Thanks everyone for reading so far! This definitely is a HP fanfiction and will involve Hogwarts & the original Harry Potter characters. The first half covers what is going on at Salem (HBP & then all of Deathly Hallows will be told from from Hogwarts!) Hope you're enjoying! x

Chapter Eight

That morning at breakfast everyone in the Irdrea section was staring at me. They knew. I mean, I'm sure I screamed loud enough for the entire girls section to hear. I tried to ignore them and went to a smaller table where Charlie was already sitting with Andrew and Roddy. Those two looked up at me not really knowing what to say so they put their heads down and continued eating. At least Charlie said, "Hey Bradley...so are you okay? We heard you screaming last night." Perfect. So even the boys could hear me?

"Bad dream," I answered shaking my head and sitting down with my back to the rest of the room.

Idella asked me earlier what the dream was about and I said I couldn't really remember. She was clever and if I told her about the fire she would have easily connected it to my burning hands. The first class I had was Medical Approaches and I was hoping Kent hadn't heard anything. As I arrived he was already there notes all over the desk. "Hey Bradley," he greeted as I sat down. "This test is going to be a nightmare. I don't understand the difference between all these operating machines." He shook his head. I smiled widely because he didn't bring up the screaming situation.

Taking a seat, I pulled out my notes. "I was looking at that last night," I answered. "I'm starting to remember it somewhat, but it still all blends together." He nodded in agreement.

"Would you want to study together before sometime?" he asked catching me off guard. I had to bite back a "really?" and managed to keep a calm face. I did really like Kent, we got along and he was always kind to me. Yet I figured we would never speak outside of class or casual run-ins because his best friend was Grant.

"Sure that would be great," I responded calmly. "Would you want to study tomorrow night?" I asked. It was a Wednesday so it gave us two nights to prepare before the test.

As the class came to end I couldn't help but leave with a smile. Kent and I were meeting tomorrow night after dinner to study in the library. He assured me that Grant wouldn't mind...but we weren't going to tell him. As I walked out to the field for Advanced Care of Magical Creatures, I had almost forgotten about last night. Almost. Selina was standing there looking completely amused and I knew she was going to say something.

"I could hear you from the other side of the castle last night," she said shaking her head. I doubt she actually heard me. What she probably heard was what other students have been talking about. "Nightmares is it?" she asked with a fake look of sympathy.

"Yes," I stated simply not wanting to get into a pointless argument with her. Everyone was taking their seats on the log wood stools. Today our teacher would be lecturing us about lake creatures before we begin our next assignment. On the plus side, it meant I wasn't required to sit with Selina today. Selina's attention wandered and I turned to see Cole walking down the hill to class. Oh, he was actually showing up today?

"Try not to fall asleep or anything. Wouldn't want your screams to scare the creatures away." Selina smirked before taking off and grabbing the back row with Cole and his friends. Idella who was talking to Colin came over and sat with me as class began.

Unfortunately the rest of the day wasn't as wonderful as Medical Approaches was. No one really said anything to me directly, other than Selina, but people were giving me weird looks. Even a few teachers gave me curious looks. Idella and Charlie kept reminding me that everyone would forget about it by tomorrow.

I decided to skip dinner that night to avoid the curious looks and all. Instead I went to the library to study more for Medical Approaches. Although Kent and I were planning on studying tomorrow night, I wanted to know as much as I could before so that I didn't appear to be clueless. The library was completely empty as everyone else was at dinner. A half hour passed and I was distracted. All I could think about was last night and the flames. Was it really just a bad dream? I was starting to convince myself with all the lying I was doing.

I've had several bad dreams before. For months after the car accident, I relived that moment every night in my sleep. Yet I never woke up screaming. Resting my head on my hand I couldn't focus on medical operation equipment. Instead my mind wandered to what could possibly be wrong with me? Then a bit of brightness caught my eye. I looked down and saw...flames. I jumped up from my seat knocking it over in the process. There was no burn, just flames. I waved my hand around like crazy but it wasn't fading.

