Strange Times Ahead (Harry Potter x Male Strange Reader)

Chapter 27

Almost a week went by after (F/N) had talked to Luna. And the signs of Nightmare's influence soon got the students scared of even falling asleep. As the days went on, more and more students weren't paying attention in class, napping during lunch, and some even refused to leave their dorm rooms. The number of students dwindled as they all fearfully kept themselves awake. And it was even worse with how long Dumbledore was away. None, not even the Deputy Headmistress McGonagall, knew what was taking Dumbledore so long. There was an uneasy rest among everyone in the school, and the teachers wanted to try and make sure every student was paying attention in classes, and not getting distracted during Quidditch games.

And that was the fate some students were subjected to. During Quidditch practice, Cho Chang, a Ravenclaw Quidditch player, was practicing her maneuvers through the field, when her lack of sleep nearly caused her to hit the spectator pillars around the stadium.

Cedric Diggory, a member of the Hufflepuff Quidditch team, almost fell off of his broom from his lack of sleep.

Defense Against the Dark Arts saw Neville Longbottom shivering, petting his pet frog, Trevor.

Come lunch time, where many students were seen having their face stuffed in the day's meal, it was reaching a point where teachers had to leave their food going cold so that their students would be okay.

"This is getting out of hand," (F/N) said, looking at his classmates.

"Nightmare is applying the pressure now. He might be trying to find you," Dhargey suggested.

"It can't be," (F/N) replied. "'Cause my nightmare in the operating theater was played through again."

"Yeah...now that you mention it one of my previous nightmares has popped up again. What does this mean?"

"It means that perhaps Nightmare is finding...well nightmares that elicit a stronger reaction from everyone," (F/N) said.

"Why didn't he do that from the beginning?"

"He may have been probing everyone for what their greatest fear is. Not to mention the fact that he's getting visits from the Council, so he might be trying to get as many people in their personal fear rooms before they show up."

"Do you have a plan?"

"Yeah," (F/N) answered. "Like I said, Council visits Nightmare, and his demeanor changes when he's in their presence, so we just alert Council to what he has been doing and they'll take care of him."

"So report him to his higher ups? Sounds like a good idea, but just one problem; how are you going to prove that?"

"I wasn't sure about that either," (F/N) said, reaching into his pocket, "until this opened up again." He flashed the amulet at Dhargey again. "It's known as the Eye of Agamotto. And Agamotto, according to the Eye, says that he's 'all-knowing'. So we use the Eye to show the Council what he has been doing."

"Okay, one more thing," Dhargey said. "How are you going to call the Council to where you and Nightmare are?"

"If Nightmare is getting visits from Council, then they're probably making visits in a certain pattern. I don't think it's a daily visit, otherwise it would've taken Nightmare a lot longer to get where he is now. I think he's getting visits weekly. And I think, two days from now, he'll get a visit from them again." (F/N) adjusted his seating and appeared more composed than before. "This is why I need your help." Dhargey stopped eating and just stared at (F/N) with a distant stare. He angled his head, like he didn't hear him correctly, and raised an eyebrow.

"I'm sorry?"

"There's no telling what time Council will appear, and if we arrive late then we'll have to wait another week before we can try again. We'll have to arrive early as well to make sure we get a chance to meet them and if we're there early then..."