Summer of Nightmares
The Weasley family plus Harry and Hermione arrived back at the
burrow in the late hours of the morning. They entered the house to
see a terrified Molly Weasley sitting at the kitchen table.
"Your back!" She yelled, tears in her eyes when the door swung
open.
"It's okay Molly, we're all safe and sound." Mr Weasley comforted
her.
"I have been a bit stressed since the prophet came out this morning.
I've been cooking ever since so breakfast or lunch or brunch,
whatever you call it is ready. Just get inside and eat."
True to her word Mrs Weasley had cooked up a feast of every
breakfast food imaginable along with several cakes, muffins, biscuits
and scones. They would have left overs for weeks with all that she
had cooked. The food was eaten until they all needed to loosen their
pants slightly to hold their full stomachs. Everyone was so tired and
only wanted to go to sleep. Unfortunately for Mr Weasley, he needed
to go back to the ministry and Percy followed.
Ron being Ron, feel asleep the moment his head hit his pillow but
Harry didn't mind. His summer had turned bad very quickly with the
quidditch world cup. Harry tried his best to get a bit of sleep but
images of that man falling over, dead by Harry's hand painted his
mind. Nightmares of a family who now had no father or a missing
son. His deeds were not theirs and they would suffer for it. When
Harry's exhaustion finally over took him his sleep was not peaceful in
any way.
A short fat man with pale skin and balding hair knelt before a large
chair by the burning fire. A thick black snake curled around the chair,
hissing at the fat man and the thing in the chair. The thing in the
chair was strange. It looked like a small child of around two but its
head, arms and legs were that of a grown man. Its skin was pale and
flaking whilst its head was bald and reptilian like with slits for nostrils
and crimson red eyes with vertical pupils. The whites of a humans
eyes were replaced with the darkest of blacks. It was a truly
horrifying abomination of nature.
"My lord you must drink now, the potion will only sustain you if you
drink it." The fat man stuttered from his place at the things feet.
"Shut up Peter, give it to me and go milk nagani." The thing snapped.
"Y-yes my lord." The fat man, Peter, stuttered again in reply. The
snake hissed dangerously at him and he whimpered in fear.
"How goes our preparations for my return."
"All is going to plan, Potter will not know what hit him by the end."
"Good, good. Soon my pet." the thing said as he stroked the snake.
"I shall return soon."
Harry woke with a start, sweat ran from his face and his bed sheets
looked like he had done something Dudley stopped doing only a few
years ago. What was that about, what did it mean. Harry's scar
throbbed with pain he had not felt for two years and he didn't like it at
all.
"Sirius should know, he might be able to tell me what it was about."
Harry decided. Rummaging in his trunk for the mirror he had
recieved he flipped it open and called his godfather's name.
"Harry, whats up, what time is it over there. Its eleven O'clock in
cuba so you must be like five in the morning." Sirius said.
"Yeah it's still early, I just needed to speak with you about
something." Harry replied.
"Well speak away, I'm all ears" Sirius offered.
"I just woke up from a dream, Wormtail was with Voldemort in some
house and they talked about his return. I don't know all the details
but it said something about me not knowing what hit me and a plan
being in place. Voldemort has a weak body of a weird and creepy
child and he's living off a potion made by Wormtail. I think it has
snake venom because he was told to milk a snake." Harry recited
what he remembered
"Well this is disturbing, is there anything else." Sirius asked.
"Yeah, I woke up sweating heaps and my scar hurt." Harry added.
"I'm sure it was just a bad dream but let me know if it keeps
happening and if anything changes okay pup." Sirius said.
"There is something else though that's been on my mind." Harry said
"What is it pup." Sirius asked
"In the first war, did you ever kill someone."
"No I didn't, what brought this on Harry. I might have been a bully but
I would never kill someone." Sirius said.
"We went to the quidditch world cup as you know." Harry began.
"Yes I heard, how was that by the way."
