Chapter 5. Pieces and questions unanswered

Laura blinked and slowly looked around her. It looked like a hospital but it seemed to comfy to actually be one. She slowly sat up and swung her legs off the side of the bed. With that done she slowly lowered her feet to the floor and stood up straight. Slowly getting the feeling back in her legs she walked out the hospital ward and started to explore.

This place is filled with magic. How can that be? Surely people would notice that there was something strange about this building?

Laura was getting more puzzled and at awe with her surroundings than ever before. When she had run away from the office of Dumbledore she hadn't been looking at her surroundings but rather thinking only of getting out.

I need to control my emotions. These people won't hurt me. I can see it and sense it but I bolted as soon as things got slightly rough. That's no good.

"Hello dear."

Laura was startled out of her thoughts and whirled around to see who had spoken to her. There was no one there.

"I'm on the wall dear."

Laura looked towards the walls and saw a picture of a beautiful women. She had long black hair and almost violet coloured eyes.

"Oh um hello." Laura said getting over the shock that a painting had spoken to her.

"Now what on earth are you doing here so early? School only starts in a month and a half."

"Umm well I don't really attend school."

"How can someone not attend school?" The painting said looking quite shocked and intrigued.

"Umm you see I sort of come here with this boy cause it was either come with him or be caught again. So that's how I'm here." Laura answered looking slightly more nervous than she had been.

"You still haven't answered my question. How does someone not attend school? Surely your parents aren't allowing you not to go to school?" The painting inquired.

"I don't have parents." Laura whispered and with that she turned an ran down the corridor.

"Oh dear. Poor child." That painting murmured.

Laura ran down the corridor not really knowing why she was running but knowing that she didn't want that paintings pity or an thing from that painting. Slowing to a jog and then a walk and finally to a stop. Laura noticed that she seemed higher up now and seeing a pair of spiral stairs to her left. Deciding that going up was better that going down she climbed the stairs and when she reached the top what she saw left her a bit stunned. It seemed as if she had reached the highest part of the castle and there were several large windows and a clear ceiling. But that had not amazed her but the view. The sun was slowly setting leaving dark reds and bright oranges over the tops the trees. A lake lay just before the forest and the water seemed peaceful and calm.

The calm from the scene seemed to seep into Laura's skin as she gazed at it with her eyes not blinking trying to take in the beauty of what she saw. Slowly she stepped closer to one of the windows. This window was the largest and was directly in front of her with a simple window seat underneath it. Sitting down with her back leaning against the arch of window she drew her legs up to her chest and hugged her knees closer to her body. Lifting her head slightly she watched the first star of the evening appear in the midnight black sky. Laura then got a song in her head that she had heard a while back and slowly started hum and then she was slowly singing the lyrics to herself.

I hear you're counting sheep again Mary Jane

What's the point of tryin' to dream anymore

I hear you're losing weight again Mary Jane

Do you ever wonder who you're losing it for?

Laura stopped suddenly when she realised that she had been singing aloud. Laura was slowly getting drowsy sitting up by the window with nothing and nobody to bug her for the moment. The journey around the castle had tired her out because even though she didn't have the wounds anymore they had still left her weak. Slowly her head fell forward and she feel asleep with her head on arms not noticing the figure that stepped out of the shadows and placed a blanket over her.

"Sleep child for times will not be easy for you."

And with those words spoken at barely a whisper the figure turned and left the room.

~*~

"Sirius?"

"Mmm?"

"Do you think that … no never mind." Harry mumbled and went back to writing his History of Magic essay.

"Come on Harry. I know you better than you think. Something is really bugging you." Sirius replied

"It's well did you notice that something seemed well weird about Laura's eyes when you touched her?" Harry asked.

"Oh you mean the weird freaky silverish glow?"

"Umm yeah."

"I noticed but I'm not sure why they glowed like that and I don't know why she fainted. Could be plain exhaustion." Sirius said keeping a eye on Harry from the corner of his eye.

Sirius had been dying to know where Harry got that bruise on his face. He had a pretty good idea who gave it to him but for what reason? From what Sirius had seen from Harry's behaviour he was hardly any trouble at all. He noticed how in the beginning Harry had craved for a simple touch like a ruffling of his hair or a hug but now he shied away from them totally. He had been hurt when Harry had tensed up when he had touched his shoulder but somehow he hoped that one day he could hug Harry again with out him running away or flinching.

Harry sighed quietly to himself. He knew Sirius wanted to know what was bugging him but how could he explain all of it without making Sirius feel more guilty and unworthy than he already did. It wasn't like there was such a big problem. Harry was used to getting hit occasionally by his relatives. It wasn't something new it was just that this time Harry actually felt like he deserved it. He'd killed his parents when he was only a year old and now Cedric was dead because of him. Then there's Sirius who had 13 years of his life ruined just because of him. No it was best for everyone else if he just gave them the cold shoulder and they forgot about him. That way they could lead lives of their own, in happiness and not have to worry about being killed simply because they were friends or acquaintances of Harry's.

Sirius sighed and carried on reading through the newspaper. Perhaps today just wasn't the day to ask or talk.

~ * ~

Laura knew this was a memory inside a dream but there was nothing she could do about and she knew she was just going to have to grit her teeth and get through it.

A man stood above her while she was huddled in a corner with a tiny piece of what used to be a blanket wrapped around to try warm her up,

l# So you thought that you were smart didn't you? Well I'll tell you one thing you retched, cursed little bitch. Once I've finished your spirit and mind will be so broken that you'll kill yourself. And you know what's better I'll be watching you and I won't let you.#

The man walked further into the cell and with a crack the whip he had been hiding behind hit her.

A hand on Laura's shoulder woke Laura before the dream could go any further and before she knew what she as doing she had pushed the person away from her and was crouched to attack the person. Laura looked at the person only to find a rather shocked Dumbledore sprawled on the floor.

"Oh. I'm really really sorry." Laura said backing away from him.

Stupid you shouldn't have spoken to him, you should have just bolted and left but no. You have to have manners.

" Quite alright. " Dumbledore said standing up quite quickly for some one his age.

Laura just nodded and once again her eyes flickered around the room looking for a way out. Dumbledore immediately noticed this.

"It took me quite a while to find you. You've had us quite worried. Well anyway perhaps you would like some breakfast?" Dumbledore suggested while watching her closely for a reaction.

She slowly nodded and without any of them saying another word they left the tower and walked towards the hall. Laura walking slowly behind Dumbledore while paintings and other forms of art greeted him.