**Wah ha ha. I'm updating quickly, yes?
Chapter 12 - Enhanced Visions
After classes, Ada had scheduled to have Quidditch practise. The team met on the field along with Oliver. Quidditch was usually the only thing that could get Ada's mind off of everything but today, her mind was preoccupied with her newfound information from Oliver. She was excellent at Quidditch so she didn't have to concentrate very hard. As long as she manned her goals, her mind could wander as much as she'd allow it. Afterward, Ada went over some plays with the team and scheduled their next practise to be on Wednesday. Fred and George grunted but it had become a joke between the three.
"Do you have an excuse?" Ada huffed.
Fred and George looked at each other and back at Ada. "We've got detention with Snape," they blurted in unison.
"Detention takes place after dinner. I certainly should know. Anyone else?" Ada looked around the room, seeing everyone shaking their head. "Good. Wednesday then, after classes. Harry, I'll ask Oliver for a few more golf balls since Fred gave the last ones wings, causing them to fly away."
Fred and George chuckled.
"Alright then. I'll have a go with the Snitch, too," Harry answered.
"Good. One more month and Quidditch season is here! Expect each practise to be harder and longer than the last. Meeting's dismissed. Katie, excellent job today. You too, Angelina. Alicia, work on that move I told you about. Great job, Harry. Brilliant. Fred...George...good beating," Ada said, as each person departed. She winked at Fred and George after saying her comment, laughing lightly. They caught the innuendo as well.
"That's Emily's job," Fred whispered to George. George laughed and Ada, overhearing his joke, rolled her eyes and smiled.
On the way back to the castle, Ada walked with Oliver.
"Good practise," he said.
"Thanks."
"So, what were you thinking about out there? Your mind was somewhere else"
"How did you--"
"When you're flying and your thoughts wander, you fly more carefully. You're not as spontaneous or daring." He smiled.
"Oh, so I take it you study me quite a bit?"
"Well, I'd like to study you more, but you could say that."
Ada smiled and kissed him. They were interrupted though.
"A teacher and a student? Is that allowed?" called the voice. Ada recognised it immediately. She pulled away from Oliver.
"What do you want, Draco?" she spat.
"Oh, I was just going for a walk."
Oliver glared slightly. "Dinner is starting soon. You don't want to be late, Mr. Malfoy. Be on your way now."
Malfoy returned Oliver's glare. "You may be a teacher now, Wood, but I could still ruin you."
"Threatening a teacher, are you?" Ada growled at once.
"Twenty points from Slytherin for your lack of respect. Threaten me again and you'll find yourself with a detention in Dumbledore's office," Oliver warned.
Malfoy shot him a cruel stare and shifted his eyes to Ada. She could've sworn she saw a flicker of jealousy in his eyes. "I'll see you later," he said. With that, he was gone.
Ada's ankle felt hot. She remembered the anklet. The vision of the woman flashed passed again. Suddenly, she felt her legs give out from under her. Everything spun and as she blacked out, she felt Oliver's arms holding her tightly.
***
Ada looked around. It was her room. Although it looked much different. None of her belongings were there. The walls and carpets were black. Above her, hung a large and majestic chandelier with softly lit candles. Its silver finish shone to perfection. In the furthest corner, stood a small black table that looked oddly familiar. Its carved details consisted of lions and snakes. It seemed to portray some sort of story. Ada turned and saw two cribs. One was made of lavish green, almost black, velvet. The other was just as dark except it was scarlet. Above each crib was an elaborate mobile. Each one was playing soothing music. Ada neared the cribs to examine the mobiles more closely. Above the scarlet crib, hung lion cubs that had been charmed to dance and growl in time with the music. It was light music that reminded Ada of a music box she once owned as a child. Above the green crib, snakes slithered and hissed. The music was similar to the other mobile's tune except more hyptnotising. Ada felt the soft velvet under her hands as she peeked into the crib. Under silver-coloured satin blankets, slept a baby boy. Ada guessed he wasn't more than a year old. She moved over to the scarlet crib again and looked inside. It held a baby girl with blond hair. Ada noticed the girl had kicked off the gold-coloured satin sheets. Ada also noted that the child was awake. She was watching the dancing lion cubs with wide, sparkling blue-green eyes. Ada waved at the child but it was as if Ada didn't exist to her.
"Hmm. She doesn't look as young as the boy," Ada whispered to herself.
Something chimed loudly that made Ada jump. She twirled around, startled, to see a large grandfather clock she had not noticed before. It was a dark cherry wood, finished to a bright shine. The numbers were lions with Roman numerals on them. The hands were fashioned after cobras. It was midnight.
