13th September

I hoped that the weekend would bring me a lie-in, but I was wrong, so very wrong.

Last night I experienced the death of Mr Colin Lee. I recognised the street in Belfast City Centre as I walked towards City Hall, I crossed the road and headed for Great Victoria Street. I was walking swiftly, my hands were in my pocket and I was minding my own business. The roads were quiet as most people weren't out as late as this on a Wednesday night. I had a look around and under my car which was parked a few streets away from the Europa Hotel, unlocked it and climbed in, lighting up a cigarette. I felt my whole body relax as I breathed in the smoke. I sat for ten minutes, savouring every breath. As I rolled the window up after chucking the butt out the window, I started the ignition and BOOM!

The car exploded and I died…

I was in the nightmare three times. On the third time around, I had a long and painful death, smelling my rotting flesh, gasping for air, being unable to escape from the car, the seatbelt melting against my skin. It was at 3am that I decided that anything would be better than lying in bed.

14th September

I went to bed early this evening. I was wrecked, actually, worse than wrecked. I couldn't keep my eyes open any longer as I had my head on George's shoulder as he chatted to me about trick wands and making the design more exciting. It got to the point that both he and Fred insisted that I went up to bed.

As soon as my head hit the pillow, I was Paul Reid – a police man in Belfast during the troubles. Paul was first on scene after the car bomb attack on Colin Lee and was named the lead investigating officer. Forensics were called and evidence was collected. The bomb was situated under the car and had been attached to the ignition, so when the engine was started, the bomb exploded. What was unknown at the time was the identity of Colin Lee as he was transported to the mortuary before formal identification the next day.

Within a few hours, the car was removed from the scene of the crime, but on lifting, I, Paul Reid noticed something hanging from under the car – remnants of the bomb.

I quickly picked up the pieces found underneath which directly corresponded with the individuals who made the bomb in the first place. I kept it in my possession to file as evidence for the investigation. As the scene was cleared, I returned to the office with my partner to complete the remainder of the paperwork. During the car journey there was very little traffic on the road as it was just after 4am. My partner, Stuart turned on the radio as we drove and we sang along to the song Sweet Child of Mine by Guns N Roses. We pulled up to a red light and put on the handbrake. A car pulled up beside us, my father in the driving seat and my mother was a passenger.

My mother got out of her car and knocked on the window of the police car, "Sir, I was wondering if you could help me?" she spoke with a really high voice and looked very innocent.

"What seems to be the problem Madam?" was the response from my lips, after rolling the window down, my voice deep and rusty.

"I believe you have something that belongs to my husband and me." she said, raising a gun.

I fumbled for the gun in my holster, but before I had the chance, I was shot in the chest and my head hit the steering wheel. I watched as my father shot through the passenger window of my partner Stuart Montgomery. I listened as Stuart was shot five times. It all happened in the blink of an eye. I felt paralysed by pain and fear as my parents stole the evidence that incriminated them from the car.

My mother and father pulled off in the opposite direction, leaving me and my partner Stuart to die. I felt the blood pour from my chest, my vision was blurred, I was shaking, I went unconscious.

I woke up.

"For f*ck sake." I swore loudly. It was just before 5am and I, back in my own body was wide awake.

"Katy, I swear if you don't take a dreamless sleep potion tonight, you're not going to make it through your classes tomorrow." George said to me at lunch, "You can hardly function and it's just after midday."

"I'll just become dependent on it again…"

"Katy, it's just going to be one night. One. Night."

"But-"

"You are having a meeting with Umbridge tomorrow, you need to be on top form!"

I sighed, "I really could do with-"

"I'll bring you around to Madam Pomfery's myself." George took me by the hand and brought me to the hospital wing. Madam Pomfery was very accommodating to my situation, after giving off about me not coming to see her sooner. George sent me up to bed straight after dinner and I slept through to the next morning.

15th September

At breakfast I received an eagle owl from Narcissa.

Dear Kathryn,

Draco has reported to me that you have been experiencing nightmares again. He is concerned about you, and because he has taken the time to write to me about you, makes me concerned, too. What are the nightmares about, sweetheart? Have you tried using the lavender and the blanket? What about dreamless sleep potion to get you sleep for at least one full night? I wish you would have written to me, you know I am here to help. Please talk to me.

Narcissa xxx

"Now I've got the pity party on my case," I rubbed my eye as George took the letter out of my hands and read for himself.

"People are concerned, Katy." George stated, folding the letter back up and placing it in the fold of my red diary he bought me, he marked today's date, I hadn't written anything yet, "Don't get me wrong, you look so much better today, but still…"

"I look like shite, I get it." I said, "Thanks for the honesty."

"You wrote to your mother?" I let rip at Draco when we were in potions, "SERIOUSLY?"

"She has the right to know when you're the one she's supposed to be caring for," Draco spoke calmly, "and you haven't written a single letter back home from the sentencing."

I scoffed, "Am I supposed to be writing to her all the time? She said if there was anything I needed to write, at this time there is nothing she can do to improve my current situation."

