A high pitched shriek rang out through the darkened room. Most of the sleeping inhabitants simply rolled over and settled back into slumber, used to the nightly occurrence, but those who had trained themselves to wake at the telltale sound sat up groggily.
"Who got it last time?" mumbled George.
"It's my turn," announced Fred thickly, and then everyone else quickly closed their eyes, praying they would get at least another hour before the next shift. Fred pulled at the heavy curtains around his head, and once he untangled himself, half walked, half crawled over to the lounge in the corner of his dorm. A short, chubby little girl was rolling around frantically, her long black tresses plastered to her face. Her hands clenched and unclenched on the thin blankets covering her and her round face was contorted in unmistakable fear. Fred gently took hold of Maddie's shoulders and pulled her into an almost-sitting postion, patiently waiting for her eyes to snap open. She fluttered awake and immediately looked sheepish.
"Oh, Fred, I'm so sorry. Ugh, how many times tonight?" She twisted her pillowcase in her hands nervously.
"Only three, and it's nearly morning." Fred smiled encouragingly, but Maddie couldn't bring herself to return the gesture.
"Do you mind? Do you think anyone else minds?" she asked for the hundredth time. Fred shook his head exsasperatedly.
"Squirt, look me in the eye. I do not mind. George does not mind. Harry does not mind, neither does Ron. We all are more than willing to help. We are not willing, on the other hand, to continue reassuring you of that. Exercise some trust and believe us, all right?" Maddie smiled weakly at his rare show of seriousness and nodded, settling down on the couch. Fred tucked the blankets under her chin and regarded her for a moment.
"Was it the same nightmare?" he asked in a low whisper. Maddie shut her eyes and nodded again, shuddering as she did so.
"Every time, several times a night. I'm in a room with him, and he's shaking me by the arms, really hard. He's telling me that same thing, over and over. 'The magical world pales, as the Muggles are yellow. Beware the yellow Muggle.' Then he narrows his eyes, and.... I've never got past that point. Someone always wakes me up in time." Fred looked slightly creeped out, but simply smiled and pulled her blankets tighter around her.
"It's just a dream, you know that. With Dumbledore's spells in here, Norax can't do a thing to you." Maddie closed her eyes and rolled over. As soon as her breath fell steady and Fred could hear her light snoring, he slipped into his own bed, shaking his head slightly. Sleep reigned shortly, and all was well for the few hours of blackness.
(*)
Ron woke the next morning feeling a bit more refreshed then the rest. He hadn't had Maddie-duty once, and he hadn't had a single dream, indicating deep sleep. He stretched to the ceiling, then slipped in and out of the shower in record time. By the time he was dressed, there was more activity in the dorm, and he caught sight of Maddie sitting in the corner, knees drawn to her chest.
"Morning!" he called, sitting next to her. She was wearing a sweater and a pair of boxer shorts. "Isn't this George's? And so are the shorts!" Ron said, looking at her night apparel. She grinned.
"One of the perks of living with a bunch of guys. Endless pajama supply." Just then George walked over, still in pajamas as well.
"I need to wear this. Are you wearing anything under that?" he asked, grabbing the rim of her sweater. She nodded. "All right, hands up." Maddie obeyed and George pulled the sweater over her head, revealing a white tank top underneath. The stark color contrasted with the angry purple and black bruises that decorated the flesh from Maddie's elbow to her shoulder. George grabbed her arm and touched one hesitantly.
"Where did you get these?" he demanded, looking very scared at how she might answer. Maddie began trembling.
"T-th-they weren't there last night. They weren't there before my dream," she choked out. Ron put his head in his hands and George sighed as Maddie fought tears.
"This is no problem," said Ron, sounding as if he was comforting himself more than Maddie. "Dumbledore probably just said the dream blocking spell wrong. All we have to do is go and have it redone." Everybody in the room knew that Dumbledore did not say spells wrong, but no one said anything to argue Ron's idea. Instead, they all shakily dressed and hurried to breakfast in considerably dark moods.
The Great Hall was oddly quiet as Maddie and the boys made a late entrance. They followed their classmates' gaze and saw Dumbledore, poised to make an announcement.
"Students and faculty alike, I am here to make an important announcement. I am saddened to inform you that Hogwarts will not be open this Christmas season. We will book compartments for each and every person in the building. Please owl ahead and make sufficient accommodations for the week preceding December 25th. The school will reopen January 4th. Thank you for your understanding." Dumbledore waved his wand and Apparated with a pop, amidst a barrage of questions and a grumbling undertone.
