Harry Potter and the return of the Dementors

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Chapter 5
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Ron woke up before Harry the next morning, but later than everyone else, so he found that he was alone with Harry in the fifth year dorm. Rubbing his eyes, he looked across to his still sleeping friend.

'At least Harry had a good night's sleep,' Ron thought, knowing that Harry had trouble sleeping of late, due to constant nightmares. However, a closer examination of Harry's right hand showed Ron that Harry had anything but a good night's sleep that night, as Harry was still clutching his wand tightly, even in his sleep. Concerned, Ron walked over to Harry's bed and sat on the edge of it, being careful not to wake Harry from the precious little sleep that he got these days.

Ron looked down at his sleeping friend, knowing that something was wrong with him this year, but not managing to put his finger on it. Ron began to think about Harry, he had known Harry for four whole years now, but how much did he really understand Harry?

Ron thought back to the first time that he had seen Harry, totally bewildered, not knowing how to get onto the platform at King's Cross. Ron had heard of Harry before, of course, but didn't recognise him straight away. Back then, Harry had seemed so...innocent. When Ron first met Harry, Harry had totally no knowledge of the wizarding world and the special place that he had in it. Even back then, Harry was quiet, not saying much, but in a friendly, happy sort of way. Ron looked down at his friend's face. Harry still looked youthful, younger than his age, but something within had changed. Before, Harry had still managed to seem happy without actually saying anything. Now, Harry's silence seemed to be a painful, brooding kind of silence, as if Harry was waiting for something bad to happen to him.

When they were younger, in their first couple of years at Hogwarts, Ron had never understood Harry at all. The two things Ron wanted back then, and in an inward way, now, was to earn some money for himself, and to distinguish himself from his older siblings. Harry already had that, but wasn't really very comfortable about it. Now, looking down at his sleeping friend, Ron understood. Even though, really, Harry was still just a young guy who should be enjoying his time at school, playing Quidditch and simply spending time with his friends, he also brought along excess, unwanted baggage. Ron now realised that although he saw Harry as an equal, and Harry saw him as an equal as well, this was far from the norm. To much of the wizarding world, the struggle between good and the dark had been given faces. The wizarding world saw Voldemort as the face of the dark arts, the face of evil. However, for the reason of what happened when he was just a baby, the wizarding world saw Harry, and not Dumbledore as the face of the fight against the dark arts. The same Harry which Ron was looking down at, presently sleeping. Ron realised that Harry, although not asking for any of what happened to him, had a lot to live up to.

Ron thought something else as well. 'What was it about Harry that made him...well...Harry? And what, in the last half year or so, had gone wrong?' Ron examined his friend closely, something which would have made Harry very uncomfortable should he have been awake, but, at this time, he wasn't. Harry was, in many ways, a physical contradiction to himself. Out of Harry, Ron and Hermione, Harry was the smallest of the three. However, Harry had, in times of crisis, been the one to exhibit a kind of mental toughness that Hermione or Ron himself could not. Although not the brightest mind of the three, Harry was definitely the calmest. Ron also realised that Harry was a fiercely loyal friend, who would stick by him through both the good and the bad. Ron now knew, somehow, that now was the time to give a little of that back.

Ron looked at Harry's face, which, at the moment, had a look of surreal calm on it. At the moment, the two emerald green eyes were hidden behind closed eyelids, but everything else about Harry was visible. Harry's eyes were where the most visible change about him had taken place. Before, Harry's eyes were bright and alert, playfully scanning around for something to do. Now, those eyes, used so successfully for locating the snitch, were searching for something much less trivial than finishing a game of Quidditch - impending danger. Ron shifted his focus to Harry's mouth, which, even now, said so much without Harry needing to physically say anything at all. Harry rarely smiled anymore, not in that old, happy, and innocent way. It was one of those things that lodged in Ron's subconscious, which confirmed, for him, that something was definitely wrong. Absently, deep in thought, Ron put his hand gently on Harry's chest, somehow, feeling Harry's heart beating and his chest moving up and down had a reassuring influence. It was then that Ron vowed that he would never leave Harry alone to face danger again, as he had done before. In their first year, Harry had faced Professor Quirrell alone, in the chamber under the third floor.

