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Chapter 10

Awakening

You woke up gasping for air, your heart pounding in your chest. The vision had been so vivid, so real. Beside you, Adeline, your roommate, sat up quickly, her eyes wide with fear. "Y/N, are you okay?" she asked, her voice trembling.

You struggled to catch your breath, the remnants of the nightmare still gripping you. "I... I had a nightmare," you managed to say, trying to keep your voice steady. "Just a nightmare."

Adeline looked concerned but seemed to accept your explanation. "It sounded really bad. Are you sure you're alright?"

You nodded, trying to reassure her. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just a bad dream. Go back to sleep."

Adeline hesitated for a moment, then lay back down, her worry still evident in her eyes. You watched her for a moment, feeling a mix of frustration and vulnerability. Your nightmares were the reason you hadn't wanted a roommate. They made you feel exposed, fragile.

I can't let anyone see me like this, you thought, swallowing hard. The vision had felt too real, too urgent, but you didn't want to alarm Adeline any further. You considered talking to Snape about it but quickly dismissed the idea. You weren't ready to share this with anyone, not even him.

Quietly, you slipped out of bed and gathered your things for a shower. The rest of the dorm was still asleep, the soft sounds of breathing filling the room. You moved silently, not wanting to wake anyone.

As you made your way to the showers, the whispers from the nightmare seemed to follow you, echoing in your mind. "There you are... Find me..."

What does it mean? you wondered, feeling the chill of fear run down your spine. You tried to shake off the lingering dread, focusing instead on the mundane task of showering.

The warm water helped to ground you, the steam filling the small space. You closed your eyes, letting the water wash over you, but your mind was still reeling from the nightmare. The images of Professor Quirrell, Harry Potter, the mirror, and the stone replayed in your mind, refusing to fade.

It was just a dream, you told yourself firmly, but the fear and urgency you had felt were hard to dismiss. You couldn't help but feel that it was more than just a nightmare, that it was some kind of warning.

As you stood under the spray of the shower, your thoughts drifted back to your life at Beauxbatons and the privacy you had enjoyed there. I didn't have to worry about anyone seeing me at my weakest, you thought, feeling a pang of longing for the solitude you had once taken for granted.

Here at Hogwarts, everything was different. You had to share your space, your life, with others. It was both a challenge and a comfort, but at times like this, it felt overwhelmingly exposing.

You finished your shower and wrapped yourself in a towel, the whispers still lingering at the edge of your consciousness. I need to stay strong, you resolved, pushing the fear aside. I can't let this get to me.

Quietly, you returned to the dormitory, slipping back into bed. Adeline was fast asleep, her soft breathing a reminder of the normalcy you craved. You lay there, staring at the ceiling, your mind still racing.

Should I talk to Snape? you wondered, but quickly dismissed the thought again. No, I can't. Not yet. I need to understand more before I say anything.

As you lay there, trying to find sleep once more, you couldn't shake the feeling that something significant had happened. The nightmare had felt like a warning, but what it meant, you couldn't yet decipher.

I'll figure it out, you promised yourself. Somehow.

The Great Hall, Breakfast