Chapter 8

*Two Months Later*

Whatever light Hogwarts had, Albus Dumbledore took it with him when he died. Being back in school, going to classes with considerably less faces I was used to seeing each day, was so surreal. For the past couple months since the separation, I've managed to blend in with the rest of the student body and only a select few knew of my true identity; even the professors were oblivious.

Speaking of professors, much of the staff was replaced by Deatheaters as well as a few of the classes themselves. Ancient Ruins, Divination, Astronomy, and whatever else related to Muggle Studies or 'false magic teachings' were terminated. Defense of the Dark Arts was renamed to Proper Teachings of the Dark Arts which was being taught by one of the Carrows, a ruthless couple of Deatheaters.

It was utter chaos. On more than one occasion, I had taken it upon myself (much to Ginny and Luna's protest) to step in. At first, it was minor and I was able to do it under the radar. Our new 'professor' thought it would be beneficial to test dark spells on others and I was able to deflect some of the blow. On other occasions, I was lucky enough to have Neville step in when needed, but that normally lead to him getting stuck in detention.

But this! What was going on right now was so inexcusable!

"Now maggots!" Carrows began. "Which of you pathetic ingrates are familiar with bogarts?" Nobody moved or made a sound. And I refused to acknowledge a Deatheater as a professor. Carrows looked around and sneered.

"Typical. Why am I not surprised that being under the giant thumb of an idiot tyrant such as Dumbledore would make you all so weak minded?" I tried real hard not to launch a fire ball at that ugly face of his. "The purpose of today's bogart is to instill your worse fear. Each one of you will go before it and will have only a minute to make that fear nothing.

By the end of this period, you will know that fear can only be instilled onto others. If you can't, well…I guess it won't hurt to test out the concept of incentive." He stated with a dark look. My stomach churned at the way he said 'incentive' since whenever he said it that way, it meant using his favorite form of torture, the Cruciatus Curse. "Now, line up!"

Nobody moved at first and with an eye roll, Carrows lifted his wand towards us then flicked it slightly; the bookshelf in the back of the room exploded. One by one, each of us shuffled in line with me near the front, just in case. Neville was first in line, chin high and wand raised.

"Ah, my favorite little troublemaker," Carrows sneered. He turned towards a dark crate beside him and without further warning; he lifts open the crate, unleashing a dark cloud. "This is a special bogart class! This particular bogart has been laced with dark magic and can attack you; be careful what you fear." He snickered as the dark cloud swirled.

Neville didn't flinch at his words and stood his ground. I couldn't see his face and that worried me; his stance was deceiving what could be turmoil on his face. At first nothing happened but after a few moments, the dark smoke swirled and a figure came forth.

It was an older woman draped in dirty white robes. Her skin was pale and her ratty hair was different shades of grey and matted tangles. Her head was downcast and then slowly, it started to move. I had to look around a few students but once I did so, it felt like the temperature dropped a few degrees.

I recognized the woman that stood before us, but she was so different now, completely horrid. The woman's face was wrinkled and weathered, her eyes were black, and a dark thick viscous fluid was seeping from her mouth. A throaty gurgle erupted from the bogart and then it began to speak…a voice that was no longer human, a voice that was no longer his mother's.

"Neville Franklyn Longbottom! Why have you not avenged me?!" The voice spoke. Looking at Neville now, his stance had faltered and he was shaking; even his wand hand wavered in front of him.

"You are running out of time Longbottom!" Carrows taunted. "Eliminate the fear!" The creature extended a clawed chapped hand to Neville's face and stroked it slightly before scratching, breaking Neville from his stupor. He attempted to fight back, but the bogart had the upper hand.

"Stop it!" I found myself yelling. I quickly raised my wand only to have it snatched from my hand.

"No interference child!" Carros sneered. A few feet away, he flicked my wand between his fingers; like I really need a wand to take him out. I raised my hand slightly only to stop midway. I looked over at another student who placed a hand on my shoulder and gestured for me to look towards Neville.

Looking forward, Neville was hunched over, wand outstretched, but still shaking slightly; the bogart looked worse. How'd he do it?

"You are next," Carrows stated. I gulped as I walked past the line to the front. Neville glanced at me, eyes sad and skin clammy. He nodded then patted my back as he shuffled to the back of the line.

