A/n: I corrected this chapter! That's a first! Clap for me!
Tobias sighed and pulled the covers over his head. "Mommy." he moaned.
Rilee looked over at him from the top of the book she was reading. "Now I'm your mother, Toby?"
Tobias groaned and turned over. "Oh, just for a moment I thought you were...never mind." He sighed and hit his head on his pillow.
Rilee reached out and patted his head. "It'll be ok. You must be really sick or something. If you need anything just say so, okay hun?" She kissed his forehead.
Tobias didn't answer. He wasn't sleeping though. He was sure that it wasn't just some weird hallucination that he had seen some lady in his chair. And he wasn't sure what had made him call her his 'mommy'. He had never called anyone that in his life. The closest thing he had to a 'mommy' was his first grade teacher of which he had been convinced that by the end of the year she would take him away to be her real son.
But it never happened of coarse. She never really stayed in touch when he graduated to second grade. It had just been a small dream of his. He had never told anyone, not even Aldrea about that dream.
But what had this woman had that he had just KNOWN that she was his mother? 'This is stupid.' He thought to himself. 'This lady isn't even real. Why am I worrying myself over this?'
He heard the door open. "How's he doing?" asked a voice.
"He's sleeping." Rilee answered, talking low so as to not wake him.
Aldrea was silent a moment and Tobias could tell she knew that he wasn't asleep at all. "Hey, Rilee. You need a rest. He's not going to die any time soon. Go out and get something to eat or something."
Tobias heard Rilee stand and waited until her footsteps had faded. Then he started to sit up. But before he had gotten halfway up Aldrea had already pushed him down. "No!" she cried. "Don't sit up."
He clutched his stomach. "Ugh, NOW you tell me. What happened? One moment I'm out on a walk and next moment I'm here. What's wrong?" He watched Aldrea's face sag.
She hid her face in her hands. "Look, you were attacked. I was hoping you would tell me who had assailed you. I was thinking it was-"
"What? You thought it was a 'force'?" Tobias muttered sarcastically. "Look, Aldrea! The force isn't real! Why don't you just face it?! It's something you made up for some weird mutated reason. Probably it was some member of the Hate Tobias Fan Club."
Aldrea frowned uncomfortably. "Why don't you believe me, Tobias?" she asked him softly.
"Because it's impossible. You think it would exist and that Dumbledore wouldn't know about it? It's ridiculous, okay?"
"But Tobias. I thought you had more sense than that." A soft, deep voice uttered near the doorway of the hospital wing.
Aldrea didn't turn around. "I thought Madam Pomprey only lets in one visitor at a time.."
"She wasn't very hard to persuade, you know." Tobias looked at her in the eye. It was Isobel. Her soft, chocolate brown eyes [contacts] had a serious look in them. She walked into the room and the light from the ceiling showed her face clearly. She hadn't applied her make-up. Something was wrong.
"Hey, Isobel." Aldrea said as she smiled and stood. "I was just telling Tobias..uh, what I-"
"What you thought attacked him?" Isobel finished for her.
Aldrea nodded. "You heard?"
Isobel smiled dryly. "Yeah. I did."
"And you don't believe me either, right?"
"Who said I didn't?"
Aldrea looked at her in surprise. "You mean..you believe me?!"
Isobel sighed and nodded slowly. "More than that. I know what you say is true. I've seen it."
"What?" Aldrea cried in alarm. "Are you alright? Did it attack you, too?"
"Yeah," Tobias added, laughing. "ARE you alright? You're starting to sound as crazy as Aldrea!"
"Look, Tobias." Isobel answers in a soft, but firm voice. "I've got no time for this. You were attacked by something not of this place. Not of this world even. It came from Amplis. And it will be back."
Tobias stared at incredulously. "Stop playing her game, Isobel. It's not funny, you know. "
Isobel moved quickly to the side on his bed and knelt down. "Look Tobias. Look into my eyes. Do I see the type to lie just to make people feel better?" She took his hand in her's. "Trust me, Tobias. There IS something after you. Something very powerful. And it'll do anything to prevent its doom. And you two are it!"
Tobias pulled his hand away from her grip. "Stop it, Isobel."
She stood and for a moment just stared at him. "If you will deny your heritage, your powers, your very being, fine. But don't expect anything less than a well earned 'I told you so' when it attacks again."