Draco shook his head and took a deep breath, "In that sentence alone I have learnt so much about you..." his voice was full of sympathy.

"Miss Pink, Mr Malfoy, am I going to have to detain you both after class for talking?"

"I think I'm quite finished conversing with Mr Malfoy for today, thank you." I replied to Snape.

Snape's eyes narrowed, "Very well."

I didn't look at or talk to Draco for the remainder of the hour together. This seemingly bothered him a lot more than it bothered me. I was okay with that.

At the end of Defence Against the Dark Arts class, after reading chapter 3 of that wretched book, Umbridge called me to the front, "Miss Pink, are you ready for our chat? Hem hem."

"Of course." I said in a high voice full of forced happiness. I turned to Hermione and whispered, "If I don't make it back to the common room before you go to bed, send out a search party for my body."

"Don't say that." Hermione hissed as I joined Umbridge on the short walk to her office where we ordered dinner just like at the Yule Ball and it magically appeared at her desk and we sat very formally and started to eat. I had a plate of a roast chicken dinner and Umbridge had pork chops with all the fat trimmings included.

"Well, Miss Pink," Umbridge started, "Today we are going to discuss your family."

Any desire to eat the food in front of me disappeared within seconds, "Alright." I said, forcing another forkful of potato down my throat, "What would you like to know?"

She asked about my parents' names, their occupations, where we lived, their crimes, the prisons they were in and just about every detail I was willing to share. I doubted she was interviewing me like this so that she could write a book. I didn't give too much away about their crimes; I didn't want her getting any ideas. Dolores Umbridge was far too interested in me and my life. No one would want to know this sort of stuff. But I suppose she was a cross between a psychopath and a potential serial killer.

The next topic of conversation began around seven o'clock when Umbridge asked about my summer and how my circumstances have changed. Hmmmm… I had to be very careful.

"I believe you stayed with Mr and Mrs Malfoy."

"Yeah, I did." I replied.

Umbridge raised an eyebrow, "And how was it?"

"Fine, they treated me well, I had a good time." I answered, I suppose that was mostly true.

Umbridge offered me a cup of tea, which I declined, "And you stayed with the Weasleys for a while?"

"Yes, for a few days." I said.

"And where is it that they live?"

"The Burrow," I answered as coolly as possible. She was willing me to slip up, to make a mistake, to give information about the Order or some plan Dumbledore had.

"And is that where you stayed when you were with them?"

I nodded, "I sleep in the spare bed in Ginny's room."

"Did you have any visitors when you were staying at said Burrow?"

"You mean Bill?" I asked, "He used to live there, and he stays from time to time, I don't know if he counts as a visitor? Harry was staying there and so was Hermione, but for how long, I'm not sure. I guess it's just nice to meet up with friends outside Hogwarts." I smiled, "And before you ask, Molly looked after me when I stayed, I get on with her well."

"Excellent." Umbridge spoke, "hem hem." She cleared her throat, "Well, Miss Pink, I must say it has been absolutely delightful talking to you this evening. I will remark that your etiquette at dinner was remarkable and you maintained all your manners. You are learning, Miss Pink. Same time next week. Off you pop. Hem hem."

I smiled and nodded and hurried back to the common room. I clearly had given her the information that she wanted. Crap.

16th September

Just like clockwork, I switched off my alarm in the morning and I got dressed in my work uniform and took a look in the mirror – I knew then that I was in the body of Noreen Fleming, the flight attendant. She was a beautiful girl, with long strawberry blonde hair that fell down past her shoulders and hung at her hips. In one swift, elegant movement, her hair was in a neat bun and she heard a horn outside.

I travelled to the airport in an almost bored fashion, taking a taxi for the short journey from the hotel suite and hauled my luggage behind me. I was taking the long-haul flight from Dubai to London Gatwick this morning. I flashed my pass to security and signed in with the rest of the cabin crew for the flight. Today I was designated to first class. I had this overwhelming feeling of dread as I looked around and saw my customers of the day – a loved-up couple on their honeymoon – a number of high-flying businessmen who wanted to relax after long negotiations – and a family of three, my father, mother and brother Peter. I sighed as my mother had already used the call button to ask for a double whiskey on the rocks. My brother was acting up and wanted out to use the toilet. I could feel Noreen's sense of dread heighten as she knew she had to bend over backwards for every single annoying request.

Half way through the flight, my mother had buzzed for what seemed like the umpteenth time, claiming that the food wasn't up to standard, when Noreen asked for a reason so that it may be improved, my mother wore a daring smile. She was tipsy. Peter continued buzzing for the hell of it as my mother lay fast asleep beside him. Noreen's sense of cool was fading fast. My father buzzed a matter of minutes later. Noreen clenched her fists tight.

"I'll have a cup of tea, milk, no sugar." My father spoke with such a pompous attitude.

Noreen replied, "Of course, Sir, right away."