"Closing the school?" asked Maddie with wonder in her voice. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Harry shaking his head sadly. She remembered him mentioning that he lived with particularly horrible Muggles- she wondered if he had ever spent a Christmas at home. The actual change of plans didn't bother her all that much, as she had been planning to go home to America to see her mother anyway. What did bother her was the fact that something had disturbed Dumbledore enough for him to change age-old traditions. She shivered in the warm hall, not touching any of her food. The bitter taste of fear was a good enough appetite killer in itself.
(*)
The weeks that led up to Christmas were relatively painless. Maddie was not the only who was put on their guard by the unusual announcement of the Christmas shutdown. The teachers seemed tense and silent, and rumors were flying left and right about the cause of the abnormality.
"I'm telling you, it's Sirius Black. Ever since he escaped two years ago, the Ministry has been looking out for him. I bet he's back in town!" said Ernie the Hufflepuff eagerly, shifting on his stool. The Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs were in Herbology, working with aeks.
"I told you he could turn into a shrub!" piped up Hannah Abbot. Maddie shook her head and tickled her adorable aek under his chin. The personified flower giggled and blushed a brilliant cerulean, waving its shaggy fur in happy response. Harry leaned over her shoulder.
"I tell you in deepest confidence that Dumbledore is NOT closing the school over Sirius," he whispered in Maddie's ear. She sighed.
"I didn't figure. I'm so...ugh, confused! Celestia has been upping my lessons to four a week, and we're doing all sorts of defensive and offensive spells. It almost feels like she's preparing me for something. And then there's these..." Maddie trailed off, motioning unenthusiastically at the bruises that were unfading as ever. Harry shuddered and rolled her sleeve back down, covering the dark reminders of turmoil.
"When are you going to show Dumbledore those?" he asked her in a whisper.
"We have a free hour after this. I was thinking about then, but I don't know. I'm almost sure I don't want to hear his answer as to why they're even here. They aren't supposed to be here, Harry. I guess what I'm most afraid of is the high possibility that Dumbledore won't even have an answer. What happens then?" Harry looked regretfully on the troubled girl. It didn't seem right that one person should have so many problems. He watched her fingering her scar absentmindedly, and he reflected on his own immortal gash. Fate wasn't a big fan of spreading the trouble evenly, was she? Harry shook the bitter thoughts from his mind and repeated the phrase that often kept him from wallowing in a pit of sorrow- No one gets to the top of the mountain without stumbling over the rocks on the way. He realized with a jolt that they were standing in front of Dumbledore, who they had run into in the hall.
"Um, Professor? May I show you something that has been bothering me?" Dumbledore wrinkled his brow, peering at her with shadowed eyes.
"Of course, please do." Maddie pushed her sleeves up past her shoulders and exposed the grim, marred flesh of her arms.
"I don't remember getting them. But I did have a dream that Norax was shaking me by my shoulders." She added the last part meekly, speaking in rushed tones. Dumbledore looked at her incredulously, then muttered something and waved his impressive wand at her outstretched arms. Nothing happened, save for Dumbledore nearly fainting.
"Well, we'll just have to...redo the spells...yes, yes that's it. I really thought we were done with this...no matter. Well simply redo them..." Harry narrowed his eyes.
"You thought we were done with this? Then why were you closing the school over break?" he asked in a tone that was almost demanding.
"Harry, there is more evil in this world than you could ever comprehend. Unfortunately, Norax is not our only problem. Muggles...changeovers...Harry, this world is a sad, sad place." Harry stood, mystified, as Dumbledore ushered Maddie to his office for the spells. The cryptic answer only proved to teach Harry that the Dumbledore he had once known was ebbing away, and the change was most likely for the worse.
(*)
The night before the school was set to leave for the holidays was a tense one indeed. Students were running around, packing up and exchanging presents rapidly. Maddie threw the last bit of clothing into her trunk, slammed the lid, and crawled sleepily onto her couch. She knew from experience that the next few days would be hectic and draining, and prayed that she would get the necessary sleep. She closed her eyes and drifted off, her final thoughts flitting about on her mother's Christmas Cider.
<"Christmas cider? How adorable. Believe this, Katerina, had I known what you are, I would've not let you live to think about anything, ever again. You are lucky to be alive right now, lucky indeed.
"Shut up! SHUT UP! You're a dream; you can do nothing to me! YOU'RE A DREAM!" Norax reached out a black gloved hand and slapped Maddie with all his might. She fell back, the superhuman strength bringing tears to her eyes.
