Opps, I forgot the d/c in the last chap so here it is.. I own not Harry
Potter!!!! **cracks knuckles** now onto the writing..
~~~ ^ ~~~ Last time: ~~~ ^ ~~~
"Read my mind. You'll see Rivers," he said taking her hand.
She looked into his eyes and hesitantly laid a hand on his cheek, shutting her eyes she concentrated. Memories came flooding into Rachel's mind. There were pictures, burning, unburning. A graveyard, a little boy and a blond woman. There were little girls, two little twins.
"What's going on?"
~~~ ^ ~~~
I think I'll go for a walk, Maybe out in the rain. Maybe let the tears roll down my face, And not feel the pain. Maybe think about something, Maybe think about you. Yeah you can't hurt me now. You know you can't hurt me now. You can't hold me down, And I got plenty of time.
Time to figure it out, Time to think about you and me, Whatever that was all about. I've got nothing to prove. I've got nothing to say. No I guess I never thought that you were good for me anyway, I've got nothing to lose. Nothing but you.
- Kim Ferron "Nothing but you"
Rachel jumped away from Draco, hitting her head on the wall behind her. On instinct her hand flew up and she began rubbing the sore spot. Draco had stepped back slower and smirked at Professor Wood, who had caught them in the interesting position.
Draco's hand reached back to Rachel, grazing it he thought, ~ Are you alright? ~
~ Peachy ~ she thought sarcastically. ~ Yeah, really, I'm okay. ~
"What do you think Professor?" Draco asked walking to him.
Rachel, seeing this as the time to escape, strode past the two overly hormoned men, brushing shoulders with Oliver.
Draco watched her until she entered the Great Hall. He turned back to Oliver, "Watch yourself Wood, be ready for when you lose her," Draco said walking past him.
"What do you mean?" Oliver asked stopping in front of him.
"When you lose her, is the time when you will need her most," Draco said walking into the Great Hall leaving an extremely confused Oliver.
~~~ ^ ~~~
When Rachel entered the Hall she looked around flustered until she spotted Harry, beaming she headed over to her seat next to him.
"What took you?" Ron asked with a mouth full of food.
Hermione almost gagged.
Rachel smiled, "Oh, just some family business." She looked up as Draco entered the Hall. While he walked over to the Slytherin table he made eye contact with Rachel. He nodded to her, then sneered at her company. Hearing a groan next to her, she guilty dropped her connection and stared at her plate as Harry wrapped a protective arm around her waist.
Ron glared over at Draco and Rachel could feel the daggers being glared into her back, she frowned deeper.
Oliver walked in shortly after and Ron's face brightened. "Oy! Oliver!"
Oliver smiled and headed over to the Gryffindor Four.
"Ron," Hermione scolded. "He's a Professor now, not one of your quidditch buddies!"
"Oh, yeah, but he can still be the old Oliver outside of class, right Harry?"
Harry did not have the chance to answer as Oliver came over to the Four. Rachel moved closer to him and shielded her eyes with her right hand. She could feel Oliver's gaze on her shoulder more than she felt Harry's arm on her back.
"Hey guys," he beamed as he stood beside Rachel.
"Hi," Hermione replied shyly.
"Hey," Ron said between swallows.
"Hullo," Harry replied happily.
And Rachel mumbled something under her breath.
"So Oliver why don't you sit down and eat something?" Ron asked.
"I'd really like to, but unfortunately I have Professor duties to attend to and such."
Rachel snorted. "Aw, too bad," Hermione smiled catching some of Rachel's uneasiness.
"It's alright," Harry replied.
He bent down to Rachel's ear and whispered gently, "Keep safe."
It sent a shiver down her spine that made her melt. She whipped her head around and glared up at him with black eyes. He smiled and winked exiting the Hall.
"What was that about?" Hermione asked. Rachel's eyes were glued on the door.
"No clue," Harry said. "C'mon," he said pulling Rachel up. "Let's go to the common room."
Rachel allowed herself to be lead to the commons, but she was in a daze. When they arrived, she made an excuse of being tired out from the quidditch match and headed up to bed. She detached herself from Harry and said her goodnights, plastering a fake smile on her face.
When she shut the door, her smile disappeared and her eyes turned a troubled brown. She changed into a pair of loose black pj pants and a red tank top. Sitting down on her bed, she pulling the curtains around it and laid back on her pillows restlessly. She stared at the canopy for what seemed like hours. Rachel heard footsteps and the door opened. Hermione entered and walked over to the bathroom. After a few minutes she exited and climbed into bed. Rachel sighed peacefully and shut her eyes and that evil hissing laugh filled her ears.
Rachel shot up gasping and looked around, the curtains were drawn back and she looked around madly to see if anyone else was there. Spotting Hermione, she watched her sleep for a moment or two, making sure she was breathing and that it wasn't her mind playing tricks on her. Sighing in relief she grabbed her hoodie and slipped on her shoes, exiting the girls' dorms and the Gryffindor tower.
Sneaking out through the portrait hole, she crept around the abandoned hallways, moving in a circle. She groaned in frustration and leaned against the wall upon realizing that she passed a portrait of a sleeping knight for the fourth time. Her eyes misted over and she gasped. Edging closer to the corner she heard footsteps. Pushing herself against the cold stone wall she held her breath. The steps became closer until they reached her corner. Frozen, she waited, two more steps and she lunged herself at the air. "HAH!" she screamed tackling something. She looked down and appeared to be sitting on air. "Whoa," she whispered.
"Rachel?" the air asked.
"Harry?" she asked back. Standing up, Harry Potter appeared in front of her out of thin air. Holding up a cloak he flipped it around him, first he was there, then he wasn't, then he was back again. "Spiff," she commented.
"Thanks," he smiled. "It was my father's."
"What are you doing up?" she asked placing her hands on her hips.
