stages of denial

ch 1

smoke smothered the graves, suffocating the concrete. dark figures danced in celebration, laughter booming from their circle. in the middle lies a limp body, bloody and bruised. his name, harry potter.

her body wrestled with itself tirelessly, sweat coating every part of her body. her nails dug in and out of her skin repeatedly, trying to pull herself out.

"isabel, my love, wake up." her mother's calm voice whispered, a pinch of panic coursing through her veins as the girl tossed and turned.

blood began to be drawn from her constant scratching as her mother tried helplessly to wake her up.

"It's just a dream, come back to me baby." her mother cooed, gently pressing her lips against her dripping forehead.

"HARRY!" isabel's scream rang, piercing anyone's ears in miles radius. her body fell limp against the bed, sending her back into deep sleep.

—

"she's just a girl John." her mother whispered harshly, clenching her teeth.

"a girl that can do things unexplainable to anyone." her father spat back, not caring to lower his voice.

"dumbledore would be able to explain it." the father spoke again, sitting down in the nearest chair.

"we are not sending my fifteen year old daughter into a place we've never even seen, a place only talked about by your mudblood crazy friends." the mothers eyes shot up, shooting dangerous glares in his direction.

"well 'your' fifteen year old daughter, shouldn't have to go through seeing a boys death every time she simply wants to sleep Meredith." they both looked at each other, completely and utterly exhausted.

—

isabel's eyes opened slowly, small grunts leaving her lips as she brought herself to sit up.

her look fell to her arms, scabbed and bruised harshly by her own doing. slowly she let her body fall back into her bed, locking eyes with the ceiling and letting her mind wander.

harry potter

the name stuck with her every moment of everyday from the result of her witnessing his death countless times in her sleep.

many nights she stayed up, typing his name in her computer and to her disappointment, getting no results to pop up.

"isabel?" her mothers head peaked through her door, smiling softly when she saw she was finally awake.

"morning." isabels voice was cold yet subtle, her eyes fell on her mother's figure, observing how perfectly her blonde hair fell to her waist.

"how are you feeling, do you need new patches?" meredith took a spot at the edge of her bed.

"no, it's okay, but the dreams are getting worse." isabel's body language changed uncomfortably as many thoughts began to roam her head.

"i know, i know baby." her mother's eyes began to swell up, her hands finding her daughters.

"when is it going to stop?" isabel's voice sounded desperate and in pain.

the dreams had started up two years ago, every time isabel closed her eyes, harry potter laid limp on the ground. a disturbing imagine.

it happened before then too, when she was just a girl, she had terrible nightmares of her own grandmother facing a terrible death, however, after her grandma passed a year later, the dreams stopped.

"well, we think we know someone that may be able to help you." merediths voice fell hushed.

Meredith has done her best to always find a way to cope with Isabel's dreams besides sending her off to a place her husband mentioned frequently .  but seeing her daughter in pain as the dreams grew stronger and more real, left her with only that choice.

"who is it." Isabel spoke softly, desperate for any help she could get.

merediths eyes fell to her hands, tears now pouring down her cheeks.

"mom, who is it?" isabel reached for her mother's hand, grasping it gently.

"you're special, isabel, you have to understand that."
meredith spoke softly.

"what do you mean?" isabel's head titled, intrigued, but worried.

"there are others that have unique occurrences, like you, people that can help you understand more than I or your father can."

"you mean people have dreams like i do?" isabel's eyes met her mothers as meredith shook her head.

"not necessarily, but they have their own special thing about them, own special, talent you might say." meredith dreaded what she had to say next

"but this place, it's away from home, but you get holidays, to come see us, to visit." her mother sniffled.

"you're sending me away?" isabel felt as if her parents had lost hope in her.

"no love, we are sending you to a place we think can help, it's very warm and welcoming, it's like a school, i wouldn't send you there if i didn't think you'd be treated well." merediths hands tangled themselves in her lap.

"will it make the dreams stop?" isabel pushed away the hurt that had settled with her as she was eager to get any help she could.

"something like that, if not stop, then decrease." her mothers hand gently fell on the side of her face, her thumb trembling over isabel's cheek.

"i'll go, i want it to stop." isabel buried her head further into her mothers hand, both of them closing their eyes and reminiscing in that moment.

—

"i'm so proud of you." Johns arms stayed wrapped tightly around his daughter, embracing what would be their last hug for a spread of time.

"we both are." meredith chimed in with a sad smile forced on her lips, not wanting to let her daughter go.

"i love you both, i'll see you soon." isabel smiled softly at the both of them before turning on her heels.