Chapter Five

A French Maid, Crabs and One Weird Dream

It was damp. A thick, dark fog wove tendrils into the corners, cutting off the light. A dank smell wafted from an unknown source, while the steady plunk of dripping water went unbroken.

Harry just stood there. From in the depths of the darkness came a hysterical laughter. Sporadic and heartless.

Despite his better judgment Harry was drawn towards it. His feet shuffled on the hard stone floor, sending water streaming into his face. It was cold and muddy. Sticking where it fell until his face and clothes were covered in wet mud. In the cool wafting breeze, the mud hardened, turning into a hard stone cage.

Becoming claustrophobic, Harry panicked. He fell to his knees, and started to claw at the unyielding floor.

His hands became a painful throb on his body. His fingernails chipped and broke, while the skin on his fingers and hands shredded. Blood formed into droplets on his fingers before smearing onto the stone floor, making a red pool that congealed around his knees.

All the while the laugher continued. It seemed to edge Harry on. To patronize him and mock him. It rose in pitch, two red slits opening in the darkness. Almost like they had a light of their own, one that could keep lit in the unnatural darkness that was that cave.

"I know..." A cold voice, devoid of any warmth circled around Harry. Seeming to come from nowhere and everywhere at the same time.

A shiver ran up Harry's spin as a thin skeletal hand reached out. Harry raised his own hands to his face in a futile effort to fend it off. Instead of going for him though, the hand reached to his side, grabbing onto something unseen, pulling it forward.

Harry froze. A feeling of horror and devastation rose up inside of him. The past was repeating itself. And he was unable to stop it. The face of the now captive person was blury and faded in and out with the darkness.

A wand pointed. Thin, pale lips moved noiselessly. Time seemed to stop as a green ball formed then dipped on the point of the wand, ready to engulf it's victim.

Harry was woken from his sleep filled haze by the sound of pounding feet.

The door flew open and crashed against the wall, sending plaster raining down to the floor. Just inside the room, sat a very sheepish looking Sirius. His legs spread out in front of him, he rested both hands palm down on either side of him.

"Ahhhhh….." Sirius shrugged

"Sirius! Dam-OW" James, who had so valiantly tried to keep Sirius from waking up his son, had ran into Harry's room. Unfortunately, he didn't expect Sirius to just be sitting there. His knee hit Sirius's shoulder, sending him sprawling over Sirius, his head banging on the hardwood floor.

From out in the hallway there was skidding and muted laughter. "At least someone has enough brains to look where they are walking" Lupin then stepped over the duo on the floor, into Harry's room.

"What!" exclaimed Harry, "Do you all just feel the need to make dramatic entrances? Or do you just live here?"

"Sorry Harry." apologized a very sheepish looking James, "Though you might want to get ready." A huge grin spread across his face, "We have a surprise for you!"

Lupin reached down and pulled James up. After which Sirius packed out of the door, closing it on his way.

After the door closed, Harry drew his knees to his chest and rested his head between them. His dream had upset him more then he wished to acknowledge. He had only been here for a week, but in the short span of time he hadn't had a single nightmare. Usually he could expect one of his heart stopping dreams two or three times a week, sometimes more then one a night. So it was a surprise, and not a good one, when he awoke to one this morning.

With a deep sigh he scrunched his eyes up and pushed his face in further. He didn't know who the woman in the dream was. He knew it was a women, and she was older then him. He just didn't know who it was. He felt like he already met her. The stumper was that he couldn't put a name to her, and somehow, Harry knew that when he realized who she was, he would be cursing his stupidity.

Despite his dread for the safety of this women, Harry didn't know it the dream was a premonition, or just his subconscious, guilty about changing the future. Harry quickly pushed that thought aside. When were his dreams just his subconscious? They usually involved Voldemort. Harry's fears and past meetings with him. His nightmares never involved anything else.

So, the question was; is Voldemort planning some evil scheme that evolved this women, or was he just trying to upset Harry? As soon as Harry thought this, a deeper, more terrifying thought crossed his mind. The voice. The chilling voice in his dream, 'I know'. How did Voldemort know about him now?

