Chapter 44: The Dream Taken

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 Toni turned the corner and saw the entrance to the hospital wing right in front of her. She was excited to meet her friends again, but her excitement was interrupted when a tall figure appeared out of nowhere, blocking her path. Startled, she looked up and recognized her uncle, who wore a big smile despite his slightly messy appearance. Confused by his unexpected presence, she asked, "What are you doing here?"

Her uncle, Wolfe, took a deep breath before responding, his hands resting in his pockets. "I have something for you," he said.

Excitedly, Toni inquired, "Did you find Peter Pettigrew?"

He shook his head sadly. "No, unfortunately not. We couldn't reach him. But that's not why I'm here. Come with me."

"But I'm supposed to meet Harry and-" Toni began, but Wolfe interrupted.

"No time for that now. Hermione and Harry have already gone off with the Time Turner," he explained, urging her to follow. "Dumbledore encouraged it, and they will take care of everything. Now, come with me. I have something to return to you."

"Return... to me?" Toni was surprised and puzzled.

Wolfe chuckled at her reaction. Without another word, he took her arm and led her down the school corridors, attracting curious gazes from other students. Soon, they arrived at the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom. Wolfe shut the door behind them, and with a flick of his hand, the blinds closed, and the lights dimmed, except for a few scattered glimmers on the desk.

"Lay down," he instructed firmly.

Confused, Toni asked, "What is this for?"

Approaching a particular spot in the room, Wolfe motioned for Toni to follow. "You experienced something similar in your first year when your father guided you into a dream state. Since then, these dreams have had a physical effect on you. So, my dear niece, I've removed the memory of a specific dream that came to you when Kathryne took you to the ancient oak."

Toni stood there, utterly bewildered. She had no recollection of any dream under the oak tree, only the memory of seeing and traveling to it. Her uncle's words left her questioning why he would take that dream from her. Confused, she peered at him, seeking answers.

Seeing her confusion, Wolfe nodded understandingly. "I can understand your confusion. Most people are puzzled when I tell them I've taken a memory or dream from them. But this was only meant to be temporary. You had a glimpse into your fourth year, and we couldn't let you focus on that so early on. By the way, I assume you received Thicket's letter about your summer plans?"

Recalling the letter that didn't bring much joy, Toni frowned. "Yes, I got it. I'm supposed to train all summer with no breaks."

"Good. Now, let me show you why we had to take this course of action. Please, lie down so we can begin," Wolfe said, gesturing towards the table with a smile on his face.

Curious and a bit apprehensive, Toni followed his instructions, lying down on the table as Wolfe prepared to reveal the truth behind his actions. She was eager to understand the significance of this missing memory and how it related to her upcoming summer training and fourth year.

"Good. Now close your eyes and let me handle the rest," Wolfe said in a low hush as he came beside her ear.

Toni's eyes slowly closed, and as she surrendered to sleep, her surroundings transformed from darkness to a vivid, luminescent world. With great motions and wave-like speeds, surreal visions unfurled before her eyes, resembling scenes from a captivating film. The first image materialized, depicting a giant goblet emanating a mesmerizing blue glow, as if it held some mystical power. Suddenly, pieces of paper burst forth from it, and the unmistakable voice of Dumbledore resonated, announcing the name "Harry Potter." Though the dialogue between her and Harry appeared wordless, the fear in their eyes spoke volumes, hinting at an ominous encounter.

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