Shattered Memories

Chapter Three

Nightmares and Giant Spiders

It was so cold. He felt the icy wind tearing into his flesh and chilling his very bones. He hurt all over. The pain was unbearable and ever present. The stone beneath his body was hard and cold, and was making his body numb. His arms were aching painfully as they were chained against the wall above his head. The shackles were digging into his skin; the blood had dried long ago.

He attempted to move his legs but was only greeted with pain. It felt like his leg was broken; it was stiff with misuse. He opened his eyes and stared through the caked blood on his eyelids. He looked out to his stone prison, four walls and no window. The solid wood door had a small, barred slot at the top. He stared at it as he heard the dreaded sound of footsteps approaching.

Harry awoke with a start. He was breathing heavily and sweat was beaded across his forehead and on his palms. He fumbled for his glasses and placed them on his face, trying to control his thumping heart. Ron was still snoring in the bed beside his own; his Chudley Cannon blanket twisted around his body. Harry sighed shakily and silently waited for his pulse to stop racing.

Finally, Harry had gotten over the results of the nightmare, and sat in the dark wondering what it had meant. His scar was not prickling, so it was not a vision from Voldemort, but he still felt slightly nervous for some reason. It felt as if his dream was happening, or already had happened. It was a peculiar feeling, sort of like having déjà vu, but different.

As he stifled a yawn, Harry decided to think more into it in the morning, when he wasn't so tired. So he sank back down into the soft mattress and replaced his glasses on the nightstand. As he closed his eyes and let sleep take him, his last thoughts were I hope this won't be another 'Voldemort possessing me' year.

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Harry awoke late the next morning, happy that his last few hours of sleep had been dreamless. As he was getting up, he noticed Ron's bed was empty and his orange blanket was half way out the door. Smiling, he pulled on a fresh pair of trousers and a clean shirt, before heading downstairs. He passed the burnt wall with a slight pang of guilt followed by satisfaction.

When he entered the kitchen, all eyes turned to him briefly. "Good morning, Harry, sleep well?" asked Remus Lupin with care. Harry took a seat beside Tonks.

"Okay, I guess, apart from Ron's snoring," Harry said, smirking at the redhead who was too busy eating to retort. "Hey, Tonks, Ginny," he said.

"Wotcher, Harry!" Tonks answered while Ginny looked up and smiled.

"Hi."

Harry pulled himself a plate of sausages and began to eat slowly, his thoughts on the dream from the previous night. What did it mean? Was it real or only a vision placed in his head by Voldemort? But if it was the latter, what was the point? He speared a sausage savagely, frustrated and angry. Ron must have noticed his absent mood because he asked, "What's up with you, mate?"

Harry looked to his friend. "Oh nothing, except for the fact that my uncle was just killed by a Death Eater as was my godfather only a few weeks ago!" he said, trying to keep his anger under wrap. Ron winced at his outburst and Harry sighed. "Sorry, I've been a bit angry lately," he said calmly. Ginny snorted.

"I think we've already discovered that when you blew up the portrait of Mrs Black," she said before adding, "Not that I mind, personally, I hated the old bat!" Harry smiled tensely glad they understood. The rest of breakfast went smoothly, with the humorous actions of Tonks changing her facial features to their laughter.

"So, what have you got planned for today?" Remus asked softly, leaning back in his chair. Harry looked to the others, not sure what there was to do in the old house.

"We might check out the fourth floor, since you two checked it the other day, didn't you?" Ginny said brightly.

Lupin looked at her warily. "Yes, we did, but just because there are no dark creatures or curses, doesn't mean you can't get hurt!" he said.

Harry grinned at Lupin's cautiousness and said, "Lighten up, Moony, there's not much that can scare us!" Except Dementors and Voldemort, but he found it highly impossible that they would run into one of those two things in the headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix.

"Except giant spiders," mumbled Ron, only loud enough for Harry to hear.

The three of them began their exploration beginning at the top of the fourth staircase. The walls were dark and splotched up there, and the carpet was threadbare and pulled up in some places. There were planks of wood and boxes scattered in the hallway which they inspected on their way. Most of the rooms were empty, except for a few containing collapsed beds or a doorless cupboard. At the end of the first passage, they pushed open a pair of grand doors and entered a magnificent ballroom.

