The Dreamwalker's Daughter

Chapter Thirteen Spiraling

Sarah was having a hard time staying in her bed, even though she felt like someone had been beating on her for days. She kept thinking that she had just about convinced Michayla that they needed to talk to Killainka together when she had been drug away to the infirmary again. "You know Mrs. Hutton, perhaps I could just bring some of my things down here, since it seems I'm destined to spend most of my school career in this bunk." Sarah was feeling slightly better and able to joke about her current situation, even though it seemed to her that the nurse was stressed for reasons beyond Sarah's current status.

"I'm sure that won't be necessary," she said tucking her blankets tighter still after watching Sarah drink her latest round of potions. "But I guarantee that you won't be leaving here until I am certain of a diagnosis or you are two hundred percent better."

Sarah smiled best she could and accepted her sentence, but she had one last request. "Ma'am, may I at least speak to Professor Killainka?"

"That is a question I can answer," said Killainka entering the main room of the infirmary. "All right Melissa?" he asked approaching her.

"I won't tolerate a long visit and if I hear you exciting her in the least, I'll insist that you leave."

"Yes ma'am," said Killainka taking his instructions like one of the school children. Mrs. Hutton gave them both one additional stern look and then headed toward her office, muttering constantly to herself. Professor Killainka waited until she had closed the door behind her before pulling up a cot next to Sarah. "I suppose she's told her you're not going anywhere."

Sarah nodded. "I don't understand sir. Do I have the flu or something?"

"You know Sarah, I've known Mrs. Hutton for a very long time now and I happen to know that she knows more about medicine, wizard and muggle based, than most physicians do. If you've manage to perplex her skills, it will be a feat which I wouldn't be proud of but it would at least be impressive." Killainka sat back and yawned. "Sorry," he said slightly embarrassed at his expression of humility. "I suppose you're lack of energy is affecting more than you."

Sarah was the one embarrassed now, she was causing the Dean of the school to loose sleep, not to mention taxing the nurse and changing the scariest teacher's personality. None of these things by themselves could be good, but in combination they seemed almost science fiction. "Professor I talked to Michayla and I have convinced her that she should come and talk to you with me. I was hoping that she could tell us something that I don't know and then I ended up here." This all seemed to Sarah as just another notch on her ladder of bad luck. Killainka however, saw it as much more.

"Perhaps we can convince Miss Surriette that despite your present surroundings it is still a good idea to come and talk to us," said Killainka who was now contemplating his hands.

"Will I be able to have visitors?" asked Sarah, for more than one reason.

Killainka smiled. "Even without an ulterior motive I believe we can manage visitors." Both of them smiled this time.

Sarah sensed that there was more than just her lack of energy bothering the Dean. Professor Killainka was one of those people that she was establishing a strong link to. Just being in the room with him some times, produced emotions and feelings that she couldn't explain. She would certainly never try to pry into Killainka's personal thoughts but it was getting to the point were there were several if not a lot of people that seemed to be open books to Sarah. Looking into his eyes there seemed to be a sadness that had nothing to do with Sarah.

Mrs. Hutton returned now and looked into Sarah's eyes, which seemed to be fighting her eyelids to stay open. "I think it's time that you rest now," she said to Sarah but it was the Professor who got the clue.

"Yes Sarah, I would say that's a good idea." He smiled at Melissa and rose from the bed he'd been sitting on. "I will be back later, you rest and Mrs. Hutton will keep me up to date I'm sure." Sarah was sure that he was not out the first door before she was asleep. It would be dark before she would be awake again.

Sarah was starving by the time she woke up enough to sit up and look around only to find her wish had been granted. "Are you ready for some dinner?" asked Mrs. Hutton entering the room with a tray.

"Yes ma'am, I'm starving," said Sarah smiling and accepting the tray. "Thank you."

Mrs. Hutton felt Sarah's forehead and then sat down across from her. "How are you feeling?" she asked looking very tired herself.

Sarah knew not to embellish. "Better," she said after swallowing a bite of potatoes. "Less tired, but I still feel like someone's been beating me," she admitted.

Mrs. Hutton sighed. "I promised the Professor that I'd let you see your friends and then he wishes a moment or two with you, but I don't want you overdoing it. You will stay in bed and you will keep your excitement level as low keyed as possible," she instructed.

"Yes ma'am," promised Sarah. It wasn't going to be hard to keep this promise either. Sarah was actually glad that she had been confined to the infirmary this time. It was an excuse not to have to face what seemed to be going on with her. Sarah was beginning to feel like things were once again spiraling out of control. At the beginning of the year, Sarah had been plagued by all of the attention she was getting and by questions that she couldn't and didn't have the desire to answer. These things were just annoying and Sarah felt like they were things that she didn't necessarily have to face at the moment or even this year. And now, what seemed like a cry for help from a fellow student had set off a chain reaction of events that was now culminating into a feeling that Sarah was slowly loosing power over her life.

Professor Killainka was the first to enter the room after the nurse had left. He was accompanied by Zoe who didn't seem to be as stressed as she was earlier. Sarah presumed that Professor Killainka had been reassuring her that she was all right. "I see you're eating dinner," said Killainka finding his previous spot. Zoe however, sat at Sarah's feet trying to do so as gently as possible.

"Yes, I'm starving," admitted Sarah.

"That's certainly a good sign," smiled Killainka.

"Are you feeling better?" asked Zoe still having her lost puppy look intact.

