Nimue gripped the edges on the sink, her knuckles turning white from the how tightly she clung to it. There was a deep throbbing in her head; she knew it meant that another vision was coming

Nimue fought back tears as the pain increased. She had promised Dierna that she would tell their parents about the visions, but she kept putting it off. She wondered what would happen if the visions kept coming. Would she eventually go crazy from the intense pain and the nervous nightmares they brought about?

She gritted her teeth as the world around her went black and then the vision hit. She let out a gasp at the intense pain that accompanied the vision, it had never hurt this bad before.

She didn't recognize the location she was seeing as the vision took hold, but there was a long dark corridor lined with cells. Something in the back of her mind recognized it as a prison.

The perspective of the vision turned slightly so that she could see inside one of the cells. She gasped, or thought she did, she could never tell what was really happening when the visions came. The man in the cell had deathly white skin and red eyes.

A shiver of terror ran up her spine. The man's blood red eyes seem to penetrate her soul. She wondered if he could see her, but didn't know if that was possible.

There were footsteps coming down the corridor and the vision shifted again. Nimue saw a group of cloaked figures approaching the cell that held the red-eyed man, their wands drawn.

There was a whispered consultation among the cloaked figures of which she only caught phrases. But she gathered that the guards had been temporarily disposed of.

One of the dark figures deftly opened the cell, "you are free my lord, we will take you someplace safe." And then in a loud voice he proclaimed, "Lord Voldemort has returned!"

Nimue staggered as the world around her shifted again as the vision ended. She fell to the ground as tears flooded her eyes. What could she do now?

Dierna glared at her Serena and Nick who were teasing her about how tired she still looked, "both of you need to shut up!" She snapped at them.

Nick grinned wickedly, "that's not a very nice way to treat us Dierna, you really should try harder to be nice."

"I don't have to be nice in the mornings!" She whined, "leave me alone Nick or I'm going to make you sorry," she muttered the threat.

Nick made a clucking noise as he leaned closer to Dierna, "your attitude is appalling, I'm just trying to be nice and cheer you up and you throw empty threats at me. What you need is a good spanking."

Dierna narrowed her eyes at her friend before turning away from him. She was going to just ignore him if he was going to try and bait her like that.

Serena lightly punched Nick in the arm, "it's not working, she's only going to get madder at you."

Nick rolled his eyes and made a comment about red heads and their horrible tempers before he moved towards Dierna, who had retreated several yards away from him. "Come on hon, I didn't mean it. Forgive me?" He wrapped his arms around her.

"You're really horrible sometimes Nick."

"I know, I should have learned by now not to tease you in the mornings. Now just forgive me so that we can have a good time at Hogsmead, it is Halloween after all. Think of all the trouble we can cause today."

Dierna smiled, "fine, but you better be nice for the rest of the day or I will hex you."

Nick laughed, "You know I can't promise to be nice all day, but I'll try."

Serena joined them, "come on guys, the carriages are here."

The three friends moved outside and climbed into one of the carriages together. Dierna managed to wake up a bit more and the ride ended up being rather entertaining. Nick teased both girls unmercifully the entire time and received threats from both of them.

When the got to Hogsmead Nick asked the girls what they wanted to do first.

"Well actually, I'm going to spend the day with Mark. You'll cover for me in case Mum or Dad asks where I am?" Serena asked.

"Of course," Dierna replied. "Hey Nimue," she grabbed her sibling who was standing nearby, "is everything ok?"

Nimue shrugged, "I guess so." She was scared to tell her sister about the vision she had had this morning. She knew that she would make her tell their parents, and it would probably ruin the day for both of them.

"Alright..." Dierna looked skeptical. "Are you going off with Ophelia or do you want to come with us?"

"I'm going to go with Ophelia and some of the other girls from the dorm."

"Just don't go off by yourself, Dad will flip. Trust me, I know from personal experience," Dierna winked at her sister.

Nimue smiled, "I won't," and she rushed off to go find Ophelia.

Kalliope walked back towards the warriors' camp with Cadmus. The large man was actually pretty good company, as long as he wasn't trying to get her in bed.

"So, why exactly doesn't the venerable Rheia approve of Scamander?" He asked referring to the young man Sophia and become enraptured with. Kalliope had explained the situation to him as they walked.

"You should know the reason to that Cadmus."

Cadmus brought a hand up and stroked his dark beard thoughtfully, "this is about his father, isn't it."

"Of course."

"It was his father that raped a priestess, not the boy. He shouldn't have to suffer because of a crime he didn't commit."

"You know the rules of the temple," Kalliope shook her head; "there is no way he will be accepted by the priestesses."