In second year, Ron had allowed Harry to walk, alone, into the Chamber of Secrets, to face what was within. Ron had a sneaking suspicion that Harry had found more than an image of Tom Riddle, and his sister, inside, but he had never told Ron what that was. Ron had asked Ginny what was inside that chamber, but she had said that she didn't remember, as she was hardly conscious at the time.

'No longer,' thought Ron, 'will Harry walk alone to face danger'.

Hermione woke up the same time as the other girls in the fifth year dorm, and went down to the common room with them. After milling around absently for a while, the group went down to the hall for breakfast, while Hermione waited for Harry and Ron to emerge. After seeing the rest of the Gryffindor fifth years emerge, she wondered if they had already woken, and gone downstairs. Hermione asked Neville if he had seen Harry and Ron in the morning, to which he replied that they were still sleeping when he left. After a while, all the Gryffindors had gone down to breakfast in the hall, but Harry and Ron had not emerged.

Quietly, Hermione made her way up to the fifth year boy's dorm, and, when she looked in, found Ron sitting on the side of Harry's bed, in which Harry was still sleeping. Hermione noticed that Ron was deep in thought, looking worried about Harry. Absent-mindedly as though he didn't know what he was doing, Hermione saw Ron put his hand over Harry's heart, as though to check if Harry was still alive.

Hermione looked at the scene before her - Ron hadn't realised that she was at the door, watching. Most of all, she looked at the two boys who, in many ways had shaped her wizarding life and that of the whole school. 'And in Harry's case,' she thought further, 'that of the whole Wizarding world.' When she first met Harry and Ron, they were already good friends, as though it were fate that they were attracted to each other. In many ways, Ron and Harry cancelled each other out, leaving a mutual, peaceful existence.

Harry, she noticed was by far the quieter of the two, while Ron was the other opposite, always talking, cheerful. There were other opposites too. While Ron had a tendency to stress and panic when things weren't exactly going his way, Harry quietly accepted everything that was thrown in his direction. 'And Harry's had more than his fair share thrown in his direction as well,' Hermione's mind thought. Out of the three of them, Hermione thought, Ron was definitely the most natural Gryffindor, although she could see why Harry and herself were put in Gryffindor as well. She knew that she, herself, could have easily fit into Ravenclaw, whose trademark was a thirst for knowledge that Hermione was famous for. Harry, on the other hand, was a fiercely loyal friend who would easily have fit into Hufflepuff. 'The same house,' Hermione's mind said, 'as Cedric Diggory.'

Hermione thought about the experiences that had shaped all three of the friends, and what made them who they were. Hermione accepted that her thirst for knowledge, and her sense of justice for all were her two outstanding qualities. She knew that the latter was her reason for being in Gryffindor. Ron was shaped by his great friendship, but also by his desire to distinguish himself over his older brothers. In his own way, Hermione realised that he had already achieved this without realising. But Harry, somehow, didn't fit into categories nicely. To Hermione, anyway, he was just Harry, a category all by himself. Hermione thought about it, and realised that Harry was made who he was due to the fact that he was never considered 'normal'. In the muggle world, Harry never had a good home life, being neglected by his only surviving family. More recently, he was considered a freak by these same people due to his magical ability.

'Hopefully, that would change,' Hermione thought. 'Especially after seeing Dudley's change at the party.' In the Wizarding world, they saw Harry as the great hope in the fight against the dark arts. Everyone, in times of crisis, decided that Harry could help them. 'Yet,' Hermione thought, 'in second year, everyone turned on Harry when the Chamber of Secrets was opened.' Harry had to live a life that, in a way, was not his. Fame just wasn't in Harry's character, and this was brought to light when Gilderoy Lockhart came to Hogwarts. The difference in their characters was amazing.

Harry was also shaped by his own personal fight, Hermione realised. The fight to survive. Survival of Voldemort when he was young. Survival at the Dursleys in his younger years, neglected in the cupboard under the stairs. Survival every single year at Hogwarts. Hermione realised that Harry was perfectly human, which meant that he was mortal. Death would catch up with Harry sooner or later.

Hermione hoped for Harry's sake that 'Much Later' was the case here.

Hermione looked at the sleeping Harry, asking herself what had gone wrong with him in the last year. Even in his sleep, Harry looked troubled, but calm.

