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He was enveloped in darkness. Pure blackness surrounded him. And then, out of the darkness, a soft wailing rose up, growing louder with each second. It grew so loud he had to press his hands to his ears, willing the agony to stop. And then the wailing gave way to a high-pitched laugh that made the hair on the back of his neck stand on end.

The darkness was dissolving in a whirl of gray. The screaming returned, the laughter accompanying it. In a whirl of blurred colors, he found himself spinning before the colors sharpened and he was able to witness the scene before him.

Harry stood frozen in horror as the tall black robed figure moved in front on him, pointing his wand at a crumpled form on the floor. The screaming had ceased but the laughter had not. Not being able to decipher the form of the person on the floor, Harry studied the room intently, etching it to memory.

It was a small, cramped room. The stone walls were damp and moldy, lined with torches. Cruel instruments of torture hung from pegs on the walls. The distant sound of dripping water reached Harry's ears before the cloaked figure spoke in a chilling voice.

"Are you ready to serve me now?"

A shaky and painful breath was drawn in by the other. After several minutes, a soft, barely audible, "No" escaped through cracked lips.

Harry let out a yell as he recognized the voice and before he could react, he found himself looking through the eyes of another, bone white hands gripping the handle of a dark wood wand. A mixture of fury and glee filled Harry's mind as he raised the wand, held by the hand of Voldemort.

"Very well," Harry sneered in a cold voice. "I shall have to make you suffer more then."

With a flick of the wand, the person on the floor cried out and writhed in ultimate suffering. A flash of red hair soaked in sweat met Harry's eyes and in guilt he cried out as well, desperately trying to break free of Voldemort's mind.

The Dark Lord halted and lifted the curse, smiling inwardly.

"Well well, Potter. It seems you have returned. Maybe another lesson is in order."

Ron lifted his head, hearing Voldemort's words and understanding.

"Harry! No! Don't listen to him!"

With a shriek of anger, Voldemort slammed Harry back from his mind and then struck Ron with a curse that blasted him to the far wall and knocked him unconscious. Harry sprawled to the floor and stared up into Voldemort's red eyes.

"Time to play by my rules, Potter."

Harry tried to desperately put a mind block between him and the Dark Lord but he was weakened already. In another whirl of colors that involved a high pitch laughter, Harry found himself running down a long corridor, toward a door that looked vaguely familiar. The door burst open and Harry was in a circular room lined with doors, blue candles illuminating the cold black marble.

And he kept running. Through another door, through the glittering Room of Time, through the last door which led to a room filled with towering shelves. A soft glow surrounded him as his running never ceased. And when Harry finally stopped and looked up, a number glared down at him from the side of the one shelf.

Row 79.

With a power he didn't know he possessed, Harry forced himself to stop and let a shock wave of energy pulse outward from his mind. A shriek of anger and pain yelled from within his mind as he slowly collapsed to the floor……

"NOOOOO!" Harry screamed loudly as he sat up in bed so quickly he tumbled to the floor with a harsh smack.

Panting with exhaustion, he kicked frantically at the covers tangled around his waist and legs. His body was covered in sweat and his scar was burning fiercely on his forehead, a brilliant color of red, small trickles of blood escaping from it. With another sharp yell, Harry managed to free himself and stand upright on shaky legs.

Gripping the edge of his bed, Harry started to take a step forward when his door burst open, causing him to fall over again. Hermione, Draco, and Ginny were illuminated in his doorway by the firelight behind them. All wore matching looks of fear and shock.

"Harry!" Hermione cried out, rushing forward and dropping to her knees beside him. "Oh my God, your scar is bleeding. We have to get you to see Madame Pomfrey immediately. Draco, Ginny, help me!"

Just as the other two moved forward to assist Hermione, Harry lurched upright again and grabbed his wand off of the bedside table, pointing it at the other three.

"Get out of my way, all of you. I need to see Professor Dumbledore, now."

Hermione squeaked in fear. "Harry, don't. What are you doing? Put your wand down, we're not going to hurt you."