"A little," admitted Sarah. "How was class?" she asked moving along as quickly as possible.

"Not bad, kind of boring actually, until Griffin fell off his broom in flying class. I thought I was going to pee on myself it was so funny." Zoe suddenly realized she had just made this remark in front of Professor Killainka and turned beet red. "Sorry Professor," she apologized quickly.

Sarah and the Professor were all ready laughing, "It's all right Miss Turner, you can't get in trouble for laughing."

Zoe no longer wished to talk, feeling like a complete idiot. "What are you worried about Zoe everyone knows you are a complete idiot," said Sarah causing Zoe to look up at her and then Sarah also realized that Zoe hadn't made that statement out loud.

"You know Sarah, you get scarier by the day," said Zoe shifting on the bed uncomfortably.

Killainka was also contemplating Sarah's remark. "Sarah, has that been happening a lot?" he asked with a slight twinkle in his eye.

"If you mean, funny feelings and anticipating things, not a whole lot. But with some people it seems easier than others," Sarah explained reluctantly. "Especially Zoe."

"It's all right, you're not going to get in trouble for it," he said sensing her uneasiness.

"The worst part is feeling fear and hatred from others. That seems to be the easiest to detect," continued Sarah.

"Negative emotions are normally stronger than positive ones. I heard about what your friends did for you in Professor Abydos' class. That was smart thinking on someone's part."

"Eric came up with the idea," explained Zoe. "We were hoping to keep Sarah out of the infirmary, but it obviously didn't work." Zoe sighed and tired to maintain her smile.

"It's all right Zoe, its better that I find out what's happening and get it fixed," Sarah suggested but Zoe wasn't convinced. Sarah was looking taxed and both Killainka and Zoe were noticing it.

"I think perhaps that's enough for now Miss Turner. I'm sure that Miss Nettleton will be back to her cheerful self tomorrow and you'll have her back in the dorm," related Killainka very unconvincingly. Zoe nodded and rose for the bed to give Sarah a big hug being careful not to tip her dinner tray.

"I'll look after Max. See you tomorrow," said Zoe looking sadly lost and then heading out of the Infirmary.

Killainka looked at Sarah and shook his head, "I think we'd better visit with Miss Surriette tomorrow. I'm not sure that you'll last through another visit." Sarah wasn't about to argue. Zoe's sadness had been emotionally draining enough. "I would like to ask you a couple of questions." Sarah nodded still try to consume her meat and potatoes. "Professor Abydos related to me what prompted him to insist that you come to the Infirmary. Would you like to tell me about what happened in his classroom?"

Sarah wanted to answer his question no, but knew that Killainka really wasn't giving her the option. She pushed her tray away and took a deep breath. "Professor last year, there were times when I would touch someone and I would hear Chinkana. You said that these people, including yourself, held links to him and I was basically connecting with those links."

Killainka nodded. "Yes, I remember. Go on."

"Sometimes when I touch someone things happen just like that. Like when I shook hands with Michayla's father." Killainka nodded. "When I touched Professor Abydos this morning, or should I say when he touched me, something similar happened."

"Tell me what you saw Sarah."

"I've been thinking about it. It was sort of, like when Eric and I confronted Chinkana. First, there was a green flash and then I heard crying. It took me a minute or two but I focused on Zoe and the Professor and I was able to come back into the room."

"Did you feel like you were somewhere else?" asked Killainka trying to keep Sarah on track.

Sarah shook her head. "I don't know. I haven't thought about that it just felt like coming back into the room when it was over. I think if I wasn't so weak I could have gone on further and figured out what was going on."

Professor Killainka noticed that Sarah was shaking now and realized that he had gone too far. "I think you should finish your dinner now, Sarah, we'll talk some more tomorrow. I want you to relax and not think about what's happening. We need you to get stronger so we can figure out what to do next."

Sarah nodded and retrieved her tray. It was all she could do to take the additional three or four bites that she now took. Killainka excused himself and returned with Mrs. Hutton. She was carrying additional potions that Sarah would soon find herself taking. Sarah couldn't help but think as she drifted off, that they weren't telling her everything she needed to know.

"Miss Nettleton I need you to wake up so I can see how you're doing." Sarah could hear Mrs. Hutton's voice but she couldn't respond, she couldn't even find the energy to open her eyes let alone speak to her. She felt like her body had died and no one had reminded her soul to move on. "She's just not responding." Mrs. Hutton was talking to someone else now who Sarah would find out was Professor Semiramise when she began speaking a moment later.

"And you say that she's slept the whole night?"

"Yes, I just couldn't leave. I kept thinking about last time." Sarah had never heard Mrs. Hutton so upset.

"What is she talking about and why is she so worried about me?" thought Sarah trying to follow the conversation. "I'm just really tired. I just need some more sleep." Sarah felt someone's hand on her forehead now and after she felt a warm feeling come over her she deduced that it was Semiramise, Sarah managed to open her eyes now.

"Good morning Sarah," said the Professor forcing a smile. "It seems that you're causing Mrs. Hutton much undo grief."

"I'm not trying to," whispered Sarah trying to duplicate the Professor's smile unsuccessfully.

"I don't think I need to ask you if you feel any better," exclaimed Mrs. Hutton shaking her head in frustration.

