I keep having this reoccuring dream about Harry Potter. It's like my unconscious mind is writing a new book for the series. It's the most detailed dream I can recall and yet so vague on certain details.
It always starts the same, opening up on the door to Harry's bedroom being shut and then panning out to see Harry sitting in the dark on his bed glaring at said door. In the rest of the house, one can hear the Dursley's talking venemously about Harry, berating him every sentence. Harry sighs and gets up and looks out the window, glad that the summer is nearly over. Outside it's dark and rainy, as England tends to be, and he opens the window a bit and a cool, moist breeze blows through the room and Hedwig rustles about in her cage. Harry smiles, remembering fun times at Hogwart's.
Abruptly, the scene shifts. It's night and Hermione, Ron and Harry are sharing a cabin in the train together with their friend Neville. They're having a grand time eating candy and chatting when the train comes a halt very suddenly, so suddenly that Hermione and Neville are tossed into Ron and Harry's laps. The light's flicker and everyone remembers that horrible night at the beginning of their third year when the Dementors got onto the train and attacked Harry. The train finally plunges into darkness, the only light coming from the outside of the train, the full moon shining and the stars twinkling. The quartet of students is quiet in the cabin, their breathing the only sound until just as abruptly as it started, the train's lights come back on and it jerks into motion seemingly without mishap.
"Well, I guess it just broke down," Ron says and he smiles a little nervously at Harry and the others. Harry and Neville chuckle quietly, obviously trying to break the tension, but Hermione, who is slightly slumped forward seems to be staring at her hands which are limp in her lap. "All right, Hermione?" Ron asks. She remains quiet for a few seconds and then straightens up and looks up at the three boys.
"Oh, we've started moving again." Hermione states rather redundantly. Harry and Ron exchange a confused look, but don't push the issue while the Neville just gives Hermione a questioning look as she watches the dark scenary pass the window quickly. The rest of train ride passes in silence as Harry and Ron observe Hermione and Neville just sits and twiddles his thumbs.
Once inside Hogwarts, our heroes sit through another welcome speech from Dumbledore in the Great Hall, the sky above no longer clear, but rather pouring rain which mingles magically with the candles floating above the feasting tables. As is the norm, Ron and Harry clap enthusiastically at the end of Dumbledore's speech, but Harry notices out of the corner of his eye that Hermione, across from him and next to Ron, once again has her head bowed and is slumped slightly forward. Catching Ron's attention as he reaches across the table, Harry's hand almost reaches Hermione's shoulder when she lifts her head and looks at Harry's hand questioningly.
"Harry?" She asks and raises an eyebrow. Harry frowns, clearly debating whether or not to ask Hermione about the strange episode she just had.
"Hermione, what was that?" Ron blurts out bluntly. Around them the rest of the school has torn into their meals and are chattering and laughing, effectively masking their conversation from unwanted ears.
"What was what?" Hermione reaches forward and grabs a chicken leg and takes a bite of it delicately. Harry and Ron exchange a concerned look and Harry opens her mouth to speak, but stops when a roll hits in the back of the head.
"Hey, Potter!" Malfoy's voice rings maliciously across the hall and Harry looks back with annoyance evident on his face. "Did you get scared when the lights went out on the train this year? Did you think that the Dementors were bad to get you?" Malfoy laughs as Crabbe and Goyle make faces at Harry. Angrily, Harry turns back and digs into a piece of chicken, his concern for Hermione forgotten.
"Just ignore him Harry." Hermione advises, and they eat, Harry boiling silently through the dinner.
This is getting rather long...I'll continue at another point in time.