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Warning: Violence begins in this chapter.

Midnight Memories: A Katie Bell Story

Chapter 4

Katie somehow managed to conquer most of Homework Mountain. She was so completely focused on her homework, a feat she rarely accomplished, she almost forgot about the dream from the previous night. She attempted to leave it behind, but it was in the back of her mind the entire time. When she finally decided to go up to bed, sometime after midnight, the memory of the dream was moving closer to consciousness. As she changed, Katie almost dreaded going to sleep, yet she was so exhausted from working non-stop for hours she had no choice in the matter. Deflated Katie gave up and got in bed.

Katie drifted off to sleep, but it was not the peaceful night she had hoped for. Her night was riddled with images, every time she saw the blue light she managed to wake herself up. Falling back to sleep was a problem, as the image frightened her, taking about thirty minutes on average to drift off once again. After the fourth episode her body overpowered the fear in her mind. She saw the blue light again, but could not wake herself up. Once again she was battered and bloody, paralyzed with pain and fear. This time when the hooded figure spoke she heard his voice, though it was somewhat distorted with breathlessness and excitement.

"Don't worry my pretty little thing, you won't remember anything." he wheezed slowly before backhanding her across her already painful face, causing it to sting even more. The figure walked back away from Katie and laughed. The maniacal laughter woke Katie.

Katie was sitting in her bed, heart pounding. She could not believe what she saw. It seemed to be more than just a dream, more like a memory. Had it actually happened? What bothered her the most, however, was that voice. She knew that voice, but from where?

Katie looked over at her clock that was visible through a crack in her curtains. She had forty-five minutes left to sleep. She decided to get up, doubtful that she would be able to fall asleep, her heart was still racing. For once in her Hogwarts career she was up and ready before any of her roommates.

Katie dressed quietly and went down to the common room and did some reading for classes. Alicia and Angelina were so shocked when they saw Katie reading before breakfast they nearly tripped over each other. Katie went with her two awestruck friends to breakfast, something she usually only did on weekends and during end of term exams.

"So why is Miss Katie Bell being so studious this morning? Decided she doesn't need her beauty sleep anymore?" Alicia inquired playfully getting a laugh out of Angelina and Katie as they climbed out of the portrait hole.

'It feels good to laugh,' Katie thought to herself, 'even if I'm about to lie to two of my best friends'. "No, I just don't like being behind so early in the term. I'm just catching up". It was not a complete lie, she did hate being behind, but that alone would not have gotten her out of bed early, especially on a day when she had double Potions and double Defense.

"Okay, fine, don't tell us then." Angelina replied.

"What?" Katie asked defensively, "Why don't you believe me?"

"We know you and your passion for sleep." Angelina explained.

"Yeah, it's right up there on your list with quidditch and food." Alicia added with a laugh.

"Oh come on. I just want to get top marks this year."

"Okay, that's alright if you really don't want to tell us. We all know you always get top marks without much effort." Alicia said as they walked into the Great Hall.

The two kept kidding Katie on her new found desire to study. Katie felt bad about not saying anything about the dream, but she did not want to share until she knew what was going on. She was relieved when Fred and George came in with Lee and told Angelina they would be missing keeper try-outs and practice as they had been given two weeks detention once McGonagall found out they had tested some of their new joke-shop sweets on first years. News traveled fast in the land of Hogwarts, just as with any other school. Angelina spent the rest of breakfast hollering at the pair for being so wreckless. It did not take long for Katie to feel bad for the twins. Alicia, Katie, Lee, and Leanne, who showed up shortly after the twins and Lee, were too scared to speak. None of them wanted to get yelled at, no matter how badly they felt.

After the breakfast madness, Katie was actually happy with the quiet atmosphere of Professor Snape's dungeon classroom. A proper breakfast had given Katie some energy, but by the end of the period the lack of sleep was beginning to affect her. Katie's eyelids were getting heavy and her eyes dry as she walked silently with Leanne to another double lesson. She just hoped the class was not going to be entirely lecture. This was going to be her first Defense Against the Dark Arts class of the year due to Monday's inexplicable illness. Unfortunately, the odds were against her, Leanne had told Katie that Professor Darcy had still been lecturing when she got back from the hospital wing. There was little Katie hated more than a ninety minute lecture.

Katie and Leanne took their seats and Katie immediately put her head down. Leanne tapped her on the shoulder, "Don't fall asleep before class starts, the professor doesn't even know you". Katie gave a nod and tried desperately to keep her eyes open.

Katie did not notice Professor Darcy in the room until he spoke. The second the sound hit her ears her eyes grew wide. That voice. It was him. She instinctively touched her face where she had been hit in her dream. Katie was immediately alert, the most alert she had ever been for a ninety minute lecture, but she did not absorb a single word. She kept her eyes on Professor Darcy at all times, but all she could think about was the dream. Was it really him? Why was she dreaming about him? Most important of all; was this true?