"Looking for trouble, what's your excuse?" he countered.
"I'm trying to find Dumbledore's office so I can tell him about my nightmare. He monitors them, and is trying to control them. That's why I'm here."
"At two o'clock in the morning?" he asked skeptically.
"I couldn't sleep," she whimpered.
"C'mon," he said taking her hand. "I know where it is, I'll show you."
They headed towards the headmaster's office. After rounding a few corners Harry produced for her a gargoyle statue. "Cool," she said running her hand over it's wing. At her touch the gargoyle moved to the side revealing a spiral set of stairs. She jumped back and Harry caught her against his chest.
"You want me to go in with you?" Harry whispered into her ear.
"No," she smiled at him. "I'll be fine."
He let her go and she stepped on to the moving stairwell. It stopped for her in of a large oak door. She hesitated and then knocked.
"Come in," replied Dumbledore.
She opened the door slowly and entered, shutting it tightly behind her.
"Ah, yes, Rachel, you needed to speak with me?"
"Sorry for the intrusion, Dumbledore, but I had to tell you about my nightmare." After recalling the dream to him she looked at and saw that he was nodding his head slightly.
"Rachel are you aware that you have a cousin in Slytherin?"
"I heard from the Sorting Hat, yes," she replied.
"Do you know how you and young mister Malfoy are related?"
"Our mothers were sisters, twin sisters," she said.
"It then appears that in your dream you are your mother, Christina Black."
~~~ ^ ~~~
Rachel sniffled as she walked the stairs. Wiping her tear-streaked cheeks she held her head high and smiled at Harry who was seated on the floor. "You're going to catch a cold," she said in a motherly fashion.
Harry jumped up and turned around smiling at her. He enveloped her in a bear hug and asked, "Who are you? My mother?"
"I'm Rachel Annabelle Rivers, and if I don't take care of you who will?" she played.
"Hermione would," he paused as they began to walk back in a comfortable silence.
"Starry Nights," Rachel said as they approached the portrait hole.
"Ladies first," Harry offered.
"Thank you," she smiled stepping inside.
"Care to tuck me in... Mommy?" Harry joked.
Rachel kissed him lightly on the cheek, "Don't push your luck Potter."
He smiled at her, "Hey, what can I say? I had to try!" He laughed as they walked up the stairs to the dorms.
"Yeah well, try harder next time," she said pushing him toward the 6th year boys' dorms. "Now get some sleep," she commented.
"Night Rachel," he said walking in the dorms.
Her smile faded as she left, walking back outside of the portrait hole and into the lonely halls. Wandering around and taking the route that Oliver tried to show her she walked down to the main hall. Stepping outside she made her way down to the quidditch pitch. Her breath shown in a long white mist as she exhaled and light snowflakes were beginning to fall slightly. The ground wasn't frozen but it wasn't a winter wonderland. She walked to the nearest stand and began trudging up the stairs occasionally sniffing.
When she reached the top, she flopped down in a seat looking around her and basking in the moonlight. A tear fell down to the cold wood as a memory flooded her.
~~^* v v *^~~
There was a crash in the room beside her. "Aunt Carrie?" a small
voice called out.
"I'm here sweetie," the woman said.
"I had another nightmare, Aunt Carrie," the little girl said clinging to her.
"It's okay Rachel, it was only a dream, it's over now. You're here.
You're safe," the older woman soothed.
"Aunt Carrie, can you tell me about my Mommy again?" little Rachel
asked.
A silent tear slipped down her cheek. "You're Mommy was a very smart
girl.. She was an excellent cook and a good quidditch player too."
Rachel laughed, "I thought that Daddy was the good quidditch player!"
"He was, but your mother played too." The little girl had fallen
asleep in her arms. Setting her back down on the bed she got up and
went into the other room.
"Nathaniel," Carrie whispered. "Don't pretend to be asleep, because I
know you heard me lying to your daughter again. I hate it and I won't
do it for much longer," Carrie protested.
"You didn't lie. You told her that her mother played quidditch.
Michelle didn't play quidditch and you know that. Don't mix the two
up," he whispered hoarsely at her.
"Yes, but she's going to have to find out sooner or later. The longer
you hold this from her the harder it will be to regain her trust," she
commented.
"You aren't a psychic, how would you know."
"That may have been Christina's thing, but I don't have to have any
telepathic abilities to tell you that she'll turn away. She'll hate
you for lying."
"Don't presume that you can tell me how to raise my own daughter. And
don't mention her name, ever," Nathaniel said.
"What are you going to tell her when she goes looking at that
quidditch picture of yours and Michelle isn't in it? What will you
tell her then?" Carrie scolded.
"I'll tell her when she's damn old enough to understand!" he shouted
throwing a picture and its frame down on the ground shattering it.
Little Rachel jumped back from the crack in the doorway where she was
listening and back into her bed. Burying her head in her pillows and
looking away from the door with tightly shut eyes.
~~^* v v *^~~
"Bastard," Rachel mumbled as she wiped a tear with her sleeve. 'He never told me, I found out from my cousin, and my headmaster. Turn away? Hell I'm never going home,' she thought as something rustled in the bushes by the edge of the Forbidden Forest. Rachel's eyes shot up and she shivered. The contact was so familiar.. "Dêjá vu," she said, and was then sucked into another memory.
~~^* v v *^~~
Rachel looked around grasping at the small dagger in her hand.
Something moved in the brush in front of her, and she shivered in the
wind. A figure approached her, she looked up at it in horror.
"Da..... D... DEEAATHHH EEATTER!!" she screeched and turned running
but it grabbed her. She struggled against it, but more came, clamping
their hands on her, holding her down. She heard a woman's voice near
her.
"Please, let her go, only for a little while longer."
"No," a cold voice said.
"She's only seven!" she persisted. She received a loud smack across
her face from the owner of the first voice.
