Lyla lay sprawled out on the grimy forest floor. Tears leaked out of her eyes, leaving snail trails down her cheeks.
They were getting worse… And she knew she was starting to lose it. Time didn't seem to pass normally. She would close her eyes one minute, then open them to find the sun setting, and she, being in a completely different part of the forest. She was so sure the sun had been rising…
She was scared now…of falling asleep. She would try and stay up as long as she could, but she never could make it so far. And she did she'll find herself sweating and panting as she saw it over…
and over…
and over…
It was the same nightmare…exactly the same.
A graveyard,
Bones,
Harry,
Voldemort.
Every time she saw it, more detail would visualize itself before her. She just saw more. But today she had woken up, after a so bright version of that nightmare… and she knew it was time… time to save
Harry…
She could just hear the cries and celebrations of what she knew to be Harry's return from the maze, or the graveyard, depends what angle you look it from. She could see the fireworks springing up into the night air, bringing light to a usually dark place. It marked her next move.
She sprinted out of the forest, crawling up to the castle. It was important she got there on time. She suddenly saw Harry and Moody walking at a fast pace up to the castle. Moody's limp stopping him from going any faster. She shrank to the shadows, hiding, not even halfway up to the castle. She watched them enter the great huge doors and close them with a thud. She had to be on time, the dream had said so. Not too late…not too early.
She slowed down her pace, walking up to the castle. Knowing she had time to spare. She didn't remember entering, or walking through the halls…
She didn't feel there…and yet…she was.
Memories which didn't belong to her, flooded through her mind. She saw it all, and she didn't at the same time.
She didn't feel like Lyla anymore and yet Lyla was the one that wanted to save Harry. Maybe she was still here…somewhere…
Her senses returned to her and she found herself climbing what seemed like never ending staircase. It spiralled up, and up, her mind starting to wonder again, back into the memories. Then …
she was at a door.
She could hear voices inside the door. One sounding dazed, the other chatting away. She had heard all this before…in a nightmare…
Or was it a memory?
Then words echoed into her head, they triggered something inside her -
"- I conquer you!"
-Lyla came back, for a brief moment.
And Lyla smashed down the door.
Two very shocked faces stared back, one with a wand raised above another's head.
Without even thinking, she thrust her hands up and threw Moody against the wall. He stayed pinned there, enable to move, the shocked expression still on his face. Harry fared no better only managing to mutter,
"Lyla?"
Then three people suddenly appeared, shocked expressions staring at the scene. But one wasn't staring at the scene; he was staring at her…
"Lyla…" Dumbledore's eyes didn't have their usual spark. Instead looking grave as they took more of Lyla in.
"What have you done to yourself…"
It went black from then on. She knew she must have collapsed, she had no idea when, but she presumed it was after Dumbledore had said those words… It was also Dumbledore's words that woke her, but her mind still swirled in the depths of memories. She was afraid to speak, if she was to accidentally say something she shouldn't. She kept her eyes closed tight, laying still, in what she realised…was a bed.
"Minerva," said Dumbledore. "I want to see Hagrid in my office as soon as possible. Also – if she will consent to come – Madame Maxime."
There was the sound of footsteps, as Minerva left.
"Poppy," Dumbledore spoke again. "Would you be very kind, and go down to Professor Moody's office, where I think you will find a house-elf called Winky in considerable distress? Do what you can for her, and take her back to the kitchens. I think Dobby will look after her for us."
Poppy's footsteps left the room, but Dumbledore did not speak again until they had faded.
"And now," he said, "it is time for two of our number to recognize each other for what we are. Sirius… if you could resume your usual form."
A woman screamed and the sound of people moving was heard.
"Sirius Black!" the woman shrieked.
"Mum, shut up!" Ron yelled. "It's okay!"
"Him!" another voice snarled. "What is he doing here?"
"He is here at my invitation," said Dumbledore calmly, "as are you, Severus. I trust you both. It is time for you to lay aside your old differences, and trust each other. I will settle, in the short term for a lack of open hostility. You will shake hands. You are on the same side now. Time is short, and unless the few of us who knew the truth stand united, there is no hope for any of us."
Dumbledore paused and Lyla could only presume that both Sirius and Severus were shaking hands.
"Now," Dumbledore continued. "I have some else I would like to introduce, which some of you have met, but don't know much about…Lyla would you please sit up."
