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Post by Stevie Copeland on Feb 5, 2008 17:29:27 GMT -5
Everything was silent after except the idle chatter of students, trying to get their minds off of the attack, and people silently crying to themselves. Stevie was different. He was on his side, on the couch, staring into the fire. He spoke to nobody, and didn't even take bribes in the form of various desserts, loaded with sugar.
He still blamed himself. He didn't even want to be in the common room. With Lilianne. As far as he thought, he was the reason for Isabelle getting hurt. He was the reason she might die. And Stevie only turned his back on her and left. He felt so stupid. Why didn't he just say things to the others? He silently watched the fire crackle...
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Post by Lilianne Wesker on Feb 5, 2008 20:26:22 GMT -5
[ooc: Not that don't want to reply right now, but I'm thinking that Lilianne probably won't make it back to the common room on that night. Not unless someone drags her out of the hospital wing by force. ]
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Post by Stevie Copeland on Feb 5, 2008 20:28:50 GMT -5
(OOC: That's fine. If you want to start up a thread any time, go ahead and do so. >> [note: This one stays open! >>]
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Post by Nicholas Gawain Lannsman on Feb 6, 2008 11:28:49 GMT -5
The common room is a hubbub of activity. The younger students clustering around the fire, crying or in shock, absolutely terrified about the nights events. Several of the older students are in the back, either arguing about going back out there to help, or looking up on injured friends and family. Through it all, Nicole Wood kept a level head, trying to calm down many of the upset and angry students.
With her were two young children; the Lannsman children, both Vincent and Isabelle. They held onto her legs for dear life, whimpering for their parents.
Fred Weasley came back down from his room along with some of his family members and began to play around with obviously contraband gag toys from their family business. Some children were actually rather eager to be distracted with many of the interesting gizmos, gadgets and trinkets; even the Prefects didn't care they were contraband.
Gavin Woodward was furiously worried. Nicole soon came to him, trying to reassure him that a particular Mary Prewett would be alright.
Soon enough, from the main door came a silvery white huge horse Patronus, causing many people so jump in alarm with the apparition of the creature. It spoke with a calm and reassuring tone, similar to Nicholas.
"Nicholas is on his way. You're to remain there until further notice. If any of you have any word on his children, you should tell me so I can inform Nicholas as soon as possible."
Nicole spoke out to the Patronus. "Both Vincent and Isabelle are here in the Common Room with Nicole Wood. We'll wait for him to arrive." she said quickly.
With a nod of its shaggy head, the huge horse turned and galloped off through the wall.
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Post by Stevie Copeland on Feb 6, 2008 15:28:06 GMT -5
Stevie did not jump when the horse came in. Stevie did not pay attention to any of the students ramblings, or the gags which Stevie would have loved to use under normal circumstances. But these were not normal circumstances. As far as he was concerned, He should not be here now.
He should be in the hospital wing, close to death. He should've thrown the... Whatever it was. He should've ran from it. He should've not hesitated one bit. And worse of all, he should not have turned his back on Lilianne, his one true friend in Gryffindor. He made it a promise to himself to apologize as much as he can, but that would be at a later time. He didn't feel like doing anything at all.
Watching the fire crackle on, he thought about playing some music. Maybe just to lighten the mood. He then realized something.
He wasn't even in the mood for playing his guitar.
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Post by Lilianne Wesker on Feb 6, 2008 18:42:01 GMT -5
Stevie could feel a tiny little wet thing poking his forehead.
Dinsdale the hedgehog was standing on the arm of the couch, looking at him inquisitivelly. He looked worried and confused.
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Post by Stevie Copeland on Feb 6, 2008 19:51:15 GMT -5
Stevie didn't notice Dinsdale poking at him at first, but it was just that Stevie didn't really care much. Taking the small creature from the couch and setting him on the ground, gently, he continued to stare at the fire, sighing mentally.
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Post by Nicholas Gawain Lannsman on Feb 9, 2008 14:41:07 GMT -5
The painting creaked open almost a half hour later, Lilianne Wesker appearing first, a large black cloaked figure coming in behind her. The painting closed and the large figure chuckled slightly.
"I swear, right through my pants and seared my rear. I couldn't sit still for a a good couple of days. That's what I call a pain in the butt."
Finally, the figure straightened when he reached the doorway. It was Nicholas. His traditional humble garb had been replaced, the jingling of metal sounding from beneath his thick black cloak wrapped around his shoulders. He flicked aside a part of it, revealing his silver longsword at his side, a leather pouch on his belt, as well as thick leather gauntlets, a heavy black combat vest with leather wrapped handled rods strapped across his chest. His black combat boots clomped on the floor as he strode forward.
Many of the students stood in open shock at his appearance. His children payed no attention to such sentiment and broke free of Miss Woods protective care and right towards him. His calm features quickly twisted into unspeakable joy as he knelt and wrapped his arms around them both, hugging them tightly. He kissed the tops of their heads as he held them close, tears forming in his eyes as he simply kept them close to his body. Both wept into his shoulders.
"Daddy!"
"Daddy, the monsters! They didn't hurt you did they?"
