Intense attention to lessons as well as research in the library had also been pre-occupying Nimue. She hadn't forgotten her dream/vision about the ancient witch and was doing some research into the old wizarding genealogies to see if her growing intuition about its meaning was right as well as trying to see if she could induce another experience. She'd had hoped to speak to Morticia or Ceridwyn about it but the opportunity hadn't arisen naturally so she didn't force it.

On the day in which Kat burst into the designated 3rd Year group common room, Nimue was in there reading a book of 16th Century literature.

Madison spotted Kat as she entered the hall. "Hi, Kat," she said gently.

"How are you doing?" She herself looked terrible. She had been able to sleep very little without any incident, but it didn't seem enough. There were dark circles under her eyes, and she looked pale. Just then, the doors opened again and a fairly tall boy walked in. Madison stared, very surprised, and shocked, at how much he had changed. The boy had bronzed skin, dark hair, and deep dark brown eyes. He had gotten much taller since the last time Madison saw him. He had become very strong and very...handsome.

Madison was particularly surprised at that; she hadn't noticed it before.... The boy walked over to her, and looked her over. "Madison? Wow, you've grown- " he was cut off as Madison threw her arms around him, hugging him tightly.

"Lee! What are you doing here?" she asked, releasing him. "Wow, you've grown too.

But then it has been, what, 7 years?" Lee took a long look at her, and nodded. "Maddy, are you okay? You look terrible..."

Nimue couldn't help but notice Madison's happy reunion with what she assumed was another American exchange student by his open manner and accent. She thought that this might serve as a tonic to assist her friend, whose lack of sleep had been draining her considerably and causing concern throughout Gryffindor's residents.

"Curious though, another 7 years" she thought. It had been seven years since she and Marvo had been separated by her parents' move to continental Europe. However, she was fairly convinced there was nothing significant in this - merely a coincidence.

She smiled and said hello as Madison introduced Lee to her companions.

Kat saw Madison and Nimue and waved. "Hi! I think I might have found a way to do it... I found it in this book in the library. I knew it had to be there somewhere. I don't know how to do it yet, but I got the spell and I think it might work, but we better try it in little bits first and well, it might help you, Madison," she gabbled. "Oh, hi, who is this?"

"This is Lee," Madison introduced. "He was my best friend growing up, until he moved." Lee nodded. "I just transferred here because my dad got a new job."

Ceridwyn hadn't slept more than a few hours these last days. She awoke several times each night, and would toss and turn frequently. Sometimes she was awakened by her dreams, visions of other students, speaking to her in her sleep, and other times she didn't know what had awakened her.

As she came into the room, she saw Madison, Nimue and Kat. Kat was saying something very excitedly. Ceridwyn yawned, and took a seat near all of them.

"Morning everyone. Nimue, Madison, Kat, hey where's everyone else? This seems like an awfully small crowd for breakfast. Egreen and Achel I'm not surprised to see, but where are Marvo and Morticia, and Andy?" Ceridwyn looked as though she were in another place, even while she was speaking, something else clearly occupied her thoughts.

"Madison, are you ok, you look like you haven't slept in years... about like me I suppose." She smiled tiredly and grabbed a bit of fruit. "Nimue, how've you been lately?", Ceridwyn mumbled as she munched on an orange. "I wish I knew a sleeping spell... I'd cast it on myself, I'm sooo tired.", she said and yawned, this time her eyes tearing up with the yawn.

Nimue responded to Ceridwyn's questions: "I'm fine getting a lot of work in. We do seem quite depleted in numbers don't we? As to where the boys are, I don't really know. Haven't seen Andy for ages and Marvo's been keeping himself to himself. He was in the common room earlier I think one of the house elves brought him some breakfast.

I haven't seen Morticia this morning or a few of the others. Maybe they’re practising Quidditch moves or something." She noted that Ceridwyn did look very tired herself.

Whatever Kat had found sounded jolly exciting and Nimue at least was eager for her to say more: "A way to do what? What are we going to try - a magical experiment?"

Kat realised that she had rushed to tell them the news so much that she hadn't told them what she was actually talking about.

"Well, Maybe I better slow down a bit. You know I told you about the trick that I did with Joss to borrow Scully to go to the forest. Well I felt that there had to be a way to share minds without actually leaving your body behind. So that you could consciously be in both. Well, then I progressed this to the idea of sharing human minds. Well I almost did that with Joss because we were together in Scully, but anyway. If it were possible to be in 2 human bodies at once then we should be able to help Madison. We should be able to 'watch' from inside while Madison can get some sleep. I found the details on how to do it, but I think I'll need to practice first. What do you think?"

Ceridwyn looked at Kat with great interest as to what she'd just said. "I think that's a good idea, although it could be dangerous. Are there any side effects that you know of Kat? If not, I'll be your test case, if you'd like." Ceridwyn grabs another orange and begins peeling. "I wouldn't mind doing that, and if it will help Madison in anyway, then I'm up for it. Totally off the subject, but these oranges are so good", she said with a mouth full of the juicy fruit. "I can't help it, I love fruit." She smiled with an orange section covering her teeth.

"Thanks for volunteering. I might take you up on it. The only side effects I know of are that you end up thinking that you are the other person for a couple of hours afterwards. That is with completely leaving your body though. I believe it is similar for the share. I want to go over this spell a bit before we try it though. It's just I was so excited when I found it." Kat pondered if that was the only side effect. She couldn't remember any others.

