Chapter Thirteen
The One with the Nightmares
Disclaimer: Not mine.
My heart was beating fast; it felt like it had gone mad. My hand was sweating so badly I could hardly grasp the wand I had stolen.
"Hand over the wand," Rosier snarled to me, as I approached him. Even through the dark I could see his teeth. Rotten and yellow. Why did Slytherins have such poor hygiene?
"Why?" I asked, "I'm outnumbered, I'm not going to attack."
Rosier grinned, bearing his yellow teeth, I cringed, "But you know Gryffindors… the wand." I extended his hand out to me, "Don't make me hurt you, now…" I stayed still, ready to whip out the wand and attack, but Rosier's wand was already raised, "Crucio!"
The spell hit me on the chest. The pain was so severe, so fervent. It was as if I was being stabbed with white-hot knives. I screamed. I screamed louder than I had ever screamed before. And the pain stopped. I rolled over to my side and stood up, shaking uncontrollably.
"The wand," Rosier said simply with a sneer on his face, "Cru-" I thrusted the wand out to him. He took it gleefully. He grabbed my upper arm and dragged me out of the potions room.
"Where are we going?" I asked, stilling shaking. Rosier didn't answer; he looked back at me and pointed his wand, threateningly. I didn't ask again. I glimpsed behind me. Two of the hooded men followed us. I was sure they were students here, but couldn't be sure, Rosier referred to them in codenames. He pulled me into the Great Hall.
"Burn them," he snarled into my ear and shoving the wand back into my hand. He pointed at the four empty house tables, ""Just do it!"
"Why can't you?" I snapped, I would have thought he took pleasure in doing it himself.
"Because I want you to do it," he snarled, "Or I'll give your boyfriend the same treat I gave you before… Crucio!" The curse hit me again, this time on the back. I crumpled onto the floor feeling the knives digging into me; I wanted to yell to him to stop. But I was incapable of forming words. It stopped. He grabbed my arm and pulled me up, "I'll make sure Black gets the same tomorrow."
"Incendio!" I croaked, pointing my wand at the Slytherin table.
"Good," Rosier smirked, "Now the others."
The other three house tables jumped up into flames as well. Rosier snatched the wand off me and threw it into the fire.
"Now that wasn't so hard, was it?" Rosier sneered.
"You could have done it yourself, why do you need me?" I asked.
"I like the control," Rosier hissed, "Beside, you're just the bait."
"But why the fire?" I asked.
"I like the panic," Rosier shrugged, "Tomorrow at midnight, meet me in front of the library."
"What if I forget?" I taunted.
"Don't taunt me," Rosier snarled, "Remember what I can do, make sure no-on-"
"Mcgonagall's coming!" hissed one of the hooded students from the top of the staircase. I watched as panic swept over Rosier, he my upper arm and dragged me back up the staircase. We hid near the staircase leading down to the dungeons. I heard Mcgonagall shriek and then a huge splash.
"Get the headmaster, and wake the heads of houses!" she yelled at someone. I was guessing a ghost or a portrait.
Rosier swore under his breath, "You'll have to stay in the Slytherin dorms."
"No way!" I snapped.
"You wanna get caught?" Rosier said, for a second I thought he actually cared if I got in trouble, "You're not going to ruin this for me? I can-"
"I don't care, I'll stay here," I hissed, "I'm not going anywhere near your dorm."
"Shut up," he spat at me. I heard shuffling.
"What happened," came a wheezing voice; Flitwick.
"The house tables were set on fire!" McGonagall said, her composure returning, "I found this wand amongst the rubble!"
I was forced to stop listening from then. Rosier turned to me, his face full with rage, "You idiot!"
"It wasn't my fault; it was you're idea to throw the wand there!" I cried.
"Crucio!" he yelled, his wand pressing against my neck. He pressed his hand over my mouth, as the knives burned into me. This time the pain lasted longer. It stopped. I lay curled on the floor. Rosier stood up towering over me; he kicked me in the stomach.
"Incendio!" Rosier hissed, pointing his wand at my arm.
"No!" I yelled, but my arm was already burning. I cried out in pain.
"Stop! Do want them to hear us?" hissed one the hooded students, "C'mon Rosier, leave her here – let's go!" I could tell who it was. Regulus.
"It wasn't my fault," I cried out.
"No, but I wanted to," Rosier spat, as he walked away, "And now you can't go to Pomfrey." He was right about that. They'd know I had caused the fire.