"Hermione," Harry hissed through clenched teeth, "I love you but right now, you have to move. Ron's life is at stake."

A sharp intake of breath came from Ginny as Harry fumbled for his glasses, never inching his wand from the other Heirs' faces. Hermione looked close to tears and Draco was fuming with anger when Harry finally brought them into focus.

"What are you playing at, Potter?" Draco snapped. "Planning on using that thing on us?"

"I will if you don't move!" Harry yelled.

Ginny crossed her arms over her chest and sent Harry an ugly look.

"What's this have to do with Ron? Did you see something?" she said in a deadly whisper.

Harry didn't answer her questions, he just became more angry. "Now, Weasley! Or I will use force."

When no one moved, Harry pointed his wand at a large vase sitting on his dresser.

"Reducto!" he cried.

The vase blasted apart so forcefully that shards became imbedded in the wall. Harry then pointed his wand back to the three.

"Next time, it'll be you," he snarled, his green eyes flashing.

The other three Heirs scrambled back in fright, leaving Harry free to leave his room. As he passed Hermione, she tried in vain to grab his arm.

"Harry, please, listen to me! You're letting your anger control you. I love you! Please, don't push me away!"

Harry's features softened a bit but he didn't lower his wand.

"I'm sorry, Hermione, but I have to speak to Dumbledore now. I can't let any of you stop me either. You'll understand why."

And with one last look, Harry fled from the Common Room. Hermione fell into the nearest chair, shaking, her Empathic abilities allowing her to feel everything. Ginny sat next to her, shaking as well, but with rage. Draco looked over at the two of them and shook his head.

"Well, that was pleasant," he muttered, before an idea suddenly sprang into his mind.

Draco was angry with how Harry had reacted to their help but he knew the importance of whatever the Gryffindor had obviously seen. Closing his eyes tightly, he stretched his mind out and contacted the one person Harry needed.

………………

Harry raced down the corridors, his wand tip lit and showing the way. He needed to find McGonagall and then have her contact Dumbledore. Truthfully, Harry had no idea when what he had just witnessed in his dream would take place, but the sooner the Headmaster was informed, the quicker action could take place. Ron and the Prophecy of Merlin were both in danger.

As he flew down the set of stairs leading to the Entrance Hall, the great oak doors burst open and Dumbledore walked into the castle. Breathing in relief but also surprised, Harry rushed toward him.

"How….how…?" Harry panted, hoping his question was being understood.

"Draco contacted me telepathically and I arrived here immediately. He said you requested my presence, Harry, and that it was urgent." The old wizard sent him a grave look. "What is it?"

"Sir, I had another dream, one of the vision ones. I am better at Occlumency but I think I was supposed to see this. Ron was being tortured by Voldemort because he was refusing to do something. I….I…" He faltered before continuing on in a stronger tone. "I was inside Voldemort and I performed a curse on Ron. Then Voldemort noticed I was there and he forced me to see something else in my dreams. I was back in the Department of Mysteries and going to the Room of Prophecies. He made me stop before Row 79 before I was able to push him out of my mind. Sir, I think he's going to try and steal the Prophecy of Merlin!"

Dumbledore's face grew even more serious. "Are you sure, Harry? Is this exactly what you saw?"

Biting back a sharp remark, he nodded. "Yes, I am positive. It's like what I saw with Mister Weasley last year."

Dumbledore nodded and walked forward quickly. "Come, we must go to my study here. Word must be sent out immediately."

Harry followed behind Dumbledore's rapid steps as they ascended the stairs and finally entered the study. Harry was surprised to see Fawkes the Phoenix sitting patiently on the desk, glowing gold in the darkness, the only source of light before Dumbledore lit the torches with his wand. Turning to the bird, he spoke softly.

"Go to the place and wait and watch for anything unusual. Send a message immediately if such a thing occurs."

The intelligent bird cooed a soft musical note before disappearing in a flash of flames. Dumbledore then sat at his desk and began to write on a piece of parchment. Harry paced impatiently in front of him, chewing his lip nervously and twirling his wand. Several minutes later, the Headmaster stood and walked to the window, where a large barn owl sat. He tied the letter to it's leg and it flew off into the night.

