Became good friends with the Boy Who Lived

"You come too, Weasley!" Professor McGonagall said finally.

Aris, Harry, and Ron quickly put their clothes on over their pajamas and followed Professor McGonagall out of the dormitory. When they passed by the bewildered Neville, Dean, and Seamus, Aris patted Neville on the shoulder and whispered, "Thank you!"

"You're welcome!" Neville said softly.

Professor McGonagall and her three companions went down the spiral staircase, passed the common room, exited the portrait entrance, and headed all the way to the headmaster's office on the eighth floor.

"I... we need to hurry," Harry said anxiously, "Mr. Weasley... Mr. Weasley is bleeding profusely, and I'm not sure if the snake is poisonous..."

Professor McGonagall did not reply, but silently quickened her pace. Soon, the four of them arrived in front of the stone monster at the entrance of the principal's office.

"Sizzle, honey candy!" said Professor McGonagall, and the stone monster made way. The wall behind it separated to the left and right, and a spiral stone staircase rotated upwards like an elevator. Professor McGonagall took the lead and climbed the stairs, and the three companions quickly followed.

After climbing the last step, they came to a shining oak door. The bronze door knocker in the shape of a griffin spoke of mystery and simplicity to the visitors.

Although it was already late at night, the office was still very busy, as if Professor Dumbledore was receiving many, many guests at the same time.

When Professor McGonagall knocked on the oak door, the sound inside stopped abruptly and the door opened automatically. Professor McGonagall walked in first, followed by Aris, Harry and Ron.

Professor Dumbledore was sitting in a high-backed chair behind his desk, seemingly flipping through some documents. He was wearing a purple-and-gold robe over his snow-white pajamas, and looked energetic. At this moment, his deep blue eyes were looking at Professor McGonagall through his half-moon glasses.

"Minerva?" Professor Dumbledore said softly, as if he was afraid of waking up the portraits of past headmasters who were sleeping soundly. "And... my children, what is the matter at this late hour?"

"Albus," said Professor McGonagall, "Grindelwald said he had a precognitive dream in which he saw Arthur being attacked by a python, in the Department of Mysteries..."

"Stop talking, Minerva," said Professor Dumbledore. "Can you tell me more, Aeris?"

After Aerys recounted his dream in detail, Professor Dumbledore fell into deep thought. He looked at his crossed fingers and asked, "Then why is Harry here..."

"I... I had the same dream," Harry said unsteadily. "In the dream, I... I turned into a python and I... I attacked Mr. Weasley. I... I didn't want to do it, but I... I couldn't help myself... I... I couldn't do anything... I couldn't do anything..."

Ron almost collapsed to the ground. Aeris quickly supported the pale Ron and whispered to him, "Cheer up, buddy! It's okay... It's definitely okay..."

"Is Arthur seriously injured? Aeris!" Professor Dumbledore asked seriously.

"It's serious," Aris said quickly, "If no one finds it, Mr. Weasley will die from excessive blood loss."

Professor Dumbledore stood up suddenly and shouted to the two portraits closest to the ceiling: "Evra, Dalis, did you hear that?"

The wizard and witch in the two portraits quickly woke up from their slumber and nodded at the same time.

"Make sure Arthur is found by one of our own," said Professor Dumbledore sternly. "As soon as possible!"

The two wizards said nothing more and disappeared into the frame. Professor Dumbledore walked quickly to Fawkes and touched the Phoenix's head, and Fawkes woke up immediately.

"Go, you know what to do!" Professor Dumbledore said to Fawkes, who turned into a wisp of spark and disappeared into thin air.

"We need to wait a moment," said Professor Dumbledore. "Evra and Dalis will sound the alarm. Fortunately, the Ministry of Magic has their portraits. Minerva, conjure up some chairs and sit down for a moment."

Professor McGonagall nodded, waved her wand, and four wooden chairs appeared out of thin air. Edward helped Ron sit down, and then asked Harry, who was standing in a daze, to sit down as well. Edward sat next to Harry.

Professor Dumbledore ignored the others and fiddled with his strange magical instruments, muttering softly and talking to himself.

"Dumbledore!" Evra came back, sweating profusely. He wiped his sweat and said hurriedly, "He was saved. At least he was found by our people. When they lifted him up from below, he was covered in blood. I'm not sure if he is still alive..."

Ron sat in his chair, visibly twitching and looking bewildered.

Dalys also ran back to the portrait frame panting. She slumped in the chair in the frame, coughing and saying, "They...sent him...ahem...to...St. Mungo's...ahem...they...passed...in front of my portrait...ahem...he...looked...very...bad...ahem..."

