Hello Readers (if there's any left), I'm sorry I left this story. Life got in the way and I sort of got out of touch with my passion (writing), but I'm back now and hope to get back into a more regular swing of things.
5TH YEAR
POV-Matt-
Dream On
"Matt, why don't you just give up?" I heard Burnner say somewhere from in the distance. I snorted, the only thing I had given up on was trying to figure out where she was. Part of me stopped caring, part of me knew she just wasn't going to go away, this was a game to her. "They don't care about you Matthew, or have you've forgotten that none of them have even asked about you." Again I didn't give her the satisfaction of replying. "Do you think she cares about you?" she asked, her voice echoing around the room. I knew covering my ears wouldn't help anymore. Instead I stared off. I didn't know what she thought she was getting at, my response was the still same, I wasn't going to hurt my friends.
"Just leave me alone" I told her. You are alone. Damon reminded me, but it sure as hell didn't feel like it. "Why are you doing this?" I asked, I mean, I understood that by protecting Tammie I had fallen into her web, but there was more. She knew what I was, she knew about Courtney, she wanted us, she needed us, but I didn't know why. I didn't know why she took such a special interest in me. Was it really because I had such a powerful connection to Tammie? I wondered but Damon's voice cut through my thoughts.
She's offering you a way out right now and you're thinking about Tammie? Some girl who obviously doesn't care about you. Matt, Burnner can save you and Burnner doesn't wanna change you. Do I need to spell out who you should take a hand from? He hissed but I shook my head, my head overwhelmed with Burnner and Damon's thoughts. "I don't care what I am because in the end I will fight this. I will become what I want," I insisted as I heard the laughter. Of course she'd find this funny. Of course a monster like her would think this was some kind of joke.
Still, I would hold on, I would fight and remain sane until my friends came to help me. They did care. Do they? Then where are they Matt? who do you think Tammie is more concerned about right now? I heard Damon ask. He sounded as cold as Burnner, as unwelcoming and unfriendly. She obviously had some kind of influence on him. But he had influence over me. He had the sanity keeping me sane. Ironically.
But even the human part of me wanted to believe I wouldn't have succumb to insanity upon realizing I was thrown in my bedroom. Though, I couldn't think of any better fear location. This place had everything I was afraid of. No windows, no doors, no space, no people, barely any lightening. But being here was supposed to teach us patience and balance and supposed to tough us up, give us the ability to ease into our vampire personas. Though it always seemed like mum kept me in here longer. Was it because Courtney was the baby or Courtney was the girl? Or Courtney was less resistance? Damon snorted as I searched around again for some kind of entrance.
"I deserve to know what you're doing," I told Burnner.
"I thought you deserved so much too, but I wasn't aware of your movements when you said you wanted to help," Bunner reminded me. I grunted; when I first fell I was disoriented but I realized where I was in a heartbeat. Burnner gave me the option of helping out or leaving me to go insane quicker. She had supposedly given Draco the same choice. Draco had said no, or so I'm guessing and that was why she was here. I had no intention of helping her either, but if I had the opportunity to trick her and help my friends I would.
I managed to be subtle enough about it too. The first one, with Hermione, I followed Burnner, or however it worked, I saw her mind game, her trick, when her attention was otherwise distracted I left the riddle for Hermione in a random classroom, I couldn't get close enough to her without Burnner noticing. Ron was the same way, the most I could do without interfering was make the path leading to the wands. Harry's was simply a matter of timing, though it was hard watching him go insane, wondering if his friends were really his friends, why they always left him, why they were gone. That was how I felt all the time. And then, even more, I had to wait until he hurt someone for him to wake up and realize it wasn't real. I didn't know why Burnner was so disappointed when Ron and Hermione tried to stop Harry from throttling Tammie.
