49

Harry woke with a start and ran his hands over his face, as they brushed his scar he felt a strong throbbing pain run through his body. He was sweating as he pushed himself from his bed and stumbled over to his wardrobe, desperately looking around his room in case anything might jump out at him. Opening the door, he peered into the mirror and was greeted by the sight of a scrawny teenage boy with bright green eyes and messy black hair. His eyes seemed to glow brighter and his heart started to race…

Emily sat straight up in her bed, attempting to catch her breath. Pushing herself back so she could rest against the headboard, she pulled her knees and the covers up to her chest. By the Goddess, her dream was nothing like one she had ever had before.

"Mipsy," she called out softly, her voice shaky as she used it for the first time since waking.

The tired elf quickly popped into the room with a small bow. Taking in the girl before her the elf rushed to her Mistress' side, "Is Mistress okay?" The elf was shortly on the bed and feeling the teens head in worry, checking for any signs of illness.

"I'm fine, I just had a bad dream."

The elf looked skeptical and felt the girl's head one more time before nodding. "What can Mipsy do for Mistress?"

"Can I have some coffee please?"

"But coffee keeps Mistress up, and yous need to sleep."

"I promise if I'm grumpy tomorrow, no one will know it was because you gave me coffee in the middle of the night."

The elf stared at the witch for a minute before nodding her head and disappearing from the bed. Emily let her head fall back against the headboard as she waited for the elf to return. Thoughts and images were running across her mind and she was trying to sort them as best as she could. Someone had been killed, more would die or would they?

"Mistress…"

Emily looked down at the worried elf who had her arm out stretched with the mug of coffee. Emily smiled at Mipsy in hopes it would appease her fears. "I'm fine, just tired."

"Then yous no need coffee." The elf started to pull her arm back but Emily leaned forward and took the cup from the elf.

"No, I do," the witch said taking a sip and enjoying the warmth on her hands as they held the mug tightly. "You may go Mipsy."

The elf hesitated but knew she was being dismissed, with a bow she vanished once again from the witch's sight.

It wasn't long before Emily felt Isis slither up the bed and curl up next to her. The snake nudged her head against the witch's arm and Emily moved so the snake could put her head on the teen's legs. Emily smiled down at her pet who had clearly come to offer comfort but was fast asleep within seconds.

In the silence, the girl's mind drifted towards her strange dream. Pettigrew had clearly made it to Voldemort and was assisting him by now, but what Emily didn't understand was if her own imagination had made up the dream or was she really seeing what was happening right now possibly hundreds of miles away from her. The pair had mentioned the World Cup and something that involved Harry… Pettigrew had seemed pretty insistent that Emily was the stronger of the twins and should be used, for what exactly though the girl didn't know, but Voldemort would hear nothing of it. Voldemort wanted to use Harry and he wanted Emily brought to him unharmed. The witch assumed his desire for her brother would likely end in his death. It still baffled her as to why being twins that he would want to kill one but possess the other. It most likely came down to this elusive prophecy that no one seemed willing to divulge to her yet.

It was very annoying that Voldemort and Pettigrew hadn't been clearer with their plans, and perhaps that was what made the witch think her mind might have created this dream. In a deserted manor what could possibly have made the two wizards be so secretive, it wasn't likely that others knew where they were… then again that poor old muggle… If he was real he was at least no longer in pain, he had seemed crippled slightly by one of his legs as he had climbed the staircase towards the room where Voldemort had been residing and if he was of her own making, then there was no need to feel bad in the first place.

What was bothering Emily the most, was that she had seemed to first come to in Harry's body and not her own. She had recognized Dudley's second bedroom instantly. A few things had been moved around, but it was almost exactly the same as it had been when she left the Dursley's house before attending her first year at Hogwarts. It had been a slight shock to see her brother's reflection when the cupboard had been opened, though it was the brightness of his eyes in the mirror and the flashing of that deadly green color that forced her to wake up in her own bed. Had she really been experiencing what Harry was or was this all some odd creation of her mind…

Emily took a sip of her coffee and sighed as she reached up with one hand to rub her shoulder, an odd throbbing was coming from the area of her scar. Rolling her shoulder a few times the pain seemed to lessen a bit and the witch dismissed it as having slept in some weird fashion.

