.third.quarter.

[lumenrelegandus]

[a scream. The figure on the bed thrashes over-but this is not the bed the sleeping body knows; he falls right out of it. A wrenching thud as he hits the floor. A groan of awakening.

Then the groggy, embarrassed, woebegone voice. Even hushed, not nearly as ragged as it will be later:]

Sorry, I'm sorry…

[A hand reaching up from the floor. It

Comments

video;

[thenobledie]

And what would be so funny?

[ it is either a very good thing or a very bad thing she hasn't even started trolling yet. it's the injuries; it upsets her to see them so fresh. ]

video;

[lumenrelegandus]

[the wand snaps to aim at the forge.

To his credit, he seems to do so to direct the light, rather than threaten the machine. Indeed he snaps his free hand and points, and the forge levitates up from the floor, following his finger, to hover in front of him. He keeps the light of the wand partially obscuring his own face as he examines it.

If his next words are an answer, they're a very unhelpful one.]

Specialis revelio.

[the video quality goes wibbly for a moment. As if… perhaps… the forge were tickled.

Something happens on his end, because the young man frowns. For having woken screaming, he doesn't seem particularly upset or frightened. More as if he's trying to solve a bothersome puzzle.]

Potter, is this…?

[focus readjusts so his eyes flicker to meet Shirley's]

I'm sorry I'm not recognising you. Did James Potter put you up to this?

video;

[thenobledie]

[ an amused sort of sound. ]

He did not - nor Sirius Black.

video;

[lumenrelegandus]

[waits, a bit patiently, a bit abashedly. He manages to look simultaneously authoritative and apprehensive. Always in duality, this kid: either Moony or Remus, Marauder or Prefect, brilliant member of the most powerful clique in the school or reclusive deformed kid with no place among anyone at all.]

Then… can I help you?

[theunscarred]

...You okay, mister?

[Frown of concern. Those scars look kind of bad.]

[lumenrelegandus]

[more embarrassed, but with a lid on it for a younger year.]

I'm okay. Sorry if I alarmed you. Just a bad dream.

oh gosh I am so excite for this x3

[theunscarred]

'larmed...? [Hold on, he's heard that word before. Now how did his brother use it...]

No, no! I wasn't scared! [...Close enough.]

My big brother says when you have a bad dream you should talk about it. D'you have someone to talk to, mister?

[That's not what he meant, either. Just. Staring at those wounds a few moments longer, before his child's curiosity causes him to speak up.]

Didju get hurt or somethin'? [Kind of. Points at the scars. They look like they hurt D:]

:-D! I'm sorry if the bulk of it ends up having to be paused and backtagged...

[lumenrelegandus]

[normally he would, in the next bed over; to lean over and punch his arm to wake him up, or pin him down if he was threatening to wake the rest of the dorm, or drone on with ridiculous half-imagined anecdotes-or once or twice trade verbal scars-afterward to help him back to sleep. The Sirius no one else, only James if even, ever got to see.]

Yes… he's around somewhere.

Yes, I got hurt, but they're healing.

[until the next round.

It was strange how getting hurt or being disabled or bereaved usually meant you had to console everyone else about it. A walking reminder of fragility or mortality; so either you went with it fully, which by default could become hostile; or became a walking reassurance. Ambassador from the land of abnormal. It's okay, it isn't so bad, don't worry about it, don't feel guilty or helpless or upset. My bad for being covered in scars and unsettling you; so my role too to reassure you about it.

But Remus did it very well. Warmly. And for a child really didn't mind.]I'm okay. Really. I'm going to find my friends

[video]

[just_dorable]

How d'you know someone named Sirius?

[video]

[lumenrelegandus]

[I go to Hogwarts? I'm in the wizarding world? Just about everyone knew Sirius. How do you?]

How do you know I wasn't saying S-E-R-I-O-U-S?

[but can't not say this bit anyway, being the most miraculous unlikely thing in his life:]

He's my friend.

[video]

[just_dorable]

There was enough of a pause that it made it seem as though you were yelling for someone.

[ She eyes Remus suspiciously. ]

Sirius Black?

[video]

[lumenrelegandus]

Yes!

[obvious relief. Someone else from Hogwarts. Was starting to think he really had traveled somewhere else entirely.]

I'm sorry, I'm not recognising anyone well over these things.