The Girl Who Lived

Visions of the Dark Lord

December 31, 1995

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"As far as I was told, both of you are being taught Occlumency, aren't you?" Lupin asked.

Hour long lessons, pretty painful too considering Professor Snape didn't give a damn whether we were comfortable or not. Since Voldemort has come back, Harry and I figured out that we were tied to him in some way. Occasionally, I had dreams, as if I were watching the world through Voldemort's eyes. Every single time, the dream came true.

Take this for example, a few weeks ago, both Harry and I shared the same vision. A vision that Voldemort himself had shown us in our heads.

In Ministry of Magic, I saw Arthur Weasley walking and suddenly, being attacked by a snake. By Voldemort's fucking snake.

I remember waking Ginny and having her help me down to the common room, where Harry and Ron were leaving through the portrait.

I remember telling Professor Mcgonagall with Harry and hearing the twins come down. The look on Fred's face, George clutching his sister's hand, the way Ginny wasn't even there emotionally, Ron thinking his father was officially dead. I remember telling Headmaster Dumbledore and he believed us. He had sent out word to the Ministry and sure enough, Arthur had been attacked.

Mr. Weasley was lucky. If they hadn't found him when they did...

Ever since then, Professor Dumbledore had ordered Professor Snape to teach Harry and I Occlumency in order to keep the Dark Lord out of our heads. Like I said, painful and long hours of having Snape in our heads wasn't exactly the perfect way to spend my nights. It was always worse having to listen to Harry scream.

"Yeah, a few times before we left for the holidays." Harry said and I nodded in agreement. "I think I speak for both of us when I say it's a load of rubbish."

"It's awful, uncle Lupin. Stupid snivellus-" He gave me a pointed look and I clamped my mouth shut. Sirius snickered and winked in my direction.

"Elena, please-" Uncle Lupin said and I sighed, throwing myself back into the chair.

Lupin kept talking. "Voldemort is getting stronger and stronger with each death-eater he recruits once more. Every time another follower emerges, he gains more and more power. I'm sure you've heard of Bellatrix Lestrange and Antonin Dolohov." My attention snapped back from Fred with Ron at the window to my uncle, who had a mixture of emotions splashed on his face.

Bellatrix Lestrange was Sirius's cousin by blood. She was insane, far past that if possible. Bellatrix was responsible for my mother's death. She tortured her. Mutilated her. All because she wouldn't yield to her. I felt as if I could kill her if I had the chance.

"They escaped Azkaban and are at Voldemort's disposal. We must be careful, especially if they are free. Besides them, Voldemort is getting stronger and he proved that by having his snake attack Arthur. It will be difficult but still, you must keep going to those lessons with Severus."

I started to complain and so did Harry but Sirius placed a callused hand up to stop us.

"Because of your connection to Voldemort, he can make you see things- visions- of whatever he wants you to see and you won't be able to tell if it's real or not. If you learn how to block him from your mind, he won't be able to hurt you."

It was my turn to speak and I was ready. "Is that all?" Both of them nodded. Harry stood up from the table and said good night to Sirius and Lupin. He left the house and joined the others outside, most likely filling them in.

"Is it wrong to say I'm scared?" I whispered, looking away from my friends- my family damn it. They were laughing, mounting their respected brooms and flying around the tall house. Lupin shook his head and reached to grab my hand. Sirius grabbed the other hand and held onto it tightly.

"Not at all." Lupin said.

"Being scared means you're human, Elena. Don't stray away from your feelings because you're scared of them." Sirius told me and both of them, my uncle and godfather. They knew fear, had bathed in it, more than anyone.

I didn't sleep until dawn. I was with Sirius and Lupin, letting them fuss over my far too long hair and my unpainted fingernails for a few hours before they went back to Grimmauld Place. After they left, I went back outside.

They were all there. Harry sleeping next to Ginny, who was tossing a ball in the air with Ron. Hermione had fallen asleep near Ron and George had gone upstairs, claiming that it was the first time this winter that he's had the room to himself.

Fred had fallen asleep and the thought of Bellatrix Lestrange and Voldemort growing stronger hadn't left my mind. It was a time bomb, waiting to explode and make me explode.

The red haired boy was snoring softly and like always, had the ghost of a smile etched on his lips. His nose was crinkled a little and had his arms wrapped around himself, almost protecting himself from the cold. I smiled slightly, his nose tip was red like his hair.

I laid myself next to him, taking his hand and slipping it under my jacket to warm it. He stirred, groaning a little and the small smile turned into a grin.

"Whasgoingon?" He slurred, breathing in heavily. His eyes squinted against the sunlight and I kissed his cheek, letting his hand drop from my body. I laid my head on his chest, hearing the heartbeat.

"Nothing, go back to sleep." I whispered in his ear.

And he did, leaving me to watch the sun rise and to welcome the New Year.

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