And Should You Fall I Will Catch You (or fall trying): Beginnings

I Wish I Could Change the Past

Nico chapter it is I guess cause everyone voted for that

Nico had no idea what he was doing as he chased the fleeing girl through the halls of Hogwarts. It was instinct really to go after his friend even if he probably was the second to last person she wanted to see at the moment, only being beaten by Harry, but he can't just ignore it, ignore her. And when he says he can't he means he physically can't, not anymore.

Did she think he didn't notice. Of course he noticed he just.... just..... just doesn't have time for this. He has to find her first. 

Turning around  he spots Percy following right behind him who then turns to run in the other direction. A silent signal that he'll search somewhere else. A part of his brain not clouded by worry for his friend can't help but be the slightest bit relived, even no he still couldn't look Percy in the eyes. 

He stops in the middle of a random hallway walking to the side and leaning against the wall. He has to think. He knows Serina and he knows what type of places she goes to when she's upset he just has think where that would. Some place small quiet and outside most likely. A place where she can think and cry and just be by herself. A place like the forest in the backyard of her old home. 

Biting his lip he pushes himself off the wall and goes towards the main hall of Hogwarts. Quietly he opens the door and walks in the direction of the Forbidden Forest. He pushes past tree branches and weeds eyes darting around the expanse of the forest trying to find a place where she might be. In the distance he hears rustling and a small almost inaudible sniffle. Sighing he walks towards a large black tree. He walks around the tree spotting a rather large hollow in the trunk hidden behind fallen leaves and tall grass. 

"Serina I know your there I can hear you." The grass around the opening moves and Serina crept out from behind it. Dry tear marks run down her face and her eyes are bloodshot and snot still drips down her nose. Her posture is slumped and she looks overwhelmed and exhausted. Nico reaches a hand outwards towards her and it hovers in the air in front of her face before he lets it drop back to his side. His shoulders slump and he lowers his head. Blood trickles from the cut on his lip from where he's been biting and he slowly moves forward and stops again in front of her.

"I'm sorry" they both say together. Nico looks up at her in surprise startled at the unwarranted apology.  At his questioning glance Serina opens her mouth to elaborate. "I'm sorry I shouldn't have tried to keep this from you I just, you were, and I didn't I'm sorry. " She hiccups and holds back a loud cry as tears start to flow down her cheeks once more and hesitantly Nico wraps her in an awkward hug. She buries her face in his shoulder and Nico slightly grimaces at the snot that is most likely on his robes now. 

"Um I'm sorry too I should have said something when I noticed." This time its Serina's turn to look surprised she wipes her face titling her head slightly in confusion a habit she picked up from him when they were younger. Confusion clears from her eyes an she lets out a bark of laughter once again hiding her face in his shoulder. "So you noticed huh, I shoulda known I couldn't hide anything from you, not one little thing."Nico laughs too shaking his head in agreement "and I can't hide anything from you we are best friends after all, practically siblings." At this the two burst in to wild laughter letting each other go and almost falling on the ground. 

When they finally calm down they can hardly breathe and tears of mirth are falling from their eyes. Serina chuckles "practically siblings huh you are funny." Her breathing slows down and the smile slips from her face as she remembers why they were in the forbidden forest. Turning towards Nico she ask "The nightmares and hallucinations they've gotten worse for you too."Hesitantly Nico nods his head eyes slipping downwards to count the blades of grass and bugs on the floor of the forest latching on to the familiar sequence that runs through his head.