Seeing the Invisible 9
Disclaimer: I do not own any HP characters or settings. Farrell Branwen and her mother, aunt, grandmother, grandfather, foster mother, people at the orphanage, the orphanage that no longer exists, brewer's institute of magical education, Mary the transfiguration mouse, the key to the ________ ________ (can't tell you yet), and the plot belong to me. Please do not steal them. If you really really want to use anything I've made up, please ask first, or then it wouldn't be fair now would it?
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Harry slept curled up in an armchair in Dumbledore's study, worn out from the day he's had. He had fallen asleep there after talking with the headmaster for hours, and Albus hadn't seen it fit to move him.
Suddenly, a large, crimson and gold something swooped down and perched on Harry's chest, letting out a low, steady note. Harry's eyelids fluttered and opened as he smiled at the enormous phoenix that had settled on his torso.
"Hullo Fawkes," he yawned, stretching out his arms.
The bird chirped a greeting as it hopped onto Dumbledore's desk.
For a moment, Harry couldn't remember how he'd gotten here. Just as the memories began to flood back into his still-drowsy head, he heard a tap at the window. He stood and walked towards it, looking out for whatever made the noise. His green eyes locked with a pair of bright yellow ones. There was a very large black owl hovering patiently outside of the window. Harry flung it open, letting the owl in.
"Rhiannon?" he asked, smiling at the owl as though it were an old friend," What are you doing here?"
He spotted the letter Rhiannon held in her glittering beak and gently tugged it away from her, seeing his name on the front.
Dear Harry,
Thank you ever so much for saving my life. I surely would not be here if it weren't for you. But what has happened is only a demonstration of the danger I am bringing with me while being around you. The whole reason that he-who-must-not-be-named came to the castle was to retrieve me. If he takes me, so be it, but I cannot let him harm you, Harry. I can't. That is why I believe it would be best if I just avoid people in general. Unfortunately, I am not permitted to transfer back to Brewer's where I belong, so the least I can do is ask you to keep your distance from me. I wish it were not so. If he takes me, so be it, but I cannot let him harm you, Harry. I can't. That is why I believe it would be best if I just avoid people in general. Unfortunately, I am not permitted to transfer back to Brewer's where I belong, so the least I can do is ask you to keep your distance from me. I wish it were not so.
Love,
F.M.B
Harry stared at the letter, bewildered.
"so she never hated us…she's just trying to protect us from things she's made up…this is ridiculous. But mad or not, someone has got to try and sort her out. That's what I'm going to do," thought Harry.
~
Unfortunately for Harry, Farrell kept her word. Outside of classes, she was never seen at all. Harry often tried to follow her when class ended, but she led him so far off track that he ended up getting lost himself. It seemed that she knew the back passageways as well as the Weasley twins had. She was also never seen in the common room or even the dormitory. It appeared as though she came to bed later than the rest of the school and rose earlier than them. Hermione wondered whether she slept at all.
As it happens, Hermione came closest to the truth. Farrell rarely slept. Though her unusual nighttime behavior did not stem from insomnia. It was out of fear that she stayed awake. Though the visions she had while awake frightened her, they did not compare to those she saw while sleeping. While sleeping, the images were clearer, the sound sharper, the reflections so vivid that she could feel the pain boiling in her blood.
As the weather got warmer, the ice and snow melting off of the grounds as small flowers poked through the barren blanket of muddy earth, it was not unusual to see a small flash of black hair for a split second outside by the lake. But then you would blink, and it would be gone.
One day during the last few weeks of school, Farrell lay on her stomach by the edge of the lake, enjoying the sunlight. Her long raven locks were strewn about the grass behind her, her tiny bare feet wiggling in the green grass. She trailed her slender white finger across the glassy surface of the water, enjoying the simple aspects of what was left of her used-to-be-absolutely-amazing life. She plucked a daisy from the grass beside her and set it afloat on the water, spinning it around like a little top. She gently let go of the daisy, letting the after-affects of her twirling take place. Strangely, as it spun, it looked as though time was spinning too. It withered and browned within a moment, and seconds later all of the petals had fallen off. She stared at it horrified, and then looked down at her hands, trying to figure out what had caused this destruction.
Though she did not know it, there was a small figure crouching in the distance that had been watching her all the time.
She looked back to the flower, now a shriveled black weed, and shivered. She reached out to pick it up but-
"Farrell?"
She whirled around, looking for the origin of the voice. She knew that voice. It played over and over in her head every hour of every day. Normally, she longed for the voice to be real, she wished greatly to simply turn around and see its owner. Though now, when she truly heard it, she prayed that her mind was playing tricks on her as usual.
"Harry?" she asked quietly, her voice slightly trembling as she looked around frantically. Then, to her right somewhere, she heard a tiny rustling. She looked to where the noise had come from and found herself face to face with Harry Potter.
He reached her in several strides and sat beside her. She curled her knees up to her chin and locked her arms around her shins. She looked down to the grass, afraid of what she would do if she looked into his eyes.
"I-I asked you not to come see me…" she said, even softer that before.