"Where's mommy, daddy?"
His throat constricted painfully at the mentioning of his injured wife. He looked to them with a bleary eyes. "It'll be alright. Daddy is fine, mommy is just taking a nap downstairs. Remember when daddy was really sick a little while back at work in London? Mommy is sick too, but not as sick as daddy was. She'll be fine but she needs her rest. I'm going to bring you downstairs and then, tomorrow, you're going to your grandparent's for a bit."
They nodded.
Nicholas looked back to Lilianne. "Would you like to stay here, or go back downstairs?" he asked, his voice somewhat coarse.
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Post by Stevie Copeland on Feb 9, 2008 16:52:38 GMT -5
Stevie didn't pay any attention to his Head of House. If anything, he would have tried to shrink into the couch more, but he didn't. He was just not in the mood to do anything whatsoever. He could tell Lilianne was here. Why wouldn't she be with Nicholas? And she would, guaranteed, talk to Stevie. He needed to think of something quickly, but he couldn't...
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Post by Lilianne Wesker on Feb 9, 2008 22:29:36 GMT -5
Lilianne stepped aside as Nicholas' children ran to him. A group of students gathered around her, flooding her with questions about her and her sister's well being.
"I'm okay...", she muttered simply as she moved away from the group and straight for Stevie's couch.
She picked up Dinsdale, who had remained near Stevie, not knowing who else to go to as he was wondering where his owner was. The hedgehog let out a worried squeak as she raised him to her face and burried her nose in his soft neck.
She glanced at Stevie for a bit over Dinsdale's back, but didn't say a word.
When Professor Lannsman adressed her again, she walked back slowly to him.
"Downstairs?"
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Post by Nicholas Gawain Lannsman on Feb 10, 2008 9:24:08 GMT -5
Nicholas seemed to be weighing something rather heavy in his mind. He made no attempt to disguise his face as he struggled with his decision. His children held him a little harder and he kissed Isabelle on the top of her head again.
"Yes. Downstairs. Back in the Hospital Wing..." Nicholas said, his voice a little hoarse. He gave her a pained yet understanding gaze. "I'm going back down there to stay with Althea. I'd be a hypocrite to say that you need to stay here. It's foolish to sit beside your loved one while blaming yourself, but only if you're alone."
Nicholas ran his hands through his children's hair before looking again to Lilianne. "We could keep each other company. All four of us. Five, once I get Edward."
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Post by Lilianne Wesker on Feb 10, 2008 10:02:37 GMT -5
Lilianne went wide eyed at Nicholas' proposition. She hadn't expected him to change his mind, and had been wondering how she'd manage to endure until she could go back.
"Of course I want to go back, Sir." she said in her tired voice. "If you'll only give me a few minutes to get a few things and..."
She glanced behind her as she spoke, and saw the entire common room staring at Nicholas, waiting and whispering to each other.
Well I suppose you won't be leaving right away, anyway...
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Post by Nicholas Gawain Lannsman on Feb 10, 2008 10:16:22 GMT -5
He reached over and placed a hand gently on her shoulder. "No, no we won't be leaving just yet. I'll talk to some of the Prefects and students here to make sure they're alright. Take your time, gather your things, talk to your friends a bit to reassure them. I'll tell you when I'm ready to leave." he said, giving her reassuring smile. "Go. I'm sure you're friends are just as worried about you as you are about your sister."
The Gryffindor Head of House looked to the gathering throng of students and stood up, hoisting his daughter up like she weighed nothing and holding Vincent's hand.
"Now, I'm sure you all have questions and have your own worries about friends, family, professors and about those creatures." he began, his voice gaining a bit of it's gentle authority before he sat on one of the couches, Isabelle still in his arms, and Vincent plopping up beside him and snuggling under his father's other protective arm. His eyes wandered to Stevie, looking positively shattered across from him. "I'll be here for a bit. Now is the time to ask questions, or to talk to me. I know it's been hard on all of you, but I'm here for you. What can I do for you all?"
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Post by Lilianne Wesker on Feb 10, 2008 10:59:08 GMT -5
An older student girl whom Lilianne didn't know walked up to her after hearing their exchange. She gently brushed some of Lilianne's hair away from her face and took a good look at her.
"I think we should get you cleaned up before you go back to see your sister, honey. No offense, but you look like quite the mess. Understandable with what you've been through, you poor brave girl. Come on, I'll help you get into a warm bath and then you can put some clean clothes on."
Lilianne, who winced at the word 'brave', nodded to the girl, who put her arm around her shoulder and guided her upstairs to the girls dormitories.
Lilianne glanced back at Stevie on her way to the stairs, still clutching Dinsdale. She wondered what was wrong with him, but figured she'd talk to him later, after Nicholas had had some time to let the Gryffindors know about what had been going on.
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Post by Stevie Copeland on Feb 10, 2008 11:01:45 GMT -5
Stevie didn't pay attention to anything. As far as he was concerned, it made matters worse. Stevie would have to admit it sooner than later. And for now, Stevie picked later.
(I had a much better post, but I accidentally refreshed without posting and it got lost D=)
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