"I'm going to need my wand," I stated and he just looked at me then my wand before shrugging. He tossed my wand and I caught it in one hand before readying my stance. Carrows didn't give me any further instruction as the dark smoke began to reform in front of me.

'I have no fear' I chanted to myself. The smoke rippled in front of me, still taking it's time to form and I saw a glimmer of hope. Until the smoke circled around where I stood, cloaking everything in darkness. 'No fear, no fear…show no fear!' It's just a trick of the mind! This bogart has nothing on me…not anymore.

'Are you so sure about that? I know your secrets and I will bring them to light.'

"No!" I screamed aloud, sinking to my knees. "You are a trick of my mind, GET OUT!" I screamed again, forgetting that I was in a classroom.

'You fear loss of control. You fear losing control of your power and causing utter destruction. Your fear is losing the few people you care for to your own mistakes and not avenging the ones who have died. You fear that loss of control will lead to your ultimate failure: to end the war and uphold the prophecy. You want to keep a pathetic promise to a man who kept secrets from you your entire life, a man that you now loathe.

"SILENCE!" I bellowed. My eyes glowed and I felt myself lash out against the smoke just to quiet the sounds; I did whatever I could to silence the sounds, the words, all of it. It was all true and that was what I truly feared.

My body ached and I felt weak to the bones. I felt numb all over and I was afraid that I had been paralyzed. My eyelids felt heavy and I slowly cracked them open only to be rewarded with dark fuzz. Various questions buzzed around my brain as I attempted to keep still, but I was too restless. And I continued to lay there, that's when I realized what got me here and I shot up fast; big mistake.

"Lie still!" A voiced hissed out and then I felt coolness hit my forehead. It relaxed me and I was able to calm the nausea swimming in my belly.

"Who are you?" I asked, not recognizing the raspy sound that was my voice. The person chucked from my right.

"How can you not know your own cousin? Well, I'll forgive you since you've been unconscious for so long."

"Ginny?" I exclaimed, coughing in the process. Ginny shuffled a moment then I felt smoothness on my lips.

"Try not to speak, just drink," she insisted. I felt a liquid rush down my throat, immediately soothing the ache. After a few moments and a few refills, I felt some of my strength return.

"How long was I out?" I asked first. I was able to sit up and adjust my eyes to the dimness of our dormitory. Ginny looked grief stricken and paler than normal; she must've spent every hour beside me…she had dark circles under her eyes.

She took a deep breath then let it out, "three days," she whispered sadly. My jaw fell open and I felt like all the wind was knocked out of me. I gaped at her, unable to respond.

Ginny opened her mouth to speak, but choked back a sob. "You were so cold and your skin was white, like ghost! And your hair too," she cried, gripping my hand and I held it. "He told me what that evil bastard made ya'll do and I was tempted to hex him into oblivion, even if it meant a horrid punishment!" she said darkly.

"I'm so sorry Ginny, I was weakened and I'm truly ashamed by it," I whispered. She shook her head fast and pulled me in for a hug.

"You shouldn't be saying that! You are one of the strongest and bravest witches I have ever known. I was just so frightened and I thought you were dead!" She pulled away and looked me in the eyes, "I mean, what would the others say when they came back? I can't imagine what Harry would do, how he'd react."

I winced at the mention of his name and the thought of Harry which brought on a familiar tug at my heartstrings. I pulled away to lean against the pillows, feeling weak all over again…and a bit guilty…my gut was telling me that this was just the tip of the iceberg.

"What else happened Ginny?" I asked seriously, sensing there was more and judging by her facial expression, I was right.

"Once the smoke cleared, everybody crowded around you and pretty much freaked out. Neville was furious. Carrows merely shrugged and was about to call up another student when Neville hexed him, knocking him out. With the help of a couple other students, Neville was able to escape with you in his arms here to the tower.

He was afraid to take you to the hospital wing, in case something could've happened to you. I was finished with classes at the time so I healed you and watched over you to the best of my ability while…while…" she stammered. Her eyes began to fill with tears all over again and I braced myself for the worse.

"What's happened to Neville?!" I exclaimed. "Is…is he…" I began but stopped; I was afraid that if the next words I spoke would be truth.

"They used the Crutiatus on him till he passed out," she almost whispered. "McGonagall wasn't able to interfere in time because he sent her to help you first so you wouldn't get the same treatment," she cried. Oh man oh man, if I didn't feel bad before, I did now. I was numb again and the nausea was back…guilt was eating away at me and it won't be long before whatever shred of control I had left would be gone.