I was still crying with pain. I looked down at my arm. It was red, just as my other arm was purple and bruised. It felt like it was on fire. I got up from my helpless state, and walked into the nearest girls lavatory. I heard the muggle way to treat burns was with ice – well I didn't have ice but I had water. I put my arm under the running water. Big mistake. As soon as my arm hit the water, the pain multiplied. Now, my arm was burning even more. I bit my lip to keep myself from screaming. Why'd I have to do that? Like it wasn't enough...
I waited for awhile, before using the secret tunnel to the Gryffindor Tower. I wonder how James would react, now that I had missed the detention he had given me. I would to explain it to him. I didn't know what to say?
But that wasn't my biggest concern. Rosier had shown his true colours. I would have never thought it possible for him to use an unforgivable – he was only a teenager. But he had, and now I was in a more hopeless situation. But I knew I had to do whatever to protect James and Sirius.
Oh boy, Sirius. What was I going to do about that? We hadn't spoken since I slapped him – it was only a few hours ago though. Everything was going to work. Everything was going to be fine. Going to be fine. I just had to apologise to him – I did hit him a bit hard.
The dorm was dark, everyone had gone to sleep. Thank Merlin, I didn't have time to explain to people why I was coming in at this hour. I quickly grabbed a wand from someone's beside table and tapped my burnt arm. Instantly white bandages wrapped my arm. I would have to go down the library to find a spell to fix my arms.
I'll just lie down for a bit. Then I can go get change. I rolled over on my side and fell asleep instantly.
I ran through the forest. It was different than I had remembered. It was darker, colder.
"Hayley!" came a yell from somewhere amongst the tree.
I could recognise that voice anywhere, "Sirius!" I cried out. I ran deeper into the forest. He stood next to Rosier. Rosier gave me an evil sneer, before looking away at something on the ground. I followed his eyes.
James.
"How could you do this?" Sirius spat at me, "How could you be this selfish – you killed James!"
"No Sirius!" I pleaded, "It was Rosier..."
"You sold us out!" Sirius snarled, "We're going to die because of you!"
"No!" I said shaking my head, "Rosier! You can't do this!"
"You didn't listen to me! I told you this would happen!" Rosier laughed. His cold laughter echoing through the forest, "Avada Kedavra!" And with a flash of green light, Sirius was lifeless.
Sirius' P.O.V.
"Hayley?" I said, shaking her.
"No..." she muttered, pushing me away, "... You can't..."
"Wake up! It's noon," I said, "Hayley!"
"Huh?" she muttered, her eyes fluttering open, "Sirius?"
"We're all going to Hogsmeade," I said, moving away from her.
"Oh, let me just get ready," she said sitting up, "I'll meet you down stairs."
I gave her smile, and exited the room. She didn't seem angry. Maybe she had forgotten. I doubted it. Why did I have such a big mouth?
Cause you're an idiot.
Oh, you're back again?
Yeah, miss me?
Stupid voice. That was great, Sirius Black hears voices. What would people say?
"Is she coming?" Remus asked interrupting my train of thoughts, as I came down the stairs.
"Yeah, she's going to take a shower – you three go head – I'll wait for her," I said, taking a seat on the couch. James shrugged and walked out with Lily. Probably for a quick make-out session. I still didn't know if they were going out or not. James said they were friends moving slowly. Like a Hufflepuff trying to catch the snitch slowly.
"Is everything okay?" Remus asked, ready to follow James out, "With you and Hayley?"
"Yeah, everything is fine," I said, waving him off, "We just got into a bit of a fight..."
"About me?" Remus said, cautiously, before taking a seat.
"No..." I mumbled, he looked at me persistently. I knew I would have to tell him of my stupidity, "I accused her of cheating with Regulus." And for the second time in twenty-four hours a sharp pain cracked me across the face, "Hey!" I cried out.
"You're the biggest jerk to have walked this planet Padfoot!" Remus growled, ignoring my sour expression of my face.
"Don't worry – she slapped me too – and told me I can go to hell!" I snapped at him, stilling rubbing my cheek, "What should I do?"
"Grovel!" Remus said standing up, "I think I hear her coming down – apologise!' Remus walked out of the common room.
"Hey!" I said quickly, as I noticed Hayley coming down the stairs.
"Hey..." she said, pulling her jet black hair into a bun. I my eyes travelled along her body, noticing how perfect she was. I met her dark blue eyes, she instantly looked away, "Where's everyone else?"
"They left," I croaked, as noticed how fitted her dress was, "Are you sure you need the cardigan? It's going to pretty hot in three broomsticks..." Oh great, why'd I sat that? Now she's gonna think I just want her to take her clothes off.
"Oh, I get cold easily," she smiled.