Hermione also noticed that Harry was holding his wand in his sleep. She made a point to ask Ron if that was normal. Harry always took everything that was thrown at him, and emerged OK. The hardest thing that happened to Harry, visibly, was his separation from Ron after his name came out of the Goblet of Fire and their subsequent loss of trust. That, and the death of Cedric. Somehow, Hermione knew that the death of Cedric was only a catalyst to the present state of Harry, but not the cause. Something else was troubling Harry inside his head, and Hermione shuddered when she thought of what that could be. But she would find out. To find out, Hermione realised that she would have to break through a barrier, for although Harry was willing to listen to other people's problems, he was far less willing to discuss his own.

Softly, so not to wake Harry up, Hermione walked into the dorm and sat on the other side of Harry's bed, making doubly sure that she wasn't sitting on any part of Harry himself. Ron looked up at Hermione silently, his face totally betraying his emotions. Ron was most obviously worrying about Harry, but he seemed happy just watching Harry sleep, concentrating on the rhythm of Harry's breathing. Hermione knew about Harry's nightmares, although he never discussed what was contained in them. 'Maybe they hold the key to what's troubling Harry' she thought. Hermione decided that she didn't want to push Harry into telling her what was wrong, although it had been effective last time, because Harry had definitely not enjoyed the experience. It was also highly distressing for both Hermione and Ron to see Harry in the state he ended up being in. Instead, Hermione decided that she would have to gently nudge Harry into telling her what was wrong, in the hope that it would be easier on Harry. Hermione looked down at the sleeping Harry, who mumbled that he had to "tell Dumbledore" something, but the rest of his words were slurred and indecipherable. Deep in thought, Hermione ran her fingers through Harry's hair, which, even though he was sleeping, still looked much the same as it always did.

Even before he opened his eyes, it was evident to both Hermione and Ron when Harry had woken up. Having obviously felt two people on either side of him, Harry tensed up in his bed. Almost the same time, Harry had raised the hand in which he was still holding his wand causing Ron to push it back into place, so that Harry wouldn't curse either Hermione or himself to the other side of the room.

"Harry, relax, it's only Ron and myself here," Hermione spoke up. 'Harry's either very nervous, or scared about something,' her mind told her.

At this, Harry gave an audible sigh of relief, and both Hermione and Ron felt Harry's body relax as Hermione's words reached him. Slowly, Harry's two emerald-green eyes opened, and Harry could clearly see, even without his glasses, Hermione and Ron sitting on either side of him. Harry reached for his glasses on his bedside table, but as he couldn't reach them, Ron gave them to him. After putting them on, Harry looked at both Hermione and Ron nervously, then asked

"What are you two doing up here? I mean..." Harry looked at the clock. "Breakfast is already being eaten in the hall"

"Watching you sleep," Hermione answered softly.

"Oh. I didn't realise that I was really that interesting," Harry replied.

Hermione smiled. "I've always found you interesting, Harry," she said, reaching to Harry and playfully pushing his nose like a button. Harry grinned, the old grin that had become so familiar to Ron and Hermione when they were younger, but which they supposed was now missing in action. But in an instant, the grin was gone - Harry was still happy and smiling, but the grin wasn't there any more.

Hermione continued. "Harry, is it OK if I ask you something?"

Harry replied, "Yeah, sure Hermione." But there was a note of uncertainty and nervousness in his voice.

"If you were in a boat, and someone told you it was leaking slowly, but you didn't know, what would you do?" Hermione asked.

Ron looked at Hermione curiously, he knew where this conversation was leading. He himself was looking for a way to ask Harry what was wrong, but he couldn't find a way that wouldn't distress Harry, and Hermione's way seemed to be working well.

Harry said, "I'd try to get the water out before the boat sank. If that isn't possible, then, I'd ask the crew to abandon ship."

Ron was stunned. Was Harry saying what Ron thought he was saying? Or maybe he hadn't caught on to the analogy yet... Hermione was also taken aback slightly, then, abandoning the analogy altogether, hugged Harry tightly and said softly, "Harry, I'd never abandon you. Ever, ok?"

"Me either," Ron said simply. It was evident from his voice that he was being serious.

Hermione watched Harry formulate his thoughts as understanding crept into his mind. Harry looked down towards the end of his bed, sighing.

"So you're telling me that there's something wrong with me that I don't know about yet. Right?" Harry said despondently.

