#tmrhp

In the summer following Sirius's death, Harry's mental state deteriorates rapidly. The prophecy only makes things worse, feeding the crushing guilt that already consumes him. Night after night, he's haunted by nightmares of his friends dying, by his family blaming him for their deaths, by the order failing and being disappointed in him.

Unable to endure them any longer, Harry turns to the little Occlumency Snape had managed to teach him. He concentrates with everything he has, trying desperately to empty his mind, but nothing works.

Still, he refuses to give up. And eventually, his persistence pays off.

After countless failed attempts, Harry stumbles upon another way to clear his mind completely. Instead of forcing his thoughts away, he finds himself standing in a vast white space, endless and empty, with nothing around him but the faint scent of a rainy night. Harry can't help but curse Snape—obviously this is a far better way to block everything out.

Even if there is nothing to do in that empty dreamscape, it is infinitely better than reliving his nightmares.

Then, during another peaceful night, something changes. A strange shadow appears in the distance.

Its presence carries an unsettling aura, and it reeks an overwhelmingly unnatural smell that somehow feels disturbingly real. Before Harry has the chance to observe it any longer, he jolts awake in a cold sweat, his entire bed soaked through.

The next night, the same shadow appears.

Harry focuses on it, and the moment he tries to get closer, it vanishes instantly—forcing him awake.

The following nights are no different. The blurry silhouette is always there, standing silently in the distance during his peaceful dreams, as if it was watching him. Harry stares back, trying to make sense of it, but nothing helps. No matter how long he observes it, he can't figure out what it is.

Then, in the middle of the summer, while lying in the endless white expanse, Harry is certain he catches the shadow moving from the corner of his eye.

He immediately looks toward it, but nothing. It stands exactly where it always has, perfectly still.

So the routine continues. Harry watches the shadow every night, but it never moves again, and eventually he begins to abandon the idea of ever discovering what it is.

The summer finally end, allowing Harry finally returns to Hogwarts for his sixth year with his friends. And life goes on normally.

That was until Halloween come.

That night, Harry slips back into the familiar white dreamscape. But the instant he opens his eyes, a pair of glowing red eyes stare back at him from only a few centimeters away.

His lighting bolt scar erupts in a blinding pain. Harry instinctively tries to scramble backward, but he can't move. None og his limbs are responding.

Slowly, the figure smiles—a dangerous, predatory smile—as it leans back just enough for Harry to finally see its face, making Harry completely freezes.

He recognizes it. He recognizes this face

Tom Riddle—Voldemort.

But... it can't be.

It doesn't quite look like him. If anything, it resembles an older completely changed Tom. His hair is different. They are not neatly combed anymore, but tangled and unkempt. And instead of being dark brown, it is jet black.

As Harry continues staring into the stranger's eyes, he realizes something even more disturbing.

The eyes looking at him aren't truly red. They're an impossibly deep green, just like his own.

Harry's eyes widen as the horrifying realization dawns on him.

The person standing before him is himself. Or... something wearing his face.

One last time, Harry struggles to pull away.

But the creature catches him effortlessly, gripping his jaw with surprising strength before letting out a low, dangerous laugh.

Just before everything fades to black, Harry hears it whisper two terrifying words.

Been in a very #straighttomarry mood. #whatdatmean 🤔

I suffer from greed, a longing to feed