Chapter 22: Irritations and Revelations

*****

            The next couple weeks gave them all time to consider the offer from Moody and the answers they'd each given.  Though it seemed like something so momentous should be obvious to the world, life continued on as it had been.  The only exception was Alinora's headaches, which had begun the night of their talk with Moody; and they were getting worse.

            The gang was almost done for the week.  They had two more classes to go; unfortunately, the first of those was potions.  Everyone's favorite.  George had been watching Alinora closely over the past couple weeks.  Her headaches were worrying him, but every time he asked her about them she brushed aside his worry with a nonchalant, "It's just a headache- probably just stress from all the homework."  Not that he believed her excuses and he really didn't think she did either.  There was a look in her eyes that said she wasn't quite as confident as she was trying to sound.

*****

            Potions class was in full swing.  Snape had given them the description of a new potion, but very little info beyond what needed to be added and the necessary steps to take to get it to brew correctly.  He'd told them that his time of babying them through Potions class was over and that they would now have to put their 'meager learnings' to good use if they expected to have the potion be viable at the end of class.  As they hadn't even been told the name of what they were concocting, most weren't looking forward to end of class.

            Alinora and her partner Jason had begun their potion with the rest of their classmates.  They had been quietly laughing over some of the suggestions Jason had been making as to just what the potion could be used for.  Despite their laughter, they were keeping a close eye on their potion and what they needed to be doing in order to finish it correctly.

George was finally beginning to breathe easier and think they might actually make it through Potions without any problems when he heard Ali gasp, followed by the sound of breaking glass.  Looking up from where he and Fred were working in the back of the room, he could see a broken vial of something on the surface in front of Ali.  She was hunched over, once again clutching the side of her head.  He could hear Jason asking her what was wrong, but her only answer was to shake her head.

            Alinora was unfortunately getting quite use to the pain, which felt like there was some creature inside her head trying to claw its way out.  Slowly straightening up, still clutching at her head, she stepped away from the desk.  Looking up she could see Professor Snape standing near by, watching the proceedings curiously.

            "I think… I need to go… see Madam Pomfrey, Professor.  If you… will excuse me."  Ali turned to begin gathering her books, gritting her teeth at the pain and ignoring the looks on the faces of her classmates.

            "You have not finished your potion yet, Miss Roane.  As this is infinitely vital to your passing this class, I suggest you consider whether that is such a good idea."  He ignored the gasps of the other students, staring intently at Alinora who was still turned away packing her bag.

            Ali froze.  Then, standing up, she spun around to face Snape.  Her face was cold and still as she slowly stalked forward, towards him.  Her eyes were angry though, still holding a shadow of pain, as she stopped in front of Snape, hands on her hips.

            "You want me to finish the potion, do you Professor?" she spat at him, "Fine, here it is for you, spelled out so that anyone with two brain cells can understand.  What we're making today is a truth potion, only slightly less potent than Veritaserum, but not as tightly regulated.  It is incredibly tricky to get right though, which means not many bother trying to brew it themselves.  The directions you gave us were accurate only up to a point.  You forgot to list that at the point where you add the crushed Boracata beetle you should stir the potion only two times, until it turns bright green- further stirring will ruin the potion.  At that point you add the remaining ingredients slowly, stirring each time only until the color changes.  The end potion should be lavender in color and smell faintly of oranges.  The potion works on the person taking it for thirty minutes during which time they will answer any question put to them as truthfully as they can.  The only known limitations are that you can acquire an immunity to the potion if you are exposed to it often enough."

            By this time, Ali was directly in front of Snape; glaring up at him angrily.  "You've been pushing at me all year- trying to get me to react, to respond to your veiled insults." she hissed at him, not loud enough for anyone other than him to hear her.  Seeing his slight look of surprise, she continued, "I would think that you, if anyone, would understand that there are times when it is best for the full truth not to be known.  The more you push, the more you question when things are better kept quiet, the more likely you are to mess up what you don't fully understand.  Did we really have to do this today?"

            Taking a step back, Alinora continued in a louder voice.  "Are you satisfied now Professor that I am already competent when it comes to this particular lesson?  If so, then I will continue to the Hospital Wing."  Cocking her head, she considered him briefly before turning on her heel and returning to her desk.  Reaching it, she leaned over to continue packing up her bag when a second, and completely unexpected, wave of pain hit her.  Huddled over once again, kneeling on the floor, Ali wasn't aware of anyone else until she felt a gentle touch on her forehead.  Following that came a buffer from the pain- not ridding her of it completely, but putting it at enough of a distance that she could move again.

            Glancing up, Ali saw Katie kneeling beside her, looking very concerned.  "That should help for a little while, but I can only provide a very minor pain block.  You need to go see Madam Pomfrey right now.  I'll bring your stuff to you later.  Go."

            Alinora managed a weak smile.  "Yes, Mother." she teased softly before starting to stand.  Jason was quick to give her a hand up.  Ignoring Snape and the rest of the class, she headed for the door.  Fred and George were sitting in the desk closest to it, looking very worried, and as she passed, George held out a hand to her.  Ali didn't stop, but reached out to lightly grip his hand and smile at him as she passed.  Then, she was gone.