Professor Semiramise sensed Mrs. Hutton's frustration and placed a hand on her shoulder. "It's all right Melissa, we're going to make Sarah feel better real soon. I think for right now we need to let her rest and I'm going to go see Professor Ratcliff, perhaps she's thought of something we haven't by now." Sarah sighed, she was sure by their conversation that she was once again the topic of the day in the teacher's lounge. She nodded best as she could and then settled back into her pillow to sleep, which was the easiest thing she had been required to do all week.

The next time Sarah woke, she could feel the IV that had now been inserted into her right arm. However, that was only the first clue that she was more ill than she thought the second was the sound of her father's voice. "Thank you for contacting me, although I just feel useless being here."

"After days of not doing any better, we felt that you should know." Professor Killainka was speaking softly and it sounded as though he hadn't slept in days.

"After days," thought Sarah, how long had she been out? Concentrate Sarah, you can open your eyes if you concentrate hard enough. But she couldn't. Sarah felt a hand take hers and she somehow knew it was her dad. "Daddy." Sarah had managed to whisper his name, which caused a huge commotion in the Infirmary.

"Sarah, yeah it's daddy. Can you hear me?" Sarah nodded her head and swore that the room irrupted in sighs of relief. "Can you open your eyes?" he asked now squeezing her hand tighter. Sarah concentrated harder than she ever had before and suddenly found strength that she didn't know that she had. They were tired, swollen, and watering but Sarah's eyes were open. "Hey pumpkin, I heard you were causing all kinds of problems for Mrs. Hutton so I had to come and see for myself."

Sarah smiled and Mrs. Hutton who had been standing at the end of her bed when she opened her eyes, now collapsed in a nearby chair. Sarah found the strength to return her fathers squeeze as tears rolled down his cheeks. "Real men don't cry, daddy," she whispered causing him to laugh.

"Yes well, I'll take that designation then," he said wiping a tear.

Sarah surveyed the room now and who was in it. Professor Killainka was at her father's right side and was clutching his shoulder. Then there was Mrs. Hutton who was now sitting in a nearby chair, and Professor Ratcliff who was standing off to one side and studying old pieces of parchment. "How long?" asked Sarah not sure she wanted to know.

"That's not important right now Sarah what's important is how you're feeling?" said Professor Killainka smiling.

It was funny but Sarah was surprisingly starting to feel much better now and when she spoke again it was apparent in her voice. "I feel better." Mrs. Hutton sat straight up and stared across the bed as Sarah pulled herself up with the help of her dad and grinned from ear to ear. Looking around she noticed that one addtional was in the infirmary, but Sarah couldn't make out who it was since this person was across the room and in the shadows. John Nettleton leaned forward now and gave Sarah a five minute hug as everyone in the room drew a deep breath and began telling her how glad they were to see her awake. It wasn't long before Mrs. Hutton had recovered from her shock and was shooing people left and right.

"That's enough Mr. Nettleton, I'll be needing to check on Sarah and see how well she really is doing."

John looked at Sarah and smiled. "Well I suppose that I've been told. I will hang around until I see how you are doing. You let Mrs. Hutton look you over well so I won't have to come up here anymore. I was about to send for your mother I suppose that's not necessary now," he said with a little loving scolding.

Sarah didn't care, it seemed that her energy was flooding back into her body ten times as fast as it had left her. By the time, Mrs. Hutton had scooted the Professors, her father, and the person in the shadows out of the infirmary she was starving to death and dreading the amount of homework she knew had piled up. Within an hour, she was unhooked from her IV and digging in heartily into the largest tray of food that she had ever seen. John stood in the doorway with Professor Killainka and was shaking his head. "It has to be what it was. There is no other explanation," he expressed his hands still trembling, "An hour ago she was spiraling to her death and now it's as though it never happened."

Killainka was silent for a moment, perhaps in denial. "I agree, but what did we do to end it." He stopped and stared across the room at Sarah. "There is no known counter curse. It just doesn't make any sense."

"None of it makes sense. How could she have fallen in the first place?" John Nettleton paused and drew a deep breath. "And you and I both know that if she had been cursed there was no way she would have just come out of it on her own."

"I know John," said Killainka sighing and again looking at Sarah. "There's just no explanation for it."

Sarah gave her father a kiss goodbye and promised to send her mom an owl as soon as she returned to the dormitory. John had stayed overnight just to make sure that Sarah's recovery wasn't a fluke and after an actually good night's sleep, without a potion, Sarah was feeling better than she had in weeks. When her dad had left and what seemed like every Professor in the school had given her a once over, Sarah was escorted back to the dormitory. "I expect you to remember what Mrs. Hutton said and you will take it easy for the next few days. I believe me I will know if you're not whether you're in my class or not," said Professor Quigley wagging her finger at Sarah as they approached the end of the dorm corridor.

"Yes ma'am," said Sarah who was practically hyperventilating over the prospect of seeing her friends. Sarah hadn't found out until about three hours earlier that it had been more than a week since she had last seen her friends and couldn't imagine what it had been like for them.

"I'm bringing you back to the dorm while everyone is in class to give you a little time to settle in before you're overwhelmed by love," she said as they entered the common room.

Sarah took a deep breath and looked around. She was never so happy to see anyplace in her life. "I want you to take some time and get yourself oriented back into the dorm, because tomorrow you go back into the real world of classes and homework and I'm not the only one who isn't cutting you any slack," she said smiling widely.

Sarah looked around at the room like it was the first time she had been in it and then stopped to great Miss Bellarmine. "It's all right Professor, I know you were worried about me," said Sarah turning back to the Professor and giving her a hefty hug.

