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Josephine jerks awake, her breath hitching as she emerges from the clutches of a vivid nightmare. "For fucks sake," she mutters, rubbing her eyes in frustration.
Dreadful nightmares plague her, leaving her unsettled. She swallows hard, attempting to steady her racing heart before hastily changing into fresh clothes and slipping on a pair of boots, eager to escape the confines of her dorm room.
Navigating her way through the common room, she leaves then makes a beeline for the astronomy tower, her trembling hands betraying the exhaustion she feels. Sleep offers no respite, only serving a cycle of repetitive terrors.
Upon reaching the tower and ascending its stairs, she is startled to find Sirius there, a cigarette in hand, perched near the railing.
"Sirius?" she questions, squinting through her tired eyes to confirm his presence.
He turns, exhaling smoke languidly. "Josie," he greets, his voice tinged with tiredness.
Shutting the door behind her, she settles beside him, a semblance of comfort in his familiar presence.
"Are you alright?" he inquires, concern etched on his face.
"Fine. And you?" she responds, a trace of forced cheer in her voice.
"Fantastic," he retorts sarcastically.
A soft laugh escapes her lips as she grips the cold railing, her mind still grappling with the remnants of her nightmare.
Observing her, Sirius takes another drag from his cigarette before broaching the topic. "Nightmare?"
"Yeah," she acknowledges quietly.
He nods contemplatively. "Same for me," he replies, his brow furrowing in reflection before he clears his throat and inquires, "What about?"
She realizes she hasn't shared anything about her parents with either him or James. It isn't an obligation she feels compelled to fulfill.
Avoiding his gaze, she directs her attention to the view. "I found my real parents," she begins slowly. "They're dead though...so I have nightmares about them." Her fingers rhythmically tap against the railing.
A rare silence falls upon Sirius, a departure from his usual demeanor. "I'm sorry, Jo," he offers, his voice tinged with sympathy.
Without meeting his eyes, she responds, "It's okay, Sirius. It's not like you got them killed," although she holds herself accountable for their fate.
"Got them killed?" Sirius's raised eyebrow prompts her realization of misspeaking.
Struggling to fabricate an explanation, her mind races. "They had some sort of sickness ," she lies hastily, veiling the true circumstances she hasn't disclosed to anyone.
Seemingly too fatigued to pursue the matter, Sirius remains silent, accepting her words without further inquiry.
"James misses you," he whispers, evoking an uneasy sensation in her throat.