"Just a dream?" he sneered, "You think that any spell that your batty old headmaster puts on you will stop anything? You think that he has to power to stop the magic that surrounds me? Do you understand the magic that swirls around you, stronger than anything you've ever seen, condemning you and just out of your reach? Poor misguided Katerina. The people around you think they know what is happening, they think they have control of the situation. They are wrong.">
"MADDIE!" Her eyes popped open and she was staring into the face of a very worried George. Her face was wet and throbbing.
"D- did you have a dream?" he asked nervously. She nodded, struggling for composure, then gave up and began crying again.
"It was terrible…a new one, one I had never had before. I was talking to him, he told me that the spells were useless, that I couldn't stop him, that we were all wrong!" Maddie stopped her hysterical babbling and noticed George wasn't watching her but her cheek. Already knowing what she would see, Maddie leapt from the couch and went to stare in the mirror. The sight that greeted her was scream inducing. A hand-shaped welt was rising across her left eye and cheek, purple and red and the beginnings of black surrounding it decoratively.
"He slapped you," said George in a voice that disguised no hatred. "That monster slapped you." Nothing in his tone but dull, obvious hate.
"It doesn't hurt much," lied Maddie, afraid of his tense demeanor. He turned to her like he was seeing her for the first time, then stretched out his arms. She folded and collapsed into them, sobbing her heart out onto his flannel pajama shirt. They pulled away, trembling from different emotions.
"I don't want to go back to sleep. Not now, not ever," said Maddie.
"Shortyfries, you have to. You can't live without sleep."
"You can't live without your heart, either, and he seemed ready to rip mine out!" retorted Maddie almost angrily. George sighed wearily.
"I have an idea. Don't tell Hermione, she'll kill me." He crawled into his four poster, rolled to the side and motioned for Maddie to follow him. She hesitated only seconds, then slid under the covers and rolled into the fetal position.
"You can stay with me for tonight. Good night, sleep tight, live to see the morning light."
"I'll try," murmured Maddie. "I'll try."
(*)
The next morning the sunlight streamed through the east-facing windows, waking students with the brutal cheeriness of a morning person. Fred groaned as he rolled out of bed, pulling on some clothes. He looked to see if George was awake, and caught sight of his arms wrapped around Maddie. They were both fast asleep.
"Well, well, well," he muttered under his breath. "I wonder how they'll explain their way out of this one." He walked over to the bed.
"Morning Sunshine! Morning George! Nice weather we're having, eh? 'Twas a bit cold last night, but you two don't seem to be losing any warmth." Maddie buried her head under the pillow at the offending noise, but George glared daggers at his twin.
"She had a nightmare," he said quickly. Fred put on a great air of surprise.
"What? Who? Oh, Maddie? You don't have to be defensive with me. I don't see anything wrong with you having a fifteen-year-old girl in your bed. That's your good luck." Fred ducked the pillow thrown at him.
"Put a cork in it. She's fully clothed." George peeled back the thick covers, and Maddie turned over into the curve of his body.
"Cut it out, it's cold!" she mumbled. George laughed and shook her gently.
"Get up Sleepyhead, time to go to the station." Maddie lifted her arm with a great effort to look at her watch, then sat straight up like she had been shot.
"Nine ALREADY? Oh my God, I'm going to miss the express. I have to get a shower, and get dressed!" She ran towards the bathrooms, throwing her sweatshirt over her head as she went. George got of bed as well, and started pulling in fresh robes. Fred flopped across the empty bed, already dressed.
"So seriously, how'd she end up here?" George shuddered.
"She was freaking out, louder than usual, so I went over to wake her up. I was having a really hard time, she was thrashing around and screaming nonsense, and then, out of nowhere, there was a loud CRACK, and a handprint appeared across her cheek. We were both pretty shook up." Fred drew his knees up to his chest wistfully.
"I wish I knew how I could help. All this action-adventure-mystery-Dark Arts stuff is really Harry, Ron and Hermione's bag. I don't know what to do." George nodded and sat down next to his brother.
"I think we're doing all we can by being her friends and supporting her best we can." A grin shone across Fred's face.
"I take it you supported her well enough last night?"
"SHE HAD A NIGHTMARE!" The pillow-fight that followed was brief and brutal. No winner was declared, as there was a diversion in the form of Maddie searching frantically for her bra that she had misplaced.
