Chapter 9 ~ Bad Dreams.

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Maurelle proved to be a true Ravenclaw, despite her Slytherin traits. She was extremely talented with wand magic, though scorning it, she could brew a potion perfectly every time and could care for a Fire Crab without any fear. She worked fast to fit in, but was silent and withdrawn. You didn't notice her until she gave that powerful grey stare, when you turned and suddenly she was there, gazing at you with no shame. It felt like she was gazing into your very soul. Karil and Lysander often wondered if that was the case.  She could disappear with the blink of an eye, her month with aril before the term had began seemed to have been used on knowing every nook and cranny of the castle. Every passage, every paving stone. 

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''Good luck for tomorrow!''

''Hey Ly, score well, yeah?''

''Hope the game goes well! I'll be watching!''

These were the goodnights from his fellow sixth-years as Lysander went to bed the evening before the first quidditch match of the season - Ravenclaw vs Griffindoor. Ly was captain, as well as a talented chaser, therefore the pride of the sixth form. There was usually a torrent of ''good luck''s in the morning, and quite a few before bed. He couldn't help but go to sleep grinning. It was nice to be appreciated.

Halfway through the night, however, screams aroused the whole of the sixth form. The cried rose to a peak and then there was high-pitched shrieking. Words you couldn't decipher. 

''Bloody hell!'' Ly leapt out of bed, looking around him to see his classmates also rising. Karil, however, was ahead of him, slipping out of the door and down into the common room. Lysander followed him down, pausing only to tie on his dressing gown. What on earth was going on?

He was greeted by a female classmate, pale and shaken, who was informing Karil of what had happened. 

''We were all asleep when the screaming started and obviously we all woke up. Maurelle was writhing about and screaming in her sleep, she was saying something as well but I couldn't make it out.'' She shivered. ''I know it sounds stupid, but it didn't sound like an ordinary nightmare. It sounded like she was in pain.'' Olivia was shaking and Ly went to put his arm round her. Then they all jumped.

''LYSANDER!'' The wild Irish accent filled the common room as Maurelle came racing down the stairs. Ly turned with a jump, watching as the other girls came after her. Maurelle was to fast though, she came running towards him. Ly looked at Karil, who had halted Maurelle. 

''Maurelle go back to bed. It was just a nightmare-''

''NO!'' She screamed. The other girls had disappeared, fast followed by Olivia, leaving Karil and Lysander to deal with a hysterical Maurelle. She was shaking her head wildly, black hair tousled about her face, grey eyes filled with fear. She looked mad. No wonder the girls had been scared.

''Maurelle, you have to calm down. Go back to bed.'' Karl tried again, walking over to her and holding her arm. Lysander exchanged glances with him. Only they knew that there must be a catch. Ly himself was silent, held in a sort of shock.

Maurelle wrenched her arm free. ''Don't you see! It was no ordinary nightmare! I don't have nightmares!'' She took a breath, calming down slightly, beginning in a softer but still desperate tone; ''When I dream, I see the future. I see what will happen.''

Karil looked at Ly. Another piece of extraordinary information to take in. Ly looked at her. He had a bad feeling about this.

''And what did you see?''

Maurelle stared at him. ''I saw you, Lysander.'' She shook her head. ''You must not play tomorrow, you must not join in the game of Quidditch.''

Ly let his mouth drop open. ''Not play! I am captain, I will play, I will win the game, I, I have to!''  He looked angrily at Maurelle, who was staring back defiantly. Karil watched his friend. He knew how much Quidditch meant to Ly.

''What did you see Maurelle?'' Karil asked gravely.

She lifted her head. ''Lysander will be hit. By a bludger. He will go into a comatose.'' She watched Ly reel back with fear. She took a step towards him. ''Now do you see? You cannot play.'' 

Karl looked from Maurelle to Ly. She was telling the truth. No one would lie about this, least of all Maurelle. Lysander was still looking shocked, but shock was rapidly turning into anger

''You're lying!'' He cried, eyes blazing. ''I will play, I will, you lying little beast!'' And with the last remark, Ly raced up the stairs and back to the dormitory. Karl, recovering from the desperate cry of his friend, grabbed hold of Maurelle as she turned to go with disgust and hatred for Ly lingering in her face.

''You did see it happen, didn't you.'' 

She turned to Karil with spite. ''I tried to help him! If he won't believe me then let it happen!'' She continued to stride deliberately back to her dormitory, leaving Karil alone in the dark common room. 

It was true. She was telling the truth. But how was he going to stop his friend?