Then she turned away from Tobias and faced Aldrea. Whoa, was this the same Isobel he had gone to school with?
"You believe me?" Aldrea repeated, quietly. She hadn't expected anyone to actually support her. She wasn't sure if she believed it herself. But this was the proof she had wanted- almost dreaded. That there was something after them. And it wouldn't rest until it destroyed them. "Why?" she whispered, the words hardly escaping her lips.
"Why? Because of the prophecy. The prophecy that states quite clearly that one Kertan will be defeated by a witch. And more than just a witch. They must have an ancestor that was shunned from Amplis and sent here. So I was sent to find such a witch. Because Amplis is in chaos. We will perish if help does not reach us soon."
"So you think it is one of us?" Tobias was stunned that Aldrea understood what Isobel had just said. All in once he thought on how Isobel probably wasn't who she pretended to be.
Isobel shook her head. "No. Your powers are too weak. No offense. They do not surpass mine, even though you have had no training. And you discovered your powers only the year you came to Hogwarts. Those are all clear signs that neither of you can be the one. But there are your children. They are the only things we have left to hope for!
"And that is the reason I had to reject Tobias." Isobel's voice was on the jagged edge of cracking but she took a deep breath and continued. "I could not risk falling in love with him. Because our savior can be only half Amplisian. It must have a parent from here as well. And since I am from Amplis there was- is- no way for us. He has a better chance with.." But she didn't finish her thought. They all remained silent a long time.
Tobias frowned. Could it be that this was more than just a hoax? Could Isobel really have been so strong? So..
No! There was no way that a single word from Isobel's mouth was true. There was one thing about Isobel he had learnt in his time with her. And that was that Isobel was a terrific actress and a greatly advanced spell castor. She could have easily tricked Aldrea. But he wasn't going to be fooled so simply. This was probably an act to get him back.
"So now I'm supposed to say that I'm sorry and you should hug me and everything will be okay. And that we can get through the prophecy and be together? So now I-" That was as far as he got.
Isobel turned and glared at him. He felt his face burn. But he wasn't embarrassed..why-
It wasn't until he felt his whole body get hot that he realized that it was spell that was being cast on him. And now it was starting to hurt. "Ow! Man, stop it!" But her eyes were cold, the exact opposite of how HE was feeling.
He could smell flesh burning. He barely saw his sister put a hand on Isobel's arm. "Stop it!" she was screaming along with him.
Then it stopped. His vision cleared. He looked down at himself. He looked like he had spent a day and a half in the sun. His whole body burned and ached.
Aldrea was next to his bed in an instant. "Tobias? Are you okay?"
Tobias nodded slightly and groaned and how it hurt to do even that. "Yeah-"
"You stupid idiot!" Aldrea interrupted as soon as she was sure he was okay. Well, as okay as he could be. "Didn't you hear her? She has powers beyond ours. She's been hiding them from everyone, but they're there. And there you go, messing with her." "It was a-"
"A joke?!" she cried angrily. "She could have killed you! Did you see her? I couldn't touch her, that's how hot she was. And there was this power, man. I felt it, she's strong. That's why they sent her here. And you there you go and mess with her!"
"You can shut up now!" Tobias answered telepathically. Aldrea glared at him.
"You hurt her, T. She said that she left you because she loved you too much. And you go and fuckin mock her. You stupid, stupid, dude."
"Look, I didn't believe her.." He starts in his head but Aldrea stands up before he can continue.
"No, don't make up excuses. You are heartless and cold. I'm surprised that Rilee can stand you!" And then she wakes off in a huff, leaving Tobias alone with his thoughts.
As soon as he was out of the hospital wing he was pelted with questions.
"What attacked you?"
"I heard it was a student!"
"I heard it was a monster!"
"I heard it was Hagrid's dog!"
"I heard it was Hagrid!"
"I heard it was Draco!"
"I heard it was your ex!"
"Are you ok?"
"Are you dying?"
"Are you really Tobias or are you possessed?"
Some of the questions were so ridiculous he didn't even look at the speaker. Aldrea was pissed at him, as was Bonnie. Isobel was just cold. She didn't give him a single look. Tobias had been all right with it when it first began. And then they had to do a project together. She didn't even look at him. Midway through the class the teacher came over and asked them why they had hardly any work done.