The trip down to Honeydukes was a quiet one. Neither of us made a sound. And I was pretty sure if there was a conversation it would be very awkward. I heard Hayley stumbled, quickly grabbing onto my arm for support. As quickly as she grabbed me she let go.
"Sorry," she mumbled.
I grunted in response. I couldn't think of anything to say – her touch scared me. Her hands for rough and cold, she did get cold quickly. Maybe I should apologise now it was the perfect opportunity – we were alone... she was cold... I could offer my cloak...
"Hay-" I began, but was interrupted, as I heard her give out a sudden loud sob. As I turned around to face her, I heard a sudden thump and someone grab my legs.
"Hayley! What are you doing?" I asked perplexed.
"I'm sorry!" I sobbed her breathing loud and unsteady. She hugged my legs tightly, hitting her head against them, "I'm sorry..."
"Merlin's beard!" I cried out, pulling her up by the arms, "What are you doing?"
"I shouldn't have slapped you!" she said. I could hardly make out what she was saying, she was sobbing so loudly.
"I deserved it – babe, please stop crying," I said, shocked by her sudden outburst. I wrapped her tightly in my arms, trying to control her incessant shaking, "Where is this coming from?"
"I just kept thinking... what if something happened to you ... or me... and the last thing you remember of me was me being a complete bitch and hitting you..." She sobbed. I felt her arms wrapping around me, pulling me closer to her, "I'm sorry..."
"Babe, it's not your fault – I said stupid things – I was being irrational and my hate for my brother took control of me and I accused you of horrible things... I'm surprised you didn't slap me harder," I said chuckling.
"What if I never saw you again?" she repeated.
"What's going on?" I asked, "Is everything okay? Did somebody say something to you?" I felt her shake her head against my chest, "I am never, never, going to let anything happen to you... let alone leave you..."
"But-"
"No, nothing is going to happen," I ensured her, "Please... please, stop crying – or I'm going to hate myself more than do for saying those things to you..."
"It's not your fault," she whispered, her sobs dying down.
"It is, I trust you enough to know that you would never cheat on me or lie to me but still... I hurt you and made you upset," I said gently stroking her hair. We seemed to stand like that on stairs for hours. I waited til her sobs had completely died down and her breathing became steady.
"Oh, I made us late... we better get going..." Hayley murmured against my chest.
"You're okay now?" I asked her.
She looked up at and smiled, "Yeah, I love you."
"I love you too," I smiled, "Are you sure you're okay? Can I tell you something?"
"I'm fine," she smiled, planting a soft kiss on my lips, "Yeah, tell me."
"What the hell was that about?" I growled at her, "And I know it wasn't the about the slap – some bastard said something to you, AND I WANT TO KNOW WHO!"
Hayley grinned, "You're cute."
"Hey! You can't get away that easy," I snapped, "I was fucking worried – well I'm still worried – what the fuck is going on?"
"Stop cursing at me!" She frowned, beginning to descend down that stairs again.
"Sorry! But you freaked me, and don't you ever beg me for forgiveness like that ever again – I don't care if you murder my cat!"
"Sorry," she mumbled, "And you don't have a cat."
"And that's another thing! Don't apologise! I've noticed you do that a lot! Stop it," I said.
"Sorr- I mean ... okay, sorr- no, oh Sirius!" she snapped, "I'm fine, and stop with the yelling."
"Are you sure?" I asked.
"Yes."
"I'm sorry then."
"What for now?"
"For accusing you of cheating, cursing at you, and then yelling at you," I grinned, "You can slap me again if you like – you know what? I think this aggressive side of you is turning me on..."
"Shut up."
"No really, join me in my bed into with it," I grinned, giving her a light squeeze around the waist. I waited for to reply but she stayed quiet, "What? No – you're a jerk Sirius or go away Sirius... I was kidding..."
"Yeah, yeah... I know," Hayley mumbled, not looking up at me.
I laughed. Did she suddenly get shy because I mentioned sex? Whatever, at least our fight was over. But her grovelling at my feet instead, of me at hers. It was definitely weird. No crazy.
I helped her through the broken tile at honey dukes, even though she insisted I don't.
"Merlin! It's dark in here," I exclaimed as I heaved myself through the tile, "Can you ignite your wand?"
"Wand?" she mumbled, "I didn't bring my wand..."
"What?" I gasped, finally making it through the hole, I fumbled around and took out my own one and ignited it, "Why not? What if we're attack?"
