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Nightmares

Isabella slept peacefully for a while, but soon she was trapped in a world she wish she never had to visit, her dreams.

--Dream--

8 year old Isabella ran through a forest of trees, laughing. Turning she yelled at a boy who looked to be about 6. "Come on Antonio, hurry up, Mama says we have to be home before the sun sets. We're only halfway there, and we don't need you getting lost again!"

When Antonio finally caught up he made a face. "I know Bella, but maybe if you didn't run ahead so much I wouldn't have gotten lost. Are we even going the right way? None of this looks familiar."

Rolling her eyes she gave him an annoyed glare. "Of course we're going the right way, plus do you see these?" She pointed to a red mark on the tree. "Grandpa put those on the trees so no one will get lost, so as long as we follow the trees with the red marks we can find our way home. Now let's go."

Turning back around they started running again, only this time Isabella stayed closer to Antonio.

They were halfway back to there grandparent's house, on their father's side, in England, where they were visiting for a family reunion. Their family lived all over the world, but mainly in England, France, and Bulgaria, and everyone would get together once a year. It had been a fun party, but soon everyone began to leave, including most of the children, and Isabella and her brother, Antonio, became bored. They had thought that a hike through the woods would be fun, so they asked their Mama, who said yes, as long as they were back before sun set.

After a couple of hours the hike wasn't as fun as they thought it would be, because now they were a quarter of a way back and the sun had set, making Isabella and Antonio very nervous. The only reason that they were able to see two feet in front of them was because as the sun was setting the full moon was rising.

The rising moon was giving off an eerie glow. They were starting to become scared, and they were sure that they had heard someone scream in pain a while ago, or a howl. Isabella could hear her brother's breathing quicken from running so much, but they had to get home.

"Come on Antonio hurry up, we have to get home fast, Please hurr-" "thump" She quickly turned around and saw that Antonio had tripped over a tree root. Isabella hastily went to help him up, but it seemed that Antonio's foot was stuck under the root. Grabbing him from under the armpits she tried to pull his foot out.

"Oh how could you get your foot caught at a time like this?"

"I'm sorry" sniff "I didn't mean to." Isabella looked at her brother's face, and saw that he was crying, she quickly pulled him into a hug.

"Shh, it's okay, don't cry, it'll be alright. Just let me get...your...foot. Oh it's no use, I wish Papa was here." She then sat down next to Antonio putting an arm around him.

Antonio began cry harder, moving closer to Isabella. "I want Mama..and Papa...I want to go home."

Isabella started to cry too, silently wishing that there parents were there also. "It's okay, they'll come and find us, we just have to wait here. that's the first rule, when you're lost stay where you are so it would be easier for someone to find us, that's what Mama told me. I bet they're on their way now, and we don't want them to see that we were crying, right? You have to prove you're a big boy to Papa." Antonio nodded, but still had tears rolling down his cheeks. She pulled her brother closer and rested her head on top of his and closed her eyes.

I wish we never went so far, we should have turned around earlier. Now It's dark and Antonio's foot is stuck under a root. Papa will be here soon. Please Papa, come quickly.

Isabella's thoughts were suddenly interrupted by a low growling, coming from in front of them. Her eyes snapped open, and what she saw made her wish they went back earlier. Standing in front of them was a horrible, terrifying, bloodthirsty Werewolf.

She could see it's razer-shape teeth and claws, its bright yellow eyes, and its tall hairy body clearly in the moonlight.

Isabella wanted to run, but she couldn't leave her brother, who was now sobbing after seeing the werewolf.

Isabella got up and stood in front of her brother, trying to protect him. "Antonio, please try and get your foot out and run."

"But Bella-"

"JUST DO IT!"

Unfortunately for Isabella and Antonio her yell made the Werewolf snarl and act, by raising it's clawed hand hit Isabella away and going for the easier target, Antonio.

Isabella screamed in pain as the werewolf's claws dragged over her stomach, leaving three large gashes, that started to bleed heavily. After being thrown away Isabella hit her head, very hard, on a tree root.

"BELLA--AAAHHHHH--BELLA HHEEELLLLPPPPP, PLEASE--AAAAAAHHHHHH!"

"ANTONIO!" Isabella tried to run over and help her brother, but again she was pushed away and getting clawed at again, only this time on her arm. She was pushed even harder this time and was thrown painfully into the tree again. She was losing consciousness and couldn't get up, or feel her legs. She tried very hard to stay awake, wishing she could move, but also wished she couldn't hear her brothers screams as he was mauled to death.

