Harry Potter and the Dreamer Awakened (Part 8)

Harry Potter and the Dreamer Awakened (Part 8)

Asriel was withdrawn the next morning, though nobody really questioned it. He gave a perfunctory announcement that he realised he hadn't caused Lance and Ursk to get hurt, much to his Father's relief. Toriel made contact with the hospital, and their earlier diagnosis had been confirmed: Ursk had already gone home, while Lance was still under observation as the doctors and monsters worked on healing him, but he was on course to be discharged in two days time. After relaying this to Asgore, the king made a snap decision. Since the funfair had been in a state of readiness for over a week, perhaps the rides should be tested properly, and he had a good idea of who would be good candidates. Nobody missed the intensely personal reason he was doing this, but it had the desired effect, as Asriel's spirits definitely picked up after this.

For Harry, Ron, and Hermione, who had finished the stalls yesterday, he had one final request, perhaps the most onerous. Mettaton was pushing to have the stage built now so that he could run his demanding rehearsal schedule. If they could help build it, and perhaps help out at the rehearsals, he'd appreciate it. Frisk smiled behind their plate, picturing Ron somehow ending up selling Glamburgers in two days' time. As for them and Asriel, before they prepared for their duty as ride testers, their mother wanted them to help her sort through old clothes for donation to charity shops, so after breakfast they headed over.

Toriel had already sorted her own clothes. There wasn't much for her to give, as her size and shape was an uncommon combination, so she more often had her old garments donated to be recycled than merely worn, but she did have a set of robes and a couple of outfits ready to go to the shop on this occasion. So it was up to their bedroom to sort through their clothes.

The very first thing was awkward. The green and yellow sweater Asriel was wearing when he had returned. For Mother and Son especially, this brought up powerful and conflicting emotions. Before Asriel could make a decision either way, Toriel decided to keep it.

"I do not wish to forget them, my child. After all, I never forgot you."

Neither child could object to this. After getting a few more sweaters and jackets for donation, she moved onto their shared pile of t-shirts. She took out a blue t-shirt with a yellow star on it and had automatically put it on the donate pile.

"Mom, can we keep that?" Asked Asriel. "Frisk gave me that t-shirt the day I came back."

Frisk felt a rush of affection for his remembering that. It had actually been one of the first pieces of clothing their parents had bought them, from a shop in the human town they had first made contact with. While they and Asriel had ended up sharing a lot of clothes, save for trousers until Toriel could get some adjusted for his tail, it had felt fitting to give that to him.

"That was nearly nine months ago, Asriel. Surely it does not fit you now."

"Yeah, probably. But it brings back happy memories. I don't wanna forget."

She smiled down at him. "Very well. But choose your sentiments wisely, I shall not have you holding onto a t-shirt just because you received good marks in a piece of homework while wearing it." The three of them chuckled lightly. "But to be serious, it is wasteful to cling onto things you can no longer use because you have outgrown them."

As she said this, she gave him an appraising look. Frisk saw it briefly intensify, and then confusion spread across her face for a moment. She then shook her head, allowing her seemingly steady ears on a rare flop-a-bout.

"Sorry, my children. I thought I saw something odd. I was mistaken. It couldn't be."

Frisk looked over at Asriel too. For a moment a voice was agreeing with Toriel, but their brain wasn't able to connect why. The unease that the dreams of the void gave them lingered as they continued sorting clothes.

****

"I'm just saying, darlings, surely it would add a little more pizazz to the big show!"

Building the stage had been pretty straight forward, and they had finished the previous afternoon. Metatton wasted no time colonising it and getting all sorts of equipment set up. Microphones, DJ tables, lights, speakers, cameras currently aiming at his face, a large screen on the building behind the park currently showing his face. So far they had been moving boxes around pretty mundanely, as Hermione didn't want to risk short circuiting anything with a hover charm. But right now they were having a somewhat heated discussion.

