"Alright, you three can go," Professor McGonagall said at 11:30. The three tired students began to pack up their parchment and quills. "No. I will hold on to those until tomorrow," she said taking each student's essay. The three sixth years quietly left the room. Elizabeth went about the task of putting books back on shelves, marking which student had used which volume so she could have them ready for the next night. She glanced quickly over each essay. 'Well Malfoy needs to work harder,' she thought. She quickly counted the number of words on both Cameron and Jack's essays. "2,000 each," she murmured. 'They really are twins,' she thought as she put the essays in her desk drawer. She left the office by way of a door on the left hand wall.
In the hallway, Jack pulled Cameron aside. "Are you feeling ok?" he asked in a whisper. Cam looked a little pale and she felt quite warm to the touch. "I'm fine," she said and pulled her arm out of her brother's grip. She followed Draco down the stairs towards the Slytherin dormitories. Jack headed up to Gryffindor. "It's all your fault," Draco said as they were nearing the entrance to the common room. "Well, if you hadn't been baiting me---" Cam began. "What are you two doing out at this late hour?" came the voice of Professor Snape. "We had detention with McGonagall," Cam stated bitterly. "Minerva never keeps students this late," he muttered to himself. "It was with the other Professor McGonagall," Draco said. "Oh. Well get to bed then," Snape said moving aside so that the two tired teenagers could get by.
Professor Snape headed up the stairs and within minutes was at the door to Elizabeth's office. He knocked and waited for a reply. Instead, the door opened to reveal Elizabeth, wearing a baggy t-shirt and shorts. "Yes, Severus?" she asked. "Why did you keep those students so late?" he asked in his deep snarl. "Frankly, I see that as none of your business. I knew where they were so therefore they are in no trouble," she replied. "Now if you will excuse me, I'm going to bed," she finished. She turned and closed the door. Snape turned on his heel and went to bed.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
In the girl's dormitory, Cam drifted quickly to sleep. However, she had the most frightening dream she had ever had. She was sitting in a dark forest, perhaps the Forbidden Forest. She felt like someone or something was watching her. She stood up and glanced nervously around her. She could see nothing. She reached for her wand and realized to her dismay that she did not have it. Without her wand, she felt helpless. 'But wait a minute. I'm not helpless,' she thought. She reached up and broke off a nearby tree limb and raised her right hand, creating a blazing fireball. She ignited the limb and created a torch. With her new source of light she surveyed her surroundings. Tall trees surrounded her and as she looked up, she could not see the moon.
Suddenly a giant animal leapt out of the brush and cornered her. It was a sleek, majestic black panther. The panther surveyed the frightened girl and then lunged and made Cam lose grip on her torch. It hit the ground and was gone. Cam looked down and saw blood dripping from her wrist where the panther had scratched her. 'Oh god!' she thought. All Cam could see of the panther were its eyes, a deep brooding amethyst color. "You fear me don't you Cameron," came a voice. "Who said that?" Cam asked, her voice shaking. "You know who I am," came the voice again, this time much closer. Cameron hadn't realized but she had squeezed her eyes shut. She opened them and found herself staring into eyes so much like her own, the eyes of the panther. "Panthers can't talk," she said quietly. She could feel the animal as it circled around her body. "Silence!" came the voice. "My name is Asesino," came the voice of the panther. "Murderer," Cam breathed. "Very good," the panther said. "What do you want with me?" Cam asked. "Ha-ha. I am you!" the panther screamed. "No! No you're not!" Cameron screamed just as loud, but somewhere, deep inside she knew the panther's words were true. Cameron sunk to the forest floor and began to cry. "Do not cry," the panther said, lying down at her feet. "You will do as I say and I will not hurt you," he continued. "Yes," Cam mumbled in submission. She looked up into the panther's eyes one last time and then he was gone. She was all alone. She shuttered and closed her eyes.
Up in Gryffindor Tower, Jack woke with a start. 'Cameron! She's in trouble' came a voice in his head. He rushed out of bed and hurried to the entrance to the Slytherin Common Room. "Password," said the portrait. "I don't know the password," Jack said. "Mr. Williams what on earth are you doing?" came the voice of Professor Snape. "Professor, Cam's in trouble. I felt it," Jack said in one breath. "Is that so?" Snape sneered. "I'm serious. I felt her. She's really scared," he continued. Not quite believing him, Snape led Jack into the Common Room and then up to the girl's dormitory. Jack rushed over to Cameron and saw blood dripping from her right wrist. He hurriedly checked her pulse. "Professor, I think she's been attacked," Jack mumbled. He picked his sister up and the two headed for the hospital wing. Madame Pomfrey met them at the door. "What happened?" she asked. "I don't know Madame Pomfrey but she's bleeding. And she's not breathing very well," Jack said, tears running down his face. Together, the three of them got Cam into a bed. Madame Pomfrey made Jack and Professor Snape leave the room as she closed the curtains around the bed. "Come with me," Snape told Jack as he turned and left the hospital. They went up to Dumbledore's office. "Whatever happened, he needs to know about it," Snape said, more to himself than Jack.
The three wizards rushed back to the hospital wing where Madame Pomfrey ushered Professor Dumbledore in. "You two should return to bed," she instructed. "But, I want to stay with Cam," Jack protested. "I'm sorry Mr. Williams but I can not allow that," Madame Pomfrey said. Reluctantly Jack returned to bed.
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