Nightmares and Falls

"A! —ria! SIRIA!" A chorus of voices shouted her name, but it was Fay and Hermione knocking Siria onto the floor that woke her. Siria jumped to her feet and looked around, expecting there to be a fire drill, but the four other girls just looked at her.

"You were having nightmare" Lavender told her. Her eyes were large and full of worry.

"Another one," Hermione told her firmly.

"Sorry," Siria whispered while she picked her blanket off the floor.

"Siria, you don't have to be sorry." Parvati placed her hand on Siria's shoulder. "We're worried about you."

"Yes!" Lavender nodded. "You got better for awhile, but they've been terrible since Thursday."

"Talk with us." Fay pleaded. She sat down at the foot of Siria's bed, with Hermione.

Siria pulled her blanket onto the the bed with her. Lavender and Parvati sat down. The girls listened to the silence until Siria spoke again. "The dementors just really freaked me out. I—" Siria hung her head on her knees. "When it got close, I heard a woman scream and— and I can't get it out of my head."

"Oh, Siria!" Lavender gasped. Hermione placed her hand on Siria's knee.

"Halloween, I don't know how to explain it, but I—" Siria opened and closed her hand, as though she was trying to pull the words out of the air. She looked to Hermione then to the blanket. "It was like, I was hit with the greatest happiness ever— out of nowhere, I was happier than I'd ever been, but there was this weird voice telling me to go to the Whomping Willow and something inside me asked 'Why?' and I just…" She closed her eyes and pressed her head back to her knees. "When I asked why, I started to kind of panic, but I was still trying to go to the Willow until I tried and tried not to and fell."

"That explains a lot, actually." Fay confessed to Siria. "You were muttering that you didn't want to and you wanted to stay."

"Siria!" Lavender threw her arms around Siria. "I'm so sorry!"

"We didn't know." Parvati told her and took one of Siria's hands. Hermione patted Siria's knee.

"If there's anything we can do, we're here for you." Fay smiled at Siria from the end of the bed. Tears burst from Siria's eyes. Relief poured from her and she felt like the nightmares had been a little silly. She didn't even know if the woman was real or a figment of her imagination at this point.

Dark and early on Saturday morning, Madam Hooch was on the Quidditch field, waiting for the Gryffindor team with Professor McGonagall. Very shortly and cleary, Professor McGonagall explained that she, Madam Hooch, or another professor would be over seeing their matches. She didn't say why, but Wood argued that, as long as it didn't interfere with practice, he didn't care either way. Practice battered them with a chilling wind, but had been dry for the first time in a week. Ron had gotten rather good at scoring past Wood, but only caught the occasional goal himself.

Sunday morning, Siria arrived to the study group with Fay, Mandy Brocklehurst, and Hermione, and Lavender and Parvati, the latter two of them had just joined that day. Parvati giggled when she opened the door, but led the way inside. Lavender followed suit and giggled as well. At the desk near the front, four Slytherins sat— Travers and Warrington had returned with a third year Slytherin girl and, by the looks for it, her younger sister.

"Potter, if you would," Professor McGonagall called Siria to the Slytherins' desk. "Surely you remember Ms. Travers," Travers waved at Siria with her green painted nails. Siria gave a meek open and close of her own hand. "Mr. Warrington," he nodded and she did in return, "and you know Ms. Daphne Greengrass," the third year Slytherin girl smiled slightly at Siria. "This is her sister, Ms. Astoria Greengrass. You've done such a splendid job with Mr. Creevey and Ms. Weasley that I recommended you to help Ms. Greengrass, who has been excelling and wants to learn more."

"Cool," Siria told them in a strained tone. If she was supposed to help Astoria or Daphne Greengrass, why were Travers, Warrington and the other Greengrass sister here? She also wanted to know why Travers and Warrington, who were more experienced, couldn't help.

"I'll leave you to it, Potter." and Professor McGonagall did just that.