"Yeah, well I have a classroom full of Parathion and Keynes seniors waiting on me and that spells trouble. So I will see you later on at dinner," she said after Sarah had pulled away and she had surveyed Sarah's face one more time. Sarah nodded and headed down the hallway to her room.

Max was so happy to see her that he didn't even pretend to be indignant instead he rubbed himself in and out of her legs for a at least ten minutes before Sarah pulled him up onto the bed with her as she sorted through what seemed like one hundred cards and letters from her family and friends. Sarah had to fight back the buckets of tears that she was tempted to shed as she read the notes of love and concern. Sarah finally decided she couldn't take the emotional roller coaster anymore, shoved them into a drawer and pulled out a piece of paper to write her mom a letter.

Dear mom,

I don't even know what to say. By now I'm sure that dad has told you I'm okay. I wish I knew what happened so I could tell you but I don't. Perhaps it was the 168 hour flu. I suppose I'll be sorting through piles of homework soon so pray for me. I'm really okay and I love you so much, please don't worry. I'll write you again soon.

Love, Sarah

"Why hello Socrates, my love," said Sarah rubbing him behind his ears only seconds after he landed next to her on the bed. "Did you know that mommy had returned home?" Socrates sat patiently as Sarah cooed and ooed trying to appease her feathery pal which took only a matter of minutes. "Will you take this to mom? She's probably more angry with me than you are," she said finding an owl treat and alloying him time to nibble it affectionately out of her hand. It was only a matter of minutes before he was sailing out the window, letter in hand.

Sarah looked at the clock, it was a little after four and Sarah knew that it was only a matter of minutes before her friends and the rest of the dormitory would be filing into the common room and Sarah knew that she wanted to perched on the couch in front of the fire when that was to happen.

"So did you save me?" asked Sarah looking up at the lady in pink. "They won't tell me anything, but I gather I was on my death bed and now here I am totally unscathed." Sarah took a deep breath and then starred into the flames. "Personally I don't care who saved me, I'm just grateful to them."

"Sometimes our enemies can come across as our saviors."

This was the last thing that Sarah needed, a riddle in the middle of a happy moment. "You're not ruining this for me, I'm going to enjoy this moment and then I'll think about what you said later on." Sarah had no more than expressed these words when her distractions arrived.

"Oh my god, you are here. I thought she was lying to us." Zoe was beside herself, panting heavily and at least two minutes in front of the next person to enter the room. "I ran all the way here after Professor Quigley told us you'd been taken back to the dorm. I figured she was just trying to make us stop bothering her." Tears were rolling down her cheeks like a water fountain and Sarah was attempting to mirror her.

"That's enough of that," said Eric approaching the pair trying to look dignified. "They'll be no crying in the common room tonight, only celebrating." Sarah pulled away from Zoe, grabbed hold of Eric without embarrassment, and took him totally by surprise. "Hello," he said first holding out his arms in shock and then taking Sarah into a full embrace, his face turning almost blood red. Zoe was the one shocked now as she watched the tears pool in her brother's eyes.

But there was no time to sort out all of those emotions because the common room was now filling with returning well wishers and elated friends. "They wouldn't tell us anything, they just kept saying you were sick and that they'd tell us what they could when they could," said Dillon after he had had his turn at hugging Sarah.

"It was a bunch of crap and we knew it," said Megan, wiping her eyes.

"Why Megan, I think that's the rudest thing I've ever heard you say," exclaimed Sarah hugging her friend and laughing.

"I'm sorry," she sobbed causing everyone to laugh as William pulled her into a hug reassuring her that it was all right. Sarah had a great time teasing and being teased by first her friends, then the team and then anyone else in the Bellarmine common room who managed to be able to talk. Everyone that is except for Michayla.

"She thinks it's her fault," explained Dillon after Sarah asked where she was. "She's been hiding and crying every since you disappeared into the Infirmary."

"We talked to her and reassured her it couldn't be her fault, but she wouldn't listen," sighed Megan.

Sarah looked at Zoe who had distanced herself from the conversation. Megan turned and gave her a dirty look. "What? I can't have my own opinion?" Zoe let out a deep breath and looked at Sarah, "I'm sorry but I can't help but think that it was after you started visiting her dreams that you ended up in the Infirmary."

Sarah didn't know what to say. She loved Zoe like the sister she had never had and she knew that the feeling was mutual. She couldn't help but feel that she may have come to the same conclusion if she had been in Zoe's shoes. "Zoe I'm not sure what happened but I know it doesn't have anything to do with Michayla, I promise," said Sarah perhaps trying to convince herself. "You haven't been a big giant butt while I was gone, have you Zoe?" asked Sarah smiling.

Zoe looked at her trying to push back the smile. "Not any more than usual," admitted Zoe causing everyone to laugh and the mood to lighten up again. It wasn't long before Eric and Raphael had snuck to the kitchen and swiped some food and drink for a welcome home party. This was evidently condoned by Professor Quigley who managed to pass through enough times to sneak some junk food and at least three grateful hugs.

Sarah was just happy that she was upright and awake until she caught Michayla sneaking around the back of the common room trying to make her way to their room. Sarah looked at her friends who were currently listening to the tenth bad joke that Raphael had told this hour, and decided she could head her off indiscriminately. In a less than a minute she had pulled her into a study room. "Okay, I almost die and you think that Professor Abydos' essay on the undead is more important than me?" asked Sarah smiling profusely and pressing Michayla into a tearful smile.

