Where Your Dreams End

Chapter Seven The Halloween Ball

The next morning they hauled themselves down to breakfast. William was the only one who didn't pick at his food. He explained that eating was his way of dealing with stress. Zoe leaned over to Sarah. "Must have had a very stressful childhood," she said gesturing toward William.

Sarah didn't laughed. In fact, she told Zoe that they needed to be serious and not make each other's lives miserable since they were all in this together. When she finished berating Zoe, Sarah remembered that joking was Zoe's way of dealing with stress and felt terrible. All in all, they were a sorry bunch and when the morning mail arrived they all felt like ducking under the tables incase there was more bad news. "No Howlers," said Megan after they had each received their mail.

"Yeah well, they probably just haven't heard yet," moaned Zoe. They were feeling so sorry for themselves they hadn't noticed that Professor Killainka was sitting at the head table. It was not like him to be there for breakfast and it was definitely not like him call the room to order. When he stood to speak the room fell deafly quiet.

"Good morning students," he started. "I hope you are all getting along well in your classes and learning at lot of new things." Everyone else in the hall nodded and agreed.

"As you know our annual Halloween Ball is up coming and it has been brought to my attention that our teachers have been demanding a great deal of study time from you and have been administering a great deal of homework." Everyone grew quieter. "As you know Halloween is a very important holiday for those of us in the Wizarding world and is thought of as important as Christmas or Thanksgiving", the room was now silent, "so I have informed all teachers that until after the holiday students will not be required to turn in any extra homework." There was a suddenly burst of shouting and applause after this statement which ceased only when he lifted his hand to bring order. "Do not think, however that this is something that may be repeated at a later date." After his remark, he bid them "good morning" and quickly left the hall. At which time the applause and shouting erupted once more.

Sarah noticed Professor Quigley at the head table, which was also unusual and she began to stare. After a moment, she noticed that Professor Quigley was staring back, and then she winked at her. Sarah shook her head, and then tried to focus on the Professor again, but she was now gone. Sarah wasted no time in telling her friends what had happened with Professor Quigley as they were on their way to her class. They took their seats as soon as they arrived and waited. "You think she did it?" asked Zoe after awhile. Before anyone could answer, Professor Quigley arrived. She gave them a very stern look when they all smiled at her widely.

"I would like for everyone to continue to work on levitating spells today," she said and then she sat down at her desk to work. Everyone just sat there for a moment staring at her. "Well, what are you waiting for?" she asked looking up.

Everyone began practicing their spell, but they took turns looking at her to see what she was doing. It was hard them to concentrate. Even the students who didn't connect what had happened were too excited about no studying or homework. After about forty-five minutes of miss fired spells and explosions, Professor Quigley told them all to leave. Sarah looked over her shoulder as she was leaving and saw the Professor was sitting with her feet up and wearing a very contented smile.

There were moments over the next couple of days that were to say the least tense, especially in Professor Abydos class. Sarah couldn't possibly imagine what things were going to be like in his classroom after the Ball but for the moment, life was at least uneventful. They were again excited about their costumes. Fueled by their determination to have a good time despite the consequences they were going to have to endure later that they were again sneaking around the school, this time a lot more carefully, and planning their entrance. "I know a way we can get all the way to the right entrance to the great hall without anyone seeing us," Dillon told them on Friday night.

"Cool," said Zoe.

Everyone shook their heads and smiled. "Okay but if we get in trouble, I'm calling my mom to take me home," said Sarah.

"I don't think so," said Zoe, "there aren't any phones."

After a little plotting and planning, they decided to head to bed early so tomorrow would come. Sarah wrote her dad a long letter telling her about the Ball and how excited she was about school. She decided that she wouldn't tell him about Abydos until she had to. Socrates was delighted to take the letter since it had been raining most of the week and he hadn't spent much time outdoors. Max was waiting for her when she came to bed. He stretched out across for feet and in a few moments, they were both fast asleep. Before she drifted off, Sarah had thought that on the eve before Halloween, it might be appropriate to have a nightmare or two, but she didn't.

When Sarah woke the next morning, her and Zoe headed down to find a good deal of commotion in the common room. Even though most students normally slept in on Saturday mornings, no one had been able to this day. Everyone was discussing their costumes and what they were going to do first that evening. Sarah and Zoe were just happy that they were getting to go. They had learned their humility lesson earlier in the week so they decided to head down to breakfast. Dillon was already sitting at their table when they got there. He had been up since six helping his father decorate the hall and was told that he needed to take a break and eat.

Sarah was amazed at the size of the jack-o-lanterns that now lined the corridors leading in to the hall and several of the walls inside. Dillon's father was bringing in what looked like real human skeletons and cages of live bats. "Are those real?" asked Zoe watching him closely.

"Of course they are," said Dillon a little hurt that she would ask, "my dad would never bring in any fake decorations for the most important ball of the year."

"No of course not," said Zoe looking at Sarah with a strange look on her face.

Sarah chuckled. "Dillon, do you think your dad would let us help?"

Dillon swallowed a bite excitedly, "I'm sure he would. Would you like to?"

Sarah and Zoe both nodded. "That would be cool," said Zoe, and it was. Dillon, Sarah, and Zoe spent the next three hours helping Mr. Ratcliff bring decorations in so that the teachers and the caretakers could arrange them around the hall. Eric had even showed up at one point and helped for awhile before heading off to meet Annabelle. It was storming again outside, but no one seemed to mind. It was the perfect weather for a Halloween ball, sort of like snow at Christmas.

The ghosts were in a great mood. Arthur had spent the better part of the day taking his face apart in front of Parathion girls and screaming outside the Parathion sleeping rooms. Halloween was the only time that the ghosts and other paranormal beings were allowed free run of the school. "It was the best way for the students to get in the spirit so to say," had been Professor Killainka's reasoning.