Then she went into the kitchen section and vented to one of her colleagues, "Paolo, I swear this family are going to be the death of me. They are a bunch of spoilt preppy toffs and I want to strangle the lot of them. You know those people you just can't do enough for?"

Paolo nodded, "I know, girl, stay strong. Give 'em attitude" he clicked his fingers in the 'Z' formation, "Drinks tomorrow on me, okay? I'll pick you up."

Noreen then returned to my father with the cup of tea, and on hitting a rough bit of turbulence, was taken off her feet and the cup of tea went flying and soaked my father's chest and legs. "F*ck." Was the next word to come out of poor Noreen's mouth. She had managed to scald both herself and my father who looked murderous.

Noreen provided my father with cooling towels and many, many apologies. More than he deserved.

My father remained livid.

Noreen tried her best to win back my father's faith – she provided him with a fresh cup of tea which he rejected – she provided him with pillows, ice packs, a cooling blanket – she gave him a free glass of alcohol. Everything was rejected. Nothing was good enough.

My parents were on their early flight home from Australia. They were complaining about the poor standard of the holiday. The bites, the heat, their hotel. They were already in the mood of immense dissatisfaction. This was clearly the last straw for them.

The flight landed.

Noreen bade farewell to all of her customers in first class. After half an hour, she walked through the arrivals lounge after gathering her luggage. Getting into a taxi, she was followed from the airport to her home in Epsom by a blacked out SUV.

She flung open the door to her small apartment and threw her luggage on the floor, eating a slice of toast and taking a quick shower to relax. She knew she was going to get a massive compliant. She was going to be put on probation. As she got out of the shower, I heard a creak coming from the small living room. Noreen, not being able to hear my voice in her subconscious, followed the noise. She wrapped the towel tight around her body. Her heart was pounding. She opened the door unto the tiny room and stepped inside, hearing the familiar creak.

Noreen Fleming was grabbed around the neck from behind. The pair of hands gripped tight, squeezing all the air out of her lungs. Noreen fought back, thrashed her legs and scrabbed but with no success. She used the towel that was once around her body as a whip, but again was unsuccessful. The perpetrator was wearing gloves and was clothed in heavy duty outerwear. Terror overtook Noreen as her body ran out of air, the ability to think, the ability to function… she fell unconscious.

I did not wake up from the nightmare.

What could only be described as a period of time later, Noreen awoke. She had her arms tied to her bedposts and legs bound together. It was then that Noreen had the chance to look into the eyes of my father. Her heart felt like it was going to burst out of her chest and she let out a scream of terror.

My mother entered the room, and roughly jammed a foul-tasting sock into her mouth, muffling all attempts at communicating to the outer world. My mother was also holding a boiling cup of tea and poured it over Noreen's naked body. Pain seared through her and my father laughed menacingly. He grabbed her by the throat and squeezed again, teasing the air out of her lungs, watching with such delight as Noreen fell into and out of consciousness.

She was barely holding on.

My inner subconscious knew what was going to happen next.

I could hear the other voices inside Noreen's head. The voices willing her to fight. She thrashed and kicked. My father held her down. The voice telling her to try and release her arms, to bang the bedposts against the wall to gain attention. My mother slapped her. The voice telling her to swing her legs and whack my mother. My father grabbed her by the breast as though trying to rip it off. Noreen cried out in distress. The voice of reason stepped up, convincing her just to give in. Noreen submitted to the tightening feeling of my father's fingers. She knew it would be over soon. The voices pleading with my father to just kill her. She held her breath as my father squeezed her neck again. She gave up. The final voice confirming that it was all over.

I woke up, back in reality again. My parents returned home after killing Noreen. Then they tried to kill me. I ripped open the curtains around my bed, feeling unusually warm and claustrophobic. I felt tears trip down my cheeks and my body tremble as I walked the few short steps to the window beside my bed where I grabbed a glass of water from the ledge. I listened out for the deep breathing of Hermione, Fay and Lavender as well as the quiet snores of Parvati. Out the window, moonlight lit up the grounds of Hogwarts, the sky was cloudless, the stars were sparse but magnificent all the same. My body longed to return to the comfort of my bed.

As I closed my eyes again, my body took me back to a nightmare but not to repeat the death of Noreen, but the death of Alison Boyd.

I was in a strange world, a time before I was born. I looked down at myself, I was dressed in a matching skirt-suit thing. I was wearing very expensive six inch heels and could walk. I walked with confidence into a boardroom, signing a new deal for my company, a deal that was long awaited. My big break. I had just stolen the deal from under the nose of my biggest rival.

I looked up with affection to see my father dressed in military gear, his light brown hair was sleek under the red beret. He stood tall and focused.

"Richard." Alison whispered.

My father zoned back into the room again, "Yes, sweetheart?"

"You've been acting strange all day, I thought you'd at least be happy with all the work I've put in over the last few months when you've been away." Alison grabbed my father's hand and squeezed tight.

"Of course, I'm delighted."