There was no logical way Voldemort could know about him and his ties to a prophesy. Considering Voldemort didn't even know a prophesy existed. To his knowledge no one but him, his family and Dumbledore knew what is said. Well, Harry mused, maybe the Longbottom's too. Also, he truly doubted that the people who did know what the prophesy said, would go shouting it out to the rooftops, let alone tell someone who didn't need to know. Especially considering the fact that there were many spies now. Making the chance of being overheard much larger then before, and even then, before there were so many spies, the prophesy was overheard.

Utterly depressed Harry decided to try and forget his morbid thoughts and get dressed. Anyways, his father had said they had a surprise for him. So, pushing his previous mood to the side he let loose a loud laugh, just finally finding the humor in his wake up call.

"Good morning Harry," Lily's lilting voice rang out when Harry slumped in his seat.

Harry mumbled a response and sat staring into his empty plate. He knew he should be nicer to his mother. She, unlike his dad, who frankly, couldn't care less, deserved a proper good morning. Unfortunately, he couldn't manage it. His mind, despite his effort previous to getting out of bed, to attempt to forget his dream, wasn't cooperating.

His thoughts were circling around in his head, just behind his eyes. Normally he attempted to forget his night visions, and usually could pull of that feat fairly easily. Though last nights were a little different. The blood and the pain, along with the personal fear was normal. Harry was used to that. It was the woman's hazy face that kept him puzzled. He had an unsettling churning in his stomach, like the dream was more then it seemed and couldn't push the thought that that women was someone important to him. Though he kept telling himself he was being stupid, the feeling wouldn't leave.

He was so caught up in his thoughts that he didn't notice the four other guests situated around the table. A snicker finally caught his attention and he looked up.

All morose thoughts were pushed to the back of Harry's mind as he observed the antics of his father and Co.

Lupin's concerned face pushed itself to the forefront of Harry's vision as he asked, "What's wrong?"

Harry, never one to dwell on self pity shook his head and adopted a small smile. That seemed to pacify Lupin somewhat, though he occasionally shot Harry concerned glances.

"C'mon Harry," Sirius bellowed, scooping up an egg and throwing it into Harry's plate, "Eat up!" Then his smile got even wider, and his voice took on an amazed, almost surprised quality, as he murmured, "Wow…That is the first time I actually got the food on the plate…"

Meanwhile, just beside Sirius, James was cringing in his seat. Many times had Sirius decide to throw food. Never did it end up on a plate. He fully expected Harry to get a face full of yoke, and never again keep his plate empty at the same table as Sirius. To James' complete and utter surprise, and not to say just a little disappointment, the egg actually hit the plate. Releasing a low sigh he continued eating. Just to hear a big plop from across the table.

It seemed that Harry wasn't so lucky after all...James hid a grin in his eggs as he watched the scene unfold.

Harry was sitting, relishing in his luck that Sirius didn't hit him, when something big and wet came flying to his face. He realized now, when he was already wearing a maple-facemask, that his luck wouldn't hold out. Though, to be honest, whenever did his luck really hold out?

So it was a very unsurprised Harry that stared balefully at a very arrogant Sirius who just happened to drop his napkin and was ducking to retrieve it. Harry's left eye was twitching as he started to wipe the offending pancake off his face.

From under the table came a few muffled gasps then a loud bump as Lupin moved his foot.

"Sorry Sirius," Lupin said, a little too cheerfully, "Didn't see you there" His apology would be just a little more believable if he hadn't said it with a huge lopsided grin plastered on his face.

Harry looked down and tried to stifle his laughter as a very red Sirius appeared from under the table.

"Well Lupin, you're a werewolf…Don't you have werewolf senses?" He muttered, more to himself then for the obvious amusement of the people at the table.

Harry had just stuffed his mouth with a rather large forkful of eggs when he remembered, but, unlike Ron, he swallowed before he tried to talk.