"You think someone we'll attack us?" she muttered, her voice was shaky again, "I'm sorry-"
"It's okay!" I stopped her. I was afraid that she's start crying again, "You don't need it." I wrapped my arms around her waist as we walked out of Honeydukes. We met a slightly flustered James and Remus at the Three Broomstick. I took a seat next to Remus as Hayley went to order us some drinks.
"What took you so long?" James snapped at me.
"Hayley-" I began, but noticed we were missing someone, "Where Red go?"
"Well I and she aren't going out... so we don't have to hang out all the time, do we?" James growled.
"Lily didn't want to come," Remus filled me in, "She's hanging out with Charles – but why'd you take so long?"
"No reason – oh James, Hayley lost her wand..." I informed him.
"WHAT?" James exclaimed, spraying his butterbeer all over Remus, "How did you come here?"
"The secret tunnel – I think you're losing it Prongs..." I said, looking at closely, "But don't mention it – I think she's PMSing so she all like ... ARRRGGGGHHH ... and emotional..."
"Wait, is she like ARGHHHHH or ARRRRGGGHHH?" James asked shrewdly, "Oh look, she'll calling me over." He got up and left the table.
"So? What happened?" Remus nudged me, still trying to wipe the butterbeer of his clothes, "Did you grovel?"
"It was weird – she grovelled at my feet, literally," I said, I watched an expression of shock wash over on Remus' face, "That's what I was like, she grabbed my legs and begged me to forgive her – she thought something bad was going to happen..."
"Maybe she was shaken by the fire?" Remus suggested.
"I don't think she even knows about that... she missed breakfast," I said, "I worried about her Remus, she's acting weird – she's yelling at James, late for classes, missing detentions-"
"Oh about detention James, can you move it to Sunday?" Hayley said, placing drink on the table and sitting down next to James, "I want to go to Halloween party."
"I'll see what I can do," James said, wrapping his arm around her shoulders, "Oh by the way, Sheldon took her wand – I'm going beat the crap out of that guy... he's getting on my nerves."
"It was Sheldon!" I said jumping, as Hayley groaned, "Was he the one who threa-" I stopped at Hayley wide-eyed death stare.
"What?" James spat, spraying Remus with whisky this time, "He threatened!"
"Sirius forcibly kissed me," Hayley said. I gave her the 'what-the-hell' look and she returned it with the 'that's what you get' look.
"You kissed her!" James growled, jumping up and splattering his drink on Remus.
Remus jumped up too, grabbing my drink and throwing at James' face, "That was for spitting on me for the past seven years and sit down – she's messing around."
"That was uncalled for," James said over my laughter.
"Obliviously, Sirius or Hayley would tell you if they were doing something behind your back," Remus said, now sipping on his juice, "That's what I'd call smart... smart."
Hayley's P.O.V.
I jumped over the fallen trees and tried to make it over the fence with the barbed wire entanglements.
"Wait," I cried out, "Don't! My hand is stuck." I didn't know how it got stuck in the barbed wire but it was.
"You already killed your boyfriend, I just have to finish you off," Rosier growled, pulling me. I felt my arm scrape against the –
And I woke.
I looked around the dorm, everyone was still sleeping – I checked my watch – it was only two. My breath was unsteady and sweat covered my body. I looked down at my bruised arm; it felt like it was actually stuck in the barbed wire. I looked over to the other hand, I had bandaged it. Looking at my burnt flesh made me sick. I took up my top and pulled on a long sleeved t-shirt. I couldn't sleep in this bed now...
I wandered, out of the room and down to the boy dorms. I peeped into the room, lights where glowing from under through the curtains of several beds. I walked over to Sirius' and withdrew the hangings of his bed. Sirius sat on his bed, with his legs stretched out with a bag of candy in his lap.
He jumped as he saw me throwing candy everywhere.
"Sorry!" I apologised, taking a seat next to Sirius.
"What's going on? Is everything okay?" Sirius asked quickly, "What happened?"
"Oh, nothing..." I said forcing a smile, I reached over the gave him a light kiss on the cheek,
"Is this about the hall? The Fire? Did you have a bad dream about it?" Sirius asked, wrapping his arm around me.
I tried to act cool but my voice betrayed me, "No, it wasn't about that..."
"Tell me what's going on," Sirius said, giving me a light squeeze.
I seemed to melt at this touch, his smile, his words. I just melted at him. Make sense?
"Everything is fine..." I sighed. I couldn't tell you how hard it was for me to keep lying to him. I just wanted to reach out, kiss him passionately, and tell him everything. Tell him about Rosier, tell him how about my bruised arm, and tell him about my burnt arm. Tell him it was I who stole Lily's wand and caused the fire. Tell him I was trying to save his life.