"And we're just saying, mate," Replied Ron. ", Wiz-ard-ing Sec-re-cy. If it were an all-monster thing we might get away with it, but there'll be loads of muggles. You wanna frighten the wizards into taking action?"

"Oh, Freckles, I'm not asking you to get up on stage with me if you have stage fright. You think we're using boring old pyrotechnics and fireworks? I've got a dozen monsters practicing synchronised bulletstorms. The whole point is to use magic! We're celebrating what we bring to the table. Nobody would know it was you."

"I can appreciate you want a bit of variety." Said Hermione, trying the diplomatic approach. "But if it's about celebrating what monsters can do, wouldn't we be stealing your thunder?"

"Hmm. You make a good point, sweetie. But I've been striving not to be a spotlight hog. If others can contribute to the show, I'm an idiot to hold them back. We all look better that way!"

"Well what do you even want us to do? Wizards usually have their own fireworks for big fancy displays. Wands are good at coloured sparks, but we don't know any spells that just make a pretty light show."

"Oh, but there's one. I saw it once, before the war. Makes a pretty silver animal? What was it, the Patronage spell?"

"The Patronus Charm?" Harry responded automatically.

Metallic fingers snapped in triumph. "That's it, Darling! 'Expecting Partition'! If that wasn't the most glamorous thing. Care to give a demonstration?"

"Now? In the middle of the park? Are you mental?!"

He sighed. "Fine, Freckles." He clapped his hands twice into the microphone. "Take five, everyone."

Everyone not on stage, monster and human alike, dispersed in the direction of the nearby cafes. Harry was impressed.

"Any further objections?"

Defeated, Harry decided to oblige him and pull out his wand. He thought of his birthday present from Ginny.

"Expecto-"

"Hey!"

The four of them turned. Undyne was jogging towards them.

"Hey, you three! Asgore wants to see you!"

"Why, what's going on?"

"Something about something somebody found in the Underground that might interest you."

Harry's heart skipped a beat. He had cleared the stage and was running towards Asgore's house without thinking. Ron and Hermione were following close behind.

"Don't think this gets you off the hook!"

Ten minutes later, the three of them took a moment to collect their breath, before walking through Asgore's door with something approaching dignity. Asgore was seated in a chair by the fireplace, speaking to a squat, light grey monster barely two feet tall, but four feet wide, supported on stubby legs, and a face with curiously protruding lips. His tentacle-like arms held a cloth bag.

"You made good time." Said Asgore pleasantly. "Jerry here believes he has found what you were looking for."

"Yeah. I mean, I wasn't part of your search squad or whatever, but when there's a bunch of gold on the line, I'm gonna find it."

He unceremoniously tipped the contents of his bag onto the coffee table. For a moment Harry's heart leapt at the golden colour, but as his brain properly registered what it was he was seeing, it plummeted again. It was a heart shaped locket, rather than Slytherin's oval, and the chain was much shorter and less complex. Also examining it, it looked really tarnished, like it had not been touched or cleaned in years. In his admittedly limited experience, horcruxes were good at keeping themselves presentable.

"Erm, this isn't it. Sorry. Thanks for the effort though."

Asgore appeared to have reached the same conclusion independently. "Jerry, did you happen to read the notices describing the locket?"

"Well, I skimmed it. A locket's a locket, right? What's the big deal?"

As Harry's whine of concern was upgraded to panic, having their one solid lead evaporate, Hermione examined it further. To her mild surprise, it opened easily, showing two yellowed photographs inside.

"Asriel, and...this must have been Chara..."

"How do you-?!" Spluttered Asgore. Hermione ignored him. She had closed the locket again, and after rubbing grime and dust off it, the white 'A' could be made out clearly.

"I've seen this type of locket before. Don't Frisk and Asriel wear these?"

"Yeah they do." Said Harry. "Were these common in the Underground?"

"Er, no." Said Asgore. "Asriel had them custom made when, ah, well it's hard to explain."