Isobel shrugged. "I don't know. I guess it's hard."
Tobias glares at her. "Well, she won't work together with me."
"Is this true?" The teacher responds, shooting Isobel a look dripping with distain.
"Yes, it is." Isobel answers firmly. "I refuse to work with an idiot like him! I simply refuse to!"
"Then you shall do this after classes, while everyone else is enjoying their time." If the teacher thought this would scare Isobel, he was wrong.
"I'm fine with that. What time?"
The teacher looked surprised. "You would rather do this alone on your own time, then do this now with Tobias?"
"Yes. I refuse to work with him." She repeats.
That whole day, Tobias got even more annoyed as he thought about it. He had ended up working by himself and getting a zero in the teacher's book.
Rilee agreed. "That bitch!" She cried when he told her about what happened. "She's probably just trying to get revenge for when you dumped her."
Tobias didn't add that SHE had broken up with HIM. But it felt good to have Rilee cursing her off.
Tobias had been sitting on the couch, trying to do SOME of this homework to make up for the zero he had gotten. But then Rilee sat next to him and leaned over to kiss him. Answer me this, what normal guy can concentrate on homework when his girlfriend is making out with him? What normal guys WANTS to?
So that's the reason Tobias didn't get much done THAT day.
Aldrea was in the library at that same time, helping Bonnie cheer Isobel up.
"C'mon, Izzy!" Bonnie cries. "He's an asshole for treating you like that! You deserve a lot more than that, you know! He's not worthy enough for a gal like you!"
Aldrea nodded enthusiastically. "I agree. I can't believe he's my brother! He's horrible. How can Rilee stand him?!"
"Rilee is worse, man!" Bonnie whispers. "Know what I'VE heard? That she cheats on people. That she's a two timing slut!"
Isobel sighs. "Look, if you think bad-mouthing Rilee makes me feel better, you're wrong. I don't think Tobias is bad. I kind of regret doing that to him. And Rilee and Tobias are good together. Not because they are both assholes, though." She added, giving Bonnie a look.
Bonnie grinned. "Hey! It's what I heard!"
Aldrea yawned. "We should be getting back. The librarian will kick us out with a broom soon."
So they split up. Aldrea headed into the GCR, Bonnie to the Hufflepuff's common room and Isobel to the bathroom. Aldrea sank into a seat. Soon she closed her eyes and found herself slipping into sleep. When she woke up, the GCR is empty.
She massaged her head quietly. "Ugh, I hate this! I feel achy all over." She started to get up.
Then she saw him. He pushed her back down. "I don't think so, love."
She looked up at the dark figure. "What?" Her eyes grew wide. "NO!"
"What? Didn't you miss me?" He grinned and pulled her up from the chair. Then he leaned over and roughly began to kiss her. Aldrea flailed weakly at him but he grabbed her arms before she could do any real damage.
He pulled off her cloak and shirt and she tried to scream. She pulled her mouth away from his and screamed, "Help m-" That's as far she got before he placed his hand over her mouth.
"No, love. I can't have you doing that, can I?" He leaned forward to kiss her again.
But he got only halfway before she kneed him in the groin. He groaned and moved back.
She tried to run then, but he stood up straight and grabbed her from behind. He pushed her against the nearest wall, causing her head to spin from the impact. "No, precious. You won't be leaving me again!"
She struggled again, but it was soon apparent to her that he wasn't lying. She wasn't going to be escaping his iron grip any time soon. And her attempts to escape were tiring her out. And soon he would finish the plan he had begun before. He would rape her.
"What's going on here?" asked a deep voice from somewhere.
"Help me!" Aldrea tried to say, but her attacker's mouth was pressed hard on her lips.
"Hey!" the deep voice cried. Her attacker swirled around, glaring into the darkness.
"Who are you?" he asked.
Aldrea took his distraction to her advantage. She moved away from him, grabbing her cloak and covering herself with it.
"Hey!" the deep voice repeated. "What are you doing to her?"
"Nothing. Who are you?"
"Is that you, Lee?"
"Clint?"
"What are you doing to her, Lee?"
Lee finally noticed Aldrea was going off. "Aldrea..next time." He hissed in her direction.
Aldrea ran up the stairs, and got into bed and covered herself up in the blanket. But sleep didn't come to her, as she knew it wouldn't.
