the chosen one, harry potter

six, the picture perfect kennedy family

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"MISS KENNEDY, CAN you explain what happened in your dream?"

Rory was sat in a chair opposite of Professor Dumbledore's desk. Hermione went back to their dormitory with Rory's insistence, but Harry had opted to stay. Was it for support, or to try and catch with a word with Professor Dumbledore, that was a mystery.

And what was also a mystery? The strange dream Rory had.

"That's what's weird, s-sir," Rory stumbled over her words, still out of it. "I don't think it was a-a dream. It was almost like flashback from someone's life. Like it had happened once b-before."

"Was this a flashback of your life?" Professor Dumbledore asked, and Rory shrugged as she nervously fiddled with her fingers, "I'm not sure, sir. Nothing that I remember, but it could've been? It was almost like a film and I was in t-the audience. That's why it felt like a dream."

"I understand," Professor Dumbledore nodded. "Could you explain what happened?"

"Well," Rory's mind wandered back to the dream. "There was a woman, her name was Iris. She was pleading with Lucius Malfoy and Bellatrix Lestrange n-not to take her child. Bellatrix went to kill Iris, but Lucius stopped her. He then used the Cruciatus Curse on her, but I felt it too.

"While I dreamed I felt the pain that Iris did; like hot knives w-were burning my insides and it wouldn't stop. That's when Lucius and Bellatrix disapparated out of the room with Iris, but still hadn't lifted the curse.

"Then another man came into the room. Then an infant wandered out of a closet. But what's strange is the child looked like the photographs of me in my home."

Professor Dumbledore took a few minutes of the silence to absorb the new information, then spoke again, "Mr. Potter, escort Miss Kennedy to the Hospital Wing? I'm sure Professor McGonagall has already informed Madam Pomfrey of her arrival."

"Yes, but, Professor —"

"I'd like to talk with you again, Miss Kennedy," Professor Dumbledore interrupted Harry. "I'll send a letter your way later today. Rest up, take care."

Rory and Harry exited Professor Dumbledore's office in silence. Harry wrapped his arm around Rory's shoulder to stabilize her as they made their way to the Hospital Wing. The boy faced Rory, a questioning look etched onto his face, "The man . . . did he have a name?"

"I don't know. His name was intentionally blocked out."

"Do you remember what he looked like?" Harry asked, and Rory rubbed her eyes as she tried to think, "He had this shoulder length black hair. It was wavy, but still straight? And then his eyes, they were an ashy, gray color. Like they were metallic, or gunmetal. Close to mine, but not as brown. A kind of hazel, maybe."

Harry stayed silent as he made the connection in his mind. Though Rory didn't know who the man was, Harry realized right away. The pair walked through the Hospital Wing, waltzing past Madam Pomfrey's door. Once they entered, the Medi-Witch proceeded to make a fuss about Rory, and pushed Harry out of the room. Even though he was worried about his friend, a new and more important thought came to mind.

He needed to speak to Sirius. Now.

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Rory was removed from her classes the following day, along with her remaining six days of detention with Professor Umbridge. Once the woman heard the news she almost had a fit, but it was on Professor Dumbledore's orders. He claimed she wouldn't be able to handle the long hours since she was very ill.

Dumbledore and McGonagall had Rory's back.

Madam Pomfrey allowed her to leave the Hospital Wing around noon, resulting in a semi-happier Rory. All she had done was stare at the ceiling while she laid on a cot, scared to fall asleep again. Once Rory left, she ran into her brother — well, she wasn't even sure Elio was her brother at this point. Everything was so messed up and confusing.

"Aurora!" She tried to walk away quickly, but Elio still spotted her. "Come here!"

"I'm sorry, Elio, but I can't deal with your —"

He interrupted her with a tight hug. To say Rory was surprised would've been an understatement. Elio looked down at her, whispering in her ear, "Are you alright? Professor Dumbledore called me into his office this morning and said you were in the Hospital Wing."

"I'm fine, Elio," Rory brushed him off of her. "I just — I got very ill last night. Probably just a twenty-four hour thing."

Elio studied her facial expression for a second, then shrugged, "Okay. See you later." And Rory walked away from her brother thinking how it was weird he expressed concern for her when he usually didn't speak to her.

Did he know about her dream?

Rory shook off the thought and continued her way back to the Gryffindor common room. She already had a dozen questions, she didn't need any more weighing her down.

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"Professor, I've had this question on my mind since the morning. Can I ask you it?"

At dinner that night, Rory received her letter from Professor Dumbledore and headed to his office once the meal had ended. He nodded, "Of course, Aurora. Go ahead, ask away."

Rory inhaled, "This — it may seem like an odd question, but to me nothing seems odd anymore. After my dream last night, there's been this thing on my mind. . . . Are Carina and Sol my real parents?"

Professor Dumbledore sighed, "It was only a matter of time before you would figure this out. Though it has always been a concern, the time must be right to tell you now."

"What do you mean, sir?"

"You're right to question Carina and Sol, Aurora. Carina is your aunt, her brother is your biological father."

Rory looked dumbfounded, "But, Professor? My mother — Carina, she doesn't have any siblings."

Professor Dumbledore peered at her over his half-moon glasses, "Aurora, Carina and Sol took you in once your father went to Azkaban for false accusations of murder. Your uncle had been killed a few years previously, leaving her as the only family left to take you in."

"Wait, what?"