"So, what brought you all here?" Siria asked as she pulled up a chair. Travers pulled Siria's chair closer and Siria's heart hammered into her ears.

"Astoria's shy and doesn't think 'famous Siria Potter' wants to teach her." Travers whispered. Her breath smelt like strawberries and for some reason, Siria could only nod in reply. "Good girl." Travers ruffled Siria's mane of wild hair.

Astoria turned out to have a knack for Transfiguration. When Colin learned they were turning mice into snuffboxes, he came over to try and help. Astoria had the same soft brown hair as Daphne and a similar soft voice, but Astoria's was higher. She was very animated and excited. Once she turned the mouse into a snuffbox, she hugged Colin and Siria then requested to go again.

"You can practice on your now or with him," Travers told her. "It's our turn to help Potter." Siria's face flushed.

"I don't need help." said Siria.

"With Potions?" Warrington asked.

"I mean, if you've got the time, I'd appreciate the help." Siria rubbed the back of her neck.

"Pull it out, Potter." Travers instructed. They moved back a table, while Daphne, Astoria, and Colin stayed at the front one. Astoria and Colin brought each of their Snuffboxes to Siria while Travers and Warrington helped her with her Potions essay on the properties of Armoteia, which could be liquified into an acidic solution of varying strengths or else powdered and mixed into a paste of Flitterbloom and Goosegrass to make a red balm for relieving rashes.

(Book: B3, 170-173 Snape oversees their Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson, which he does on werewolves and assigns a huge essay on them. He calls Hermione an "insufferable know-it-all" and gives Ron detention of cleaning the Hospital Wing bedpans for talking back. I know the Full Moon is 10/18/2013 [Friday] DADA= Thursday, but plot, ya know)

Their next Sunday study group, Astoria and Daphne arrived alone. Siria got Astoria started on turning beetles into buttons. Colin hurried to take over helping Astoria, which left Daphne with Siria. "So," Siria drummed her fingers on the table.

"I'm just here for my sister." said Daphne.

"You don't have anything you want help in?" Siria asked.

"Do you get some sort of fulfillment in helping others, Potter?" she asked.

"I mean, I guess?" Siria shrugged and pulled out her werewolf essay. "We mostly started because Lockhart wasn't teaching us anything, but, with the Chamber being opened, it got put on hold. I hadn't expected so many people to want to spend their Sunday morning studying and practicing." Daphne hummed a sigh and they fell silent.

Their little study group had been larger than Siria intended at their very first meeting. Since then, Terry Boot had brought yet another other student from their Arithmancy class, not including the few that had shown up in their second meeting. Ernie MacMillan had invited Susan Bones and Lily Moon from Hufflepuff. Mandy Brocklehurst and Fay invited Padma Patil. Neville and Ron had convinced Seamus Finnigan and Dean Thomas to join. Colin had two to three friends that would occasionally show up. By the time Lavender and Parvati joined last week, they had at least twenty people each Sunday.

"Even Hermione can't help everyone!" Ernie MacMillan exclaimed.

"Which is why we made the schedule— we're talking about Arithmancy!" Terry Boot barked at him.

"No— you were, but it's ten, and we had agreed she would help with Ancient Runes" Lily Moon, a Hufflepuff third year told them. She pointed to the clock on the wall. Hermione looked to Ron, who didn't see because he was reading a magazine Luna Lovegood had given him. She turned to Siria.

"How can I help?" Siria mouthed. Hermione shrugged and looked about to cry. Astoria and Colin looked to Siria, who waved them to stay. She got to her feet. Daphne, much to Siria's surprise, walked with her to Hermione.

"I'm also taking Ancient Runes," Daphne told Lily Moon.

"And I grew up with Muggles, so I can probably help" Siria supposed.

"And I can help with Arithmancy, if you need" the cool voice of Susan Bones told them. They split into the groups until noon, when Professor McGonagall insisted they enjoy the rest of their Sunday.

In the common room that night, Hermione leaned to ask Siria something, but sat back up in her chair when Wood flung his arm around Siria's. "Have they asked you anything?" Wood asked Siria.