"Harry, everyone has problems. I do, Ron does. We're going to try to help you, but we can only help if you tell us what's wrong in the first place. You can't absorb all your problems forever, Harry. Your problems are starting to wear you down, and it shows," Hermione said.

"But...but there's nothing wrong!" Harry said defensively.

"You DID sleep with your wand in your hand, Harry, AND you tried to attack us when you woke up...something's making you very jumpy lately Harry," Ron said pointedly.

Harry fell silent, in a dilemma. The last thing he wanted to happen was for Ron and Hermione to be worrying about him all the time, which was why, combined with Harry's very nature, Harry never told them about his problems. But they were worrying about him now. The question Harry was asking himself was, "Will it make it any easier for them if they know?"

Looking at Ron and Hermione, Harry decided that they really did want to know what was bothering him, and so decided that now was as good a time as any to tell them.

"Ron, Hermione..." Harry opened. He had to do this properly. "I really appreciate what you said before, but I don't really want you two to risk getting hurt for my sake. As you already know, I tend to be a kind of magnet for trouble..."

Ron looked at Harry, and shook his head, while Hermione said, "Harry, you've helped me when I've been in trouble, at great risk to yourself. I'm not just about to walk away when you're in trouble now." Even now, Harry could see that arguing would be of no use. Ron and Hermione had already made up their minds. In one way, Harry was scared that they would get hurt for him, but in another, inward way, Harry felt grateful that both Ron and Hermione cared enough for him to stick by him, even now.

"Would you mind telling us what's been bothering you, Harry?" Ron asked, concern in his voice.

Harry sighed. "Ok. You two already know how I feel about Cedric. That hasn't changed. What's really bothering me though is the fact that Voldemort's now using other people to try to get to me. Before, I felt that I was the target of Voldemort's attacks, that, worse case, I'd be the only one to die. However, that changed when Ginny got pulled into the Chamber of Secrets. Voldemort will stop at nothing to try to get at me. Luckily, Ginny got out OK, and Voldemort's been bothering me alone, either through Wormtail, or while I'm sleeping. Now that he's killed Cedric, I'm scared that he might have a go at other people close to me..." Harry looked at both of them.

Hermione smiled gently at Harry, and said, "Harry, there's absolutely nothing you can do about that. Voldemort will do whatever he wishes. I'm sure we'll all be pretty safe here at Hogwarts anyway."

Harry had one more thing to say. "In second year, when I went into the Chamber of Secrets, I found out that through Voldemort's failed curse, he transferred some of his power into me. I think this is why I can see Voldemort in my dreams sometimes, and what he's doing. So I'm going to ask you something, and I hope that you take this seriously. If either of you two even suspect that I've turned dark, kill me. I mean that - I don't want to ever be Voldemort's successor. I'd much rather die."

Ron gasped, and Hermione was taken aback. They'd just heard one of their best friends ask them to do something they'd never want to do. Hermione saw that Harry was serious.

"Agree. Please?" Harry asked, a pleading look in his eyes.

Hermione nodded. "I hope that it never gets to that, but if I must, I will."

Harry sighed, but smiled. "Thanks," Harry said, relieved. "I needed to ask someone I could trust to do that. If I ended up as another Voldemort..." Harry shuddered, and didn't finish his sentence. It was pretty clear what he would have said anyway.

Hermione ran her hand through Harry's hair slowly, in thought. Also thinking about the events of this morning, Harry remembered his dream last night, and decided that he had better tell Dumbledore about the dream.

Harry sat up in the bed quickly, which caused him to bump into Ron and Hermione, who looked back curiously to see what had happened.

"I've got to tell Dumbledore something," Harry said quickly, climbing out from under the sheets.

Hermione looked at Ron, who put a hand on Harry's shoulder. "Calm down, Harry," Ron said gently.

"I had a bad dream last night, a really bad one," Harry said. "Voldemort's planning attacks on Wizarding sites around Britain. I don't think we have too much time. Do you two want to come along as well?" Harry asked

"Yep," Hermione and Ron said in unison.

After Harry had quickly pulled on some clothes, and wore his robe, the three quickly made their way to Professor Dumbledore's office. When they got to the office, they realised that they couldn't get past the gargoyle guarding the door. After shouting for a while, they managed to catch Dumbledore's attention, and he appeared down the stairwell, and led them into his office. Once they were within Dumbledore's office, Dumbledore said

"I've never seen students so desperate to get into my office before. Well, what do you want?"