As the day grew longer, and the skies grew darker, the student's spirits lifted. This was apparent by the level of noise that was now rising in the dorms and the hallways. There were roaring fires in all the fireplaces and everywhere you looked there were candles floating in mid-air and jack-o-lanterns illuminating dark corners. It was the most beautiful thing that Sarah had ever seen. Dillon had returned to the dorm a short time after he had told Zoe and Sarah to do the same, but hadn't come down from his room. Sarah was a little worried so she sent William up to check on him. After about ten minutes he returned with a strange, look on his face. "What's up?" asked Zoe.

"He was asleep. I guess he got up too early," said William, "but I woke him up. He said he would be down in a minute."

"Yeah, well I was so excited that I didn't sleep very well last night, maybe he didn't either," said Megan.

Everyone nodded in agreement. After a short time, Dillon came into the room. Sarah now noticed that he seemed a bit pale and his eyes were extremely bloodshot and puffy. He sat down next to her on the couch. "You all right?" she whispered leaning close to him.

He nodded, "yeah, dad just got me up too early." He looked at her eyes and had the feeling he hadn't convinced her, so he again said, "really I'm okay." Sarah decided that she'd let it go and they all began to make their final preparations for the evening. "I talked Mitsey into meeting us the corridor right outside my passageway," said Dillon after a moment or two to compose him self. He looked at the clock and then turned back to everyone, "get your stuff together and meet me there in about one hour."

Everyone agreed and then went to get ready. Sarah could swear that Dillon was about to fall back asleep on the couch when Eric had come up to congratulate him and his dad on a wonderful job of decorating again this year. Sarah watched Dillon thank Eric and then watched him stumble up the stairs. She met Zoe in the dorm room and pulled her aside. "I think Dillon believes that he's responsible for all of our trouble," she said whispering.

"What?" Zoe asked.

"You know, Abydos and Griffin, I think he feels guilty. Have you noticed how tired he's been lately?" asked Sarah.

"I suppose. But none of us have been getting a great deal of sleep since we met Abydos," joked Zoe, "you know he is nightmare material."

"Zoe I'm serious," scolded Sarah, "we need to find a way to let him know that it's not his fault."

"Okay, I get it. Don't get upset," responded Zoe.

"I'm sorry," apologized Sarah. "I guess we've all been a little on edge lately."

"Well, when we win the prize for the best group costumes this evening, maybe it will all be worth it," Zoe said assuredly. Sarah nodded and smiled but wasn't quite as convinced as Zoe was. Nether the less they all met Dillon on time and soon afterward were meeting Mitsey and Jimmy in the secret space and were having a great time getting ready.

Mitsey and Jimmy were also in full Halloween Spirit having donned their most convincing Gangster outfits and allowing their bullet holes and Jimmy bloody missing fingers to be very apparent. "I'm hanging with ya'll," Zoe said after she had transformed into her dead flapper costume.

Mitsey giggled loudly. Jimmy stepped back and looked her over. "Well, I reckon that you could have been right there with Mitsey, specten' I ain't saying that we would ever had let any vampires in our gang." The rest of them joined in Mitsey's giggling. "What?" yelled Jimmy and then Mitsey explained that he was missing the point. Then as Mitsey pointed out, he usually did. They figured that everyone was arriving about now and after admiring each other for a few minutes they decided to make their way there. Mitsey and Jimmy had checked out the exit to the passageway before they came out and it was the perfect time to enter when they had reached the entrance to the hall.

It was wonderful; everyone including the teachers had been thoroughly impressed with their costumes and makeup. Especially Professor Wetherspoon who was quick to tell several of the teachers that he had helped with it's preparation. Eric, who had come as Professor Killainka right down to the large moustache and goatee, was also bragging about his acquisition of the teeth, all though he wouldn't tell how he had done it. However, Mitsey, who hadn't said a word about her part, was most rewarded when the group said they couldn't have done it without her as they accepted their prize for the best group costume. Sarah noticed that this made the Parathion table and Professor Abydos, particularly irritated. Professor Killainka personally presented the best costume prize to Zoe's brother, trying very desperately not to break into hysterics. "I couldn't have done myself better," he commented as he handed him his prize. There were other prizes given for most originality, funniest, scariest, and creative but by far the decorations and the food were the highlights of the evening.

Professor Killainka had arranged for a local band to play and some of the upperclassmen had actually danced, including, as Zoe pointed out, Eric and his girlfriend. Megan had talked everyone in to going out on the dance floor however, no one would get close enough to each other to actually say they were dancing together. They did however all claim to have a good time. After awhile Sarah snuck away to watch the storm outside a large picture window in the nearby hallway, the lightning was mesmerizing. "It's like looking at clouds," she thought. Sometimes the lightning made shapes in the sky that looked hauntingly familiar.

Sarah stood for a moment looking out the window when she felt a hand on her shoulder. "What are you looking at?" came a voice that caused her to jump three feet in the air. Sarah turned to see Dillon's face illuminated in the next lightning flash.

"Man," said Sarah, "you scared the bleep out of me." Dillon stood there quietly as though he was waiting for a response to his question. Sarah was still too involved in the storm and stepped back to look out the window again. "They're beautiful, you know." She looked at Dillon and then pointed out the window. "Storms," she explained. "I've always been fascinated by them, drove my mother crazy. When I was little I used to run outside right in the middle of them." Dillon remained quiet. Sarah turned to meet his eyes. "Are you having a good time?" she asked.

Dillon smiled, "I'd say that I'm having the best time of my after life."

Sarah burst into laughter. "Dillon you are a crack-up." Dillon didn't laugh however, he just continued to smile at her. After a couple of minutes, Sarah began to feel uncomfortable. Something in the air just didn't feel right. The next time there was a loud clap of thunder she jumped again. "Perhaps we should go back into the ball."