George was harder; I wanted to help, I really did, but the messed side of me wanted to see him fail, wanted to see Fred dead. But I knew Tammie was coming, I knew it would affect her too. I had to figure out something. Subtly of course didn't work with George, the invisible glass protecting him didn't work; Burnner teased him in that one, she could've put up a big blinking neon sign telling George it wasn't real and he'd still overreact. But the others would be with him by then. I had to make sure they helped him. They'd talk him out of being a jerk, all I could do was remind him what he already knew. He did keep my Christmas present tucked away in his pocket all the time afterall.
Melinda was harder too, I think by then Burnner knew I was doing something I wasn't supposed to be, she made my appearances more obvious. She injected me into the nightmare. She wanted my friends to hate me, to be confused and wonder about my loyalties and motives. It was hard to speak against her so openly when she was right there to dismiss me. But still, Melinda came through, all on her own. She was a fine witch, and our powers were only slightly helping her.
It wasn't any better with Fred. By then I was positive Burnner knew I was helping my friends rather than helping her. And she knew exactly how to fix that. She had me speak, she had me listen, she had listen to Fred and Tammie admit their feelings for each other. She had me listen to Tammie confess she loved Fred and then I had to watch, I had to force myself not to interfere, not to injection, not to say anything that would harm them. I had to let go. Burnner knew I wasn't ready, she was counting on that. And I knew she was counting on it. And though it was beyond hard, I pulled away, I let them go, I let them complete the nightmare. Fred was fine and now they were coming to save me.
"Yeah, about that..." I twitched as I realized the voice in my head was no longer the voice in my head. "You know, you had a pretty nice layout in here, took it for granted really," the guy said as he leaned against the wall. Tall, dark and handsome. Build figure, average height, no weird proportions. Light, almost pale skin and black ruffled hair, dark eyes, dark clothes, dark attitude, dark personality. Sharp features, the defined jaw line was the first and most obvious thing I noticed. Inside those jaws had all the regular teeth and then the vampire teeth. His dark eyes filled his eye sockets, taking up the whole eye space giving him an even more eerily alluring sense. "Hello friend," he said as I snorted at him.
"Damon," I hissed as he smiled down at me.
"Do you know how pathetic you are?" he asked as I tried not to take his words seriously, I didn't care. He was just a projection. He wasn't real, Damon was in my mind, he couldn't come out, he couldn't be split like this. Burnner was doing this, somehow.
"You're not real," I chocked out.
"I am actually, granted, you just never had this one on one with me..." he started as I shook my head.
"You're not real," I said again. "A hallucination or something," I told him as he laughed.
"Tell me, do I look exactly like you thought I would?" he asked as I looked at him again. He did in fact look exactly how I imagined.
"But how?" I asked in more so a whisper.
"You're going insane" he said simply, casually. "I'm your safety net, you're automatic pilot when this," he paused to motion around the room "gets to hard to handle. You know, because you're a pathetic human," he added, again, casually.
"Does Burnner...does she know?" I asked, my mind not even able to focus on anything besides myself and Damon.
"No," he said as I blinked with surprise. "This is all just me and you, friend" he said with another smile. "She brings me out, yes, but, you still maintain control. I still follow your orders, not hers," he said as he crossed his arms and leaned against the wall.
"My orders?" I asked.
"Yeah, you know, protect Tammie, blah blah blah," he said waving a hand as I stared at him with awe and shock. "You're fading, you're failing, just like everyone else. But, unlike everyone else you have that unfortunate pesky past. You know, isolation, hatred, loneliness" he said counting on his fingers. "But, luckily you have me When you fade, I help," he said thumbing at himself. "Why? Because if you die here, I die. I don't want to die," he said as I remained silent. "Anyway, I've just come out to tell you the others are here," he said as I shook my head.
"You could've said that from in my mind," I told him.
"Yeah, but you've been ignoring me a lot lately," he said pretending it made him sad. "Plus," he paused as we heard distant voices.
"Who...who's that?" I asked Damon as I scurried to the wall, slightly afraid Burnner might walk in. "What am I supposed to do?" I asked him.
"Convince them you're their friend, all of them," Damon replied as Tammie and Melinda suddenly appeared. "Huh," Damon said as he tilted his head, his eyes locked on Tammie.