"That's the trouble with you two year students, you all seem to think that it's all about you," said Michayla quivering. Sarah laughed harder than she had in a long time and pulled Michayla and eventually everyone else into the laughter. Zoe pulled Michayla into a corner around nine o'clock and begged her forgiveness sighting temporary insanity and they instantly broke into another hugging session that ended up with the entire common room joining in.

When Professor Quigley had finally grown concerned about the chances of them being awake by the time they made it to her classroom the next day and had convince them that tomorrow was Friday and that she would support an additional celebration then, they all headed for bed. Sarah rubbed Max's head for an hour, took no potion, stared out at the full moon and then drifted off to the best sleep she'd had since the day before she turned eleven.

Sarah felt on display the next few days, between the entire school wondering what was up with her to the teachers following her around to make sure she wasn't going to fall out. Griffin and his entourage were no longer supporting bandages and seemed to be a bit more subdued even than usual. Sarah wasn't sure but she could swear that there seemed to even be concern for her. Perhaps they were afraid they'd lost their sparring partner and they were grateful that they hadn't.

True to Professor Quigley's word, none of the teachers had cut her slack on her homework, but they had however given her a few extensions on some of her assignments and everyone in the dormitory offered to help her sort it all out. By the end of the first week Sarah was exhausted from tutoring and starting to gain back some of the weight she had lost in the infirmary, partially due to the fact that everyone including her teachers seemed to be shoving food in her face at every turn. Sarah had even received food packages from Mrs. Turner and Abigail that had included a bag of treats each from the Sweet Shoppe compliments of Tabatha.

But the thing that worried Sarah the most these days was the upcoming match with Keynes that was the absolute make it or break it Quidditch game if they were to stay in the running for the cup and the fact that no one seemed to want to commit to whether or not she would be aloud to play. She had already been forced to sit out two practices and had to watch her substitute doing a very good job in her place. By the time they were approaching their third practice and Sarah her seventh examination, she decided to ask Professor Killainka who had come down to see what Mrs. Hutton had to say.

Sarah was sitting on a one of the beds waiting patiently while Mrs. Hutton and Professor Killainka were busy talking in her office after she had finished her latest examination. "I can't begin to tell you how perplexed that I am Javier. If you had told me two weeks ago that she'd be sitting in there on that bed breathing and talking and acting as though nothing happened, I would have told you that you were crazy," she said shaking her head.

"I know," said Killainka looking out the door toward Sarah. "It was just like last time. I felt so helpless just sitting there and watching it happen all over again."

"Well, the scariest part is how uncanny it is that she looks like her," said the nurse looking into his tired face.

Killainka sighed and turned toward the fireplace in Mrs. Hutton's office to warm his hands, "Don't think I haven't thought about it. And her mother, when she came here last year it was like she had come back to life." Killainka felt a cold chill creep up his spine. "I've gone over and over in my mind the things that have happened since she's been here. I mean I knew who she was but--" He was fighting back the tears now and decided that he had reminisced enough. "But we will see what we will see," he said turning to smile at her and take her hands. "Now I'm going to out there and pretend that we've decided not to let her play Quidditch just to get her riled up a bit so don't let on."

Mrs. Hutton squeezed his hands and smiled. "All right, but you know that if I had my way we wouldn't have children riding around on broomsticks trying to knock each other off."

Killainka laughed. "Yes, Melissa I know." Killainka grabbed her hand, clutched it under his arm and pulled it and her out into the Infirmary and over to Sarah.

"Well," said Sarah eyes as wide a saucers, "am I all right, can I start playing Quidditch again."

Killainka mustered the best stern face he could and shook his head. "I don't know Sarah, it's seems Mrs. Hutton doesn't believe that it's been enough time and I have to say that I agree with her." Sarah's face couldn't have gotten any longer, but she took her bad news well and nodded compliantly tears pooling in her eyes. "Oh, now we'll have none of that, I'm just kidding. I didn't realize you were going to cry," he said laughing and pulling up her chin.

Sarah's eyes grew wide again, "Does that mean I can play?" asked Sarah trying to subdue her excitement. Killainka nodded and Sarah began to jump up and down cheering. "Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you," said Sarah giving Mrs. Hutton a kiss on her cheek and a hefty hug and then doing the same to the Professor. When she had calmed down a little, Mrs. Hutton informed her that she needn't come back to see her unless she was actually sick and then Professor Killainka offered to walk her back to the dorm.

As they walked along Sarah grew more and more excited about playing Quidditch again and just getting to tell Eric and Dillon that she could. But this was the first time since she left the infirmary that she had been alone with Professor Killainka and she decided that she wanted to ask some questions. "Professor, what happened to me?" asked Sarah catching Killainka off guard.

"You have a knack for asking impossible to answer questions Miss Nettleton," said Killainka smiling. "This is one of those times that I would rather you trust in me that when the time is right I will explain, what I am able to explain. The truth is you have stumped us all."

Sarah wasn't sure she was happy with his non answer but she let it go. Sarah thought about something that she hadn't since the moment she awoke. She remembered Professor Ratcliff being there and then she remembered who else was there and that she hadn't recognized one of the people. "I remember that Professor Ratcliff was there, Mrs. Hutton you and my dad but there was someone else, someone in the shadows."

Killainka was thinking about her statement and nodded. "Yes, I guess when your dad was with the Secretary of Magic when he received my owl. She insisted that her aide accompany your dad to see how you were. She's quite taken with you evidently. Why do you ask?"