"I'm so late!" she shrieked as she dissembled the room.
"Why don't you look on the floor next to George's bed?" suggested Fred innocently, biting down on laughter. Maddie emerged from under the couch with a confection of lace and wire in hand.
"Got it, thanks anyway!" She raced from the room just as George's fist began pummeling Fred's back. By the time it was time for the train to King's Cross to leave, Maddie was dressed, Fred was behaving himself (as much as Fred ever does) and George's anger had somewhat subsided. The train ride was tense to say the least.
(*)
"Remember boys, behave yourselves, and make sure to cause lots of trouble!" Maddie called out the window of her aunt's green Geo.
"How can we do both?" called Fred.
"You're both intelligent boys, who've been trained by the master," she answered, pressing a hand to her chest. "You'll manage. I love you both, see you next year!" She leaned across her aunt to honk the horn as she sped away. When the station was well out of sight, she closed her eyes sleepily.
"Dear, dear, dear, I know I'm not being overly tactful here, but you look…tired, I suppose is a good word for it. And what in GOD'S name is that?" Aunt Rachel put out a tentative hand to the welt on Maddie's less than cheerful face.
"I was fooling around with some friends, not paying attention, and I ran smack dab into a door. Didn't hurt my face, just my ego." The lies were coming easier now, but Maddie didn't have time for a conscience. The recent lack of sleep was catching up to her.
"Good try darling, but you're forgetting what I was famous for in school. Now I'm picking up fear, and a slap, and red hair. Did you get in a fight?" Maddie sighed. There were pros and cons to having a skilled Divinator in the family. Aunt Rachel was fun, caring, and understanding. She was also one of the most powerful witches in her year.
"No, no, George would never hurt me. It was…a nightmare. It's actually a very long story, and I really am quite tired-"
"No need to explain. I know all about the Melodica theories, Norax and the Dreamcatcher spell." She looked over at Maddie's gaping face quite gravely.
"I know you're a good, but Aunt Rachel. Wow. Details are rather hard to figure, aren't they?"
"I would to lay claim to the skill needed to See in such a fashion, but I'm afraid I obtained this information in a much more conventional way. Minerva owled me."
"Professor McGonagall?"
"We were good friends in school. I was picking up some bad vibes and decided to ask her how you were doing. She's been in constant contact with me ever since."
"Oh." Aunt Rachel sensed that Maddie wanted to change the subject.
"What are your holiday plans, Sweets?" she asked amicably.
"Well, I thought I'd stay with you for a little while, then I have a plane ticket for three days from now to America. Mom will meet me there, and I'll stay with her through Christmas, and then I thought I'd come back here on New Year's Eve, and we could hit the parties together." Aunt Rachel frowned.
"Do you really think you're old enough for the party circuit yet, Maddie?" Maddie sat up eagerly.
"Oh yes! I know I am! I have to buy a new dress for the Christmas party, so I can wear that, and oh, I would meet all your friends! PLEASE?"
"I'll think on it," said Aunt Rachel in a firm tone that ended the conversation. Maddie settled back in her seat, grinning to herself. Maybe this vacation wouldn't be so bad, after all.
(*)
"Boy! Come help me!" Aunt Petunia's high-pitched screech pierced Harry's eardrums, and he rolled his eyes. Ever since he had arrived two days ago, he had done nothing but tote packages from the new company car to the various hiding places in the house. Already filled was his childhood "room", the linen closet in the upstairs hall, the closets in both guest bedrooms, and even the walk-in in the Dursley's bedroom. When he wasn't hiding the brand name shopping bags, he was wrapping present after present after present. He had gone through video games, CDs, TVs, VCRs (one specially formatted to fit in the shower), clothes that looked fit for circus elephants, gold jewelry, gift certificates to escort services (prom was approaching), the list went on for miles.
"BOY!" The voice rose several decibels.
"COMING!" Harry answered irritably. He pulled the bags from the car and grudgingly lugged them up to the poorly decorated guest bedroom.
"And don't you dare let Dudley see any of that," said a sharp voice behind him.
"He already knows everything you're getting him. Wouldn't it be easier to just give him a list of what you're NOT buying?"
"Shut up!" Harry did so, and was just settling in the room to wrap a new computer speaker set when he heard a rustling in the next room. Harry's room. He rushed in to see if it was Hedwig with a bit of Christmas cheer, but a much less welcome sight was framed in the doorway. Dudley's colossal rear end bent high in the air as he rummaged through Harry's trunk.
