harry potter fate be changed - Althea potter X Caleb lupin-black

chapter 9- the nightmares that haunt me

Caleb's p.o.v

It has been almost a year since Jason was sentenced to life in Azkaban and over a year since the incident yet I can't seem to get the nightmares that haunt me out of my head at all no matter how many potions madam pomfrey give me they keep coming back each one more worse than the last but it's only been coming back to me the past couple months , it doesn't help that I'm to scared to tell anyone or let anyone see that deep down I'm petrified of what could happen, what if Jason escaped and goes after me?, what if I can't defend myself like last time?, Those are the two main questions that spin round my head everyday.

I was sat in defence against the dark arts thinking about the events that has happened to me a shiver goes down my spine as i let out a tired whimper, I had not slept properly since the one year ago day of the incident two months ago and didn't tend to either, large purple bags were under my eyes from the lack of sleep and to be honest I really wanted to give in just sleep the days away but I knew if I even dozed off for a few moments that the nightmares would come flooding in, I sighs rubbing my eyes fighting to stay awake but I could slowly feel myself slip into a deep sleep falling off my chair onto the cold stone floor as I slept.

As soon as I was in a deep enough sleep the nightmares began I tried waking up to get out of this horrific nightmares but it was like I was stuck there with no way out, it was as if I was trapped in my own mind caged into my own nightmares, they felt so real yet I knew they were just in my head, cold sweat trickled down my body as I fought the nightmares trying to escape but couldn't this carries on to the point I can't hear what's going on outside the nightmares.

Althea's p.o.v

I was sat in the defence against the dark arts class sat next to Caleb as I listened to professor Lilith blabber about the patronus charm as if it was a new subject even though she was only recapping it and yet I wasn't really listening much I was too busy worrying about Caleb ever since the one year anniversary of the court date he has been very distant and always seemed to be tired I glance over at him to see his eyes were drooping from lack of sleep I sigh as I saw the purple bags under his eyes, it was as if he was scared to fall asleep but he wouldn't tell me or anyone why I have tried my best to be there for him but he wouldn't have any of it and would cower away.

I look back at professor Lilith who is writing on the chalk board I huff and write down what she put on the board, I was halfway through writing it when I heard a loud thud that made me jump, I looked at Caleb but could t see him I frown leaning over I see him laid on the floor fast asleep, I tilt my head slightly, "Mr lupin-black wake up this instant" professor Lilith says but Caleb doesn't budge instead he breaks up in cold sweat and whimpers.

I go over to him gently shaking him "Caleb wake up its me thea" I say looking at him worriedly but he doesn't budge one bit, I shake him harder but he doesn't wake up "come on Caleb stop playing games and wake up" I say but again he doesn't budge, I look at professor Lilith who has sent a patronus to madam pomfrey, five minutes later madam pomfrey, two nurses and professor McGonagall come rushing in, they put Caleb on a stretcher and carry him away.

I go to follow only to get stopped by professor Lilith "and where are you going miss potter", I look at Caleb then at her "sit down you can see Mr lupin-black when class is over" I go to argue but close my mouth with a sigh I sit down and zone out not paying attention to the lesson I fiddle with my pen watching the clock wishing it would hurry up, half an hour goes by before the bell rings I grab mine and Caleb's belongings before rushing to
The hospital wing I look around frantically but couldn't see him "if your looking for Caleb they took him to st mungos" says a voice I look over and see Isla by a bed I walk over "you just missed him they took him five minutes ago said he needed further testing and treatment to see what's wrong with him" Isla says quietly.

A look of panic and worry appears on my face "can i go see him" I ask, Isla shrugs "I don't know I got told to stay here so I'm guessing not", I sigh walking out and going straight to professor McGonagall's office I knock on the door, "come in" I hear her say, I walk in "professor McGonagall I need to go to Caleb immediately please he needs me" I blurt out quickly, "I'm sorry miss potter but you can't leave the school premises" she says, tears fall down my cheek as I panic even more "please professor I'll do anything I'll even do extra work just please let me see Caleb" I say desperately, "you love Mr lupin-black don't you?" She asks looking at me skeptically, I sigh looking down I nod, McGonagall nods "very well you can go through my fireplace" she says, I slowly stop panicking "thank you professor I swear I'll make it up to you" I say before rushing to the fireplace grabbing some floo powder "st mungos hospital" I say clearly throwing the powder as emerald green flames consume me transfering me to the hospital.

I rush to the front desk "I'm here to see Caleb lupin-black please I'm his girlfriend" I lied, the nurse at the desk looks at me "I'm sorry dear but your gonna have to wait a little while he's having some tests done at the moment but you can wait in the waiting room if you want he shan't be too long" she replies, I sigh and walk to the waiting room sitting down I pull a book out of my bag and begin to read I must of dozed of because I soon felt someone tap me on the shoulder.

I wake up to see Remus and Sirius hovering over me, I stand up and hug them both they hug back, "what you doing here I thought you weren't allowed out the school premises" Remus asks, "I had to bribe McGonagall to let me go by saying I'd do extra work", Remus nods "have you heard anything about what's wrong with Caleb" he asks, I shake my head and sigh.

A few moments later a male nurse walks over "are you relatives of Mr lupin-black?" he asks, the three of us look up and nods "what's wrong with my son?" Remus asks clutching Sirius hand, "he has slipped into what we call a sleeping nightmare coma it's where the body is too exhausted from lack of sleep but Caleb's mind and thoughts are preventing him from sleeping and we reckon it's because he is having nightmares has there been a recent or traumatic event that has happened?", The three of us look at each other knowingly then back at the nurse (trigger warning) "almost a year ago today Caleb's ex was sentenced to life in Azkaban for abuse and using unforgivable curses, Caleb used to be abused by his ex which caused him to be diagnosed with PTSD, ever since the court trial he's been very distant and would flinch whenever someone spoke to him or tried touching him maybe he's having nightmares about the past" Sirius says.

The nurse nods writing it down "well according to his medical file from madam pomfrey he was having constant nightmares and would come to her complaining about how tired he was so madam pomfrey gave him some potions to help him but turns out they didn't work at all, he also had therapy with madam pomfrey and she had written down that according to Caleb his nightmares are like as if he is trapped in his own mind and he can't escape which means we will have to keep him here and monitor him" he says.

I look down tears falling down my face this whole time Caleb was suffering with sleepless nights and nightmares why didn't I notice it all sooner I could have helped him I felt an arm wrap round me and look up to see Sirius "don't doubt yourself love he was too scared to tell anyone in the first place so how would you of known now come on let's go see him" he says soothingly I nod and walk into the room Caleb was staying, Caleb was laid on the bed connected to a heart monitor I watch as his heartbeat would drop then spike up dramatically I sigh letting a few tears fall I walk over to his bed sitting in a chair I look at him watching his chest go up and down quickly sweat dripping down his body, I gently grab his hand in mine when the monitor beeps loudly I jump letting go of his hand looking at the monitor his heartbeat had spiked up I frown and take his hand again watching the monitor as his heartbeat went back to normal.

Was my touch really calming him down I think to myself this made me blush a bit as I look back over at him watching him sleep I move a piece of hair from his face gently laying a hand on his cheek stroking his jawline I sigh watching his facial expression relax a bit I smile leaning over and gently kissing his lips his heartbeat spikes up a bit before going back to normal I giggle and lay my head on his bed I yawn and allow my tiredness to consume me.