Chapter 5: Sizzle, Crackle and Pop
The walls are slightly blurry, but I'm sure I'm walking down a stone corridor, in shiny dress-shoes for some unfathomable reason.
Click, Click, Click...
They make an awful racket, and I hasten my step. Wide, wooden double doors meet me at the end of the passageway and they swing open, as if inviting me inside. From the room I can faintly hear the sizzle of a log in the fireplace, but can see absolutely nothing.
"You're late."
A silky, definitely masculine, disembodied voice echoes out from the black nothingness in the room, not exactly encouraging me to enter but I feel myself moving regardless.
I have no idea what I'm supposedly late for, but the darkness isn't just the absence of light. It's almost solid and I feel my body pressing up against it, pushing through it like a thick caramel. I'm not sure I could go back if I tried. I'm completely encased, but somehow still breathing. I try not to panic as something touches my hand.
"Relax, you idiot."
The voice is back and the black caramel is melting, hands are touching mine, but I still can't see. I pull my hands out of the grip they are in to wipe my eyes, but they are caught again and I'm pushed flush up against another body, a male body, arms wrapping around my shoulders, fingers carding through my hair. I almost moan at the sensation, never in my life have I been held like this. It's electrifying, the fingers on the back of my neck stroking my skin softly. From far off I can hear hissing, possibly Parsletongue, but it is so faint I can't concentrate on the syllables. The arms wrap around me tighter and stiffen as if in fear, and then I am released suddenly, almost falling back onto the stones.
"GO! Quickly!"
The black begins to shift, colours flying into place and shapes forming. The man's figure dissolves with the black, and as his voice fades new sounds replace it.
An explosion in the distance, cursing and shouting, the crackle of magic flying through the air is all around me. There is snow on the ground and my feet are bare, freezing, I make it behind a tree. Killing-curse green and stunner red fly through the air, lighting up the otherwise dark night. I grab for my wand, but I don't have it, and the fight is getting closer. An army of masked, black robed Death Eaters swarm over the hill, emerging from the forest, so I run. I run until my breath is laboured and my footsteps sloppy, until I trip over something and land face-down on the ground. Someone is laughing behind me, approaching footsteps, I'm resigned to the fact that it's over. I'm dead.
And the black caramel is back, spreading over my eyes, my hands, but this time I'm choking. It's in my mouth and my nose and I can't breathe.
I can't breathe...
I'm tangled in the covers and I hit my head on the dresser as I fall out of bed, making me cry out. I lay still for a short time, trying to get my breath back, as soon as I start moving though my hand screams in protest.
Rustling, Neville's getting up and walking towards me.
"Bloody hell Harry." Neville looks frustrated and I feel awful for disturbing his sleep.
He untangles me from the covers and helps me sit back up on the bed. I feel woozy and nauseous and I really hate it.
"Only you Harry, could cause so much trouble while sleeping, you've cut your head you know. Madame Pomfrey will have to look at it this time."
I looked up at him. He looked tired, how late did I come back last night?
"I'm sorry Neville, you shouldn't have to deal with this."
Now he's glaring at me, so I duck my head a little, I didn't want to deal with anyone right now. He puts a hand on my shoulder, and grabs me tightly.
"Come off it Harry, that's what friends are for, if I didn't look out for you who would?"
The Hospital wing visit was awful, Snape needs to fix the taste of those bloody potions, but I made it to my morning classes on time. They were pretty average, but I had Potions to look forward to after lunch...or more correctly, after hiding from as many people as possible for an hour.
Coincidently I was early. Snape swirled into the room as usual and barked out orders for the potion we were making. I waited for everyone to be done before going and grabbing the ingredients from the class cupboard. It was pretty quiet for a potions class, as Neville wasn't allowed to participate this year, so Snape wasn't yelling all the time. I zoned out for a while, chopping, stirring, checking the instructions now and again. The potion was a bright cerulean and was bubbling away, making little popping noises here and there. I was still feeling dizzy, but it wasn't so bad. I bottled my potion when I was finished and cleaned up my workstation and my classmates chatted. I grabbed the bottle, intending to hand it into Snape early and hopefully sit down to do some reading for a short while when the world tipped sideways, straightened and then tipped in the other direction. I struggled to get the potion to sit on Snape's desk before I collapsed.
Feed the Muse! She eats Reviews!
New Reviews:
Veronica Mitchell-
Thank you for guilt-tripping me into writing a new, albeit short chapter. I had almost completely forgotten about this, what with my needy partner being cute and graduating university and beginning my honours degree I was a little distracted. I will attempt to update again and again.
Azrael Jinsei-
Thanks for the reviews. My muse does smile on me...but usually it's pretty demented looking really.
Koizumi Romi-
Thanks for the review. I seem to only write like this when I listen to particular songs.
Joytiger-
Thanks for the review, see I made more!
Elfin69-
Thanks for the review, hopefully Harry will make it through this.
YaoiCookies87-
You're welcome, thanks for the review.
Ravenoftime-
This story is pretty much cliché in that department. Thanks for the review.