I'm not a coward, just shy (Hogwarts fanfic)

Ch 5 - introductions

I screamed. It was dark, so dark and cold... So cold. I couldn't move.... I was so numb . The numbness was spreading with panic. it started at my toes and continue, up my legs and into my mind, slowing my thoughts. I was dying. My eyes were opened. I saw Harry, he must have been stunned but I saw the terror in his eyes. I wanted to call to him, I shout, but him didn't hear. I didn't want to stay here, I wanted to go home, he had to take my body home. He was being tied against a gravestone. Old and mossy, the writing I could see almost unreadable. Uncared for, forgotten. It was him, the rat, the rat was tying him to the gravestone. He was going to do it, he was going to bring him back. Bring who back?... I pondered unable, my mind thick, like I was trying to swim though honey. I shouted again trying to fight it. Fight what? The numbness, who?
"Tay.. Taylor!" The voice was panicking, I thrashed. I wanted out, I didn't want to see.

"TAYLOR!" My eyes shot open, I gasped like I had been holding my breath. I was staring into the Fred or George's face. My eyes blurred more with my poor eye sight. My body racked with sobs. I was shaking. I sat up pulling my knees to my chest.
"Shhh, it's ok.. It's over" it was George, something about the tone told me so.
"I don't want to see.... I don't want to see...." I sobbed repeatedly, I didn't know what else to say. I didn't know what else I could say. He rubbed my back as I cried into my knees. I was aware of people moving around, talking, George explaining what happened.

"I'm - I'm sorry" I hiccuped. Not wanting to look at George or Fred and I couldn't look in Harry's direction.
"No, it's fine squirt... Do you want to talk about it" George asked. I shook my head. I didn't want to relive what I sure.
"I don't know exactly what I saw" I said confused and still a bit shaken. "But it was terrifying" I shuddered. My voice was barely a whisper.
"Try and go back to sleep, we have to get on the Hogwarts express tomorrow, maybe you can talk to Dumbledore about it" George said as my sobs silenced. Ignoring everyone else, I laid back down and wish away all dreams, flashes, static or visions. I didn't want to see.

In the morning I could see the painted on everyone faces, but I ignored them. I tried to keep myself busy. I packed and repacked my trunk, folded clothes that had already been folded, colour coded my ink and rearranged my quills so the most used was on the top and the newer ones were at the bottom. By the time we had to leave my trunk was so organised it was on the point of madness.

We traveled by floo, which is never a pleasant experience, to a small spot behind kings cross station, that had muggle protection charms on the area. I pushed my way though crowd that was fully pack, stormy yowling loudly in her cage. We got to the pillar between platforms 9 and 10.
"Taylor?" I jumped as a hand touched my shoulder. It was Hermione, worry plastered her face like everyone else who glanced in my direction. "Are you sure your ok?". I nodded knowing I would convince no one. Not even myself.
"I'll be fine" I mumbled, "I am going to go find Luna". I said walking though the gate.

Once I was through I didn't feel like waiting for the others or saying goodbye, so I got of the Hogwarts express and went to the last compartment, where I had found out was normally the one that Luna sat it. Sure enough Luna showed up, hauling her large trunk. I helped her haul her trunk into the storage racks. I also finally yet stormy out her cage after I made sure the door was closed. Stormy crawled into Luna lap and curled up, purring as Luna's stroked her fur.

We chatted about the summer and the Quidditch final and things that in the world, but after a while I felt my eyes dropping. I didn't actually get anymore sleep that night. I had just tried to block out the static in my head with Ron's snoring and Harry's softer breathing but my sleep was fitful. My eyes dropped further, jumping when I felt Luna's soft touch on my jaw line where my scar started. She flinched back but collect herself quickly.
"Does it hurt" she asked, her face was close enough to mine to send my heart a flutter. I shook my head.
"Not anymore, Madam Pomfrey is a good healer but the scar can't be magical removed..." I rambled a bit. She smelt of flowers and the morning after a heavy rain fall and somethings earthy. Her were blue as I had thought. They were a mix of blues and greens, each spot of colour its own whirlpool to lost it. I had the feeling that if I stared to long I would never want to look away. She smiled as if her mouth naturally fall the way. She giggled seeing my face change colours from pink to red to redder. My heart was beating so fast I feared it may jump from my chest, but before it could do that she pulled back and slumped gracefully into the seats beside me.
"I have decided that I like you, Taylor Fleet" She grasped my hand, her words made the smile on my lips widen.
"I like you too, Luna Lovegood" grasping her hand back and for that train ride I didn't need to think or see. For once I was able to live in the moment and I was happy.