"What are you two doing out here?" came Zoe's voice from behind them. "You're not looking at the storm again are you Sarah, honestly you drive me crazy with that?" she announced and then she looked at Dillon, "say you're not watching it too or I'll just die."

Dillon looked at her and then out the window. "There's something to be said about the forces of Nature."

Zoe laughed. "Yeah Dillon, so I'm seriously worried about you." Then she slapped him on the back and said loudly, "let's go back in before Griffin trips over something in the dark and we miss it."

Zoe turned and started for the party again expecting them to follow. Sarah looked at Dillon "Hey," said Sarah, "we should really go back before Zoe has a cow."

Dillon turned to meet her eyes and nodded smiling. "I'm sure she will," he commented and they walked back together making additional comments about the storm on their way in.

Sarah sat down next to Eric at the table. It was late and she was tired, her makeup was starting to bother her and all she could think of was that she wanted to go to bed. Eric was commenting to Annabelle about someone in the Parathion dorm unfavorably of course and she was laughing. After a moment or two, Sarah noticed that the laughing hadn't stopped. However, it was no longer Annabelle's voice. It was very low and seemed to be building up and progressively getting louder. Sarah laid her head on the table, there was ringing in her ears. "I've been up too long," she thought to herself, "I need to go to bed." Sarah rose out of her chair. She looked around for Zoe to ask her to help her to the dorm. "Where did everyone go?" she said out loud. She must have fallen asleep and no one noticed. The Great Hall was empty now, the candles had been extinguished however there was still the eerie orange glow from the pumpkins that illuminated the room. "Damn," she said again to no one. "I'm going to kill Dillon and Zoe for leaving me here," she thought.

Sarah rose from her seat and then stumbled slightly. "I got you," came a voice.

"Thank you," replied Sarah until she noticed that no one was there. She quickly looked around, now extremely frightened. "Who's there?" No one answered. "Zoe this is not funny," again no answer. "I'm going to close my eyes and count to three--"

"Sarah, please," came a pleading and distressed voice, "this isn't funny." Sarah took a deep breath.

"Thank god," said the panicked voice of Megan.

"She's breathing again," came another. Sarah opened her eyes, it seemed that the entire school was gathered around. She wanted to ask what was going on but the words would not come out.

"All right, all right, everyone back up, now," came another familiar voice. The crowd that was over her parted and Professor Quigley came through followed by Professor Killainka. "I'm sure Miss Nettleton is fine, I suggest that you all return to your dormitories since it is well past the decent hour of midnight," came the command from Professor Quigley.

There were a couple of minutes of complaints but everyone managed to start finding their way back to their dorms. Zoe, Dillon, Megan, and William had attempted to stay behind but had been moved along by Professor Abydos with just a simple stare. Eric had been instructed to retrieve the nurse, but was also shooed after they had arrived back. In the mean time, Sarah had tried to become coherent. Twice she had tried to sit up and had been unable to. "Don't try to move Sarah," came the softened voice of Professor Killainka. Sarah had nodded without speaking. Then as she lay there, with her eyes closed she heard him whisper to Abydos to contact her father. Then she heard nothing.

When Sarah awoke, she tried to sit but her body wouldn't let her. "Now, now, Miss Nettleton there's no reason to be sitting up," came the soft voice of Mrs. Hutton, the school nurse. Sarah turned to her side and tried to focus on her. She was sitting next to her in a chair but she had not noticed. Sarah took her advice, lay back down again, and tried to relax. Mrs. Hutton looked up to her assistant at the end of the room. "Margaret, please inform Professors Killainka and Quigley that Miss Nettleton had awaken." The young lady nodded and left the room. Mrs. Hutton cautioned Sarah not to try to move and got up to get her something. When she returned she was holding a glass. "I'm going to hold you up so you can take this," she said.

"What is it?" whispered Sarah.

"It will make you feel a little stronger," she replied and then she lifted her up so that she could drink it.

"What happened?" Sarah managed to choke out after lying back down.

"That's what we need to determine," came Professor Killainka's voice. Sarah looked toward the doorway that he was now entering. He walked over to her beside. Mrs. Hutton excused herself and he sat down next to Sarah.

"Professor Killainka, I don't know what happened," she said, having difficultly talking.

"Go slowly Sarah, just relax and go slowly tell me everything you remember."

Sarah nodded. "I was just sitting at the table with everyone and I guess I fell asleep. When I woke, everyone was gone. I got a little scared because I didn't feel so well." She stopped and took a deep breath. "That's all I remember until Zoe was trying to wake me." Sarah was now starting to get confused. "Wait a minute, Zoe was there and so was everyone else, but they weren't there." She was starting to panic and got a little louder, "they weren't there Professor, I swear."

Having heard the commotion Mrs. Hutton reentered the room and came to her side. "Professor I'm going to have to ask you to leave if you're going to get Miss Nettleton so excited."

"You're right Mrs. Hutton, we'll stop talking for now," he said to Sarah and Mrs. Hutton. The nurse paused but then decided it would be okay to leave again. The Professor waited until she left again and then turned to Sarah. "Right now you need to get some rest, we will sort out all of the details at another time. I have contacted your father and assured him that you are all right and that we will let him know of any further developments."

Sarah nodded; the potion that she had been given was making her sleepy. She couldn't help but continue to think of the conflicting memories she was having as she drifted off. "I wish Max was here," was her last conscious thought.

Sarah was awaked to the sounds of Mrs. Hutton arguing with someone. After a moment, she recognized the voice as Zoe's. "Professor Killainka or I will inform you children when she is able to accept visitors."

"I just want to look at her and make sure she's okay," Zoe was urging.

"I assure you that she is," repeated Mrs. Hutton.

Sarah was about to cry out Zoe, when she heard another voice. "Mrs. Hutton I do believe that Miss Nettleton is awake and I'm sure that a visit from Miss Turner would be therapeutic." It was Professor Killainka.

