Frigus . Sirius Black (Mortem BOOK 2)

chapter twenty-six

May 30th, 1979 - Order Safe House 

The meeting had been long, and for once, incredibly boring. The Death Eaters Nephera, James, Remus, and Peter had captured were low-level, as the brunette had suspected, and didn't know enough information to be able to help them in some significant way. Moody had taken the two of them in the Ministry, detaining them officially in the eyes of the law, a small victory all in all, not really the break any of them were waiting for. 

No, what they were waiting for was for Fabian, Gideon, and Benjy to finish their own ambush. Apparently, Dumbledore had caught wind of one of Voldemort's recruiting missions, where he'd sent Death Eaters to kill innocent families as a way for them to earn the Mark and be named officially his supporters. 

Nephera had wanted to go on the mission as well, but given how many she had gone on the past two months, after Sirius's broke up with her, the old wizard wouldn't hear it. Now typically, the girl wouldn't have even given Dumbledore a second thought, she'd have gone anyways, but the lack of sleep was finally getting to her, and she found herself lacking the energy to do many things. 

So, currently, her and the rest of the Order were waiting in the safe house for the three wizards to return. She was seated in the kitchen of the old home, well out of view from everyone involved when her eyes involuntarily closed and she fell asleep. 

It didn't take long for the nightmares to creep up to her, it was always the same people that visited her in her in dreams, but never the same scene. Ellie, Tony, Bellatrix, the Marauders, Voldemort and the rest of her friends, either dying because of her or torturing her. 

It was then that Dorcas came into the room searching for a drink of water, when she saw Nephera' having fallen asleep on the table next to her coffee. The witch smiled sadly, she had never been very close to Nephera, few people were, but she was still worried. Dorcas had always been the quiet and observing type, quite the opposite from her girlfriend Marlene, and she could tell that Nephera wasn't getting enough sleep lately. 

So, she decided against waking her up, until she saw the silent tears making their way down her face, that is. If there was something that would completely and utterly push Nephera off the edge, it would be her having a nightmare in a house full of people that could hear her. Nudging the witch gently on her shoulder, Dorcas was all of a sudden found petrified against the floor, with her hands having snapped to her sides, and Nephera looking at her, heaving in breath. 

Once the brunette realised it wasn't Bellatrix that had awakened her, she scowled and took off the spell, slumping against the chair, "Haven't you ever been told not to wake a sleeping witch, Meadowes?" 

The other witch didn't reply, simply letting a sad smile grace her face. She couldn't help but think that, as amazing as it was how smart Nephera was, and how aware of her surroundings, even in her sleep, she hadn't always been that way. No, life had forced her to be that way through a series of tests, "Figured you wouldn't want anyone hearing you had a nightmare," she said calmly 

Now, that was a huge gamble to take with Nephera. Dorcas knew the other with wouldn't react well to her knowing about her issues with sleep, but she figured that ignoring the issue wouldn't help either. 

It was then that Nephera registered the tears running down her face, and she hastily brought a hand up and wiped them away, "You speak to no one about this," she stated gravely, a threat evident in her voice 

Dorcas seemed unbothered as she filled a glass up with water, "Wasn't going to," she shrugged, "As long as you go back out there and actually hold a conversation with the boys. If you don't want to talk to Sirius that's fine, but at least talk to the other three. They miss you and they're worried,"