Alison then stroked my father's leg in a very inappropriate place and said, "Good, because we are celebrating later."

My father's expression did not change.

Another woman with long blonde hair thundered into the room. She was dressed similarly to Alison.

"Oh for f*ck sake, Helen, you cannot just walk into my boardroom like that! How did you get past my security? I won the deal fair and square. Please leave before I have you arrested."

"YOU!" Helen yelled, "YOU STOLE THAT DEAL FROM ME! YOU BITCH! YOU STOLE IT FROM ME! I'LL HAVE YOU FOR THIS!" My mother was trailed out of the room by several men in black, "CURSE YOU ALISON BOYD!"

My father perked up. Alison watched as my father's eyes followed my mother as she left the room.

Champagne flutes were passed around the room to celebrate the deal with co-workers. Alison made a short speech, congratulating her team on the win, that her business will soar higher and higher and that they were all going to be very wealthy individuals.

Afterwards, Alison excused herself to 'powder her nose'. My mother was in the bathroom, this time she was dressed in a boiler suit. My father entered the bathroom soon after.

"Empty?" he asked.

"Yes." My mother answered.

"Good." His eyes were cold as they found Alison.

Alison had unknowingly just walked into her own perfectly planned crime scene. The walls were covered in plastic sheets. And, without further ado, my mother slit the throat of poor Alison and she was dead in seconds.

What happened afterwards, as I had learnt in court, and from Dean's parents' information, was the dawn of my mother and father joining forces. The time my mother proved herself to my father. They first murder they completed together. My father had killed many in the army, had trained up my mother and together they brought down Mrs Alison Boyd, who was using my father and scammed my mother out of a deal. Together, they took down the woman who caused them so much hardship. They cleaned up the bathroom and buried the body of Alison in a cemetery, miles out of Belfast. Not to be discovered until almost 20 years later.

Months after the incident, my parents were married and the kill and torture spree continued...

"Are you okay?" George put an arm around me at dinner.

"Just four more to go…" I sighed, "I feel like I'm losing my mind, Georgie..." I didn't have emotion left in me. I was beyond exhausted. I didn't want to admit I was distressed but Noreen's death hit me hard. It really got to me, as I was scalded by my parents, I was beaten, but worst of all, my father grabbed me by the throat and squeezed. Every time I thought about it, I felt a shiver run down my spine and my throat close up. Then followed the merciless death of Alison; the images played over and over in my mind. I wanted to curl up into a ball. I wanted so badly to forget it all. I zoned in and out, daydreaming, feeling my father's hands around my throat, feeling the knife slit, feeling myself go unconscious. I couldn't concentrate in class, all I wanted was to catch up on work and have the ability to sleep again with nothing haunting me.

George pulled me in closer and whispered, "What can I do?"

I shook my head, "I don't think there is anything you can do…" I said, "But I will not let my parents defeat me, not again."

"Katy…" George sighed, "I'm getting really concerned, this isn't normal… You're making yourself ill. Hermione has told me that you've had nightmares ever since you got back from court."

I nodded, "Four more." I said, "Four more." I repeated, "Just four." I told George, I wiped my eye, but not because I was teary, but because my eyes so desperately heavy and I could see the face of Simon Spector every time they closed, "Simon, Anthony, Jacob and Kailin."

"Katy…" George really didn't know what to say.

"Swiped at with a broken bottle, assaulted, murdered and assault and harassment," I rhymed off, "that's all." I reasoned, "I've already been kidnapped, assaulted, threatened, tortured, battered, poisoned, stabbed, shot, bombed, strangled…" my voice was strangled.

George, gasped, and so did Fred and Lee who were listening in, they too were shocked.

"Don't worry," I assured, "My brain has been trained, I know that once I see them all, I will be okay, it will be over. I'll have closure."

"I'm here for you, okay?" George said sincerely.

"I know." I took his hand and squeezed.

17th September

George sat up with me until after midnight. I think he felt even more helpless than I did.

"I can see his eyes." I whispered, it was only the two of us left in the common room at this stage.

"Hmmm?" George asked, he was drifting off to sleep.

"Simon's…"

The two of us were sitting on the windowsill. I looked forwards at the blank wall a few metres to our right. I could see Simon Spector's eyes blinking at me, as though they were watching, waiting for me, he was standing with the remote control to start the video, the story of how he died.

"You can?" George asked.

I stared at the wall and nodded, "Simon is looking in a mirror. He looks like he's going on a big date, his hair has gel in it and his beard is well trimmed and he's just sprayed some cologne on himself. He's a bit nervous. He's deliberating between a tie, bow tie or no tie." I chuckled as I told George what was happening. I was somewhere between being awake and asleep. The play button was pressed and I could see, clear as day, through the eyes of Simon Spector, "He's just put on his coat, grabbed the bunch of roses and checked his wallet is in his back pocket. He's gotten into his blue ford fiesta and is taking the drive to London, he's pulled up outside a flat and-" I gasped, "Emily."

"Who's Emily?"

