CHAPTER 9
As the days and weeks went on their magazine started to get recognised in other houses as well but Tulip hoped the numbers will get higher after the first quidditch match. Cedric was going to write about the first match and him being a seeker might get a few people interested.
"Weather is... well, it's- um you know rain is always fun. You won't sweat...
-You'll just drench, that's all" Tulip said sitting beside Cedric. First Quidditch match of year was between Hufflepuff and Gryffindor. It was raining so furiously that Tulip feared windows might crack.
"Have I told you that you give the best pep talks."
" Come on Ced, you got this. Potter is-"
" He is really skilled." Cedric cut her.
"He is younger than you."
"And won his every match."
" He never faced you and he got lucky on some of those-" Tulip continued but he cut her again.
"He's got a better broom"
" Hey! Just take a deep breath and stop comparing yourself to him. It doesn't help with anything. You are a good seeker and a good captain. I know that, your team knows that and you should know that as well. Alright?"
Cedric took a deep breath. "Thanks. I should get going." He got up and Tulip patted him on the shoulders, wishing him a good game.
She went to the stands with Blaise and Tracey. Ulrik was a few rows away. Match was quiet rough on both teams. Weather was making everything blurry even for the watchers. She saw Cedric going up and Potter was right behind him. She was on the edge of her seat when she saw them.
It was like seeing a lightning ; first the lightning then the sound came. First dementors came then the darkness that consumed her.
Her walls fell immediately. Feeling of misery and dread consumed her. When it lifted her mind felt as if it was attacked with millions of bees. When it happened in the train she was able to find sanction in the compartment now whole stadium was buzzing with sadness, confusion, fear... She tried to move back, rows were empty with people going to the railing to see what had happened. She dragged herself under the back, side rows to hide herself from everyone and to prepare what will happen. Her eyes unfocused,watery and her head spinning and aching with the weight of the stadium. She couldn't hold it any longer and she puked her stomach. Tears rolled easily down her face. Rain poured between the wood rows.She hated it, she hated everything about it.
Tulip must have passed out a while because stadium was empty when she opened her eyes again. She tried to get up but her head felt so heavy that she was losing balance to front and back. She saw the stairs and to her surprise even more pain shot up through her. She felt completely hopeless and alone. There was no way she was going down those stairs without falling.
" Anybody ?" She called out or at least she thought she did because she couldn't hear herself like she normally did. Hard drops of rain was echoing in her ears. She tried couple of times but gave up trying. After a brief session of crying she clutched to the railing and sat on the first step. She slid herself slowly while clutching the railing for her dear life. She couldn't help when new tears find their way out. She felt alone like never before. Stairs kept spinning and spinning and slowly she kept sliding through the steps.
A gurgle of a voice come to her ears but she couldn't make it out. Someone touched her shoulder and when she looked up she saw Ulrik's outline blurred by her tears.
"I have been looking for you everywhere, where were you?"
She tried to speak but she was only able to form simple words. " hide..dementors...vomit...healer" she managed to get out. Ulrik must have understood because he put an arm around her shoulders to get her up. She reluctantly let go of the railing and clang to her brother instead.
She just closed her eyes as they went to the hospital wing and when she opened them she saw Madam Pomprey coming towards her in a haste.
" What's wrong?" She said and at that moment a second wave of vomit found its way to the floor.
"Oh dear. Bring her over here quickly." Said Madam Pomprey gesturing towards the bed. When her head met with the bed she felt like melting and then realised her coldness. She was still soaking from all the rain.
" You are soaked head to toe. What happened?"
Before Tulip opened her mouth Ulrik beat her to it.
"You know her condition Madam Pomprey. After the match I couldn't find her, looked everywhere and asked her friends but nothing. Then I remember the train, this happened once before on the train Madam, when Dementors past our compartment. She was hardly walking when that happened then I thought she wouldn't be able to leave the stadiums without help and I found her on the stairs trying to get down by herself."
Madam Pomprey drew a sharp breath looking horrified. " Are you trying to kill yourself? Why didn't you come to me before Ms Ulster?" She scolded her. But Tulip was in no condition to speak.
" I went under th-the rows, and.. um puked. I musto' passed out. Everyone...gone, I called out."
" Alright we'll have none of that but I'll have to have a word with your head of house. Now you must leave Mr. Ulster. She needs rest."
" I can't leave her."
" You must, you are no use to her now and you'll only get in my way."
Ulrik opened his mouth to argue
"Go" managed Tulip. Reluctantly he left.
Madam Pomprey dried her clothes with drying charm and covered her with blankets after her third puke.
" I hate puking." Tulip said.
" I don't suppose anyone likes it. Now drink this. It'll pick you up." Madam Pomprey gave her a calming draught.
" This will keep happening, specially this year if you don't gain control over it. Even if the dementors will leave, this will keep changing and growing as you are. You need to learn to control" Madam Pomprey said.
" I am controlling it."
" No you are not. You are denying it and it gets out of hand. It will be worse next time and merlin knows at where. I'll inform this to Professor Snape tomorrow. Now rest well."
