malaise | harry james potter

prologue

A particularly blood-curdling scream from the floor below sets April off again, and a wave of protectiveness has Rosalina leaning forward and placing her hands over her younger sister's ears as she cries.

It's late, too late for April to be awake, but she came into Rosalina's room when the screaming started. Two months ago, the Dark Lord returned, and nothing's been the same since. April, only eleven years old, is decidedly too young to know any of this yet, so she's understandably confused; Rosalina hums what she hopes to be a soothing tune as sobs tear from her younger sister's body.

"What is going on," April whimpers, hyperventilating slightly, "why are people screaming?"

Rosalina can only shush the younger girl as the screaming comes to a sudden stop and a harsh thump sounds in its wake. They're dead, she knows; their suffering has come to an end, but it's a mortifying thought for a child, so she doesn't voice this.

April seems to calm slightly, slotting into her older sister's arms and moaning softly.

"It's okay," Rosalina whispers, taking her hands off of her sister's ears and instead carding them through her wet and tangled hair, "you're alright."

The screaming starts again. April heaves as her body is assaulted by terror, another set of fresh tears cascading down her flushed cheeks. Rosalina snaps her hands to her younger sister's ears once more.

"Where's Benji," she's saying, "is he down there?"

Benji is down there, but Rosalina imagines he's safe- as safe as he can be, at least. He's never served the Dark Lord before, so there'll be nothing to be punished for. Rosalina doesn't care all that much either way- they've never gotten on- but he and April do, so she cares on her behalf. She always has.

"Benji's alright, okay?" the older girl says. "We're all alright."

"What if he's hurt?" April whines.

"He isn't," Rosalina whispers. "I promise you, he isn't."

"When will this end, Ros?" April cries. "I want it to end."

"I know," Rosalina replies, pressing a kiss to her younger sister's hair, "I know."

The screaming stops for good half an hour later. Rosalina knows that this won't happen again, at least until they go to Hogwarts- the meetings switch houses every time- but she can't explain this, so April will still be scared in case it does.

All she can do is wait until her sister falls asleep, breaths even and eyes closed, so that she can follow.

April sleeps in Rosalina's bed every night from then on until the first of September.