Ron and Hermione looked at Harry, who said, "Last night, in a dream, I got transported into some room where Voldemort was having a meeting."

"Go ahead, Harry," Dumbledore said, interested.

"Well, Voldemort said that he was going to attack all the major Wizarding sites around Britain soon, to try to control them," Harry said quickly.

"Calm down, Harry," Dumbledore said. "Voldemort's always been very ambitious. There aren't that many death-eaters around any more, I'm sure the Aurors will take care of it."

"Oh, I must have forgotten to say. The dementors are on Voldemort's side as well..."

Dumbledore's eyes opened wide. "This is very bad news, Harry. I, myself had received news that some of the Death Eaters have been seen talking to the dementor leaders. I found it distressing that these men were not apprehended on the spot, as the dementors were meant to be guarding against a resurgent Voldemort. It would seem now that we know what was said between the dementors and the death-eaters. Even now, there is unconfirmed news of a revolt at Azkaban, resulting in some escapes. We might have enough time to ready ourselves for this attack, if we hurry."

Harry, Ron and Hermione were silent. There was going to be carnage throughout Britain, and they were in the centre of it. It was a certainty that in all the Wizarding sites around Britain, Hogwarts was destined to be one of the targets. Harry thought of all his friends outside Hogwarts, especially Sirius and Professor Lupin, and hoped that they would be OK. Surely, they would join in the fight against the dark-arts. Sirius had a score to settle with Wormtail, one of Voldemort's most trusted men.

Wormtail had been the one who betrayed Harry's parents, and put Sirius in Azkaban. This angered Harry, and he too would fight against the dark-arts when they attacked. Harry knew that there was no use hiding, so he decided that he would take the fight to Voldemort, not the other way around. Harry looked at his two friends. Hermione looked impassive, as though facing another exam. She too, from the look on her face, was ready to fight the dark arts. Ron, on the other hand had the look on his face that he was preparing for another game of Wizard Chess. In many ways, what was coming was like a giant game of chess, with the stakes raised. Harry remembered his first year, when he personally took part in a game of chess, in the bid to get the Philosopher's stone. Ron had gotten hurt then, and Harry hoped that he fared better this time. The stakes were definitely higher, losing this battle meant that you were hurt badly, or killed. Harry knew, however, that nothing would deter Ron from joining the fight. Dumbledore looked at the three students, knowing what they were thinking at the moment. Eventually, he said

"I know that nothing I could say will deter you three from joining the fight against Voldemort. So I say this instead. Be careful and Good luck. You three are amongst the truest Gryffindors that this school has ever produced, and are amongst it's greatest assets. I hope to see you are all well after the fight is done, and hopefully, won."

After this speech, Ron said solemnly, "We won't let you down, Professor Dumbledore"

Dumbledore smiled at Ron. "I have to alert the staff, especially the heads of houses. I'm sure that all houses will join the fight against Voldemort." At this, Ron thought of the possibility of the Slytherins fighting with Voldemort.

Dumbledore, sensing that Ron was thinking this, added, "No, Ron, most of the Slytherins despise Voldemort as much as you. I'm sure at least one of you will agree here..." Dumbledore looked pointedly at Harry, "not all Slytherins are as bad as you think - they're not created evil."

When they left Dumbledore's office, Ron asked Harry, "What did Dumbledore mean when he said 'Not all Slytherins are created evil'? I mean, all the death-eaters and Voldemort came from Slytherin."

"I'm not sure, Ron," Harry said evasively.

Hermione added, "Harry, Dumbledore specifically looked at you before he said that about the Slytherins. Do you know something about them that we don't?"

Harry faltered. One of the things that he had kept secret from both Ron and Hermione was his experience with the Sorting Hat, which had wanted to put him in Slytherin. But by saying 'Not Slytherin!' in his mind, Harry had managed to change the decision of the Hat.

Ron added, "Harry, about what you said before - I'm sure there's no chance of you going dark anyway. If there was, you'd be in Slytherin with Malfoy! You just don't have it in you to go dark."

Harry decided that he would have to tell them what happened with the Sorting Hat, in order that they should trust the Slytherins. At the moment, they needed as many allies as they could get.