"Is he ok?" I asked once her sobbing ceased and her breaths weren't as shaky.

"Yeah," she sniffled. "He woke up some hours later and was sentenced to detentions with Hagrid for a month."

"Thank the goddess," I mumbled.

"And you have detentions as well…once you get back on your feet I mean," Ginny replied with a shrug. "He's also not teaching that class anymore nor is a few other Deatheaters; a good chunk of them have been called away."

"Won't be long till we have no professors at all…" I mumbled again earning a nod from Ginny. "Anything else I should be worried about?"

"No, but I think you have some explaining to do," she replied. Puzzled, I rubbed my head for a moment and just stared at her.

"What are you talking about?"

"When was the last time you meditated?" She demanded and I froze on the spot. I wasn't expecting such a quick change in conversation especially when she was just crying moments before.

"How are you able to go from crying your eyes out to calm in 0-60?" I asked. She gave me a small smirk and did a simple shoulder shrug.

"I'm the baby girl to six older brothers…you gotta survive somehow," she replied simply.

I gulped, "that's scary Ginny."

"Not as scary as seeing you look like death. Now spill," she demanded again. I took a moment to gather my thoughts and let out a deep sigh. I had a feeling that some story telling was in order.

"Since that day you caught me," I closed my eyes and braced myself for the impact that was Ginerva Weasley.

"Emma! What the bloody hell?!" She shouted. "How could you be so stupid?!" I cracked an eye open to see she was red faced and her hands were fists. "It's been over 3 months! What will you do if it happens again?!"

"Pray to the high heavens that nobody dies this time!" I shouted back, instantly regretting it. I slapped a hand to my own mouth, holding back my own sobs as the memories came flooding back.

Ginny slowly sat back down beside me, visibly relaxed. She took a few breaths before speaking again, "what do you mean by that?" she whispered. I quickly shook my head. "Please tell me," she begged, pulling my hand away.

"It should stay buried," I said darkly.

"Then you will never learn," she replied softly, rubbing small circles against my palm. "Please tell me, I won't judge you, I promise," she pleaded again.

Taking a deep breath, I began my story…

*FLASHBACK, 7 years ago*

It was the summer of 1990...my last summer before I was to start going to school, Hogwarts to be exact! I was so excited! By the time August rolls around, my dear godfather and Hogwarts' Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, was to come get me and take me back home to England. Where was I now you may wonder? I'm in the semi-abandoned outback of Australia for the summer. And why you may ask? Well, that's where my current guardian resides, Lachlan Andrews.

Lachlan Andrews was an old friend of Albus' back when he was a student at Hogwarts. Back in school, Ravenclaw was his house and he received top marks in Charms, Transfiguration, and Defense Against the Dark Arts. He eventually went on to become an Auror and registered Animagus, which took the shape of dingo as was his patronus. Anyways, Albus thought that Lachlan was a high choice for me to learn defense and magic control. He was also the one who encouraged me to not use a wand.

"How am I supposed to do magic without a wand?" I asked, hands on my hips. Lachlan was just explaining the concept of wandless magic and I thought it was ridiculous.

Lachlan smiled at me then bent down slightly so he was eye level, "It's good for a witch or wizard to have knowledge in both wand and wandless magic, especially at your age when your maturity is at its peak time,"

I shivered at the way he hinted at my 'magical puberty' like it was ok and normal. "But I'm only 11 years old!"

"And won't it be good for you to have a slight advantage when you start school next year? Especially with-" he stopped as if he was catching himself.

"Especially with what?" I questioned. He just smiled, not budging. He stood up and backed away a few feet.

"Now, again, if you will," he gestured to the various items littered in front of me that he wanted me to lift then toss: a teddy bear, beaded pillow, bowling ball, and a chair.

For a good so and so amount of hours, I worked till sweat dotted my forehead and trickled down my face. I was amazed by how simple the concept of wandless magic came to me, as if it was second nature to do so…it was easy as breathing. But no, it couldn't be this easy…could it?

"Wow, this is so amazing!" I exclaimed as I lowered the ATVs back down to the ground. I fell flat on my butt, utterly exhausted, but happy nonetheless. Lachlan smiled back, strained slightly and it made me wonder if I was at a satisfactory level. "But I can't help but wonder how it came so easily…"

Lachlan's smile faded a bit before he spoke, "honestly, I was hoping that it would," he said with a sigh. "Emma, are you familiar with the term 'telekinesis'?"