Suddenly, a woman stormed in the slammed the door behind her. She quickly locked it with a spell.
"Excuse me," Ada spoke up. The woman paid no attention. "Hello?" Still, the woman said nothing. "Excuse me!" Ada yelled. Again, nothing.
The woman went about her business briskly. She was average height and weight. She wore a long, thick black cloak. Ada eyed her curiously as she threw her hood back to reveal bright blond hair that shined like silk. Ada gasped. It was the woman from her vision. It was her mother. Ada now watched her more intently. She was holding something. It was a large book. She was just about to place it on the small table in the corner when someone called for her.
"Ginger!" the deep voice bellowed again.
A great wave of fear overcame Ada but she didn't know why. She watched her mother once again. Ginger extinguished the candles in the chandelier very quickly.
"Lumos," she muttered to her wand.
The pale white wand lit up in the darkness like a firefly. In the dim light against Ginger's face, Ada could see silent tears streaming down her cheeks. Ginger's green eyes got brighter as tears filled them. She put the books on the table and rushed to the scarlet crib. As she reached out for the child, a man exploded through the locked door and grabbed her backwards. Ada's fear grew as the girl in the crib cried for her mother. The man struggled to pry Ginger out of the room but finally succeeded. Ada heard them tumbling down the stairs. She heard the man cursing and throwing things. The boy in his crib stirred but did not wake. Ada was wondering how he could sleep through such noise. She looked back at the girl in her crib. She was crying madly and screaming for her mother. Ada stopped. She stared at the girl. She realised now who it was. The girl was her.
Ada felt a tight grip on her arms. Someone was gently shaking her.
"Ada. Ada, wake up. Are you okay? Ada," the voice said.
Ada's eyelids fluttered wildly as she awoke. Her vision cleared to reveal Oliver's face above hers. Ada saw he was worried. She jerked up and flung her arms around him. He held her.
"Oh, Oliver, it was horrible. I was so scared but I didn't know why! It was my house! Mum...she--"
"Shh," he interjected, "There will be plenty of time to tell me later. It was only a dream."
He caressed her hair and laid back down. Ada looked around at her surroundings. She was in the Hospital Wing. Emily, Fred, and George stared at her with nervous faces. Oliver followed Ada's gaze and motioned for the three of them to come over.
"You fainted after practise yesterday. We've all been mad worried about you," Emily said, quickly.
"Wait...yesterday? I've been out since yesterday?" Ada thought about her dream. It didn't seem that long.
"Maybe we shouldn't practise so long, aye?" Fred asked, hopefully.
Ada chuckled. "The practise was great. I didn't pass out because of it."
"What then? If it wasn't practise..." George said as he ate an Every Flavour Bean. His nose wrinkled in disgust but he continued to chew.
"I don't have a clue," Ada answered. She wondered if she should tell them about her dream,. She'd have to explain everything to Oliver eventually. Even the things about Malfoy. I'll tell him soon enough. I have to. Ada looked at her friends. Fred and George were distributing their beans, Emily kept a steady eye on Ada, and Oliver was staring at her as if he was attempting to solve a riddle that resided behind Ada's eyes.
Emily stepped forward. "Lunch is starting. Do you want me to bring you anything before my next class?"
"No. No, I'll be fine. Thank you, Emily. I'll see you later." Ada smiled and slightly waved. Emily smiled back and nodded, pulling Fred along with her who pulled George along with him.
"Bye, Ada! Feel better!" they called.
Ada waved after them and turned her focus back to Oliver. He was still looking at her with the highest of interest. Ada opened her mouth to speak but Oliver beat her to it.
"Tell me," he said.
Ada waited for him to say anything else but he didn't. He only awaited her words. Ada took a deep breath.
"It started when I was walking to the library to talk to Emily about you. I overheard you and McGonogall talking about something and I gathered from your reaction that it was about me. Then, Snape gave me some book that is completely blank unless I'm alone. Then, Draco found out how to communicate with me through my dreams and he stole my notebook--the one I'm always writing in--Emily found it, read it, and she had something solved I think but when I said the notebook never leaves the commons, her research was wasted. I decided to find out how to communicate through dreams as well so I'd have power over my actions when I spoke with Draco. He kept asking me if I remembered anything before the age of five. I don't by the way. Emily discovered I've been memory wiped three times and Draco gave me an owl charm that he says was mine. He says we knew each other when we were kids but something tore us apart...my ankle--where I wear the owl charm-- felt hot right before I fainted. I saw my mother again and I blacked out only to have a dream with me as a baby and my father fighting with someone."