"The game was great if a bit one sided. Ireland won but Krum got the
snitch. After the game that night, during all the parties some death
eaters pulled out their robes and masks and started fires and were
muggle baiting the muggles nearby. We all ran towards the forest but
I got separated from the others. I went around the block and kept
going towards the forest but I ran into a death eater and a girl. Sirius
he was going to do horrible things to her, I knew it. We dueled each
other because I couldn't just leave and I won. I caught him with some
banished debris and he was thrown into the wreckage. But when I
went to help the girl up to carry on towards the forest he cast the
torture curse at us. I could have just stunned him Sirius but I was so
angry, I cast Lacero and I killed him, I'm a monster Sirius, a
murderer." Harry
"No you are not Harry, if a bear terrorises a village and kills its
people it is not murder to kill the bear when it attacks you. You are
different from them because of why you did it. The death eaters
killed and tortured because they found it fun and did so for pleasure.
You defended yourself and this girl from a monster who tried to rape,
torture and kill her. You are not a monster Harry, you are a hero. It is
not the act of killing that is so wrong Harry, it is why someone does it.
To protect yourself and others is not wrong. To eliminate a threat to
your beliefs and your aims is wrong. Do you understand me Harry."
"Okay, I get it, snuffles," Harry teased at the name "Thanks for
talking to me, I don't know if I can get back to sleep but I can try."
"You know, you being the heir of the marauders need to make a
bang with your coming into your inheritance of practical joke
knowledge." Sirius said.
"I think the twins have taken up the place of prank masters now. I
wonder if they found your map somehow. They seem to know where
everyone is." Harry informed Sirius.
"Great, steal it back, prank the school with the tag of marauders heir
and challenge them too a prank war. In anyway it will take your mind
off these dreams to plan it. How goes the transformation." Sirius
asked. In answer Harry effortlessly changed his left forearm and right
fingers into that to match a white tigers paws. Slowly the fur spread
to cover to the forearm of the right hand but bone and muscle
structure had not changed. Slow again the muscles and bones
shifted to leave two identical tiger paws instead of hands.
"Well done, both front paws in a two months is quite impressive. Of
course we were about the same place but we did practice more and
were set back by our poor meditation. I'm proud of you Harry. So
when will you tell me exactly what your form is." Sirius asked.
"When I finish it completely, it will probably take me longer than you
guys because I won't put all my time and effort into it. I'm not going
to ignore my work to finish it. I plan to get it done by the middle of
fifth year or closer to the end. I think I'll try and get that extra wink of
sleep, bye Sirius."
"See ya pup, sleep good." Sirius replied before the connection broke.
Harry slept through until lunch peacefully. His mind and body really
were exhausted and talking to Sirius had helped five him some
peace of mind. It wasn't as if Harry suddenly did not care about what
he had done but it didn't affect him as much as it did before.
"Good morning sleepy head, you've been asleep for awhile." Mrs
Weasley greeted him when he fi alley made an appearance.
"I didn't sleep all to well to begin with. The world cup really shook me
up a bit." Harry replied.
"It shook us all up Harry, the last war was the most terrifying thing I
have ever witnessed and we all lost a lot of family and friends to it.
To see those people and that mark brought up a lot of bad memories
in all of us." Mrs Wealsleu said gloomily.
"Where is everyone." Harry asked.
"They are all by the pond. Would you like something to eat." She
asked.
Harry's summer only got worse from there. He had a few good nights
of sleep over the next two weeks but most were just simply uneasy
and Harry didn't get any decent rest at all. He would sleep for eight
tk nine hours but when he woke he felt like he didn't sleep at all. And
the nightmares didn't stop either. He had tried to ignore them and
they mostly repeated or were very similar. That is until last night.
"Peter, who is here, go check for intruders." the voice Harry
recognised as Voldemort said from his chair.
"Y-yes my lord." Peter stuttered in fear. The vision stayed with
Voldemort and all that could be heard was a squeal of fear and a
broken conversation between Peter and a hoarse voice that sounded
like it hadn't been used for years.