"You had bad dream didn't you?" Sirius said, raising one of his eyebrows at me.
Oh my merlin! Why couldn't he just shush?
"You want me to go?" I asked, maybe a bit too harshly. Oh, great, now I felt bad.
"No!" Sirius said quickly, "Stay... was the dream about me?"
MERLIN HELP ME. This boy is going to drive me crazy.
"Sirius!" I snapped, pushing him away.
"Okay! Okay!" He said putting up his hands in defeat, "I'm sorry, I just worry..."
"Don't I can take care of myself, I'm a Gryffindor!" I said, maybe a bit too loudly. But I kind of wanted him to take care of me. I wanted him to wrap his arms around me and never let go.
"You say that now, but wait 'til you get attack by a giant marshmallow, and then you won't be all who-lee-do-da," Sirius muttered under his breath.
"What? Really? Do you actually go to school?" I chuckled.
He grinned at me, before giving me a death stare, "As a matter of fact I do, and I do not like these constant accusations of me being stupid..."
He rambled on for an hour or maybe more. I couldn't tell, I had drifted away in his arms, exactly where I wanted to be. But all good things must come to an end, and they came to a halting end the next day over lunch.
"James! Please!" I begged him. He had rescheduled my detention to the night of the Halloween Party and I had been planning to come for weeks. Me and Sirius had it all worked out. I would tell everyone, I was sick and couldn't come, and then later get dressed and meet Sirius there. It was a masquerade, so James wouldn't even know.
"No, you skipped detention last night!" James growled at me, "And I'm not making excuses for you for the teachers – you didn't even give me a damn reason!"
I had no choice but to skip it. Rosier had told me to meet at nine, when I started detention. Why was James being so unreasonable? He'd always let me off or change the day at least! I blame Sirius; he just had to drag me unto the Quidditch pitch. And here I am lighting the hall on fire, to save his life. But I had to say Rosier's plans did not make a lot of sense... he wanted me to do things he could do himself... and he knew how to use unforgivable curses! When did we ever learn that in Defence?
I looked up at James, I saw Lily give him a little smile. Oh. So he was only giving me detention to impress Lily.
"Well I'm not going!" I snapped. I rather get ten more detentions, then not spend the night with Sirius. Not that we had anything in plan.
"What has gotten into you?" James asked surprised, finally finishing his soup, "You're going to that detention, or you can triple it."
"Done."
"WHAT!" Remus said, spraying his potatoes all over James, "You want to come to the Halloween party that bad?"
"James, just move it!" Sirius said, speaking up finally. He had been a little quite through this whole conservation. I hope he still wants to go with me.
"Hayley?"
I turned around to see who had called my name. Regulus. Fantastic.
"Regulus?" I hissed, I gave Sirius a death stare, telling him to stay quiet, "What are you doing?"
"Can I talk to you?" he asked.
"No, you can't," James snarled, as I got up, "Go back – you're going?" I ignored James. Idiot.
Regulus grabbed my arm; I let out a loud yelp as pain vibrated through my body, everyone behind me turned to look. James, Sirius and Remus sprang out of their seats – with James and Sirius brandishing wands.
"He stepped on my toe," I grinned back at them. They all sat back down hesitantly, "I'm fine," I added.
But that really hurt. I really should get it looked at, but anybody would tell James.
"What the hell were you thinking?" I growled at Regulus as soon as we were out of the hall.
"You should thank me, Rosier said we're meeting before the feast – if you have plans cancel," Regulus said.
Oh great, now I couldn't go to detention or the party with Sirius.
"That's fine," I snapped at Regulus, he looked a bit taken back by my reaction, I quickly apologised, "Sorry... yeah, I'll be there, thanks." I forced a smile at him.
"I guess you didn't get your arm fixed?" Regulus said. It was an awkward conversation, and he kept forcing it. Was he waiting for something?
"Pomfrey would tell James... I'm sure of it..." I grimaced.
"Would you like me to fix Pomfrey up?" Regulus grinned, almost matching Sirius'. It could never be as good as Sirius'.
"What? No!" I snapped, outraged at his suggestion, "Look, thanks a lot but just don't do anything..."
He nodded. I waited a few more seconds for him to walk away.
"Oh – okay... I better go..." I said awkwardly as he continued to stare. He didn't say anything. It was like that awkward eye contact you get with someone on a bus; you're both looking at each other waiting for the other to look away.
And before I knew it my day had gone from bad to worse. He leaned forward and kissed me.
"Hayley..." came a soft mutter from behind me. Sirius Black. The man with the worst timing.