"She's my cousin. She's studying Law in Queen Mary's University of London. Simon dated Emily." I was shocked, "they went out for dinner in a fancy restaurant, he paid. Emily took his hand as they walked through the streets of London, just talking. They really hit it off, they are so clearly attracted to each other. Then he said to her, "Can I drive you home?" and she agreed and when they arrived, she asked if he wanted to come inside…" I sighed, "Oh, no, Emily, keep it classy, girl. He parked up and followed her inside. They started kissing, everything that was once on her kitchen table was flung to the floor as things started to get hot very quickly. Simon's shirt was on the floor, Emily unbuttoned her blouse. Emily then proceeded to unzip Simon's trous-" I stopped.

"You stopped." George said, "Why did you stop?"

I sighed again, "Because I know what's about to happen." I took a deep breath and continued, "let's just say, because I know you're very into them taking all their clothes off, that the only remaining piece of clothing is Emily's necklace and someone let themselves into Emily's flat."

"No…." George sat up and looked at me, I could feel his eyes on me as my eyes flickered as I looked up at the wall.

"Yes." I said, "Mumsiekins and father-dearest." I shook my head, "Mum enters, Emily screams, Simon grabs clothes to cover himself. My father smashed the bottle of wine on the counter and started threatening Simon. He was yelling things like 'I know who you are, I know what you've done, you have no business here'. Dad then threw the bottle at Simon, one of the shards embedded itself around his xiphisternum-"

George stopped me, "What's that?"

"The lowest part of your sternum, the bone that connects your ribcage?" I answered, pointing at George's chest and continued, "my father chased him out of the flat. He fell down the steps, exposing himself. My father then kicked him until he got up, punching him in the face, threatening him that if he ever came into contact with Emily ever again, that he would be six feet under. Simon got up and ran. He made it to the nearest hospital before he had lost too much blood and was rendered unconscious."

"Woah." George said, "That it?"

"Yeah, that's it." feeling a weight lifted off my shoulders, I kissed George on the cheek and, still half asleep I managed to get myself up to bed. That night, I got six hours of undisrupted sleep.

"Fred, it was so strange. Katy is so distressed by her nightmares that it's really affecting her… She was sitting there as though she was awake, but was staring at the wall. She answered my questions, but it was like she was seeing that man get attacked right in front of her." I heard George relay to his brother at lunch.

I slid into the seat beside him, "I was awake." I added, "I was that tired that I was in a half-awake-half-dream state. I was watching everything happen as though it was right in front of me, yet I was aware of you, I told you what I could see. I must say, that is one of the nicer nightmares I've had."

George rolled his eyes, "Can I just say once again. That. Is. Not. Normal."

"Go find yourself a normal girlfriend then." I rolled my eyes back at him, "You wanted me to be more open with you, to know what was going on, so I told you and now you're freaked out. You only have yourself to blame. I've been through hours of therapy. I can deal with them; I'm getting better at dealing with them."

George looked heavenward and closed his eyes as though praying to a higher authority for strength, "But you shouldn't have to deal with them!"

"It's unfortunate that not everyone in this world has such a perfect upbringing."

Fred interjected, "I hope you two aren't going to start fighting. George is concerned, Kathryn. And Kathryn feels she is coping, Georgie. Let's leave it at that?"

George and I both looked at each other, our eyebrows furrowed, we were fake glaring at each other, trying not to be the first person to break the stare. George then made his eyebrows dance and I couldn't help but laugh as I fluttered my eyelashes at him.

"Can I just say something?" I asked.

Fred looked up at me as though he wanted to glare but was forcing himself not to. George's gaze was softer, he knew I had something that needed to be said, "I have predicted that tonight will be my last nightmare, Jacob, Kailin and Anthony are all linked. I'm just hoping that there will be one massive explosion of an ending and it'll be done. We'll see in the morning." I yawned and stretched, "But for now… coffee!"

18th September

I was right. I was invisibilia me in the last nightmare, a bystander, watching the crimes unfold.

"I'm sorry Madam, but Mr Brown is not in his office at present. His mobile telephone is switched off and I have no other way in which to contact him. I'm sorry, you're going to have to come back."

"I've had this meeting planned for weeks! WEEKS!" My mother stood at the welcome desk, losing her temper with Kailin, who was simply doing her job.

"Yes, Mrs Pink, I understand, but in my recent telephone conversation with yourself, I cancelled that meeting and offered to rearrange, I can do that now, if you like?" Kailin was very polite and calm, she typed into her computer and scrolled, "The next slot we have for an appointment with Mr Brown is Thursday 23rd of May."

"23rd May? 23rd MAY?" My mother yelled, "You can stick your appointment right up your arse where the sun don't shine, Missy. That's bloody weeks away!"

Kailin looked up at my mother, "Mr Brown is a very busy man."

My mother was astounded, "And I am a very busy woman! If you don't get me a meeting with Mr Brown today, so help me I'm going to throw you off that seat and do your bloody job for you because you're f*cking useless."