I knew there was something! 

I wasn't imagining it or dreaming it. The flames really did appear and they appeared again. Slowly they began to fade, but my heart pace quickened. This wasn't normal. Something was indeed wrong with me and I couldn't keep this a secret anymore. Rushing back to the common room I knew there would be a few people in there. Dinner was still going on but when I got back to the common room Idella and Charlie were sitting on the couch in front of the fireplace. "We brought you some food," Idella said pointing to the table. "Figured you would be hungry since you skipped dinner."

"Came to eat with you as well," Charlie added with a smile as he picked up a roll from the table.

"I need to tell you guys something..." I said frantically. I walked over and sat down and explained everything. From the first feeling of the burn to the situation in the library. They were my best friends. I could easily trust them. I finished the entire story, from the first feeling of the burn to the situation in the library. Thankfully they didn't think I was crazy or anything. They both agreed it was abnormal. "I don't know what to do," I complained.

"You need to tell someone," Idella said sternly. "A professor. Maybe Professor Cadwallader or even Professor Halliwell might know what's going on." Professor Cadwallader was great, but it was unlikely my Potions and Herbology teacher would understand what is going on. Professor Halliwell did know a lot about the Dark Arts, but I was pretty sure he would find me crazy. I shook my head. Then I noticed the flames burning from the fire pit...I wonder... I began inching my hand closer and closer. I could barely feel the heat of the flame as I got closer. "Bradley...what are you doing?" Idella snapped.

"I'm curious..." I wondered aloud, allowing my hand to get even closer. I felt the heat but it didn't hurt.

"Don't do anything-" I allowed my hand to slip into the flame. "-stupid!" she gasped. Nothing. Absolutely nothing happened. Charlie leaned in interested. I did it once more, this time slower. No mark or anything. My skin wasn't even red. I could feel the heat but the flames weren't affecting my skin. The three of us were silent for a moment.

"That is...awesome!" Charlie said quickly. "Do it again." Idella rolled her eyes at him. "Have you ever done that before?"

"Stick my hand in a fire?" I joked. "No."

"Now you really need to tell someone Bradley," Idella stated. "I mean...it is a little awesome," An interested smile appeared on her face but quickly faded. "But you don't know what is happening exactly, and you need to find out."

"Headmaster Elwood," Charlie stated as if it was a no brainer. "If anyone, you should go to him. He's been around the longest, maybe he's seen something similar. If not he could find you someone who can." I nodded in agreement, Headmaster Elwood would definitely be the best choice.

"We will go with you," Idella added.

So the three of us left the common room and ventured to Headmaster Elwood's office. He always returned from dinner rather early so he was present when we arrived. After knocking on the dark red door he invited us in. As we entered he was seated at his neatly organized desk in light blue robes. Without wasting any time, I explained everything just as I did with Idella and Charlie. He nodded, interested and surprised in the subject. Unfortunately he has never seen anything like it. Charlie and Idella were sent back to the dorm, but I had to stay. He wanted to make sure what was happening wasn't a danger to me or the other students. Creating flames in my sleep, without my control, definitely wasn't the safest ability.

Headmaster Elwood left the room to go and contact a specialist. I sat there nervously in his office looking around. Portraits of the previous Headmasters were whispering to one another about me. Peering over at the Headmasters desk, I spotted a copy of the UK's Daily Prophet. Curious I leaned forward a bit to see more. All I managed to see were the words 'Dumbledore', 'Death Eaters, and 'Ollivander: Still missing'. It took a lot of self control for me to not lean over the desk and take in every word, but I heard footsteps coming my way so I sat up straight.

I needed to know what was wrong with me. As Professor Elwood came back into the room he said, "A specialist from the Department of Mysteries is on their way."

"Department of Mysteries, sir?" I questioned. Was it really that uncommon.

"They also specialize in healing so I assumed they would be the right choice Miss Willis," he explained. I nodded.

"Thank you sir."