"What do you think you're doing?" Harry demanded. Dudley jumped, shaking the house as he did so.
"Who got it last time?" mumbled George.
"It's my turn," announced Fred thickly, and then everyone else quickly closed their eyes, praying they would get at least another hour before the next shift. Fred pulled at the heavy curtains around his head, and once he untangled himself, half walked, half crawled over to the lounge in the corner of his dorm. A short, chubby little girl was rolling around frantically, her long black tresses plastered to her face. Her hands clenched and unclenched on the thin blankets covering her and her round face was contorted in unmistakable fear. Fred gently took hold of Maddie's shoulders and pulled her into an almost-sitting postion, patiently waiting for her eyes to snap open. She fluttered awake and immediately looked sheepish.
"Oh, Fred, I'm so sorry. Ugh, how many times tonight?" She twisted her pillowcase in her hands nervously.
"Only three, and it's nearly morning." Fred smiled encouragingly, but Maddie couldn't bring herself to return the gesture.
"Do you mind? Do you think anyone else minds?" she asked for the hundredth time. Fred shook his head exsasperatedly.
"Squirt, look me in the eye. I do not mind. George does not mind. Harry does not mind, neither does Ron. We all are more than willing to help. We are not willing, on the other hand, to continue reassuring you of that. Exercise some trust and believe us, all right?" Maddie smiled weakly at his rare show of seriousness and nodded, settling down on the couch. Fred tucked the blankets under her chin and regarded her for a moment.
"Was it the same nightmare?" he asked in a low whisper. Maddie shut her eyes and nodded again, shuddering as she did so.
"Every time, several times a night. I'm in a room with him, and he's shaking me by the arms, really hard. He's telling me that same thing, over and over. 'The magical world pales, as the Muggles are yellow. Beware the yellow Muggle.' Then he narrows his eyes, and.... I've never got past that point. Someone always wakes me up in time." Fred looked slightly creeped out, but simply smiled and pulled her blankets tighter around her.
"It's just a dream, you know that. With Dumbledore's spells in here, Norax can't do a thing to you." Maddie closed her eyes and rolled over. As soon as her breath fell steady and Fred could hear her light snoring, he slipped into his own bed, shaking his head slightly. Sleep reigned shortly, and all was well for the few hours of blackness.
(*)
Ron woke the next morning feeling a bit more refreshed then the rest. He hadn't had Maddie-duty once, and he hadn't had a single dream, indicating deep sleep. He stretched to the ceiling, then slipped in and out of the shower in record time. By the time he was dressed, there was more activity in the dorm, and he caught sight of Maddie sitting in the corner, knees drawn to her chest.
"Morning!" he called, sitting next to her. She was wearing a sweater and a pair of boxer shorts. "Isn't this George's? And so are the shorts!" Ron said, looking at her night apparel. She grinned.
"One of the perks of living with a bunch of guys. Endless pajama supply." Just then George walked over, still in pajamas as well.
"I need to wear this. Are you wearing anything under that?" he asked, grabbing the rim of her sweater. She nodded. "All right, hands up." Maddie obeyed and George pulled the sweater over her head, revealing a white tank top underneath. The stark color contrasted with the angry purple and black bruises that decorated the flesh from Maddie's elbow to her shoulder. George grabbed her arm and touched one hesitantly.
"Where did you get these?" he demanded, looking very scared at how she might answer. Maddie began trembling.
"T-th-they weren't there last night. They weren't there before my dream," she choked out. Ron put his head in his hands and George sighed as Maddie fought tears.
"This is no problem," said Ron, sounding as if he was comforting himself more than Maddie. "Dumbledore probably just said the dream blocking spell wrong. All we have to do is go and have it redone." Everybody in the room knew that Dumbledore did not say spells wrong, but no one said anything to argue Ron's idea. Instead, they all shakily dressed and hurried to breakfast in considerably dark moods.
The Great Hall was oddly quiet as Maddie and the boys made a late entrance. They followed their classmates' gaze and saw Dumbledore, poised to make an announcement.
"Students and faculty alike, I am here to make an important announcement. I am saddened to inform you that Hogwarts will not be open this Christmas season. We will book compartments for each and every person in the building. Please owl ahead and make sufficient accommodations for the week preceding December 25th. The school will reopen January 4th. Thank you for your understanding." Dumbledore waved his wand and Apparated with a pop, amidst a barrage of questions and a grumbling undertone.
