Dreamwalking
Straight after they had finished their breakfast, Harry and Hermione went up to the staff table and stood in front of Dumbledore. He looked up from his porridge and raised his eyebrows enquiringly. "Professor, we need to speak to you, its urgent." Harry said quietly, aware of the other teachers listening, and the eyes of the other students in the great hall on them. Dumbledore gave him and Hermione a searching look and nodded. "Go up to my office Harry. The password is 'acid lolly', I'll be there soon." He gave them a small smile and they walked away. When they got to the gargoyle Harry said the password and it sprang to the side, revealing the moving staircase leading to Dumbledore's office. They stepped onto it, making their way silently to the office.
Harry went straight over to Fawks, Dumbledore's phoenix and began stroking him, leaving Hermione standing alone. She sighed quietly. He had hardly said two words to her since breakfast, so Hermione knew he must still be mad at her, but she knew that he was also mad at himself. She felt quite guilty about not telling him what Azalea Rookwood had said to her on the train. She knew she should have said something, but secretly a small part of her felt quite proud that a powerful witch like Rookwood had commented on Hermione's powers. But she had quickly squashed down those feelings with guilt. She now saw how foolish she had been to think that Rookwood would not do as she had promised, and contact her. People like her don't give up, she thought, not when they want something enough…but what does she want?
After ten minutes of silent waiting, Dumbledore strode into the room, followed by Tonks and Bill Weasley. Dumbledore sat down behind his desk and waved his wand, conjuring enough chairs for them all. "I thought that professors Tonks and Weasley may be of some use" he said pleasantly, seeing Hermione and Harry glance curiously at the two professors. "Please sit down, and tell us what it is that it so urgent" he continued, gesturing to the chairs in front of the desk. They sat down and Hermione took a shaky breath and began to tell them what she had told Harry earlier that morning, including everything that she could remember. Both Tonks and Bill interrupted her with questions through her story, and made her repeat some of it two or three times over. Dumbledore stayed silent, listening, eyes thoughtful behind half moon glasses. When Hermione got to the dream she had the night before, however, he frowned slightly. "Well this is something I admit I did not foresee" he said with a sigh. Hermione frowned. "Sorry sir, but what is?" Tonks sat forward in her chair, looking intently at Dumbledore and said "Is it possible professor? Could she really be… no-one had been born with that ability in hundreds of years…we all thought they had died out… but its not something she could have learned, is it?" she asked, clearly puzzled. Bill frowned, looking at Dumbledore for answers. Hermione looked between them, certain they could not be talking about what she thought they were. "You can't mean Dreamwalking Professor?" she asked Dumbledore uncertainly.
"What's Dreamwalking?" Harry asked, bewildered. Bill answered him "Dreamwalking is the ability to take someone in their dreams to the Space, which is a place where dreams come from - if you like, the place where they are made. Dreamwalkers, and ordinary witches and wizards with the right training, can manipulate events that happen in the Space, and can dream up almost anything. Dreamwalkers are the only ones who can bring people to the Space, but once there, a person can leave if the Dreamwalker allows it, or if they try hard enough" he said, then Tonks continued "But it seems very unlikely that Azalea Rookwood could be a Dreamwalker though, because Dreamwalking is hereditary, and the last Dreamwalker died over three hundred years ago, or so we thought. But I didn't think there was any way it could be learned?" she asked Dumbledore doubtfully. His blue eyes looked troubled, which made Hermione uneasy, Dumbledore hardly ever seemed troubled about anything. "Well" he said "Although it is widely believed among the wizarding people that Dreamwalking cannot be learned, there are a few problems with this belief. For a start, how did the first Dreamwalkers start Dreamwalking if it cannot be taught? They had to learn from somewhere. Once they learned of course it was a different matter - the ability was woven into their genes for their descendants to inherit until the family died out. Something that cannot be taught has been learnt again it seems, an impossibility, no? So logically we must presume that Dreamwalking can indeed be learnt. How? I do not know. But now it seems that Miss Rookwood has discovered the instructions on how to Dreamwalk, and has begun using the ability that was forbidden centuries ago." he finished. Hermione looked around, Tonks was scowling at the floor, Bill was staring into space, frowning. Harry was still looking at Dumbledore. "Professor," he said "why was Dreamwalking forbidden? Can it harm the person brought into the dream?" he asked, his hand finding Hermione's. Dumbledore looked at them both thoughtfully, as if deciding how much to tell them. Finally he said "I'm afraid so Harry. When the Dreamwalker snatches someone out of their dreams into the Space, he is then in control, as he, or she, will have extensive knowledge of the world of dreams, and usually have the power to use that knowledge against others. The more powerful the Dreamwalker is, the greater their ability to manipulate objects inside the Space."
Harry frowned "But Hermione said she stepped off the platform and woke up. Rookwood couldn't keep her there." he said. Tonks stood up and began to pace as she replied to Harry's question. "That's probably because Rookwood wasn't expecting Hermione to do that, as Hermione has never been to the Space before, none of us have. She probably thought that Hermione would not have a clue what to do to escape the dream., and was therefore unprepared for Hermione simply walking off the platform" she explained.
Hermione frowned and looked at Dumbledore "You said that ordinary witches and wizards can manipulate the Space professor. I thought that only Dreamwalkers can do that? Or at least, that is what the books told me" Dumbledore smiled slightly. "It is widely believed that Dreamwalkers, and only Dreamwalkers, can manipulate the Space, but a few of us know differently. Yes, if the witch or wizard is powerful enough, they can fight anything the Dreamwalker conjures up, and counter their moves. But fighting in the Space is extremely risky though" he said, his voice turning grave. "anything that happened to a person in the Space happens to them in the real world. If you, for example, twist your ankle in the Space, then you will wake to find your ankle hurt in reality as well. And if you are killed in the Space, then you will never wake from your dream, you will die in the real world as well. That is why Dreamwalkers were hunted in the 18th century, and why there are none today. Only Dreamwalkers can access the Space, and make people die in their dreams. And I'm afraid that the original Dreamwalkers - those who discovered the power - were not a pleasant group, and their descendants were of the same disposition, hence the capture and murder of the Dreamwalkers" There was a horrified silence after this speech, all of them fully realising the power Azalea Rookwood commanded over them all. Finally, Harry broke the silence. "Professor Dumbledore, is there any way to stop Rookwood entering Hermione's dreams?" he asked, his hand tightening on hers. Dumbledore nodded. "Yes, there is a spell to block a Dreamwalker out of your dreams. It is a simple charm that must be performed every night before you sleep. I suggest that all of you perform it, I certainly will be" he said with a smile. "The charm is 'durma livremente'. all you have to do is point your wand at your pillow and say those words. Now" he said, looking at Hermione "it seems that Miss Rookwood has taken an interest in you Hermione, and I'm afraid that it is not safe for you to be out of school anymore. I suggest that you stay at school on Hogsmeade weekends, and do not leave the grounds for any reason. Azalea Rookwood is an exceptionally intelligent witch, and if would not do to underestimate her. I believe that she would not hesitate to turn up in the middle of Hogsmeade to reach you." he looked at her sternly. "I do hope you agree with me Miss Granger?" Hermione looked at him wide-eyed and nodded her head. "Of course professor. I won't leave the school grounds for any reason. I promise." she said, meaning every word. If Azalea Rookwood was anywhere near her, she'd run a mile rather than have to look into those cold blue eyes of hers again. Tonks patted her arm and smiled reassuringly at her. "Don't worry Hermione, it'll be ok, she can't come anywhere near you in Hogwarts, you know its protected from dark witches and wizards." she said. Hermione nodded, she was safe at Hogwarts.