Tobias sighed and pulled the covers over his head. "Mommy." he moaned.
Rilee looked over at him from the top of the book she was reading. "Now I'm your mother, Toby?"
Tobias groaned and turned over. "Oh, just for a moment I thought you were...never mind." He sighed and hit his head on his pillow.
Rilee reached out and patted his head. "It'll be ok. You must be really sick or something. If you need anything just say so, okay hun?" She kissed his forehead.
Tobias didn't answer. He wasn't sleeping though. He was sure that it wasn't just some weird hallucination that he had seen some lady in his chair. And he wasn't sure what had made him call her his 'mommy'. He had never called anyone that in his life. The closest thing he had to a 'mommy' was his first grade teacher of which he had been convinced that by the end of the year she would take him away to be her real son.
But it never happened of coarse. She never really stayed in touch when he graduated to second grade. It had just been a small dream of his. He had never told anyone, not even Aldrea about that dream.
But what had this woman had that he had just KNOWN that she was his mother? 'This is stupid.' He thought to himself. 'This lady isn't even real. Why am I worrying myself over this?'
He heard the door open. "How's he doing?" asked a voice.
"He's sleeping." Rilee answered, talking low so as to not wake him.
Aldrea was silent a moment and Tobias could tell she knew that he wasn't asleep at all. "Hey, Rilee. You need a rest. He's not going to die any time soon. Go out and get something to eat or something."
Tobias heard Rilee stand and waited until her footsteps had faded. Then he started to sit up. But before he had gotten halfway up Aldrea had already pushed him down. "No!" she cried. "Don't sit up."
He clutched his stomach. "Ugh, NOW you tell me. What happened? One moment I'm out on a walk and next moment I'm here. What's wrong?" He watched Aldrea's face sag.
She hid her face in her hands. "Look, you were attacked. I was hoping you would tell me who had assailed you. I was thinking it was-"
"What? You thought it was a 'force'?" Tobias muttered sarcastically. "Look, Aldrea! The force isn't real! Why don't you just face it?! It's something you made up for some weird mutated reason. Probably it was some member of the Hate Tobias Fan Club."
Aldrea frowned uncomfortably. "Why don't you believe me, Tobias?" she asked him softly.
"Because it's impossible. You think it would exist and that Dumbledore wouldn't know about it? It's ridiculous, okay?"
"But Tobias. I thought you had more sense than that." A soft, deep voice uttered near the doorway of the hospital wing.
Aldrea didn't turn around. "I thought Madam Pomprey only lets in one visitor at a time.."
"She wasn't very hard to persuade, you know." Tobias looked at her in the eye. It was Isobel. Her soft, chocolate brown eyes [contacts] had a serious look in them. She walked into the room and the light from the ceiling showed her face clearly. She hadn't applied her make-up. Something was wrong.
"Hey, Isobel." Aldrea said as she smiled and stood. "I was just telling Tobias..uh, what I-"
"What you thought attacked him?" Isobel finished for her.
Aldrea nodded. "You heard?"
Isobel smiled dryly. "Yeah. I did."
"And you don't believe me either, right?"
"Who said I didn't?"
Aldrea looked at her in surprise. "You mean..you believe me?!"
Isobel sighed and nodded slowly. "More than that. I know what you say is true. I've seen it."
"What?" Aldrea cried in alarm. "Are you alright? Did it attack you, too?"
"Yeah," Tobias added, laughing. "ARE you alright? You're starting to sound as crazy as Aldrea!"
"Look, Tobias." Isobel answers in a soft, but firm voice. "I've got no time for this. You were attacked by something not of this place. Not of this world even. It came from Amplis. And it will be back."
Tobias stared at incredulously. "Stop playing her game, Isobel. It's not funny, you know. "
Isobel moved quickly to the side on his bed and knelt down. "Look Tobias. Look into my eyes. Do I see the type to lie just to make people feel better?" She took his hand in her's. "Trust me, Tobias. There IS something after you. Something very powerful. And it'll do anything to prevent its doom. And you two are it!"
Tobias pulled his hand away from her grip. "Stop it, Isobel."
She stood and for a moment just stared at him. "If you will deny your heritage, your powers, your very being, fine. But don't expect anything less than a well earned 'I told you so' when it attacks again."