"Thank you," said Professor Dumbledore, and to Professor McGonagall, "Minerva, go and wake up the other Weasley children..."

Professor McGonagall nodded, stood up and left quickly. Professor Dumbledore took out an old black teapot from the cupboard. He pointed his wand at the old teapot and murmured, "Mentos..."

The old teapot trembled and emitted a strange blue light, but soon returned to calm. "What a wonderful door key!" Aeris exclaimed to himself.

"Phineas!" Professor Dumbledore called out to a picture frame.

"Hmm!" Phineas's portrait suddenly woke up. "Did someone call me?"

"I need you to go to Black House," Professor Dumbledore said, "to tell Sirius that Arthur Weasley is seriously injured, and his wife, children, Aries, and Harry Potter will be at Black House soon. Do you understand?"

Phineas yawned loudly and said dazedly, "I'm afraid not, Dumbledore. I'm...too tired today..."

But before Phineas could finish, all the portraits took out their wands and pointed them at Phineas.

Phineas suddenly came to his senses and said, "I'll go right away..." After that, Phineas disappeared as if he was escaping.

The office door opened, and Fred, George, and Ginny, led by Professor McGonagall, came to the headmaster's office.

All three of them were wearing pajamas, with messy hair and terrified faces. Fred walked quickly to Aris and asked hurriedly, "What's going on? Buddy! Did you dream that my dad was injured?"

"It was Aris's prophetic dream," Professor Dumbledore said, "Your father was injured while working for the Order of the Phoenix and has been sent to St. Mungo's. I will take you back to the Black mansion, where it is more convenient to get to the hospital. I have already notified your mother."

"How do we get there?" George asked anxiously. "Floo powder?"

"Use the portkey!" Professor Dumbledore pointed to the old teapot on his desk.

Suddenly there was a flash of fire, and a beautiful feather fell. Professor Dumbledore grabbed it. "It's Dolores," said Professor Dumbledore. "Minerva, get her away, no matter what method you use..."

Professor McGonagall hurried away again.

"Dumbledore, my great-grandson agreed!" Phineas said lazily, "He likes to let people stay."

"Hurry!" said Professor Dumbledore, "before someone breaks in here..."

Six people gathered around the portkey. "Have you all used a portkey?" Professor Dumbledore asked softly. Everyone nodded silently and held out a finger in preparation.

"I'll count to three..." said Professor Dumbledore, "One...two...three..."

The six of them simultaneously pressed a finger on the old teapot. Before the feeling of using the portkey came, Aris subconsciously glanced at Harry, who was staring at Professor Dumbledore with a distorted face...

The world was spinning around, and Aeris felt someone supporting him. "Are you okay, Master Grindelwald?" Old Krecher's bullfrog-like voice came, and he pulled Aeris back a few steps to prevent the other people from bumping into him.

"Thank you, Mr. Kreche!" said Aerys. "Can you make us a pot of tea?"

"Of course!" Old Krecher bowed to Aris, glared at the Weasleys and Harry fiercely, and then went about his business.

Sirius, with a scruffy beard, walked over quickly and helped Harry and Ginny up. "What happened?" Sirius asked. "Phineas said Arthur was injured?"

Everyone looked at Aeris and Harry, and Aeris and Harry looked at each other.

"Let me tell you!" said Aeris. "It was my precognitive dream. I dreamed that Mr. Weasley was attacked by a python while on duty..."

After Edwards finished his story, the Weasleys looked back and forth between Edwards and Harry. Harry lowered his head, not daring to meet their gazes.

"Is my mother here?" Fred inquired anxiously.

"Not yet," said Sirius, "but Dumbledore must have informed her."

"We're going to St. Mungo's..." Ginny said, "Sirius, can you lend us some cloaks?"

"You can't go!" said Sirius. "How are you going to explain that you can predict the future?"

"What does it matter?" Fred said excitedly.

"Our father..." George said with a sob.

"You don't know what Arthur is guarding," Sirius said patiently, "This may very well determine whether we can defeat Voldemort. If everyone knew that Arthur appeared there for no reason and was injured there, Arthur's efforts...our efforts...the efforts of the Order of the Phoenix would fall short. We must not take even the slightest risk..."

"Are you taking any chances? Stay where you are!" Fred shouted excitedly. "I don't see you're in any danger!"

The color quickly drained from Sirius's face, and Aeris said quickly, "Calm down, Fred! If I could take Mr. Weasley's place, I'm sure Sirius would do his best to take care of him."

"Of course!" said Sirius. "I'm even willing to die in place of Arthur, but our sacrifice cannot be in vain. I know this is difficult, but at least wait for news from your mother. Don't be impatient..."