"Leave her alone," I hissed to him wondering if the girls could hear us. Damon chuckled and then turned to face me.
"Trust me, you have no idea where my thoughts are and where my intentions are going," he said and then with a blink of an eye, he was gone.
"Matt?" I heard Tammie's voice call out as her and Melinda ran over.
"Are you really here?" I asked, the hallucination of Damon making me wonder as Tammie nodded, Melinda kneeling down besides me. But then again, are they really here? Damon asked with a chuckle, easily messing with my mind as I resisted the urge to bang my head against the wall.
"Yeah" Tammie quickly replied.
"Melinda's with you?" I asked wondering if maybe I had imagined her, but then she moved closer. You know, if she was a hallucination you could kill her and not feel bad... Damon suggested as I squeezed my eyes shut. I thought he wanted to help. I do, this is just my fun. Besides, now that Tammie is here you know my words have no affect on you. he said as I tried to wish he was right, slamming my head against the wall in painful confusion.
"Matt!" Tammie screamed as she tried to grab my arm but I only continued. Shut up. Shut the hell up. I told Damon but he just laughed, Burnner's laugh echoing beyond that. I could only imagine how George felt. I couldn't even began to imagine how Draco was feeling. If these dreams were getting worst as we went along how were we supposed to finish. Tammie still hadn't gone through hers. I flinched at the thought. Was her greatest fear? I wondered as I felt Melinda's hands on my shoulders.
"I could help you and the others, but I can't save myself…" I said with a strained strange laugh. Everyone loves irony. Damon said half sarcastically as Tammie moved forward a little.
"It's okay, we can save you" she said as I felt Damon snort. The innocence of it, the immaturity, the navieness. he explained in short.I had to agree, looking at Tammie now and knowing she would always want to save me, to help me, to be there came with such insane consequences it almost wasn't worth if she could convince the others to help, to be on my side that would be a completely different thing. Less of a burden on Tammie. It's getting the others to like you, remember? Damon not so casually reminded me as I buried my face in my hands.
"Burnner…" I started with a little sigh. Just stick with the basics Matt. Damon suggested in a warning type of way. "She kept bringing me into the fears. She said I needed to be apart of everyone's biggest fear and worst nightmare. She wants me to be cut off from everyone" I started to explain, almost thankful Damon was back there until I felt a sharp stab out of nowhere, causing me to let out an unintentionally scream. I said no. Damon said coldly as I felt a warm blanket around my mind, my thoughts solely focused on Tammie, Melinda, Damon and myself. "Are you okay?" I heard Melinda asked as I tried to control my shaking. It's like an addiction. Damon said, either teasingly or to make a point. No one wants to admit it, but that bitch is a drug. We chased after her knowing it was going to end well and look what happened. Then again, what does that say about her that she's stalking children?
"Matt!" Melinda shouted at me, probably anxious our worried she wouldn't be reunited with Draco if she couldn't get me to stay alive. Or she could actually be concerned. Damon suggested but I snorted as I opened my eyes.
"Fine" I replied through through gritted teeth.
"What happened?" Tammie asked as I tried to wave her question off. Oh come on, she's gonna see you break apart more violently than this one of these days. At least give her a sneak peek. Damon teased, seemingly back to his old self. "What's your fear, Matt?" Tammie asked, slowly, quietly as if I would go into another fit if the wrong word was said. I laughed and sighed all at the same time. Give them some credit man, they're asking questions instead of running around trying to figure out what's happening. It's an improvement. Damon explained as I sighed again.
"Being feared…" I said in an ashamed tone as I looked away, knowing the girls were looking at each other. Though, Melinda was probably looking at Tammie to see if she got anything, Melinda already knew what I was. She had to understand my fear, regardless, I pressed on. "Being rejected, being alone, again" I said with a snort.
"Again? Matt, I hate to be the one to tell you this, but you could never be alone, have you looked in a mirror?" Tammie asked as I tried to smile. "But I'm serious, everyone at school wants you. You have to know that."