"What's my surprise?" He asked

Harry's wide grin faded just a tiny bit when he saw the exact face mirrored on all four Marauders. They were all sporting wide toothy grins that looked in danger of swallowing their eyes. Never a good sign for them. They were all looking just a little too cocky. Harry was squirming in his chair as e looked from his dad to Sirius to Peter then to Remus. The deciding factor, whether he got up and made a run for it, was h is mother.

He chanced a glance over to her, and he sighed in visible relief, something which brought a chuckle to Lupin.

"He's already learned Prongsie…He's already learned…" He said almost wistfully

Lily wore a huge smile, but unlike the Marauders, this smile was comforting. Harry sank back in his chair and stared pointedly from one to the other, waiting for someone to speak.

James' grin didn't fade an inch as he patted his son's back and said, "You'll see son…you'll see…"

"All packed"

Harry looked up from where his trunk was placed beside the door…beside the rest of the trunks. ..obviously packed. He turned to face his father…

"Err…"

At James' questioning eye Harry gestured widely towards he trunk making odd choking sounds. Sometimes his father really did scare him…Just a little.

"Good! Good!" James clasped his hands and looked around, his eyes darting franticly around the room. Almost like he was looking for something…or someone…

"Prongsie!" Came the booming voice of Sirius, "Are your ready to…Err" He looked over to Harry, "There?" Harry didn't know where they were going, and James didn't want to tell him. Lily didn't care if Harry was told, or if it was a surprise. Honestly, the four Marauders didn't think she cared what Harry did…just that he was there…A big change from before. To make a short story long, they were wondering why they didn't think of that before…

"Yep!" James' eyes were still wild, though they weren't moving as much…which, in Harry's opinion, was a good thing. (A/N: hee…hee.. sorry I really don't like authors notes in the middle of stories, but I couldn't resist laughing at my own poor excuse for a joke…and I really don't like Martha…)

"Good! Now," Lily walked into the room carrying a few last trunks, "Out the door! Let your housekeeper do his job!" Sirius pushed a very frustrated Lily out the door and had started on James when James took out his wand and…

"What. Did. You. Do." Sirius moaned, not believing it. The other occupants of the house burst out in laughter. Sirius just stood there staring down at his front where a rather large and frilly apron had 'appeared'. Then he looked up with a sad expression and pouted. Something which prompted more laughter from everyone in the room excluding Harry.

Instead, Harry adopted a serious expression and walked forward. He removed the apron. "There Sirius." He patted Sirius' back, "All better!" Harry knew that Sirius wasn't hurt by the apron…In fact, Harry would bet 10 Galleons that Sirius might just actually like the apron.

"HEY!" Sirius was outraged. He snatched the apron back. "You took my apron!" He then proceeded to turn his hair into a bun and change his clothes to a black French maid dress. With a satisfactory nod he said, "That's better."

Harry slowly walked backwards out of the door and as it was closing he saw Sirius dancing with a vacuum…

Out in the lawn James levitated the trunks into a pile and sat on one. Shortly Lily joined him. "Ok Harry, come here." He patted the trunk beside him.

Harry, who had no clue what was going on decided to be obliging and sat. Suddenly James pulled out an old shoe and motioned for Harry to grab hole. Ahhh…Harry thought, must be a portkey. So Harry grabbed the heel.

A few seconds later there was a tug at his navel and he was flying through the air. It was an unusually, yet not a bad one, to use a portkey while sitting. Harry had only used one while standing which often resulted in banging into the person beside you and falling when you landed. This way, it was almost similar to a broom. The wind ruffled your hair and you were sitting. The plus side was that Harry didn't fall when they landed. And land they did.

Harry's feet touched hot sand. With a muttered curse he lifted them up, letting them hover just above the sand. Looking ahead he say water so blue it was almost clear. It was raising up and forming huge waves that would crash down near the sand and turn into white foam. There were no kids or people of any kind. Just a few crabs scuttling around across the sand. Harry was glad that he had lifted his feet from the sand when he saw the crabs. There claws were so huge they seemed in fear of falling over.

