The Peak Of My Existence [T.N]

DREAMS

The same dream, again and again. It happened continuously over summer. Each night, the skull face would consume her and Vulpecula would start awake crying, covered in a layer of sweat.

The room was dark, a slither of moonlight shone in through a gap in the long, black curtains. She sat up and rested her head in her hands. The old house had a constant draft of cold air. Goosebumps prickled at Vulpecula's exposed skin on her arms and neck. She took a deep breath and raised her head. The sound of Kobra's soft purring from the corner of the room made her smile slightly, but not for long.

Due to the darkness of her bedroom, she couldn't see much but what was available to her sight, she watched. The discarded pieces of parchment on her desk had a slip of light on them, the corners of the pieces moved softly in the late-summer night's breeze that came in through her slightly ajar window.

On her bedside table sat the potion bottle in which held a magical replica of the moon and stars, the one Blaise had gifted her on her fourteenth birthday, next to it sat a half empty glass of water and the black lamp.

She brought her gaze to her hands which she held in her crossed lap. She began to twist the rings that decorated her fingers, her hand lingered on the one from the anonymous sender.

A sudden sound at the window made Vulpecula jump slightly, she got out of the bed and rounded it, cautiously walking to the widow. Slowly pulling the velvet curtain to the side, more white moonlight looked into the room along with a warmer orange light from the street lamp, illuminating her tired face. Perched on the thin outer windowsill was a large crow, she sighed in relief before letting the curtain fall back into place.

The room was restricted of light once again. Vulpecula turned away from the window and made her way back over to the large bed, her feet begging her to get off of the cold floor. Once she reached the bed she fell back onto it and pulled the black covers over her, encasing herself and letting her body sink down into the mattress.

Her tired eyes fell closed again and she drifted off, her mouth became slack and breathing grew soft and airy.

The morning came quickly and the slither of light that was cast by the moon became cast by sunlight. Vulpecula woke easily with the slither of sun shining on her face, she rose from her bed and walked slowly to her door, rubbing her eyes.

When she descended the flight of stairs, she heard multiple muffled voices that emitted from behind the closed kitchen door. Curiosity overran her and she pushed open the door. Instead of finding her father and uncle like she usually did, she was met with a multitude of faces; some new, some old.

Vulpecula stood bare foot in the doorway, hair unbrushed, her large Gryffindor t-shirt that had belonged to her father stopped mid-thigh and green shorts poked out from underneath. Her eyes widened as they scanned the room of faces staring back at her.

She noticed Hermione and the Weasleys immediately giving them a large smile which they kindly returned. As her eyes moved on she saw a few unfamiliar faces, she noticed a woman with bright purple hair and a tall dark-complexioned man dressed in long purple robes and a circular hat sat at the long table. What caught her attention and led to immense surprise was Mad-Eye Moody. Her eyes widened and she froze, remembering the night of the final task when he'd used the Cruciatus Curse on her.

Only this was the actual Moody, the one who was her professor last year was Barry Crouch jr. impersonating Mad-Eye Moody, she'd been informed the very next day of the situation. She knew that this Alistor wouldn't hurt her, he'd proven that when she met him officially earlier in the summer when he came to visit, yet every time she saw his face she couldn't help but be briefly reminded of the unimaginable pain.