It was as large as the Great Hall at Hogwarts and even more beautiful. It had a high, painted ceiling, depicting scenes from old, of witches and wizards fighting magical creatures in a great battle. In the middle of the ceiling was a large skylight, charmed to look like the universe with the many stars and planets rotating around. There was a statue in each of the corners, sculpted in gold and showing the face of an ancient wizard. The walls were all a deep purple, some with oak doors leading into other rooms. The floor was a rich mahogany, with inch thick dust covering it entirely. A beautiful crystal chandelier was positioned to float endlessly in the middle of the room, a few meters below the skylight and it matched its size. At the end of the hall was a pair of glass doors, leading to a broad balcony overlooking the city.

Ginny awed as they entered, Harry enchanted by the exquisiteness of the room and Ron looking around for any spiders.

"Merlin, look at this place!" Harry said, watching the dust fall with each of his footsteps.

"I know," Ginny said, "It's bigger than the Great Hall!" The three of them wandered across the once shining floor, leaving a trail behind. Harry went straight across to the glass doors and pushed hard against them, as they wouldn't open. Finally, he was rewarded with a click and he sighed as the cool breeze wafted through. He stepped out onto the stone balcony and marvelled at the sight.

They seemed to be very high up; Harry could spot the dirty street below as a thin strip. It had to be magically heightened because the house did not look that large when you were before it. Harry leant against the railing, testing its strength. Bits of cement and wood littered the solid ground, as well as a layer of thin white powder. Harry was just wondering where it had come from, when Ginny stepped out beside him.

"Whoa!" she exclaimed, looking out across the sea of buildings. "I didn't think it was this high!" she said, clutching at the railing.

"I know! I had the same thought when I came out here. But it's pretty magnificent, don't you think? How you can see the whole of London but they can't see you? I could spend all day up here, with the clouds," Harry said softly, watching a bird circle in the sky.

"Yeah, I know what you mean," said Ginny. The two were just wondering where Ron had gotten to when there was a terrified scream. Harry bolted back in the hall to see Ron come pelting out of a side room, arms flailing and face pale. His best friend ran to the opposite side of the room and leant against the wall.

Harry walked over to him and asked calmly, "Ron, what's wrong?"

Ron looked to him with fear in his eyes as he pointed to the room he had just exited from. "In - there was - GIANT - tried to attack - I ran !" he stuttered, still pointing to the room in utter fright. Harry reassured Ron there was nothing to worry about as he crossed the hall and paused at the open doors of the room beyond. Taking a breath, he stepped in.

The room seemed to be a study of some sort, with a dusty desk in one corner and a large bookcase running the length of one wall. There was a floor length window on one side, which opened up to a view of the ocean. Harry walked in, kicking a roll of parchment in the process. He walked to the desk and ran a finger along the dirty surface. He stopped at the window and watched as waves rolled across a vast blue sea. Harry smiled, wondering what Ron was so terrified about. As he turned to go tell Ron there was nothing in there, his breath caught in his throat.

Above the door, pinned like a majestic trophy, was the stuffed body of an Acromantula. Its many legs were spread across the wall in an attack position, with the creatures many glass eyes glittering in the light. The beast was at least the size of the giant spiders Harry had met back in his second year, but smaller than Aragog. Harry was still staring at it when Ginny entered.

"What was Ron so worked up about?" she said, walking over to Harry. But when she saw his gaze turned upwards, she looked up as well.

"Sweet Merlin!" she said, stepping back against the window. "What the-how-bloody hell!" she ended, her heart against her heart. Harry smiled, getting over the first shock of greeting an eight-legged giant monster, and laughed at the expression on the girls face. She hadn't been with them when they journeyed into the forest and met face to face with a creature three times the stuffed spider's size. She had not met around a hundred of the arachnids and had to run from them in the dead of night.

"Now I see what Ron was so scared about!" she said, getting over the initial shock. "Who the hell would put one of those above your door?" she said indignantly, sweeping hair from her face.

