'Are you okay, Tansy?' Hermione asked worriedly as the entered the next corridor. Tansy felt cold and clammy but she tried to nod to put Hermione's mind at rest. The motion caused her to turn sick again and she found herself bending over, gagging up what little food had remained in her stomach.

'Come on, the sooner we get to the hospital wing, then the sooner...' Tansy blinked at her friend, seeing only Tom Riddle's laughing face swimming before her eyes. She shied away, shrieking, and pulled out her wand.

'Stupefy!' Tom Riddle fell unconscious to the ground. As she stared shakily at him, his face morphed back into that of Hermione's. Tansy fell to her knees and screamed again.

'Miss Laverstock! What on earth is the matter?' Professors McGonagall, Flitwick and Moody had arrived on the scene. Tansy scrambled up as they advanced on her; their voices echoed across the bare stone corridor, distorting into Riddle's cold, cruel laughter. She put her hands over her ears but she could still hear the laughter echoing through her head.

'Leave me alone!' She shrieked, too far gone to care about the audience.

'Miss Laverstock!' Tansy looked up as Professor McGonagall approached her and was horrified to see her mother advancing on her instead of the teacher. Losing all pretence of sanity, she shot a curse straight at the approaching woman, but it was deflected almost as soon as it had left her wand. Tansy backed into the wall and began firing hexes at random.

'Expelliarmus!' Her wand flew out of her hand and clattered to the floor and she swung round. Fred Weasley stood behind her.

'Stop it, Tansy,' he grasped her arms as she fought against him. 'It's alright, it's alright…' Something hit the back of her head and she crumpled in his arms.


A jumble of voices pierced the fog in Tansy's brain, sliding over each other incomprehensibly. She stirred involuntarily, trying to return to the warm comfort of sleep but the voices began to get clearer.

'-will she continue to experience flashbacks…?'

'-I'm not sure, headmaster; she certainly has experienced nightmares of the event for over a year...'

Someone placed a hand on her forehead and Tansy stirred again. Her eyes flew open and she found herself gazing up into the eyes of an extremely worried looking Madam Pomfrey.

'Ah, how are you feeling, Miss Laverstock?' The matron asked, putting a hand over her wrist and taking her pulse the Muggle way. Tansy flinched slightly at her touch; she couldn't quite remember what had happened but by the feeling of residual anxiety in the pit of her stomach, she knew that it must've been bad.

Tansy glanced around the hospital wing in confusion and saw that both Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall were standing over by the window, their faces streaked with bright sunlight. She pushed herself up the bed, wondering why they were both present.

'What happened?' She asked, looking around desperately, as if the answer was written on the walls.

'You experienced a flashback, Miss Laverstock,' the matron told her, straightening the bedclothes. 'It seems as if Professor Moody's class triggered memories of the Chamber of Secrets.' The matron scowled as she spoke. Tansy shuddered as clarity suddenly returned; she remembered how Hermione's face had morphed into that of Tom Riddle's and felt her breathing coming more quickly.

'Is Hermione okay? I didn't mean…' Her question ended on a squeak of fear.

'Miss Granger is fine; she is waiting in the corridor outside with Mr Potter and Mr Weasley.' Professor McGonagall told her, approaching the young witch and placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. 'I'm sorry that I stunned you, Miss Laverstock, but you were in considerable distress and I thought it best…' Tansy was surprised to see that her head of house was looking slightly sheepish.

'What if it happens again?' She asked, her eyes flicking desperately between each of the grown-ups in turn.

'Miss Granger has informed me that you received a Medela Bracelet for your birthday,' Professor Dumbledore's change of topic took her by surprise. She nodded warily, wondering where this was going. 'She informed me that the bracelet has helped to stop your nightmares,' the headmaster went on and Tansy nodded again; she'd only had the bracelet for a few days but, even so, she was stunned by its magical ability.

'The effects of the bracelet are not limited to night-use only; they can aid mental well-being during the day as well.' Tansy blushed slightly; Professor Dumbledore obviously thought that she was going crazy. Professor McGonagall appeared to read her mind.

'There's no need to feel like that. There is no shame in what just happened.'

'I would suggest that you try wearing it during the day as well. Even so, it won't wholly prevent the memories from returning although it should help to allow you to remain in control of them.' Professor Dumbledore looked into her eyes for a few seconds before turning to Madam Pomfrey.

'Will Tansy have to stay here overnight, Poppy?' The matron nodded and Tansy's heart sank; she was starting to feel wholly embarrassed about the situation and wanted to forget the whole thing.

'Well, Miss Laverstock, I will bring your Medela Bracelet when I return after dinner for your extra Transfiguration lesson,' Professor McGonagall told her. 'I will send in your friends now; they are anxious to see you.'