"That will not be necessary, Mrs Pink." Kailin spoke, her voice was quivering for the first time, "If you do not remain calm, I will be forced to call security to escort you off the premises."

"You will be doing no such thing." My mother grabbed the telephone out of Kailin's hands and whacked her across the head with a great deal of force and slammed the receiver down, "What you are going to do is give me Mr Brown's office floor and room number and we will have no more arguments."

Kailin's forehead was bleeding around the end of her right eyebrow.

The security man for the building, Anthony O'Brien, who was patrolling the upstairs corridors came into view. That was when my father entered the building.

"Excuse me, can you help me?" My father played that card, the one where he didn't know what was going on, the one where he walked straight past my mother and said, "I have a meeting with Mr Brown at 2030."

"I'm sorry Sir," Kailin began, "Mr Brown is not in the building at the minute, and he has no appointments made for 2030. Can I make you an appointment for the next suitable opportunity?"

"I wouldn't bother," my mother scoffed to my father, "Next available appointment is for the 23rd of May."

My father turned to Kailin and turned his head on the side, "23rd May? That is beyond a joke! Where is the man? Off sunning himself on holiday? Paying for it with the money he owes me?" My father's voice rose gradually, "He's spending it when he has it, because I'm taking him down for everything he has." His tone was now aggressive.

"Excuse me, Sir," Anthony stepped in, "We do not tolerate that tone in this building, I recommend you take five outside." Anthony put his hand under my father's elbow to direct him towards the door. Wrong decision. My father retaliated by punching Anthony square in the face, breaking his nose, then proceeded to a swift uppercut to the jaw, knocking Anthony out for the count. He lay on the floor, rendered useless.

Meanwhile, my mother took care of Kailin. She was about to ring 999, but my mother disconnected the phone, jumped over the reception desk and started beating Kailin senseless. Kailin tried to fight back, but my mother grabbed her by the hair and dragged her off the chair and into the back room where she gave one final blow. Kailin was unsteady on her feet, fell backwards and knocked her head off the corner of a filing cabinet. She, too, was rendered unconscious.

Then who was to come downstairs but Mr Jacob Brown. The man who had been in the building the whole time, who knew he had wronged my parents and had denied them an appointment to meet. Jacob, who was wondering what was the cause of all the commotion stepped off the lift and stopped dead in his tracks upon seeing Anthony's body on the floor. Jacob was then faced by my father and soon after by my mother. They drugged him and dragged his body up to his office where they tied him to a chair and began torturing him. I could hardly watch. It was too close to home for me.

"Where is the code?" My father questioned Jacob as soon as he regained consciousness.

"Code? What code?" Jacob was drowsy.

"The code to your safe, you worthless piece of shit." My mother slapped him hard.

My father grabbed Jacob by the scruff of his neck and threatened, "This will only get worse for you if you don't tell us what we need to know. What is the combination for your safe?"

"TELL US!" My mother screamed, her voice was high and echoed throughout the empty office.

"No, I don't think I will tell you." Was Jacob's response.

My father kicked over the chair Jacob was tied to. The man, who couldn't have been more than in his early thirties, let out groans of pain as he was kicked in the ribs repeatedly, "Tell us the code."

"No," Jacob said defiantly.

My mother and father proceeded to burn Jacob's body using a poker from the fire. They branded him a liar, a cheat, a scumbag. I listened as Jacob screamed. They used knives to disfigure his face, to pry off his fingernails one by one. I could hardly watch as Jacob writhed in agony. They broke his toes. I felt that pain. They water-boarded him. I, too, was forced to hold my breath. They removed all of his teeth. My gums bled, too. My parents were continually yelling, shouting, threatening, screaming at him to give up the information, but he wouldn't. He wouldn't give up the code to his safe. The safe that contained evidence against my parents and a number of crimes they had committed. Jacob also hid the small fortune he had made, the money that would benefit his wife and three children, that would let them escape London, and the horrors he had incurred from Helen and Richard Pink.

Mr Jacob Brown was dead by morning.

Anthony O'Brien had woken in a pool of his own blood and immediately called for help; he rescued Kailin from the locked cupboard, she was not in a good way. When he went up to his boss's office on the top floor, he found his body in many different bits and pieces scattered throughout the room. Written on the walls in his blood were the words.

"You're next."

I woke up with a gasp. My heart was racing. My body and sheets covered in my perspiration.

"Are you okay?" Hermione asked, she was holding a cold wash cloth to my forehead.

"Yeah," I said, wiping a single tear from my left eye, "It's over. It's finally over."

I tried to sit up, "Owwch… Oh that's not good…" I rubbed my back.

"Yeah, you were thrashing about again." Hermione spoke softly, "What was it this time?"

"Everything…" I said, but Hermione's expression showed she wanted more from me than that, "Beating, kicking, punching, tied up, pushed over, waterboarding, broken toes, cut of nailbeds-"

Hermione went very pale, "I think I'm going to stop you right there." She covered her mouth and grabbed both of us a glass of cool water, "Can I tell you something?" she whispered.

