Iris felt she was going slightly mad. The gift Satan had given her was starting to feel much more like a curse.

Just by looking at a person in the eyes, she would get razor sharp visuals in front of her. They resembled a television portal. Words would be crystal clear in her head and it would not go away. When she had first arrived back from seeing Satan it had been hazy when she spoke to people. Whisperings. Faint images. The days passed and the stronger it all became.

She had confided in Hermione when they were at Greengrass Manor one afternoon in the Christmas holidays. A sceptical Hermione had frowned.

'How do you mean, you see what Satan sees?' she had asked her perplexed friend.

'I mean, if I look in a person's eye I see the worst things a person has ever done like a movie. I hear every word and it goes in a loop a few times. It's like being in a Pensieve. It happens in front of me and I can't stop it. Satan has to wait until they arrive in Hell to see who they truly are for certain. The veil decides who goes there. Then the official magical records are created. I can see what they have done immediately. The only good thing is it stops after that.'

Hermione had looked at Iris in a questioning manner, 'What do you see when you look at me then?'

Iris couldn't stop the grin, 'I saw you when you were really little. The library would only allow you to take five books, but you absolutely needed all six. So you snuck one out in your bag. It was a Shakespeare book. Macbeth. I saw the vision a few times and then it stopped.'

Hermione had gone deathly pale at that.

Iris had grimaced at Hermione, 'If people were all like you I wouldn't be worried.'

'I swear, I took the book back. I would never steal from a library,' Hermione said in horror. She was getting all worked up.

Iris smiled widely, 'You silly goose,' Iris patted Hermione's hand to calm her down. Hermione still looked mortified.

'People do all manner of dodgy things. It's what makes us human. Satan has given me this gift so I can identify for certain the true evil on this Earth. Not people doing a bit of petty shoplifting.'

Hermione calmed down a little, 'What else have you seen then?' she asked in a curious voice.

Iris wrung her hands, 'When I looked at Sirius, I saw him luring Severus into a tunnel to trap him with Remus when it was a full moon. His face looked manic. Vindictive. I knew they didn't get on at school, but this was something else. He looked like he truly wanted something awful to happen to Sev.'

Hermione gazed at Iris and opened her mouth to speak, then shut it again. Iris had told her discreetly about Remus and his past affliction. He was cured now so it was no longer a problem.

'What?' Iris asked suspiciously.

'Um. It's just. There have been a few times when you have this look on your face too that is truly terrifying. Like with Nott.'

Iris felt her heart stop, 'But I had to do that. Nott was a real threat. He had murdered little girls.'

'I know,' Hermione said quickly, 'But, you know. I mean,' she trailed off.

Iris frowned as she gestured to Hermione to continue.

Hermione took a deep breath, 'The Black family is infamous Iris. People talk. There is so much in the past that has happened.'

Iris looked coolly at Hermione, 'And what, may I ask, do they say?'

Iris had never seen her friend look so uncomfortable.

'They talk about the Black family madness,' Hermione whispered, 'The violence. The murders. Dark rituals. All sorts of things. There are books about your ancestors too. The facts are all there in black and white going back centuries.'

Iris went very still, 'Right. What do you think, then?' she asked in a forced, calm voice.

Hermione wouldn't meet her eyes. They were in Iris's bedroom. The room felt very quiet. Esmerelda snoozed away in her glass home oblivious to the tension.

'Hermione. I asked you a question. Do you think I'm mad?' Iris got straight to the point.

'No. Not mad. I truly don't think that,' Hermione said immediately, 'But. I think you have a part of you that is going that way if you're not careful.'

All the colour drained from Iris's face as she stood up angrily, 'How could you say that to me? You know how I feel about that,' she said in a dangerously quiet voice as Hermione clenched her jaw.

Hermione stood to face her, 'Because it is the truth, Iris. Because I'm your friend and we have to be honest with each other.'

Iris felt an empty feeling inside her.

'Look,' Hermione continued, 'Your family. Sirius, Bella, you're Grandmother. Even Draco and his mother. I observe. I pick up on things. The small details. I have met them all. From a logical point of view, none of you is emotionally stable. Draco especially. He concerns me even more than you.'

'Is it any fucking wonder, Hermione?' Iris had raised her voice now, 'Have you not been listening? Do you even have the slightest idea of what we have gone through? What we have witnessed? Experienced?'

'Yes. I pay more attention than you think I do. I believe both you and Draco need to see a Muggle therapist. All of you, actually, because of what you have all been through. Not one of those quacks in the Muggle world with joss sticks, or one from the Wizarding World. There seems to be a total lack of common sense here. But you do need to speak to a proper professional,' Hermione stated bluntly.

Iris just gaped at her, 'A head doctor? Absolutely not. Anyway. For such a logical person you have missed the obvious. If I sit down and talk about my life with a Muggle therapist they are going to think I'm a fantasist.'