Ada took a breath after her spiel. She watched Oliver carefully. He face contorted in interest and confusion while his eyes held a small glint of pain.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier. I didn't want to risk another argument and I didn't want to bring it up after seeing your reaction to McGonogall," Ada added, apologetically.
"I--I understand. When you say you wanted control over your actions...why?"
"So he--Draco--would have the control. He acts quite friendly in those dreams so I don't want him having the control." Ada held up her hand to halt Oliver from saying anything. "Don't you worry. I haven't let him do anything. And I won't."
He nodded. "I trust you," he whispered, "Now where's this anklet thing?"
Ada threw back the covers and shivered slightly. She hadn't realised how cold it was in the Hospital Wing. She pointed to her ankle and revealed the owl charm. She looked at Oliver. His face was solemn.
"I've seen that before," he finally said, "It was a long time ago. The day after you arrived at your house." He thought back to everything he had told Ada earlier. "It was in the front lawn. As I bent down to pick it up, I got an awful feeling about it. I left it there and three days later, I came down with something. It turned out to be nothing but I remember that."
"Look. I think that I've lived in my house my whole life but something happened that someone didn't like."
"But the first time I saw you was that morning after that night."
"I know but I have reason to believe that I've lived there all my life."
Ada told Oliver about the dream she had while she was unconscious.
"Well, it sounds as if you're remembering your emotions when that happened. That's why you were fearful. You may not remember the situation, but traces of it are in your brain somewhere. The conversation you overheard between McGonogall and me was all I know. I was looking for Dumbledore and I walked in to hear the end of Trelawny's prediction. It still echoes in my head. 'Great suffering will come to Gryffindor's heir and Slytherin's forced mate if they do not succeed in the banishment of the bonding.' They didn't notice me walk in and so they started talking about you and Harry. I interrupted them and they told me I couldn't tell you anything."
"But why were they all together? Were they expecting the prediction?"
"Staff meeting. I was late."
"Oh. So they didn't know she was going to have a prediction?"
"For the most part, I guess not. Dumbledore might have since he called the meeting."
Ada stared at the doorway of the Hospital Wing. She half-expected someone to be there.
"Are you okay?" Oliver asked, pulling Ada out of her trance, "You look so pale. Can I get you something to eat maybe?"
Ada stared at the doorway again. "Sure. I guess I'm a little hungry. Thanks, Oliver." She looked back at him and smiled.
"Okay, I'll be back."
Oliver stood as he held Ada's hand. Ada gently tugged him down and kissed him. He cupped her cheek and forced a smile. As he left, Ada felt as if someone was standing next to her bedside. She turned only to see no one there. A few minutes passed. Ada sat up, attentive.
"We should make an agreement that states you can't tell anyone about us."
Ada whipped her head around and saw Malfoy. She scowled.
"First of all, there is no 'us.' Second, how did you get in here without me seeing you? Third, if I can't tell anyone...neither can you. At least I'm truthful when I explain. You elaborate to no end."
Malfoy held up an invisibility cloak. "It was my birthday present from my mother. And I don't elaborate. I simply tell it how it should be." He smirked as he glanced at the doorway. "I was standing there the whole time. You knew it."
"I felt someone's presence, yes."
"You'll find out why you can do that, too." Malfoy leaned in after he spoke. His face was serious and slightly angry. "Get rid of the book. You have to get rid of it."
Ada suspiciously raised an eyebrow. "Why?" she asked.
Malfoy backed away and swept up his invisibility cloak from the bed.
"I'll take care of Potter," he added, irately.
Ada grabbed his arm. "What does that mean?" she yelled.
"I'll deal with Potter. Just get rid of that book!" he yelled back, emphatically.
"You won't touch Harry! I'm not tossing the book and you will not harm Harry!" Ada immediately wondered why she was so protective towards Harry. Remembering Malfoy, she pushed away the thought.
Malfoy pulled his arm away. Ada reached for him again but he grabbed her wrist and clenched tightly. Ada glared at him in disgust and stood.
"Do as I say, Alucinor!"
Ada's right arm was free, she realised. She smiled coolly.
"If you yell at me one more time..." Ada teased.
"Or what? You'll punch me again?" He grabbed her other wrist.
Ada only smiled.
"What? What are you smiling at?"
Ada brought her knee upward with all the force she could inflict. Malfoy's face turned red as he struggled to breathe through the pain. He dropped her wrists and fell to the floor. Ada took his invisibility cloak from the floor.