"Of course, 'Mione."

"I think you're so brave." She took a long drink, "I can't imagine what you've been through, or what you're currently going through, I just want to let you know that you can do this. You are not alone."

I reached out, took her hand and squeezed it, "Thanks, 'Mione. I couldn't have done this without you." I rubbed my eyes, "You were – you are my first proper friend and despite the fact that I'm probably the worst friend in the world, I promise I'll be better."

"Just be you." Hermione stroked my arm, she could see the cuts and bruising that had occurred from my endless nights of falling out of bed and thrashing about. Tears formed in her eyes, she brushed them quickly, "I meant to tell you," she smiled, "Viktor says 'hi' and he was wondering if you and the twin were still dating." She giggled, "I've told him that you are and that you two are the cutest couple about. I've also told him that you're giving me a run for my money in classes and he says that we're invited to watch him play Quidditch any time." She beamed.

I smiled, "Strictly between us, do you like him, like him?"

Hermione couldn't meet my eyes for a few seconds, "I like him… but there's also someone else. But I think you already knew that. I think you've known a while."

"I have," I said sincerely, "I was just wondering if you were willing to admit it or not."

"Shall we get ready? I imagine you're not particularly comfortable in those clothes right now?"

I looked down at the sweat patch on my night dress, "Right again, Miss Granger." The two of us giggled.

"Miss Pink," Professor McGonagall spoke sternly, "I am issuing you a detention this morning during your Muggle Studies Class. I have already spoken with Professor Burbage who has stated you already know the class work for today. You will have this work completed for your next class. I cannot tolerate this behaviour from you this last couple of weeks. You will be in my office in ten minutes." McGonagall stormed off. I was sitting eating breakfast just like any other kid in the room. I was minding my business. I was enjoying my new sense of feeling free, which had just been whipped from underneath me in form of detention.

I looked up at Fred and George who were sitting on my left, and then round at Hermione and Ginny who were opposite and to Ron and Harry sitting on my right. They all wore the same, heartfelt expression. I looked up at the staff table, Umbridge was watching my every move, she looked delighted that I was in trouble. "I guess I'll see you lot in Herbology and you three at lunch. I'm going to face the music..."

I stood from the dining table and flung my satchel over my shoulder with such aggression. I turned on my heels and stormed out of the Great Hall and thundered down the corridor to McGonagall's office. I knocked on her office door and let myself in, "Professor, it's not fair, it's just not fair." I argued as I had rehearsed in my head on the walk over, I dropped my bag on the floor and closed the door behind me, "You're bound to know I've been having nightmares, you know I can't just switch them off, I'm struggling-" I stopped mid-sentence as I looked up, "Tonks?"

"Hey sis." She wrapped her arms around me.

"Wh- What are you doing here?"

"Well, I came to see you, of course." She smiled, today her hair was pink and she was dressed in her usual black robes and buckled boots.

I felt like there was something caught at the back of my throat and there was nothing I could do to stop the tears, the tears of weeks past that hadn't been shed. "Oh, come here!" Tonks wrapped her arms around me, "I didn't think that you seeing me would be so absolutely terrible."

"I've just b-been trapped." I cried onto her shoulder, "I –"

Tonks rubbed my back, "Shhhh… I know what's been going on, I've had many letters and many conversations. You've taken this a lot harder than you're willing to admit."

"It's okay, it's over now." I pulled back, grabbed a tissue from McGonagall's desk and began to explain, "you were at court, you heard the stories… I read up about it, I found out exactly what my parents did, how they murdered, how they tortured…" I blew my nose, "Ever since I've been experiencing what those individuals went through in my nightmares. I've either been part of their subconscious or as an onlooker. They were horrible people…" I looked at Tonks through teary eyes, "There was so much that my parents did to them, that they also did to me."

Tonks sat me down on a seat, "Tell me."

I stared at the floor, "It all started through the murder of Alison Boyd, the mark of jealousy and hatred, this was back in 1979. They had me in 1980, Peter in '83, took a few years out and then they assaulted Geoffrey for information on a supposed drug lord, Damien for being suspected of being the drug lord and Dr and Mrs Murphy for treating Geoffrey and Damien and finding out how they attained their injuries in 1987. When I was seven was when the worst of my parents' abuse started happening. They were pushing me down the stairs, using me as a punch bag… Auntie Barbara must have known, she was on drugs, she couldn't handle the truth, the police came that night and she freaked out and stabbed me and killed herself in prison months later… They killed Colin in the car bomb in 1989, I think he was one of mum's associates, then they shot Paul for having evidence against them and killed Stuart his colleague. I was in therapy for everything that was happening. I thought I was losing my mind, but it all makes sense now… Then they attacked Simon in 1993 when he started dating Emily, they didn't like his record. In 1994, just before they went to Australia, they assaulted Kailin and Anthony and murdered Jacob, if murder even accounts for the sheer brutality and torture that man endured. They laid low in Australia, on the flight home were offended by Noreen and killed her, came home and found me with the Weasleys and I was the one left to die. After that they went on the run, were caught and now, well… Here we are."