As Dumbledore turned around, Harry stopped his pacing and fixed an unblinking gaze on his professor.

"Sir, don't leave me in the dark again like you did last year. You promised to inform me more of anything going on. Please, what did you just do?"

Dumbledore sighed and sat down again. Rubbing his hands together, he indicated for Harry to sit down as well, which he did. The wise wizard then leaned forward over his desk.

"Yes, Harry, I remember saying that. So, I shall inform you of everything I just did. You are an Heir and as such, you do have a right to know. I sent Fawkes to watch the Ministry of Magic for any signs of Voldemort and his Death Eaters. A signal shall be sent to me at once if he sees them. As for the letter, I have sent it to the Order of the Phoenix, requesting for a small number of them to be prepared for battle if the scene at the Department of Mysteries takes place as you said it will. I do not want you or any of the others to rush off as you did last year. We can not risk that again, as I am sure you will agree."

Harry nodded as Dumbledore fell silent. "Yes, Professor, I understand."

A sad look passed over his face as he remembered the fate of Sirius because of the wrong judgment he had made. He wouldn't do that again and risk the life of another loved one.

"Harry," Dumbledore said, breaking the silence. "There is something I need you to do for me. I trust in the ability of Fawkes but I also believe we need to be more prepared for the arrival of Voldemort. I trust that what you saw is indeed going to become real so I need you to use your Legilimency and Occlumency skills once more. Do you believe you can enter Voldemort's mind undetected and find out when he is planning his attack?"

Harry drew in a deep breath and went rigid. He had not been expecting that request and the thought of going into Voldemort's mind intentionally was not very thrilling. He saw the pleading look in Dumbledore's eyes though and he imagined the suffering that Ron was enduring and he screwed up his courage.

"Yes," he finally said at length, "I'll do it. But if he feels me there, I will pull out at once, whether I find out when or not."

Dumbledore nodded in agreement. "I will ask no more than that of you."

Harry then sat more upright in his chair and closed his eyes. He tried to remember everything Professor Snape had taught the Heirs about Legilimency and Occlumency and very slowly, he put the lessons into action. He breathed deeply once and then leveled out his breath into a steady rhythm. He forced himself to place all of his own mind blocks up and then, he focused on reaching forward and probing for the mind of Voldemort.

It was not hard to do. He knew what the presence of Voldemort felt like and since the two were connected by the scar on Harry's forehead, the Dark Lord and the Boy-Who-Lived were never far apart in the ways of their minds. A strange sensation filled him as he connected firmly with Voldemort's mind. Then, very carefully, while keeping his barriers strongly intact, he searched for the needed information.

He was now looking through Voldemort's eyes, watching an eerie and cold green fire. Ignoring the fire, Harry went about his task, now finding it difficult to proceed because the Dark Lord was so skilled at keeping barriers up at all times. But a glimmer of hope went through him as he found a crack in the artfully created walls. And as he slipped through it, a cackle of glee reached him and Harry felt his mind being pinned down.

"Well well, Potter, I am surprised at you. And impressed too. You have gone deep into my mind hardly detected. You are stronger now."

The harsh voice echoed around him and Harry tried to remove himself but found it almost impossible.

"Did you think I would let you go that easily," the voice said coldly. "No, maybe you need to go there, again."

Harry then saw Row 79 looming before him again and with a desperate lurch, he found himself skidding along the floor of Dumbledore's study, gasping and gulping for air. Dumbledore rose from his seat and hurried forward to help Harry stand up.

"Forgive an old man, Harry," he said softly as he helped the younger wizard into his chair. "I knew right away when Voldemort noticed you in his mind. You seized up and started shaking, and for your pain, I am sorry. I must say, I am impressed with how long you were able to remain in his mind."

"He tried again," Harry gasped, "to take me there."

Dumbledore sighed. "At least you escaped before he could evoke more damage. But, I must ask, did you get through and find the answer?"