"I do, but it's not the same. I'm still terrified of being rejected" I repeated.
"No one will reject you" Melinda said as I looked at her, wondering if that was underlying sign she had fully accepted me and everything about me, including my feelings for her friend. Instead she let out a gasp; I could only guess my eyes were back to their normal stunning blue.
"You might…" I told her while she was still admitting to recover. "And you" I added as I looked over at Tammie. I could bare her rejecting me. Telling me go away, realizing what I was and being disgusted. "I've gotten to know you guys and—there's a lot you don't know about me and—" I got cut off due to the minor shot of pain.
"It's okay, you don't have to tell us" Melinda said leaning over and touching my shoulder. Part of me wondered if she was saying it because she didn't want me to expose my secret now, part of wondered if was because she wanted me to save my energy so she could get to Draco faster. And part of me wondered if she knew I was pain and didn't want me to overdo it and be danger of dying.
Still, I couldn't just sit here and not tell them what was going on so far, how I had helped. I rather say something than later have my words twisted. "I was in your fear nightmare Melinda; I could feel myself there, but, not really. It was like half of me was there, the half that understood everything that was going on. This half of me. The other half was, well, her creation" I explained, picking my words carefully so I could prevent Damon to have overwork himself. "I was trying to fight as soon as I saw you in the chair" I told her as she gave me a light smile and touched my arm.
"You came through in the end" she said, her voice truly sounding like she meant it. "Thank you," she added with a genuine smile. There was a loud clunk. Tammie spun around first, there, on the opposite wall was a staircase. Melinda helped me up as Tammie ran over first. "Are you okay otherwise?" she whispered as I unsure whether I should be even more thankful or deflate a bit.
"I'm not dying if that counts," I whispered back, knowing she knew I meant it was neither good or bad. Damon had taken over a bit, obviously but I was clearly suffering. "Come on," I added as we stood behind Tammie who was groaning because of the lack of a door.
"What is this place anyway?" Melinda asked finally giving up on looking to where it lead. I looked around too; this was definitely not how I imagined Tammie-or Melinda-seeing my house. Let alone my room. You probably were thinking a nice cozy room, windows, lights, a bed maybe? All those things you could do on a bed... Damon said with a suggestive wiggle of the eyebrows.
"My bedroom" I said as I felt Melinda and Tammie looking at each other before looking at me. "It hasn't changed" I decided to ask hoping to add a little sarcastic humor in there. Or awkwardness... Damon corrected.
"But it had paintings and stuff, right?" Melinda asked sounding a little more surprised than I expected. She knew bits and pieces about my home life, she knew what I was, she knew I didn't live well. "Your parents kept you in here?" she exclaimed, her face still covered in shock.
"It's complicated" I said hoping that gave at least Melinda enough information. Still, neither looked close to understanding. "They had to. Courtney was in here too. We were allowed to go out on the weekends though, and we were homeschooled, until now" I tried explaining but I knew this was hard for them to take it. Harry would understand of course. He had living situations close to this. I thought to myself as I wondered if my other friends were alright.
"We kept getting letters from Hogwarts, but my mum kept burning them. She didn't want us to attend, mostly me, she thought it was influence certain decisions" I continued, finding the ironic humor even funnier in this particular setting."
"But why?" Tammie asked as she looked from Melinda to me, no doubt way more confused than anyone else.
"She wanted to spare us" I said, though part of me doubted that too. She let Courtney out a few more times than me, she gave Courtney more space than me. She seemed to like Courtney more than me. Well of course you dum dum, Courtney listened, Courtney did was she was supposed to do. Courtney wants to be a vampire. Damon whispered, his invisible presence so close to me it was scary. I looked around the room again. There weren't any beds. No closets, just a large empty space. "We had cots and a divider, a few simple dressers but the main stuff was upstairs; she didn't trust us, especially me" I said as I felt Tammie shift, ready to ask a question but knowing now wasn't exactly the right time.