"My Lord, I bring good news." Peter said from his place on the floor
at Voldemort's chair.
"What is it Peter, who was here." Voldemort hissed.
"I have returned to you my lord, I was always faithful and sought you
out as soon as I was free. For I knew that you had secured your
rightful place with the living." The owner of the hoarse voice said as
he entered the room and bowed low before Voldemort. The man was
average height with short brown hair, hazel eyes and a sadistic grin
planted on his face. Every so often his tongue would flicker like a
snake making him look truly crazy.
"Your loyalty shall be rewarded, you will help nicely with our plan my
friend. Finally I have more competent help than this pitiful excuse.
Peter, inform our new friend here of our plans. I think he will be of
great use to us." Voldemort smiled wickedly.
Harry's scar was searing in pain and his sheets dripping in sweat
after that nightmare. Harry didn't know what it was that caused these
but he wanted them to stop. They were painful to endure both
physically and mentally and Harry just knew they were slightly more
than creations of his imagination. Of course if wishes were fishes we
would all live in the sea.
Diagon Alley, the first magical place Harry had ever visited. It was
the perfect image of a magical shopping district and where Harry had
learnt so much, including the truth of his parents' deaths and his
fame. And today Harry would be visiting again.
"Come on boys, we need to Harry or else we will get stuck in the
crowds" Molly Weasley called.
"Mum, have you seen my chudley shirt." The voice of Ron yelled
back down the stairs.
"Bottom draw, left hand side. I put it there this morning." Mrs
Weasley replied.
"Thanks Mum." Ron said when he entered the living room. Shortly
after they were joined by Ginny and they were ready to go.
"Alright, we will be taking the floo to the Leaky Cauldron. Fred, you're
the eldest and will go first and I will be last." Mrs Wealsy told them
all.
"Don't get lost again Harry" Ron teased.
"Ha ha, very funny." Harry replied sarcastically.
"Harry dear, you're up next, remember to say the name clearly." Mrs
Weasley said slowly.
Harry stepped into the fire and threw down the powder as he called,
very clearly "Diagon Alley." He was whisked away in a swirl of green
flames. Harry kept his elbows in and his eyes closed as he listened
to the flames. The sound roared louder and Harry walked forward.
The flames stopped and he made it out of the fire at the other end
gracefully without stumbling at all.
"How did you do that." Fred asked when Harry arrived so perfectly.
"It's a trade secret of the pureblood elite, nothing people like you
would know." Harry mocked with his nose turned up, a look of
disgust at Fred's words on his face.
"Very funny Harry, how'd you do it." George asked.
"You got to listen to the flames. The flare louder when you arrive to
tell you to get out. If you don't it will eject you out. Apparently it's to
avoid someone landing on top of someone else." Harry explained.
"Good to know, it is rather embarrassing when you fall on your face."
Ron said who arrived in time for Harry's explanation.
"Everyone's made it here safe." Mrs Weasley asked when she
arrived, giving a quick headcount. "Brilliant, lets go."
The group made their way through the alley, stopping at all the
shops on the way. They topped up on potion supplies, text books,
parchment, ink and quills, herbology equipment and school robes.
They also all got dress robes that were on the school supplies list.
Harry decided to open an account with Madam Malkins so he could
order any robes he might need during school. He didn't want to buy
expensive robes with all the Weasley's with him while they
purchased the cheapest they could find.
"Is that everything we need." Mrs Weasley asked when they finished
in the robe shop.
"Can we go to muggle London, all my other clothes are too small
now and I need some new ones." Harry asked.
"Does anybody else need anything in muggle London." Mrs Weasley
asked the group.
"Nah, I don't need any more clothes." Ron said,Fred and George
nodding along.
"There is a book store I wanted to visit on the muggle side."
Hermione said.
"I would like a few jerseys for at Hogwarts and some jeans. All my
warm clothes are getting tight. I have grown quite a bit you know
mum, I need some things." Ginny said, hoping her mother would
understand.