She followed Professor Dumbledore over to the door and stuck her head out into the corridor. Two seconds later, Hermione had charged into the hospital wing and had thrown her arms around Tansy. Harry and Ron followed more slowly and then, to Tansy's surprise, (and embarrassment), Fred Weasley came in through the door.

'You gave us such a fright, Tansy,' Hermione said indistinctly. Tansy could see that her friend's eyes were swollen and red with tears.

'I'm really sorry that I stunned you, Hermione,' she muttered, blinking tears out of her own eyes. 'I thought… I mean… I saw Riddle… I thought you were Tom Riddle…'

'Madam Pomfrey explained that you had a flashback,' Harry said quietly.

Ron nodded, 'I heard McGonagall yelling at Moody; I've never seen her so furious.'

'Especially seeing as other members of the class were upset too; Lavender started crying and Neville was really disturbed…' Harry put in.

'I dunno what Moody was thinking, showing a bunch of fourth years the unforgivables,' Fred said in a low voice. 'Fudge would do his nut if he knew.'

Harry nodded, 'apparently Professor Dumbledore wanted him to show us; we were supposed to have the nerves to deal with it or something. Guess that was proved wrong…' He trailed off as he saw Tansy's face.

'Is Professor McGonagall giving you a lesson here?' Hermione asked, tactfully changing the subject.

Tansy nodded, 'can you nip upstairs and get my homework please,' she whispered. I left it on the corner of my bed.'


The following morning both Tansy and Harry received mail from Sirius explaining that he was back in the country and well hidden. Tansy swallowed down her nerves and put her spoon back in her porridge bowl, her appetite suddenly gone. The idea of Sirius being nearby was comforting but she was still terrified at the prospect of him being caught by Dementors. Her preoccupation carried her through the morning's History of Magic and Charms classes and she barely spoke at lunch. It was only when they descended into the dungeons for double Potions that she quietly voiced her concerns to Harry, who was walking next to her; he was the only person that she could rely on to feel the same way about Sirius.

'Hey, Laverstock!' They had rounded the final corner and, most unfortunately, the Slytherins were already in attendance outside dungeon one. 'Feeling alright?' Malfoy sneered, 'not going to go crazy on us during Potions. I…'

Hermione took a step forwards and waved hugely to a large, invisible person behind Malfoy's back.

'Hello Professor Moody; fancy seeing you down here…' She said, sounding so convincing that Tansy actually looked around for the Defence Professor. Malfoy jumped hugely and shied away, looking around wildly for Moody, and all the Gryffindors laughed. Luckily the door of the dungeon swung open, thus preventing Malfoy from retorting.

'In.' Snape said coldly, eyeing the quartet with particular malice. He turned away from the class as they unpacked their potion ingredients and textbooks and began to write on the blackboard with his wand. It wasn't until they were all settled that he turned back towards them.

'On Tuesday we started working on simple antidotes. We will continue that work today. Please be assured that I do intend to test a few of your attempts, pitiful as they may be, during this term so I expect your… ah… full attention on the subject.' His venomous stare locked with Tansy's and she shivered slightly; she would've been prepared to bet everything that she owned including Lucky and Bilbo that the 'volunteer' he would pick would be herself.

Her musings were cut short as Snape mentioned her name.

'Ah, Laverstock; I see that you have returned to your class.' Tansy blushed as the Slytherins snickered. 'Please try and remain in the room; Professor Moody may not mind you boomeranging in and out of class but I, however, desire a more consistent attendance.' He paused so that the Slytherins could have a hearty laugh.

'Why do you always have to pick on her?' To Tansy's surprise, it was Seamus Finnigan who had spoken. She glanced over at him in alarm and saw that Dean and Neville were also nodding in agreement.

'Tansy had the Cruciatus curse put on her in the Chamber of Secrets!' Harry exclaimed, his voice trembling with anger.

'Anyone would be reminded of that when they saw the curse being performed in class…' Ron piped up.

'Have you ever had the curse put on you?' Harry's voice had reached shouting pitch and he had pushed back his chair and had stood up. 'You've got no idea; you're just a big bully. You…'

'Silence! Silence!' Snape yelled, looking slightly demented. 'I will not be spoken to like that. How dare you criticise the way I teach a class?' He advanced on Tansy and her friends, flecks of spit flying out of his mouth as he shouted.

'I think we'll have to make that one hundred points from Gryffindor. Now settle down immediately or I will give you all a week's worth of detentions.'