"How did Professor Killainka know I was awake?" she pondered. Then she shook her head and looked around. The curtains in the infirmary were closed however she could see light through the cracks, "It must be morning, " she thought. Sarah could now hear footsteps coming her way. She sat up in the bed, the first person she saw Mrs. Hutton she looked extremely stressed and was going on and on about something.

"Only a minute or two Miss Turner, Professor, I haven't checked on her since she's been awake." Sarah could see Zoe and Professor Killainka and she smiled widely.

"That's a good sign," said the Professor.

"Sarah, are you all right? I've been so worried. When we came into the--" Professor Killainka had raised his hand to Zoe's shoulder.

"Zoe, I think that we should be asking how your friend is feeling not relating frightening tales."

Zoe looked at the Professor, "yes sir, I'm sorry." Zoe then turned to Sarah and leaped on her. Mrs. Hutton almost had a heart attack as she gave her a large bear hug. "I missed you."

"What," said Sarah, "you can't spend one night without me?" Zoe stood back and looked at Professor Killainka strangely who again shook his head as a warning not to say too much.

"We'll your just so charming and witty, how could I not?" Zoe said after a moments thought. "Everyone's worried about you. I'll tell them how you're sittin' up here in the lap of luxury fakin' it."

"You do that now," Sarah said smiling. Then she turned to the nurse. "When will I get to leave?"

"That depends on how soon all these visitors are going to leave so that I can check you over properly," scolded Mrs. Hutton.

"I get it, I get it," said Zoe, "I'll see you later." She gave Sarah one last concerned look and then left.

"I need a few minutes to talk with Sarah, Melissa and then I'll be on my way," said the professor. She looked as though she wanted to object but didn't. After pulling the covers, up around Sarah's neck and fluffing her pillow, she gave Professor Killainka a stern look and then left them alone. Killainka pulled a chair up next to the bed. Sarah settled back. "So how are you feeling today?" he asked.

"I haven't been awake very long, but I don't feel too bad," she confessed.

"That's good. Has your memory of the evening become any clearer?"

Sarah thought for a moment and then said, "I'm not sure. I remember being in the hallway watching the storm. After awhile Dillon came out and watched with me." She paused. "Then Zoe came and made us go back in. I remember sitting at the table and everyone was laughing, I guess I was tired because my ears started ringing, so I laid my head on the table. I must have fallen asleep because when I raised my head a short time later, everyone was gone. I was a little scared so I started to leave." She stopped, "the next thing I knew Zoe was shaking me and everyone was there." Again, she paused, "that's all I remember until we talked last night."

Killainka took her hand. "I need to tell you a few things Sarah, and I want you to listen carefully and to not get upset." She nodded. "The first thing that I will tell you is that we did not speak last night it was two nights ago and that it was not shortly after your ordeal but rather the next day." Sarah's heart sunk, she had been out for three days. What had happened, she began to breath heavily but did not speak. "Are you okay?" he asked. Again, she nodded. He continued and grasped her hand tighter. "You seem to believe that we found you in the empty Hall after the ball." She nodded but somehow knew that she was about to be proven incorrect again. "It is true that you went out into the hallway to watch the storm, however Zoe never came out to get you and you never returned to the Great Hall. A Broughton student found you on the floor in the hallway, you were cold and you weren't breathing. He was scared but he recognized you, when he came back into the Hall he was screaming your name. Zoe was the first one to get to you. She said it was like the last time when you were asleep, eventually after the other teachers and I arrived Zoe managed to revive you but only for a moment." He stopped somehow knowing that his words had been overwhelming. Sarah was breathing hard now; Killainka put his hand under her chin and turned her face to his. "Take a deep breath and then concentrate on something pleasant, like your family or yours friends." Sarah took her deep breath and thought of Zoe, she always made her laugh. After a moment or two, her breathing slowed down. "That's better."

"Can I ask a question?" Sarah said after she settled down. It was Professor Killainka's turn to nod. "The things I remember, none of it is true. Dillon never came out and talked to me?"

"Mr. Ratcliff evidently had not felt very well and had gone up to his dorm room shortly after you went outside. Eric found him there after everyone had returned to his or her rooms. He had slept through the whole thing," explained Killainka.

"So what happened to me?" she asked exhaustedly.

"That we're not really sure of," he replied regretfully. "But perhaps in the next few days, when you're feeling stronger we'll have some conversations with Professor Chalipun to try and sort things out."

"I guess I'll have to live with that," said Sarah solemnly, "can I ask another question?"

Killainka smiled. "And if I said no?" Sarah looked crushed. "Don't worry I won't, what is it?" he added cheerfully.

"Why do you suppose that whatever it is that keeps bothering me, has chose me?"

"Well, I said you could ask the question, I didn't say I could answer it." At this time, he released her hand that he had been holding the entire time and arose. "I'm afraid I'll have to refrain from answering that question at the moment. However I will let you know as soon as I can, I promise." Sarah believed him. She wasn't as scared as before. "And now I am going to leave so that Mrs. Hutton can look you over, determine you're all right and send you back to your friends." Sarah agreed to this order of events but felt slightly uneasy when he left the room. When he was around, she felt safer. Her father had said she would keep her safe and she believed him. No matter what had happened so far, she still did.

Mrs. Hutton returned shortly after he left and did an exam. After she was done, she said that she would rather her stayed a day or two more but supposed that if she stayed either in bed or in a quiet corner of the common room for the next forty-eight hours she could leave. "If I hear that you are not following my instructions or that you are attending classes or roaming the hallways, I will have you brought back here immediately," she warned before she would let Margaret take Sarah back to the dorm. Sarah swore to all of her instructions, it was then, and only then that she was allowed to return to the dorm.