"I think the three of us are more than capable Mrs Weasley. We can
go to the muggle side and floo back to the burrow when we are
done. Saves us dragging everyone around and we might take a
while. I don't think Ginny needs all her brothers with her while she is
shopping." Harry said, his horrible conversations with Sirius had
eventually taught him something and he knew what Ginny needed.
"Oh yes but I'm not sure, I don't want anything to happen, you will be
all by yourself." Mrs Weasley said.
"We will be fine Mrs Weasley, my luck struck early and my need for
wild adventures has been satisfied at the world cup for this year.
Besides, what could possibly go wrong, we can get lunch in London
and be back before two." Harry reasoned.
"Okay, but if anything happens you are to come straight home and
you will be telling me." Mrs Weasley warned.
"Brilliant, Hermione, Ginny, lets go." Harry said and the three
teenagers left the pub they were in.
"So where to first Harry." Ginny asked.
"The clothes shops for me, there might be something you like as well
in there too." Harry replied. The three walked through London until
they stood outside a rather high end muggle clothing store.
"Harry, are you sure you want to go in there. It's all labels and they
are quite expensive." Hermione warned.
"I know but it is better quality, if there is anything that catches your
eye let me know. This is already going to be expensive because I
need to completely restock." Harry said.
"Alright then let's go." Ginny said excited.
Harry walked through the shop and grabbed multiple pairs of jeans,
trousers and shorts from the racks. He then moved through to find
various T-shirts and dress shirts that he would need. He grabbed a
few hoodies and jackets and many pairs of socks. For shoes he
grabbed some black polished dress shoes to match his robes and
two pairs of sneakers, one in black and grey for school and some
blue and white ones for when he wasn't in school robes.
"Man you really are splashing out on clothes Harry, are you sure you
can afford all of this." Hermione asked.
"The Potter trust fund for me wouldn't support me buying all of this
because it wasn't meant to be for me to buy all my clothes that I
need. It would usually be for my personal purchases like some
quidditch gear or things in Hogsmeade. However I have recently
been appointed heir to the house of Black by my godfather and his
trust fund for me is far more… accommodating to these purchases.
So if anything catches your eye, pick it out and we can have a look."
Harry said.
"Oh, so why are you spending it all here and not in diagon."
Hermione asked.
"Could you imagine what Ron would say if I got acromantula silk
robes and dragon hide boots. He would go mental with jealousy.
That's why I set up the owl order account with Madam Malkin. I can
buy them later and Ron won't know anything. It's not that I don't want
to share my wealth but Ron would definitely take it the wrong way.
He is a little bit touchy with money." Harry replied.
"I know what you mean, we can go back to diagon to get some robes
for you if you want" Hermione offered.
"Nah, better give Hedwig something to do or she will get mad at me."
Harry said.
"Harry, can we get some under things from here. You have no idea
how much better quality muggle underwear is compared to the horrid
things wizards have. It's either nannies knickers or a piece of string
tied in a bow." Ginny asked.
"Sure thing, That's all I have left to grab." Harry said. They made
their way across the store and Ginny picked out what she wanted
while Harry grabbed his own underwear.
"Well that's me done." Harry said after paying the large sum to the
cashier. "What do you guys need." Harry asked.
"Lunch." Ginny answered.
"True, Hermione you're the expert on muggle London, where should
we eat." Harry asked.
"I think there is a pizza place just down the road from here." She
said.
"Oh, I've always wanted to try pizza. It always looked so good. Let's
go there." Harry agreed with the choice and they soon found
themselves sitting in the small pizza parlor with a large pepperoni
pizza to share between them and a glass of coke each.
"This is delicious, why doesn't Hogwarts have this." Ginny asked.
"Because the Hogwarts menu hasn't changed in a thousand years.
We do you think there is pumpkin juice, water or tea. Anything tasty
has came to popularity later on." Hermione said.
"I should talk to Dobby." Harry said. "He helps cook for Hogwarts and
could probably get some pizza sent up."