"Has who asked me?" Siria asked in reply.

"The Slytherins— Colin's just told me. Warrington's buddies with Flint, and they're both related to the Greengrass girls. They aren't there to learn, they're spies." Wood informed her in complete and total seriousness.

"You're joking." Siria told him.

"Look, Potter—"

"Look, Wood! Not one of them has said anything about Quidditch. They aren't 'spies'!" She rolled her eyes. "Astoria likes Transfiguration and we're helping her— Daphne was helping people in Ancient Runes today. The Ravenclaws are too focused on studying and helping people study they don't have the time to ask about Quidditch and the Hufflepuffs are too interested in fairness for that to cross their minds! No one is saying anything about Quidditch." Siria rose to her feet.

Wood was over a head taller than Siria, so she had to look up at him while she glared. Fred and George clapped, not in applause, but to wrap things up. "Oliver," Fred soothed.

"If you're that worried," said George.

"Just go with her." Fred finished.

"Fine, the Gryffindor Team will be there." Wood instructed. Siria mouthed wordlessly to Fred and George. They chased after Wood to argue they were needed at the Sunday study group.

Never had Siria seen worse conditions for Quidditch than on Saturday. Outside there was a storm of wind, rain, and frost. She woke in the middle of the night from another nightmare about the Whomping Willow calling her. Siria shook Hermione. "'Mione, could I sleep with you?" she asked. Hermione rolled over and made room in reply. Siria threw her blanket onto the bed and crawled in. The storm outside kept her up for so long she was too tired to remember falling asleep.

In the morning, Siria rushed to the Hospital Wing and convinced Madam Pomfrey to give her one of the gold smoking, ruby potions. Over breakfast, Hermione took Siria's glasses. "Remember, I don't know how long it will last, but it should help— Impervius!" Siria put her glasses back on and didn't notice anything until they were on the field and the rain seemed to fall right off her glasses, which let her see clearly.

The wind whipped so furiously and loudly that Siria couldn't hear a word. When she kicked into the air, it was worse. Even though she could see, she could only hear the howling of the wind. Lee Jordan's commentary was lost in the storm. Within minutes, she was drenched the bone, freezing, and only knew that Slytherin had scored at least once. Lightning flashed and lit the stadium. The thunder vibrated through Siria. She couldn't take it and shot into the sky. Malfoy saw her and chased after her, no doubt thinking she saw the Snitch.

There was no avoiding it, Siria fired herself straight through a thick, hearty cloud. Malfoy came out just a moment later and nearly crashed into her. He looked around wildly. Her heart was racing, but the storm was calmer. "Where is it?" Malfoy barked.

"No idea," Siria confessed. She felt her heart, which was roaring as loudly as the thunder below them. "I couldn't hear anything."

"I think we're winning. " Malfoy told her, but his voice told her he didn't have any confidence in it.

She knew what she had to do. Siria took a large, swelling breath and dove back through the storm. Lightning flashed all around her, with Malfoy on her tail. "THERE!" She bellowed into the storm that devoured her voice. Siria pressed herself to the broom and dove for the small spark of gold she'd seen reflect the lightning.

(Book: B3, 178-179 at least a hundred dementors flood the Quidditch field. Siria hears her mother begging Voldemort to spare Siria's life. Voldemort laughs. Lily Potter screams. Siria passes out.)

"Can't believe he caught her."

"It's your fault if our Seeker dies!"

"He did it to himself!"

"I thought they were going to die." (B3, 179)

"But she didn't even break her glasses." (B3, 179)

(Book: B3, 179-180 Siria stirs to find her whole body aching. She remembers the dementors and opens her eyes. The Gryffindor team is around her bed and caked in mud. Hermione and Ron are drenched. Fred, who is especially pale, asks how she feels. She remembers the lightning, the Snitch, and the dementors. Siria asks what happened, learns she fell off her broom)

"After he caught you, you two fell," said Fred.