"Then what is this doing here? Why would Asriel throw it away? And how did it get so grimy so quickly?"

Asgore's golden brow furrowed in pondering this mystery. "Jerry, if I may, where did you find this locket?"

"Eh, in a bedroom of a house in New Home. Lot of dusty toys and drawings and stuff in it."

"It...it wouldn't have happened to be MY house, would it?"

"Huh, now you mention it, there were a lot of crown emblems everywhere." Jerry started absently picking his nose.

"And, er, what were you doing in my house?"

"Well I forgot to add milk to my coffee this morning, so I thought I'd borrow some from the fridge." He flicked what he had dug out onto the floor.

"Hmm, I do like to keep supplies for tea there when I am meeting with the miners." Mused Asgore, surprisingly relaxed about the intrusion.

"Maybe he took a notion after that accident the other day?" Offered Ron. "Haven't a clue how you go from that to discarding a locket, though."

"That's a pretty big detour." Said Hermione. "Wouldn't anyone have noticed him being out of town for that long?"

"Stranger things have happened when you're upset about something, Hermione. Remember how weird Ginny was acting when she first came to Hogwarts?"

"Well yeah," Said Harry. ", but that was because of the diary, and-"

The locket fell to the floor with a loud clatter. The three of them were frozen.

"Hey, I have sensitive ears here!" He started digging into one to extract some wax.

"My goodness, are you alright? You've gone rather pale."

An avalanche of understanding was cascading into Harry's mind, as the behaviour of two young children started lining up, and pointing to an alarming conclusion. Accompanying emotions were also flooding it instantly, as if they had been on standby for such an occasion. Shock at the dots that were connecting. Horror at what the implications of this revelation might mean. Incredible anger at himself for not picking up on it sooner. Remorse at the possible consequences of what he may have to do. And fear of what he was about to have to explain to the giant with claws and fire.

"So, do I still get that two hundred gold? I wanna upgrade my wi-fi."

****

It had been a very productive morning. Especially by a child's standards.

After breakfast, the two children had reported to the funfair. Among the other testers, to their surprise, Ursk was there. As it transpired, their father had invited him to help test the rides, as his father had noted he was really upset about Lance, and Asgore had also promised Lance could come round if the doctors thought he had recovered. Brown fuzzy hands shook white fuzzy hands as Ursk thanked Asriel profusely for bringing Toriel, and apologising for picking on him, and asking if maybe he could meet the human wizards some time. It had been a terrible way to achieve it, but the accident had at least one positive outcome, as Asriel returned the shaking enthusiastically.

This led into their official duties for the day. There were enough people there that the rides had a reasonable compliment, but not enough for any lines. The perfect mixture. They marched around to each ride one by one. Frisk was discovering another benefit to eating magical food, namely that no matter how wild the ride, they didn't feel nauseous at all, and there would have been nothing to throw up if they were.

After testing the bumper cars for the third time, they decided to sit on a bench near the entrance and eat the lunch their mother had packed for them. For the latter half of September, it really was a beautiful day outside. Maybe too beautiful for Asriel.

"Whew, is it all that running around we just did, or is it hot?"

"Couldn't tell you. No fur."

"Oh yeah." He grinned. He then unzipped his jacket. What was underneath it puzzled Frisk. They got off the bench again to get a proper look. His locket of course, and-

"You're wearing that blue t-shirt with the star." Said Frisk. "Isn't it too tight or something?"

"I thought it might be," He got off the bench to to address them. ", but when you went to the bathroom this morning I decided to try it on, as today felt really special. Turns out it still fits! Isn't that cool?"

'Cool' was not Frisk's first reaction. Toriel's look of confusion from the previous day was now allowing a red flag to wave enthusiastically in their mind. As they stared into Asriel's increasingly puzzled eyes, they were aware of a mild strain on the back of their neck. They moved their head side to side and rubbed their neck, and then resolved to look straight forward.

