Between the Cracks // 𝓕𝓻𝓮𝓭 𝓦𝓮𝓪𝓼𝓵𝓮𝔂

52. All That Is Over

Chapter 52: All That Is Over

Hogwarts laid quiet and dark as the winter night roared outside the windows. Snow was thrown left and right against walls and trees, and the wind howled as it permeated the surrounding forests.

The inside of the castle was warmer, and definitely less windy, but chilly nonetheless. The quiet sound of two pairs of shoes against stone stairs was heard as they made their way up towards the Gryffindor tower. When the two moving forms had almost reached the painting of the Fat Lady, the first one abruptly stopped.

Ron looked over his shoulder at his sibling, both of them damp from the storm outside. None of them had managed to stay remotely dry, despite opting for their brooms as their chosen mode of transportation.

Fred looked back at his younger brother, gaze clouded with concern and uncertainty.

"In all honesty, I don't know too much," Ron started, scratching behind his ear and keeping his voice low to avoid waking The Fat Lady. "All I know is Hermione woke me up saying to come get you." He gestured towards the entrance to the common room. "Leigh's in there. Apparently it was quite bad..." his voice trailed off. "I didn't know she had those," he added quietly. "Nightmares. I had no idea."

Fred's gaze had been set on Ron in the beginning, but was now focused on the painting as he tried to envisage what laid beyond. He hummed absentmindedly at Ron's words.

"Anyway, she's in there," Ron spoke, turning towards the painting.

"Alright," Fred just mumbled, and Ron set out to wake The Lady and lead the two of them through the portrait.

The common room was as quiet as ever – only the faint crackling from the fire making itself known. Hermione welcomed them as they took a step inside.

"Hi," she immediately spoke up in a whisper once she laid her eyes on Fred. "Did anyone see you?" He shook his head, and she nodded at his answer before starting to explain the situation. "Nova woke me up. It was bad. Apparently worse than normal. I don't know. She wasn't... She couldn't seem to snap out of it," she whispered before directing her eyes toward the couch, where Leigh sat under a blanket, eyes staring into the fire in front of her. Hermione took a step closer to Fred, keeping her voice low as she spoke. "She told me about that time a few weeks ago. When she stayed over with you and George. I figured you'd know what to do."

Fred finally met Hermione's gaze, pushing a light smile upon his face and a faint hand upon her shoulder. "Thanks, 'Mione."

She nodded, giving a smile back before taking a last uncertain look towards the couch where Leigh remained seated. Nova had stood a bit further towards the dorms, and was nudged by Hermione before they both disappeared up towards the dorms, Ron following closely behind. The sound of doors being shut was heard, and Fred and Leigh were at last alone in the common room.

It was first now that he was able to fully look at her. Wrapped in a red blanket, face turned towards the fire in front of her. He waited another moment, silent, as he tried to find his words. After their last meeting in the corridor he wasn't sure what to say at all.

"I know you're there, you know," the tired voice of Leigh Conway spoke, still looking forwards as she acknowledged his presence. "I heard you whispering over there." Her gaze fell down onto her hands, where she still held an old letter clutched in her palm. "I'm...better," she spoke out in a breathy laugh, almost in disbelief, before turning to him with a crooked smile. "I told Hermione I'm alright but she wasn't too convinced."

Fred merely hummed on response, and Leigh returned her gaze to the item in her palms. She huffed almost unnoticeably, the corner of her lip lifting up in a faint grin, as if laughing at herself. "You can say it if you want."