"Somewhat. Is that when you move stuff with your mind? Like Jean Grey from X-Men?" I asked.

He nodded, "yes, in a sense. Ah, where to begin…" he paused, gathering his thoughts. "From what I gathered on your family history and what Albus shared with me, the power of telekinesis in present with you, on your mother's side to be more specific."

I let that confession sink in, feeling a bit sad over the thought of my dead parents, but strangely happy at the connection I've gained.

"Are there any other super powers I may have?" I asked hopeful, smiling wide and he did the same.

"Well, are you also familiar with the character 'Storm'?" My eyes lit up at that question and I nodded eagerly as he dove into my father's heritage. I was in awe by the amount of power that I had…power that my parents had, the only connections I had left to them. My heart ached for them and I vowed to make them proud.

From that day on, I worked harder and harder, constantly practicing and enhancing my gifts. All the work took a toll on my young body, but it was worth it. Lachlan took notice of the change of pace and even alerted Albus to come sooner. But he had other plans and the consequences that followed still haunt me.

"What do you mean he isn't coming?! I'm supposed to be starting school in September!" I yelled. Lachlan had just received an owl from Albus saying that Harry Potter has been found and will be starting his first year at Hogwarts. He was afraid that both of us attending school so early would pose too much of a threat.

Lachlan said nothing and looked genially guilty over the turn of events. "Hey, don't shoot the messenger…I'm just as upset as you are, this isn't fair to you,"

"Why the hell is he choosing him over me?!" I continued to yell, feeling a pressure deep in my stomach.

"Watch that tongue of yours missy! I understand your feelings-"

"No you don't!" I yelled over him. "You have no idea how I feel!" I growled in frustration, feeling the winds around us pick up and howl with my anger. Lachlan noticed this too and quickly put his arms up in surrender.

"Emma, please calm down. I'm sorry-"

"No! I will not calm down! I am angry! I am angry that Albus has lied to me! I am angry that my parents are dead! I am angry that Harry Potter gets to go to Hogwarts and not me! Most of all, I am angry at Voldemort ruining my life and I want him to die!" I screamed to the heavens, losing all source of control.

The winds continued to swirl around mixing with the desert sands. I felt myself being lifted from the ground and the pressure from my stomach spread to the rest of my body. My eyes glowed for the first time that day and then I was gone.

*END OF FLASHBACK*

"I woke up some days later on a muggle ship somewhere in the Indian Ocean…" I paused, choking up a bit as I neared the end of my dark tale. Ginny held my hand the hold time and held a neutral expression, not saying a single word. I let out a shaky breath, hoping that the tears would hold back this time around, "I created my first lightning storm that day; it took out his house, the ATVs, everything…I destroyed everything within a 20 mile radius."

I stopped again, getting to the worst part of the story. Ginny squeezed my hand, urging me to continue, "Is that all?" she asked quietly and I shook my head sadly.

"I left no survivors," I choked out, letting the guilt take over, and allowing a few tears to fall. Ginny held me as I sobbed on her shoulder. "I killed someone Ginny! I'm so horrible!" I wailed. She cooed and rubbed my head as we rocked on the bed.

"Shhhh, it was an accident-"

"Yes! It was and I still regret it! I was an idiot child and lost control! That's why I'm so afraid now of-" I didn't get to finish that sentence for a sharp stabbing pain came from nowhere. I screamed and clutched my side as Ginny leapt from the bed.

"Emma, what's wrong?!" She exclaimed. I withered and tossed around on the small bed. I never experienced such a sudden intensity and soon was met by utter blackness, a sweet reprieve.

Ginny looked on in horror as Emma convulsed on the bed, holding herself. She quickly grabbed her wand and aimed it at Emma. She muttered a quick spell and then Emma went still. Ginny slumped in the chair, felling the adrenaline leave her system, and just stared at her unconscious friend.

And during the few hours Emma was knocked out, Ginny went to work doing whatever check on her friend's health that she could think of…even a few unthinkable ones.

Halfway through her tests, the most unthinkable test came back positive, making Ginny's jaw drop in both excitement and fear. She looked down at her sleeping friend, whose face would scrunch up every now and then in discomfort, more worried than ever. With a shaky hand, she brought it to the other girl's stomach, rubbing it slightly, thinking of the life growing inside.