"It does not matter. Now is her time. The Dark Lord is in need of
her service," another voice responded pulling at her right arm.
"I'm so sorry dear," the woman said through sobs.
"NO!!" Rachel screamed as there was a burning feeling coursing from
her right arm through her entire body.
~~^* v v *^~~
"Shit! Damn! Piss!" Rachel said clutching her head. "Fucking visions and shit should come with a shittin' WARNING LABEL!" she shouted upward to no one in particular. As she was staring up a lone star fell from the sky, as another, and another fell. The tears were now flowing freely... She lowered her head and cried, whispering, "Fuck you."
~~^* v v *^~~
She cried, "I'm so stupid," as she wrapped a blanket around herself
for warmth, the sun had turned its back on her and set. Now the stars
were her only company and yet they were falling away from her. Or
maybe they were crying for her. She hoped for the latter. But she
should have known. Should have been prepared but..
"Rachel..... last night can you believe it!" Abby Ecardio from Pride said.
'Okay so what, you fell, get up and keep going, it was a
disappointment.'
~~^* v v *^~~
"Rachel? Are you okay?"
Rachel's head shot up and she whipped her head around. "Sarah? What are you doing up?" she asked with concern. The young girl headed toward her.
"I'm just taking a few laps before the quidditch game today," she smiled.
"There's a game today?" Rachel asked astonished.
"Yeah, we're playing Slytherin,," Sarah commented. "Oh, and congratulations on making the team, we needed a new chaser anyway."
"Thanks, but when does the game start?" Rachel asked confused.
"At one, and don't tell Harry that you know about the game. He'll want to tell you himself," Sarah said before mounting her broom and taking off around the pitch.
Rachel watched for a few minutes than looked at her watch, "Shit," she mumbled. "Five o'clock," she said getting up and starting to walk down the stairs.
Sarah met her at the bottom. "Hey Rachel, what were you doing outside anyway?"
She sighed looking around then answered her, "I'm a psychic, if you didn't know, but I just needed time to clear my head and get some of these thoughts out."
"Psychic? Cool. But thoughts of what?"
"My family, umm.. as dysfunctional as we are, umm I have these nightmares that kinda haunt me," she shivered. "And one bad night from my old school."
"Wow, well, if you ever need someone to talk to, Hermione and I will always be here for you," she offered.
Rachel smiled widely, "Thanks Sarah. How about we meet after the match in the library, you, me and Hermione so we can discuss these damned nightmares, you know, try and figure them out, okay?"
"Sounds great to me!" Sarah said launching herself into the air again, and shouted down to Rachel, "Now get some sleep!"
Rachel laughed and waving at Sarah broke into a jog back to the castle. She walked the route that Oliver had shone to her and passed his door. She stopped and turned back. Knocking lightly.
Oliver rolled out of bed at a knock and walked over to his door, opening it his slight surprised. "Rachel," he smiled. "What brings you here?"
"Can we talk?" she asked.
"Sure," he replied stepping out of her way.
She entered his office and looked towards a side room. In his bedroom there was a king sized bed, with Puddlemere colors, ][ A/N: Blue right?? ][ and two large chairs off to the side. On the opposite wall there was a door that led to his bathroom. Walking into his bedroom she took a seat on one of his chairs.
Oliver followed her in and sat on his bed. "So, what do you want to talk about?" he asked.
"I'm not angry with you," she stated.
"Who said I thought you were?" he asked.
She lightly tapped on her temples with her fingertips and grinned weakly. "You were projecting it when you walked into the Great Hall at dinner last night. I was hard not to ignore it," she laughed slightly.
He yawned and stretched his arms and back, and for the first time they both realized that he wasn't wearing a shirt. Rachel's eyes wandered over his toned chest and flat stomach, he smiled as he watched her do this. He smiled and added, "You woke me up you know."
Rachel snapped back to reality and blushed that he caught her. "Liar," she said. "You couldn't sleep you were so worried at the thought that you pissed me off!" she argued.
Oliver nodded his head, "True, but really, you're not mad are you?" he asked slightly afraid.
Rachel smiled and shook her head, "No," she said. 'How can I get mad at a face like that,' she thought. 'Or the body. Whoa! Hold up! Stop the press! You are not getting feelings for a professor, even if he is only a sub...' she mentally fought. Glancing up she caught his chest again and blushed looking away.
He smiled at her and she stood up, "I should be getting back to the common room."
"You mean you got up at five o'clock in the morning to come down and check on me?" he smiled getting up and standing in front of her looking down at her face.
Rachel blushed and stared at the floor and tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. "No, I could sleep last night so I went down to the pitch to clear my head," she replied.
He lifted her chin to meet his gaze with his hand. "You're freezing," he commented grabbing and blanket from his bed and wrapping it around her cold form.
"No, really. I'm fine Oliver," she protested trying to remove the blanket but he stopped her.
"You're going to get sick," he said sitting her down on his bed. "I'll get you a cup of tea, you stay here and don't move," he warned.
She rolled her eyes as he left the room and cracked her knuckles, instantly Oliver's head popped around the corner. "Hey," he smiled in mock anger. "I told you not to move."
"Oh, and are there consequences for breaking this rule?" she asked flirtatiously.
"Oh yes," he responded and walked over to the bed sitting on it beside her. "The punishment is very severe," he joked.
"Then I'd better get the maximum time," she smiled.
"You better believe it," he smiled and rolled on top of her pinning her onto his bed.
"Hey! That's not fair Oliver!" she squealed and used her lower body strength and pushed him off of her and she rolled him over and tried sitting on him. But he used her force and pinned her underneath him again. He sat on her hips and helps her arms down with his own as she struggled and squirmed beneath him.
"Are we going to play nice?" he asked huskily bending his head close to her face.