"I would vouch for his honor, I do try and impress upon my men the fact that they should never take a priestess against her will, you throw too many damn curses our way when that happens." Cadmus looked grave.

Kalliope snorted indelicately, "yes, you try and respect the priestesses but you do as you please with any other women you come upon."

Cadmus flashed a white toothy smile, "that is one of the benefits of a wandering life."

Kalliope shook her head, "Lady Rheia is right, you have way too much metis for your own good."

Cadmus laughed, "Well that would make sense since my ancestors are from Ithaca, I may actually be descended from Odysseus himself," he winked at the priestess. "Now wouldn't you like to bed with a descendent of royalty?"

"Not hardly," Kalliope glared at him, "especially since your ancestors destroyed the city of my ancestors."

Cadmus grinned, "Point taken."

As they approached the men's camp Kalliope looked around for her charge. After a few moments she spotted her, with Scamander of course, outside one of the tents. "She better agree to come with me without making a scene," Kalliope muttered.

Cadmus shrugged, "I was under the impression that you were acting as her mother; make her come with you no matter how much of a fuss she may put up."

"That's the problem, I am essentially her mother, but I am also a senior priestess in the temple. I should be able to expect respect from her; however I haven't been getting it recently." She frowned.

"She is 15, what else do you expect?"

"At 15 I was an initiated priestess..."

"And you had a child conceived under less than perfect circumstances," Cadmus finished for her. "Do not blame Scamander for the crimes of his father, they are two different people, no matter how much you hate his father please remember that."

"I do hate his father, but I loved the little girl he gave me."

Cadmus took Kalliope's hand in his own, "I understand that you don't want to see the same thing happen to Sophia. You just have to trust in your goddess and I'm sure everything will come out alright little one."

Dierna scuffed her feet on the ground and kicked a rock. "Why did she go off with Mark? I don't mind covering for her but I we used to do everything together and..."

"And ever since you started going out with Stefan you started doing things apart." Nick finished for her.

"Do I sound like a jealous whiney brat?" Dierna asked.

"A little," Nick slid an arm around her waist, "but I understand. I have this urge to flatten any guy that comes after you girls. You two are mine as far as I'm concerned."

Dierna smiled, "well, since I'm your girl I think you should buy me a butterbeer."

Nick laughed, "very charming Dierna, you really know how to drop a subtle hint don't you?"

"You know subtle is not my thing," Dierna smiled as she slid her arm around Nick's waist and leaned against him. "You keep saying that you are looking out for me while Stefan is gone and Stefan would buy me a drink, so..."

"Alright, alright, point taken," Nick rolled his eyes. "I'm way too good to you."

"But only because I deserve it," Dierna replied saucily.

"How did I get dragged into this? I hate chaperoning these trips." Severus complained as he walked with Morgan.

Morgan smiled as she playfully smacked her husband on the arm, "stop complaining, someone has to do this." She tried to hold back laughter at the dour expression on his face.

"So, you find this amusing Mrs. Snape?"

Morgan brought a hand up to her face to try and cover her smile, "maybe..."

"Just maybe? I think you're lying."

"I'm hurt that you think I'm lying professor," Morgan worked hard to keep the amusement out of her voice, but failed miserably.

"You are lying you little imp," Severus wrapped an arm around his wife's waist and pulled her close to him.

"What are you going to do about it?" Morgan asked mischievously.

Severus leaned down to his wife's level, which was rather a long way to do considering how tiny she was, "nothing here, however you will be in a lot of trouble when we get back, I don't like being lied to."

Morgan giggled at the implications of what her husband was suggesting. "I'm not sure if I should be worried or not about what that means."

Severus smiled at his wife, something he did rarely in public, since he insisted on keeping up the stern professor façade. "I'll just let you worry about it until we get back, that should give you something to think about the next time you try and lie to me," his voice was teasing.

Morgan giggled again as she leaned into her husband, enjoying the way his protective arm felt around her. She shivered slightly in the cold breeze, the temperature had definitely dropped since they had arrived, and she was thankful for the warmth of his embrace.

Severus pulled his wife closer to him when he felt her shiver. "I think I need to get you inside somewhere before you get too cold."

Morgan smiled to herself; her husband was always so considerate of her. He always looked after her, and she loved it.

"How about we get something to drink," Severus said as he steered her towards Madame Rosmerta's. "I'm thinking something a little bit stronger than butterbeer, as long as you think that would be appropriate. Damn chaperoning responsibilities..."

Morgan smiled, "I promise I won't tell if you don't," she winked at her husband.

"Hmmm... I remember that tactic not working to well for you once before darling."

"Come on Sev, don't go bringing up stories from my wayward youth again," Morgan rolled her eyes.

