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s i x t h y e a r
JUST as they have her whole life, crowds part for her as she walks down the hallways. Everybody refuses to meet her eye as they pass, growing silent when they near.
It quickly grows too much for Adeline, who hadn't slept since she woke the night before. She had snuck off to the showers but nothing had warmed her bones. She had sat at her window, watching the water that surrounds the school move with life.
She always knew many a thing resided in there, had seen it when they used to have the first years row to the front entrance before the creatures grew too dangerous. She had never been in there though, except last night she was sure she was.
Adeline had no recollection of getting out of the water and back to her rooms, yet she woke wet and covered in cuts and bruises as if she had been dragged around campus.
It wasn't just a dream, it couldn't have been. Not when it all felt so real.
She ducks into an empty classroom waiting for the crowd outside to disappear. Her lungs still felt like they were drowning, burning and fighting for air. It didn't matter how many times she reminded herself she was on land, it didn't stop the pressure in her head.
The rain outside didn't help, it was like no matter where she went she was drowning.
Eventually the students outside disappeared and Adeline left the confined walls of her safety net. She was late to class and would now have to shoulder the stares of her classmates.
It was when she was turning a corner, large brick walls blinding her from who was near, that she heard voices muttering quietly.
It took a moment to place them, but she quickly realised it was Filch and Snape.
"I seen it with me own two eyes, Professor, I know it." Filch conspired, detestment in his tone.
"How can you be so sure?" Snape's toneless, slow voice appeared bored.
"Someone was in that lake last night, I seen it I did." Filch urged, the words prickling at Adeline's skin. "I was in the towers when they pulled themselves out, lookin' half dead and draggin' themselves around the place. Thought it was some kind of monster, I did, but then I seen them sleeping robes. It was a student, see, Slytherin green m'sure."
So it was true, then. Last night was not some awful nightmare. She had been on the brink of death when she heard his voice again, re-emerging just like last time. It was worse now, though. She managed to get outside the castle walls, try to drown herself, and then back inside without anyone but Filch noticing.
