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C A Z H V Y R E
I CAN ALREADY SENSE A MIGRAINE ATTACKING ME. This is not something I expected, especially considering the events of the last few days. Why now, exactly? Why does it have to be so early in the morning? I didn't expect him to return early or even at all. This would not appear to become a positive indicator. It can only signify one thing: he needs to accomplish something for which we or the others around us must be needed.
"This can not be right. Why now? I mean, there must be something behind that note. There is a hidden reason why he is coming back." I said out loud as I pondered deeply while speeding the gears in my head to make up a concrete answer for this confusion.
"Let us not beat ourselves up for answers. We might as well confront him head-on when the time is right," Theo said as he noticed the crease on my forehead indicating that I am in my thinking zone.
"You are right. I can not deal with him right now." I sigh as I massage the temples of my head.
I was about to walk again when Theo said something that I did not expect, "But you will face him when it is the time, right?"
What? What the hell was that supposed to mean?
I look back at him and raise my eyebrow. "What is that supposed to mean? I am pretty sure I already made it clear that I do not want to deal with him in any way anymore." I said as I tried not to let myself be engulfed in fury again.
"You know you need to, Cazh. It is inevitable." He said as he caught up to me. He looked straight into my eyes and added, "You need to fix your relationship with your brother, or this could also be a hindrance in our upcoming events."
He knows that I will just rebuttal him; that is why he did not waste time turning his back and starting walking again.
Jeez, he sure knows when to hit the bullseye.
I did not respond to that and just walked beside him until we arrived at the front door of Professor Luthox's office.
I knocked at the door as we waited for him to answer.
"Enter," he mutters before Theo and I made eye contact and went inside his office.
"Glad, you can finally join me again, Cazhvyre. We need to level up your training," Professor Luthox said as he gave me a raised eyebrow. He observed me from head to toe as he noticed that there were still some marks from the fight.
"I guess you did not follow my suggestion to go to the Hospital Wing," He commented as I gave him an eye roll. He then looked at Theo and said, "Thank you, Mr. Green, for dropping her in my office. You can go now."
"Actually, I would like to stay and help," Theo said that making both Professor Luthox and I eyed him curiously at the sudden request.
Professor Luthox cleared his throat before answering, "If Ravens is fine with that then I do not have any complaint." That made the both of them look at me. I was hesitant at first but since Theo already knows about my situation then I guess there's no reason to hide it.
"Be warned, not every lesson is full of safe knowledge, sometimes it can be extreme," I said as he soak in my warning before nodding his head.
"Then let's not prolong this any longer and starts another session." Professor Luthox said.
"For the past sessions, we did our best to get you into the rhythm of your gift, and today, we need to get you used to utilizing it without the help of water." Professor Luthox explained, For the past months, we did our best to discover and get to know my gift-curse even more and see how can I get into it from time to time. This time, we need to practice my gift or curse using my willpower as fast as possible.
"Water?" Green asked, clearly not following the whole ordeal.
"I usually experienced having visions when it is needed or when I am relaxing in the Black Lake which can be connected to the theory of having water as a mirror of time, the past, present, and future as it is infinite and continuous," I explained as I also soaked in the new information that I got.
"But I already tried medication, did nothing, to be honest," I replied to the Professor. It is true that at some point I can feel myself getting pulled into my gift with the help of meditating but it is not enough to really drive it.
"I know, so we do not need to meditate nor to completely isolate you from water." He said while pulling something out from his left pocket. " This is a vial, or simple a necklace that has some properties of the Black Lake within it as your closest contact to your gift with the help of water is the Black Lake that is still a questionable place of relaxation." I rolled my eyes at him as he pointed out my sense of places for relaxation.
"Wear it, then let us try activating your gift." He commanded. I kept myself from exchanging a teasing remark and just focus on our goal today. I manage to observe the vial first which has a unique design of it and some emblem or symbol in it before wearing it around my neck.
"Close your eyes, then focus on the silence, let everything blur out." He reminded me as I nod my head in understanding. I was about to start when something suddenly passed my head. Is it another vision? Is something about to happen? Then I recognize it as a memory.
A dream to be exact.
It was what I dreamt of yesterday.
"Is there a reason why you do not do what I instructed you after you agreed on doing it?" Professor Luthox remarked with sarcasm that I chose to ignore as the nagging feeling inside my head kept telling me to tell it to them.
"Actually, there is. I kept thinking that I need to say it to you or both of you." I replied that made Professor Luthox and Theo look at each other in confusion, waiting for my answer in the process.
"I had a dream yesterday night," I muttered.
"A dream? Like a normal one?" Theo asked carefully.