*****

            Alinora spent the rest of the afternoon and evening sleeping.  Neither Madam Pomfrey nor Dumbledore, who was consulted as well, could figure out what was causing all the headaches she'd been getting.  At last, Madam Pomfrey gave up and gave her a Dreamless Sleep potion and told her to go sleep it off- that it was all probably stress related.  Neither Alinora nor Dumbledore really agreed that this was the reason behind the headaches, but as neither had a better solution they went along with it.

            Waking up the next day, Ali swore to herself that she was never taking that particular potion again.  While she had slept well, it left her feeling sluggish and slightly disorientated; for some reason this didn't feel like a good day to be either.  She had missed breakfast completely and everyone had already returned and assembled in the common room by the time she was able to join them.

            "Ali, how are you feeling today?"  Alinora had a feeling that George had been lying in wait for her…

            "I'm feeling fine; a little groggy from the potion Madam Pomfrey gave me, but that's it."

            "Was she able to tell you what's been causing all of these headaches?  You've been getting them more frequently recently, and I've never seen you get one like yesterday's."  George looked concerned.

            "Madam Pomfrey thinks it's all stress related and Dumbledore, while not agreeing with her, doesn't have a better idea."

            "It could be stress you know.  Just look at all you're doing!  On top of all the 7th year class work, you're working with us, working with Flitwick; you had been doing some other research earlier this year…  It's enough to give anyone headaches- it's just amazing you haven't had them before now.  You need to take a break!" he finished, reaching out to grip her arms, staring down at her intensely.

            "I can't George; not right now.  Maybe in a little while, but not right now…"  Ali's voice trailed off as she looked past him, brow furled in concentration, as if trying to see something not quite in focus.

            "But, why can't you?  What is so important that you're putting yourself through all this pain?!?"

            "I don't know."  She said it so softly that George almost didn't hear her.  The confusion and irritation that statement caused showed plainly on her face as she glanced back at him.  "I don't know why I know I can't afford to stop yet.  I just do.  It's a feeling- a very strong feeling- that all of this is going to be very important, very soon.  If I stop, I might not be ready in time!"

            "In time for what?  What aren't you telling me?" he asked suspiciously.  "I know there are things you've held back- things you haven't told any of us.  I don't know why you've done it- and I haven't pressed you about it- but maybe you should reconsider.  Something's hurting you and that can't be good.  Is it worth it for these secrets?  Are they that important?"

            Looking up into his concerned and worried face, Alinora wanted at that moment to explain everything, or at least everything that she knew.  But before she could even open her mouth to speak she could feel it; feel that it wasn't yet time and that to offer explanations, even to someone she trusted as much as she trusted George, could be a very bad thing.  Of course, as always, she had no idea why that might be the case as her own personal form of divination didn't work that way.  No visions, no clear cut answers, just those nebulous 'feelings' about what was going to happen.  But, as they had been proving all too accurate, she had to listen to what they were saying.

            "I think it's worth it.  Only time will tell though.  But believe me George, when this all clears up I'll be very happy to explain everything that's been going on to you.  In fact, I'll probably have a lot of explaining in general to do…" she said in a pensive voice, biting lightly at her lower lip and once again glancing away.

            "I'm sorry George, I just can't tell you any more right now.  You're the last person on earth that I want to hurt, or have upset with me, but just give me a little bit longer.  Please?  It won't be much longer now."  With that, Alinora stepped back, causing George to drop his grip on her.

            "Ali…"

            Reaching up, she placed her hand over his mouth to stop him from talking.  "Don't.  I love you dearly George, but don't ask me about this again.  I can't.  I…"  Shaking her head, she stopped again.  She smiled slightly, ran her hand down over his check then quickly turned and walked out of the common room, leaving George to stand there in silence pondering everything she'd said.

*****

            Taking advantage of what was becoming one of the most well known secrets in Gryffindor house; Alinora found her way down to the kitchens and got food from the House Elves so she wouldn't have to join the others for lunch.  She then hid out in the library until everyone would've gone down to eat before returning to the tower.

            Kicking off her shoes, Alinora settled down on the window seat over looking the grounds and the lake.  Pulling her knees up to her chin, she wrapped her arms around her legs, rested her chin on her knees and stared out the window.  She wasn't staring at anything in particular, nor was she really noticing anything outside, but it was something to do while contemplating the feeling of something not quite being right.

*****

            When everyone started trickling back in after lunch, they found Ali still staring off into space.  Katie attempted to go say 'hi', but found that Ali'd put up some sort of barrier to keep that from happening.  Katie figured at this point she could probably take it down- it didn't feel all that strong- but decided not to disturb her when she obviously needed some time alone.

            Various groups of students settled into seats around the room, talking, working on homework or playing games.  Behind the noise they made, there was the sound of humming coming from Alinora.  She had a habit of doing that when she was concentrating hard on something, like homework, and they were all fairly use to it.  That's why it came as a surprise when it suddenly cut off.