A small smirk went across her face as she cocked and eyebrow, then bit at his nose.
"Hey," he retorted drawing back a bit. "Nice," he reminded her.
Rachel smiled and moved her hand after Oliver released his grasp on her and touched his face, she ran her hand down his cheek and traced his lips with her finger. Oliver leaned in closer to her, feeling her breath on his face. Their lips brushed for an instant and the teakettle whistled. He groaned rolling off Rachel and lay his head down next to hers.
She blushed in embarrassment, "Maybe you should get that," she suggested.
Oliver sighed loudly, "Yeah," he said getting up and exiting the room.
Rachel smiled and sat up. She backed up on his bed and leaned against the headboard placing the blanket over her legs.
Oliver soon returned with two steaming cups of tea, "Here you go," he handed her one and sat down next to her.
"Mmm," she smiled sipping the hot liquid. Looking over to Oliver she smiled and met his brown eyes with her own deep blues. He smiled back and placed an arm around her shoulder. She leaned in sipping her tea from time to time and enjoying the comfortable silence that was between them.
Rachel's watch beeped on her wrist, signifying the turn of the hour, "Lovely," she said downing the rest of her tea.
Oliver looked at her concerned. "What? What's wrong?" he asked sitting up, and turning to face her.
She sighed, "It's nothing, I just wanted to be back in the commons by now, you know, I didn't want anybody worrying about me so soon," she answered getting off of Oliver comfy bed and walking towards his office.
"Well, then if you insist on leaving me here," he pouted. "Then I will see you at the match today," he reminded her.
She groaned slightly, "Oh, yes the match. Well since I have no choice and I am sleep deprived, I must leave you, even if it isn't my choice," she said rubbing her forehead to ward off the on coming headache.
"Well then I suggest you go up to your commons, wrap yourself up in a blanket and sleep til lunch," he smiled.
"To bad you can't do that for me," she mumbled. "I'll see you there Oliver," she waved heading out of his office.
He leaned on the door frame and watched her walk down the hallway and towards the Gryffindor commons. Smiling he entered back into his room, cleaned up the tea cups and flopped down on his bed, burying his face on the pillow Rachel was on.
~~~ ^ ~~~
"Starry Nights," Rachel yawned as she stretched entering the commons. She trudged her way up onto the main platform and collapsed on the nearest couch, curling up in a ball and drifting asleep.
~~~ ^ ~~~
"Rising and shine," Harry whispered in Rachel's ear kissing her forehead gently.
She moaned in response. Her eyes fluttered open and she looked around, "What time is it?" she stretched. Peering at her watch she groaned and rolled over, "6:45? Ten more minutes Harry," she begged.
He contemplated this for a second. "You didn't get much sleep last night did you?" he asked.
She shook her head lightly in response and still trying to sleep. "Nightmares," she shivered then yawned pulling her hood up over her head.
"New ones?" Harry asked concerned.
"Mmm-hum" Rachel mumbled, "Reoccurring ones."
Harry nodded at this and walked over in front of Rachel, he carefully placed his arms underneath of her and lifted her off the couch with ease.
Rachel gasped slight and wondered, "What are you doing?!"
"Ssshhh," Harry whispered. "I'm taking you up to your room." He walked up the stairs and turned right at the 6th year girls' dorms. Quietly opening the door he seen Hermione sitting up doing her homework, Lavender and Pavarti were still sleeping.
Hermione looked up from her work, "Rachel?" she whispered. "Where were you?" Hermione seemed quite concerned with her new found friend going missing.
Rachel mumbled something incoherent and returned to sleep. Harry looked from Hermione to Rachel, "Did you catch that?"
Hermione waved her hand and returned to her work. "Yeah, she said the nightmares kept her awake all last night, she fell asleep in front of the fire around four," Hermione responded scribbling down notes.
Harry just nodded his head and set her down on her bed. Pulling the covers over he whispered in her ear. "Don't forget, today's your first quidditch match here. We're playing Slytherin at one. One of the team members will come and get you at noon," he said kissing her lightly on her cheek and turning to leave.
Hermione rolled her eyes and Rachel said to her, "Like I haven't heard that twice already," she muttered tartly. Hermione laughed and Rachel smiled, drifting into a dream free sleep... For the moment.
~~~ ^ ~~~~
TaDa!!! Okay, so there was Chapter 3! Now meet my friend.. Vision Bat!
~~^* v v *^~~ **squeak, squeak**.. lame I know, but he's my friend.. hehehe, he'll come in when Rachel gets sucked into sumtin she more than likely doesn't want to see.. Sorry that I didn't update on Sunday, I wasn't home much this weekend. And the next chapter might not be up again until Monday or Tuesday. Wednesday at the latest, because I will be grounded from my computer this weekend as I have been informed for writing something "vulgar" on my away message.. But last time I checked, this is MY computer, NOT my PARENT'S COMPUTER!! So HA!! Stick that in your pipe and smoke it! Onto the Reviews!!
~ SugaQuill03 – lol, Yeah, I know who Sean Biggerstaff is.. lol, I'd be dumb if I didn't, lol, but he isn't just plain sexy, he's the drop-dead-get- on-the-bed-sexy guy.. hehe, I used that quote from my other pen name.. but thanks for the review!!
~ katiegirlb706 – thanks Katie! I know you love Sarah, so I gave her another scene in this chappie, but she'll be in up and coming ones too, so don't worry!!
Yes well, so there you are I hope you enjoy and take time to notice that pretty little purplish button on the lower left hand side of your screen **Reader's conscience** push the button and leave a nice review, c'mon, you know you wanna. Do it.. everybody else is** EEKK!!! CONSCIENCE PRESSURE!! Yipes, yeah, so please review my loverly story since ya took the time to read this far, you know you wanna review.. enough with my rambling.. **ramble, ramble, ramble** until next time..