"I am not so sure but it was vivid like a vision and yet so ecstatically high like a fantasy dream that made me confused." I look at Professor Luthox for his reaction as he pondered my statement.
"What is it about? Is it something about your past?" Theo asked politely. He knew about my frequent nightmares as we tend to sleep in late in my brother's dorm which made him the appointed person to wake me up every time that happens.
Professor Luthox raised his eyebrows at us which made Theo almost cover his hand as he realized his mistakes but tried his best to remain a calm face to make the statement unimportance.
"No, in fact...it is about Potter."
The look of confusion adorned their faces as they tried to decipher what I just said.
"So...it's a fantastic dream about Potter?" Theo asked.
"It was good. It even felt so real despite it looking like a mirage of images." I replied.
"Explain it in a more detailed way. Maybe there's a clue in it since you wouldn't open it up to us if you did not find anything unusual." Professor Luthox said as he clearly understand my point.
"It was a happy dream, I just woke up from my bed, then James entered the room and well, showered me with affection like a distant memory. Then it suddenly it blurred out like the darkness covers the next scene." I explained.
Professor Luthox then pondered on that, "What's so wrong about it? The way you explained that seems like there's nothing wrong." Theo nodded in agreement.
"The next part is what kinda unhinged me. Also, the fact that it felt real yet not at the same time." I said as I tried to immerse myself in my stated dream.
"Well, maybe we can see the next part or at least get some clue if you try to meditate with the vial while thinking of it." Theo inquired that seems plausible as Professor Luthox look at me for approval.
"Alright. Let me try it."
I did not waste any minute and got into a cross leg position while trying to rest my whole body. I then focus all of my thoughts on my dream last night and block all the noise of silence as I gather my strength.
I was still for a moment but as time passes by, I gradually felt myself getting sucked into something, like the feeling whenever my gift is activated all of a sudden but this time, I could feel it slowly, in a not so upfront way.
I was back in that fantasy. While lying down, James and I were embracing each other and he rested his head on the crook of my neck. It seemed as If I was witnessing it on the outside until I sensed the tingling warmth of his breath, which reminded me that I was now in my position beneath James, just like in my dream. It draws me through like a vortex, sucking me into his mischievous gaze and enchanting smiles. It felt like a yearning I can not really satisfy, a hunger I can not really appease, a fantasy that prevented me from everything else. Until I saw that something was already forming behind James' back.
As I watched the blood drip off James' mouth, which forced me start waking up from this surreal room while still caught in my thoughts, what was once a cheerful vibrance had become a melancholy frost.
I can not even shriek as everything flashed before my sight resembling distorted images. I finally felt the underlining sinister existence as I sat up straight with James in my arms.
Time stands still, thunderstorm rumbles close my ears like a loud speaker, and that evil grimace stretches out the stench of wickedness. I felt myself struggling for air as he snakes his hands around my neck, placing an unenviable amount of pressure on my throat.
The last thing I remember is how my body slams to multiple floors below, as if I were plummeting from the pinnacle of a room to its very base of a skyscraper.
The terrible cries trapped within my chest were mocked by He Who Must Not Be Named.
It was proof of my nightmare-like fantasy.
T H I R D P E R S O N
Professor Luthox and Theo monitored Cazhvyre's every motion with high alert on what might happen over the next few seconds for quite some period before she finally went through her own realm utilizing her dream.
It felt like an eternity as they both let the tranquility define their current positions until Theo had the confidence to interrupt it.
"So...how have you been, Professor?" he asked without looking up, although he was aware that Professor Luthox was staring at him with a searing, amusing expression.
"We've been waiting here for over a minute, and I even called you a while ago, and you just chose to speak up now?" he remarked, puzzled as to why the youngster suddenly asked how he was doing since they had never really had such small conversation and he had never imagined something like this.
It is rather odd.
Professor Luthox paused for his rebuttal before deciding how to handle this unexpected circumstance. He was never adept at small conversation, in fact, he was awful at conversing with strangers.
He is shit at it.
"I'm alright, Professor. How has your lecturing at Hogwarts been so far?" Theo then responded to the Professor's scathing remarks as if he had correctly answered them and asked another question.
Professor Luthox peers at him as if he's conversing with a madman or someone who understands exactly how to elicit his rage. He's obviously insane.
"Did you just dismiss my remarks and respond as if we're on the same page?" He couldn't believe he was talking to his student like this.
"Of course, it would be fantastic; Hogwarts is one of the greatest foundations in the wizarding world," Theo replied, sounding as if he were conversing with Professor Luthox but actually speaking to himself.
Professor Luthox exclaimed, "What the heck kid, don't proceed or I might as well put you to rest," spite of the fact that the fuse had already blown out in his soul.