'They are sworn to secrecy, Iris. Take them to Equilibrium. They will believe you then,' Hermione said back immediately, 'Riddle is currently well on his way to destroying the statute of secrecy anyway, so what does it matter if one more person knows about us?'

Iris narrowed her eyes, 'I am perfectly fine, Hermione. I know myself.'

'Do you?' Hermione snapped back, 'You have this bizarre relationship with your father. You resent him and need him in equal measures. He is worse than you are. He can barely say more than two words to your mum. Your mother seems to be the only truly sensible one amongst you all and even she has a habit of freezing people out when they upset her. None of this is healthy. One of your Grandfathers is genuinely worse than Satan. You must need to talk about this. I know you. I know going mad is your greatest fear. This will help you prevent it.'

Iris stared at her and flinched at the accurate assessment of her, 'Hermione. You and I grew up in very different worlds. Your parents are respectable, nice dentists. You grew up in a very normal, respectable, nice area with normal people. I grew up in the Wizarding World and Equilibrium. Of course you and I are going to be different. You can't live a life like mine and be normal,' Iris said caustically.

'I disagree,' Hermione said succinctly, 'I'm not saying this to criticise you. This is not about being normal though. It's about being emotionally healthy. It's just. I'm worried about you. I think you need help. Truly. What you can see. What you will see in the future. It's too much for anyone to deal with by themselves. It's going to poison your mind if you don't deal with it properly. I saw your face at the station. Don't think for one moment I don't appreciate what you did for my family, but I saw the hatred in your eyes. Hatred eventually turns inwards and can destroy you. You have to be able to discuss this with someone and even though I will always listen to you I'm not trained to help you properly. What Satan has asked of you is going to take its toll on you. In time, it won't be enough to escape to Equilibrium and have a sit down for a few hours to calm down or a ride on your bike. You need someone who can guide you and talk this through with you.'

Iris gave a sarcastic laugh as Hermione looked very insulted at this, 'Who on earth is trained to deal with this particular issue, Hermione? For someone so smart you have missed the obvious. What? Do you think there is a university course about this? Therapists, who specialise in Hell and bringing Death Eaters and Nazis to justice?'

Hermione stuck her chin out, 'Actually, yes. Some specialists deal with combat soldiers who actually have dealt with these types of issues. Hell can also be found on Earth, Iris.'

Iris went mute.

Hermione exhaled softly. Finally, 'My uncle works for MI6. He knows people who can find someone really good for both you and Draco to talk to. I can arrange an introduction. No pressure.'

Iris looked at Hermione a little wearily.

'I mean it, Iris. I'm sure you can ignore this and carry on doing what you're doing for the next few years and be alright. You're a strong person, but at some point, the cracks are going to show. It's later on that I'm worried about. If we are successful and defeat this New World Order then brilliant, but even if that happens these things have a habit of consuming a person completely and I want you, I want all of us, to have good, long lives. That includes your soul too.'

Iris knew when she had lost a battle of wills. She rubbed her forehead.

'Merlin, Hermione. How long have you been thinking about this?' Iris asked her.

'Since I saw you bring that wreck, Nott, back through the veil,' Hermione said.

Iris looked at her in surprise. 'That long?'

'I may have taken the liberty of speaking to my Uncle about you. My parents have told him everything. He may have already suggested someone who will be able to be a support to you. It helps them too. The more they know about all of this the better. I was concerned about how to bring the topic up with you for obvious reasons,' Hermione admitted.

Iris felt her mouth twitch, 'You did that for me?' she asked her quietly.

Hermione nodded, 'Yes. You're my friend. I worry about you. You matter to me a great deal.'

Iris blushed, 'I, um, I don't know what to say,' she felt her eyes grow wet. Her bottom lip started to quiver, 'Oh, bloody hell. Here come the waterworks,' she started to sob, 'You're my friend too. I care about you as well.'

Hermione started crying then too. Esmerelda had woken and peered over to the two crying girls in confusion. Hermione grabbed Iris and pulled her into one of her bear hugs as they cried it out together.

A few minutes later, and in a room with the tension dissipated, a calm came over the room. Esmerelda went back to sleep, disgruntled at the commotion.

'Better?' Hermione asked

Iris did feel a bit lighter in herself, 'Yes. Thanks.'

'Shall we put the Lost boys on and get some popcorn?' Hermione asked her, 'It's one of your favourites.'

Iris nodded, smiling, 'That it is.'

It was later on as they were watching the vampires getting slaughtered that Iris looked across at Hermione and felt nothing but warmth for her friend. She may not have wanted to hear it, but Hermione was right.

She was up to her neck and sooner or later she would start drowning if she neglected to truly face facts.