It was the middle of the day so everyone was in class. Sarah went up to her room to see Max and Socrates and was amazed to see the pile of cards, flowers, and candy on her bed. All of her friends had left gifts. There were some from people she didn't know. Max treated her as though he was thoroughly insulted that she left him there for days without loving. However, after a couple of rubs behind his ears and some cat treats he was again putty in her hands. Socrates was easier to appease just the sight her sent him circling the room. After a moment or two, he landed beside her and nibbled on her arm. She was glad that she was back in her room but upset that she had lost three days. There was a part of her that was not looking forward to seeing her friends, after all, they were going to ask questions that she wasn't sure she could or wanted to answer. Sarah changed into some sweats, grabbed some of her books, and went back down to the common room. She was deep into her History of Magic book when the common room began to fill up with returning students. Everyone was so happy to see her. Sarah was thinking very seriously about going back upstairs when Zoe, Dillon, Megan, and William came in. Zoe ran over and jumped on her. "What's happening Sis?" she said as she landing on her.

"I was happy to see you too, until you jumped on me," answered Sarah.

Zoe moved over to sit next to her and put her arm around her. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm all right, but I'm worried about all the homework I've got to do," she replied.

Suddenly everyone was talking, it seemed that Abydos had reconsidered the extra homework but had warned them that they should work a lot harder in the future because he could change his mind at any time. Dillon said that he figured it had something to do with Sarah being sick but everyone else thought the Professor Killainka must have talked to him. Either way everyone was so happy not to be doing the extra work.

Sarah got the feeling that they had been asked not to bother her too much or ask her any questions about what happened since they all seemed more interested in telling her about what had happened over the last couple of days. They relayed stories of Griffin blowing up his potion in Wetherspoons' class and Zoe falling off her broom in flying class. Zoe was silent through this discussion, however recouped for the one about William turning his notebook into Jell-O in transfiguration. Everyone was very excited to see her and she was feeling so much better just being there. Sarah thought that perhaps she had been loved enough for one day when Eric showed up. "It's about time you quit lounging around in the infirmary and came back to work," he said as he mimicked his sister by plopping down on Sarah. "Is the 'ittle sixth grader feeling better?" he asked. Sarah now knew that she was all right, Eric was beating her up, and making fun of her, she just had to be.

They had a great time that evening. Sarah was not allowed to go to dinner so they got permission from Professor Quigley to have dinner in the common room with her. Afterward, they had a party for Sarah in the common room and everyone came. It seemed that even though life was upside down right now, everything in this room was right side up. Sarah went to bed that night not worried and not scared.

The next morning Sarah go to the great hall for breakfast, however Professor Quigley reminded her that she should not attend classes for another day at least. Many of the students spent a great deal of time staring and pointing at Sarah and her friends. It was especially evident that students in the Parathion Dorm were having a good deal of fun at her expense. Sarah was beginning to feel like a caged animal in the Zoo and told her friends that she wanted to go back to the dorm. "Are you all right?" asked Zoe.

"Yeah, but I don't like being the center of attention," she said motioning toward the pointing crowd.

Zoe looked at the snickering and gossiping going on all around the room. "You don't have to worry about all of that. All you have to worry about is how you feel and screw the rest."

Eric overheard their conversation and came to add his two cents, "Sarah, There are two keys to success at Dragons Wood. Number one, try very hard not to piss off Professor Abydos, which you already figured out," he reminded her. "And number two, nothing that anyone in the Parathion dormitory says or does matters, so ignore them." He smiled devilishly and laughed loudly.

Sarah shook her head and smiled, "you're a psycho, Eric Turner!"

"Yeah, isn't it fun?" he said laughing like a mad man. Sarah laughed for a moment, then looked again at everyone watching her, and didn't really feel like laughing anymore. When she couldn't take the attention anymore, she told them that she was feeling a little tired and excused herself. Zoe offered to walk her back to the common room but she shook her head and told her she was fine. Slipping out one of the side doors, she managed to avoid being confronted by anyone else. She wasn't far down the hallway however, when she literally ran into Professor Abydos. The Professor stopped and looked very indignantly at her. "Perhaps you should pay better attention as to where you are going, Miss Nettleton," he said flatly.

"As though the morning hadn't already been challenging enough," thought Sarah. "Excuse me Professor, I guess I still have a lot on my mind."

Sarah now realized that she had made total eye contact with the Professor and she was now getting a strange dizzying feeling. After a second or two of the room spinning, she lost her balance and would have fallen if he had not taken her arm. She turned to look at him again; the hallway was dark and in her dizzied state things appeared dark and shadowy. "Sarah," came a whispering voice, "you can come with me now."

Sarah straightened up and pulled her arm back quickly. "No I won't!" Things began to clear up and she focused on Abydos who was trying to grab her arm again to prevent her from falling.

"Miss Nettleton perhaps you should return to your dorm it appears that you were not quite ready for your venture to the Great Hall," said the Professor looking scary but slightly concerned.

Sarah straightened up and regained her balance, "yes Professor I think you are right."

Abydos continued to hold her arm for another moment until he was sure she was all right. This action did not escape Sarah's notice and for a second or two she was not afraid of him. However, when she turned to go down the hallway again he quickly reminded her that she needed to do some extra studying or she would be too behind to pass his class this semester. Sarah smiled after she turned away this really made her start to feel that things were getting back to normal.

Sarah spent the next couple of hours studying in her potions book and practicing her levitation spell for Charms. "Winguardium Leviousa!" she said waving her wand over a wizard card that she had just rescued from a chocolate frog package. The wizard on the card looked at her and shook his head when she was unable to levitate him. Sarah looked at the card and said, "I'm only a 'ittle sixth grader, what do you expect." Sarah looked at the card and shook her head. "I'm talking to a Wizard card," she said to herself, "and now I'm talking to myself."

