mum were here. They were getting things ready for you. You know…cleaning, preparing food, so you'd have what you need. When Dumbledore moved your 'extraction from Dursley Doom' up a week unexpectedly, it put Mum into a bit of a tizzy. She was worried she wouldn't have enough time to prepare things properly for you, so she put Ron and us to work straight away. She was in a right state wasn't she?" George said turning to Fred. "Yeah, she kept asking if headquarters felt 'homey' enough and bustling around like the Queen was coming or something." Fred responded shrugging his shoulders. "She finally calmed down in the end though after we slipped her some special tea, our own unique blend." Fred said with a wink. "She was more than alright after that." "Down right blissful, I'd say." George added with a nod and a proud grin. "She just wanted you to feel at home here, Harry." Harry looked curiously at the three of them. "So, they're all gone? You mean, I'll be staying… alone?" He did not like the idea of being left alone in the home of his dead godfather. On the surface, it was evident that Mrs. Weasley and the others had worked hard at eliminating the remaining 'darkness' from the house. Many of the Black family heirlooms had finally been removed, including the wailing portrait of Mrs. Black. The menacing objects had been replaced with brighter, cheerier ones and it had taken on the overall feel of a normal muggle home rather than a den of dark wizards. Regardless of the physical changes in the room, as Harry looked around the empty lounge, he could almost feel an echo of Sirius in the space. It wasn't that he was frightened; it just made him feel rather depressed. Fred and George seemed to know what he was thinking and jumped to answer. "No of course not, we'll be taking it in turns to…" "To what, mind me?" Harry finished indignantly. "Why can't I just come to the Burrow?" Moody practically growled, "Its not safe boy! You know that!" "Then why can't Ron come to stay here with me?" Harry shot back as his voice rose to where he was practically yelling. The twins looked quickly at each other and then began trying to calm him down again, "Take it easy Harry. He will, but not until tomorrow. He was going to pick up Hermione tonight and then they are both going to be joining you tomorrow. Ginny will be along any minute now. We're going to keep you company tonight." Suddenly Harry felt like a prat as he paused and then answered, "Oh." somewhat lamely. A rather uncomfortable silence filled the room. Moody disappeared into the kitchen and the twins kept stealing glances at each other and then at Harry with uncertainty. They seemed to be unsure of how to proceed from there. To escape the awkwardness, Harry decided to excuse himself from the group and go upstairs to unpack. When he entered his room it certainly looked like it had been given what Harry could only describe as a mother's touch. It was spotless and everything looked fresh and bright. The curtains were drawn back and sunshine gleamed through the window. His spirits began to rise as he opened the wardrobe and began to unpack. He was done with his Dursley 'sentence' for another year and spending the last five weeks of the summer holiday with his best friends. If he could just figure out his dreams, he thought his life would be just about perfect. Well, maybe not perfect, there was still the matter of Voldemort, but he felt that it would be pretty good, all things considered. Harry decided to let Hedwig share in his freedom. He walked to her cage and released the clasp. Normally she'd be asleep at this time of day if she wasn't off delivering a letter, but apparently the commotion of the day had her a bit off her routine. "Go on girl. Have a bit of a stretch." Harry said as he stroked her snow white feathers with a smile. She didn't seem too keen on moving at first, but when Harry crossed the room and opened the window in encouragement, Hedwig hopped out of her cage and lighted on his arm momentarily. In appreciation, she affectionately nipped his ear before gliding out into the open air. He watched as she took flight into the late morning sky, hooting happily. Harry followed her with his eyes as she soared off over the rooftops and out of sight. Wistfully, he imagined how it would feel to grab his Firebolt and join her. It had been weeks since he'd flown. No matter how many times he'd done it, it always felt exhilarating when he first pushed off from the ground. He reluctantly tabled the thought after a few minutes. He seriously doubted that Moody or anyone else would appreciate him taking an excursion into Muggle air space. No, definitely not. Flying would have to wait. With a sigh he turned from