"Closing the school?" asked Maddie with wonder in her voice. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Harry shaking his head sadly. She remembered him mentioning that he lived with particularly horrible Muggles- she wondered if he had ever spent a Christmas at home. The actual change of plans didn't bother her all that much, as she had been planning to go home to America to see her mother anyway. What did bother her was the fact that something had disturbed Dumbledore enough for him to change age-old traditions. She shivered in the warm hall, not touching any of her food. The bitter taste of fear was a good enough appetite killer in itself.
(*)
The weeks that led up to Christmas were relatively painless. Maddie was not the only who was put on their guard by the unusual announcement of the Christmas shutdown. The teachers seemed tense and silent, and rumors were flying left and right about the cause of the abnormality.
"I'm telling you, it's Sirius Black. Ever since he escaped two years ago, the Ministry has been looking out for him. I bet he's back in town!" said Ernie the Hufflepuff eagerly, shifting on his stool. The Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs were in Herbology, working with aeks.
"I told you he could turn into a shrub!" piped up Hannah Abbot. Maddie shook her head and tickled her adorable aek under his chin. The personified flower giggled and blushed a brilliant cerulean, waving its shaggy fur in happy response. Harry leaned over her shoulder.
"I tell you in deepest confidence that Dumbledore is NOT closing the school over Sirius," he whispered in Maddie's ear. She sighed.
"I didn't figure. I'm so...ugh, confused! Celestia has been upping my lessons to four a week, and we're doing all sorts of defensive and offensive spells. It almost feels like she's preparing me for something. And then there's these..." Maddie trailed off, motioning unenthusiastically at the bruises that were unfading as ever. Harry shuddered and rolled her sleeve back down, covering the dark reminders of turmoil.
"When are you going to show Dumbledore those?" he asked her in a whisper.
"We have a free hour after this. I was thinking about then, but I don't know. I'm almost sure I don't want to hear his answer as to why they're even here. They aren't supposed to be here, Harry. I guess what I'm most afraid of is the high possibility that Dumbledore won't even have an answer. What happens then?" Harry looked regretfully on the troubled girl. It didn't seem right that one person should have so many problems. He watched her fingering her scar absentmindedly, and he reflected on his own immortal gash. Fate wasn't a big fan of spreading the trouble evenly, was she? Harry shook the bitter thoughts from his mind and repeated the phrase that often kept him from wallowing in a pit of sorrow- No one gets to the top of the mountain without stumbling over the rocks on the way. He realized with a jolt that they were standing in front of Dumbledore, who they had run into in the hall.
"Um, Professor? May I show you something that has been bothering me?" Dumbledore wrinkled his brow, peering at her with shadowed eyes.
"Of course, please do." Maddie pushed her sleeves up past her shoulders and exposed the grim, marred flesh of her arms.
"I don't remember getting them. But I did have a dream that Norax was shaking me by my shoulders." She added the last part meekly, speaking in rushed tones. Dumbledore looked at her incredulously, then muttered something and waved his impressive wand at her outstretched arms. Nothing happened, save for Dumbledore nearly fainting.
"Well, we'll just have to...redo the spells...yes, yes that's it. I really thought we were done with this...no matter. Well simply redo them..." Harry narrowed his eyes.
"You thought we were done with this? Then why were you closing the school over break?" he asked in a tone that was almost demanding.
"Harry, there is more evil in this world than you could ever comprehend. Unfortunately, Norax is not our only problem. Muggles...changeovers...Harry, this world is a sad, sad place." Harry stood, mystified, as Dumbledore ushered Maddie to his office for the spells. The cryptic answer only proved to teach Harry that the Dumbledore he had once known was ebbing away, and the change was most likely for the worse.
(*)
The night before the school was set to leave for the holidays was a tense one indeed. Students were running around, packing up and exchanging presents rapidly. Maddie threw the last bit of clothing into her trunk, slammed the lid, and crawled sleepily onto her couch. She knew from experience that the next few days would be hectic and draining, and prayed that she would get the necessary sleep. She closed her eyes and drifted off, her final thoughts flitting about on her mother's Christmas Cider.
<"Christmas cider? How adorable. Believe this, Katerina, had I known what you are, I would've not let you live to think about anything, ever again. You are lucky to be alive right now, lucky indeed.
"Shut up! SHUT UP! You're a dream; you can do nothing to me! YOU'RE A DREAM!" Norax reached out a black gloved hand and slapped Maddie with all his might. She fell back, the superhuman strength bringing tears to her eyes.