Theo inwardly smirked at that, as he was doing it to pass time and make a spectacle of the formidable Professor, knowing that such an occasion does not come along very often, so why not take advantage of it?
Professor Luthox finally put his hand up, advising him to cease, and stated, "Speak and you shall never be involved in another private session of Cazhvyre again, Green." Apparently, he had ran out of patience with him, or that he was merely trying to keep himself from being swallowed aside by this kid's taunting.
Theo, who was left with his mouth gaping open, finally stopped talking and closed it.
Peace had finally returned to the atmosphere.
Professor Luthox sighed and adjusted his glasses before relaxing in the solitude.
Professor Luthox rubbed his eyes and reminded himself not to give Theodore Green a free ticket to the forthcoming personal training of Cazhvyre Ravens. "Will she be alright? She just needs to settle like that and we just have to sit tight for her to awaken?" Theo questioned before Professor Luthox could even breathe deeply one more quiet moment.
"She'll be alright; it takes a long time for her to get the knack of it, but with this new method, she might be able to adjust faster-", Professor Luthox was cut short when a loud thud pierced his ears when Cazhvyre apparently lost her position and collapsed to the floor with a pained expression on her face, sweat trickling down her forehead as she mumbles incoherent phrases.
"Cazh! Professor, is this still natural?" Theo swiftly approached Cazhvyre's side without contacting her, aware that touching her first without understanding whether her gift is influencing her may be disastrous.
"Shit, this has never happened before; usually, if it's something serious, she'll wake up right away," he stated as he sought to assess her condition without disturbing her.
"Well, it's unfolding now! What should we do?" Theo's uneasiness builds as he learns that this is a new situation and that events like this could be awful.
They had not even considered how to wake her up when her entire body begins to tremor, her eyes burst open and amaze them as they gleam brilliantly with its golden hue notwithstanding her disoriented appearance as if she's not even with them.
"Bloody hell, this is beyond ordinary, right?" Theo exclaimed, trying to calm his racing heart.
As they realized they are now out of options, Professor Luthox stated, "Wake her up. We need to get her out of it." They wasted little time in attempting to assist her regain awareness by shouting her name and attempting to stop her trembling.
"Cazh!"
"Ravens! Wake the bloody up!"
All Cazhvyre could see beyond the veil of existence was the little urgency of Professor Luthox and Theo's voices, which were replaying in a loop behind her thoughts like a broken record. She couldn't hear nor sense anything as the sound of her heartbeat pounded through her skull, causing a migraine.
What she had just experienced after her dream suddenly turned into a nightmare made her feel nauseous, as if her anxieties were creeping closer to becoming true.
Her feet were soon roaming in a narrow corridor with little to no visible light in front of her, but she recognized that she was walking an endless tunnel to solitude. She marched, wandered, moved, ignoring the exhaustion, the agony of sharp objects slicing her bare feet, the stumble as her knees weakened, sweat dripping down her cheeks like it was all a game. To be precise, it's a harsh game of life.
She has no idea when and how to stop and when this tunnel will end; all she knows is that her feet must not stop moving. Her eyesight gradually changed as she dropped from everything that had been keeping her awake; the pain, the bewilderment, and the blankness of such a place had clouded her thoughts.
She found herself heading towards that light as she faints. She didn't even close her eyes as she moved closer to the light and eventually found herself beside a black hallway with an unending trail.
It was a location she had never been before or envisioned herself in, but nostalgia pervaded the entire place like a toxin, making you want to discover more about it.
She had never ventured into anything like this before, but the surface of the brickwork appeared comforting, and she compelled to trace the wall as she walked.
When she realized she wasn't alone, everything seemed different from her dreamlike state.
She nudges her head in the direction of the person, grips the hem of her robe securely, and finally faces her curiosity as she mentally prepares herself for what or who she might encounter.
It was a young man with a normal built, probably a year or two older than her. He was wearing a green Hogwarts robe, indicating that he was a Slytherin student.
Despite this, she can sense the evil leaking out of his essence, which is already losing control as it strives to escape his body.
She thought it was a terrible idea to become intrigued and go further merely to find out who the boy was, but her entire body moves as if this was already planned.
As she continues to move forward, his head gradually leans in her direction.
She's not positive if it's fear that's afflicting her, but all she could do was wait for the inevitable drama to unfold.
She held her breath till they finally met face to face, their anticipation and perplexity almost mixed up at this point due to their close proximity.
"Who are you?"
Cazhvyre's lungs instantly tightened, as if the life within her had been drawn out. She tried to calm herself and take in enough air as she could, but those vacuous eyes that kept peering into her soul caused her to abandon herself in the process.