"Some of the greatest wizards of our time talk to themselves," came the voice of Killainka behind Sarah.

"Sir," said Sarah standing up and knocking her books in the floor. "I didn't hear you come in."

"Relax Sarah, I just came by to see how you were doing and bring you some lunch," he said as he made a tray of food appear on a near by table.

"Thank you sir," she said sitting down again and picking up her books. "Does this mean I can't go to lunch?" she asked concerned.

"Not at all, I just thought that you were probably a little tired from this mornings venture and would like to eat lunch here instead," he said sitting down next to her on the couch.

"I think you're right," Sarah said placing everything next to her in on the couch and sitting back. "I even ran straight into Professor Abydos," she said smiling slightly, "I suppose I'll have double homework for that when I get back to class." Then she was afraid that she said too much and apologized.

"It's all right Miss Nettleton, everyone has a right to be afraid of at least one of their teachers, and Professor Abydos is a good candidate." Killainka smiled as he spoke. "As a matter of fact he mentioned your collision. He was a little concerned about your instability." Sarah was now terribly embarrassed, not only had she been foolish in the hallway with Abydos, but he had immediately informed the Dean of it.

"I'm sorry sir. I will try not to run into anyone else I promise."

"It's all right, as far as I know no one has ever been expelled from Dragons Wood for bumping into a teacher," he said smiling. He paused for a moment in which Sarah tried to compose herself a little better. "Sarah," he continued, "after you have finished your lunch I would like for you and I to have a conversation with Professor Chalipun if that's okay?"

Sarah was confused but she nodded. "Yes sir."

"I'll be back to get you in about a half an hour," he said rising from the couch, "will that be acceptable?"

"Yes sir," Sarah lied. She really wasn't very excited about spending the afternoon talking to Professors Killainka and Chalipun. She was sure they were going to ask her questions about things that had happened that she couldn't possible answer. Nevertheless, she agreed and after reassuring him that thirty minutes was enough time, he left so that she could eat her lunch. This however, was now impossible due to the amount of anxiety that she had about meeting with Killainka and Chalipun. After picking at her food for ten minutes, she decided to try to make the wizard card levitate again. "All right now, I know that I'm just an 'ittle sixth grader but I will make you float," she said the card. The wise old wizard on the card smiled at her as though he had every confidence that she could. "Winguardium Leviousa," she said loudly and plainly waving her wand delicately over the card and to her and the wizard's surprise, it rose into the air. "Yes!" she yelled out loud and after allowing the card to return to the table she did a little dance of victory. She was brought back to humbleness by the sound of clapping from behind her. Sarah turned to find Professor Killainka standing there. Again turning six shades of red, she returned to the couch.

"Well done Miss Nettleton," said Killainka ending his applause.

"Thank you sir," said Sarah quietly.

Killainka now looked at the almost full food tray. "I see you didn't eat much," he said concerned.

"I ate a lot at breakfast," Sarah lied quickly.

Killainka nodded and made the tray disappear. "So are you ready to go and talk to Professor Chalipun?"

"As ready as I'll ever be," Sarah said cautiously.

"She's waiting for us in her classroom, shall we walk together?" he asked. Sarah nodded and they headed out of the dorm and down the hallway to the right of the dorm corridor. Sarah was quiet for the first moments of their trip and Killainka seemed to respect her wishes not to speak, after awhile though her curiosity took over.

"Professor, why are we going to see Professor Chalipun?" she asked after a while.

"Well you see Professor Chalipun is what I would consider an expert in dreams and out of body experiences. I thought that maybe if we talked to her, you could find some answers to the questions that I'm sure are bothering you."

Sarah wasn't sure what kind of questions were in her mind and certainly didn't know whether she wanted to ask them to Professor Chalipun. However, she nodded in agreement just the same thinking to herself that she still had a few more minutes to think of things to say. They were just rounding the corner to Professor Chalipuns classroom when Cedric came out of a room and asked to speak privately with Killainka. The Professor excused himself to Sarah and followed Cedric into an empty classroom. Sarah contemplated making a mad dash for the common room. "Maybe I can hide from the Professor for the rest of the day," she thought looking down the empty hallway.

"Have you lost your way mud-blood?" came the irritating voice of Griffin as he appeared from around a corner.

"I won't dignify that with an answer," replied Sarah quietly. " I wouldn't hang around here unless you want to get detention," she began again. "Professor Killainka and Cedric will be coming back any minute now."

"Nice try, but I happen to know that Killainka's in the Great Hall."

Sarah was getting angry and her face began to turn red. "Well you'll be the one in trouble not me," she commented pulling back toward the door that Killainka had went through.

"Now, now don't be getting upset. We wouldn't want you having another episode." Griffin now pretended to faint dead away.

Sarah was now shaking from anger, she had the urge to pull her wand out of her pocket and cast the first spell she could think of on him, but she didn't want detention. Before Sarah could say anything else though something wonderful happened, Professor Killainka and Cedric emerged from the classroom. Killainka was now standing over Griffin who was apparently having a seizure. "Mr. Griffin," he said tapping his foot on the floor next to his head, "I suppose you have an explanation for your behavior."

Sarah thought she was going to explode trying not to laugh. Griffin opened his eyes and quickly got to his feet. "Sir, I guess I lost my footing and fell," he lied as he continued to turn several shades of red.

"Is that what happened?" Killainka now asked Sarah.

Sarah contemplated what to say. "Well Professor, he defiantly lost his footing but I'm not sure he fell. Maybe if my mind were more clear I'd remember," she said frowning at Griffin.

"Be glad that Sarah's memory is faltering at the moment, Mr. Griffin. If I were you I would take advantage of this and be on my way." Griffin did not have to be told twice he turned and made his way in the opposite direction as quickly as possible.

