Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Note: SP! For once I am ahead of you in terms of writing! (PS: I'm loving the caps lock lol) This is exciting. Also, really excited about all the viewing this story has gotten. Thank you, thank you, thank you! Let's see how many chapters I can get out tonight!
Induced Visions 101
"Oh no sweetie, I've waited too long to just have a look-see" she said as twitched again in pain. Suddenly, I felt a sharp tug behind my eye sockets and into my head. I squeezed my eyes closed and felt my brain being pulled to focus on particular things. It was almost like someone had shoved a photo in my face, and held my head to stare at it as the rest of my brain fought to focus on their regular task. I mumbled something, somewhere in the back of my mind I thought I felt someone grabbing my arm, or was that my foot? My mind was too focused on the images that had suddenly started playing in my brain.
"Let's see…how about I show you what Matt really wants…" she said as I struggled against whatever was holding me down—or something. First image was Matt with all of us, he was Matt-regular Matt, laughing, joking, he looked human, our little group having a good time, and everything looked okay. It was a nice picture for Matt to hold on to.
"This is what Damon would prefer" Burnner continued as another image showed up. That kiss, the kiss we both had told everyone about, the one that I kept saying meant nothing. It didn't in my mind, but, here, no, here it wasn't an ordinary kiss, my skin looked pale, my eyes more of a hazel color, sharper, I looked prettier, that was for certain, my hair straight, but neatly pulled back into a ponytail. I looked happy too. Matt's arms were around my waist, rather Damon, it was definitely Damon.
"Quite honestly, I prefer not to see you alive" she said as I felt like my skin was on fire, All I could see around me was fire, the image was fire, the feeling was fire, everything, fire. "But, I know killing you isn't enough, like Courtney, I'd love to watch you suffer" she said as I felt anxiety building up as Fred's gravestone popped up in my mind, it was dated three months from now. I couldn't help the wheezing as more gravestones popped up. Melinda, George, Houston, Draco, Ginny, Harry, Ron, Hermione, Lee, Abby, Savannah.
"After all this, could you image?" she whispered excitedly as I watched new images appear, myself growing up, I watched myself meeting Melinda, I watched us joking around, second grade, third grade, fourth grade, fifth grade, all flew pass, sixth grade, the Harry Potter craze starting at our Muggle school, seventh grade, Melinda's bathtub which was really a portkey, Hogwarts, Gryffindor robes, Draco, Professor Barrass, Harry, Ron, Hermione, everyone passed, Quidditch, Oliver, the cliffs, The Malfoy Manor, Fred, every image afterwards had seemed to always include Fred. Then Matt, then images which seemed to compete between Matt and Fred, then more images leading up to tonight.
The images kept going, faster, I could hardly see any of them.
"This is another—older—future Matt thought was possible. The image slowly appeared, but it was like on slow motion, and it was blurry, I could make out Matt, I was standing next to him, holding his hand, he looked so happy, as did I, as if I never known who Fred was. Did I see a ring? The images slowly went by, another one taking its place, this one much less blurry. Matt had just kissed me and I was happy, I smiled. It zoomed away before I could react.
"Since then he's been a bit more realistic. Still, that doesn't change I want" she started, her voice echoing even more, louder, like booming in my head. "I want you turned and killed, this is the exact fate I wanted for you. Don't think you can win my Damon over, don't understatement me" she said sharply as random pains shot through my head. "Take this as a lesson and stay out of my head or I'll be back…and then I'll go to Fred, see how many ways I can show him you dying before he goes insane. Or how Melinda, do you think she'd like being locked in her own mind?" she asked. "I may not be able to see your visions, but I know you're the heroic type. Stay. Out. Of. My. Plans" she whispered.
The images slipped away, my mind becoming under my control once again. Reality was slowly coming back into focus. I was still in great pain, I was twitching, and sweating and breathing heavy. "Should we move her?" I heard someone whisper as I attempted to open my eyes but couldn't.
"What the hell happened anyway?" that was Mrs. Weasley's voice, she sounded concerned, overly concerned. I wanted to call out and tell her I was okay, but I could make my mouth move.
