The rest of the winter months rolled by with the six friends trying to decipher the cause for Marnie's dreams. Hermione had been pretty keen on telling Professor McGonagall while Harry had suggested confiding to the headmaster, but Marnie was adamant about remaining quiet. Fred and George stood by her decision but worried whether it was the right one, especially when the nightmares had remained fairly constant. It wasn't at all surprising now for Marnie to crawl into the twins' beds in the middle of the night at least twice a week. In preparation, George and Fred permanently left their beds together to have enough room for Marnie to crawl in between them. Harry continued to ignore the fact that his non-biological sister spent many of her nights in the beds of non-familial boys only because he knew Marnie got more sleep that way.
Marnie and the twins had also picked up more on Harry, Ron and Hermione's suspicious behavior and tried to piece it together when they weren't studying or the twins weren't preparing for quidditch. Their second match was fast approaching which made Marnie even more anxious than she already felt. With Snape out to murder Harry and Voldemort haunting her dreams; sleep was almost a hopeless feat at this point. It was only heightened when Harry begrudgingly told them Snape would be refereeing the upcoming match.
"You can't be serious!" I exclaimed as Harry told us one night in the common room. "I knew we should have told Dumbledore about Snape," I continued while Hermione nodded in agreeance.
"We've been over this Marnie, we agreed he wouldn't believe us without proof," Harry explained while it was Ron's turn to nod along.
"Yea, but I don't want your dead body to be the proof!" I exclaimed causing Fred to put his hand over mine.
"Calm down Hare, you know Georgie and I won't let anything happen to Harry," he said while I reluctantly nodded.
It wasn't that I didn't believe him, since they had proven they would look out for Harry during the last game. But two third years up against a schoolteacher, the odds weren't exactly stacked in their favour.
"It'll be alright Marnie," Hermione encouraged with a slight smile.
I looked at her face and nodded in a sudden wave of confidence. But before I could say anything about my forming plan Neville literally hopped into the common room with his legs stuck together from a binding jinx.
"What happened Neville?" I exclaimed as Hermione and I approached him.
"Malfoy," he answered nervously, Hermione quickly reversing the spell.
"Need me to go after him?" I offered angrily since I knew Draco Malfoy had been targeting Neville all year.
"No, I don't want to cause any more trouble," he answered timidly.
"You need to stand up for yourself!" I encouraged, putting my hand on his shoulder.
Harry then came up to us and offered Neville a chocolate frog.
"You're always going to be ten times the wizard Malfoy will ever be," Harry said but Neville only nodded his head.
It looked as if he was suppressing tears of gratitude. Harry then led him over to the couch where the rest of the boys were still sitting so I turned to Hermione.
"Well, I guess we better get researching different ways to help Harry if things do go south during the match," I said and Hermione agreed.
"I already pulled some books from the library so we can study in the common room tonight," Hermione replied.
I nodded before following her towards a study table.
"I can't believe how similar those two can be sometimes," Ron said shaking his head and watching the two girls depart after hearing their conversation.
"Yea, well they are both trying to save Harry's life," Fred countered.
"I just wish Marnie wouldn't worry so much," Harry added while the twins shook their heads.
"Listen mate, if the roles were reversed, would you be so calm if someone was out to get your sister?" George asked while Harry brought his hands to his face.
"But they are aren't they!" Harry exclaimed in an exasperated tone. "Being associated with me already puts a target on her back. Plus, those bastard Slytherin's who target her when she's alone and I'm scared out of my mind why she dreams about Voldemort nearly every night. It has to mean something!" Harry finished while the three other boys bowed their heads sorrowfully.
"You think maybe it's time to confide in an adult?" Ron asked while the others turned to look at him.
"Honestly I've already been considering it myself," Fred added while the other two nodded; Neville had since left the group.
"But who would we tell?" George asked.
"Marnie's right, it might be too hard on Joss and Remus with Lena involved," Harry said.
"So that leaves McGonagall and Dumbledore as our best options," George replied.
"I think McGonagall would be more suitable since she is our head of house and it would be easier at least to get a meeting with her. Plus, if she deems it important enough, she can bring it to Dumbledore directly." Fred added.
"Now who's going to be the one to go behind Marnie's back?" Ron asked solemnly.
Harry went to answer but Fred cut him off.
"I'll do it. I've taken Marnie's wrath before and I don't mind being the center of it when I know I've done the right thing. Plus, you have enough to worry about Harry with the upcoming match and whatever it is you guys are always whispering about," Fred said as he gave a pointed look to both Harry and Ron who couldn't look directly at him in return.