"MAMA---PAPA---BELLA---I DON'T WANT TO DIE!"

Isabella was sobbing, she felt so useless. She looked up and saw what was left of her brother, and cried harder, screaming loudly. The Werewolf was moving toward her now, the last thing she saw before blacking out was an angry Werewolf, then about ten red lights coming from the trees.

"Antonio, I'm sorry." Everything went black and she knew no more.

--End Dream--

Isabella's eyes snapped open and she quickly sat up, putting her head in her hands. That was the fifth nightmare she had had since her family moved to England. She hadn't told anybody about them, not even Lily, even though she knew about her brother. She didn't want to worry anybody. The nightmares would go away after a while. They only started because they were back in England

Ever since the night her brother was killed Isabella wasn't the same. She wasn't the energetic playful child she used to be, she became quiet and withdrawn, always reading.

After the incident she didn't talk to anyone for a month. Her parents were worried, but they didn't push her to talk, they understood it was her own way to deal with it. Once they went back to Italy she began to feel better and started to talk again. As she got older she became more open with family, but at school she was teased because of her bookworm looks and quietness. No one knew about her brother, but she didn't want their pity, but because Isabella wasn't very social and would rather read than play, which the children in her year found very strange, her classmates began to shun her; they thought she was weird.

Shunning became bullying, which became hexing and pranking. It was after that point, that Isabella was glad they moved.

When Isabella met Lily she was so glad that she had made a real friend, even though she didn't open up right away. But over the remainder of the summer Isabella's parents noticed a change in her. She was becoming less withdrawn and more like her old self. Her happy, more energetic self. They were glad that they decided to moved. Although she was happier, dreams of her brother's death still plagued her.

Letting out a sigh Isabella looked at her watch, it was 6:50. Looking around the dorm she noticed that she was the first one up. Might as well get up.

Throwing the blankets off, Isabella showered and changed, magically drying her hair and braiding it, and put on her glasses before leaving her room and the common room and headed to the Great Hall; she had a very good memory and remembered the way there.

She opened the doors to the Great Hall and walked over to where Lily was sitting. She was sitting next to a blond haired girl. She was very pretty and looked very nice. She had a round face, shoulder length blond hair, blue eyes, and she was somewhat plump, but in an attractive way.

Isabella sat across from both of them and smiled, but it didn't quite reach her eyes.

Lily smiled, but looked surprised. "Izzy, I'm surprised you found you're way on the first time, I was just going to go and get you."

Isabella smiled. "Well Remus pointed out a few things that would help me remember the way."

Lily smirked. "Yes, Remus is such a nice guy, don't you think?"

Isabella gave her a look before turning to the blond girl sitting with them. "Hi, I don't think we've met, I'm Isabella Griffin.

The girl smiled. "Alice Cromwell."

"Nice to meet you Alice."

"You too, Isabella"

Isabella shook her head. "Call me Izzy, that's what my friends call me."

That seemed to break the ice, Alice smiled and nodded.

Lily looked at Alice as Isabella was grabbing food. "So how are things going with Frank?"

Alice blushed a bit and smiled, while looking at someone further up the table.

Isabella saw that she was looking at a boy, most likely Frank. He was rather handsome, with brown hair, brown eyes, and a typical build. He looked to be their age and was talking to the Marauders, and was laughing.

"Things are going great, we kept in touch over the summer and we went to Diagon Alley together." Alice answered.

Lily smiled. "That's wonderful, I'm very happy for you, you and Frank are perfect for each other."

"So what year are you in Alice and how long have you and Frank been dating?" Isabella asked.

Alice looked at her. "I'm in sixth year, and we started dating when I was in third year and he was in fourth. We went to Hogsmeade for our first date." She then sighed happily.

McGonagall walked by and gave them their schedule. Lily looked at hers, then leaned over to look at Isabella's. "You have all your classes with me except when you have Divination," She said the word bitterly. "I have Arithmancy then, so you'll have to find someone else to show you to the north tower."

Isabella shook her head and smiled. "Okay." She was about to take another bit of her cereal, but Lily grabbed her arm and pulled her up.

"We better get to class Izzy, McGonagall's horrid when students are late. We'll see you at lunch Alice."

Isabella let Lily drag her and waved goodbye to Alice.

