Freddie

Harry

In the span of two days, Harry re-connected with two Hogwarts friends he thought he would never talk to again. Oh yeah, and the world was ending. He had been a part of the magical world for nearly twenty-three years, but it seemed that it could still shock him. Sure, there were ghosts at Hogwarts, but he still couldn't comprehend every living creature that had ever died coming back to life.

He was sitting in Hermione's office, terribly neglecting his own duties as Head of the Department of Mysteries. Angelina had fallen asleep a while ago, head slumping against Hermione's shoulder. Many people had visited them that day. Hermione had called to tell Ron, of course, and he recruited as many wizards and witches as he could to help them. Harry would never admit it to anyone, but he was greatly affected by the events of the past two days. All he and his friends had gone through, everyone that he had lost to stop Voldemort, and he could come back? Just like that? He had a sudden realization. If The Veil lifted completely, and Voldemort came back, surely everyone he killed would return as well. His parents! For a second, he thought selfishly that it might all be worth it if his parents came back. He quickly pushed the thought out of his mind.

How could I be so selfish? He said to himself. Be willing to end the world for my own desires? Sighing, Harry sipped his tea and set it down on the table beside him. He felt himself starting to doze and his eyelids began to droop.

Harry woke up dazed and confused. Looking around, he saw that he was still in Hermione's office, but everything was broken down and old like it had been abandoned for a while. The air itself seemed to be coated with grey dust and the colors of objects were leeched and mundane. He walked across the room, trying to find out what was happening. Suddenly, the hairs on the back of his neck stood up and he felt as if he were being watched. He whirled around, pulling out his wand.

"Mum?" he asked. It was indeed his mother standing in front of him. Lily smiled sweetly.

"Yes, Harry," she said, nodding. Harry quickly tucked his wand back into his pocket. She was soon attacked with a barrage of questions from her son.

"How are you here? What's going on? Where are we? Did you pass through The Veil? Where are my friends? Are you real?" Her smile saddened a bit.

"I will try my best to explain and help you in any way I can." she took a deep breath. "This is a dream vision. You are asleep, but your consciousness is in The Otherworld, with me. I have not passed through the Veil, and your father and I don't plan to. The more spirits pass through, the bigger the hole gets. Your friends are fine, for now. I am real, although we aren't really in the same place, so we can't touch each other, only talk." A tear trickled down her face.

"Do you know how to stop this?" Harry asked his mother. It saddened him that he couldn't reach out to comfort her.

"I do, actually. You're not going to like what I have to say, though," she said nervously.

"Just tell me," said Harry, "How could this possibly get any worse?" She told him and his eyes widened with shock. "Oh no," he said, putting a hand over his mouth. "And you're sure that's the only way?"

"I wouldn't tell you if I thought there was any other way," she said, eyes filling with tears, "I'm sorry."

"I love you, Mum."

"I love you too Harry. You have to wake up now." Wake up...

Harry abruptly jerked back to reality. Hermione and Angelina were staring at him, concerned. "Are you okay Harry?" asked Hermione. "You were jerking about and talking in your sleep. What happened?"

"I, erm, my...Mum sent me a dream vision. From the other side of the Veil," Harry coughed.

"Really?" asked Angelina. "What did she say? Does she know how to resew the seams of reality?"

"Yes," said Harry, "but it will cost a terrible price." After he told them what the price was, Angelina rushed to get her phone. The other two nodded in agreement and she dialed his number.