"Shit! You fucking whore!" Malfoy choked as he rolled around.
"Stand up, pansy."
He stayed on the floor.
"Stand up!" Ada pulled on his robe. He struggled to stand.
"You won't harm Harry," Ada repeated. "I don't know why you want to so badly. Other than the obvious jealousy factor, of course."
"I'm not jealous of that...that...I'm not jealous of Potter. Anyway, he's Gryffindor's heir! It's my job to take care of him so the bonding won't be broken. Give me my cloak."
"No. I'm keeping it until you're better behaved. That's great that Harry's the heir but what's this business about bonding?"
"It doesn't matter yet. Give me my cloak. Someone's coming."
"Well, apparently, it matters a great deal to you. Go ahead. You can leave without your cloak. I told you I'm keeping it until you show some better behaviour. Go on."
Malfoy scowled and turned.
"Oh, and er...you should find Madame Pompfrey and put some ice on that or something," Ada laughed softly.
Malfoy stopped and twitched his head. He then continued to limp out of the room. Ada sat down and examined the invisibility cloak. It wasn't midnight blue like Harry's. It had the same silver shimmer though. It was dark green in the creases where the light didn't hit it. This could come in handy, Ada thought. She shoved it under her pillow as approaching footsteps became louder.
"I figured chicken and mashed potatoes was a safe choice," Oliver said as he walked in, carrying a tray.
Ada smiled, "My favourite. Thank you."
"I saw Malfoy walking. What'd he want?" Oliver asked as he set Ada's tray on her nightstand.
"He wants me to throw the book away. He says he'll 'take care' of Harry."
"What's that supposed to mean? Is he plotting his death or something?"
"Somewhat I guess. Maybe we should tell Dumbledore just in case."
"Hmm...he probably already knows. I'll bring it to his attention today. Why does he want you to get rid of the book?"
"No idea. It's only another piece of the puzzle I suppose."
"Eh...I've always hated puzzles."
Ada laughed. They continued on with their conversation. By the time they had finished eating, the topic of conversation was Quidditch tryouts.
"So, what's it look like this year?" Ada asked.
"Well, this year is the year of the transfer student apparently. As far as I know, there's two girls who look promising. They haven't been sorted yet. They'll be here...oh...a week or so. Gryffindor will finally get some reserves. Well, there was always you but you could only play keeper and seeker. At least, that's what you're best at."
"We've never really needed them before. I was useless unless we were practising. So, that's good. Practises'll be more efficient."
"It's going to be slightly difficult to referee without being biased."
"Well, when Slytherin fouls, you'll call it. Unlike Hooch. You got fouled so many times and she didn't blow the whistle on them once! I think she had something for Snape."
"That's disgusting. I doubt there's even a sexual being in Snape. It's best not to think about it. But I wasn't ever that sore about her never calling their fouls."
"Yeah, well," Ada smiled.
Madame Pompfrey stormed in. "Out, Mr. Wood! She needs her rest," she scolded.
"I'm her teacher. Why can't I be in here?"
"Because this is the Hospital Wing and she needs her rest. Shoo!"
"Well, class is starting in a few moments. I guess I'll be one my way, then. I'll drop by again before dinner. Bye."
Both Ada and Oliver leaned in to kiss but remembered Madame Pompfrey's presence. They quickly recovered with a hug instead.
"By then," Ada spoke softly as they pulled away.
Madame Pompfrey raised an eyebrow before she began to tap her foot, impatiently.
"Good day, Madame Pompfrey. I'll see you at the next staff meeting," Oliver said as he walked backwards out of the room.
Madame Pompfrey nodded. "Now. Ms. Alucinor. Take two spoonfuls of this tonic."
Ada looked at the large bottle she was holding. It was a clear, bulbous container with bright royal violet liquid. Ada wrinkled her nose in uncertainty.
"Come now. It's only tonic."
"Yeah. I know it." Ada hesitantly took the spoon that Madame Pompfrey had thrust at her, and waited for her to pour the medicine. Ada was disgusted as she watched the strange liquid bubble thickly onto the spoon.
"Two spoonfuls ever hour. I'll leave this here for you," Madame Pompfrey instructed as she set the bottle on Ada's nightstand. As Madame Pompfrey exited, Ada stared at the spoonful of medicine. She predicted a rough night ahead and reluctantly swallowed the tonic. After the second spoonful, she quickly fell into a deep and relaxed sleep.
**Yes, I beat up Malfoy quite a bit. The sexy git deserves it. *smile*