Lots of Love an Hugs!!
Quidditch*16
~~~ ^ ~~~ Last time: ~~~ ^ ~~~
"Read my mind. You'll see Rivers," he said taking her hand.
She looked into his eyes and hesitantly laid a hand on his cheek, shutting her eyes she concentrated. Memories came flooding into Rachel's mind. There were pictures, burning, unburning. A graveyard, a little boy and a blond woman. There were little girls, two little twins.
"What's going on?"
~~~ ^ ~~~
I think I'll go for a walk, Maybe out in the rain. Maybe let the tears roll down my face, And not feel the pain. Maybe think about something, Maybe think about you. Yeah you can't hurt me now. You know you can't hurt me now. You can't hold me down, And I got plenty of time.
Time to figure it out, Time to think about you and me, Whatever that was all about. I've got nothing to prove. I've got nothing to say. No I guess I never thought that you were good for me anyway, I've got nothing to lose. Nothing but you.
- Kim Ferron "Nothing but you"
Rachel jumped away from Draco, hitting her head on the wall behind her. On instinct her hand flew up and she began rubbing the sore spot. Draco had stepped back slower and smirked at Professor Wood, who had caught them in the interesting position.
Draco's hand reached back to Rachel, grazing it he thought, ~ Are you alright? ~
~ Peachy ~ she thought sarcastically. ~ Yeah, really, I'm okay. ~
"What do you think Professor?" Draco asked walking to him.
Rachel, seeing this as the time to escape, strode past the two overly hormoned men, brushing shoulders with Oliver.
Draco watched her until she entered the Great Hall. He turned back to Oliver, "Watch yourself Wood, be ready for when you lose her," Draco said walking past him.
"What do you mean?" Oliver asked stopping in front of him.
"When you lose her, is the time when you will need her most," Draco said walking into the Great Hall leaving an extremely confused Oliver.
~~~ ^ ~~~
When Rachel entered the Hall she looked around flustered until she spotted Harry, beaming she headed over to her seat next to him.
"What took you?" Ron asked with a mouth full of food.
Hermione almost gagged.
Rachel smiled, "Oh, just some family business." She looked up as Draco entered the Hall. While he walked over to the Slytherin table he made eye contact with Rachel. He nodded to her, then sneered at her company. Hearing a groan next to her, she guilty dropped her connection and stared at her plate as Harry wrapped a protective arm around her waist.
Ron glared over at Draco and Rachel could feel the daggers being glared into her back, she frowned deeper.
Oliver walked in shortly after and Ron's face brightened. "Oy! Oliver!"
Oliver smiled and headed over to the Gryffindor Four.
"Ron," Hermione scolded. "He's a Professor now, not one of your quidditch buddies!"
"Oh, yeah, but he can still be the old Oliver outside of class, right Harry?"
Harry did not have the chance to answer as Oliver came over to the Four. Rachel moved closer to him and shielded her eyes with her right hand. She could feel Oliver's gaze on her shoulder more than she felt Harry's arm on her back.
"Hey guys," he beamed as he stood beside Rachel.
"Hi," Hermione replied shyly.
"Hey," Ron said between swallows.
"Hullo," Harry replied happily.
And Rachel mumbled something under her breath.
"So Oliver why don't you sit down and eat something?" Ron asked.
"I'd really like to, but unfortunately I have Professor duties to attend to and such."
Rachel snorted. "Aw, too bad," Hermione smiled catching some of Rachel's uneasiness.
"It's alright," Harry replied.
He bent down to Rachel's ear and whispered gently, "Keep safe."
It sent a shiver down her spine that made her melt. She whipped her head around and glared up at him with black eyes. He smiled and winked exiting the Hall.
"What was that about?" Hermione asked. Rachel's eyes were glued on the door.
"No clue," Harry said. "C'mon," he said pulling Rachel up. "Let's go to the common room."
Rachel allowed herself to be lead to the commons, but she was in a daze. When they arrived, she made an excuse of being tired out from the quidditch match and headed up to bed. She detached herself from Harry and said her goodnights, plastering a fake smile on her face.
When she shut the door, her smile disappeared and her eyes turned a troubled brown. She changed into a pair of loose black pj pants and a red tank top. Sitting down on her bed, she pulling the curtains around it and laid back on her pillows restlessly. She stared at the canopy for what seemed like hours. Rachel heard footsteps and the door opened. Hermione entered and walked over to the bathroom. After a few minutes she exited and climbed into bed. Rachel sighed peacefully and shut her eyes and that evil hissing laugh filled her ears.
Rachel shot up gasping and looked around, the curtains were drawn back and she looked around madly to see if anyone else was there. Spotting Hermione, she watched her sleep for a moment or two, making sure she was breathing and that it wasn't her mind playing tricks on her. Sighing in relief she grabbed her hoodie and slipped on her shoes, exiting the girls' dorms and the Gryffindor tower.
Sneaking out through the portrait hole, she crept around the abandoned hallways, moving in a circle. She groaned in frustration and leaned against the wall upon realizing that she passed a portrait of a sleeping knight for the fourth time. Her eyes misted over and she gasped. Edging closer to the corner she heard footsteps. Pushing herself against the cold stone wall she held her breath. The steps became closer until they reached her corner. Frozen, she waited, two more steps and she lunged herself at the air. "HAH!" she screamed tackling something. She looked down and appeared to be sitting on air. "Whoa," she whispered.
"Rachel?" the air asked.
"Harry?" she asked back. Standing up, Harry Potter appeared in front of her out of thin air. Holding up a cloak he flipped it around him, first he was there, then he wasn't, then he was back again. "Spiff," she commented.
"Thanks," he smiled. "It was my father's."
"What are you doing up?" she asked placing her hands on her hips.
"Looking for trouble, what's your excuse?" he countered.
