Mum stood helplessly as Dad smashed every glass plate as he threw them onto the floor. They had argued for the hundredth time that day.

I hurried to my room and slammed the door behind me. Tears streamed down my cheeks as I casted a small charm. It was a baby. My unborn sister. Her name was...well, she never had one. But, I always thought her name would start with an 'A', like mine.

I always liked to think her name was Annabeth. Thought it up myself. Being seven, I couldn't help but wonder Annabeth would've been like.

Suddenly, I heard a crash and a scream. Mum. I hurried downstairs and was greeted by a puff of smoke. My eyes stung and I coughed.

"Avada Kedavra!" someone yelled.

My father screamed next. Mum rushed out from the smoke cloud and picked me up. She ran through the halls, whispering my father's name.

She opened my window and ordered me to run.

"Run, Ara! Run down to the Weasley's home. They'll take you in." she said. "Remember, you have amazing abilities. You can take care of yourself."

I shook my head, crying. "No, I can't! Mum, I can't-"

"Listen, Arabella!" she scolded. "You're not like your father and I. You're filled with magic. Everyone has a story, Ara."

She turned when she heard a dark chuckle. "Saying your last goodbye?"

I saw a pale man with a rather strange nose. He waved his wand and blasted fire at my mother. She screamed and-

"Arabella!"

I sat up and screamed, covering my ears. Professor McGonagall said my name again, trying to calm me down.

"You must calm down, dear. Everything is alright." she said, soothingly.

Her voice was gentle. Like a grandmother.

I was out of breath, as if I had been running. "B-Barty...he..he's-"

"Taken care of." she assured me.

I let out a sigh of relief, but found that I was shaking miserably.

"You've been unconscious for about 20 minutes, dear. You've been tossing and talking aloud."

I shivered. "What's happened to me, Professor?"

She shook her head. "Wish I could say. Professor Snape says you were hit with the stunning spell. It's possible that Barty also placed some kind of curse into your head."

"A curse? What kind of curse?"

"I wish I could say, dear. It's not my field of study, but I know who can help. I'll return in a moment." she said, leaving the hospital wing.

Madame Pomfrey came in and placed a cup of tea beside my bed. I smiled, thanking her.

"Heard Chamomile was your favorite." she said.

"Where did you hear that?" I asked.

"You talk in your sleep." a voice that I knew too well said.

Madame Pomfrey gave me another smile and left the room. She closed the door, leaving Snape and I alone.

He grabbed a chair and sat beside my bed.

"Feeling any better?" he asked.

I nodded. "A bit."

"You're shaking."

I glanced at my hands and saw it as true. I fiddled with my blanket and cleared my throat. Snape brought his chair closer to my bed.

"Professor McGonagall told me that you were rather distressed while you were unconscious."

I scoffed. "Distressed isn't even close. It was awful."

"What was?"

I cringed at the memory. Snape kept staring at me, waiting for a reply.

"I...had a dream of something that had happened. It happened…" I paused.

He kept staring.

"It was when my parents died." I said, finally.

He got up from his chair and walked towards a window. He looked out into the night, hands clasped behind his back.

"Barty Crouch used a stunning spell on you." he said. "When you had lost consciousness, he was muttering a curse, but I couldn't catch what it was."

"And?" I asked.

He turned to look at me. "I need you to tell me exactly what happened in the dream in order for me to find a way to counter it."

My shoulders hunched up and I squinted my left eye in hesitation.

"Well, I don't exactly feel comfortable telling-"

"He's planted a curse in your head." he scolded. "There's nothing comfortable about that! If you want these nightmares to stop, you must tell me what happened."

I looked at his eyes and realized he was as afraid as I was. Why wouldn't he be afraid? The dark lord was back. Snape sat back down in his chair, refusing to take his eyes off mine.

Then, he spoke softly. "I can't help you, if you don't tell me what you saw. Do you understand?"

I nodded slowly.

"Tell me what happened." he said, slowly.

It was difficult, but I managed to tell him. He listened so carefully, as if his life depended on it.

"Anything else?" he asked.

I shook my head.

He sighed and rubbed his eyes. "There's nothing very off about the dream. It's a memory, but no curses come to mind."

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Most curses affect the brain in obvious ways. The curse Barty used isn't giving off any obvious signs. You're sure it's only a memory?"

"Yes. It really happened the way that I dreamed it."

