Make Me.

Book 4 - Chapter 19

Ellie's vision burst into reality, her eyes already open. She was back in her bedroom, finally.

Daphne Greengrass was standing frightened by the end of the bed. Pansy Parkinson was straddled on top of Ellie, trying her hardest to pin her arms down to the mattress. But, Ellie was flailing about before she had even opened her eyes. Professor Snape was hovering over her too. And the voices - the voices were still banging around in her head.

"Ellespeth," Snape said loudly, sounding halfway between relieved and urgent.

The room was spinning and Ellie felt like she had the minds of every single person inside the castle living inside of her.

What's happening to her? Stay down. Put your arms down. I think I'm going to ask for an owl for my birthday instead. What is that noise? Two drops of Acromantula venom. I don't know, it sounds like someone screaming. Should we go get Snape? Both those constellations look the same. No, it's four o'clock in the morning, Snape'll kill us. What if that was me up there? I'd have no chance against Moody. What if someone's dying, though? Nobody's dying. Pancakes tomorrow, I hope that's what's for breakfast. I hear voices!

Ellie felt her brain was going to explode - no, she knew her brain was going to explode. Not even the weight of Pansy sitting on her stomach could compare to the pressure she felt had built up inside of her.

"The voices," Ellie strained, closing her eyes like she hoped doing so would transport her somewhere without all the muttering. "The voices - please - stop -"

"Get up," Snape's voice came, louder than all the ones in Ellie's body.

Ellie felt Pansy's weight leave her torso.

Oh. Oh shit. Pansy. No, I was just born that way. Everything's going to be okay. Too much blue in this stupid room. I hope so. No! Yes, I think I will try out this year now that Wood's gone. I hear screaming too! Come on. Pepper is much better than salt. No, we'll get in trouble is Snape sees us out of bed! I've been doing magic since I could walk! There's someone screaming, I think we can be out of bed. Walk, try since I could blink! Get back in bed!

"No!" Ellie groaned, opening her eyes back up and reaching for Pansy. "No!" It felt like she was going to float away in a sea of mumbling now without the weight to hold her down and never return. "No!" she said, shaking her head back and forth, back and forth.

"Ellespeth - Ellespeth - Ellie."

Snape grabbed Ellie by the chin, forcing her head to stop rocking and instead remain laser pointed right at his face.

"You need to block them out."

Ellie made a whimpering sound as a particularly loud voice snorted in her left ear. Her head jerked to the side in its direction, but Snape snapped her gaze right back to him.

"You can do this. Clear your mind."

Ellie couldn't even hear herself enough to think that she had a chance of doing whatever Snape was saying. She could barely hear what he was saying. She could barely see his black eyes even though they were inches from her face with the way that everything in front of her was undulating as one solid blackened grey mass.

It's coming from there. I'm no good with a needle, no. Of course it's coming from there. Who said just because we're in Hufflepuff it means we're allowed to be walked all over? I heard she fell out the top of the owlery. Get back in bed at once! Ah! Go! What time is dinner again? It's the Bloody Baron! I've seen a few people who break the dress code, but they are much older than us. Back in bed, I said! Please be alright, bloodsucker. Pansy - look.