That sealed it. They were staring at Asriel's forehead.

"Asriel." They said, not bothering to hide the urgency. "When we first met. You know, in front of the barrier, we were the same height, yeah?"

"Yeah, I remember it well-"

"Well now I'm taller than you. Isn't that weird? I always thought since Mom and Dad were so huge you'd overtake me before long, or at least we'd keep the same pace until we were teenagers."

"W-well maybe I'll rocket past you then."

"Asriel, have...have you grown at all since you came out of the Underground?"

"Of course! I mean, I must have, surely. Why wouldn't I grow?" His puzzlement was shifting to fear. "What's wrong with-"

"Asriel?"

The booming voice forestalled a freakout as they turned to its source. Harry, Ron, Hermione and Asgore were approaching. Asgore had a look of utmost concern, Hermione was apprehensive, but Harry and Ron looked determined.

"Dad! Howdy guys! Are you gonna test the rides too? Harry, what's that in your-?"

Frisk registered it just as Asriel's voice died. a golden but grimy heart shaped locket, with a white 'A' in the middle. Just like the one Asriel was wearing. Wait a minute-

They didn't get a minute. Harry was in a hurry. He raised his wand.

"Finite Incantatem."

The locket around Asriel's neck began to shimmer. The main body began to dip further down his chest as the chain grew, and its shape was reforming from the familiar heart to a large oval. Its white 'A' faded to an emerald 'S'.

And Harry's scar began burning in earnest as the green eyes he was looking into turned a vivid scarlet.

"Asriel, wh-"

Asriel reached into his pocket, and threw something. Everything went black, utterly black. For a moment, Frisk thought they had been knocked out. Shouts of "Lumos" had no effect. Meanwhile, something light but with surprising force had crashed into Harry and toppled him over, and as he raised his arms instinctively, he could feel something scratch into them painfully.

"You seek to destroy me, Potter?" Came a child's voice, high and cold, confirming Harry's worst fear. "Pay the price for your defiance!"

A small flame appeared in Harry's otherwise utterly dark vision, it raised up as if to strike, before suddenly being pulled away into a second, larger flame. This flame grew brighter, and Harry could see the large hands of Asgore. His fire magic seemed to overcome the darkness. Before Asriel could react, the fire had vanished, and the weight on Harry's chest lifted.

"Back the way we came!" Came the barking command of Asgore. "Asriel, please-"

Harry crawled through the darkness. Sunlight mercifully reached his eyes, and he looked up at Asgore, who was struggling to keep Asriel from flailing free of his grasp.

"Asriel, this isn't you! You must-"

A series of small while pellets appeared in front of Asgore, and crashed into him, knocking him on his back and freeing Asriel. He turned to face Harry, who had gotten to his feet and was flanked by Ron and Hermione. He appeared to think better of it, for he began to run. They immediately followed suit.

They were naturally faster, but he kept shooting jets of flame at them to force them back. Eventually he led them through an alley, and took a sharp left next to a cart on the oncoming street, shouting something they didn't make out. It was Hermione who emerged first, wand clutched.

"Petrificus tot-"

PING.

Hermione shimmered a blue colour, and collapsed to the ground, as if suddenly weighing tenfold.

"heya."

Ron and Harry turned around. Sans was walking from the cart, unnoticed by them in the chase. His arm was outstretched, and in his left eye socket a blue light was flaring.

"Sans, let us go, we-"

"care to explain why the son of the king just yelled at me to stop you?"

"We don't have time, we-"

Three skulls, shaped like those of dragons, materialised above Sans' head, their maws opened menacingly and aimed at them.

"i got time to hear this. i better not hear any hocus pocus before you explain."

Fine, thought Harry, you won't hear it. Levicorpus!

A flash of light from his wand, and Sans was hoisted by his ankle into the air. The dragon skulls disappeared, and Hermione found herself able to get to her feet.