"So, you're afraid of everyone being the same way, not trusting you?" Melinda asked. I slowly nodded, trying not to make direct eye contact with Tammie, it was bad enough she was seeing me here, I was trying so hard to not let her see me start crying. Baby. "Well, we're not your mum" Melinda firmly stated as she straightened herself up. "We're not going to just push you aside and ask for help whenever we need it. Especially not if you're making an effort to try" she explained, her words underlying so much. I gave her a weak smile, it felt nice to be trusted. "But, I will tell you off when you need it" she added with her own small smile.
"A door," I whispered as a loud clunk sounded, a wooden dudgeon type of door appearing in the general area I had last known the door to be. Tammie hopped up first, running over to the door, Melinda and myself behind her.
"Why is it locked?" Tammie asked.
"Because he thinks I still have doubts…" Melinda answered as she looked over at me but I shook my head, it was strange the door was still locked, usually this was the part we could escape. Yeah, usually isn't a word vampires keep in their vocabulary pocket. Damon teased as I thought of the other nightmares, something happened in those, all the time. Someone always got hurt. Getting warmer... Damon continued teasing as I heard the faint sound of, was that water?
I saw Tammie look down as I felt my shoes become heavy and wet. Ah man, you peed yourself. Damon teased, his voice and presence still annoyingly real. Wait for it... He said with a smile as I turned in time to see water pouring from the far left wall, no clue how, the wall was impossible to get through with our without magic, all those times I tried escaping. Yeah, but remember, this is a nightmare, Burnner has control, not you and she can do anything. Damon reminded me.
The wall filled the room in record timing, already to my ankles when when reality hit that we were really getting drowned in ice cold water. The water was filling up so quickly that after trying the door again it was to my waist. What was the point of this again? I wondered, rather annoyed, feeling more like a dog that got pushed unwillingly into a pool. I looked over at Tammie who was trending beside me, the water to her shoulders being that she was short. Unlike me she was shivering, humans Damon thought with a snort. I nodded toward the door, Tammie nodding back as she swam over to the stairs and climbed up, myself behind her until I realized who was not with us.
The cold shiver that hit me was not the water, rather the realization that the reoccurring thing that kept happening in these nightmares was the attempted murder of Melinda and Tammie. Ding ding ding. Damon joked as I looked around, trying to spy Melinda. If she drowned we lose. If she drowned she died. Not only would I be murdered but Tammie would have this on her conscience forever. Melinda just finished she saying she trusted me, there was no way I was going to let her down now.
"Where's Melinda!" Tammie asked with chattering teeth as she stood safely on the stairs. I just started to answer when I saw Tammie's eyes follow something in the water. I looked over, seeing Melinda's body's bob toward the wall, only now there was a large black in the center, it looked like it was sucking water out, but since no water was leaving the room, I had then conclude it was just filter the water. Which meant it was filter Melinda. And since Melinda's body is a solid and not liquid we have to assume the 'filter' would kill her. Damon explained sarcastically.
"Stay there!" I shouted at Tammie, already knowing she was thinking about jumping in. I didn't need to save both of them. Mostly because if you had a choice, you wouldn't save both of them. Damon reminded me, but I shook my head, determined to prove him wrong.
I dove deeper into the water, the coldness instantly numbing my body and making gasp. Good thing you're a half, this would be weird if you opened your mouth under water as a mere human. You could die or something. Damon easily joked, his presence taking over. It felt I was the pilot and he was the plane, in muggle terms. Or like you were a willing participant of the Cruciatus Curse, you know, in wizarding terms, that should win you sympathy points if you need to explain it, Damon said, still totally cool about helping to save Melinda.
It's not so much that I don't like saving people or helping people, I just don't like people. I think it's a me problem though. I'm hoping some bonding with you will help. Damon said, hinting at what I already knew. He would corporate if it meant he could be part of me. But why would he want to help me in the first place? I was going against everything he wanted. We all have our motivations and reasons. He said, and though would've liked to know, I had more important things to attending to. Like Melinda's body which was so close to wall now. I told Damon to outstretch my arm, to grab her and he did. I felt like a puppet, a puppet I was controlling. I pulled Melinda close, we were still both underwater, but at least the filter couldn't get us now. It didn't seem to be doing anything actually.