Harry looked at her intently," I had no choice," he said, trying to get her to look up.
"Farrell," he said. Her golden brown eyes met his jade ones and intertwined in a shared gaze. He watched her eyes shine slightly with tears. " why must you be so scared?" he asked softly, placing a hand on top of hers. At this gesture, she jumped back, cringing from his touch as she turned away, biting her lip.
Harry leaned forward and cupped both of her tiny, white hands in his large strong ones. She flinched, but could not escape his grasp.
She shuddered and looked down, "everyone I've ever cared for is either dead or missing. I…I can't let that happen to you….i mean, look at this flower," she said in a subdued voice as she pointed to the withered stick of a plant, "this used to be a beautiful daisy. Then it met me."
With that, she wrenched her hands from Harry's and turned her back to him, hiding her face behind her palms. Harry came up behind her and wrapped her in his arms.
"Shhh…," he whispered into her hair, " don't worry about me. I won't just wrinkle up like that flower. I'll be here for you."
"no. you can't, Harry! Its dangerous…and its all about me. I can't let them take you too because I-
At that point, Farrell found she could not go on. She broke down completely, clinging to Harry's shoulder as she shook with sobs. He held her tightly, trying to provide what comfort he could. He just paused for a minute, taking in how good it was to hold her. How good it was to hear her voice again, and to simply sit with her. He closed his eyes and just wished they could stay like this forever.
~
When he opened his eyes again, the sun was setting over the trees of the forbidden forest. Then he looked down and saw Farrell, asleep in his arms. Her head was resting on his shoulder, her face turned towards his. He reached up and gently brushed a stray strand of hair from her face. Her eyes opened, looking up at Harry. At first she looked a bit surprised, but then her lips spread into the first smile Harry had seen on her since Christmas. The difference in her now was startling. The bags under her eyes had lessened considerably from the few hours of sleep she'd gotten on Harry's shoulder. And from her smile, her whole face seemed to light up a little, merriment radiating from it once more. Farrell was back. The Farrell that he knew and loved.
She stood, taking his hand. They began to walk towards the castle when Farrell stopped.
"Wait."
"What is it?" asked Harry, though he turned around with her.
"I need to go back."
Without a word, they walked back to the lake. Farrell reached for the wilted, stiff flower that was bobbing awkwardly on the surface of the water. But as soon as the tip of her small finger touched it, they both new something was wrong. They felt a jerk behind their navels and the world around them began to spin. Someone had turned the daisy into a portkey.
They landed with a thump on cold hard ground. In the distance, sinister, high-pitched laughter could be heard.
Disclaimer: I do not own any HP characters or settings. Farrell Branwen and her mother, aunt, grandmother, grandfather, foster mother, people at the orphanage, the orphanage that no longer exists, brewer's institute of magical education, Mary the transfiguration mouse, the key to the ________ ________ (can't tell you yet), and the plot belong to me. Please do not steal them. If you really really want to use anything I've made up, please ask first, or then it wouldn't be fair now would it?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Harry slept curled up in an armchair in Dumbledore's study, worn out from the day he's had. He had fallen asleep there after talking with the headmaster for hours, and Albus hadn't seen it fit to move him.
Suddenly, a large, crimson and gold something swooped down and perched on Harry's chest, letting out a low, steady note. Harry's eyelids fluttered and opened as he smiled at the enormous phoenix that had settled on his torso.
"Hullo Fawkes," he yawned, stretching out his arms.
The bird chirped a greeting as it hopped onto Dumbledore's desk.
For a moment, Harry couldn't remember how he'd gotten here. Just as the memories began to flood back into his still-drowsy head, he heard a tap at the window. He stood and walked towards it, looking out for whatever made the noise. His green eyes locked with a pair of bright yellow ones. There was a very large black owl hovering patiently outside of the window. Harry flung it open, letting the owl in.
"Rhiannon?" he asked, smiling at the owl as though it were an old friend," What are you doing here?"
He spotted the letter Rhiannon held in her glittering beak and gently tugged it away from her, seeing his name on the front.
Dear Harry,
Thank you ever so much for saving my life. I surely would not be here if it weren't for you. But what has happened is only a demonstration of the danger I am bringing with me while being around you. The whole reason that he-who-must-not-be-named came to the castle was to retrieve me. If he takes me, so be it, but I cannot let him harm you, Harry. I can't. That is why I believe it would be best if I just avoid people in general. Unfortunately, I am not permitted to transfer back to Brewer's where I belong, so the least I can do is ask you to keep your distance from me. I wish it were not so. If he takes me, so be it, but I cannot let him harm you, Harry. I can't. That is why I believe it would be best if I just avoid people in general. Unfortunately, I am not permitted to transfer back to Brewer's where I belong, so the least I can do is ask you to keep your distance from me. I wish it were not so.
Love,
F.M.B
Harry stared at the letter, bewildered.
"so she never hated us…she's just trying to protect us from things she's made up…this is ridiculous. But mad or not, someone has got to try and sort her out. That's what I'm going to do," thought Harry.