the window and finished unpacking. After placing Hedwig's empty cage on the wardrobe, he stretched out on the bed to relax. In the silence of the room, his mind drifted once again to the unmistakable presence of his godfather that could be felt all around him. Harry swallowed hard and wondered if he was really ready to spend the summer closed off at Grimmauld Place. Part of the reason Sirius was gone was because he had been going stir crazy cooped up at headquarters. Harry tried to push the thoughts from his mind and concentrate on the fact that Fred and George were staying the night, Ginny was on her way, and Ron and Hermione would be arriving to tomorrow. He'd soon be surrounded by the people he loved most. Sirius wouldn't want him to dwell on the tragedies of the past. He'd want him to live for the future and find peace and solace in his memory, not sadness. Slowly Harry's mind cleared and his eyes began to slide out of focus. He was feeling more tired than he realized. Obviously the lack of sleep and the excitement of the morning had taken its toll. Before Harry knew it, he had drifted off to sleep. Suddenly he was walking down a torch lit, stone corridor. The flames dancing off the walls were little comfort along the dark and dank pathway of his dreams, but Harry didn't care. He moved deliberately through the catacombs turning several times without even thinking. The route was so engrained in his mind at that point; he didn't need to think about it. As the doorway to the chamber came into view, he felt a familiar jolt of excitement and nerves sweep over him. He moved forward to open the door, hoping that this time the elusive figure from his dreams would somehow reveal themselves to him. When the heavy wooden barrier swung open on its large metal hinges, initially things looked the same as they had every other night, but they weren't. It took only seconds for Harry to sense that something was different. It was quiet, too quiet. A surge of panic washed over him. "I'm too late!" he thought. He hoped that he was wrong and that the person he had heard night after night hadn't lost their fight. Proceeding cautiously into the room he saw a glow coming from the far corner. As he approached it, he began to realize it was the form of a girl. She was lying silently on what looked like a giant stone slab covered in carved serpents. The light he had seen was radiating from the fire crackling behind her giving the figure a rather eerie, ethereal glow. Slowly, he approached her, watchful of his surroundings. When he was sure they were alone, he began to close the distance between him and her alarmingly still body. The room seemed to grow and elongate as he walked. He kept moving forward but he didn't feel like he was gaining much ground. When he finally reached her side, he looked down and gasped. "No! It can't be! …Ginny! What happened to you? Wake up Ginny!" Harry's throat constricted as his mind shot back years to the image of her on the floor of the Chamber of Secrets. He reached out to touch her cheek and found it icy cold. She looked dead, but after noticing the rise and fall of her slow breathing he knew she was alive. She was bound and in some sort of deep sleep. She was bruised and scratched and her eyes were puffy and dark underneath, like she had been crying. Harry had to remind himself this was only a dream. This can't really be happening. She's coming to see me. Fred and George said so themselves. Ginny is fine. Ginny is fine! He could almost hear her calling to him even as he repeated the words in his mind. The voice was off in the distance "Harry! Harry, wake up!" The words finally sunk in as Harry sat bolt upright in the bed and came face to face with the real live version of the girl in his dreams. Ginny was sitting next to him on the bed. She had been trying to wake him. She looked frightened and exhausted, very much like her counterpart in his dream, except the scratches and bruises were absent. "Harry, are you alright?" Harry froze in silence. He was stunned at what he had just seen in his dream. It was even more of a shock to wake up and find Ginny sitting right before him. He wanted to grab her and hug her in relief that she was safe, but she'd surely think he'd lost his mind. He didn't want to scare her with the truth. Not knowing quite what he should say he lied and said, "Er…Yeah…I'm fine." Then trying to sound casual he added, "How long have I been asleep?" Ginny
looked at him questioningly as if searching his eyes for answers. After
a small pause she quietly asked, "You found me…didn't you?" A/N: Thanks again to my wonderful betas, Tante and Sonicdale. You guys are the best!
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