"I was just curious I guess," answered Sarah, as they grew closer to the dorm corridor she stopped and looked at the Professor. "Professor, do you think that I'll ever make it through a school year without doing time in the infirmary?" asked Sarah smiling slightly.

Killainka contemplated his answer carefully, "Well Sarah considering you're a Beater for the dorm team it seems highly unlikely." Sarah laughed and then told Killainka goodbye as they had reached to entrance to the dorm.

"Thanks again for everything," said Sarah giving him another kiss on his cheek and causing him blush. Killainka placed his hand to his cheek and watched Sarah disappear with a tear in his eye.

Sarah thought that she would burst before she could get out the words. "I get to play," she screeched causing half the common room to come to their feet and fall into a circle around her. Eric, who had been playing chess with Raphael, picked her up and swung her around in a giant circle. "I don't think Mrs. Hutton really wanted me to, but she gave permission," said Sarah when her feet were planted firmly on the ground again.

"Ah, that's just Mrs. Hutton," explained Raphael. "She'd like it if we'd ban Quidditch from the school all together," he said smiling ear to ear.

"I think this calls for an extra practice don't you," Eric said looking at the team members that had all now gathered around and surprisingly enough they were all as enthusiastic about it as he and Sarah were. In moments, they had all scattered to get their brooms, but there was still the possibility that they would be out voted as they returned and found Professor Quigley waiting for them.

"What's this I hear," asked the Professor smiling slyly. "Miss Nettleton is allowed to play again?"

Eric couldn't contain himself. "Yes ma'me and we're going to go practice, if that's okay of course," said Eric humbly.

Professor Quigley grinned from ear to ear, "Just give me enough time to throw on a cloak. I don't wish to miss a minute of it," she said looking at Sarah and smiling, "We're so glad you're back Sarah," she said heading down the hallway to her quarters.

Practice was fantastic, after loosing her balance, a couple of times Sarah felt like she was totally in the zone. It was freezing cold and her face was beet red but she loved the sensations and the feelings of the cold wind in her face. Eric seemed to be spending most of his time following her around as though he was afraid she was doing too much, but he would never say so and Dillon kept drawing the bludgers away from her and ignoring what he really should be doing. But Sarah wasn't going to say anything she was just too happy to be there circling the field.

It took Professor Quigley to get them to all come down and go in after what seemed like hours. But Sarah could tell she really hadn't wanted to as Sarah watched her scoot along the back lawn to the school singing to herself. Raphael and most of the team scooted just as quickly along after her, being wet and shivering with cold, leaving Eric, Dillon and Sarah bringing up the rear.

"That was great," said Sarah breathing heavily. "This is the best day I've had in months."

"Yeah," grinned Dillon from ear to ear. "What shall we do next?"

"I know let's play chess, Sarah, we haven't played in forever," said Eric practically glowing.

"Will that be all right with Morgan?" teased Sarah.

"Oh, I've dumped her, she was too boring. Besides all we ever did was argue and that was only fun for a short time," said Eric looking at the ground. "I know I'll run ahead and get my set will you meet me?" asked Eric looking quite embarrassed.

"Sure," said Sarah giving him a strange look and then watching him walk away.

Dillon who had been walking along with them shook his head. "That's not true."

Sarah turned and gave Dillon a strange look. "What's not true?"

"Morgan dumped him. I heard them arguing one night with her in the hallway while you were in the infirmary. She told him that he had decide between her and you."

"What?" Sarah asked turning red.

"He won't tell you but he was a huge mess, even Zoe doesn't know. He couldn't do anything he was so worried about you and he wouldn't have much to do with her so she dropped him," explained Dillon. Sarah looked into his eyes and was quickly overwhelmed by the emotions there.

Sarah was more embarrassed now than she'd ever been in her life. There was a warm feeling brewing in the pit of her stomach that was threatening to rein buckets of tears down her cheeks but Sarah pushed it back. "You're saying that he lost Morgan over me?" asked Sarah.

Dillon nodded, tears of his own forming. "It wasn't a very pleasant time for any of us. We thought you weren't coming back."

Sarah had never felt these kinds of emotions from Dillon before. True he was one of those people who she had the special link to, but up until today she had only felt his fear, joy and confusion. Even though Sarah had been having feelings for Dillon, she had never felt them echoed. Sarah let the conversation go as they approached the school, she was having a hard time sorting through her own feelings right now. There had been the pangs or jealousy that she had felt before and now there was this feeling, this emotion that she hadn't felt from Dillon before. The rest of the evening would prove to be awkward at best.

So would the next couple of weeks. Sarah was still trying to sort through the idea that Eric lost his girlfriend over her and the emotions and vibrations that she was sensing from her friends. The fact that she was walking around at all was surprising a lot of people. It seemed that when she was around her friends these days, distinguishing between which feelings were hers and which were theirs was also difficult. But these thoughts were not to be enough to keep Sarah from thinking about the things that had led up to her stint in the infirmary.

Every since Zoe had brought up the fact that she suspected Michayla was at the bottom of Sarah's illness, she couldn't push the thoughts back far enough to let them go. Then there were these nagging feelings about things that she had heard in the Infirmary. She couldn't shake the feeling that she had heard things that she shouldn't have but she couldn't remember what they were or why they would be things she shouldn't heard.