"I'm trying to find Dumbledore's office so I can tell him about my nightmare. He monitors them, and is trying to control them. That's why I'm here."
"At two o'clock in the morning?" he asked skeptically.
"I couldn't sleep," she whimpered.
"C'mon," he said taking her hand. "I know where it is, I'll show you."
They headed towards the headmaster's office. After rounding a few corners Harry produced for her a gargoyle statue. "Cool," she said running her hand over it's wing. At her touch the gargoyle moved to the side revealing a spiral set of stairs. She jumped back and Harry caught her against his chest.
"You want me to go in with you?" Harry whispered into her ear.
"No," she smiled at him. "I'll be fine."
He let her go and she stepped on to the moving stairwell. It stopped for her in of a large oak door. She hesitated and then knocked.
"Come in," replied Dumbledore.
She opened the door slowly and entered, shutting it tightly behind her.
"Ah, yes, Rachel, you needed to speak with me?"
"Sorry for the intrusion, Dumbledore, but I had to tell you about my nightmare." After recalling the dream to him she looked at and saw that he was nodding his head slightly.
"Rachel are you aware that you have a cousin in Slytherin?"
"I heard from the Sorting Hat, yes," she replied.
"Do you know how you and young mister Malfoy are related?"
"Our mothers were sisters, twin sisters," she said.
"It then appears that in your dream you are your mother, Christina Black."
~~~ ^ ~~~
Rachel sniffled as she walked the stairs. Wiping her tear-streaked cheeks she held her head high and smiled at Harry who was seated on the floor. "You're going to catch a cold," she said in a motherly fashion.
Harry jumped up and turned around smiling at her. He enveloped her in a bear hug and asked, "Who are you? My mother?"
"I'm Rachel Annabelle Rivers, and if I don't take care of you who will?" she played.
"Hermione would," he paused as they began to walk back in a comfortable silence.
"Starry Nights," Rachel said as they approached the portrait hole.
"Ladies first," Harry offered.
"Thank you," she smiled stepping inside.
"Care to tuck me in... Mommy?" Harry joked.
Rachel kissed him lightly on the cheek, "Don't push your luck Potter."
He smiled at her, "Hey, what can I say? I had to try!" He laughed as they walked up the stairs to the dorms.
"Yeah well, try harder next time," she said pushing him toward the 6th year boys' dorms. "Now get some sleep," she commented.
"Night Rachel," he said walking in the dorms.
Her smile faded as she left, walking back outside of the portrait hole and into the lonely halls. Wandering around and taking the route that Oliver tried to show her she walked down to the main hall. Stepping outside she made her way down to the quidditch pitch. Her breath shown in a long white mist as she exhaled and light snowflakes were beginning to fall slightly. The ground wasn't frozen but it wasn't a winter wonderland. She walked to the nearest stand and began trudging up the stairs occasionally sniffing.
When she reached the top, she flopped down in a seat looking around her and basking in the moonlight. A tear fell down to the cold wood as a memory flooded her.
~~^* v v *^~~
There was a crash in the room beside her. "Aunt Carrie?" a small
voice called out.
"I'm here sweetie," the woman said.
"I had another nightmare, Aunt Carrie," the little girl said clinging to her.
"It's okay Rachel, it was only a dream, it's over now. You're here.
You're safe," the older woman soothed.
"Aunt Carrie, can you tell me about my Mommy again?" little Rachel
asked.
A silent tear slipped down her cheek. "You're Mommy was a very smart
girl.. She was an excellent cook and a good quidditch player too."
Rachel laughed, "I thought that Daddy was the good quidditch player!"
"He was, but your mother played too." The little girl had fallen
asleep in her arms. Setting her back down on the bed she got up and
went into the other room.
"Nathaniel," Carrie whispered. "Don't pretend to be asleep, because I
know you heard me lying to your daughter again. I hate it and I won't
do it for much longer," Carrie protested.
"You didn't lie. You told her that her mother played quidditch.
Michelle didn't play quidditch and you know that. Don't mix the two
up," he whispered hoarsely at her.
"Yes, but she's going to have to find out sooner or later. The longer
you hold this from her the harder it will be to regain her trust," she
commented.
"You aren't a psychic, how would you know."
"That may have been Christina's thing, but I don't have to have any
telepathic abilities to tell you that she'll turn away. She'll hate
you for lying."
"Don't presume that you can tell me how to raise my own daughter. And
don't mention her name, ever," Nathaniel said.
"What are you going to tell her when she goes looking at that
quidditch picture of yours and Michelle isn't in it? What will you
tell her then?" Carrie scolded.
"I'll tell her when she's damn old enough to understand!" he shouted
throwing a picture and its frame down on the ground shattering it.
Little Rachel jumped back from the crack in the doorway where she was
listening and back into her bed. Burying her head in her pillows and
looking away from the door with tightly shut eyes.
~~^* v v *^~~
"Bastard," Rachel mumbled as she wiped a tear with her sleeve. 'He never told me, I found out from my cousin, and my headmaster. Turn away? Hell I'm never going home,' she thought as something rustled in the bushes by the edge of the Forbidden Forest. Rachel's eyes shot up and she shivered. The contact was so familiar.. "Dêjá vu," she said, and was then sucked into another memory.
~~^* v v *^~~
Rachel looked around grasping at the small dagger in her hand.
Something moved in the brush in front of her, and she shivered in the
wind. A figure approached her, she looked up at it in horror.
"Da..... D... DEEAATHHH EEATTER!!" she screeched and turned running
but it grabbed her. She struggled against it, but more came, clamping
their hands on her, holding her down. She heard a woman's voice near
her.
"Please, let her go, only for a little while longer."
"No," a cold voice said.
"She's only seven!" she persisted. She received a loud smack across
her face from the owner of the first voice.