The week went by fast and the classes were interesting. Potions and Transfiguration were her two favorite subjects and found out that the Maurauders were in almost all of her and Lily's classes. But when Isabella, Sirius, James, and Peter had Divination, Lily and Remus had Arithmancy. Then when Lily, Isabella, and Remus had Ancient Runes, Sirius, James, and Peter had Care of Magical Creatures.

At breakfast on Saturday Isabella was staring at her plate, which was still full, and thinking about her dreams, they were still haunting her. She was bracing herself for the one she knew was going to come; the dreams got worse as the night of the full moon drew nearer, and it was a week away. The guilt and saddnes was getting to her, she almost couldn't sleep and she was forgeting to do simple things, she had even forgot to braid her waist length hair and didn't have a hair tie, so it was in her face and annoying her. She let out a groan and took off her glasses, rubbing her eyes.

She swung her legs over the bench and stood up, no longer hungry, and ran into someone. She tipped back, her world very blurry, and grabbed onto the nearest thing, the person she ran into. She looked up and saw Sirius Black.

He smiled and helped steady her, but keeping their close distance. "Watch it, you wouldn't want to fall."

She half smiled. "Thanks Sirius."

His eyes widened a bit. "Mental mouth?" He laughed. "Hardly recognized you for a moment."

She put on her glasses and looked down. Great, now that name is going to stick here too. "Thanks for catching me." She quickly left the Great Hall.

Sirius looked at his friends. James and Peter shrugged, but Remus shot him and walked after Isabella. When he caught up saw her leaning againt the wall outside the Great Hall, staring down at the floor. Remus touched her arm, she jumped. He smiled at her, she hesiently smiled back.

"Are you okay?" Looking her in the eyes Remus saw sadness and grief, it surprised and worried him even more.

Isabella saw the concern in his amber eyes and nodded slowly. "I'm fine."

He took in the bags under her eyes and pale face. "Well I don't think you are. Come on Isabella, Bella, wha-" Isabella looked at him sharply, glaring slightly.

"Don't call me that!" She said in a harsh whisper.

Remus looked slightly hurt. "Why not, what's wrong?"

She shook her head and walked toward the stairs. "Forget it, just...nevermind."

Remus followed her. "No I won't forget it, something's wrong, your not acting like yourself."

Isabella turned to look at Remus. Angry blue meeting confused amber. "And how would you know?! We've only known each other for a week and we've hardly spoken! " She looked away, and wispered. "You know nothing of me."

Remus tried to look her in the eyes but she refused to look at him. Gently taking her face in his hands, ignoring her blush, he took off her glasses and looked her straight in the eye. "But I want to, if you let me.What's wrong?"

Closing her eyes she nodded. Remus dropped his hands to his sides. "Before I tell you what's wrong, but you have to promise not won't tell anyone."

He nodded. "I promise."

"Ok, did you know that the full moon is next week?" Remus stiffened and nodded. "Well every time the full moon draws near I start having horrible nightmares about my brother's...death. My...my brother Antonio, who used to call me..Bella." Tears started to stream down her face.

Swallowing Remus brought his hand up to wipe the tears away. "How did he...die?"

Stiffling a sob she continued. "We were playing in the woods, it started to get dark and we only had the light from the moon to help us see. We were almost home when Antonio tripped on a tree root and his foot got stuck and I couldn't...I couldn't...sniff get him out so we sat down and waited for Papa to come, but...sob..but before he could come there was a growling sound and when we looked up we..we..saw a..a.." Isabella broke down and started to quietly cry. Remus hugged her, but looked very pale.

"Wh-What did" He cleared his throat. "What did you see?"

Her head was resting on his chest. "It was horrible...a monster...It..It was a...werewolf." She said the last part in a small voice. Closing her eyes in exhaustion and feel limp in Remus's arms.

If Isabella had looked up she would have seen Remus's wide eyes and pale face. Had she looked up she would have seen the deep saddness in his eyes. He picked her up and carried her up the stairs, towards the Gryffindor tower. Ignoring the stares, he entered the common room

Remus started walking to the seventh floor. Once he made it to the portrait of the Fat Lady he said the password and went inside. The common room was mostly empty, and he made his way up the staircase of the boys' side, since he couldn't go up the girls' staircase and entered his dormitory, laying her on his bed. After pulling the covers over her and taking off her glasses he turned to leave, but her words were still running through his head.

It was horrible...a monster...a werewolf

"I'm a monster." He said quietly to himself before closing the door.

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