"Thank-you Fred. I'll owe you one," Harry said with a grateful expression.
"Yea, well let's hope your sister doesn't murder me before I can collect," Fred replied as he stood up and started to make his way for the deputy headmistress' office.
He arrived at the door which stood adjacent to the portrait hole only moments later. Fred knocked and waited a moment before he heard footsteps approach.
"Mr. Weasley, this is a surprise," Professor McGonagall said in greeting with suspicion laced in her voice after she had opened the door.
I guess that was called for.
"Erm, professor, I thought I might have a word with you about something rather important," Fred said seriously while he watched the expression change on McGonagall's face from trepidation to concern.
"Of course, why don't you come in and take a seat?" the professor gestured as she stood aside and allowed Fred to step through the doorway into a parlour which was obvious for receiving guests with a couple chairs and a coffee table centered around a small fireplace.
"What can I help you with?" McGonagall asked as she took a seat and gestured for Fred to sit across from her.
"Well, it's Marnie actually. I don't really know how to explain this but she's been having dreams, nightmares really, most every night now," Fred started to explain while McGonagall studied him.
"Is something bothering Miss. O'Hara?" she asked as Fred shook his head.
"No, it's nothing like that. She says she has these vivid dreams about her mother," Fred paused while the professor offered another speculation.
"Well I'm sure it is very difficult for Miss. O'Hara to deal with her mother's condition," she continued but Fred shook his head again.
"No, I mean, Marnie has dreams where she is her mother and lives out her mother's memories," Fred continued and watched the professor's expression change into concerned surprise.
"Are you telling me Mr. Weasley that Miss. O'Hara has dreams of her mother's past?" she asked rather seriously.
"Yes. And the worst bit is that recently they have all had… they've all had You Know Who in them," Fred finished as McGonagall gasped.
"How long as this been going on?" the professor demanded.
"These particular dreams seem to have started after she got back from Christmas break, but I can't be for certain," Fred answered miserably.
"Why hasn't she brought this to my attention sooner?" she demanded again.
"Marnie is still afraid to bring it to anyone's attention, especially her dad. A small group of us have been trying to figure out the cause but we haven't had much luck and they only seem to be getting worse," Fred explained while the professor nodded along.
"Well, thank-you for telling me Mr. Weasley. It is a very wise thing you did," McGonagall said and stood up to escort Fred to the door.
"You won't tell Marnie's father will you?" Fred asked more desperately than he had intended.
"For the moment I do not think Joss will need to be privy to this information, but there may come a time where that will change. For right now I am going to tell the headmaster who will no doubt have a conversation with Miss. O'Hara," the professor explained.
Fred soon vacated the room and McGonagall closed the door behind him. He felt as if several pounds of weight was being added to his shoulders as he slumped back to the common room. He entered to see Marnie and Hermione still sitting at the table looking over books while George, Harry and Ron sat in their same seats and gave him worried looks when he walked in. Fred just nodded his head and went over to Marnie.
"Hare, can I talk with you a minute?" Fred asked in a hesitant tone.
He knew he had done the right thing, but he didn't know what it would cost him.
"Of course," Marnie answered, getting up and following him up to the boy's dormitory.
"This must be serious if you've brought me up here," Marnie joked but Fred only returned a small smile.
He also paused a moment to watch Marnie's smile drop from her face.
"What's up Fred?" she asked worriedly as he sat down on George's bed.
Marnie followed suit by sitting on Lee's bed which sat opposite.
"Well, we haven't been able to come up with anything about your dreams," Fred started while Marnie just sighed.
"You didn't tell my dad did you?" she asked unsurprisingly.
"No, I told Professor McGonagall who I am pretty sure is on her way to tell Professor Dumbledore," Fred answered while he looked down at his hands. "But I did ask her not to send a letter to your dad. At least not yet," Fred added hastily.
Marnie stayed quiet which eventually brought Fred to look up at her. She was staring thoughtfully at the ground, looking rather ragged.
"Are you mad?" Fred finally asked with bated breath.
Marnie let out a slight laugh.
"Maybe I would have been a week ago. But honestly…" she paused releasing a heavy sigh. "I'm so tired Fred. I see that- that monster nearly every night in my dreams. I see Harry's dead parents. I see other people's corpses at my feet. It's too much Fred!" Marnie exclaimed while Fred got up and joined her on Lee's bed.
Fred put his arm around her as she leaned on his chest. Her breathing was labored but started to calm when he rubbed his hand up and down her back.
"We just couldn't watch you suffer anymore," Fred said quietly while Marnie remained silent.
