THE Ravenclaw

"I am not what you thought"

"Of course not....well actually," he started.

Phoebe slapped him in the arm with a book.

"Ow,"

                               ***

The next morning she woke up and went to breakfast immediately. She recieved a letter.

-----------------------------------------------------------

Dear Phoebe,

If you get word from anyone soon please don't bother to panic. I'm fine, I promise, I think I'm just a bit overwhemlmed with school and I'm still getting used to being non-magical. I miss you and love you,

Esme

-----------------------------------------------------------

The writing looked rushed, and Esme never signed her name as just Esme. She would always put something before like "your amazing sister" or "the best sister ever". 

"Terry, Michael, I'll see you in a bit, I forgot to finish my project for potions! You know how Proffesor Snape can be, so I better get it done!" She said with a quick smile as she ran out the door.

"She'd never be that happy if she forgot to do something," Michael said. "She would go completely bizerk. I think you better go check on your girlfriend, Boot, make sure she hasnt gone insane."

When Phoebe reached her room she pulled out the letter and whispered,
"Aparecium!"

As she said the words, the original letters writing faded and a new message arose.

-----------------------------------------------------------

Phoebe, I don't know how much longer I can keep a grip on myself. My mind is slipping, I dont know whats happening to me..

If I lose my mental state again I may be gone forever, mum is not helping. I canno

-----------------------------------------------------------

The letter ended there. Phoebe panicked. She searched her dorm looking for the mirror that matched Esme's.

She had finally found it.

She was looking into her own house, where a great and giant black mass swirled around in the air. Shattered pictures and broken walls were what was left of her childhood home, splattered with shiny streaks of red.

                              ***

Phoebe couldnt keep herself together. She threw the mirror back into her trunk trying to erase the image from her mind. She breathed heavily crying between breaths.

"Phoebe! Phoebe Anne!" A voice called from the common room. "You know boys can't come into your dormitory!"

She tried to ignore him, but couldn't. She crammed the letter into her pocket, and wiped her red eyes.

She came down into the common room.

"Oh..Phoebe whats wrong?" Terry asked, pulling her into a deep hug.

She tried to speak but only a small squeak came out.

"Proffessor Snape assigns so much work anyway, he probably wont even notice! And besides you are one of the best students he has, he can't possibly get that mad!" Terry said reassuringly.

She nodded her head, going along with the story.

"You'll figure it out, you always do." He said as he grinned big, giving her hand a slight squeeze.

As the rest of the day went along she couldnt focus, her mind could only see one thing.

"MS.ANNE ARE YOU PAYING ATTENTION TO A WORD I AM SAYING!" Proffessor Snape yelled, making the room grow quiet.

"Yes sir," Phoebe said with great difficulty, trying to keep back the tears.

"Then I will ask AGAIN, what is a bezoar?!"

"It is-" she said swallowing. "A stone that grows in the stomach of a goat. It can be used to reverse the effects of most potions and poisons, but is extremely rare and should therefore be used sparingly."

Snape looked taken aback as though he expected her to not know a word.

"Very well then..." He said. "And 5 points from Ravenclaw for dazing off in my class."

He couldnt go a day without taking points at least once.

                               ***

As night approached she had to get out of there. She couldnt sleep and something told her there were important places to be.

Once again she started to head down stairs. She grabbed her winters coat, her broom, and a small sack filled with necessities.

"What are you doing down here, again?" Phoebe asked as she spotted Michael in the same armchair as yesterday.

"I like to watch the common rooms constellations at night," He said. "And what are you doing?"

"Leaving. I have to do something." She said, sounding insane.

"You cant just leave?! Dumbledore will know, he always knows. And with Filch-" He said, sounding much unlike his usual carefree self.

"Listen Corner, You don't understand, my family is in trouble! And why do you care so much if I leave anyway?" She said almost to tears once more.

"I care because you are like a sister to me, Phoebe! So if you are going, so am I!" Michael said while getting to his feet.

"No, you arent going to be in any danger because of me! I need to be on my own. I want to be on my own..." She said quietly so that he couldnt hear.

"I know that you dont have a plan, and youve been actine weird all day. Wait....and we can go in prepared."

"We? Michael you arent coming!"

Phoebe couldnt argue anymore. She went back up to her room, mostly because she knew Michael was right. She didnt have a plan, and that could result in much worse.

She went to bed with great difficulty; not knowing was much worse than knowing.