Tonks stared at me for a moment. "I'm sorry, sis, I don't know what to say…"

"It's okay," I nodded, reassuring her, "At least now I've told someone." I forced a smile, "D'you reckon McGonagall will let me off without a detention then? That's how she lured me here."

Tonks laughed, "Hey! I'm supposed to be the one making you smile, not the other way around! But I think you'll be alright on the McGonagall front, somehow."

"Good!" I smiled at her, genuinely this time, "So tell me all on the Lupin front."

Tonks rolled her eyes, "Baby steps, little sis, baby steps."

"Aw, you're planning children already?" I teased, "Your kids will be so darn cute."

"I don't get how you can be so positive about everything that's going on."

"I will get you two together, one way or another." I smirked, "And before you say it, yes, I am avoiding your statement. I deal with things my own way."

Tonks looked shifty, "Did you hear that?"

"Hear wha-"

"I told you, Dolores, we do not need to discuss the matter." McGonagall spoke loudly, "I will deal with my student as I see fit, I am her head of house after all."

Tonks grabbed her cloak and was deliberating on an escape route. I could see how uneasy she was. She was about to get caught.

"Erm… Tonks?" I looked at her and held out my hand. She was immediately made invisible by me.

"You are a life-saver." Tonks squeezed my hand.

I looked at her quickly, the footsteps were getting closer and closer, "I know, but shut up, touch my skin at all times and do not distract me."

The door to McGonagall's office opened.

"Miss Pink?" Umbridge saw me.

"Sorry, Professor McGonagall, you said that you wanted me in your office for the detention?" I looked ashamed at myself, "I hope you don't mind me coming in?"

"Of course not." She was looking around the room for Tonks.

Umbridge stood and looked around the room, too, as though expecting to find evidence of something, "Hem hem… Miss Pink," Umbridge started again, "I have been informed that your grades have been falling this year. Professor McGonagall has brought you here for detention this morning, but I feel a few lines would sort things out."

I felt myself swallow hard, I took a deep breath and spoke calmly, "I'm really sorry Professor… I am, I've just had a rough couple of weeks, I promise I'll work harder."

"You see, Dolores, Miss Pink is quite capable of having a serious conversation in which she realises that she is underperforming. I am going to offer support and guidance, ask her to repeat her essay for my class and insist that she return to my classroom on Monday evenings for reassessment of progress until she is back on track."

"Miss Pink is not free on Monday evenings." Umbridge spoke with a high voice, "She has meetings with me."

I could see the burning dislike on McGonagall's face and the forced sweetness on Umbridge's. Tonks adjusted her grip on my arm as the two women stared at each other in contempt.

"Do you not think that the improvement of academic work is more important, Dolores? I want the best for my students!"

Without admitting defeat, Dolores Umbridge turned on her heels and stormed out of McGonagall's office. The war had begun.

Tonks let go of my arm.

McGonagall nearly jumped out of her skin, "Where did you – how – cloak?" she was staring at the exact point on my arm where Tonks had been holding moments before, "You." McGonagall looked at me, "Are an invisibilia?"

I turned and glared at Tonks, who looked at me with sorry eyes, then I turned to McGonagall, "Sure, shout it so the whole world can hear."

"How long have you known?"

"From whenever I was a kid hiding from my parents. They were looking at me and couldn't see me." I told her, "Ron told me what my ability was when we were in first year."

McGonagall looked at me intently, "Who else knows?"

I thought about it, "Erm… Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Fred, George, Sirius, Tonks and now… you."

"Remus doesn't know?" Tonks asked, sounding surprised.

"No, Remus does not know." I stared at her, "I didn't fancy the lecture on being responsible." I turned to McGonagall, "And nor do I fancy that lecture. I use my ability for good, I save people's skins, I have private conversations with people, I try to help rather than hinder."

McGonagall smiled at me, "Point made."

"And you're not going to tell anyone." I said seriously.

"I won't, but it just makes sense… You sat in those Death Eater meetings… Moody's Eye doesn't see you, either, does it?"

"No, it doesn't. Which would probably have had me dead last year rather than just mind boggled." I said, then changed my tone, "Thanks for getting me out of those meetings with Umbridge, by the way. She's trying to get information out of me about the Order and Harry and stuff."

"Naturally." McGonagall took a seat at the other side of her desk, "So you realise that your grades have dropped?"

"Unfortunately."

"Minerva," Tonks began, "Kathryn explained it all to me, she's been going through a lot, but we seem to be in the clear now, don't we?"

I looked to Tonks again, "Yes, I'll redo the essay and I'll get back on track."

McGonagall glanced between Tonks and me, "Don't let me down."

"I won't!" I smiled.

"Off you go back to Muggle Studies."

I hugged Tonks tight, thanked her and left quickly. Things were on the way back up again.