"House elves work at Hogwarts." Hermione asked, a large frown
forming on her face.
"Yeah they do, Hogwarts has always taken in homeless elves that
need work. None of them are bound to the school or anything but
they can feed off the ambient magic in the castle." Harry said.
"Do they get paid, and sick leave and days off." Hermione asked.
"You would have to ask them but I don't think so, not galleons
anyway." Harry thought aloud.
"It's slave labour." Hermione decided.
"Lets go to that book shop." Harry decided, anything to stop
Hermione going on a tirade about something pointless.
The bookshop was boring and Hermione quickly found her few
books she planned on getting and many she didn't. Ginny had found
everything she needed before lunch so they set off to the leaky
cauldron to go back to the burrow. It was a good day for Harry and
his horrible past few weeks were finally turning around it seemed.
Except two days later his nightmares struck again.
"My Lord, I have found another of your followers who will help us in
our cause." The new man said to Voldemort's feet. Harry didn't know
his name so he dubbed him Mr Crazy.
"Who have you found that will join me. Have more of my faithful
escaped death." Voldemort asked.
"No my lord, I have found an old follower who has sworn to help us
once more." Mr Crazy said.
"One who claimed imperius." Voldemort questioned.
"See for yourself my lord." Mr Crazy said and left the room, five
seconds later he pushed a man through the door that quickly began
to grovel at Voldemort's feet. Only this man Harry knew.
"My lord, it is an honor for me to be able to assist you in your return.
I have always remained faithful and have always been looking for the
signs." Lucius Malfoy pleaded from the ground.
"Lucius, there have been many signs and it has taken you far too
long to follow them. Peter managed to find me first. You claimed
imperius and denounced your support of my cause. I cannot allow
that to go unpunished. crucio." Voldemort held the curse for ten
seconds, taking pleasure in the man's screams.
"P-please my lord, I only did so that I could help you return. I would
be of no use to you in Azkaban. I only wished to serve you the best
way I knew how to." Lucius begged.
"crucio, crucio" Voldemort tortured the man some more.
"You will prove your loyalty when the time comes Lucius. Until that
time you will not be forgiven."
Harry's body ached with pain upon awakening from this particular
nightmare. It sickened Harry to the core the pleasure Voldemort took
in the pain of others. It was the signs of a true monster and Harry
understood what Sirius meant now. Voldemort and the death eaters
killed and tortured because they enjoyed it, the fact that it made
Harry so sick is what helped strengthen his resolve that he was not a
monster.
Luckily for Harry that was the last of the worst nightmares that
summer. All though his sleeping did not improve at all. He continued
to work on his animagus transformation and succeeded in getting
both hands and forearms complete perfectly. He did find an escape
to his nightmares but it was not good. His body could rest while
meditating but his mind could not. After waking up in a cold sweat
Harry would meditated the rest of the night to rest his body. It kept
his nightmares away and let him rest but he was still mentally
exhausted every day. Hopefully his sleep would improve at Hogwarts
or else he had nothing. That stupid basilisk had ruined dreamless
sleep potions for him.
Harry's only escape was that he could sleep better during the day
than at night. All though an afternoon nap every day would not be a
suitable solution as he had classes at Hogwarts it gave him the
escape he needed to rest his mind for a few hours. Flying also
worked as an escape for him but then his body was tired and it was
a vicious cycle. He could still get a little bit of proper sleep in the
early hours of the morning if he didn't have nightmares so his
sleeping patterns changed. By the last week of Holidays his solution
came in a two part sleep each night. Resting his body until the early
hours of morning through meditation and then sleeping until around
ten o'clock. It was not the best for him but it was the only way to get
the rest he needed.
Mrs Weasley had of course noticed his excess sleeping which had
changed from the beginning of summer and was naturally
concerned. But as long as Harry wasn't the last up it wasn't a matter
of concern to sleep in during the summer. Harry new she wanted to
ask why he slept in all of a sudden but he was glad she didn't. He
didn't need Hermione to start asking questions because she would
never quit.