A.J RYAN IN THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX

Chapter 29 - Overwhelmed

"A.J's P.O.V"

I had managed a couple of mouthfuls of porridge, but I couldn't force anymore down. I vanished the contents of my bowl with a wave of my hand, so it looked like I had eaten. I left breakfast early, this time it wasn't unnoticed. George had nudged Fred as I stood, and they had both stared at me curiously as I walked away.

Last night I had dreamt about the vision three times. Each time I woke myself up in a panic. By four in the morning I had given up on sleep altogether and left the dormitory and common room, to pace my office on the seventh floor.

I decided for lunch, I'd go straight to the kitchens. I sat in a chair in the corner, out of the house-elves way and forced a quarter of a sandwich down my throat.

I felt so sick to the stomach that I missed dinner all together. At breakfast the next day, after a night of no sleep, I couldn't eat because it took all my energy to hold a conversation with the people around me.

After charms and the start of morning break, lack of sleep and food, mixed with grief had me completely exhausted. I made it just outside the charms classroom door when I doubled over and dry reached.

The awful sick feeling in my stomach didn't leave. I felt my knees buckle and the ground move closer.

***General P.O.V***

A.J had doubled over, with a disgusting retching noise coming from her, the next she was falling to the ground. Riley Bistlow, having just exited the classroom dropped his bag and reached for her. He fell to the ground underneath her, pulling her down safely onto his lap.

"Lexi? Lexi?" He called.

She didn't respond.

The rest of the class was huddled around them staring at her in worry. Fred pushed his way to the front of them and lifted her into his arms. He, George and Riley rushed her to the hospital wing.

"What do you thinks' wrong with her?" Riley asked in panic.

'Dunno." Fred panted back.

But he had an idea. He had watched her skip meals since that morning she left the common room early without saying hello to him and George. She had seemed to struggle in class – of the ones she actually went to, and every conversation she had, looked forced.

Only ten minutes later, she had woken up yelling again. This time there was no silencing charm cast around her bed to prevent her from being heard. Fred and George – having sent Riley away – had jumped, and Madam Pomfrey had come running over.

That moment, the hospital doors swung open and in walked Professor Dumbledore.

A.J stared to him in panic. After a moment's pause Dumbledore started;

"Ah, it seems your cold has gotten worse Miss Ryan." He sighed.

Fred and George turned back to look at A.J.

"You haven't been sleeping?" He asked her.

She shook her head slowly.

"Or eating?" He continued.

She shook her head again.

"Very well. Mr and Mr Weasley, you may leave now."

"We're not..." They started to protest in unison.

Dumbledore raised his hand to silence them. They left the room grumbling to each other quietly.

"Madam Pomfrey, please give Miss Ryan something to help her sleep, something without dreams."

"Yes sir." She turned and marched off to her office. She returned moments later with a bottle and glass.

"Here, drink all of this. It will only take a few moments to take effect." She handed A.J the goblet. "I'll leave you two, for a moment." She smiled kindly and retreated to her office once more.

She couldn't meet Dumbledore's eyes, "I'm sorry sir. I didn't mean to cause a stir." She whispered weakly.

"That's quite all right. There is no harm done." He smiled.

She stared absent minded into the goblet.

"I know you are close to Sirius also."

"Sir, the voice casting the killing curse...is it Bellatrix Lestrange?" She met his eyes this time.

He nodded slowly.

"Do you know where it happens?"

"That, I don't. Your vision, as you said previously, is very limited. Now drink up. Tomorrow you need to gather yourself." He said brightly.

"Thank you." She managed another small smile before taking a huge gulp of the potion. Another two mouthfuls and it was gone. She rested back on the bed and was out like a light.

A.J woke the following morning in the Hospital Wing; within moments the dread was churning in her stomach. At least she felt well rested. She opened her eyes to the sound of light snoring coming from beside her.

Fred had snuck back in here and was fast asleep in the chair beside her. A.J quietly rose from bed and entered Madam Pomfrey's office – where she was shuffling around.

She was free to go, so she walked over to Fred and roughly kissed his cheek, ducking out of the way as he fell off the chair to the floor. He quickly stumbled to his feet and looked around.

"Hey." A.J smiled, after giving him a few moments to gather himself.

He smiled. Then it turned into a frown. "I haven't seen you much lately, then you go and pass out."

"Was just a little under the weather, didn't want it to rub off." A.J said in her most innocent tone.

It was eight o'clock, so they headed to breakfast. A.J was able to manage a piece of toast and some water.

The cheering charm, cast on her by Madam Pomfrey, had worn off by that night. A.J left dinner early and went and sat by the Forbidden Forest again. After casting various charms around her, she started screaming. When her voice was hoarse, she started sending curses at the closest trees.

She attended her lesson with Professor Snape on Monday, from four o'clock.

She had heard the spell in his thoughts as his cast it; Sectumsempra

Most of the feelings in her arm were numbed, but this stung above that threshold. The spell had hit A.J's arm and caused two large slashes. She stared at them for a few moments before she fell down into the chair.

She was rapidly losing blood and was now dizzy and faint.

Professor Snape started murmuring an incantation, and her wounds immediately healed.

"Not on your usual form tonight A.J." He said softly.

A.J managed a smile. He had called her something other than Miss Ryan. "Naw, we're progressing to friends." She teased.

His lip twitched toward a smile.

"Was that your spell?" She asked.

He nodded rather smugly. A.J wasn't impressed by such violence but didn't say anything further about it.

Instead bringing up Harry; "He's had a rough upbringing, living with that cousin of his hasn't been a walk in the park."

"I know, I've seen the memories of his cousin tormenting him." He said evenly.

"Did he retaliate?" A.J asked quietly.

His lips pressed into a firm line. A.J took this to mean no and proceeded.

"Wouldn't James have? If he was anything like his father, he would have too."

This was the reason he detested Harry, he had a horrible time at Hogwarts by the hand of James and his friends, including Sirius. He had confided certain memories to A.J, which he now looked like he was regretting.

"He will be here any moment now. It's time you left Miss Ryan." He said abruptly.

"Righto." She gathered her things. "And we take a step backwards from friends."

He gave another twitch of the lips before she had turned to leave.

She could feel the effects of the cheering charm fading, so she headed straight to the edge of the forest to repeat

her pattern from the last few nights; attacking the trees and screaming until her voice was hoarse.