If I Fall for You [Harry Potter: Next Generation]

7. Dreams and Disasters

A/N: if the name of this chapter means anything to you, PM me and we can fangirl
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Rose watched, disbelieving, as Vanessa got up from her spot at the Ravenclaw table and flounced up to the staff table, her curls bouncing around like an ebony waterfall, head held high. Just before she entered the room, she turned around, her frigid gaze sweeping the Hall until she found Rose.

Vanessa smiled, her eyes glinting in the flickering light cast by the pumpkins. Rose felt her blood run cold.

Then Vanessa went through the door and the applause died down. McGonagall reignited the torches, and the Hall burst into excited chattering. The Goblet of Fire stood, unchanging, upon its stool, flames flickering bluey-white.

Rose felt disconnected from it all. There was definitely something wrong about Vanessa Ryan. And it was seriously freaking Rose out. She had considered confiding in Cynthia, but something stopped her every time; a gut feeling, a vague instinct telling her that telling Cynthia would only result in more craziness.

As if Rose's life could get any crazier than it already was.

She kind of tuned out during McGonagall's speech, until she felt Cynthia shaking her arm. Rose came out of her reverie with a start. "Wha -?"

"Come on! Bed!"

"Oh - okay. Coming."

It's a LINE BREAK!!! Run for your lives!!!!

Rose was standing in a dark corridor, looking at the tapestry of the fat man attempting to train trolls for the ballet. Everything was silent, peaceful. Rose turned away from the tapestry and looked up and down the corridor. Nothing but shadows.

Then a light footstep sounded behind her, and Rose whirled around. Vanessa Ryan emerged from the darkness.

Rose Weasley, said a voice that seemed to be speaking inside Rose's head. Vanessa didn't move her mouth, but Rose could somehow tell that it was Vanessa's voice. Low, silky, and full of malice. And a thick French accent. Rose felt rooted to the spot, paralyzed.

We are alone, Vanessa noted. Très bien. This passage is not quite a highway, yes?

Rose's heart began to pound. Her vocal cords seemed to have shut down. Vanessa took a step closer.

You are in the way, Rose Weasley, she said, eyes narrowing. You are in my way. Step aside. Vite!

Rose tried to shake her head, but she still couldn't move.

Step aside, Vanessa repeated, taking another step towards Rose. You are ruining everything. Idiot! Why do you not just go home, instead of blocking my way, eh? Just move! She was inches away from Rose now, her wand out.

Vanessa poked Rose on the chest with her wand. You will move, Rose Weasley, she hissed. Or I must, ah, eliminate you. I am very sure I can sacrifice a few pawns in this game. Ah, Scorpius Malfoy has no chance, I am afraid. His skills on this chess board are terrible. Oui, oui. Il es incapable. Hah!

Scorpius! Rose screamed inwardly, terror overcoming all rational thought. Vanessa's ice blue eyes widened in surprise. Her pouty lips got thinner and paler. Her eyes turned green. Her waist length black hair shrank into her head and paled until it was a platinum blonde.

Rose watched with a sort of horrified fascination as Vanessa Ryan changed, until it was Scorpius Malfoy who was standing inches from Rose, wand in hand.

Scorpius dropped the wand and backed away. Rose, he whispered, stepping over to the wall opposite the tapestry. Help me.

"How?" Rose cried, suddenly finding her voice. "Where are you?"

Help me, Scorpius repeated, pleadingly. His form began to shimmer, and he leant back against the wall. And kept leaning. Until he melted entirely into the wall, and Rose was alone again.

Terrified, Rose whirled around and started running down the corridor. The shadows seemed to thicken, growing denser and denser until she couldn't see a thing. She stumbled, fell forward, and her mouth opened in a silent scream as she collapsed face-first onto something very warm... very soft...

Rose sat bolt upright in bed, heart pounding. Early morning sunlight slanted through the half-closed curtains around her bed, as though someone had made to open them and left off half way through. Besides Rose, seemingly only two beds were occupied. Grunting snores were coming from behind the closed curtains on one of them.

Trying to calm her breathing, Rose lay back and picked her watch off her nightstand. 7:02am. Time to get down to the Great Hall for breakfast.

Rose got up, yanked her curtains closed, and hurriedly dressed, deciding she was going to have to tell Cynthia about this whole Vanessa thing. She was convinced now that Vanessa had something to do with Scorpius' disappearance. Not that Rose was a particularly superstitious person, but no one could deny that the dream had been anything but normal. Especially the fact that Vanessa had somehow known Rose's name.

A little later, Rose sat down beside Cynthia at the Slytherin table, still lost in thought. "'Morning," Cynthia greeted in a glum voice, pushing her food around her plate.

Rose looked at her friend. She opened her mouth, ready to tell Cynthia all about Vanessa Ryan and her diabolical chess game.

But, as always, she couldn't bring herself to do it. The worry lines etched into Cynthia's face made Rose feel guilty about even considering giving her more cause to worry. No, some things were best kept secret. (A/N: have any of yous read Best Kept Secret? Family Tree series? No? Okay...)

So she said, "'Morning, Thia," and started pushing her food around her plate.
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A/N: wow. Um. My chapters are getting shorter and shorter. Weird. Hmm... Lol I'm working on four fanfics right now. CRAZY. I need some fireflies. Yaaass HOOTOWLS UNI- ahem. ANYway. Thanks for reading, blahblahblah... the usual. Unicorns.