Nightmare (Harry Potter)

1.1

The moment I processed my surroundings, all I could think was, no.  Not again.  Please, please not again.  I'd been here enough times to know I was having a nightmare and that none of this was really happening, but that knowledge made this horror no less terrifying, especially since I could never figure out how to force myself awake.

If I hadn't had this dream countless times before, I wouldn't have known what to expect at this point.  Right now all I was seeing was the living room of an average, everyday apartment.  The complete lack of light from anywhere other than a singular night light, as well as the analog clock on the cream-colored left wall, told me that it was just after one in the morning. 

Suddenly, the already too familiar explosion and blinding blue light made their grand entrance.  Wake up, I ordered myself firmly, despite knowing my self-directed plea was in vain.  Wake up, wake up, WAKE UP! But, as always, I was forced to remain there and hear the panicked footsteps-

-out of nowhere, an unprecedented and sourceless, yet very familiar voice broke through everything else. 

"No Snow, get down from there, don't wake her up!"  The voice scolded in a near whisper.

-the green light-oh God, the screams-

There were other footsteps now, and the voice was getting closer.  "Snow, seriously-wait, oh my god, Beth are you okay?"

-the second blast of green.  I'd never been so thankful for such a bright, blinding light, except for every other night I'd been here.  Because I knew the utter silence would be next, and somehow, that was the worst part of all. 

But the other voice was still there, more urgent now.  "Beth!  Beth, wake up!  Beth?  BETHANY!"

And then, instantaneously, a different light was blinding me, but I'd forever prefer the sunlight escaping through the crack between the curtains across from me.

Still, though, my natural reaction was to roll onto my back and rub at my eyes with slightly cold and clammy fists.  I wasn't surprised when they came back even damper with tears.

"Are you okay?"

Now wiping the few stray tears off my cheeks, I opened my eyes back up to see a concerned Kris standing over me, her cat Snow trapped in her arms. 

Sitting up gingerly, I replied somewhat hoarsely, "I am now, thanks for that.  I didn't wake you up, right?"

"No, it's almost noon.  Was it-"  Snow had been starting to get restless, as she often did when made to be still for much more than 30 seconds, and was now proceeding to squirm around wildly in my cousin's arms.

"Jesus Christ, fine," Kris exasperatedly managed to kneel down and release her beloved yet hyperactive feline onto the cream-colored carpet before she was inadvertently scratched.  "Calm your shit, you crazy cat," she couldn't resist adding, but she smiled and quickly stroked her fur before standing back up to talk to me.

"Was it...you know, the same dream?"

I didn't look at her, instead focusing my gaze on the white ball of fur who streaked into the corner to go playfully bother Midnight.

"Yeah," was all I answered, finally standing up and picking up the water bottle on my nightstand.

"But I thought you hadn't had that one in two years?"

"I hadn't," I confirmed as I unscrewed the cap and took a few gulps.  Neither of us said it, but I was sure we were both thinking the same thing: I hope this doesn't become a regular issue again.