Nimue was somewhat taken back by this idea - intrigued though as well. She thought a moment or two:

"It does seem to be quite advanced......and could be a little scary if things get muddled up or anything....you did say that there were side effects from you & Joss sharing with Scully...and being in someone else body with them well .....

Her brow furrowed and she came to a decision, "OK, well I'm game...."

"It is a more advanced spell. Certainly not something we are taught, but I believe I could do it because I seem to have an aptitude for the normal animal mind use that we did. I'm glad you're in too." Kat smiled warmly at Nimue.

Both Madison and Lee had also listened intently as Kat told them her plan. "I don't know about this..."Madison trailed off. "Is it going to be safe? I don't want anyone getting hurt because of me." Lee thought for a moment, then came to a decision. "It could work...but I wanna do this. If anyone's gonna try to hurt Maddy while she's sleeping..." he trailed off. "What kind of side effects were you talking about, Kat?" Madison asked, a worried expression on her face. She tried unsuccessfully to stifle a yawn, which Lee noticed. "Look, I think you need to sleep for now. We can talk about this later. So many days without sleep is not good for you," he stated. "How did you know I haven't been sleeping? And how do you know anyone's trying to hurt me while I sleep?"

Madison asked, giving him a curious look. Lee seemed to be groping for an answer. "Um..."

Nimue piped up: "I think you are right Lee. Because of your childhood friendship you already have a powerful link with Madison which will make it easier for you to engage with her mind and it won't be so invasive or strange for her."

She turned to Kat, 'What do you think?'.

Since Madison was yawning and on the verge of sleep, she addressed Lee & Madison: "Do you think maybe you should try to sleep now, Madison. Lee, perhaps you could stand vigil while she sleeps. As its daytime I am sure there would be no problem if you wanted to do this in our dormitory."

Kat pondered the situation: "You might be right about allowing Lee to be involved. But I don't know if you will be capable of this magic. It's my special abilities with animals that makes my normal 'borrowing' easier. I might have to help make that link. Look I'd like to try it on someone I know and trust first. Start with the 'borrowing' and then try the share if that can work."

Lee nodded. "Okay, I'll watch her." Madison was looking at him, a bit suspiciously. "Wait, you didn't answer my question. How did you know all this was going on?" Lee gave her a charming smile. "I just heard you guys talking about it and..." Madison put her hands on her hips. "That's not going to work on me, buddy. That didn't work when we were six, and it's not going to work now. That face can charm every girl but me, so don't try it." Lee sighed and gave up. "Look, I'll tell you later, okay? Right now, you need to sleep. Where's your dorm?"

At this point they were interrupted as Dumbledore walked into the Third Year’s dining room. He looked a bit more frazzled than he had all year but other than that seemed to be trying to act as normal as possible. He looked around the room and noted the sparse number then took in a breath.

"Morning students" note, he did not say 'Good'. "I have an announcement that I’m sure all of you would like to be aware of." quite. "Mr. and Mrs. Relumes have asked me to announce that tomorrow a viewing where all students will be able to say good bye to our beloved comrade Josslin Relumes one last time before her body returns with her parents for burial. The viewing will be held tomorrow afternoon after classes. On a sad side note, I know that Josslin will be missed but life does go on, keep your heads high, for she is only on another adventure!" Dumbledore tried to smile but had to settle for a wink before leaving the room.

Just then Peesey walked in , looking much better than he had been for a while. Noticing as Cer had he said "Where is Morticia, Andy and the Wart any way?"

He sat down his question unanswered and himself being unnoticed. Peesey's owl, Diagon flaps down at the table. Peesey takes the paper from him and starts to read the front page. Then says to Nimue and co. "Have you seen this?"

MYSTERIOUS DEATH AT HOGWARTS!

By our award-winning investigative reporter Miss Rita Skeeter.

"I am saddened and somewhat ashamed to have to report to our readers the shocking death of a Third Year student at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Miss Josslin Relumes of House Ravenclaw was a pretty blond girl, loved by all and an excellent Quidditch player. Her teachers say she was always a good student and never gave any reason for concern. Her fellow students are shocked and bewildered by this sudden loss and a dearly loved friend.

Details of the manner of Josslin's death seem, as usual with any event at Hogwarts, is shrouded in mystery. From what this reporter can ascertain it was not a natural death. But was it an accident? Or something worse?

If an accident then a public inquiry should be made at once to find out just how unsafe it is to send your children to a school with such a reputation!

And if something else?.....

The family Relumes, said to have a heritage all the way back to King MacBeth's time, are of course deeply saddened by these events and have refused to comment to this journal. Is that because perhaps there is something to hide? It seems odd that went we asked the Headmaster of Hogwarts, Professor Dumbledore, his comments were somewhat aloof. 'We at Hogwarts are deeply saddened by the untimely death of such a well-loved student. I am sorry I cannot go into details of the manner of this event, you will understand that I must keep the privacy of the family in mind and I know your 'paper' has a way of twisting things anyway'

Strange words indeed! Especially as it has come to our notice that a representative of Professor Dumbledore has been to London to visit the Ministry of Magic, for reasons we couldn't discover. Ii fact we could not even get a name of this 'representative' and were stopped from finding out from the highest level!

There have been strange goings on at Hogwarts. And this reporter hopes soon to know more. And will, of course, pass on all she finds. Good or bad. To you - our readers.

Josslin's pet cat 'Kit' has been left in the care of her close friend Malcolm Dexter Ward a fellow Third Year student.

Other News: see inside for details: