She's a Rebel
I sit bolt up right in the mass of sweat soaked bedding, my heart pounding, and my head aching from the onslaught of external feelings and ideas that has suddenly overcome me. I stifle a scream, at the distressing thoughts that I have stumbled across, not wanting to wake the other occupants of the stark white room. The training I am undertaking to close my mind to others' thoughts doesn't seem to be working properly, as I keep receiving the same images night after night, of families torn apart by supernatural forces. I keep seeing the same things. A blonde in a nightgown pinned to the ceiling of her baby son's nursery, bleeding from the belly, fire licking around her prostrate form, her husband stumbling back, a pair of yellow eyes in a shadowy face. A cottage destroyed, flashes of green light, a redhead cradling her baby boy, a dark hooded figure.
The images are stronger than ever before, it feels almost like I am fully inside the hooded figure's head, feeling everything that he feels crossing the threshold of the small cottage. I see James Potter fall to the floor, the green light issuing from the murderer's wand lighting up the neatly painted hallway, and hear Lily's terrified screams from upstairs. The screaming didn't affect the hooded man in the normal way, the same sense of pride and righteousness he felt before entering the house is emanating from his mind as he mounts the stairs.
It doesn't feel like a dream, it felt as though it is really happening, and I dress swiftly without thinking about it. I just know that I have to try to see if I can stop this from happening. The dreams have been going on for far too long, I've had enough now. I've experienced these dreams for the last eight months, and in my mind, that's eight months too long. I am very glad of the fact that my skin runs a few degrees hotter than the majority of my peers, as I step out the front doors of the Great House into the freezing cold wind. Pulling the hood of my white cloak up to hide my face and protect it from the cold wind, I glance around, making sure that there aren't any witnesses to my disregard for the rules of the council. The council has outlawed direct interference in the matters of lower life forms, but I have never really been one for following the rules, especially when somebody's life is at stake.
I climb the high steps to the marble surrounding the large pool, and then jump, with my eyes tightly shut. I knew from my training, that the gel like substance that cushioned travellers on their journey between the worlds burns the eyes. The first time I had gone through, I had been unable to see clearly for twenty minutes afterwards and have no desire to repeat that.
Air rushes past me, my hair flying around my face with the speed of my fall, as the tangy orange smell of the gel goes straight up my nose. I revel in the familiar freedom of falling, wondering how far it actually is, and hope that I am going to end up in Godric's Hollow. The majority of my visits have led me to the correct destination, but it is a bit of a gamble every time, the location of the portal's exit shifts so often. My thoughts are interrupted as the flow of air around me starts to slow, and people's thoughts began to intrude on my consciousness again.
I land in the graveyard within sight of the Potters' house, and am very relieved to see that the hooded figure clearly hadn't visited yet. The small cottage's garden is neatly kept, and the cottage is intact, and I can hear Harry's laughter coming from the living room as James blew coloured bubbles out of the end of his wand. The three inhabitants are silhouetted against the living room window, as I move closer to the house. I am sure that my dreams are about to become flesh, as despite the fact that many of the residents are enjoying Halloween, there is a hint of trepidation in the air. It took me a moment to realise where the trepidation has come from, isolating the feeling in the midst of the excitement and merriment that gush from the other humans thronging the street, to the small boy who is backing away from a figure swathed in a dark cloak, his hood pulled up to obsure his face. I know it is the hooded figure from my dreams, shivers of fear ran through my system as I see his long fingers twirl his wand pensively for a moment and I know that he is debating whether to hurt the child or not.
I reach for my magic, in order to protect the child, regardless of the consquences, but then the hooded man decides against attacking the boy, focusing again on the Potters. He walks slowly up the narrow path, heading towards the Potter's front door. I listen hard locating the three Potters. James is in the hall, intending to hold the intruder off for long enough for his wife and son to escape from their positions in the nursery. "God I hope this works," I whisper, closing my eyes. I have found that it is easier for me to do this if I shut out all external stimulus, and I pull the shutters down in my mind blocking out the screams of the neighbours and their worried thoughts. Quickly I find the bright yellow ball of my magical energy inside myself, nudging it down my body, and out of my hands, as I have been taught.
The hooded man crosses the threshold, his self righteous amusement in the fact that James is not even carrying his wand gushing from him. I pause for a moment, before getting closer to the house, increasing the power I hold in my hands, as I can feel that whatever else he is, the intruder has immense reserves of power at his disposal. He says two words, that I don't recognise, a green flash of light darting from the tip of his wand, and I react. The light streams out of my palms, seeking the energies that exists within the Potters. A sunny yellow glow fills the house, spreading from my hands to James and then expanding to include Lily and Harry, upstairs. My protection bounces the green light back onto the intruder, leaving James stunned but unhurt, as the figure flees. I pull back the energy the instant that I hear Lily's soft but very confused voice reassuring her son. The green light fades quickly, as the yellow energy retracts, sinking back beneath my skin.
"Okay that was sort of impressive," A husky voice comments from behind me. I turn around to see that a elegantly attired redheaded girl has appeared at some point while I was concentrating on the Potters. She is flanked by a elfin brunette and a stocky man that is clearly the redheaded girl's twin. You don't do things by halves do you? the girl shifts seamlessly into a silent conversation, transmitting her thoughts directly into my head.
Who are you? Are you from the Council? I ask, knowing straight away that they are not wholly human. None of the humans I've observed over the last few years would have had the ability to behave like that
No. The amusement spills from all three, as the elfin brunette joins the conversation. We're definitely not council members don't worry. I'm Amy, this is Alex, and that's Dawn.
We felt your presence as soon as you landed, Bella told us that you had gone. The man told her. She's a friend of ours. She's told us all about you, and what you are capable of. We have much to discuss with you, but we can't do it here.
Where then? I ask, following the three into the shadows of the trees that stand opposite the Potters' house just in time, as the small terrace is suddenly abuzz with activity. People have noticed the intruder running away, and the bright sunshine yellow gleam blasting out of the windows as James was protected. I can feel their confusion and know it is definitely best to go while we are still undetected.
We know a place. Alex informs me, a smile quirking his lips.