Madam Pomprey said and left her to sleep. Unknown to Tulip just a few beds away someone else was there with her, Harry Potter. Even though he wanted to be respectful to her privacy he couldn't help but hear well, everything. So dementors effected her too. What was her condition? Was she ill, Madam Pomprey said she needs to control it? What sort of illness required control?He must of dosed of while thinking because he woke up to the sound of rambling. He sat on the bed and looked towards Tulip, she was trying to move towards the water cup. She lost her balance and knocked down the cup to the floor. Harry decide to called for the healer.
"Mada-" Tulip shushed him immediately.
" Don't call for her. I don't need her fussing about again. Already got an earful."
Harry sealed his lips and watched her trying to bend for her cup. After a few attempts she sighed.
" Can you help me... please?" She asked of him in a small, beaten voice.
Harry went over and picked her cup. He poured some water and gave it to her.
"What are you in for then?" Tulip asked sipping her water. .
" Fell off my broom. I survived but um.. broom didn't."
"My condolences." Tulip said genuinely. She knew how important the broom was to the players.
"You?" He asked.
"Nothing just some bad food mixed with bad weather." Tulip said quickly.
Harry had never heard of anyone having any bad food at Hogwarts before. The food was just amazing all the time. He thought about asking what he heard before but he quickly let go of that idea. He and Tulip had never been good friends or friends at that matter. They knew each other because of Hermione and that was it. Actually come to think of it Harry may have been rude towards her on couple occasions. She was the same with him. He decided it was better if he asked Hermione about it.
" Thanks for the water." Tulip announced as she climbed her bed.
Next morning when Harry woke up there was no sign of Tulip. To be sure of it not being a dream he asked Madam Pomprey. With great deal of disapproval she said that Tulip was discharged early. When Hermione came to see Harry next day, he waited for a chance to ask her about Tulip.
" What's wrong with Tulip?" He asked. Hermione gave him a puzzled look which was so strange to see that on her face.
" Why? Did something happened?" She asked. Harry told her about last night how she came in and what he heard from Madam Pomprey.
"There is nothing that I know. No condition... Are you sure that's what you heard?" She asked still puzzled.
"Yes, I was awake when they came in." Hermione said she'll ask her about it but she looked as if she was let down. Harry was a bit puzzled that she didn't knew about it too, they looked so close as if they shared everything. Of course Harry was confident Hermione would never tell Tulip about the things he shared with her.
Hermione sit on that information for about a week, quietly observing Tulip for any illness. Of course she had realised in the past that Tulip quiet often had headaches and come to think of it she had often avoided crowds. She would come to breakfast very early or late(when the hall was least crowded), she would rarely come to see the Quidditch games(mostly when Cedric was playing) and she like the quiet. But other than these there was nothing that suggested an illness about her.
So with nothing on hand she decided to face Tulip. Hermione found her at Hogwarts Weekly classroom. Tulip was writing about the latest scandal at hand.
BLACK ATTACKS THE FAT LADY
The wanted murderer Sirius Black has infiltrated Hogwarts. Incident took place during the Halloween Feast. Although professors weren't keen on sharing the details it is certain that he attacked the portrait of The Fat Lady. How he got in and his reasons behind it stays a mystery to everyone but him. Here on The Hogwarts Weekly we gathered ideas and speculation about his actions. It's of course impossible to know the mind of a crazed murderer but we tried the best we can.
Information of Fat Lady was never told to the students to keep the the entrance of the Gryffindor common rooma secret. Students other than Gryffindors only knew that a portrait was attacked.
"How did you learn that it was The Fat Lady. Professors never said it." Hermione asked. Tulip jumped and put a hand over her heart. She was so focused on her writing she didn't even realise when Hermione came in.
"Blimey Mione, you scared me."
" How did you find out? About the fat lady?" Hermione didn't care about scaring Tulip. She was suspicious what else Tulip had been hiding from her. Her attitude suprised Tulip.
" I have my ways." She said shortly. "Is everything alright?" She added.
" Is everything alright with you, more like it. I know that you had been in the hospital wing last week, after the match."
"O-oh, you do? How?"
"I have my ways." Hermione matched her.
" Bloody Potter. I should have knew he would blab. It was nothing just some-"
" some bad food and bad weather is it?" Hermione cut her off. " Tell me the truth Tulip!"
" I am Mon, it was nothing. What's got into you?"
" Stop lying! There was nothing wrong with the food. Harry heard what Madam Pomprey said to you. Condition? What condition Tulip. And it is something and you've been keeping it for a while now. I know you do, just don't know what it is. So will you tell me?"
" Hermione I-look. Yes I have a condition but it's- um-"
" I am your friend, you know that right? Whatever this is, you can tell me." Tulip stared at Hermione intently before saying. " I am Legilimence" she started and told her about everything her dreams, her fear of snakes and why she didn't like to use it.
" Who else knows about it?" Hermione asked.
" My family, they were the first one to realise, Snape since he is my head of house, Dumbledore, Madam Pomprey, Professor Lupin and Cedric."
