Alternate Universe - brothers Draco & Harry

Chapter 41 - the Mind Reader

Year five was slowly coming to a close, everyone was busy with their exams. The OWLs were quite difficult this year, but almost all students managed to succeed, scoring high marks, and performing difficult spells. And as the last exam approached, Aurelia was counting the hours, she needed to find out if she had scored higher than Sue Li for once.

The night before the last exam, many things changed. 

The night was silent and still within the Slytherin dormitory, the only sound being the faint rustle of bedclothes as students shifted in their sleep. The moon cast a pale glow through the windows, creating ghostly patterns on the stone walls. Hercules lay in his bed, his brow furrowed in sleep, the intensity of his visions gripping him tightly.

In his dream, the scene unfolded with a strange, vivid clarity. He saw Snape, his usually stern face softened with an expression of unguarded affection as the professor leaned in, pressing a tender kiss to Lily's cheek as she cradled a baby boy in her arms. The image was peaceful, yet tinged with an inexplicable sorrow. The vision began to blur, the edges fraying and distorting as it faded away.

A new vision took its place, sharp and almost painfully clear. Tom Riddle's face emerged from the darkness, a grin spreading across his handsome, yet malevolent features. The image zoomed out slowly, revealing Riddle's hand gripping a new wand. The wand was black, almost pulsating with a dark, malevolent energy. Riddle's eyes gleamed with triumph, and the sinister satisfaction in his expression sent a chill through Hercules' sleeping form.

Before Hercules could process the sight, the vision blurred again, shifting into a more sinister tableau. Albus Dumbledore appeared, his figure standing tall against a backdrop of a darkened sky. For a brief moment, Dumbledore's face twisted in terror, an expression so out of place on the venerable wizard that it sent a jolt of fear through Hercules. Suddenly, a flash of blue light struck Dumbledore in the chest, and his body arched with the impact. The vision faded just as quickly as it had come, leaving behind an ominous sense of foreboding.

Hercules awoke with a start, his body jerking upright in his bed. He was drenched in sweat, his breath coming in rapid, shallow gasps. His heart pounded in his chest, the echoes of his visions still reverberating through his mind. He ran a trembling hand through his hair, trying to calm his racing pulse and make sense of what he had seen. His head pounded with the intensity of the visions, a dull ache settling behind his eyes as he felt his scar ache once more.

As he sat there, his breathing gradually slowed, but the unease remained. The images of Snape and Lily, Tom Riddle with his new wand, and Dumbledore struck down lingered in his mind, each one filled with layers of meaning and dread. Hercules knew that these visions were not mere dreams, but harbingers of events that could alter the course of the magical world. So the boy got out of bed, deciding to make his way to the bathroom quietly, so as not to wake the other boys up. He looked at himself in the mirror, his face pale and drenched in sweat. After washing his face and calming down, the boy decided to go down to the common room and get some water.

Hercules descended the steps to the Slytherin common room, his body heavy with fatigue and his scar burning, a lingering reminder of the intensity of his visions. He tried to push it aside, focusing on the familiar surroundings as he made his way down. The flickering light from the fireplace cast long shadows on the walls, giving the room an almost eerie atmosphere. As he reached the bottom, he was greeted by the sound of giggling. Aurelia and Saskia were seated on a couch, their faces lit up with smiles as they chatted and laughed together. The sight of them, so carefree and happy, was a stark contrast to his own troubled state.

They turned and noticed him, their expressions shifting from surprise to concern. Aurelia immediately started to talk, her voice filled with sisterly warmth, "Hercules. You're up still?" But the boy, struggling to maintain his composure, brushed her off.