When Griffin disappeared around the first corner, Killainka turned to Cedric and told him to follow him to make sure he didn't cause any additional trouble. Cedric smiled, "I'd be happy to, Professor," he said and then turned to follow him leaving Killainka and Sarah standing in the hallway.

"You all right?" Killainka asked Sarah after Cedric disappeared around the corner. Sarah nodded, but she was far from all right. They continued to walk down the hallway and in a moment, Killainka spoke again. " Sarah did you know that when you were born your name was placed in a book in the Dragon's Wood Achieves?" Killainka asked.

"No sir," answered Sarah looking confused.

"You, Dillon, Eric, Zoe, and all the other students that roam and have roamed these hallways," he continued.

"Really sir?" Sarah replied again looking more confused. "Why are you telling me this?" she asked after a moment. "I mean other than the fact that it's really cool."

Killainka smiled. "I'm telling you this because I want you to know that I don't have anything to do with who gets invited to come to Dragon's Wood. It's just my job to protect and teach the young wizards and witches that come before me."

Sarah smiled. "Oh, I get it sir," she said chuckling, "I would never blame you for the fact that Griffin is a jerk."

Killainka smiled slightly. "I just want you to understand that wizards and witches are only human and it has been and always will be human nature to be cruel to others. Just as there are cruel and bigoted muggles, there are cruel and bigoted wizards and witches. You must never let what they say about you or to you change your opinion about yourself or your world."

Sarah looked at Killainka and nodded solemnly, "I know Professor, and I really don't let it bother me." She sort of smiled again and then added. "Besides I don't understand half of what they say to me."

Killainka chuckled and then suggested that they had kept Professor Chalipun waiting long enough and they were again on their way. Sarah now a little more relaxed and a little more ready to face what ever lay in store for her in her immediate future, picked up the pace a bit. Before she had a chance to say anything else to the Professor, they were standing in the doorway of the transfiguration classroom. Sarah felt a chill go down her spine, she was scared again, but she didn't really know why. She hesitated and did not enter the classroom when Killainka did. About half the way in, he figured this out and turned to see meet her eyes. "It's all right Sarah. I happen to know that Professor Chalipun is your favorite teacher," he said trying to coax her in.

Sarah looked at him and turned slightly pink. "How did you know that?"

"There's not much spoken in my hall ways that I do not have an inclination about Sarah, you might as well find that out now," he said again smiling slightly. Then he turned to move further into the room, stopped, and looked back at her again. "Oh, you might want to spread that around the dorm." This time he smiled warmly and Sarah chuckling a little followed him in.

The lights were not on in the classroom since there was no class so Sarah didn't even notice Professor Chalipun was sitting quietly in a corner. She was in a meditation position on the floor very close to the fireplace that warmed the room. Killainka put a finger to his lips to show Sarah that they should be quiet and she nodded in agreement.

He motioned her to sit at one of the desks close to the door and then joined her. Sarah noticed how terribly uncomfortable he looked at the student desk and thought to herself how human it made him look. She thought about the principal that she had had at her elementary School. She had always been terrified of him, he rarely spoke unless he was scolding someone or handing out detentions and would never come into a classroom just to see how things were going. On the other hand Killainka was often caught peeking into the back of classrooms and would never miss a Quidditch practice even in the worst weather. Despite his friendly and outgoing nature, Sarah was sure that he could back down even the Darkest Wizard. Sarah had been so engrossed in thought that she hadn't noticed either Professor rise. She turned to see them talking, quietly in the corner. "Miss Nettleton," Professor Killainka now called to her, "would you please join us?"

"Yes sir," Sarah said as she rose from her desk and went to the front of the classroom. When she had reached them Killainka spoke first.

"Sarah Professor Chalipun has decided that we would be more comfortable in her office so if you could follow us there we will get started." Sarah didn't say anything she just did as she was told and in a moment. She followed the Professors as they had passed through a door in the back of the classroom and down the back hallway to the faculty corridor and then into Chalipuns office.

Sarah was in aw. This room was charmingly lit by gas lanterns, candles that floated independently in the air and the roaring fire in the large marble fireplace that was the centerpiece of the room. There was no desk, which surprised Sarah, but there were many soft looking leather covered chairs placed around the room with a small round glass table in the middle of the room. On the table were more candles and burning potpourri, which Sarah was sure was making her sleepy and compliant. There were beads and feathers everywhere, Sarah thought as she looked around and two rather sinister looking portraits of Native American warriors who were at this moment busy sizing Sarah up. Sarah tried hard not to let the portraits know that she was looking at them but had a hard time focusing on anything else after she saw them.

"Sarah," said Professor Chalipun trying to capture her wandering attention.

Sarah snapped back into reality. "Yes ma'me?" she answered.

"Could you please come and join us by the fireplace?" she said motioning to one of the chairs close to where she was.

"Yes ma'me," Sarah repeated as she crossed the room and joined them by sitting in the center chair of a circle by the fireplace. Killainka now positioned himself to her right and Chalipun to her left.

"Miss Nettleton I am sure that you are not sure of why you are here or what we are going to do or ask," said Chalipun.

Sarah's eyes showed that she agreed to these statements. "I'm a little frightened," she now admitted.

"I suppose that you have the right to be but I promise nothing will happen to you as long as you are with me," reassured Professor Chalipun. "In this room there are powerful forces that are here to protect all who enter. These forces can also be helpful in finding answers to perplexing questions. This is why Professor Killainka has brought you here and I can assure you that he would never have done so if he wasn't sure that I could help you." She paused for a moment and then added, "or at the very least ease some of your fear." She now smiled and for a moment, Sarah fixated on her face. She was sure that she had never seen her smile before. Sarah hadn't thought that Chalipun was an unhappy person she had always just assumed she was so one with the world that she did not need to express emotion.

