A.J RYAN IN THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX

Chapter 28 - Vision

The following morning, she had snuck up to Harry, Ron and Hermione to listen to their conversation.

Harry was an extremely curious person, who always sought to fill it. But Hermione was thoughtful and very clever, she was making the most light on what Harry had seen.

They had pieced together that Bode was murdered as his memory was improving, and he would be able to tell that he had been forced to retrieve the prophecy by Lucious Malfoy. Also that Sturgis Podmore, was probably forced to try and open the door when he was on guard duty for the Order, which he was arrested for.

Hermione stared at Harry, "And now Rookwood's told Voldemort how to get the weapon?"

"I didn't hear all the conversation, but that's what it sounded like. Rookwood used to work there...maybe Voldemort'll send Rookwood to do it?" Harry said.

As Hermione started telling him off for seeing it at all, A.J decided she had heard enough. She was happy in the knowledge that they were still calling it a "weapon" and that they thought Rookwood could get it. It was nothing that Professor Dumbledore hadn't already speculated last night, so she wouldn't have to repeat it to anyone.

The remaining days of February ended with Slytherin's singing Weasley is Our King at the tops of the voices in the corridors, and the rest of the houses were laughing at Gryffindor's last match against Hufflepuff. Filch had been so irritated with the song, that he banned it. A.J took delight in silencing anybody who ignored the ban.

Much to Fred's annoyance, A.J started spending time with a new guy from Ravenclaw. The more she ignored him, the harder Fred tried to remind her he still existed. While it killed him inside to watch her move on, he didn't believe for one minute the indifference she was showing him. He was going to get her back.

A.J woke with a start this morning. Her eyes were wet and wide open. She was panting as she sat bolt upright in bed. She looked down to the sudden pain she felt in her hands. She was gripping the blanket so hard that both hands were white from the strain. She focused on letting go.

Minutes had passed before her breathing slowed to normal. The clock beside the bed said it was six. There was no point going back to sleep now. She put on her robes already laid out at the end of her bed and left the dormitory, as not to wake the others.

The dream she had was only short – no more than six seconds long, but it caused a familiar sense of dread within her. She'd know soon whether it was more than just a dream.

She stumbled into the common room, ignoring the voices she heard – she pushed open the portrait hole and climbed out.

Fred and George stared after her.

"Well that was rude." George said after they got no response to the hello they had given her.

"Maybe something's up." Fred said as he concentrated hard on what it could be.

George nudged him, and they went back to reading over the order form in front of them.

At breakfast two and a half hours later, Fred was looking around for A.J.

He had turned to George, who had also not spotted her.

"She's not here." George stated curiously.

"You think something's up with the Order?" Fred answered in a whisper.

"Maybe. Dumbledore's not here either." George nodded to the teacher's table.

Fred frowned thoughtfully.

Meanwhile inches from the Forbidden forest on the Hogwarts grounds, A.J was sitting on the damp ground with crossed legs, staring absently at the tree closest to her. It had taken two hours but she had seen the same six second image again. Confirming what she had already known deep down - It was a vision. The mounting grief and worry inside her were causing a sick, nauseous feeling in her stomach.

She hadn't had many visions in her life –but she was certain now – one of the people she knew was going to die. She couldn't say with complete accuracy, but it would be between three- and four-months' time.

By the time the first bell sounded, she knew she wasn't going to arrive on time to class. Thank goodness it was only history of magic, she'd be able to sneak in un-noticed.

It was transfiguration that afternoon that would take all of her energy to concentrate. She decided she'd skip it. She also wasn't at lunch in the Great Hall, she had returned to her spot at the edge of the Forbidden Forest. By the time it was starting to get dark and the bell had signalled to mean the end of classes, she couldn't ignore her hunger any longer.

She set a strong disillusionment charm on herself and snuck into the Great Hall. When she was sure nobody was looking she removed the charm and was suddenly visible. She nibbled on a bread roll, and listened to others chatting at her, in what she hoped was a normal manner. After she had attempted half the bread roll she left on the pretence of having Head Girl duties to do, stuffing it in her pocket for later.

Her weekly meeting with Dumbledore was to happen that night, unable to speak she showed him the vision.

Dumbledore stared at her surprised for two reasons. One, he didn't know she had visions, and two Sirius was going to die.

'Sir. If we try to change it..." She groaned in anguish.

"We can't guarantee someone else won't die instead." He finished quietly.

Right now, both Dumbledore and A.J were thinking the same things – it wasn't Harry, and they would have to sit by and let it happen.

"This is why you missed classes this afternoon?" He asked gently.

A.J nodded slowly.

He nodded understandably.

"Sir...Harry." She groaned as tears filled her eyes.

Sirius was, of course, Harry's Godfather. At all he had lost, he still had more to lose.

Dumbledore's eyes sparkled with tears as he nodded sadly.

After a few minutes of silence, A.J stood to leave.

"Take tomorrow off as well. I will notify your teachers."

"Thank you, sir."