Invisible String

Chapter 07

LAWRENCE
"Draco," I addressed the boy beside me at the table. Last night, I couldn't sleep, haunted by the voice. He glanced up from his scrambled eggs, nodding as I continued, "Did you hear the voice yesterday?" His confusion mirrored my own. "No, I didn't," he replied, shaking his head. Now it was my turn to be perplexed. "What did the voice say?" he inquired, suddenly intrigued. "It wants to kill. I don't know what it means. And why can only Ara and I hear it?" I took a sip of my tea, keeping my gaze on Draco. "It's definitely not normal. I might think you imagined it, but your sister heard it too. Hmm. I don't know. Hearing voices isn't a good sign," he mused. I nodded slowly, acknowledging the abnormality. Of course, why would it be normal? Why can't I be normal for just once? It's frustrating. I scanned the Gryffindor table for Ara, but she wasn't there. Usually, she'd be chatting and laughing with her friends, but today, something was missing. "I'm going to look for Ara. See you later," I announced, rising from my seat and straightening my robes. As I strode out of the hall, the corridors teemed with first-years finding their classrooms. Hastening to the Gryffindor Tower, I ignored the curious glances directed my way. What if something happened? What if the voice killed someone? What if it killed Ara? Panic surged through me, my sweaty hands trembling as I searched frantically. Ara was nowhere to be found. Coming to a halt before the portrait of the Fat Lady, I was at a loss. What should I do? I couldn't simply enter; I didn't know the password. Why can't I think for once? Unconsciously, I began pacing in circles until the portrait swung open. I was met with a shock of red hair and then the sight of my sister's head. Relief washed over me. Without hesitation, I pulled her into a tight embrace. Though taken aback, she returned the hug after a moment. "I had that dream again," she whispered in my ear, mindful of her friends nearby. Suddenly, a wave of warmth and comfort swept over me, tinged with a sense of power.

In the dimly lit room, sunlight struggled through heavy green curtains, casting eerie shadows. Silence hung heavy, pregnant with anticipation, as if danger lurked nearby. The floor gleamed with immaculate tiles, untouched as if they dared not be disturbed. The walls, a simple dark green, matched the curtains perfectly. The room was empty. I turned around, and my body froze. There sat a person in a wooden chair, magical chains securing her in place. Her hair was matted with mud, her appearance aged and weary, as if she longed for the end. Yet, a small, loving smile graced her lips as they whispered, "I love you." Then, darkness enveloped everything.

I snapped back into reality as Ara pulled away from the hug. Still processing what I had seen, I blinked and realized everyone was staring at me. My sister wore a worried expression, her eyebrows raised as she studied me intently. "The woman..." My voice was rough and quiet. Ara's friends watched me critically, unsure how to react. Ara simply nodded. I could tell she was still shaken, and so was I. Somehow, she had shown me her dream when she touched me, as if there were a connection between us. "What happened?" asked Potter, glancing between my sister and me. Hermione looked at me, lost in thought, while Ron crossed his arms, appearing more annoyed than worried. I exchanged a questioning look with my sister, silently asking if we should tell him. "It's—" Ara began, her voice faltering. I could feel her struggle because I felt it too. She closed her eyes and took a slow breath. "I don't really know what it was. I think Laurie could see the dream—the nightmare—I had last night. I just don't know how." I nodded in agreement and gently squeezed Ara's hand to reassure her that everything would be okay. "What was it about?" Hermione asked curiously, her voice soft. Ron snorted. "Does it matter? I want to eat something before class." Suddenly, I let go of Ara's hand and stepped forward. "Don't you see it? Look at my sister! Can't you see how she's suffering?" Surprised by the calm yet dangerous tone of my voice, Ron's eyes widened. My heart raced, and I realized I was breathing too fast. "Calm down," Ara's gentle voice cut through the tension. "You don't have to protect me." A hand landed softly on my shoulder, pushing me back. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. "Are you alright, Ara?" I asked, feeling uncomfortable under the gaze of her friends. "Yes, I'm fine, just a stupid nightmare," Ara replied, putting on a smile. I knew it wasn't fine, but I didn't say anything. Unsure of what to do next, I cleared my throat. "Well, I think I should leave. We'll see each other in class." I waved goodbye to Ara and quickly walked away, stopping where they couldn't see me and leaning against the wall. Slowly, I tried to calm myself down. Inhale. Exhale. Frustrated, I ran my hands through my hair. I didn't understand what was happening to me. How was it possible to share dreams with another person? Maybe it's something twins can do? I despised not knowing something, especially when I had no clue at all. And then there was the dream itself. It wasn't normal for someone our age to have so many nightmares, especially Ara. Since we arrived at Hogwarts, they had changed. For years, it was just the woman screaming. Then it was me. And now this. No one was screaming. They couldn't be real, could they? No one can see the future. Just stupid nightmares. But why could Ara share them with me? And why was everything so frustrating? I thought this year would be normal. Now we were hearing voices. Great, it was off to a fantastic start.