"What should we do?" Melinda asked as I heard approaching footsteps.
"What did you do?" I heard Draco hiss. Draco? What was he doing here? How long had I been out, why couldn't I open my mouth to say something?
"I went downstairs for a split second and then we all heard a scream, Fred came up first" Melinda said as Draco kneeled down beside me, his hand on my arm. "We had him get some air, he was freaking out, he's back at the shop—"
"Good, tell him to stay there for a while" he hissed over his shoulder. "Why does all the bad shit happen around Christmas" he said as he stroked my arm.
"Why isn't she waking up?" I heard Ron whispering from the doorway.
"I'm taking her back to the Manor" Draco said.
"She's unconscious, I rather not move her, let along throw her in a fireplace or take her by car. She's fine here Draco, if you would like to stay and watch over her, that's fine too, but, please," Mrs. Weasley said.
"Fine" Draco said unwillingly as I felt myself being picked up and then laid back down, something soft underneath me and my mind went quiet.
"Is she awake yet?" I heard Fred's voice asked.
"No, I thought I told you to go take a long walk, go back to the shop" Mrs. Weasley said, probably trying to push him out.
"She's been out for five hours, five. I need to be here" he said. I felt myself drifting again but I had to force myself to wake up. I wasn't going to let Burnner put me in a coma, I wasn't going to let anyone be right about this whole thing.
"You really don't know what happened?" Draco asked as I heard the footsteps by the door moving closer.
"Melinda was the last person in here" he said quietly as he stroked my cheek, his hands felt warm, I missed this. I needed to wake up.
"We could call Matt…bring him to the house—"
"No" Fred said sternly, interrupting Melinda. "He probably did this anyway" he added as I felt myself screaming out no.
"She must have had a vision, she doesn't just pass out. Remember when she used to pass out when she first got them?" Draco said. Had it been any other situation I would've applauded them for talking this out, being civil.
"Yeah, but she's gotten better at it, Matt taught her" Melinda said.
"But that doesn't mean he's involved—Fred, what's wrong? You got something?" Draco asked.
"I just…she keeps twitching" he said, his voice low, I could only imagine how pale he looked.
"I know, and it sucks, but, we'll get her out of it—"
"No, I just remembered George said I did that after, you know, that thing Burnner did to me fifth year, he said I twitched a lot" he said as I cheered him in my head, finally he was catching on.
"You think Burnner did this?" Draco asked. "No, Matt said Tammie's mind couldn't be accessed by Burnner, not like that, it's too difficult, only Matt can get in her mind" he explained.
"So, do we think it's Matt or not?" Fred asked.
"It's not Matt, he wouldn't do that to her, nor would Damon, I don't care what you think Fred, it wasn't him. I know he's like Burnner, but, regardless, no, it wasn't him" Melinda answered.
"Which leaves us with Burnner, but, why? How?" Draco asked. I felt myself let out a grumble, both Draco and Fred jumping up from the bed.
"W—wasn't—not—Matt" I mumbled out, my voice weak.
"Tammie, hey!" I heard Fred said as I moved my mouth to start to say again, "Ssh, it's okay, don't say anything" he said hushing me up as I slowly opened my eyes, Fred leaning over me. "Hey, it's okay, I'm right here" he said as I squeezed his hand, my body occasionally twitching.
"What happened?" Draco asked as I coughed a little.
"Shut up, she just woke up" Fred mumbled to him as he told Melinda to get some water. "You don't have to say anything" he said as he stroked my hand and sat on the bed, close enough to kiss my forehead. As he started to pull away I reached up and grabbed him—as best as I could—and kissed him on the lips.
"I love you, no matter what, no matter who else comes into my life, I love you Fred" I told him, feeling like I couldn't say it enough, feeling like it wouldn't be enough. He nodded and kissed me, his lips soft, his breathing heavy, like we couldn't get enough of each other, like we finally understood enough other.