"Must've been some— what— thirty, forty feet" finished George.

"We thought you'd died," said Alicia, who was shaking. (B3, 180)

Hermione made a small, squeaky nose; her eyes were extremely bloodshot (B., 180). There was a fair amount of ruckuss beyond the curtain beside Siria's bed. It sounded like someone else had visitors.

"The match?" Siria asked.

"Cancelled." Wood told her. "We can't play without Seekers."

Madam Pomfrey let out a cry of outrage. "Headmaster!" She exclaimed. The team turned their attention to the newly opened doors. Professor Dumbledore himself had come with Sirius, as Snuffles. The bear of a dog pushed through the crowd and licked Siria's face. He hopped onto the bed. "I assure you, Poppy, that this dog is very clean and will be on his best behavior. Sirius sent him to watch the match."

"Please Madam Pomfrey!" Siria pleaded, her arms around Snuffles's neck. She got her wish. The Gryffindor team was shooed out, along with the other visitors, but Snuffles stayed. Madam Pomfrey removed the curtains and Siria gasped. "Best behaviours!" Madam Pomfrey snapped at them.

"Should have known," Malfoy grumbled. "Your stupid dog looks like the Grim." Snuffles growled at Malfoy, but laid over Siria's legs.

"Don't tell me the dementors got you too," Siria tsked.

"No. I—" Malfoy tsked and adjusted his pillow so he could sit up better. "I tried to catch you." The fuzzy voices Siria had heard when she started to stir filled her head. The first thing she'd made out was "Can't believe he caught her." To be honest, she couldn't believe it either. Siria buried her fingers into Snuffles's thick, warm fur. "Thanks." she muttered into the quiet Hospital Wing.

"Don't get used to it."

Hermione and Ron visited Siria again that evening.

(Book: B3, 181-182 She learns that Professor Dumbledore slowed the fall, chased away the dementors, magiced them onto stretchers, and brought them to the Hospital Wing. She also learns that her Nimbus Two Thousand crashed into the Whomping Willow and is in pieces.)

"Well, Snuffles, at least I wasn't on a Nimbus Two Thousand Two." She tried to smile.

When she woke Sunday morning, Malfoy was already up. He was surrounded by boxes of sweets, a fruit basket and very thick, wool blanket. On the floor beside his bed was a now empty box, large enough for Snuffles.

"All your godfather sent was a bear, Potter," Malfoy smirked as he took an apple from the basket.

"All your parents sent was a box." Siria scratched behind Snuffles's ears.

"I'm just saying, he hasn't sent a letter or anything."

"I'm just saying that I'd rather have Snuffles. Sirius would have visited himself, but Madam Pomfrey would have shooed him away. Snuffles got permission to stay and hasn't left my side." She smiled at the wagging tail of the bear of a dog on her bed. For the first time, she had slept peacefully through the night. Siria rather wished she could bring Snuffles back to the dorm, but Sirius had work to do.

(Book: B3, 183 Siria gets a large string of visitors over the weekend)

"Is that nice?" Malfoy grumbled after Hermione and Ron left that night. Pansy Parkinson had stopped by, but she had been the only one. His parents had sent the box and a letter. Siria had been visited by the Gryffindor team, at least half the Sunday studygroup, and Snuffles had remained by her side since he arrived. Ginny Weasley had brought her a card. Justin Finch-Fletchley and Ernie MacMillan had snuck in a personalized shepherd's pie. Colin Creevey stopped by with Astoria and Daphne Greengrass. Astoria had left her favorite of the buttons she'd Transfigured for Siria.

"What do you want visitors for?" Siria asked. "I haven't left your side." Malfoy scoffed.

"Because you're stuck here too."

"Even if I could leave, I wouldn't have." She confessed.

Professor Dumbledore had slowed their fall and saved the both of them, but Malfoy had tried. The same Malfoy that taunted and baited her had tried to save her. She wouldn't have it in her to leave him alone in the otherwise quiet, eerie Hospital Wing.