"It does not matter. Now is her time. The Dark Lord is in need of
her service," another voice responded pulling at her right arm.
"I'm so sorry dear," the woman said through sobs.
"NO!!" Rachel screamed as there was a burning feeling coursing from
her right arm through her entire body.
~~^* v v *^~~
"Shit! Damn! Piss!" Rachel said clutching her head. "Fucking visions and shit should come with a shittin' WARNING LABEL!" she shouted upward to no one in particular. As she was staring up a lone star fell from the sky, as another, and another fell. The tears were now flowing freely... She lowered her head and cried, whispering, "Fuck you."
~~^* v v *^~~
She cried, "I'm so stupid," as she wrapped a blanket around herself
for warmth, the sun had turned its back on her and set. Now the stars
were her only company and yet they were falling away from her. Or
maybe they were crying for her. She hoped for the latter. But she
should have known. Should have been prepared but..
"Rachel..... last night can you believe it!" Abby Ecardio from Pride said.
'Okay so what, you fell, get up and keep going, it was a
disappointment.'
~~^* v v *^~~
"Rachel? Are you okay?"
Rachel's head shot up and she whipped her head around. "Sarah? What are you doing up?" she asked with concern. The young girl headed toward her.
"I'm just taking a few laps before the quidditch game today," she smiled.
"There's a game today?" Rachel asked astonished.
"Yeah, we're playing Slytherin,," Sarah commented. "Oh, and congratulations on making the team, we needed a new chaser anyway."
"Thanks, but when does the game start?" Rachel asked confused.
"At one, and don't tell Harry that you know about the game. He'll want to tell you himself," Sarah said before mounting her broom and taking off around the pitch.
Rachel watched for a few minutes than looked at her watch, "Shit," she mumbled. "Five o'clock," she said getting up and starting to walk down the stairs.
Sarah met her at the bottom. "Hey Rachel, what were you doing outside anyway?"
She sighed looking around then answered her, "I'm a psychic, if you didn't know, but I just needed time to clear my head and get some of these thoughts out."
"Psychic? Cool. But thoughts of what?"
"My family, umm.. as dysfunctional as we are, umm I have these nightmares that kinda haunt me," she shivered. "And one bad night from my old school."
"Wow, well, if you ever need someone to talk to, Hermione and I will always be here for you," she offered.
Rachel smiled widely, "Thanks Sarah. How about we meet after the match in the library, you, me and Hermione so we can discuss these damned nightmares, you know, try and figure them out, okay?"
"Sounds great to me!" Sarah said launching herself into the air again, and shouted down to Rachel, "Now get some sleep!"
Rachel laughed and waving at Sarah broke into a jog back to the castle. She walked the route that Oliver had shone to her and passed his door. She stopped and turned back. Knocking lightly.
Oliver rolled out of bed at a knock and walked over to his door, opening it his slight surprised. "Rachel," he smiled. "What brings you here?"
"Can we talk?" she asked.
"Sure," he replied stepping out of her way.
She entered his office and looked towards a side room. In his bedroom there was a king sized bed, with Puddlemere colors, ][ A/N: Blue right?? ][ and two large chairs off to the side. On the opposite wall there was a door that led to his bathroom. Walking into his bedroom she took a seat on one of his chairs.
Oliver followed her in and sat on his bed. "So, what do you want to talk about?" he asked.
"I'm not angry with you," she stated.
"Who said I thought you were?" he asked.
She lightly tapped on her temples with her fingertips and grinned weakly. "You were projecting it when you walked into the Great Hall at dinner last night. I was hard not to ignore it," she laughed slightly.
He yawned and stretched his arms and back, and for the first time they both realized that he wasn't wearing a shirt. Rachel's eyes wandered over his toned chest and flat stomach, he smiled as he watched her do this. He smiled and added, "You woke me up you know."
Rachel snapped back to reality and blushed that he caught her. "Liar," she said. "You couldn't sleep you were so worried at the thought that you pissed me off!" she argued.
Oliver nodded his head, "True, but really, you're not mad are you?" he asked slightly afraid.
Rachel smiled and shook her head, "No," she said. 'How can I get mad at a face like that,' she thought. 'Or the body. Whoa! Hold up! Stop the press! You are not getting feelings for a professor, even if he is only a sub...' she mentally fought. Glancing up she caught his chest again and blushed looking away.
He smiled at her and she stood up, "I should be getting back to the common room."
"You mean you got up at five o'clock in the morning to come down and check on me?" he smiled getting up and standing in front of her looking down at her face.
Rachel blushed and stared at the floor and tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. "No, I could sleep last night so I went down to the pitch to clear my head," she replied.
He lifted her chin to meet his gaze with his hand. "You're freezing," he commented grabbing and blanket from his bed and wrapping it around her cold form.
"No, really. I'm fine Oliver," she protested trying to remove the blanket but he stopped her.
"You're going to get sick," he said sitting her down on his bed. "I'll get you a cup of tea, you stay here and don't move," he warned.
She rolled her eyes as he left the room and cracked her knuckles, instantly Oliver's head popped around the corner. "Hey," he smiled in mock anger. "I told you not to move."
"Oh, and are there consequences for breaking this rule?" she asked flirtatiously.
"Oh yes," he responded and walked over to the bed sitting on it beside her. "The punishment is very severe," he joked.
"Then I'd better get the maximum time," she smiled.
"You better believe it," he smiled and rolled on top of her pinning her onto his bed.
"Hey! That's not fair Oliver!" she squealed and used her lower body strength and pushed him off of her and she rolled him over and tried sitting on him. But he used her force and pinned her underneath him again. He sat on her hips and helps her arms down with his own as she struggled and squirmed beneath him.
"Are we going to play nice?" he asked huskily bending his head close to her face.
A small smirk went across her face as she cocked and eyebrow, then bit at his nose.
