Disclaimer / I don't own anything
Faces plague my dreams. They swim in and out of focus, but I can't make any sense of them. The scenery changes with every face. I hear a baby's cry, and a figure moves in closer. The faint smell of lemons fills my nose, and the crying stops. Suddenly, the scene changes and all I can see is black. I hear whispers, but the words fall short on my ears. Then a burning spreads across my shoulder, and a scream wakes me up in a cold sweat.
I sit up in the maroon bed-sheets and try to steady my breathing. My hand moves to my shoulder, where I can still feel a small amount of pain. I pull my nightshirt down and see the mark fading from a glowing green. I blink, and the pain disappears, and the green is gone. I decide I must've imagined it, as I only just woke up. Looking towards the window, I see it's still dark out. I try to get back to sleep, but what I saw in my dream keeps me up. Eventually, when I see the smallest amount of light brushing the sky, I get out of bed and slip some jeans and a light shirt on, then quietly exit the dormitory. I enter the common room and see the fire hasn't been lit yet. I know I'm not allowed, but I decide to go outside and walk around the grounds. Quietly, I exit the portrait hole, ignoring the Fat Lady's protests. I find myself walking down to the Quidditch pitch, and I kick myself I didn't bring my broom down. I debate getting one of the school's old brooms, but they're so slow and I don't want to ride one of them. Then my mind flicks back to the conversation I had with Dumbledore last night, and how I'm powerful. I wonder if I can summon my broom to me. A long shot, but worth a try, I guess. I close my eyes and focus on my broom and where it's stashed underneath my bed. I silently urge it to come to me. I stand there for a few minutes, waiting to see if anything happens. Suddenly, I hear a whooshing sound, and I open my eyes, unbelieving. There, flying towards me is my Nimbus Two Thousand. I can't believe it. It actually worked. Then I widen my eyes as I realise it's heading straight for me with nothing to stop it. I brace myself and reach out as it soars past me. My hands close around the handle, and it keeps flying as it lifts me off the ground. I hang from the handle, trying to swing my legs up, and the broom seems to lower itself to let me on it properly. I manage to get into the proper position, leaning over the handle of the broom as I fly it around the Quidditch pitch. My hair soars out behind as I didn't bother putting it up. I laugh as I cautiously lift my hands off my broom and raise my body to make it feel like I'm flying. I revel in the wind rushing past my face, and the rushing of my heart from the adrenaline in my veins. The broom seems to guide itself even without my hands on it, and it makes spectacular turns to keep me in the air and away from structures. I decide to make a daring move and close my eyes. I manage to stay on my broom, and I trust it to keep me safe. With my eyes closed, I don't focus on anything, and I feel all my burdens leave my shoulders at that moment.
When I open my eyes again, I return my hands to the handle of the broom and manoeuvre it through dives and loops.
I don't know how long I stay out, but finally, I notice that the sun has fully risen, and the castle looks awake. Reluctantly, I head back down to the ground and start back up to the castle. I try to be as quiet as possible, and I let the castle guide me back to the dormitory. Whenever I hear voices or footsteps, the golden path always diverts itself and I stay unnoticed. I make it back to the Gryffindor common room and see that quite a few people are up already. Luckily, people just glance at me then look away, assuming I had Quidditch practise because I'm holding my broom. No one questions me, and I'm just glad Percy Weasley isn't in here to riddle me. I make my way up to the dormitory and put my broom back under my bed. I think I've gotten away with it, but Hermione comes up to me, a stern look on her face, and I stifle a groan.
"I didn't think you had Quidditch practise this morning," she chirps.
Without missing a beat though, I come up with a lie on the spot.
"Wood scheduled an extra practice. He's dead set on winning, and pushing us to do more practice," I say, making sure not to make it look like I'm lying.
Hermione studies my face, then shrugs her shoulders, obviously believing me.
"You coming down to breakfast then?" she asks.
"Yeah, but I want to have a shower real quick," I answer.
