[OWL] I'm sorry it took so long for me to contact you, Ry. What happened was awful, and it sucks that you and K-Cat had to take the blame for it. I'm always a message away if you need me.
[OWL] Hey, Mads, no worries -- it’s not your fault, I was just trying to protect you guys.
[OWL] I heard your parents sent you to a different school, too, though. It’s too bad it’s not one of the ones my mum’s trying to get me signed up for, it would have been cool to end up in the same place as you again.
[OWL] Are you okay? I should have checked up on you guys sooner after the wedding, but it’s just... kinda crazy to wrap my head around, you know? That Sam and Finn are really gone?
I can happily say that I enjoyed the Halloween Ball despite the fact that someone definitely spiked the punch. I spent most of Sunday getting over the effects of the punch. I must admit everyone looked fantastic, and I enjoyed wearing my flamingo costume. Did you all have a great time?
I must apologize for my incredibly long absence. Between perfecting my Halloween costume, practicing Qudditch, working on Frog Choir songs, prefect duties, and doing my school work it appears that I’ve fallen quite off the radar for way too long. Never fear, I have returned and am getting totes pumped for the Halloween ball this weekend. I’m pretty proud of my costume, and I’m sure everyone’s going to look absolutely amazing!
I’d planned on spending this weekend working on my course work and putting the finishing touches on my costume. However, after the Qudditch match (which, let me add in that both teams are amazing and have some wonderful players. Congrats Hufflepuff!), I started feeling quite dreadful and laid in my dorm for most of the rest of the weekend. After a quick trip to the nurse this morning, I’m feeling a bit better even if I’m still totes exhausted. Regardless, it’s a brand new week, and I’m determined to make the absolute best of it. So for tonight, I’m eating pumpkin cupcakes and hanging out in the common room with Galinda... if anyone would like to join me in my quest of being a lazy bum for the rest of the night.
Summary: Madison is having trouble sleeping since the Quibbler article dropped.
Nightmares were ruthless. Having the same nightmare almost every night for weeks was absolutely brutal. It was always some rendition of the same dream to pulled Madison out of a deep sleep into a cold sweat, ending her hopes of getting any type of rest for the remainder of the night.
The start was always the same, and the end was always the same. The beginning of the dream showed The Brotherhood of Evil infiltrating Hogwarts, showing no mercy to the innocent young witches and wizards that roamed the hallways. They’d expected it, and tried to prepare for the absolute worst. How do you prepare for a war, however? Causalities came quickly, and Madison was determined to protect and save the people that she loved. The order of people that she saw being cursed and killed changed at times. Sometimes, it started with Cassie. Or Becca. Maybe Tina or Dani. Sometimes it was whomever she’d talked to that night before bed.
Clearly shaken up, Madison sometimes stumbled upon Ryder. Ryder, striving to be an Auror, who was fighting for his life against one of the members of the Brotherhood. As Madison goes to draw her wand to help him, she watches as a curse hits him in the chest knocking him down immediately. His body is terrifyingly still as Madison lets out a scream that doesn’t seem to make a sound.
Next was usually Lorcan. Kind-hearted, intelligent, magical creature obsessed Lorcan with his bright eyes and handsome face, needing her assistance so badly. She fails again, and sobs as the light leaves his eyes. Following suit, of course, was Lysander. Lysander, with his ability to fluster her and make her laugh with his charming lines and handsome smile. He was Mason’s best friend, but he meant so much to Madison as well. His eyes met hers before he fell, hit by yet another curse. And then the last person was always the same. The last person was the one that she wanted so desperately to save, but never could.
Mason.
Watching the breath leave Mason was the most terrifying part of the dream every single time. Knowing that she couldn’t stop it… that she couldn’t protect the person that she loved most in the world? It made it hard for her to breath, and she always woke as she screamed to a dark room with sleeping roommates. She worked to get her breath as she glanced around, realizing it was just a dream.
Just a dream, again.
Wasn’t sleep supposed to be a safe place? A way to forget about everything scary and real for just a little while? Madison had never struggled with nightmares, but since the Quibbler article dropped, it was almost nightly. Insomnia seemed as if it was a safer choice than trying to sleep. So she would lie in her bed silently, listening to her roommates breathing deeply as she watched her clock change from minutes into hours, sleeping very little and talking about it even less. She didn’t want to worry anyone, and she was certain that it would eventually pass. Besides, she didn’t want anyone worrying over her, anyway. There was way too much going on for people to waste time worrying about her sleeping habits. She’d definitely learned something through all of this:
I’m totes excited about the Halloween ball. I’m already working on my costume even if I’m a little nervous about keeping a secret this big from Mason. Regardless, it’s the most wonderful time of the year! I also hope my wonderful roommates enjoy the decorations that I put up in our room. Have I mentioned that I love Halloween?!
I’m getting so excited about this trip to Hogsmeade!
I’m telling you, I can already smell Honeydukes and taste a steaming mug of Butterbeer. Plus, with everything that we’ve been dealing with lately, I think it’s a wonderful time to get a small break from the castle and have a little bit of fun.