Ginny sat down on a chair in a daze. Fred and George were still staring at Sirius. After a full minute, they sat down on both sides of Ginny. Ron sat next to Fred, looking a little dazed.

Aeris patted Harry's shoulder, and the two sat alone in adjacent seats.

Old Kreche came over with a pot of tea, poured a cup of hot tea for Aeris, and without paying attention to anyone else, said to Aeris: "Master Grindelwald, if you have any instructions, just call me!" After that, Old Kreche left on his own.

Aeris pushed his cup of hot tea to Harry and poured himself a cup. Harry ignored the scalding heat and drank it all in one gulp.

Sirius distributed several bottles of butterbeer to the Weasleys, and Aris noticed that they were in the kitchen of the old Black house.

For a moment everyone was silent, with only the sound of the flames dancing on the firewood in the fireplace and the sound of the wine bottle tapping on the table.

Harry's expression changed constantly. Aries whispered in Harry's ear, "It wasn't you, buddy. You're not the python. You almost strangled yourself to death on the bed..."

Harry looked at Aeris, as if asking "Really?" Aeris nodded firmly at Harry, and Harry's expression returned to calm.

There was a flash of fire, and a roll of parchment and a beautiful feather fell on the table. Sirius grabbed the parchment.

"It's not Dumbledore's handwriting," Sirius thrust the parchment towards Fred. "It must be a letter from your mother..."

Fred unfolded the parchment and read aloud what was on it: "Dad is still alive... Don't leave there... I will inform you as soon as possible... I am at St. Mungo's now..."

Fred handed the letter to George and muttered to himself: "Still alive? But this doesn't sound... very good..."

George read the letter over and over again, while Ron and Ginny stared blankly at the back of the letter, as if expecting the letter to comfort them.

The time that followed was destined to be long. Sirius asked people to take a nap more than once, but no one paid any attention. Everyone just sat at the dining table silently waiting.

Until... the kitchen door opened, everyone was startled, and Mrs. Weasley walked in with a haggard face. Everyone looked at her. Mrs. Weasley smiled reluctantly and said, "Out of danger... Bill is watching him now..."

Fred slumped in his chair, his face in his hands, and Aris heard a soft sob; George and Ginny stood up to hug their mother; Ron laughed weakly and drank the butterbeer in his hand.

"Breakfast!" Sirius shouted happily, "Kreche!"

Old Kleche came over reluctantly, and Aerys said with a smile, "Please prepare breakfast for us, Mr. Kleche!"

"No trouble, Master Grindelwald!" Old Krecher said and went to prepare breakfast.

Aries pulled Harry and was about to help old Krecher prepare breakfast, but Mrs. Weasley stopped them and hugged Aries and Harry tightly.

"Thanks to you, my dear children," Mrs. Weasley whispered, "If it weren't for you, Arthur might not have been found for several hours. I dare not imagine the consequences... and Dumbledore figured out the reason why Arthur would be there in advance, otherwise you don't know how much trouble he would have encountered. How can I thank you, my dear children..."

Harry accepted Mrs. Weasley's thanks somewhat awkwardly, and Mrs. Weasley quickly walked away to thank Sirius.

Sirius accepted the thanks and said that the Weasleys could stay here until Mr. Weasley was discharged from the hospital.

When Mrs. Weasley said that they might spend Christmas here, Sirius was as happy as a child.

After a quick breakfast, everyone went to sleep in their respective bedrooms during the summer vacation. Aries dragged Harry to the bedroom where he had lived.

"You're not the snake, man!" Aeris said straight to the point. "No matter what you feel, you're not the snake..."

"But..." Harry said painfully, "It's too real... so real... I can even feel Mr. Weasley's blood flowing into my throat..."

"Voldemort used your blood to rebuild his body, Harry! There must be a connection between you two," said Aries. "I am 80% sure that the python is one of Voldemort's... Horcruxes..."

"What?" Harry said in shock, "Animals can be made into Horcruxes?"

"In theory, it is possible," Aeris said. "In all my prophetic visions, Voldemort's control over the snake reached an incredible level. We all accepted the inheritance of Lord Slytherin, and I can speak snake language, but I don't think I can reach that level. The only explanation is that the snake is a part of Voldemort's soul. Imagine that after Voldemort died, he was reborn in a snake. For Voldemort, who believed that he had inherited the great Slytherin's legacy, what a sense of ritual it was..."

Harry smiled weakly.

"Have a good sleep, buddy!" Aeris said, "You can sleep on that bed. During the summer vacation, that bed belonged to Drag..."