Then she turned away from Tobias and faced Aldrea. Whoa, was this the same Isobel he had gone to school with?
"You believe me?" Aldrea repeated, quietly. She hadn't expected anyone to actually support her. She wasn't sure if she believed it herself. But this was the proof she had wanted- almost dreaded. That there was something after them. And it wouldn't rest until it destroyed them. "Why?" she whispered, the words hardly escaping her lips.
"Why? Because of the prophecy. The prophecy that states quite clearly that one Kertan will be defeated by a witch. And more than just a witch. They must have an ancestor that was shunned from Amplis and sent here. So I was sent to find such a witch. Because Amplis is in chaos. We will perish if help does not reach us soon."
"So you think it is one of us?" Tobias was stunned that Aldrea understood what Isobel had just said. All in once he thought on how Isobel probably wasn't who she pretended to be.
Isobel shook her head. "No. Your powers are too weak. No offense. They do not surpass mine, even though you have had no training. And you discovered your powers only the year you came to Hogwarts. Those are all clear signs that neither of you can be the one. But there are your children. They are the only things we have left to hope for!
"And that is the reason I had to reject Tobias." Isobel's voice was on the jagged edge of cracking but she took a deep breath and continued. "I could not risk falling in love with him. Because our savior can be only half Amplisian. It must have a parent from here as well. And since I am from Amplis there was- is- no way for us. He has a better chance with.." But she didn't finish her thought. They all remained silent a long time.
Tobias frowned. Could it be that this was more than just a hoax? Could Isobel really have been so strong? So..
No! There was no way that a single word from Isobel's mouth was true. There was one thing about Isobel he had learnt in his time with her. And that was that Isobel was a terrific actress and a greatly advanced spell castor. She could have easily tricked Aldrea. But he wasn't going to be fooled so simply. This was probably an act to get him back.
"So now I'm supposed to say that I'm sorry and you should hug me and everything will be okay. And that we can get through the prophecy and be together? So now I-" That was as far as he got.
Isobel turned and glared at him. He felt his face burn. But he wasn't embarrassed..why-
It wasn't until he felt his whole body get hot that he realized that it was spell that was being cast on him. And now it was starting to hurt. "Ow! Man, stop it!" But her eyes were cold, the exact opposite of how HE was feeling.
He could smell flesh burning. He barely saw his sister put a hand on Isobel's arm. "Stop it!" she was screaming along with him.
Then it stopped. His vision cleared. He looked down at himself. He looked like he had spent a day and a half in the sun. His whole body burned and ached.
Aldrea was next to his bed in an instant. "Tobias? Are you okay?"
Tobias nodded slightly and groaned and how it hurt to do even that. "Yeah-"
"You stupid idiot!" Aldrea interrupted as soon as she was sure he was okay. Well, as okay as he could be. "Didn't you hear her? She has powers beyond ours. She's been hiding them from everyone, but they're there. And there you go, messing with her." "It was a-"
"A joke?!" she cried angrily. "She could have killed you! Did you see her? I couldn't touch her, that's how hot she was. And there was this power, man. I felt it, she's strong. That's why they sent her here. And you there you go and mess with her!"
"You can shut up now!" Tobias answered telepathically. Aldrea glared at him.
"You hurt her, T. She said that she left you because she loved you too much. And you go and fuckin mock her. You stupid, stupid, dude."
"Look, I didn't believe her.." He starts in his head but Aldrea stands up before he can continue.
"No, don't make up excuses. You are heartless and cold. I'm surprised that Rilee can stand you!" And then she wakes off in a huff, leaving Tobias alone with his thoughts.
As soon as he was out of the hospital wing he was pelted with questions.
"What attacked you?"
"I heard it was a student!"
"I heard it was a monster!"
"I heard it was Hagrid's dog!"
"I heard it was Hagrid!"
"I heard it was Draco!"
"I heard it was your ex!"
"Are you ok?"
"Are you dying?"
"Are you really Tobias or are you possessed?"
Some of the questions were so ridiculous he didn't even look at the speaker. Aldrea was pissed at him, as was Bonnie. Isobel was just cold. She didn't give him a single look. Tobias had been all right with it when it first began. And then they had to do a project together. She didn't even look at him. Midway through the class the teacher came over and asked them why they had hardly any work done.