Lyla did as she was asked, sitting up and facing the crowd of people. She recognized almost everyone: Harry sitting in his own white bed, Hermione next to him, Sirius and Ron standing, the man she knew now to be Severus giving Sirius dirty looks, who would give some back and a plump woman with the same red hair as Ron, which she gathered was Ron's Mum.
Dumbledore came and sat on her own clean white bed, his blue eyes filled with sorrow.
"You shouldn't bottle things up. It only makes it worse." He said kindly.
Lyla didn't answer, she didn't know if she could. The memories were still there, raging on in the back of her mind. She pulled her knees up to her chest.
"For those of you who don't know," Dumbledore said addressing everyone else, "this is Lyla."
This is only made Lyla bury her face in her knees as every eye in the room focused on her. It felt like they were drilling holes into her head.
"What's wrong with her?" Harry voice sounded. "Lyla's never been this... shy…"
"Memories, Harry, memories which have not happened yet." Dumbledore said. "Memories that are not even hers…"
Lyla didn't care that they were talking as if she wasn't here. She didn't even want to be part of the conversation.
"How can you have memories that aren't your own?" Ron asked.
"Ah," Dumbledore said, "Lyla's a rare case. They're people who have powers beyond what a normal wizard or witch should have. Someone like Lyla won't appear for centuries, then they just pop into existent. One of the rare abilities is too be able to see into the future, much like divination, except they don't see the future as a prophecy, but as a memory. Through – you could say – someone else eyes. Usually they see it through a dream or nightmare."
"So…" Harry began. "They see it as it happens?"
Dumbledore smiled, "Correct, Harry. They don't just get words; they got the whole thing pouring through their head's. It would be a very traumatic experience - depending on what the memory is."
"So Lyla's been having them…" Hermione said and Lyla could feel her pity looks.
"Yes," Dumbledore said, "I believe she's been having your memory, Harry, of being in the Graveyard."
Silence followed, but was broken by Harry.
"Professor, is that why she lives in the forest?" he asked.
Dumbledore nodded, "Bad things happen to those with this sort of power, who are not left by themselves. You would think it would be the opposite and that they would need to be surrounded by people who are kind. But it is solitude that helps more…But like all people, they do need company every now and again. They would go mad left to themselves too long."
"That's not the only reason," Hermione said, "Right Professor?"
Dumbledore's eyes scanned over Hermione, "Yes, there is another reason, but I think that will be for another time." He turned to Lyla, who was peeping over her knees. "You are to return to the forest as usual. We meet as usual…I expect you to be there," His eyes looked over his glasses, "seeing as you missed the times this year, will have to meet more often."
Lyla shank underneath his gaze, a naughty child caught in the act.
"For now," Dumbledore said still speaking to Lyla, "Rest."
She spent a couple of days in the Hospital Wing. After having A Madam Pomfrey fussy over , making her having a good soak, before she went. Her and Dumbledore had ended up having a little talk, and now, having Dumbledore help her with her memories - she already good feel herself becoming herself again.
So now, she stood at the edge of the forest looking into its depths… She wished she didn't have to go back.
"Lyla!" Harry shouted behind her, panting, as he ran up to her, Hermione and Ron not far behind.
"I thought Madam Pomfrey wasn't going to let you out, for a while," She said smiling, her usual self returning.
But they weren't listening, they were all staring at her amazed.
"I didn't know you had blonde hair?" Ron said.
Lyla hadn't really know either, after being so dirty and never being able to take a proper bath, she had forgotten what she used to look like. Her hair was no longer matted and wild, but thin and silky, coming to rest on her shoulders, bouncing slightly in the wind. Her face, free from all mud and grime, showed her delicate features, ending in a slightly flat chin. Her body was curvy and thin, but with well tones muscles, from all that climbing. Her skin was also a very pale colour.
"Your eyes…" Harry said gazing into them. "I've seen them before…"
"You're probably have." Lyla said smiling, then started walking into the forest, eventually disappearing from their sights.
They watched her go and then Hermione asked, "What do you mean you've seen them before?"
"I saw them in the Graveyard…" Harry said.
"Lyla wasn't there was she?" Ron asked.
"No…" Harry said still staring off into the forest.
"But Voldemort was…"
Took me a while trying to get this chapter right.
Hopefully you guys had questions answered in this one... It will be a while until the rest is answered.
Please review and tell me what you think.