Immortal Magic (Book 1)

Chapter Forty Three

Allison's Point of View.

Over the course of the next week, the irritation in my throat refused to disappear. If anything, it only grew worse. Every now and then, it would trigger coughing fits that left my chest aching afterwards.

That morning, I finished buttoning up my Gryffindor uniform before stepping into the bathroom and beginning to braid my hair over one shoulder. By the time I finished, Hermione was waiting for me back in our dormitory with her bag slung over her shoulder.

"You ready?" she asked softly. I nodded before slipping my wand into the hidden pocket sewn into my robes. Together, we headed downstairs to the common room, where Harry and Ron were already waiting for us near the portrait hole.

The four of us made our way down toward breakfast. The Great Hall looked completely different from the night before.

Large banners hung proudly from the enchanted ceiling in each house colour, their mascots stitched in shimmering thread. Above the staff table hung the largest banner of all, the Hogwarts crest gleaming beneath floating candles.

The colours were so bright they almost hurt. I squinted slightly as we sat down at the Gryffindor table. Before I could even reach for anything, the other three immediately started filling my plate themselves.

"Allison, you actually have to eat this time," Hermione warned. I sighed quietly but didn't argue.

For the past week, almost nothing had tasted right. The smell of most food turned my stomach, and after two full days of barely eating anything, Harry, Ron, and Hermione had officially stopped trusting me to feed myself properly.

So now they monitored me constantly. I slowly forced myself to eat a few bites while trying not to focus on how loud the Great Hall felt around me. The scrape of cutlery. Hundreds of voices. Perfume. Food. Everything seemed too strong.

I was halfway through a piece of toast when I realised all three of them were staring at me again. "What?" I asked tiredly. Hermione exchanged a worried glance with Harry before speaking. "Allison, this has been going on for over a week now."

"It's getting worse," Harry added quietly. "Your coughing's worse too." Ron nodded in agreement. "Didn't Carlisle and Esme say they were arriving tomorrow?" he asked. I nodded slowly.

"Good," Hermione said firmly. "Because tomorrow we are dragging you to Carlisle whether you like it or not." I let out a small sigh. "If this really has something to do with me being part vampire, then why hasn't it happened before now?"

Hermione immediately leaned closer across the table. "I've actually been thinking about that," she admitted quietly. Harry frowned. "What do you mean?"

Hermione lowered her voice further. "I think Allison's vampire side might've been dormant most of her life." Ron blinked at her. "That doesn't explain why it's suddenly happening now."

Hermione shook her head. "No, listen." She turned back toward me. "You grew up surrounded by magic, right? Your witch side developed naturally because that's the environment you were raised in." I slowly nodded.

"So your vampire side stayed weaker," Hermione continued. "Or maybe blocked somehow." I frowned thoughtfully."That would explain why I only had enhanced strength before," I murmured.

Hermione nodded eagerly. "But when Moody used the Imperius Curse on you," she continued carefully, "your vampire instincts probably reacted automatically because they sensed danger." Realisation slowly settled across Ron's face. "And fighting the curse broke the mental block?" 

"That's my theory," Hermione admitted. "But I'd want to talk to Carlisle and Dumbledore before saying for sure." Honestly, it made sense. Before I could respond, Ron suddenly glanced across the Hall.