Breaking the shadows

Nightmares

1998

Monday June 15th

The past few days I've stayed at the Weasleys house, I have been sleeping in the same room as Hermione and Ginny, and every night I fall asleep I have the same nightmare; "I'm back in the forest, just casually walking with the others, Ginny screams, I drop my bag, and run after her, I hear Ashton's voice again, and I see his grinning face as he says: ""Now, you are coming with me, and I do to you what Ginny did the other day, and I promise you, you'll enjoy it."

I scream and I kick, all that I can, but he has tied me to the tree once again, I taste the bitterness of the poisen, and everything goes black. 

I wake up in the forest again, naked and sore, I'm sore everywhere, I feel the coldness of the hard ground, and I feel like I can't move. I get up and stumble around the forest for hours. At last Hermione finds me, and I'm back in my hammock, covered in mud and puke."

I wake up again, in the bed, drenched in cold sweat. I'm alone in the room. I get up, and take a quick shower before getting changed, I get downstairs, and sit down quietly at the table, Ginny lays her hand on my thigh and asks: "Bad dream?"

"The same" I mutter.

Ginny: "Try to eat, please?"

I take a piece of toast from the plate and nibble on it. I feel a knot in my stomach as I take a bite of the toast. I eat the rest of the toast and one more piece. 

It felt good to have some food in my stomach, but unfortunatly that didntt last long, it quickly developed to neausea. 

Breathless and fatigued, I raced up the stairs, my pounding heart matching the rhythm of my quickened steps. The moment I reached the bathroom, I dropped to my knees in front of the toilet, desperately seeking relief. The cold porcelain chilled my skin as I leaned over the bowl, gripping the edges tightly.

A sudden wave of nausea surged through me, intensifying with every passing second. My body convulsed, and a guttural moan escaped my lips as my stomach rebelled against me. The contents of my insides rose forcefully, and a torrent of vomit spilled from my lips, splashing into the water below.

Each heave sent a shockwave of pain through my body, my muscles contracting and releasing in an uncontrollable dance. The acrid taste filled my mouth, mixing with the bitter sting of exhaustion. My eyes clenched shut, tears streaming down my face as I endured this agonizing ordeal.

Time seemed to stand still as I emptied myself, feeling weak and drained with each expulsion. The sound of retching echoed off the bathroom walls, a cruel reminder of my body's revolt. I longed for the relief that would come once this nauseating ordeal subsided, hoping that the retching would soon fade.

As I rise from the toilet a dizziness overcame me and I grabbed out for anything to hold on to, but I missed, and I landed on the floor my head hitting the cabinet. 

--

Ginny found me some time later, she told me she had heard something fall which had made her curious. As I came to my senses Ginny kissed me on the forehead, she just held me and I said: "Thank you."

Ginny didnt say anything just held me tighter.

She helped me to standing and we sat on her bed as Hermione approached, she stood in the doorframe, her hair was a mess and cheeks as red as tomatoes, her smile faded as she saw me and asked: "What happened?"

I had closed my eyes now, didnt want to see anything.

Ginny: "She fainted again."

Hermione: "It's getting serious, has she eaten?"

Ginny: "Not really, it might be best if you get her home."

Hermione: "If I know her right, she didnt want to leave."

Ginny: "Are your parents still out of town?"

Hermione: "Yeah, they are coming home in August."

Ginny: "Then take Harlow home, and take care of her."

Hermione: "I can try to convince her, but she would want to stay."

Ginny: "I know."

Hermione: "But you're right."

Ginny: "I'll come visit around her birthday, maybe before."

Hermione: "Thanks."

Hemione is right, I dont want to leave Ginny, but knowing she will come to our house around my birthday, makes it all a little better, and it might be time for the Weasleys just to be themselves, Harry has been with them since may second. And then at Fred's funeral Lee Jordan and Oliver Wood had stayed for a few days. The Weasleys has been alone as we were on our camping trip, but both Ginny and Ron had been with us, so it might be time for the family grieving alone.  

-------------------------

Puplished: 03-07-23