~
Unfortunately for Harry, Farrell kept her word. Outside of classes, she was never seen at all. Harry often tried to follow her when class ended, but she led him so far off track that he ended up getting lost himself. It seemed that she knew the back passageways as well as the Weasley twins had. She was also never seen in the common room or even the dormitory. It appeared as though she came to bed later than the rest of the school and rose earlier than them. Hermione wondered whether she slept at all.
As it happens, Hermione came closest to the truth. Farrell rarely slept. Though her unusual nighttime behavior did not stem from insomnia. It was out of fear that she stayed awake. Though the visions she had while awake frightened her, they did not compare to those she saw while sleeping. While sleeping, the images were clearer, the sound sharper, the reflections so vivid that she could feel the pain boiling in her blood.
As the weather got warmer, the ice and snow melting off of the grounds as small flowers poked through the barren blanket of muddy earth, it was not unusual to see a small flash of black hair for a split second outside by the lake. But then you would blink, and it would be gone.
One day during the last few weeks of school, Farrell lay on her stomach by the edge of the lake, enjoying the sunlight. Her long raven locks were strewn about the grass behind her, her tiny bare feet wiggling in the green grass. She trailed her slender white finger across the glassy surface of the water, enjoying the simple aspects of what was left of her used-to-be-absolutely-amazing life. She plucked a daisy from the grass beside her and set it afloat on the water, spinning it around like a little top. She gently let go of the daisy, letting the after-affects of her twirling take place. Strangely, as it spun, it looked as though time was spinning too. It withered and browned within a moment, and seconds later all of the petals had fallen off. She stared at it horrified, and then looked down at her hands, trying to figure out what had caused this destruction.
Though she did not know it, there was a small figure crouching in the distance that had been watching her all the time.
She looked back to the flower, now a shriveled black weed, and shivered. She reached out to pick it up but-
"Farrell?"
She whirled around, looking for the origin of the voice. She knew that voice. It played over and over in her head every hour of every day. Normally, she longed for the voice to be real, she wished greatly to simply turn around and see its owner. Though now, when she truly heard it, she prayed that her mind was playing tricks on her as usual.
"Harry?" she asked quietly, her voice slightly trembling as she looked around frantically. Then, to her right somewhere, she heard a tiny rustling. She looked to where the noise had come from and found herself face to face with Harry Potter.
He reached her in several strides and sat beside her. She curled her knees up to her chin and locked her arms around her shins. She looked down to the grass, afraid of what she would do if she looked into his eyes.
"I-I asked you not to come see me…" she said, even softer that before.
Harry looked at her intently," I had no choice," he said, trying to get her to look up.
"Farrell," he said. Her golden brown eyes met his jade ones and intertwined in a shared gaze. He watched her eyes shine slightly with tears. " why must you be so scared?" he asked softly, placing a hand on top of hers. At this gesture, she jumped back, cringing from his touch as she turned away, biting her lip.
Harry leaned forward and cupped both of her tiny, white hands in his large strong ones. She flinched, but could not escape his grasp.
She shuddered and looked down, "everyone I've ever cared for is either dead or missing. I…I can't let that happen to you….i mean, look at this flower," she said in a subdued voice as she pointed to the withered stick of a plant, "this used to be a beautiful daisy. Then it met me."
With that, she wrenched her hands from Harry's and turned her back to him, hiding her face behind her palms. Harry came up behind her and wrapped her in his arms.
"Shhh…," he whispered into her hair, " don't worry about me. I won't just wrinkle up like that flower. I'll be here for you."
"no. you can't, Harry! Its dangerous…and its all about me. I can't let them take you too because I-
At that point, Farrell found she could not go on. She broke down completely, clinging to Harry's shoulder as she shook with sobs. He held her tightly, trying to provide what comfort he could. He just paused for a minute, taking in how good it was to hold her. How good it was to hear her voice again, and to simply sit with her. He closed his eyes and just wished they could stay like this forever.
~
When he opened his eyes again, the sun was setting over the trees of the forbidden forest. Then he looked down and saw Farrell, asleep in his arms. Her head was resting on his shoulder, her face turned towards his. He reached up and gently brushed a stray strand of hair from her face. Her eyes opened, looking up at Harry. At first she looked a bit surprised, but then her lips spread into the first smile Harry had seen on her since Christmas. The difference in her now was startling. The bags under her eyes had lessened considerably from the few hours of sleep she'd gotten on Harry's shoulder. And from her smile, her whole face seemed to light up a little, merriment radiating from it once more. Farrell was back. The Farrell that he knew and loved.
She stood, taking his hand. They began to walk towards the castle when Farrell stopped.
"Wait."
"What is it?" asked Harry, though he turned around with her.
"I need to go back."
Without a word, they walked back to the lake. Farrell reached for the wilted, stiff flower that was bobbing awkwardly on the surface of the water. But as soon as the tip of her small finger touched it, they both new something was wrong. They felt a jerk behind their navels and the world around them began to spin. Someone had turned the daisy into a portkey.
They landed with a thump on cold hard ground. In the distance, sinister, high-pitched laughter could be heard.