"Sarah recently I had a conversation with your father in whom he related to me your trip to Grace Delphi's," said Killainka after he had leaned forward and taken her hand.

"Yes sir, It happened after I had the dream Zoe couldn't wake me from," Sarah admitted.

Killainka nodded. "Yes he told me that she had led you into a dream and in this dream you had been able to reveal some information to her. You had then successfully made it through the dream and into restful sleep."

"That's what I was told, but I don't recall everything," admitted Sarah.

"Professor Chalipun is going to do something similar with you except that she is going to go with you."

Sarah was curious and her faced showed it. "Go with me?" she asked.

"Yes, Sarah I'm going to be there with you. We're going to try to walk into and out of your subconscious mind unharmed and with at least a tiny bit of knowledge as to what is going on with you." Chalipun was looking straight into Sarah's eyes as she spoke.

Sarah was getting sleepier by the moment and the soothing sound of Chalipuns voice reassuring her was mesmerizing. Sarah felt her senses becoming heightened and was worried that she couldn't speak. "What is that scent?" she suddenly found herself asking as though she was not listening to anything that Chalipun was saying.

"Do you like it?" was Chalipuns' reply.

"Yes," said Sarah after a moment or two. Her body was swaying forward and backward as though she was having trouble staying balanced in her chair. "I like the music too," she said after awhile.

"You hear the music Sarah?" asked Chalipun softly, sounding slightly impressed.

"Yes," answered Sarah, "it's beautiful. Is it an Indian chant?"

"It is a mediation chant, it is to help you relax and sleep peacefully," explained Chalipun, "is it working?"

"Yes," replied Sarah dreamily.

Chalipun left her seat and knelt in front of Sarah taking her hands. Sarah did not move, her eyes were wide open but she was not awake. "Tell me where you are now Sarah?" asked Chalipun closing her eyes and envisioning where she was.

"Zoe's house," Sarah whispered.

"What are you doing?"

Sarah smiled, "Eric is trying to put all our luggage in his old clunker. It's not happening."

"Is anyone else there?" asked Chalipun.

Sarah squinted her eyes as though she was trying to see. "Just Zoe, and all those owls and letters. I guess I didn't answer the first letter quick enough."

Chalipun was suddenly there beside her. "Hey you're here," Sarah said looking at the Professor, "what are you doing here?"

"It's all right Sarah, I'm just here to observe," said Chalipun taking Sarah's hand.

"Yeah, okay," replied Sarah. Sarah began to laugh at Eric trying to force their entire luggage into his car and was about to explode with laughter when she realized she was now standing in the Quidditch Stadium. Sarah and Professor Chalipun were now watching Eric fly around the top of the stadium trying to get the Quaffle from a dark figure on a faster broom. She was just about to yell out Eric's name when Dillon tapped her on the shoulder.

"Why don't you help him?" Dillon said accusingly.

Sarah frowned. "And what am I supposed to do? I can barely fly and I don't have a broomstick," complained Sarah. "If you're so concerned why don't you help him? Mister I'm going to be a Quidditch star someday," retaliated Sarah.

"You'd like that wouldn't you?" asked Dillon; his face was becoming distorted as he spoke. "You'd like nothing more than to make me disappear so that you and your kind could take over this world." Sarah withdrew stepping back from Dillon and Professor Chalipun who kept a tight grip on her hand. Chalipun watched as Dillon recognized her fear and shifted the sound of his voice to comfort her. "I'm sorry Sarah, I know that you can't fly well, but perhaps if you were to wish him down. You just need to want to be where he is. We could save him from the shadow, if you want it bad enough." Dillon's voice was strange and even more mesmerizing than Chalipuns incense had been.

"I can do that?" asked Sarah moving back a little toward Dillon and away from the Professor, who continued to keep a good hold on her.

"Sure," said Dillon "all you have to do is wish that you were with the shadow and you can be there for Eric." Sarah would have never admitted her feelings for Eric awake and to her friends, especially Zoe. However, in a dream, it couldn't hurt to say so to anyone. Couldn't she tell Dillon that she wished to save Eric because she really liked him a lot?

Sarah attempted to let go of Chalipuns hand, she wanted to follow Dillon and express her feelings about Eric to save him from the shadow. Chalipun would not let go, instead she pointed out an opposite corner of the stadium where Eric now stood motioning to her with his hand. "Sarah, Eric isn't in danger he is over there waiting for you," she said calmly looking directly into Sarah's eyes. "Dillon is mistaken. All you need to do is find your way to Eric and out of this dream."

Sarah stopped fighting Chalipuns grip and smiled at the Eric who was now standing in the corner of the stadium. "Yes ma'me, your right," was all that she could manage to say, but it was all that necessary. Sarah's willingness to pull away from Dillon and go with Chalipun had pulled her out of the dream and into Chalipuns office again.

Sarah focused on the Professor who was still kneeling before her holding her hand. Chalipun opened her own eyes and took a deep breath; it was all she could do to prevent herself from collapsing on the floor. Killainka, who was now standing next to her, helped her into a chair. As Chalipun collapsed, Sarah's focus also collapsed and she leaned back into her chair, feeling slightly exhausted.

Killainka looked into their faces, from one to another and then back again. They both seemed no more than overly tired and neither seemed worse for the wear. This helped to repress the slight twinges of guilt that he was having for putting them in this situation. Killainka made eye contact with Chalipun and asked, "is everything okay?"

Chalipun nodded. "I believe we are both all right, sir." Then she looked at Sarah who had slipped into slumber.

"Did you find out anything?" he asked next.

"I'm not sure what, but something's going on in there." This was about all she could get out before they both fell asleep. Killainka summoned blankets to cover them and then moved forward to the fireplace to rekindle it. With a wave of his hand, the fire swelled to warm the room and it's sleeping guests.

"I think it's about time for a staff meeting," said Killainka to the fire, the fire did not respond.