"You told Diggory and not me!" Hermione took offence.
" No I didn't told him anything. He just figured it out, I swear. I don't go around telling people. Only people who suppose to know are informed... And Professor Lupin. He learned by accident." Hermione calmed a bit hearing this.
" An accident?"
" I can't fully control it since the train. When we were studying bogarts, the class was all excited and scared... it was hard already. Then it all happened in a hurry Lupin jumped in front of Potter and I... I-uh, accidentally entered his mind. He realised this of course and learned about me. I think we both learned about each other more than necessary."
"Why didn't you tell me before? "
" Because..." Tulip took a breath " Because when people learn that you are born Legilimence they think... they think of you as a freak. They think of you as loony and I don't want that."
" You are not a freak Tulip. You are my best friend." Hermione said hugging her. "You should've told me. I thought we had no secrets." she added.
Tulip snorted at her words. Hermione gave her a baffled look. "You're the one to talk. You have plenty of secrects. I know that you have lots of shady business with Potter. That chain around your neck and somehow you having two classes at the same time." Tulip stared at her friend's mouth opening and closing.
"I-um-I. Well.." Hermione took a deep breath.
" Look, those are secrets of Harry not me. I won't say anything you tell me to them and I won't tell anything of them to you. The chain...It's a big deal. I promised that I wouldn't tell. But you shared something big of you so will I."
Tulip listened as her best friend told her about the time turner. She thought she would never understand how much Hermione loved school. Tulip promised that she would never talk about it. " I don't even know what we were saying." She said and Hermione smiled at her friend. "No secrects alright?" asked Hermione looking at her friend. Tulip felt the guilt in her stomach. "Mon, Um, there is something else. It's not directly about me but someone I'm related. It'll be better if you heard from me than anyone else."
"Is this about Malfoy? I know you guys are related Tulip."
"Not really. I have never talk about this to anyone. Not even Cedric but I guess he may have heard about it from his parents. I need you to promise not to tell anyone, alright? "
"Of course I won't Tulip, you don't have to ask m- "
" Not judge me because of it." Tulip cut her.
"Why would I- I won't judge you." Hermione said looking at her friends serious face.
Tulip took a deep breath and ran her hand through her hair before starting.
"You know I am related to Malfoy but do you know how?" she asked and Hermione shaked her head no.
"Through my mother. There isn't a lot of people left in my mother's side. Ones that are left is well not good. Terrible people actually. I don't like any of them. I hate them, my mom hates them." Tulip took another deep breath and continiued. "My mom's maiden names was Black. Eldest daughter of Walburga Black, older sister of Sirius Black." Tulip finished with a whisper. Hermione was looking at her with an open mouth.
" There are horrible people in my mother's side. Blacks were some foul people. I hate the lot of them." Tulip added.
"He's-he's your uncle?"
"He's my nothing. I've never met the man. I only learned about him during the summer. Mom doesn't talk about her side of the family much. Most of them are dead anyway. She had two brothers, one of them died during the first war and the other was him. She never mentions them. I didn't even met anyone last named Black. Moms parents died when I was young."
They sat in silence for a while. Tulip kept stealing glances from her. Suddenly she felt tears in her eyes.
" Do you hate me now that-" Hermione cut her by crushing her in a big hug.
" Of course I don't. You don't choose who you're related to. You chose the person you are and Tulip you are a great person." Tulip let out a breath of relief. She wiped her eyes quickly.
"So...Black is after Potter. He doesn't get a break does he? Boy must be a beacon for trouble." Said Tulip changing the subject.
Hermione elbowed her. " So you know eveything?"
"Not everything. It's like hearing the thought at the top of someone's mind. Dementors affected me on the train. When I came down to see you, Potter was thinking, very loudly might I add, about Black. I didn't pry any further. Lupin says any wizard who is skilled would be able to tell if someone's entered their mind."
Hermione nodded over thinking about the new information.
"Snape thinks I should learn to control it.'Your insistent refusal of this talent is simply stupid Miss Ulster. You can't avoid who you are.' " Tulip mimicked Snape.
Hermione laughed at her friend. " I'm afraid he is right Tulip. You can't escape it and it puts you in danger if you don't. I can help you with it."
Tulip looked at her friend with raised eyebrows." I don't know Hermione. It might be weird. The books says I should start with something small like animals or childen. I was thinkin about Coal."
"Oh, well that might be easier I suppose. I didn't think animals would be well thinking?" She asked unsurely.
" They do think but not like humans so there won't be any words but I might be able to access memories so that's a start I think."
That night Tulip entered Coal's mind. She saw the view of Hogwarts from above. She saw her raven stealing owl treats and she saw him eat it. First time left her a bit drained but she practiced again and again. Somehow she made a even stronger bond with her pet. She was able to call him to her when he was away. Sometimes she would just tell him to bring something only using Legilimence. Slowly she pried herself into the minds of the first year. She wouldn't look in too deep to not invade their privacy, only to learn their favourite subjects or least favourite professors (it was mostly Snape). Slowly she made her piece with her talent.