"Just a dream?" he sneered, "You think that any spell that your batty old headmaster puts on you will stop anything? You think that he has to power to stop the magic that surrounds me? Do you understand the magic that swirls around you, stronger than anything you've ever seen, condemning you and just out of your reach? Poor misguided Katerina. The people around you think they know what is happening, they think they have control of the situation. They are wrong.">
"MADDIE!" Her eyes popped open and she was staring into the face of a very worried George. Her face was wet and throbbing.
"D- did you have a dream?" he asked nervously. She nodded, struggling for composure, then gave up and began crying again.
"It was terrible…a new one, one I had never had before. I was talking to him, he told me that the spells were useless, that I couldn't stop him, that we were all wrong!" Maddie stopped her hysterical babbling and noticed George wasn't watching her but her cheek. Already knowing what she would see, Maddie leapt from the couch and went to stare in the mirror. The sight that greeted her was scream inducing. A hand-shaped welt was rising across her left eye and cheek, purple and red and the beginnings of black surrounding it decoratively.
"He slapped you," said George in a voice that disguised no hatred. "That monster slapped you." Nothing in his tone but dull, obvious hate.
"It doesn't hurt much," lied Maddie, afraid of his tense demeanor. He turned to her like he was seeing her for the first time, then stretched out his arms. She folded and collapsed into them, sobbing her heart out onto his flannel pajama shirt. They pulled away, trembling from different emotions.
"I don't want to go back to sleep. Not now, not ever," said Maddie.
"Shortyfries, you have to. You can't live without sleep."
"You can't live without your heart, either, and he seemed ready to rip mine out!" retorted Maddie almost angrily. George sighed wearily.
"I have an idea. Don't tell Hermione, she'll kill me." He crawled into his four poster, rolled to the side and motioned for Maddie to follow him. She hesitated only seconds, then slid under the covers and rolled into the fetal position.
"You can stay with me for tonight. Good night, sleep tight, live to see the morning light."
"I'll try," murmured Maddie. "I'll try."
(*)
The next morning the sunlight streamed through the east-facing windows, waking students with the brutal cheeriness of a morning person. Fred groaned as he rolled out of bed, pulling on some clothes. He looked to see if George was awake, and caught sight of his arms wrapped around Maddie. They were both fast asleep.
"Well, well, well," he muttered under his breath. "I wonder how they'll explain their way out of this one." He walked over to the bed.
"Morning Sunshine! Morning George! Nice weather we're having, eh? 'Twas a bit cold last night, but you two don't seem to be losing any warmth." Maddie buried her head under the pillow at the offending noise, but George glared daggers at his twin.
"She had a nightmare," he said quickly. Fred put on a great air of surprise.
"What? Who? Oh, Maddie? You don't have to be defensive with me. I don't see anything wrong with you having a fifteen-year-old girl in your bed. That's your good luck." Fred ducked the pillow thrown at him.
"Put a cork in it. She's fully clothed." George peeled back the thick covers, and Maddie turned over into the curve of his body.
"Cut it out, it's cold!" she mumbled. George laughed and shook her gently.
"Get up Sleepyhead, time to go to the station." Maddie lifted her arm with a great effort to look at her watch, then sat straight up like she had been shot.
"Nine ALREADY? Oh my God, I'm going to miss the express. I have to get a shower, and get dressed!" She ran towards the bathrooms, throwing her sweatshirt over her head as she went. George got of bed as well, and started pulling in fresh robes. Fred flopped across the empty bed, already dressed.
"So seriously, how'd she end up here?" George shuddered.
"She was freaking out, louder than usual, so I went over to wake her up. I was having a really hard time, she was thrashing around and screaming nonsense, and then, out of nowhere, there was a loud CRACK, and a handprint appeared across her cheek. We were both pretty shook up." Fred drew his knees up to his chest wistfully.
"I wish I knew how I could help. All this action-adventure-mystery-Dark Arts stuff is really Harry, Ron and Hermione's bag. I don't know what to do." George nodded and sat down next to his brother.
"I think we're doing all we can by being her friends and supporting her best we can." A grin shone across Fred's face.
"I take it you supported her well enough last night?"
"SHE HAD A NIGHTMARE!" The pillow-fight that followed was brief and brutal. No winner was declared, as there was a diversion in the form of Maddie searching frantically for her bra that she had misplaced.
"I'm so late!" she shrieked as she dissembled the room.