"You two," Harry started, "I'm going to tell you something that nobody except Dumbledore and myself know. I don't want you to tell anyone else this."

Hermione smiled at Harry, sensing discomfort. "We won't tell anyone, ok?"

"Ok. When I first came here, the Sorting Hat almost didn't put me in Gryffindor," Harry said.

Hermione interrupted. "That's not so bad, Harry, I almost went into Ravenclaw," but she somehow knew what Harry was going to say.

"The difference is, Hermione, it almost put me in...Slytherin," Harry said softly.

Ron looked at Harry, who was looking in need of support. "Harry, the fact is it's not what the sorting hat ALMOST put you in, but what it did. You're as much a Gryffindor as the rest of us. You found Gryffindor's sword in the Chamber of Secrets. Even Dumbledore says that you're one of the most true Gryffindors the school has produced. Don't doubt yourself Harry, you belong here in Gryffindor, and, frankly, I can't see you ever fitting in Slytherin. You're too..." Ron faltered, searching for words.

"I'm too what?" Harry asked curiously.

"You're too self-sacrificing Harry," Hermione finished for Ron. "You go out of your way to help people - that's the trademark of Gryffindor, not Slytherin." At these words, Harry felt himself going red as he had never heard himself being described like that before.

"See Harry? How on earth could you be a true Slytherin?" Ron asked, on the verge of laughter.

Harry thought about this, and supposed that he was indeed a Gryffindor, and that the Hat had seen the part of Voldemort that had been transferred into him when the curse backfired all those years ago. Despite himself, Harry smiled, his self-doubt about his place in Gryffindor wiped away by Hermione and Ron. But Ron and Hermione now realised that there would be others in Slytherin who could easily have belonged anywhere else, and that the house could prove to be worthy allies against the dark-arts.

After they had wasted time in the morning, it was nearly time for lunch, and, being a Saturday, they would have the afternoon off. Slowly, the school made their way into the hall for lunch. When the school was half way through lunch, there was a huge commotion at the staff table as Professor Trelawney collapsed off her seat, and started talking in a voice which was much unlike her real voice.

"Tonight, a group, an owl and a werewolf amongst them, will meet. Though the owl and werewolf be creatures of the night, they will, tonight, fight for the light. They will be greatly assisted by knowledge, fire, and innocence. There will also be others fighting against the dark, who are spearheaded by fear. With this, a river of blood will flow, and will not cease until either the world is brought to light, or pulled into darkness." At this, Professor Trelawney let loose a violent and loud scream, and snapped into normal consciousness. Harry looked at Ron, who had a confused look on his face, and Hermione, who had somehow managed to copy down Professor Trelawney's words.

Ron said softly, "A real prediction from Professor Trelawney...if only we knew what it meant."

Harry replied, "Hermione has it written down, if anyone can make sense of that, I'm sure she or Dumbledore will."

Both Harry and Ron looked at Hermione, an intense look of concentration on her face, sitting looking at the words Professor Trelawney had said, her food forgotten in front of her. Eventually, after Professor Flitwick had assisted Professor Trelawney to the hospital wing, the hall resumed its usual buzz and rhythm. Professor Trelawney may have left the room, but her words had not. After lunch, Harry, Hermione and Ron went to the library to try to figure out what Professor Trelawney had meant. '"An owl and a werewolf." Why those two creatures? Surely they were creatures of the night, but they had to have some significance.' Harry's mind was saying. When Ron had given up, and Harry was on the verge of giving up as well, Hermione said

"I hate to say this, Harry, but I think we're going to have to go on another of our famous escapades. Tonight."

"Er. What exactly are you saying?" Harry replied, curiously.

"Well, what I've figured out is this: Harry, you're the owl, for obvious reasons, and Professor Lupin is the werewolf. 'Fire', I think, is you, Ron, and a reference to the colour of your hair. And, I think that 'knowledge' might be me. But I'm stumped to who 'innocence' is."

"Yeah, your reasoning's sound," Harry said. "But who could innocence really be?"

As if on cue, Tim walked into the library. To the great annoyance of the library staff, Tim said, "Hey! It's Saturday! What are you three doing up here in the library studying?"

Ron turned to Hermione and Harry grimly. "I think our question just got answered"