A/N. I'm so sorry about all that dead time; I was really busy. But, as of now, every chapter is typed up, I just need to upload them all. :) Again, I'm really sorry.
Chapter Eleven – I Now Know How Severus Snape Feels
Thanks to the peppermint tea, I do have a dreamless sleep. I wake up fully revitalized, and Grandma Molly makes me a huge breakfast. I'm just finishing some toast when Dad comes down the stairs and sits in the chair across from me.
"Morning," he says, unfolding a newspaper.
"Morning." We're both quiet for a moment. "Hey Dad?"
"Mm?"
"Do you… do you know who's messing with my mind?"
"I have suspicions."
I'm about to ask him who when Aunt Hermione appears at the foot of the stairs.
She smiles at me. "Ready?"
"No. But I don't really have a choice, do I?"
Dad shakes his head.
* * *
"Now," Aunt Hermione says. "You musn't expect too much of yourself on your first try. It's new for you, after all, and very complex to master."
I nod.
"Ready… one, two, three…"
And that is the first of many, many times that my mind is read by force that week. Each time I fall over from the strength of Aunt Hermione's mind, Dad hands me a slab of chocolate. By Thursday I've stopped passing out. By Sunday I've stopped falling over. By Tuesday Aunt Hermione admits, after a vigorous session, that she was blocked from about half of my memories.
But I still can't apply them to my dreams, so the pale woman keeps terrorizing innocent people. And I feel extremely guilty. Mum and Dad are staying in Uncle George's old room, Aunt Hermione and Uncle Ron in his. All constantly hope for updates and improvements, and I can't help but feel that everyone has put their lives on hold until I can get this ridiculous thing right.
And then, the night before Christmas Break, it happens. Due to my extreme concentration, I successfully block a dream – I can feel it trying to find its way inside. Eventually it gives in, and I dash out of bed.
"Mum! Dad!" I cry, throwing their door open. Mum opens her eyes.
"Lily? What are you going on about?" Dad says.
"Dad!" I am completely out of breath, but I can feel myself glowing. "I did it!"