She nods, and I grab my robes and head towards the bathroom. I have a quick shower, eager for breakfast. Once I'm done, I meet the others at the Gryffindor table. I pray Hermione doesn't bring up Quidditch practice and luck seems to be on my side as we head to our first class, Potions with Slytherins. The lesson goes by good enough, with Snape only giving us grief every ten minutes, and Malfoy only snarking at us a few times. We then head to Charms where we practice the levitation charm. I get a little bored, having mastered the charm already, but I resort to helping Harry and Ron with Hermione. We eat lunch, then head to Transfiguration. I try not to act too awkwardly, giving the conversation that went down last night, but no one asks questions. As McGonagall comes around the class, surveying our improvement, she subtly drops a letter on the ground next to me, and I make my match fly off the desk to retrieve it and store it in my robes. When McGonagall dismisses us, she gives me a look, and I nod my head a little. Next, I sit through a double History of Magic, trying to take notes but getting very bored and distracted. After lessons are done for the day, I make an excuse to go to the library and do some study before dinner. Once I settle down, I pull out the note and read it.
Your first lesson will be tonight, in Professor Dumbledore's office at 8 pm. I will attend as well.
It isn't signed, but I recognise McGonagall's handwriting. I stuff the note away again then I make a start on studying, which wasn't a complete excuse. I want to do some extra reading about the subjects we're focusing on right now, so I immerse myself in a book until dinnertime. I pack everything up, then quickly make my way to my dormitory to put all my books for the day away. I meet the trio in the Common Room, and once I've put everything away, we head down to dinner together. I have roast chicken with potatoes and vegetables for dinner and we talk lightly about random things for a bit before Harry brings up the three-headed dog we saw. Hermione and I groan while Ron looks a little frustrated but slightly intrigued. We argue about it for a while, but Hermione and I finish dinner before the boys, as Ron likes to help himself to fourths and fifths, so we decide to head back to the common room to start our homework. I ask Hermione to get some of my things while she goes up to get her textbook, and feeling only a little built guilty, I use that time to leave the common room again and head to Dumbledore's office. When I reach the stone gargoyle, it springs open like it did last night. I walk up the staircase and knock on the wooden door. Too late I realise I'm probably early, but I've already knocked now. The door springs open, and I walk inside. Dumbledore greets me, albeit a little surprised.
"Miss Potter, you're a little earlier than I expected," he says.
"Sorry Professor," I reply, a little embarrassed, "I couldn't get away any other time."
"Don't worry about it, Professor McGonagall will be here shortly," Dumbledore says kindly.
I nod, standing a little awkwardly.
"Come sit if you want," the Headmaster invites.
I smile gratefully before walking over to sit in the chair opposite him. Sure enough, a few minutes later the Professor turns up. Dumbledore rises from his chair, so I quickly get up as well.
"Now, I know you are probably wondering what these lessons will contain," Dumbledore starts. "But we are going to start with the very basics before we get onto any magic."
I try to hide a look of disappointment. I understand why he wants to do it, but that doesn't make me any less upset. Nevertheless, Dumbledore continues.
"The first step to mastering your powers is control. When someone makes you angry, or if you get upset, it will do you no good to blow-up on them. You must learn to rein in your emotions, and not let them get the better of you."
I swallow, thinking about how short my temper is.
"In this room, neither Professor McGonagall nor I will care if you lose control. It's part of learning. However, I must warn you. We will purposely try to rile you up. That's how you will learn to stay calm. Do you understand?"
I nod, hanging off his every word, determined to master this.
"Before we start though," McGonagall says, "We want to know more about you. This will help us understand ways to anger you or make you upset."
I gulp, uncomfortable with having to reveal so much information.
"Don't worry," Dumbledore reassures me. "We will never intentionally use any of the information against you, and it definitely won't be mentioned outside of this class. If there is anything you don't want us knowing, you don't have to tell us, although we encourage you to."
His words are comforting, and I find myself relaxing. Steeling myself, I take a deep breath and launch into my story.
"Harry and I grew up with the Dursleys," I begin, nervously watching the two professors.
They show no indication of interrupting, so I continue.