"Hey," he retorted drawing back a bit. "Nice," he reminded her.
Rachel smiled and moved her hand after Oliver released his grasp on her and touched his face, she ran her hand down his cheek and traced his lips with her finger. Oliver leaned in closer to her, feeling her breath on his face. Their lips brushed for an instant and the teakettle whistled. He groaned rolling off Rachel and lay his head down next to hers.
She blushed in embarrassment, "Maybe you should get that," she suggested.
Oliver sighed loudly, "Yeah," he said getting up and exiting the room.
Rachel smiled and sat up. She backed up on his bed and leaned against the headboard placing the blanket over her legs.
Oliver soon returned with two steaming cups of tea, "Here you go," he handed her one and sat down next to her.
"Mmm," she smiled sipping the hot liquid. Looking over to Oliver she smiled and met his brown eyes with her own deep blues. He smiled back and placed an arm around her shoulder. She leaned in sipping her tea from time to time and enjoying the comfortable silence that was between them.
Rachel's watch beeped on her wrist, signifying the turn of the hour, "Lovely," she said downing the rest of her tea.
Oliver looked at her concerned. "What? What's wrong?" he asked sitting up, and turning to face her.
She sighed, "It's nothing, I just wanted to be back in the commons by now, you know, I didn't want anybody worrying about me so soon," she answered getting off of Oliver comfy bed and walking towards his office.
"Well, then if you insist on leaving me here," he pouted. "Then I will see you at the match today," he reminded her.
She groaned slightly, "Oh, yes the match. Well since I have no choice and I am sleep deprived, I must leave you, even if it isn't my choice," she said rubbing her forehead to ward off the on coming headache.
"Well then I suggest you go up to your commons, wrap yourself up in a blanket and sleep til lunch," he smiled.
"To bad you can't do that for me," she mumbled. "I'll see you there Oliver," she waved heading out of his office.
He leaned on the door frame and watched her walk down the hallway and towards the Gryffindor commons. Smiling he entered back into his room, cleaned up the tea cups and flopped down on his bed, burying his face on the pillow Rachel was on.
~~~ ^ ~~~
"Starry Nights," Rachel yawned as she stretched entering the commons. She trudged her way up onto the main platform and collapsed on the nearest couch, curling up in a ball and drifting asleep.
~~~ ^ ~~~
"Rising and shine," Harry whispered in Rachel's ear kissing her forehead gently.
She moaned in response. Her eyes fluttered open and she looked around, "What time is it?" she stretched. Peering at her watch she groaned and rolled over, "6:45? Ten more minutes Harry," she begged.
He contemplated this for a second. "You didn't get much sleep last night did you?" he asked.
She shook her head lightly in response and still trying to sleep. "Nightmares," she shivered then yawned pulling her hood up over her head.
"New ones?" Harry asked concerned.
"Mmm-hum" Rachel mumbled, "Reoccurring ones."
Harry nodded at this and walked over in front of Rachel, he carefully placed his arms underneath of her and lifted her off the couch with ease.
Rachel gasped slight and wondered, "What are you doing?!"
"Ssshhh," Harry whispered. "I'm taking you up to your room." He walked up the stairs and turned right at the 6th year girls' dorms. Quietly opening the door he seen Hermione sitting up doing her homework, Lavender and Pavarti were still sleeping.
Hermione looked up from her work, "Rachel?" she whispered. "Where were you?" Hermione seemed quite concerned with her new found friend going missing.
Rachel mumbled something incoherent and returned to sleep. Harry looked from Hermione to Rachel, "Did you catch that?"
Hermione waved her hand and returned to her work. "Yeah, she said the nightmares kept her awake all last night, she fell asleep in front of the fire around four," Hermione responded scribbling down notes.
Harry just nodded his head and set her down on her bed. Pulling the covers over he whispered in her ear. "Don't forget, today's your first quidditch match here. We're playing Slytherin at one. One of the team members will come and get you at noon," he said kissing her lightly on her cheek and turning to leave.
Hermione rolled her eyes and Rachel said to her, "Like I haven't heard that twice already," she muttered tartly. Hermione laughed and Rachel smiled, drifting into a dream free sleep... For the moment.
~~~ ^ ~~~~
TaDa!!! Okay, so there was Chapter 3! Now meet my friend.. Vision Bat!
~~^* v v *^~~ **squeak, squeak**.. lame I know, but he's my friend.. hehehe, he'll come in when Rachel gets sucked into sumtin she more than likely doesn't want to see.. Sorry that I didn't update on Sunday, I wasn't home much this weekend. And the next chapter might not be up again until Monday or Tuesday. Wednesday at the latest, because I will be grounded from my computer this weekend as I have been informed for writing something "vulgar" on my away message.. But last time I checked, this is MY computer, NOT my PARENT'S COMPUTER!! So HA!! Stick that in your pipe and smoke it! Onto the Reviews!!
~ SugaQuill03 – lol, Yeah, I know who Sean Biggerstaff is.. lol, I'd be dumb if I didn't, lol, but he isn't just plain sexy, he's the drop-dead-get- on-the-bed-sexy guy.. hehe, I used that quote from my other pen name.. but thanks for the review!!
~ katiegirlb706 – thanks Katie! I know you love Sarah, so I gave her another scene in this chappie, but she'll be in up and coming ones too, so don't worry!!
Yes well, so there you are I hope you enjoy and take time to notice that pretty little purplish button on the lower left hand side of your screen **Reader's conscience** push the button and leave a nice review, c'mon, you know you wanna. Do it.. everybody else is** EEKK!!! CONSCIENCE PRESSURE!! Yipes, yeah, so please review my loverly story since ya took the time to read this far, you know you wanna review.. enough with my rambling.. **ramble, ramble, ramble** until next time..
Lots of Love an Hugs!!
Quidditch*16