Harry groaned from weariness and slumped further in the chair before looking at Dumbledore.

"Tomorrow night," he said with an odd gleam in his eyes. "Tomorrow he will try and make Ron steal the Prophecy."

……………………

Voldemort cursed loudly as he felt Harry leave his mind. Standing abruptly, he marched over to the doors entering into his study and flung them open wide.

"Wormtail!" he shouted.

A scurrying noise followed his angry yell and the stooping form of Wormtail appeared seconds later. He was quivering and wringing his hands. He bowed low before speaking.

"Y..Yes, Master. You called for me?"

"Yes, you insolent fool," the Dark Lord spat. "Send word to the ranks. I need more of my Death Eaters at the Department of Mysteries tomorrow. It seems that Potter has learned of our secret attack. Too much is at stake to back out now but I have no doubts that we can defeat them."

"Of…of course, My Lord. I will send word at once." Wormtail sniffed and then continued. "But…will you be there as well, My Lord? Tomorrow that is?"

Voldemort hissed and Wormtail backed up a few paces in fear.

"Do you think I want a repeat of last year? When the other prophecy was lost? I shall be there, I am not intrusting the foolish to take on this task alone. Now, go, I have other business to attend to."

Wormtail bowed hastily and left the room. Voldemort shut the doors and pulled his wand from his robes, sweeping over to the far corner of the study. Nagini picked her head up and hissed eagerly.

"Not now, my pet," the Dark Lord whispered, "but soon. You may have him soon."

The great snake lowered it's head in disappoint, it's eyes never leaving the prone form sprawled on the floor. Voldemort stopped in front of the red-head and waved his wand, rousing him from his unconsciousness. With a grunt and a bemused expression in his eyes, Ron stared at the wand tip inches from his nose.

"It seems as if your friend Potter is trying to save you. But not matter, there is not much he can do. You are mine and you will obey me."

Ron struggled a bit but he was so weak and tired he could barely think, let alone move greatly. Voldemort laughed in delight.

"How pathetic you are! Potter chooses the worst to befriend. An old Mudblood-lover, a half-giant, a Mudblood, and the lowest of purebloods. Never shall any of you be a match for me! I have disposed of the one already, it will not take long for the rest of you to follow."

Voldemort paused and stooped lower, Ron's eyes widening as he chewed on the gag in his mouth.

"But not yet, Mister Weasley, I still need you. And once I have no more use for you, my pet, Nagini, will find you quite useful. Until that moment, you are mine! And to make sure you fully obey my plan, I believe a small curse is in order."

Voldemort straightened and Ron let out a muffled gasp, shaking his head furiously from side to side, sweat breaking out on his brow.

"Do not fight it, Weasley," he said quietly, "there is no point."

Ron watched in horror as the wand tip flicked and pointed at him, the curse falling easily from the Dark Lord's lips.

"Imperio!"

A dream-like sensation fell over Ron's mind and his eyelids drooped half-shut. With another wave, the gag disappeared and Voldemort smirked, bending forward.

"Now, Mister Weasley, will you do as I say and complete the mission?"

With glazed eyes, Ron looked up at Voldemort and muttered thickly, "Yes."

Voldemort's evil laugh of absolute amusement and satisfaction resonated for miles around. His plan of success was falling into place almost flawlessly.

........................

Author's Note: Another update! I seem to get all my inspiration in the early hours of the morning now, while listening to the Star Wars soundtracks. Odd but effective, though I do admit I am quite tired. It is all worth it to know I am posting this for my loyal readers! Thank you to each and every one of you for staying with me and reviewing! :)
I hope you enjoyed the chapter. Harry was quite angry in this one, which may seem a bit much to some of you but he was quite bad in OotP and I wanted to show he hasn't lost that temper completely. Oh, and if any of you noticed anything unusual about the row number I used, it's cause I did acquire it from somewhere, only changing it a bit. If anyone can guess from where, points to you! The next chapter will be out shortly, the big battle I promised! I hope you are all looking forward to that! Please review! I love all the comments and feedback!
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