Deciding she needed to do something other than stare into the darkness, Emily summoned some paper and a quill to respond to Sirius and Bill's latest letters. Waving her wand several balls of light burst into existence over her casting a glow allowing her to see what she was writing.

Sirius,

Life is going well at the Manor. We have daily exercises in the dueling chamber and my competence for occlumency is ever improving. Severus says we will try reversing roles soon. He thinks it may be beneficial if not only can I block mental intrusions but also be the intruder. Of course, that is only effective when you don't have to say the spell out loud and give away your intentions. Severus thinks I will need to use verbal commands until I am stronger in mind magic. Makes me feel like a first year again... Yes, I know, others my age do not use as many non-verbal spells as I do but I never was okay with just being average.

I'm glad to hear the Wolfsbane I sent worked out, its good to know I can brew a competent batch without help. I do wonder though if that goblet is still sitting in the shack from my first try, even if it is it probably has gone off not being under stasis. Oh well, though it might be interesting to see what happened to it, the ingredients are all rather strong…

No word of the Diggorys still, I'm sure Narcissa told you that Lucius scared Amos practically to death. He made it quite clear that unless I saw fit to forgive Cedric he saw no point in forcing the issue. He also may have promised to teach Cedric a lesson on hurting one of his children should he decide to try and visit. So no need to go all escaped mass murderer on them, for now.

I probably should try to go back to sleep here shortly, I had the oddest dream and woke up a bit unsettled. Random question but is there much research on magical twins? The first time I woke up tonight I swore I was seeing through Harry's eyes and not my own… (I told you it was an odd dream). Anyway, I will send this with Narcissa in the morning when she heads off to visit you.

Hope your recovery is going well,

Emily

The witch reread the letter and determined it was a decent enough response to his earlier missive. It wasn't long after returning to the Manor that Narcissa had received a letter from an odd looking bird and quickly vanished for a few days. It turns out she had been assisting in setting up care for Sirius' recovery at a Black family home in France where he and Remus could remain hidden but get the help they needed, without tipping off the Ministry in London. She visited them once a week to make sure everything was moving forward smoothly and curried letters between the young witch and her Godfather. Emily wouldn't say she felt super familiar with the man yet but he seemed eager to create a relationship with her and answer any questions she had. For now, that was enough and maybe when she was allowed to visit him that budding relationship could grow into a strong familial one.

Pulling over another parchment Emily hesitated slightly before putting her quill to paper again.

Bill,

How are your last few days in Egypt going? Is everyone sad to see you go? I can't even imagine all the amazing things you've have seen and discovered while there. One day it would be amazing to visit, if for nothing else but to see the intricate creations and paintings from so long ago. I finished the book you sent and my mind races with the thoughts of what it must have been like to walk the earth in those ancient times, to be exalted for your magic instead of feared. It's a feeling in modern times we will never know.

Speaking of modern times though, Lucius says you aren't going to the World Cup with us but that you will be doing the Manor wards afterwards. Perhaps then, you can explain exactly where this new position you accepted through Gringotts is taking you. It sounds like it's going to be an interesting year all around, including Hogwarts. Lucius says they are bringing back the Triwizard Cup. Frankly, from what I have read on it, I can't see the appeal of reviving such a tournament but then again, I won't have to participate so what should I care.

Also, it seems Lucius has been telling too many people about Cedric, he cheated, we're over and there will be no contract. I'm not upset over it, I had a few tears the day I discovered it but now I've settled with indifference. If I'm honest it was never going to work, he seems so reluctant about his future and the things I was learning about him were worrisome. Draco is of course pleased, you should have seen the smirk on his face after Lucius made it quite clear to Amos what he would do to his son if he showed his face here anytime soon.

In other news, there really isn't much to tell you until you get here. We need your help with something but due to the nature of the topic we'll need you here before more can be said.

Enjoy the sun and desert while you still can (though Merlin knows, Apollo will be pleased not to have to make the journey for much longer)

Em

Looking over at his perch, it was clear Apollo was still asleep so Emily decided she would send the letter off to Bill in the morning. With a flick of her hand the quill and parchment floated to the night stand. Deciding she could use a bit more sleep, she snuggle back down into her bed as Isis adjusted to stay curled up with the human. With a yawn, Emily stroked the snake's head that now rested on her chest as she was lulled back to sleep in the silence.