At the end of the lesson, Harry stormed out of the class, followed by Ron, Neville, Dean and Seamus. Tansy followed them slowly into the stone passage and found them already in full-scale mutiny, grouped below one of the torch brackets set into the stone wall. The dancing flames cast odd shadows on the rough walls of the corridor and Tansy shuddered.

'I think that we should go to McGonagall; she'd squish Snape,' Ron was saying eagerly.

'No,' Harry retorted shortly. 'We're going to Dumbledore.' Tansy couldn't help but notice that Seamus and Dean looked slightly apprehensive at this bit of news. She swallowed slightly before stepping forwards.

'Look… thanks to all of you for… you know… standing up for me… but I don't want any trouble…' She trailed off, suddenly feeling completely exhausted.

'He shouldn't pick on you like that,' Seamus protested. 'I'm with Harry; let's go see Dumbledore. Coming Hermione, Tansy?' Tansy shook her head numbly; although she felt extraordinarily guilty for not helping out, she just couldn't give Snape any further reason to pick on her; he already had a list of personal vendettas against her including the exploding potion incident in her second year and Sirius's escape last summer.

As they parted company in the entrance hall, Tansy was horrified to see that the Gryffindor hourglass contained a very large number of shiny black stones; she could guess what they meant – Gryffindor was officially in negative house-points. Turning her back, she walked into the great hall on her own and sat down at the Gryffindor table. Although she'd thought that she was hungry, she didn't fancy her shepherd's pie as much as she thought she would.

'What's up?' Tansy looked up and felt herself growing warm; Fred Weasley was standing behind her. He slipped into a seat beside her and helped himself to a plateful of dinner.

'Nothing, well, Snape sort of mentioned yesterday… the boys got cross…' Tansy grabbed her pumpkin juice and took a large mouthful, trying to quell the panic.

'Ah, I see; so that's why Gryffindor's in negative points?' Fred asked gently.

Tansy nodded miserably, 'and now they've all gone to Dumbledore to complain.' She whispered.

'Miss Laverstock!'

'And so it begins…' She mumbled, swinging round to face Professor McGonagall who was hurrying towards her with the Gryffindor boys and Hermione in tow. Professor Dumbledore was walking serenely behind, gazing up at the enchanted ceiling.

'Come with me.' For the second time that week, Professor McGonagall led her into the small antechamber at the back of the hall.

'Snape always picks on Tansy!' Harry burst out, as soon as the door had swung shut.

'He just sneered at what happened yesterday,' Ron put in.

'Relax, Harry, Ron; I have already heard your version of accounts and now I wish to hear what Tansy has to say on the matter.' Dumbledore locked his piercing blue eyes on Tansy, who felt a twinge of anxiety.

'I… um…' She trailed off.

'Yes?' Professor McGonagall prodded gently.

'I…'

'Perhaps we should have some privacy?' Dumbledore suggested and Tansy nodded gratefully. 'Harry, Ron, Dean, Seamus and Neville, I suggest that you go and fetch yourselves some dinner. Today's menu is shepherd's pie followed by a mouth-watering chocolate brownie. Tansy and Hermione will join you shortly.'

'Well?' Professor McGonagall asked, as soon as the boys had left.

'Snape just mentioned what happened yesterday,' Tansy whispered.

'Professor Snape, Tansy.' Dumbledore chided gently.

Tansy blushed, 'sorry, yes, Professor Snape mentioned what happened yesterday. He said that Professor Moody might not mind me dipping in and out of class but that he certainly did…' She trailed off and Hermione nudged her encouragingly.

'… the boys started shouting at him and he… he took one hundred points off Gryffindor.' Tansy said truthfully, with many hesitations.

'I see,' Dumbledore said thoughtfully. 'Well, I will have a word with Severus. In the meantime you may return to your dinner. It seems as if there has been a slight, er, misunderstanding so I will cancel the one hundred point loss from Gryffindor. However, please remind those young men that Professor Snape is their teacher and therefore demands respect. Right, I am longing to sink my teeth into that chocolate brownie…' With that, the headmaster swept out, followed by Professor McGonagall.

Tansy took a deep, calming, gulp of air.

'Wow,' breathed Hermione. 'I can't believe that he's going to squish Snape.'

Tansy nodded miserably, 'Snape's going to hate me even more now…' She said, trying to keep her voice steady. Hermione looked at her in alarm.

'He won't pick on you without a reason, he can't,' she said reasonably.

'Snape doesn't need a reason to be nasty to me,' Tansy said shortly.

They left the room in silence and made their way back to the Gryffindor table to where the fourth year boys and Fred were talking animatedly.

'Well?' Six pairs of eyes looked at them.

'Dumbledore's given us back the points,' Hermione said. There was a collective sigh of relief from around the table.


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