Disclaimer: Me no own. You know sue!

(A/N) I'm not telling you what happens in future chapters! Anyway, thanks to everyone who reviewed!

Hermione Malfoy: You flatter me! This was just a small idea I had a while ago (well, small turned into 24 chapters plus a prologue and will be longer!). Anyway, thanks so much for reviewing!

Dragonsbane: You're an awesome writer! I love your stories (and the names you so helpfully supplied)!

I know there are more reviewers, but those were the only two I remembered! Thanks so much for reviewing!

Chapter Twenty-Four: Back to Reality

Simone

I'm worried about my sister. She's been having nightmares every night since we've been home. Now, we have to go back to school. I hope she'll be all right.

I was in my room, sitting on my window seat, writing in my diary. Nothing much has happened during the holidays, except for Arissa's nightmares, but it's still nice to write about everything. I want something to remember when I'm old and gray!

"Simone!" Arissa called. "It's time to go."

"I'm coming!" I quickly finished my diary entry, grabbed Helios and Bianca's cages, and went downstairs.

Like the last time we left, we packed ourselves into the car, and sped off to King's Cross Station.

After an uneventful train ride with Jordan, we finally came back to Hogwarts.

Arissa ran for the library, so Jordan and I went back to our dorm.

"Simone! Jordan! We missed you so much!" Lisa exclaimed as we entered the Common Room.

"Where's Arissa?" Christina asked.

"The only place she would be! The library!" I said.

They laughed. "I guess I'll go say hi," she said, leaving us with Lisa in the Common Room.

"What's up with her?" Jordan asked.

"I don't know," Lisa replied. "She's been acting weird the whole time you were away."

"I'll be right back," I said, running for the library. I had to know why Christina was acting so strangely. I ran as fast as I could, without getting caught. Christina and Arissa were sitting in the back of the library, near the fireplace.

"What's going on here?" I asked.

Both girls jumped in their seats. "You know what's happening to me, Simone," Arissa said coldly.

"You'd better not be talking about the nightmares you've been having, Arissa. You know they're not real."

"Simone, stop," Christina said, coming between us. "I've been having the same dreams."

"You two are nuts!" I exclaimed. "I'm out of here!"

"Wait!" Arissa exclaimed, but I refused to listen. She was a freak.

I sulked all the way to the Gryffindor Common Room and up to my dorm. Neither Jordan nor Lisa asked me what was wrong.

2 January 2013

Dear Diary,

My sister is a bloody freak! She thinks that our grandfather is going to kill her. Why can't she get over it? Lucius will not kill her (or me for that matter). She and Christina should be in the psychiatric ward of St. Mungos! That's where they belong!

I can't stand to be in the same room as them. I know they'll just try to convince me that the dreams are real. I guess I'm like my father in that respect. I'm stubborn, just like him.

I hope by the end of today that they realize that it's not real. Sure, Narcissa died, but that doesn't mean that we are.

I have to end this because my freak of a sister is back. Until next time.

~Simone Elizabeth Leigh Malfoy~

I ignored my sister as she entered our dorm. She looked like she was going to cry. Good, she should cry, the stupid git. She makes my skin crawl.

She grabbed some things from her trunk and left me alone again. I grabbed Helios and petted his small head. He meowed, causing me to smile. Midnight jumped onto my bed, but I ignored him. I couldn't handle anything that was Arissa's at the moment.

I needed to get out of here. I let Helios go, promising that I would be back in a few minutes. I grabbed my cloak and ran outside to the lake.

It was dark outside, but I didn't care. I needed to be alone.

"Problems, Simone?"

I turned around to see Professor Dumbledore. "No, Professor, everything's fine."

Even though it was dark, I could still see the twinkle in his blue eyes. "Why don't you come with me, Miss Malfoy?"

I couldn't refuse. I followed him into the castle and up a few flights of stairs. "Gummy Bears!" he said when we approached the stone gargoyle. It quickly jumped to the side. He led me to his office, a pleasant place really.

"Sit, young Simone," he said, gesturing to a large scarlet chair opposite him. "Do you know why you're in here?" he asked a minute later.

I shook my head. "Something is troubling you. Perhaps, it's your sister, Arissa?"

I nodded slowly. "I thought so. Is it because of her nightmares?"

"She is a freak," I said without emotion. "She makes my skin crawl."

"Simone, you have to understand. It's her fear of Lucius that makes her have these nightmares. She is about to break." He took a breath and continued, "She needs you now, Simone, more than ever. Don't shun her just because of her dreams."

I didn't know what to say. Arissa was my sister, damn it! She does need me. "Thank you, Professor," I whispered.

He smiled. "It's getting late. Go find her. Talk to her, really listen to what she has to say."

I nodded and ran off to find my sister.

I found her in our dorm, curled up on her bed with Midnight, crying.

"Arissa?"

She didn't even look up. "What the hell do you want?"

I walked over and sat on the edge of her bed. "I'm sorry. I know I've been saying that a lot lately, but it's true. I'm sorry I said that you were nuts. I didn't mean it. Honestly, I didn't."

I never expected her to get up and wrap her arms around my neck. "I forgive you, Sai Sai," she whispered in my ear, using my old nickname.

I smiled. "Thanks, Ri Ri," I whispered back, using her old nickname. "Do you want to talk about it?"

She pulled away and shook her head. "Let's talk about this tomorrow, when we're feeling better."

I nodded. It felt so good to have the old Arissa back, even if it was for only a second.

(A/N) Finally, I finished this chapter! Simone isn't so perfect! Anyway, review!