I swam upward, Melinda in tow, only to see the black hole had vanished. Weird... Damon said, his surprise true. Maybe it just stops when you save her? He suggested, but we both knew it couldn't have been that easy, it never was.
I turned around at Tammie's scream so fast I gave myself whiplash. I was by herself, Melinda in my arms just as another black hole started filling the wall next to Tammie. Of course, silly me, can't get one, get the other. Damon half teased, though he seemed more annoyed about this than anything. It's easier to kill people if they're spread out... he grumbled as he kicked the door open. Screw locks and doorknobs. he said with triumph as the door broke into pieces.
Tammie screamed again, her voice a little annoying this time, it was only water, it wasn't going to kill her now, she was safe, Damon thought as he grabbed her and pulled into the clearing, the room behind us disappearing as soon as we moved from the door. I laid Melinda down on the floor, her lips were still blue, her body showed no sign of life. I felt a strange sense of sadness and victory as I gazed down at her. If she's dead you won't have worry about the annoying reminder of having things you can't have, a voice echoed from the way back of my mind. But if she's dead you lose, you die, WE die, well ALL die. Forget Tammie, she dies. Damon reminded me, his voice closer to mind. Besides, Burnner totally cheated.
I started to resuscitate Melinda, my hands on her chest, my mouth on hers, blowing air into her lungs. I kissed a girl and liked it, I hope my vamp parents don't mind it... Damon sang songed as I became frustrated with his lack of help and Burnner's cheating and the fact that I was getting no response from Melinda. "Damn Margret…" I whispered "You said no tricks! I passed!" I continued whispering, hope to Merlin she heard me, she'd see this as a win. You know what I see as a win? The irony of this. You're first human kiss is the best friend of the person you actually wanna kiss. Damon teased, still no help. "Shut up..." I hissed to him, so only he could hear. Oh relax, she's fine.
As I was about to question him there was a loud gasp. And coughing. Tammie kneeled to the ground next to me, her face full of relief as Melinda sat up, wiping her face of water and taking deep breathes. "Were you yelling at me?" she asked me in confusion as she coughed up some water. I breathed out a sign of relief, letting Damon make himself comfortable in the back of my mind, he deserved this one, he saved my friend, I thought as I pulled Melinda close to hurt her.
"Hey, why are you guys all wet?" We looked up to see Ron looking down at us with confusion. "I found em!" he shouted as Hermione and Harry running over. "You owe me five gallons Harry, and you Hermione owe me two" he said looking at each of them in turn. I rolled my eyes, of course he would try and make money off my suffering. Such a Weasley. Damon teased as Melinda looked helplessly at her wet clothes. They'll dry. Damon mumbled as I helped Melinda to her feet.
"Why do they owe you money?" Tammie asked.
"Made a bet" Ron said simply, though it explained nothing.
"I saw that wall was different than the rest, but there was no way to get in, You were the one we had to save and Melinda and Tammie went off together, I figured you'd three wind up together since Burnner's after them" Hermione explained as I gave her a little smile. Brightest witch in our year Damon cheered. "The rest was simply a matter of figuring out how you were planning on escaping" she concluded.
"How did you know I was going to overcome by fear?" I asked but Hermione gave me a knowing look. "Levels, the basement is always the hardest, but as long as-"
"There's always help" Tammie piped in, as if remembering something. I nodded, happy I didn't have to explain anything, happy my friends one the first floor knew me enough to trust me, knew me enough to know there was a deeper layer, but to not go digging. "Eh, what's that?" Tammie asked as she pointed to the wall next to Harry. Hermione moved closer first, tracing the outline of a door with her finger as words appeared.
