Astray

Chapter 16

"I had the dream again," a serious look settled on her features as she waited for the information to sink in before continuing.

"I saw more this time, last time it stopped when the door flew from it's hinges, but this time it went past that," she glanced around as the adults to make sure they were still with her before she gave them the big piece of information she had been withholding until now.

"What did you see that was new?" Minnie took a concerned step forward.

"I think I saw my parents," there was an audible gasp from everyone in the room other than Sirius.

"I don't understand," Sirius spoke up in the solum atmosphere.

"Mr. Black, I really think-,"

"It's fine Minnie, I don't mind telling him," she gave a reassuring smile to Minerva before launching to a detailed explanation of her dream. She knew every detail perfectly because as far back as she could remember she was having this reoccurring dream frequently visit her during the night. It had stopped being so often but it obviously wasn't done coming back to haunt her.

"Oh, I understand now. Um, I-I think I'm gonna go get ready for class um, but I'll come visit during lunch okay? See ya," he awkwardly waved as he walked out of the door.

"I will let you get some more sleep, but when you wake I would like you to get dressed and come to my office," Albus rubbed Apollo's silky fur, who she had not realized was there until now, and bid her good afternoon before leaving along with Minerva.

And with their departure she closed her eyes for the second time that morning.

"Fizzing Wisbies," Coralie had woken up after a few more hours of sleep and dressed before going to the headmaster's office as he had called her in before she had taken her much needed nap. She checked her appearance in the mirror beside the gargoyle as she waited for it to move out of her way. She smoothed out the nonexistent wrinkles in the skirt of her purple dress, the same royal purple as the nursery in her dream, it was a little chilly though so when she got dressed she had slipped James' Gryffindor sweater on over it. It was a little big on her but it provided the warmth she needed from the cool mid-October air.

She adjusted her matching purple headband that was holding back her wild mane of black curls before running up the stair case to Albus' office, her black flats making a satisfying click with every step.

"Come in," she had raised a hand to knock but he had already known she was out there and told her to enter.

"Good afternoon, sir," she greeted as she walked over to a chair in front of his desk and laid across the arms like she did every time she was called to his office.

"Let's skip the pleasantries, Coralie, what did you see in your dream?" He had no time for such conversation and needed to get to the important things.

"Yes sir, the memories are a little hazy but it was like all the other times I've had the dream, except this time when the door flew off its hinges I didn't wake up," she waited for his questions before continuing.

"Yes, but what new did you see?" He gestured for her to continue and she did.

"I can't remember what they looked like or what the woman's name was but I remember the man very clearly. He came through the ruble and held his wand to her and then I think they yelled at each other. I don't really remember what it was about, but she called him something he apparently didn't want to be called and I think he slapped her and tried to take the child but she grabbed his leg and he kicked her off and said something like 'I'm your father, Coralie' or something like that. Which leads me to believe that I was the baby and they were my parents and... I think I witnessed my own kidnapping," it pained her to think about her life before she came to Hogwarts because she got so frustrated that she couldn't remember it but it seemed that these dreams were past memories that she was slowly regaining as she aged.

"If that is all, you are free to go back to your dorm. Though if you wish to go to class are welcome to do so," he pondered her words and gave her the choice to go to class or not.

"I would like to go back to class, but I won't be able to change into my uniform before classes are over," she realized she was not dressed in her standard Hogwarts uniform and seeing as they were on the third floor and she had to go all the way to the top of Gryffindor tower and come all the way back down to the first floor before History of Magic ended which was in about forty five minutes.

"I will write you an excuse and I doubt Professor Binns will notice your clothing," he smiled at the thought of the young girl walking into class with a purple dress and bright red jumper on and the teacher not even noticing the lack of uniformity among the class.

"Thank you, sir!" She grabbed the slip he signed for her and rushed out of his office to get to the ghost professor's classroom. Her dark curls bounced around her as she darted down the stairs.

When she was about halfway down the second flight she stopped when she remembered what Sirius had promised earlier.

"Crap! Coralie, you idiot!" She yelled in frustration. She had forgotten what Sirius had said about checking up on her at lunch and was in Albus' office when he was supposed to be there.

"Ya talk to yourself often?" She head a voice chuckle from behind and quickly turned to see Theodora Zambini and remembered that they had forgotten to set the prank the night before. 'Just great, another thing I've forgotten to do' she thought herself and mentally facepalmed.

"Oh, no sorry, I just forgot to do something earlier," Coralie blushed from being caught talking to herself.

"So, why aren't ya in class shortie?" Theo tried to make small talk as they walked down the stairs.

"I could ask you the same, but if you must know I was in the infirmary," It wasn't a lie, she was in the infirmary she just didn't say why.

"Ah, that sucks, but Snape wanted me to run these papers to Flitwick so I'm do'n just that," she smiled to herself as she absentmindedly hummed a cheerful tune as they walked. Coralie did admit she seemed better than the rumors said she was, besides the fact that she kept calling her "shortie".

"So, where're ya headed, shortie?" Theo tried striking up another conversation with the young Gryffindor.

"Professor Binn's, wanted to get some class work in today. That way I don't have as much to catch up on over the weekend," she skipped along beside the quick strides of the taller Hufflepuff.

"Why're ya dressed like that then? If you're go'n to class you should be in ya uniform," she noticed Coralie's lack of a uniform.

"Since it's my last class for the day I didn't have time to go upstairs and change so I'm just going in these clothes," she explained.

"Ah, yeah, you's in Gryffindor that a long ways up, but at least you ain't in Ravenclaw, they got the tallest tower. Must be quite tha trip between classes!" She jokes and Coralie awkwardly laughed along side her.

"This is my stop. Catch you later?" Coralie stopped in front of the door to her class.

"Oh yeah. Oh, I don't think I quite caught ya name!" Theo was about to walk off she remembered to get Coralie's name first.

"Coralie, and I think Flitwick's class is on the third floor," she pointed out that they were on the first instead of the third where Theo needed to be.

"Oh, right, must of just gotten turned around while talking to ya. Well, see ya around, Coralie!" She called as she dashed up the stairs.

"You too!" Coralie called back but she was already out of ear shot.

She looked back to the classroom door and took a deep breath before exhaling and slowly turning the knob and creaking the old wooden door open. She quietly snuck over to her seat beside Sirius, who was asleep, and sat down.

Suddenly she felt something hit the back of her hair. She cautiously reached behind her head and untangled a crumple ball of parchment from her black locks.

The note read "Hey." She looked back to see James smiling at her.

"Hello," responded and threw the wadded up paper back to him.

"How are you?" She was happy he didn't ask about what happened. She was exhausted from explaining it twice already and the memories of the dream were already getting a little hazy.

"A little tired, but I'm okay. How about you?" She sent it back and they had a nice conversation until class ended and they had to leave.