"huh. so that's what that feels like."

"Sans?!"

Asgore had finally caught up to the chase.

"What are you doing?"

"oh, you know. just hanging around."

"Something's wrong with Asriel. Help us find him."

"i'll get down to that as soon as i...get down. oof! thanks, pal."

Asriel was nearly at the top of the street when they resumed the chase. Mercifully he continued straight on, giving them a chance to catch up.

"Incarcerous!"

The ropes from Ron's wand missed and wrapped themselves round a lamp post. Asriel took a sharp right, and Harry began to panic that if he took another turn and they lost sight of him-

"I said stand aside!"

As they rounded the corner, they found Asriel had stopped. His own mother stood before him.

"I shall not." She said coldly, but rapidly shifted to intense worry. "Those are not your eyes, Asriel. What is wrong?!"

More pellets appeared. "Do not think that I shall not strike-"

Asriel clutched his head and was shaking wildly. His readied attack vanished.

"No...no no no no no NO! Not again! I won't-"

"Stupefy!"

A jet of red light hit Asriel in the back, and he crumpled to the ground.

"Asriel!!" Screamed Toriel as the three of them advanced. "What did you do?!"

"It's just a stunning spell!" Cried Hermione, becoming aware cold fury became etched into Toriel's face, and how while not as tall as Asgore she still exceeded her own height by a foot. "The locket! He had it all along, it's bewitched him!"

"The locket?! That is not his-"

Harry was vaguely aware of three more sets of footsteps coming from behind them, but he ignored this, as well as Toriel's protestations and questioning, as he knelt down, getting his first proper look at the prize. He reached down to grab it-

It was suddenly red hot, though it didn't affect Asriel at all. Harry felt his hand and his scar burn furiously again, and then his vision swam. Voices and shouts became confused, then disappeared entirely, as Harry had a confused memory of gritting his teeth inside Snape's Office, wand raised...

****

"What would you have done, Chara?"

Harry found himself staring down at a bed of golden flowers he remembered seeing from high above once before. He was curiously close to them, and for whatever reason he couldn't feel his arms. A train of thought unconnected to his own was running through his head.

Despite his frustration, his tone was flat. He found himself asking this every few days. Sometimes in this flat tone, sometimes pleading, sometimes crying, sometimes screaming in rage, but Chara never replied. They probably weren't even the best person to talk to about this, he understood that more clearly now, but he wanted to talk to somebody, anybody.

This was stupid. That’s what the frustration was telling him. He didn’t even know how long he would have to endure this. The crushing loneliness and boredom that he kept at bay by thinking really hard, but that was getting harder and harder to, well, care about. What would he do if he finally stopped pretending to care? It was either go back on the promise or...well, maybe somewhere else in the world could use a talking flower. Away from everyone. Away from the child who had saved him. Everyone else had moved on. Maybe it was time he did too. It would prevent another futile attempt to bring him home, at least. Perhaps it was time to truly let go of the past.

It was a moot point for today at least. The frustration wasn’t pointing him down that path. Right now he really wanted to break someone. SomeTHING, he told himself, with little conviction. Fortunately, there was a small pile of rocks in a corner. Funny, he had never noticed them before. Maybe they’d fallen down a while back and he was so busy with his final goodbye, or pleading with Chara, that he never noticed. Oh well. Smash or be smashed, it seemed.

Leaves curiously entwining, almost looking like how one would crack knuckles, two large vines suddenly sprouted from his stem, and whipped into the rock pile with tremendous force. As some flew through the air, there was a PING-PING-PING as white pellets flew into them, shattering them into pebbles that scattered among the floor leading towards the door. The sliver of satisfaction such aimless smashing granted made him feel, well, he wasn’t sure "better" was the right word, but the frustration had quietened down.

He lingered there in silence for a long while. He didn’t know if this was the best part or the worst part of his existence. When he literally felt nothing, good or bad. You could describe it as peaceful, he supposed. Finally, he thought of maybe of heading over to Waterfall. Maybe his music box could help him nearly feel something.