It was the Tuesday before Valentine's Day and Sarah had just about caught up with the rest of her class when she started to think about something that she hadn't. There was a point in the infirmary when her and Professor Killainka had discussed talking to Michayla and attempting to clear up things that had been going on. Sarah decided that the doubts and the underlining feelings that she had needed to be addressed. "Professor Quigley," Sarah had stayed after class and approached the Professor who was slightly startled by it.

"Yes Miss Nettleton."

"Do you think that Professor Killainka would see me, I need to talk to him about some things?" she stopped and thought for a moment. "I need some answers."

The Professor looked at Sarah and sensed her urgency. "I'll talk to him and I'll let you know."

"Thank you ma'am," said Sarah turning away.

"Sarah, is there anything I can do?" asked the Professor pulling off her glasses and rubbing her eyes.

"Not at the moment, but don't go too far," said Sarah smiling and placing her hand on the chain that still hung around her neck and under her robes. Professor Quigley smiled and sighed.

Sarah pulled Michayla over to the side as they walked back to the school from Care of Magical Creatures the next morning. "I have an appointment to see Professor Killainka this afternoon and I want you to come." Michayla froze. "We talked about it before I got sick, we need to go and see him. I'm sorry Michayla but it's bothering me. I need to know why I nearly died and I think you can help find some of the answers." Sarah was immediately sorry for what she said but Michayla didn't run she just nodded her head. Sarah took a deep breath and Michayla's hand at the same time. "Thank you."

"So here we are, the three of us as we should have been nearly a month ago. What we are about to say and hear is not nearly so clear in our heads as it would have been then, but I am still as anxious to hear it," said Killainka leaning into his plush purple chair and looking across the space that separated him and the girls from their chairs. Sarah began by relating what she could remember about what happened right before she became so ill and then she looked at Michayla. "Its all right Michayla no one can hurt you in this room." Sarah remembered hearing these words from Killainka last year and knew them to be true. Michayla nodded to them both and began.

"It's been a long time but I remember most of the dream," started Michayla but Killainka interrupted.

"Have you had anymore dreams like these since then?" he asked leaning forward.

Michayla looked at him trembling slightly and shook her head, "No sir." Killainka nodded and leaned back into his chair again. Michayla collected herself again and continued. "It was like a lot of the others that I'd had before. Sarah's probably told you about them." Michayla watched both of their eyes but found no refuge in either set. "I woke up, at least in the dream I wake up, and there's someone there. To tell you the truth I can't tell if it's a man or woman." Sarah remembered feeling the same way about what she had seen and nodded to no one in particular. "This person seems to want something from me but I haven't yet figured out what it is. And then we're in the potions class."

Whoosh! "Crap," thought Sarah. " I'm wake and I'm not touching anyone why am I falling into the unknown again." Sarah looked around, she was in the potions class again, but this time Professor Ratcliff was there. Sarah watched as she sat behind her desk apparently grading papers. "Professor Ratcliff," Sarah called out, "I don't know what's going on but it's not safe in here." She couldn't hear her evidently because she just continued to grade her papers. "All right, this sucks I have no control over this vision and I'll probably feel like crap when I come back," said Sarah out loud watching the Professor.

"I'm not ever sure why I'm there, but on that night he didn't care about me anyway." Sarah heard Michayla's words and saw Professor Killainka's face again and sighed.

"Thank you," she whispered to the gods.

"On this night he seemed to want Sarah."

Sarah couldn't breath again as though someone was sitting on her chest, "Professor this is getting really weird, and I have a feeling that you need to get out of here." Professor Ratcliff didn't move she just kept grading her papers.

"She was there like so many times before, but I couldn't talk to her or even act like I heard her. I had to just stand by and watch I had to watch as this person circled her and whispered to her the things that he'd been whispering to me. He I said he but I don't know if it's a he."

Sarah was scared Michayla was rambling and all she could see was Professor Ratcliff grading her papers and then. "Sarah, are you all right?"

Sarah opened her eyes and took a deep breath. "Yeah, I am," she said to the Professor sitting up, "What happened?"

Professor Ratcliff looked quite concerned. "You apparently fell over in your chair are you sure you're okay?" Sarah looked around. She was in the potions class and so were all of her friends and the Keynes seventh graders. Sarah began to shake.

"Professor," said Sarah looking at everyone, "Am I in class?"

Professor Ratcliff didn't have to answer her question because all of her friends and half of the Keynes students were answering for her. Professor Ratcliff was concerned now for Sarah and reached down to pull her up from the floor. Sarah felt the room grow cold around her and closed her eyes, she was almost afraid to look, she wasn't sure she wanted to see what vision was standing before her. Slowly she opened her eyes and looked down at her robes. Sarah screamed at the top of her lungs and pulled back and away from the Professor ending flat on her butt. "Sarah, what are you doing?" asked Zoe standing over her. "What's the matter?"

Sarah looked up at Zoe and the Professor who now seemed almost as panicky as Zoe and her friends were. Sarah heard her whisper to one of the Keynes boys to go and get Mrs. Hutton. Sarah shook her head frustrated. She had gone a long time without dreams or visions or anything strange happening and now on the day that she and Michayla were going to go and talk to Professor Killainka the weird things were happening again. She had just gotten permission to play Quidditch again. Professor Ratcliff moved forward again to help Sarah but Sarah pulled back, "It's all right ma'me I can get up myself," she said grabbing the bottom of her stool and pulling herself up. Professor Ratcliff stepped back and gave Sarah a peculiar look. Sarah sat back on her stool and looked as sincere as she could, "I'm sorry Professor, I started concentrating on my work and I guess I went into trance or something. I got so lost in it that I forgot where I was, but I'm okay now," lied Sarah because, she admitted only to herself, she had absolutely no idea what was going on and there was no way that she was all right at this point in time.

