Forbidden Request

Chapter Sixteen: Mysteries And Mischief

As Poppy and Eleanor helped me into the common room, the warmth and light from the fireplace were a stark contrast to the chilly night outside. My face was still sore, and my clothes were a mess, but the sight of the familiar surroundings offered some comfort.

Poppy immediately went to get a first aid kit, her movements quick and practiced. She started tending to my cuts and bruises with a gentle, focused touch. Eleanor hovered nearby, her concern evident but her words restrained.

"Merlin, Jude, what happened?" Eleanor asked again, her voice filled with genuine worry.

I winced as Poppy cleaned the particularly painful cut on my cheek. "It's nothing to worry about. Just had a rough day. I'll be fine," I replied, trying to keep my tone light despite the pain.

Poppy finished up with the first aid kit and gave me a reassuring smile. "You should get some rest. You look exhausted."

I nodded, feeling a wave of relief that my friends were there for me. "Thanks, Poppy. And Eleanor, thanks for coming along. I can't explain everything right now, but I'll tell you both soon."

Eleanor gave a small, understanding nod. "Alright, Jude. Just make sure you take care of yourself."

With that, Eleanor headed back to the Gryffindor common room, leaving Poppy and me alone. I sank into a comfortable chair by the fire, letting the warmth soothe my aches and bruises.

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Around 20 minutes later, Poppy headed to bed, leaving me in the quiet of the common room. I made my way to the dormitory. The shower was a sanctuary, its warm water a soothing balm for my tired muscles and the remnants of the day's battles. I scrubbed away the blood and dirt, the steam clouding around me as I tried to relax and clear my mind.

The water cascaded over me, washing away the grime and the physical evidence of my ordeal. The cut on my face stung slightly but was already starting to heal. I closed my eyes, letting the warmth envelop me and wishing I could also rinse away the weight of the secrets I was keeping.

Finally, I emerged from the shower, feeling somewhat refreshed despite the exhaustion that lingered. I pulled on clean, comfortable pajamas and wrapped myself in a soft robe.

As I looked in the mirror, I could see that the bruises were beginning to show, but they were nothing that wouldn't heal in time.

I climbed into bed, the soft sheets feeling cool against my skin. As I pulled the blankets up around me, I glanced at the moonlight filtering through the curtains, and a deep weariness settled in. My thoughts, still swirling with fragments of the day's events, began to blur into the soft embrace of sleep.

As I drifted off to sleep, exhaustion overwhelmed me, and my dreams became a surreal landscape of shadows and fog.

I found that I was a younger version of myself, back in the time before my mother vanished.

The forest around me was dense and misty, and I was wandering through it with a mix of confusion and determination.

The trees loomed tall and silent, their branches twisting and reaching as if trying to entangle me. My small hands brushed against the damp foliage as I moved forward, my heart pounding with an unspoken fear. The mist was thick, almost suffocating, and I could barely see beyond a few steps.

Suddenly, a figure emerged from the fog, their form hazy and indistinct. I knew instinctively that this figure was important, but their face remained just out of focus. They seemed to be calling to me, but their voice was muffled and distorted by the fog.