And then he did feel something, but not in the sense he had meant.

Looking over at where the rock pile had been, something was calling to him. He hadn’t sensed anything like it since that last hug. He approached cautiously, realising it felt different than the other one, somehow both weaker and yet stronger, but he couldn’t deny it.

It felt like...a soul...

Among the debris, a large golden locket rested, with an ornate 'S' written in glittering emeralds. It was immensely magical on its own, he could tell that straight away, but the prize was something contained within. In spite of himself and his promise, something so bizarre crossing his path demanded he avail of it, he could not shake off the urge.

He gingerly lifted the locket using his vines, and tried to draw the soul into him. It did not move. The magic of the locket protected it. In frustration, he threw it around, fired pellets at it, but it remained completely untarnished. Eventually he flung it in such a way that it landed around his stem. It was then he heard something.

There is no need for hostility. We can help each other.

The soul remained where it was, but he began to feel a connection with it. The magic of the locket itself seemed to bolster it, as he realised it was only part of a soul. He didn't understand why that would happen, but he was not in a position to be picky.

Experimentally, he thought of that last hug again. That undeserved forgiveness when he was all alone. It seemed slow to respond, as if the soul was unpractised in such things, but eventually he felt a warmth. Small at first, but as he dwelled on it, it grew and grew.

"Frisk..."

He closed his eyes, bathing in the feeling. It was affection. It had been so long, he wanted it to fill him up. And it did. Something deep within him, a pressure, built up. Before he could ponder the feeling, it suddenly spread to his whole form, filling him with an indescribably pleasant sensation. He gasped at the intensity of it.

And that was when he realised he could actually breathe.

He opened his eyes. White furry hands were peeking from a green and yellow sweater. He flexed his fingers in amazement. Then his hands were feeling his snout and tugging on his ears and he looked down at equally white paws he lifted up to inspect.

He was him again.

To make sure this wasn't one of his crueller dreams, he rummaged behind his back, finally located his tail and gave it a hard tug. He bleated in pain, and the sensation filled him with joy.

He was him again!

Laugher filled his brand new lungs as he stretched and twitched and took novelty in all the new sensations he had not been able to avail of the last time he was in his original form. But eventually, as he did, the person he thought of returned.

"Frisk!"

He had to see them. He took off from the flower bed, marvelling in the sensation of running as the locket bounced off his chest, and was determined to see Frisk again and thank them for everything. And Dad. He could see Dad again! And Mom...

His running slowed, and eventually stopped. The smile on his face was dissolving.

He was remembering Toriel's warm smile. As it suddenly twisted into a look of shock and pain, and he watched her collapse into dust. And then he remembered her face full of anger as she collapsed again. And one time when she never even knew what had killed her, there was only mild surprise.

"No..."

Other memories were coming unbidden. His father on his knees, making peace with Frisk before he had come along and shattered it. Papyrus reassuring him he could be better as his skull came away from his disintegrating body. Undyne cursing a blue streak as his vines had seized Alphys and was trying to pull her apart. Sans pinning his stem to the wall as a dragon skull shrouded him in agonizing light. Watching Chara vomit violently even while what was killing them rested in his pockets...

"No, no, no. I'm sorry..."

He curled up into a ball. More monsters. More cruel deaths. Looks of fear, of shock, of anger or hatred, and sometimes just a half-faltered smile. Without something to focus on, he couldn't keep them in check. How could he deserve to live after all this? He wanted to-

Now, now. If these trouble you, I shall take the burden for you.

The horror and guilt he was feeling began to lessen. The memories were still unpleasant, but he could tolerate dwelling on them. And shortly, he found he could stop thinking about them altogether. His breathing slowed, and he got back to his feet.

Let us go to your family. For now.