"What's wrong with us Fred?" Marnie asked desperately. "Between my dreams and Harry's scar bothering him, we probably belong in a hospital wing," she continued with a mirthless laugh.
"What do you mean Harry's scar?" Fred asked in bewilderment.
"Oh, I thought I told you," Marnie said shaking her head. "His scar has been hurting at odd times. Harry seems to think it's a warning of some kind but he won't tell me much more," she continued.
Fred paused for a moment.
"What if your dreams are a warning as well?" Fred finally said as the thought that had been at the back of his mind for ages finally came to the surface.
He had been too scared to ponder it before, but now it was seeming to be more and more accurate.
"What would my dreams be a warning about?" Marnie asked curiously.
"Well, you've been dreaming about Death Eaters and You Know Who. So that might be the warning. You and your family are always talking about how they will come back one day," Fred stopped with a pregnant pause.
Marnie gasped taking in Fred's words.
But before she could say anything more Professor McGonagall came into the dorm with a worried expression.
"Miss. O'Hara, Professor Dumbledore has requested an immediate meeting with you that he felt couldn't wait until tomorrow," the deputy headmistress said as she raised her arm in a beckoning manner towards Marnie.
Marnie immediately stood up and followed the professor down to the common room where Harry and the others caught her eye with worried and meaningful glances.
As they stepped into the hallway Marnie kept following the professor towards the headmaster's office.
"Given the circumstances I will not press the matter of you being in a boy's dormitory Miss. O'Hara, but I will say that I do not encourage such behavior in my students," Professor McGonagall said while Marnie nodded and felt her face go flush.
They arrived at the foot of a large gargoyle statue where the professor gave the password.
"Fudge Flies," she said before the statue seemingly came to life and moved to reveal a staircase.
Professor McGonagall then raised her arm to usher Marnie forward. Marnie ascended the staircase alone before she came to a large wooden door at the top. She approached it and raised her hand to knock but heard Professor Dumbledore speak before she could.
"You may enter," his voice instructed in a calm and inviting tone.
Marnie entered the chamber to see a large, ornate office filled with an assortment of instruments and books. She couldn't help but gaze around and take everything in.
"Won't you have a seat Marnie," Professor Dumbledore offered as he gestured to the seat opposite him.
Marnie sat down and folded her arms in her lap.
"Am I in trouble Professor?" Marnie blurted before she could stop herself.
Professor Dumbledore let out a soft chuckle.
"No my child, I have not called you here to punish or reprimand you. If that had been the case I would not have called you at this late hour," he said reassuringly. "I would like you to tell me about these dreams you have been having."
I took a deep breath, having guessed this was the cause for the meeting, before starting into my retelling of all my dreams I had had over the past few months. It wasn't too long since they were mostly consistent; Voldemort's ghost, Harry's parents, Fabian and Gideon.
Dumbledore remained silent throughout the entire reiteration. Even when I stopped talking he still pondered my words.
"So, these dreams are always the same?" he finally asked with curiosity in his eyes.
"Yes," I answered.
"And Voldemort and his followers are always there?" he asked
"Yes."
"I see. Well I think that is all for tonight," Dumbledore said as I looked at him surprisingly.
"Are you going to tell my father?" I blurted again.
"No Marnie, I feel telling Joss would not benefit your situation or his own," he answered with a knowing look in his eye.
I stood up then, having many questions in my head but little energy to ask. I followed him to the door where he took something out of his robe pocket.
"Here, I asked Madam Pomfrey to concoct this sleeping draught for you," the headmaster said as he put the vial into my hand. "It is a particular variation which suppresses dreams," he explained.
I smiled in relief and pocketed it before heading out the door.
"Thank-you professor," I said and he nodded with a smile.
"Marnie, do tell me if more happens or things develop. But I feel there is no need to dwell on your current dreams as of now," he said while I nodded and turned back towards the stairs.
It was late, but still before curfew, as I made my way back to Gryffindor Tower. When I entered the common room, I was met by my anxious looking friends who had obviously been waiting up for me. I gave them a re-hash of what happened and showed them the sleeping draught which I held possessively in my hands. I couldn't remember the last time I had gotten a proper sleep.
"Why don't we let Marnie go try out her new potion and we can ask her more questions tomorrow," George suggested to which I was grateful.
I gave my good-byes then before heading up to my own dorm and changing my clothes. I fell onto my bed and took the regulated dose of the potion. Only moments later I could feel a tingly sensation in my extremities as my body became heavy, including my eyes. Soon I felt my mind go cloudy and I drifted off into a deep sleep.