𝖈𝖆𝖕𝖗𝖎𝖈𝖎𝖔𝖚𝖘

chapter twelve

Elizabeth spent her night in the boys dorms, she and Dean had exited their alcove as dark had begun to envelope the castle, making their way back towards gryffindor tower just before curfew.

As they made their way into the common room, past the fat lady's portrait, they were met with the sight of Fred sunk into one of the red sofas situated around the room, in front of the fire, with a pile of foods in a basket beside him.

Lizzie walked further into the room, alerting the boy to their presence as he jolted up abruptly and rushed over to her, scooping her into a hug.

"Merlin are you okay?" he asked, seemingly frantic, "Ron said something about an incident in defence and that you haven't been seen since and I just, I worried." he confessed.

"I'm okay," she smiled, "I just wasn't expecting boggarts, gave me a shock that's all, so me and Dean spent the day away from everyone."

"I brought you some food," he said as he nodded at her reasoning, "have you eaten today? I didn't see either of you at lunch or dinner."

"Oh no," Lizzie gasped, turning to Dean with a frown, "I totally forgot, why didn't you say something? Aren't you starving?"

"I'm a little hungry," he shrugged, "nothing I can't handle Ellie, you're more important."

"I'm so sorry!" she cried, looking on the verge of tears again, "I was so bloody caught up in my own shit I forgot about you and food!"

"Ellie," he soothed, "it's alright, I promise, you needed me I get it, it's been years since you've had to think about..."

"I know," she mumbled, "it's just so soon, I mean it was ages ago, I should get over it but, it's so hard to forget it sometimes."

"Don't do that," Dean frowned, "you're allowed to feel sad and scared, okay? It's perfectly normal that it still effects you."

"Okay."

Dean brushed past her, grabbing some food from the basket Fred had collected, grabbing himself some cake and a sandwich, secretly starving as he struggled to eat slowly.

"I think I'm gunna go to bed." Lizzie sighed, still looking upset as she glanced towards the dorms.

"Do you want to sleep in my dorm?" Fred asked.

"You sure?"

"Of course," he grinned, "Dean can take the food basket up to his dorm and you can come sleep in mine, we can make a pillow wall again."

Elizabeth had slept in the boy's dorms several times, either with Dean, Fred, or Harry, seeking comfort in those closest to her in the form of company, she was petrified of losing those close to her, and occasionally, when she was enveloped in states that rendered her anxious and slightly unstable, she needed to have someone she loved by her side, proof she had people in her corner, and assurance she wasn't going to lose them. And she often slept beside Harry, the boy loving it as much as she did for very similar reasons.

So, she followed Fred up to his dorm, borrowing his quidditch jumper and joggers as pajamas, crawling underneath the covers alongside the boy, they had opted to skip the pillow wall between them, Fred knew Lizzie wanted someone to hold onto whilst she slept, though he wasn't sure what had upset her so much, he was aware of what she was feeling, and it was likely she would be consumed by nightmares as she slept, so he held her close to him as the world faded from her and she was enveloped by sleep, ready to coax her back to sleep if she was woken by nightmares.

When they clambered into bed, Lizzie lay against Fred's chest, both of them enveloped by the warming weight of the duvet, as Fred ran his fingers up and down her back.