"Obviously someone seriously disturbed!" Harry said laughing as the two of them went to calm down Ron. Apart from the room containing the stuffed spider, there was a mouldy bathroom, which looked like it was once made of marble and solid gold. There was a room completely bare, with runes carved over the walls, ceiling and floor. When Harry entered that one, he felt a strong surge of magical energy run through him, which the room seemed full of. The trio didn't spend too much time in it for it felt like it was drawing their magic out.

They returned downstairs at around one o'clock, carrying some objects they had found on their hunt that they thought Lupin and Tonks should look at. They entered the kitchen to only find Tonks, asleep with her head on her arms. As she slept, her nose changed shape and her hair slowly drifted from one colour to the next. As they drew closer, she let out a snort of laughter and turned her head to the other side, saying, "What would I do with a purple monkey?"

The three of them had to compress their laughter. Harry walked closer to the dozing Auror and tapped her on the shoulder, jumping when she mumbled, "Careful with that hammer," Ginny was holding her sides from trying to keep her laughter in while Ron was turning beet red and kept letting off whistling sounds. Harry was shaking with laughing so much as he shook Tonks' shoulder once more, ducking hurriedly when the Auror jumped up and swung her arm around exclaiming, "Sod off you wart faced toad!"

That was all it took for Ginny to collapse to the ground laughing and Ron to finally give in with laughter. Harry was supporting himself with the table, as he didn't trust himself to stand. Tonks was looking at them completely baffled, her hair green and as messy as Harry's.

"What are you lot laughing at?" she asked, patting her hair. "Oh, hang on," she screwed her face up for a second, her hair growing straight and brown. When they continued to laugh, she placed her hand on her hip and with the other; she pointed her wand at Harry.

"Tell me what's so funny now, or I will make it so you will keep on laughing forever!" that was enough to make Harry shut his mouth and tried to stop a grin forming on his lips. Ginny followed his lead but kept giggling at odd moments. Ron, however, was still laughing loudly, while banging the table with his fist. Tonks glared at him before gaining a very sly glint in her eyes. She pointed her wand at the laughing redhead and said, "Bogia Batus!"

Ron screamed suddenly, as his bogies turned to bats and began attacking him furiously. Harry and Ginny started laughing again before Tonks rounded on them. They immediately shut up at the look on her face but relaxed as she said happily, "Thanks for teaching me that jinx, Ginny; it really does come in handy!"

The three of them laughed and seated themselves at the table for lunch, while Ron ran around the kitchen with the Bat-Bogies closing in.

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"NO, HARRY!"

Harry awoke quite suddenly. He had been having the nicest sleep he had had in ages. He pulled himself up on his elbow and grabbed his glasses. Just as he was wondering what had woken him up, he heard it.

Ron was thrashing around in his bed, murmuring nonsense and panting heavily. Harry, startled at witnessing someone else's nightmare, scrambled from his own bed and made his way over to Ron.

"Ginny, hold on, they can't - there isn't time, we have to save them - the water is too deep!" Ron said, gasping suddenly as if he was struggling to breath. Harry placed a hand on his friends shoulder and nudged him.

"C'mon, Ron, wake up!" Harry said, shaking him slightly. Ron shot up, knocking Harry backwards and to the floor. The redhead was sitting up in his bed and was clutching his neck fiercely.

Harry got to his feet and walked towards his friend. "Ron, are you okay?" he asked. Ron jumped at his voice.

"Harry? What the bloody hell are you doing, looming over my bed?" he said, sounding confused. Harry rubbed his forehead where Ron had collided with him.

"You were having a dream and I tried to wake you up, which you did, nearly knocking me out in the process!" he said sitting down on his own bed. Ron was staring at him, his hand still clamped around his neck.

"What's wrong with your neck?" Harry asked.

His friend's eyes widened and he quickly took his hand away and said, "Nothing," Harry raised his eyebrows but Ron couldn't see them through the dark.

"Well, okay mate, if you're sure your fine?"

"Yeah, I'm okay, just tired. I'll see you in the morning," Ron answered as Harry sank lower into the warmth of his bed.

"Night, mate," Harry said and if he had just stayed awake for a moment longer, he would've spotted Ron rubbing a spot on his neck one last time.