He put his elbow on his knee and rested his chin on his knuckle. "Then, there's nothing I can do."

My head shot up. "What?"

"I'm sorry to say that we'll have to wait for another dream to occur."

"No, I am not going to go through that again."

"You'll have to." he insisted. "I have several theories of what curse he put on you, but until you have another vision, I cannot come to any conclusions."

I lowered my eyes and shook my head in disbelief. I didn't want to go through another dreadful nightmare of my past again, but Snape seemed certain that there was no other way.

"Okay." I mumbled.

"Professor McGonagall was more focused on trying to wake you than observe you. It's crucial that I see your reaction to the curse myself. It will help me knock out any theories from my list, you see." he explained.

I shuddered. "So, I'm assuming you...won't be in any hurry to wake me when I do have another reaction, then?

One look from him and I already knew the answer.

"Everyone is going to be sent home, so try to rest during the summer. When we meet again for the next school year, let me know if you're still having nightmares." he said.

"You need to rest." he said, standing.

"Is Harry alright?" I asked.

He stopped. "He's being taken care of. His arm-"

"No, not his arm. I meant...you know...about Cedric Diggory."

"I don't know."

And with that, he opened the double doors.

"Professor."

He paused and turned.

"Thank you. For your help."

"You're my apprentice. It's my responsibility-"

"I know." I interrupted. "I know, but I just..wanted to tell you.'

He merely stared at me.

"Are you alright? Has anyone looked at the scar on your head?"

"Just get some rest." he said, quietly.

All the students were asked to go into the assembly room. Dumbledore gave a few words in Cedric Diggory's memory. I had never met Cedric, but I heard was a very genuine, young man.

"Today we acknowledge a really terrible loss. Cedric Diggory was, as you all know, exceptionally hard-working, intricately fair minded. And, most importantly, a fierce fierce friend. I think therefore you have the right to know exactly how he died."

Several students talked amongst themselves, and I saw Harry look down at the floor.

"You see, Cedric Diggory was murdered by Lord Voldemort." Dumbledore said.

The room filled with whispers and a few gasps, but Dumbledore continued.

" The ministry of magic does not wish me to tell you this. But not to do so I think would be an insult to his memory. Now the pain...we all feel at this dreadful loss reminds me, reminds us that while we may come from different places and speak in different tongues, our hearts beat as one."

Dumbledore continued on, but all I could think of was Voldemort. He had taken everyone I loved, and he rejoiced in doing so. Now that he was back, I would stop at nothing to see him bleed. When the meeting was over, I headed to the classroom.

So many things were going to change. I knew it. Everyone knew it. And, Harry was going to be in the middle of it all. He was only a boy. I was not underestimating him, however. I knew he was very brave. He had been affected by Voldemort as much as anyone had been.

I only hoped that the next year at Hogwarts would be better than my first. The opening of the door interrupted my thoughts. Snape walked in, with his cape following behind him.

"Are you alright?" he asked, giving me another scan.

"Yes, I'm alright." I replied, calmly.

He sighed with relief and slightly nodded.

"He seemed to know you rather well." I said, deciding to take a risk in bringing it up. "Barty Crouch Jr."

"I was once a Death Eater." he said. "The dark arts always fascinated me, but I left the Death Eaters years ago."

I only nodded. "So, he really is back. Voldemort, I mean."

His eyes shot towards me. "How very brave you are to speak his name. Or very foolish, perhaps?"

"I have nothing to lose. He's taken everyone that I love, and fearing a name is just as foolish."

He lifted his chin, observing my face. "Forgive me."

"It's fine. I know I'll see them again someday."

"You sound so sure."

"I am. I take it that you're not."

"I'm not very-How should I put it?-Comfortable. When it comes to sharing my opinion about...seeing loved ones again."

Lily Potter entered my mind. I quickly removed the image and swallowed.

"I'm sorry. If you'll excuse me, I should start packing." I said.

"Yes." he nodded, heading for the door.

I looked up when I heard his footsteps stop.

"Should you encounter any nightmares during the summer, send me an owl. I'll reply and tell you the best way to treat it."

I gave him a small smile. "I'll do that. Have a good summer."

He walked out and I was alone again. I waved my wand and all my things flew into my trunk. My first year had gone by.

I concluded that only one good thing came from this past one. Well, more like one good person.

A/N: Good Lord, how long is this chapter? I don't even want to take a guess, but here's a long chapter!