Isobel shrugged. "I don't know. I guess it's hard."
Tobias glares at her. "Well, she won't work together with me."
"Is this true?" The teacher responds, shooting Isobel a look dripping with distain.
"Yes, it is." Isobel answers firmly. "I refuse to work with an idiot like him! I simply refuse to!"
"Then you shall do this after classes, while everyone else is enjoying their time." If the teacher thought this would scare Isobel, he was wrong.
"I'm fine with that. What time?"
The teacher looked surprised. "You would rather do this alone on your own time, then do this now with Tobias?"
"Yes. I refuse to work with him." She repeats.
That whole day, Tobias got even more annoyed as he thought about it. He had ended up working by himself and getting a zero in the teacher's book.
Rilee agreed. "That bitch!" She cried when he told her about what happened. "She's probably just trying to get revenge for when you dumped her."
Tobias didn't add that SHE had broken up with HIM. But it felt good to have Rilee cursing her off.
Tobias had been sitting on the couch, trying to do SOME of this homework to make up for the zero he had gotten. But then Rilee sat next to him and leaned over to kiss him. Answer me this, what normal guy can concentrate on homework when his girlfriend is making out with him? What normal guys WANTS to?
So that's the reason Tobias didn't get much done THAT day.
Aldrea was in the library at that same time, helping Bonnie cheer Isobel up.
"C'mon, Izzy!" Bonnie cries. "He's an asshole for treating you like that! You deserve a lot more than that, you know! He's not worthy enough for a gal like you!"
Aldrea nodded enthusiastically. "I agree. I can't believe he's my brother! He's horrible. How can Rilee stand him?!"
"Rilee is worse, man!" Bonnie whispers. "Know what I'VE heard? That she cheats on people. That she's a two timing slut!"
Isobel sighs. "Look, if you think bad-mouthing Rilee makes me feel better, you're wrong. I don't think Tobias is bad. I kind of regret doing that to him. And Rilee and Tobias are good together. Not because they are both assholes, though." She added, giving Bonnie a look.
Bonnie grinned. "Hey! It's what I heard!"
Aldrea yawned. "We should be getting back. The librarian will kick us out with a broom soon."
So they split up. Aldrea headed into the GCR, Bonnie to the Hufflepuff's common room and Isobel to the bathroom. Aldrea sank into a seat. Soon she closed her eyes and found herself slipping into sleep. When she woke up, the GCR is empty.
She massaged her head quietly. "Ugh, I hate this! I feel achy all over." She started to get up.
Then she saw him. He pushed her back down. "I don't think so, love."
She looked up at the dark figure. "What?" Her eyes grew wide. "NO!"
"What? Didn't you miss me?" He grinned and pulled her up from the chair. Then he leaned over and roughly began to kiss her. Aldrea flailed weakly at him but he grabbed her arms before she could do any real damage.
He pulled off her cloak and shirt and she tried to scream. She pulled her mouth away from his and screamed, "Help m-" That's as far she got before he placed his hand over her mouth.
"No, love. I can't have you doing that, can I?" He leaned forward to kiss her again.
But he got only halfway before she kneed him in the groin. He groaned and moved back.
She tried to run then, but he stood up straight and grabbed her from behind. He pushed her against the nearest wall, causing her head to spin from the impact. "No, precious. You won't be leaving me again!"
She struggled again, but it was soon apparent to her that he wasn't lying. She wasn't going to be escaping his iron grip any time soon. And her attempts to escape were tiring her out. And soon he would finish the plan he had begun before. He would rape her.
"What's going on here?" asked a deep voice from somewhere.
"Help me!" Aldrea tried to say, but her attacker's mouth was pressed hard on her lips.
"Hey!" the deep voice cried. Her attacker swirled around, glaring into the darkness.
"Who are you?" he asked.
Aldrea took his distraction to her advantage. She moved away from him, grabbing her cloak and covering herself with it.
"Hey!" the deep voice repeated. "What are you doing to her?"
"Nothing. Who are you?"
"Is that you, Lee?"
"Clint?"
"What are you doing to her, Lee?"
Lee finally noticed Aldrea was going off. "Aldrea..next time." He hissed in her direction.
Aldrea ran up the stairs, and got into bed and covered herself up in the blanket. But sleep didn't come to her, as she knew it wouldn't.