"And why not?" Severus smiled down at her, "I remember one incident in particular in your 7th year..."

"Oh please don't bring up that one," Morgan brought a hand up to her cheek, she could feel herself blushing furiously.

Severus grinned, "You always were a very entertaining drunk..."

Morgan groaned, he always teased her bringing up stories like that. She frowned at him when she caught him smiling at her.

When they reached Madame Rosmerta's Severus held the door open for his wife and followed her inside. He seated her at a table towards the back before getting drinks for both of them. He was looking forward to a long afternoon spent just with his wife.

Nimue tried to push memories of her vision out of her mind as she and Ophelia and the other girls. Everyone else was chatting happily without any cares, Nimue felt isolated.

Ophelia sensed that something was bothering her best friend, "hey guys, why don't you go ahead, me and Nimue will catch up with you later."

The other girls went ahead and Ophelia turned to her friend, "what's wrong hon? You've been quiet all day; actually you've been really quiet and withdrawn the last few weeks."

Nimue shrugged, "I don't know."

"What aren't you telling me Nimue?! We're best friends, we're supposed to tell each other everything and I know you're keeping secrets from me."

"I don't know what it is, just so many things seem to be happening," Nimue was close to tears.

"You can trust me Nimue, that's what friends are for."

Nimue sniffed and ran the back of her hand across her eyes, "we need to find someplace to talk."

"Alright," the two girls headed into town talking the whole way. Nimue started talking, and everything came out. She told her friend about all the visions she had, and the nightmares. The words tumbled over one another and once she started everything seemed to come out.

"Oh Nimue," Ophelia exclaimed, "Why didn't you tell me all of this earlier. You didn't have to suffer through all of this alone; I would have been there for you." There were tears in Ophelia's eyes now too.

"Thank you Ophelia," the two girls hugged as tears streamed down their faces. "Do you think the visions are really real," Nimue asked between her tears.

"Of course I do," Ophelia replied, "Oh Nimue, you need to tell someone else about this, I don't know what to do for you. Please promise me that you'll talk to your parents or Lupin or someone when we get back to the school, I'll even go with you if you want."

"Ok," Nimue sniffed, "I promise I'll tell my parents as soon as we get back to the school.

Dierna and Nick wandered around town. They made a long stop in the quidditch supply shop, but other than that they looked at nothing in particular. They just talked and Dierna began to feel a little better about Serena going off with Mark.

Nick pushed Dierna lightly, just enough to send her staggering a few steps, "have you heard from Stefan at all?"

Dierna sighed, "just a couple of messages through Viviane, but nothing from him personally. I just want to see him again!"

"I know you do doll," he gave her hand a squeeze, "any indication on when he might be coming home?"

"No, I've heard nothing. Nothing Nick!!! I'm tired of waiting!"

"Are you giving up on Stefan?"

"Of course not!" Dierna sounded frustrated, "I would wait for him forever. I just... I just want him back."

"I know what you mean, about being willing to wait for someone."

Dierna poked Nick in the ribs, "you like someone don't you?"

"Maybe..."

"Come on Nick tell me!"

Nick smiled, "no."

"Yes."

"No way."

Dierna threw her arms around Nick, "come on, you're my best friend. Tell me, tell me, tell me, tell me!!!"

"Damn you're annoying!" Nick exclaimed as he tried to extract himself from Dierna's death grip.

"I'll stop if you tell me," Dierna used her most coaxing and sweet voice.

"Well..." Nick's resolve was beginning to break.

"Will you tell me?"

"Eventually..."

"Please, I won't tell anyone else," Dierna looked at Nick expectantly.

Nick leaned down to whisper in Dierna's ear. Dierna leaned in close to him expecting him to tell her. "I'm not telling," he whispered.

Dierna howled in outrage, "that's not fair!"

Nick laughed, "Deal with it," he replied as he pinched her.

Mark pulled Serena into an alley, "I think we can escape any unwanted notice back here," he said as he scanned the area.

Serena clutched his hand, her breathing coming fast.

Mark smiled down at her and cupping her face in his hands he kissed her hard. Serena took a couple of steps backward until her back was against a wall. Mark continued to kiss her and his hands moved down her body, touching and fondling.

Serena sighed softly when Mark removed his mouth from hers. This felt so right. She wanted more, and was surprised that she didn't feel any guilt about the thoughts she was having. Mark just made her feel so good.

"I love you," Mark said as he nuzzled her neck.

Another sigh as Serena felt her pulse begin to race. Her mind wandered briefly, wondering if this is what Dierna felt when she was with Stefan. This feeling of absolute surrender and control at the same time.

Serena wrapped her arms around Mark as he kissed her again. Her head was in the clouds and her heart was pounding, she loved this feeling.