            George and the gang looked over at Ali to see what had happened.  She was staring out the window as she had been since they'd returned, but now she actually seemed to be looking at something.  Her eyes had gone wide and, as they watched, she slowly stood up on the window seat, still staring at something outside.  And then she screamed, clutching at her head, and falling to her knees on the seat.

            Her scream was piercing- traveling throughout the common room and up the stairs, causing everyone in the tower to cringe and cover their ears in a vain attempt to block out the sound.  Just as suddenly as it started, she stopped screaming.  George shook his head, trying to clear it after the barrage of noise it had just suffered from.  He looked up in time to see Ali jump off the window seat and take off running for the door to the hallway.  She had a slight trickle of blood running down either side of her face where her finger nails had punctured her skin.  As she passed him, he heard her mumble something about the lake- having not considered that it could be the lake.  Then, she was gone and out the door.

            Everyone in the common room, and the students congregating on the stairs who'd heard the scream, looked at each other in confusion.  Then, George was up and running after Ali.  The rest were quick to follow.

*****

            It had all just clicked in Ali's mind.  All the headaches she'd been getting, the feeling of things being off in some way… it all suddenly made horrible sense.  Knowing she had to get to the lake as quickly as she could, Alinora raced down the stairs, which, as if sensing the urgency, were luckily all in the correct position for to continue her headlong race down them.  She could hear racing steps behind her, but ignored them.  As she reached the bottom and entered the entrance hall, she saw Dumbledore and the rest of the Professors heading towards her from another hallway.  She slowed to a halt at a signal from Dumbledore and tried to catch her breath.

            As the Professors reached her, Alinora told Dumbledore in a low voice, "It's the lake.  The whole time, all those headaches…  They've been testing the wards that run through the lake.  I don't know why I didn't see it sooner!"  Grinding her teeth in frustration, she stared up at him.

            Dumbledore looked faintly startled, and then nodded as if everything now made sense to him as well.  "Something has begun attacking the outer wards of the school, near the main entrance.  We are already mobilizing the school's defenses, but I can't do anything about the lake's wards yet."  The look in his eyes was kind, and slightly concerned, as he looked down at the petite woman standing in front of him.  "You've known something like this was coming.  Everything you've done since coming here has been in preparation for this, and you've prepared as much as anyone possibly could without knowing what to prepare for.  You're the only one here qualified to handle those defenses- the lake has always been our weak spot for that very reason.  I have no idea how long it'll take to handle the forces at our gates, but I have to do that before I can strengthen the rest of the wards.  You'll have to hold them on your own until then."

            Ali took a deep breath and nodded.  Glancing quickly towards the steps and all those she now counted as friends and family- those she loved- she turned back to Dumbledore.  "I'll do it.  Just don't go taking your time up here!" she said, attempting to smile.  Taking one last quick glance back at the worried look on George's face, Alinora turned towards the outer doors and was off running again.  She could hear Dumbledore calling out orders to the students and teachers and thought she heard someone call out to her, but she couldn't stop again.

            Running as quickly as she could across the grass, Alinora didn't head towards her normal spot on the lake's edge.  This time she headed for the cliff side, a high overhang that lead to one of the deeper areas of the lake.  Now, she knew she heard the sound of running feet behind her.  As she approached the edge above the water, Ali picked up the pace a little and launched herself out into a dive.

            George and Katie, who'd been following, slowed in startled surprise to see her dive off the edge of the cliff, and then raced forward again to look over for a glimpse of Alinora.

            They stared down in silence, Katie grabbing hold of George's arm as they waited for her to surface.  Finally, after what seemed an eternity, Ali broke the surface of the water.  She spared them a quick glance, and waved briefly, before diving back under the surface.  As her body flipped to follow the dive, George and Katie looked at each other in shock.

            "Was that…  I can't have seen what I thought I just saw?  Could I?!?" Katie babbled.

            "Well… if you saw something that looked Alinora with a tail like a… like a mermaid, then I think we both just saw the same thing.  So, unless we're both spontaneously hallucinating- and I know I haven't eaten anything Fred's given me in ages- that must have been what we saw.  And if you could explain to me how that's possible, I'd really appreciate it.  That's one bloody enormous secret to be keeping…" George finished softly to himself.  He stared down into the water, watching the ripples from her passing fade away.  Then shaking his head, he turned to Katie.  "We have to get back; Dumbledore was saying something about people attacking the school.  I have a feeling this is one of those things Ali was trying to prepare for, by training us.  I think we need to go help."

            Katie looked rebellious for a moment- George could understand as he wanted nothing more to stay and look for Ali too, but the sooner they got rid of the invaders here, the sooner Dumbledore could help Ali.  Finally, Katie sighed.  "You're right, though it pains me to say it and I'll deny it if asked about it in the future.  Let's go."

            They turned to return to the school.  As they got closer, they could hear the sounds of yelling and screaming.  At that they both started running, pulling out their wands as they prepared to join the defense.