"Stop it, please, not, not now" Draco said from the other side of the room. I smiled a little as I pulled away from him, he pushed my bangs aside, off my forehead, and kissed me again. "Seriously, I'm right here" Draco mumbled. I managed to push Fred aside as I slide my legs off the bed and pulled myself to a sitting position, using some of Fred's help. I felt a little wave of pain but managed to stand up and was over to Draco in seconds, hugging him.
"It was hard to explain, I don't know how to explain it, but, she was in my head, it was…" I shook my head as I tried to recall the images as I pulled away.
"Tammie!" Melinda said with full relief as she ran into the room, throwing her arms around me. "You're awake, you're okay, you are okay, aren't you?" she asked as I nodded and she let out another relieved sigh. "What happened?" she asked as Mrs. Weasley came to the door.
"Oh thank Merlin! I was just about to send for the Healers" Mrs. Weasley said as she came to hug me. "Was it a vision? I haven't seen them knock you off your feet like that. Dear, don't worry us like that again" she said as I nodded.
"Do you wanna come to the Manor?" Draco asked as I went back over to stand by Fred. "If Matt can't come to you, you can go to him, let him know what happened, maybe he can explain it. Maybe he'll have more answers" Draco said.
"No, I wanna stay here" I told him.
"How about you three go out?" Mrs. Weasley suggested as Fred made a clearing of the throat noise.
"Fine, four" she said but then looked at Melinda. "Five I suppose" she said as Melinda shook her head.
"I'm going to go to the apartment, help Houston pack a few thing so he come here for a few days" Melinda explained.
"You can invite him too," Draco said as I slowly looked at him. "It will be like a party" he said. I wanted to roll my eyes, I had just came out of a terrifying induced vision brought on my Burnner—and my own stupidity and Draco was trying to cause problems or be nice—which still caused problems.
"I don't know Draco, you're all fun but, I don't see a party of six working, not for us" Fred said.
"No, you know what, that's a great idea, it will be fun" Melinda said as we all looked at her.
"It will?" I asked flatly as she nodded, showing off her best poker face.
"See if Matt is up for something tomorrow, it's getting late now, and Tammie should get her rest" she said as I wrinkled my nose.
"I should?" I continued as Fred pulled me to sitting position on the bed.
"I'll walk Draco out" Fred said much to all of our surprises.
"Er, okay, Tammie, if there's any problems, contact me right away" he said from the doorway as I nodded. "Mrs. Weasley, thank you for reaching out to me" he said as she gave him a flash of a smile.
"She's your family, Draco," she said as he nodded and walked out.
"Can you give us a few minutes?" Melinda asked as Mrs. Weasley checked over me once again and set another glass of water on the dresser.
"Make sure you get some sleep, call if you need anything" she said politely as Melinda and I both nodded and watched her leave, closing the door behind her.
"I don't know where to start" I said looking at Melinda, truly having no idea if I should tell her about the Burnner thing or what I saw or how painful it was. But then I decided on what she said. "Dinner? Tomorrow? Is that really a good idea?" I asked as she nodded. "But, the six of us; Matt and Fred, Houston and Draco and us? Melinda, did you think about this?" I asked.
"Yes" she replied impatiently. "I want to prove a point" said.
"That you've lost your mind, please, allow me to help you find before you continue through crazy town" I said as she gave me a strange look. "I'm tired" I responded with a wave of the hand.
"I want Draco to see I'm picking Houston, I want him to watch me and Houston be happy" she said as I tried not to turn my lip up.
"And Matt..?" I asked.
"He's going to watch you and Fred and be happy and act human, he's going to show Burnner that Damon is under Matt's control. That bitch is done here" she said, spitting out the name. "It will buy us time if anything" she said as I slowly nodded, trying to understand. "Tammie, what happened to you, what I heard, what I saw…" she shook her head as her eyes got glossy. "I thought…I won't let that happen to you ever again. I will slow this down any way I can, I need you, I need my friend" she said with a small smile as I lightly smiled back.
"Are we gonna kiss…?" I teased as she smacked my arm and brushed away the tears. "Don't worry Mel, we'll stop this. I promise."