"Is that another door?" I asked, my question answered as the outline became an actual door. "It's not locked!" he said excitingly as he turned the door, the words on the door much more visible now. "Hey, what's this bit here?" he asked, pointing to the writing on the door. "'If not in hand, in heart'" Harry read. Tammie stuck out her bottom lip, clearing trying to register something, but Melinda started talking before I could ask.
"But, that's it?" Melinda exclaimed, looking around in slight disappointment.
"They never doubted me" I told her giving Harry, Ron and Hermione thankful smiles as we hurried up the stairs. This next room was the library. In my real house we kept the study on the top floor, much like an attic, but a library. the shelves were different here, different sizes, different lengths and weights. Completely uneven, my dad liked it better this way though. It was scary how much of an influence my parents had on me.
The top meant we had to be done, this was it and apparently the only room with windows, this was how we got out. But there had to be a trick, the outside looked dark and empty. Was there a certain window we had to leave out of? Was there someone we had to see first? I wondered.
"Hear that?" Hermione asked as we paused to listen. Of course I knew that laughter, of course I knew what was next. The last group I had to pass, I had to convince I could be trusted. The hardest and easiest level. The sound came again.
"Laughter!" Tammie shouted. "It's Fred and George" I said running in the direction of their voices. The others ran ahead, myself behind, I had to prepare myself. What if they tried to kill me? Or worse immeditely said they didn't trust me. What was I supposed to do then? How could I make them trust me. Like the top level of anything there were other levels supporting it, other floors, stuff underneath. The twins knew all the stuff I had below this attic. All my secrets. And I had to get them to trust that I wouldn't let those dark things about myself swallow me. They didn't trust me as a person, why would they trust me with all these dark dangerous layers?
I watched as Fred got up from the table, was he reading a book? and go over to hug Tammie. She mumbled something to him and he said something back but I was listening, I was too focused on getting them to trust me. Spilling my life story now would do the opposite. And threatening them would just hurt my case, Burnner would probably drop a bookshelf both Tammie and Melinda.
Be blunt, they're always blunt with you, firmly tell them Tammie and Melinda are in danger and you're their only saving grace right now. Damon suggested, rather, insisted. But what if they don't believe me? I stupidly worried. Oh you big baby...quit your bellyaching. Damon said as I felt my mind switch, my body ease back to a more overlook or distance view of everything, but my mouth still moving, the words and tone still my own.
"I'm only going to explain this once, you do what you like." I started, as I moved over the twins, everyone else moving closer as well. "Burnner is trying to kill Tammie and Melinda as we go along. If we don't get out of here she will try again and I have no doubt that she might succeed." The silence was deafening. I took the moment to look, noticing brooms magically appear on the table the boys had just been sitting at. "Now, there are four broomsticks on that desk. Two to one. I'll ride with Harry."
For a moment I seriously thought Fred and George were going to laugh in my face but instead they nodded and moved over the broomsticks, handing one to Ron.
"Is this yours?" George asked after handing me a broom. I looked back at his open hand, a coin in his palm. Like the ones I gave them for Christmas, only this was mine. My own coin. Oh stop getting all sentimental, jeez Damon hissed as George gave me the slightest smile before walking over to Melinda.
"What does it say?" Fred asked
"'There's always someone to help, if not in hand, in heart'" I read, not even noticing the distant click of a window unlocking. "On the other side it says 'Courage.'" I smiled to myself, happy to have my own coin and even happier I was presented with it by the twins. They may not have liked me, or trusted me completely, but they trusted enough that I knew danger, and when I said there was danger I meant it, and not just the simple kind of danger, but real danger, life or death danger, danger only I could help get out of. They needed to trust me because they knew I was the key to help save the lives of those they loved and to me-and apparently Burnner-that was enough trust to get us through.
"You'll explain everything when you can?" George asked, thought it didn't seem to be a question but more of a demand, bringing me back to attention.
"Everything" I replied putting the coin in his pocket as Harry and me went to the window first. "We're almost done" I said pushing the large glass aside. One by one we mounted our brooms and flew out the window.