"I should be the one demanding that," she exclaimed as she was driven out of her vision-rather, a bizarre rendezvous with a recognizable outsider.
C A Z H V Y R E
"Cazh!"
The lack of air has taken me out of my wits, and I gasp loudly. That fucking meet-up just meant that it had the potential to harm me in the physical world.
It was peculiar, inexplicable, horrifying, and soothing all at the same instant, which perplexed me because I predicted to experience agony and even terror. Yet, more than the apparition of the Dark Lord in my vision, I was still wondering about the guy I had just met.
Professor Luthox scanned my body for any wounds and even assessed the appearance in my eyes, saying, "What the bloody hell, Ravens?! You were out for approximately thirty minutes."
"We were willing to take you to the Hospital Wing because you were taking forever to wake up; we feared something was very amiss and..." Theo didn't even finish his sentence as he regained control of his mind.
"Sorry," He apologized because he believed he had said too much.
But we're all aware of the possibilities.
I may have perished and never awoke from my own vision.
It felt like a pointless game, as my life seemed dangling on a knife's edge, and there was always the chances of obtaining some answers that might assist us fight for the future.
Professor Luthox was the one who jolted me out of my reverie as I finally took a close look at both of them.
They appear to have been spared in the nick of time out of something nasty.
I sigh then close my eyes, taking a long breath to ensure that this is indeed my reality and not another bloody intense vision.
"I'm not sure. I was reminiscing over James in my dream and checking further into it when He Who Must Not Be Named appeared and wrangled my neck," I stated slowly as I struggled to recall the horrific scene and all the feelings that came with it.
"What?! Did you assume it was a warning or did you truly meet in your vision?" Professor Luthox was now interrogating me as we tried to concoct a narrative to make sense of the situation.
I was prepared to tell them about the second scene where I met the strange person when something in my mind muttered noises of a plea, a thread suddenly stretched out of my heart like I was not supposed to tell anyone about it.
I was instantly caught between informing them and not telling them. It's not because I don't trust them; it's because there are dangers lurking behind my sight that might lead to their deaths if I leak some irrelevant or even crucial information that could endanger others.
"Cazhvyre, you have to tell us everything; we ought to work together on this," he said, nodding together with Theo.
"I was just pushed through floor by floor until I eventually discovered myself struggling to breathe in truth," I said without hesitation. I have no choice but to trust my gut or, more accurately, the direction of my vision.
"Godric, this gift of yours is genuinely unpredictable and just a torment," Theo remarked as he tried to relax after the recent tension.
I am the first to admit that my curse is unrestrained.
I just said, "It's a curse, not a gift."
He responded, "It will be if you keep on thinking like that."
"I presumed you didn't like it?" I inquired.
"I don't like how it affects you, but we all know it has benefits, and maybe you were chosen for a cause to bear that gift," he reasoned, which just added to my frustration.
"As I have stated, it is a curse."
"It may be a gift."
"Theo, fuck off."
"Fuck you, Cazh."
Professor Luthox attempted to break the conflict between the three of us by yelling, "Shut the bloody hell up! Both of you!"
"Since we do not have any time for your nonsense, we might as well label the darned 'thing' whatever you want it to be known as," he remarked. That inspired us to come up with a decent name for it. After all these years, I never had any reason to give it a title because it was merely a secret that only the Ravens should know about.
Theo proposed, "Present."
"I peek into the future, twat, and not a gift if you mean another description of that word." I muttered, and he just responded with an eye roll.
When Professor Luthox stepped in, I was about to retort, "Then Future it is."
"How about vision?" Theo and I exchange a quick glance before shaking our heads.
"Too simple-"
"And obvious,"
Theo and I said as we finished each other's sentence.
Professor Luthox noted, "Well, you two get along when it comes to ganging up on other people," before we all returned to naming the 'thing'.
It took me a few seconds before I just threw out a random name to put an end to this nonsense.
"Let's just call it 'Astro' for now; I have to get to class," I said before getting up and fixing my uniform and belongings for my next scheduled session.
Theo inquired, "Where the hell did that come from?" He didn't insult or react with an irritating remark, implying that he had already acknowledged it.
"We're going to be late," I said flatly, looking at Professor Luthox for affirmation.
"Fine, go on. Let's discuss more about this in our next session." He takes a deep breath and pinches the bridge of his nose before waving us off.
"Go to the Hospital Wing as soon as you feel something is wrong, Ravens and guide her well, Green." We did not waste any time and just nod our heads before bidding goodbye.
Whatever happened during my Astro moment can wait since I need to hurry to my next lesson and I'm not in the mood to revisit the memory of those hollowed eyes.
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