"They never really liked us, so it wasn't very pleasant. My aunt and uncle always doted on our cousin, Dudley. He's spoiled rotten, so we didn't get much. We only got fed Dudley's scraps, and we always had to cook and clean. Harry was lucky enough to get Dudley's old clothes, but once I was three, I had to make my own. I would be given fabric and a sewing machine, and I had to sew my own clothes. Sometimes Harry would let me have an old shirt that was too big on him, let alone me, but I didn't often get them. I only got a haircut once a year, because they didn't want to waste money on me. We got two minutes in the bathroom each, and we were physically removed if we went over that time. We…we had to share the cupboard under the stairs to sleep in."
I have to clear my throat to keep my emotions in check. Dumbledore looks astounded, and McGonagall pitiful. I ignore them though, and continue, unable to stop.
"Harry would often get nightmares, so I comforted him when he woke up. I had some as well, but they were never as bad as Harry's. At school, we only had each other. Our cousin made sure everyone bullied us and made fun of us. Me in particular, because of my eyes. I would get yelled at many times a day for being 'different'. They claimed it was unnatural. Harry stood up for me, and he tried to protect me. It worked a little bit, and eventually, only Dudley and his friends would annoy us. But it got worse when things happened. When we got yelled at, things would start to shake, and sometimes break. Harry and I never understood what was happening. All we knew was that we would get in trouble every time it did happen. When the letters came, they wouldn't let us read them. My uncle tried to board off the mail slot and he burnt the letters in the fireplace. Of course, that didn't stop them. So, we went to the hotel and then the shack in the sea. We had to sleep on the floor but then Hagrid came, and well, you sort of know the rest I guess," I finish.
I look at the Professor's, but they don't say anything. Eventually, McGonagall regains her senses and rushes over to encircle me in her embrace. I stiffen at first, unsure of what is happening, but then I relax into the hug and cautiously wrap my arms around her. She grips me tightly, and we stay like that for a while. When she pulls away, she looks down at me.
"I'm so sorry you had to go through that Isobel," she apologises. "Professor Dumbledore and I will ensure that that will change."
Dumbledore nods firmly, and I can't help the grateful smile that reaches my face. These people barely know me and have no reason to care, but here they are, helping me with my problems.
"I'm so grateful, to both of you," I say. "You don't know how much that means to me."
Dumbledore comes over and smiles down at me.
"It is no problem, my dear. Your wellbeing is extremely important to us."
I blink back the wetness in my eyes.
"Now," Dumbledore says. "I believe that is enough for tonight. Professor McGonagall will give you another note with the details of our next lesson, but for now, retire to your dormitory and get some rest. I believe this was a rather emotional night."
I nod, then thank both of them again. I walk back to Gryffindor Tower, thinking about the lesson and what the two Professors said. I enter through the portrait hole. Unfortunately, Hermione is still up and judging by the look on her face, waiting for me. I groan as I remember I left her without an explanation.
"Where did you go?" she demands as I reach her.
I race my mind to think of an answer.
"I remembered I left a book in the library this afternoon, so I went to go get it," I lie.
Hermione narrows her eyes.
"Why did that take you forty-five minutes?"
I gulp, trying not to look suspicious.
"Madame Pince had moved it, so I had to seek her out to find it. Then one of the Prefects brought me up for wandering around. I had to explain the situation to them."
I wait anxiously, silently begging her to buy it. Finally, she drops the look and smiles.
"Do you want to do that study we were going to do earlier then?"
I sigh with relief and nod. I'm not quite in the mood, but I manage to focus and take some information in. Finally, we pack up and head up to the dormitory. I change into my nightclothes and slip into my bed. I whisper goodnight to Hermione, then drift off into a dreamless sleep.
Just a little note here.
I'm not going to abandon this story. I know everyone says that then five years later you're like 'well where is the rest of the story then' but I promise I won't do that. I plan to write through to the Battle of Hogwarts, and I might even write a sequel. I've written a few keys events and the first bit of the battle already, so it will definitely continue. Thank you all so much for reading this far. I hope to update again soon. Byeee