He marched with a more deliberate pace this time. As he did, a hand rested on the locket, and an unbidden spell began to change its shape. At the same time, his memories were shifting. He no longer remembered the locket or the voice.

But Harry remembered it.

The scene shifted. To Harry's shock, he was looking down at the spread-eagled body of Albus Dumbledore, faintly lit by the Dark Mark in the sky. Only for a moment. He was suddenly looking at a blanket, and he felt tangled up in it. Tears started flowing down his furry face as a voice inquired with worry. Then the light came on and he was scooped up in Toriel's arms.

A trip to the kitchen and talking with her and Frisk was a blur, and he miserably settled down into bed. In spite of what he was thinking of, he fell asleep pretty quickly. This time he dreamt of a room covered in velvet, and he felt as though he was being watched. A voice came to him as if the room itself was speaking.

I am sorry. You have no need to dwell on that.

"Wait, who are-"

Do not worry. You can repay me soon.

He woke in the same bed a second time. His first dream did not trouble him so much. The second dream had vanished entirely. But not from Harry's memory.

The scene shifted again. It was night time. He had tapped his head and felt something cold trickle down his body, watching his arms disappear. He then proceeded to point at a door. The lock trembled violently and then burst apart. He heard a voice in his head, but it was different.

I don't like doing this. Please stop.

"You wish to protect the monsters, do you not? Only he can. If we go find him, he shall give you a just reward. If it makes you feel any better, you shall not remember this either."

Either? What do you mean?

He walked over to the till, and poured its contents into a purse, making sure not to touch anything. The purse then disappeared into his phone, a welcome home/apology gift from Alphys.

Another shift. A brief look at a large wooden box painted purple and orange labelled 'Weasley's Wizard Wheezes' in a dark room. And then he was in the Velvet Room again.

It is nearly time.

"What do you mean?"

I have gone easy on you, allowed you your fun. You have discovered everything I need to know. That wizard is a threat. He means to destroy me.

"He just wants to help people!"

At my expense.

"You...you're You-Know-Who?!"

A part of him. Do not be so surprised, Asriel Dreemurr. You have done me a great service, protecting the legacy of Lord Voldemort.

He shuddered at the name. "Why does he- why do you hurt people?"

They are in my way. Do not join them. We shall find myself soon. But first I shall see if there is an opportunity to do away with my vanquisher.

"No!"

Do not grow tiresome, boy. Unless you wish to be left a soulless flower once again.

"Maybe I'd rather be Flowey again than hurt people!"

Perhaps, when I am finished with you. But not yet.

He jerked awake. He did not remember the dream. He felt ill however. The next two days of tossing and turning in bed were a blur, before-

"Hey, Prince, what do you want?!"

He was facing Lance and Ursk in an alley.

"I am settling loose ends."

No, please...

"What's with the formal talk?"

"The two of you have impugned my host. I had thought perhaps after the bicycles and the childish squabble over a hat you may have learned your lesson. I shall make my final lesson the harshest."

No, NO!

"Our bikes? What are you talking about? What's with your eyes-"

With a raising of his hands, the two lifted into the air. They flailed in panic and terror, until they caught hold of the raised ladder of a fire escape. He released them from his hover charm.

I don't want this, I didn't mean to get angry. I'm sorry! STOP IT!

With a wave of his hand, the ladder was wrenched from its supports, allowing them to fall. Harry felt his own horror and anguish in addition to whatever Asriel felt. He marched up to the two crumpled heaps.

"Once again, you shall have inflicted these injuries yourself."

He waved his hand over their heads. Lance's half-open eyes became glassy as memories of getting into a reckless dare with Ursk entered his mind. Ursk underwent a similar process.

"This is my last mercy, Prince. Save the muggle ingrate if you wish."

The entire scene was replaced with the horror of having come across them like this. But once again, Harry remembered...

He bolted upright in bed. His hands were free of fur, and instead of Frisk or Toriel or Asgore, Ron and Hermione were there.