Zoe put her hand on Sarah's shoulder, and her first reaction was to pull away but she did'nt wish to make things seem any stranger. Sarah was relieved that Zoe's touch hadn't triggered any additional visions and relaxed a bit. "Are you sure you're okay?" asked Zoe.

Sarah nodded. "Yeah, I'm all right but I'm feeling pretty stupid," she said smiling.

Dillon and William sighed and rolled their eyes, Gracie Richardson whispered something to the person next to her along the lines of "attention getter", causing her to receive several death threatening looks. Professor Ratcliff allowed herself a sigh of relieve just in time for the Keynes boy to return with Mrs. Hutton. "I'm sorry Mrs. Hutton, I sent for you prematurely," said the Professor looking embarrassed.

But Mrs. Hutton wasn't so easily convinced. "I'll still take a look if that's okay," said Mrs. Hutton looking from Sarah to the Professor who agreed and instructed Sarah to go out in the hallway with Mrs. Hutton so she could continue class.

"All right," said Mrs. Hutton, "What happened?" She was looking at Sarah's eyes and feeling her forehead.

"I just had another dream Mrs. Hutton, I must have fallen asleep in class. I was dreaming about being in the potions class and I was. Isn't that silly?" said Sarah trying lighten things up.

Mrs. Hutton gave her a disapproving look. "I'm sure you're not telling me the whole truth but you seem fine so I'm going to let it go for now. Now go back to class before I change my mind," she said smiling and scowling at the same time.

"Yes ma'am," said Sarah grinning ear to ear as she quickly returned to class sneaking in as Professor Ratcliff continued to spout off what they were supposed to be adding to their petrifying potion. Sarah acted like she knew exactly what she was supposed to be doing as she did her best to help with the potion. Sarah didn't dare look up for she knew that the Professor was still giving her curious looks and then there was the vision that Sarah could not push out of her mind.

Michayla had been so relieved at the fact that she knew she couldn't have had anything to do with what had happened to Sarah in the potions class that she didn't have a problem following Sarah up to see Professor Killainka after Transfiguration. Sarah was embarrassed that it had been obvious that Professors' Murphy and Quigley had been told about what had happened to the Potions class. Sarah was sure that if Professor Quigley hadn't known that Sarah was going to see Professor Killainka in a matter of minutes she'd have surely kept her after class. All in all considering the way the afternoon was going Sarah was relieved when her and Michayla were beckoned in to Professor Killainka's office.

"So here we are, the three of us as we should have been nearly a month ago. What we are about to say and hear is not nearly so clear in our heads as it would have been then, but I am still as anxious to hear it," said Killainka leaning into his plush purple chair and looking across the space that separated him and the girls from their chairs.

Sarah froze and felt a cold chill creeping up her spine and suddenly didn't know what to say. She did however know what she didn't want to say. "I'm not sure what to say Professor I don't remember a lot about what happened that night just waking up and seeing everyone."

Michayla became terribly uncomfortable now and Killainka sensed it, "It's all right Michayla nothing can hurt you in this room." Sarah remembered Professor Killainka speaking these words, but this time it wasn't from last year and they did not comfort her.

Sarah listened as Michayla began to relate her dream, and after being interrupted only once related everything that she remembered in the dreams "And then we're in the potions class."

Sarah stood up, "Stop. Please, stop," she said trembling causing Professor Killainka to rise to his own feet.

"Sarah calm down," he said grabbing her hands and only to have Sarah pull back scared to death. "I have no desire to relive this morning." Michayla was panicking herself now as the Professor sensing that he shouldn't touch Sarah tried to calm her.

"Sarah, you know that nothing in this room can hurt you. You need to focus and tell me what is going on." Killainka was staring into Sarah's eyes and that and his calm voice were soothing her out of her hysteria. Sarah nodded and took a deep breath. "Now sit down and tell us what happened this morning that has you so upset."

Sarah looked at him and then Michayla, could she relate her story without causing a panic? Then out loud she said, "Professor I saw all of this when I was in the potions class. What you said, what Michayla said it's just really spooky. I guess I'm kind of afraid that I'm going to turn around in another minute or two and it not all be real again." Sarah took a deep breath, "Just enough to get me out of this," she thought to herself.

"I see," said Killainka, but from the look on Michayla's face, she did not. "Perhaps you're not ready for all of this Sarah, shall we pick up again tomorrow?"

Michayla was sufficiently spooked that she had no problem with this and nodded. Sarah thanked Killainka in her head and then agreed with his conclusion out loud. Michayla took no time in rising and heading toward the door with Sarah close behind. Professor Killainka opened the door for them and said good night. As they headed down the corridor though, Sarah stopped and looked at Michayla, "I forgot something. Mrs. Hutton made me promise to talk to the Professor about Quidditch again, can I catch up with you?" she asked Michayla feeling terrible that she was becoming such a good liar.

"Sure, I'll be in the common room. I hope they don't change their minds about letting you play," she said looking concerned.

"Me too," said Sarah smiling and returning to his office. It didn't surprise Sarah at all that Killainka was standing close to the doorway waiting for her.