"Why don't you look on the floor next to George's bed?" suggested Fred innocently, biting down on laughter. Maddie emerged from under the couch with a confection of lace and wire in hand.
"Got it, thanks anyway!" She raced from the room just as George's fist began pummeling Fred's back. By the time it was time for the train to King's Cross to leave, Maddie was dressed, Fred was behaving himself (as much as Fred ever does) and George's anger had somewhat subsided. The train ride was tense to say the least.
(*)
"Remember boys, behave yourselves, and make sure to cause lots of trouble!" Maddie called out the window of her aunt's green Geo.
"How can we do both?" called Fred.
"You're both intelligent boys, who've been trained by the master," she answered, pressing a hand to her chest. "You'll manage. I love you both, see you next year!" She leaned across her aunt to honk the horn as she sped away. When the station was well out of sight, she closed her eyes sleepily.
"Dear, dear, dear, I know I'm not being overly tactful here, but you look…tired, I suppose is a good word for it. And what in GOD'S name is that?" Aunt Rachel put out a tentative hand to the welt on Maddie's less than cheerful face.
"I was fooling around with some friends, not paying attention, and I ran smack dab into a door. Didn't hurt my face, just my ego." The lies were coming easier now, but Maddie didn't have time for a conscience. The recent lack of sleep was catching up to her.
"Good try darling, but you're forgetting what I was famous for in school. Now I'm picking up fear, and a slap, and red hair. Did you get in a fight?" Maddie sighed. There were pros and cons to having a skilled Divinator in the family. Aunt Rachel was fun, caring, and understanding. She was also one of the most powerful witches in her year.
"No, no, George would never hurt me. It was…a nightmare. It's actually a very long story, and I really am quite tired-"
"No need to explain. I know all about the Melodica theories, Norax and the Dreamcatcher spell." She looked over at Maddie's gaping face quite gravely.
"I know you're a good, but Aunt Rachel. Wow. Details are rather hard to figure, aren't they?"
"I would to lay claim to the skill needed to See in such a fashion, but I'm afraid I obtained this information in a much more conventional way. Minerva owled me."
"Professor McGonagall?"
"We were good friends in school. I was picking up some bad vibes and decided to ask her how you were doing. She's been in constant contact with me ever since."
"Oh." Aunt Rachel sensed that Maddie wanted to change the subject.
"What are your holiday plans, Sweets?" she asked amicably.
"Well, I thought I'd stay with you for a little while, then I have a plane ticket for three days from now to America. Mom will meet me there, and I'll stay with her through Christmas, and then I thought I'd come back here on New Year's Eve, and we could hit the parties together." Aunt Rachel frowned.
"Do you really think you're old enough for the party circuit yet, Maddie?" Maddie sat up eagerly.
"Oh yes! I know I am! I have to buy a new dress for the Christmas party, so I can wear that, and oh, I would meet all your friends! PLEASE?"
"I'll think on it," said Aunt Rachel in a firm tone that ended the conversation. Maddie settled back in her seat, grinning to herself. Maybe this vacation wouldn't be so bad, after all.
(*)
"Boy! Come help me!" Aunt Petunia's high-pitched screech pierced Harry's eardrums, and he rolled his eyes. Ever since he had arrived two days ago, he had done nothing but tote packages from the new company car to the various hiding places in the house. Already filled was his childhood "room", the linen closet in the upstairs hall, the closets in both guest bedrooms, and even the walk-in in the Dursley's bedroom. When he wasn't hiding the brand name shopping bags, he was wrapping present after present after present. He had gone through video games, CDs, TVs, VCRs (one specially formatted to fit in the shower), clothes that looked fit for circus elephants, gold jewelry, gift certificates to escort services (prom was approaching), the list went on for miles.
"BOY!" The voice rose several decibels.
"COMING!" Harry answered irritably. He pulled the bags from the car and grudgingly lugged them up to the poorly decorated guest bedroom.
"And don't you dare let Dudley see any of that," said a sharp voice behind him.
"He already knows everything you're getting him. Wouldn't it be easier to just give him a list of what you're NOT buying?"
"Shut up!" Harry did so, and was just settling in the room to wrap a new computer speaker set when he heard a rustling in the next room. Harry's room. He rushed in to see if it was Hedwig with a bit of Christmas cheer, but a much less welcome sight was framed in the doorway. Dudley's colossal rear end bent high in the air as he rummaged through Harry's trunk.
"What do you think you're doing?" Harry demanded. Dudley jumped, shaking the house as he did so.