"Let's go" chanted James as he and Lily started to levitate the trunks. Harry bent over and grabbed Hedwig's cage, but didn't stand.

"Errr…" His parents looked over to him, both raised a questioning eyebrow. "I don' t have any shoes…" he muttered, embarrassed. Well, who forgets shoes?

There reactions where done simultaneously, but total opposites…Lily tutted and started to conjure him some shoes, while James doubled over laughing. "who'd a though a person would forget shoes!"

A moment later shoes appeared on Harry's feet and he stood up.

It was hard working walking in the thick sand even if Harry was just carrying a birdcage. Don't get me wrong, getting the foot onto the sand was easy. Getting it back out. Now that was the hard part. The sand would sink to form around his foot, almost like a warm cushion. Then, when Harry went to pull it out the sand would cave back over, sinking into his shoes. That wasn't the worst part. At first the sand in his shoes was just plain annoying, but soon, it begin to hurt and felt like it was rubbing his feet raw. The whole time Harry was walking along the beach he kept thinking, thankfully the crabs can't get me.

A few minutes later voices wafted in and out with the breeze. The smell of fire and roasting food drifted from somewhere Harry couldn't find. They were headed towards a large sand dune which blocked out anything in site. Earlier James had pointed at it and said that what they wanted was behind there. Unfortunately that was a long time ago…

Eventually they passed the dune and a sprawling house came into view. It was a beige colour and some of the walls were covered in vines. There were tropical flowers surrounding the house in different areas. There were a variety of colours and sizes from short small blue flowers to towering red ones.

The voices were louder here, Harry could catch a word every so often. James was wearing a look of longing while Lily was concentrating on piling the trunks in front of the door.

"You can go around back Harry, I'm just going to go put some of these away." Lily gestured to the huge pile of trunks and turned to enter the house. Harry swiveled around, trying to find his dad, only to see his rapidly retreating back. Harry rolled his eyes and ran to catch up.

A/N:Sorry I took so long to post. Just a case of writers block. I really wanted to make this chapter longer, but I also really want to post this. So I decided I will finish up the other half later…looks guilty

Thanks to my trust reviewers;

fudgebaby, Fairy Blue, charmed Millie, Wujjawoo, Queenlover, siarah


The Wandmaker-Thanks, your review really made my day.
GoddessMoonLady-I still don't know when they will find out, or if Harry will tell them. I haven't decided. I want it both ways...tear I know that Rowling made Draco their enemy, but I think they could be good friends. Well, if the situation was different…
Didge-No. Do what you want. As long as you like it…shrugs all that matters.
Romulus5000-twiddles thumb I know…hangs head I really should make them longer it's just that I can only write at certain times and for so long that it's just easier to make them smaller…well, a good thing is that I'm a fairly decent updater. I usually update every 4-7 days. So far this was my longest stretch…and in my opinion it was too long.
angstandroses-The Golden Trio…hmm please don't make me explain it here. I will explain everything you asked in a few chapters. Most likely 2 or 3, when they go back to Hogwarts.
FuNnY cIdE-I hope this doesn't put you off reading, but no. I doubt it. The HBP is done and is a work of brilliance. I would just be setting my story up for failure.
Snickers-Well, let me tell you I was debating whether to let Harry's parents find out then or later. Then I thought, if my parents were dead, I never met them, and then suddenly they were alive, I would tell them. The choice was made. The Dark Arts, Hermione and, animagi will all be answered in 2 to 3 chapters…well maybe not the last one. Give that a bit more time, but soon. No worries.
sari5156-That's a relife. I didn't know it I was assuming to much or not. I agree. Many people think Draco, Harry and, Ron can't be friends, but I think that if the situation was different that they could be. They are all loyal and stick up for things the believe in. Well, in Draco's case, what he was told to believe in…(He's really good! He didn't kill Dumbledore did he!)
Latisha C-Yes and yes.

Next Chapter...well, isn't titled yet, let's just say this is when Harry and Family meet some old friends and have a good time before going back to school. (which, by the way, won't be happening in this chapter…)