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+------- Thread: Relief :: The Cousins (/showthread.php?tid=641)
Relief :: The Cousins - Everleigh Ravenstone - 11-16-2025
Morning After The Tower
Screams
So many screams. Flashes of light. Some bright. Shadows. Thayer’s laugh. The smell of burning flesh. The glass poking through her uniform into the flesh of her stomach. Vertigo from hanging out the window.
More screams
Ever got no restful sleep that night. The healer having to come out and sooth her multiple times during the night. So many calming drafts. Tea. More potions. Her stomach was churning. Food wouldn’t help. She just wanted to shut her eyes and sleep, but sleep wasn’t safe.
Ever laid in bed. The partitions pulled in place so she didn’t have to see the others. It might be nice to see Rae and Maevie, but then again, maybe not. Was Maevie’s hand better? Sure it was. Magic was a wonderful thing. Ever’s cuts were gone. Like they never existed, but the did exist. Right? That had happened. There was blood. She could remember the blood. And the screams. Her throat hurt from screaming. The tea was supposed to help. It didn’t.
Rose came by and checked on her a lot. Everyone was worried. Other than screaming in the middle of the night, Ever hadn’t talked about the event. She didn’t want to relive it. She wanted it to go away, but it wouldn’t. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Thayer. Then bright green light. He crumpled like a rag doll. She would never forget that. How he was alive and then just… not.
Rae, screaming from the unforgivable curse. They now had firsthand knowledge on WHY they were called unforgivable curses. They were correctly named.
Apparently after Thayer was dead and the other one was caught, because of course there were two, all the students were sent to their rooms. Ever wanted her sister. She wanted Alice. The footsteps coming into the ward caught her attention. Looking towards the end of her bed, it was like her silent prayer had been answered. Seeing Alice standing there, Ever finally broke. No screaming, just tears. Tears of relief and love and pain and terror. Sitting up, holding her arms out she waited for Alice to make it all better.
RE: Relief :: The Cousins - Alice Ravenstone - 11-16-2025
Sleep? What was sleep?
Alice had gone back to the Hufflepuff common room, against her wishes, and sat up on a couch all night. She was just counting down the time until it was morning and she could check on her sister. She’d tried the night before, but the head nurse had told her to give her sister some space and that she promised the girl was okay.
But who was to say that Ever was okay? Alice had heard those screams, had felt them tear her apart. Her imagination was running wild with all sorts of terrible things that Thayer could be inflicting upon her. Alice had tried to read, or study, or something, but it didn’t work. And she didn’t bother going to try to sleep either.
She showered, put on her pajamas, then stayed on the couch all night. And now, suddenly, light was shining through the windows. Perhaps she had closed her eyes for a bit. Honestly, the fourth year didn’t know. She felt groggy either way.
Alice ran to her room, dressed for an unscheduled shift in the Hospital Wing, then ran the entire way to the infirmary. She needed to see Ever. She needed to see the girl with her own eyes, hug her, check her over.
Alice opened the door to the Hospital Wing, wanting to run to her sister, but when Rose spotted her, the woman shook her head. The girl then walked quickly down the line of beds until she reached Ever.
The girl was holding her arms out for a hug. Alice immediately crossed the small amount of space to her sister and held her tightly, wrapping her arms around her. She wanted to cry, wanted to make everything better. Alice had always been Everleigh’s protector, even if the younger of the two didn’t realize it.
“I’m so happy you’re okay,” she managed, realizing she was crying. “I wanted to be there so bad, I wanted to be the one taken, not you. It should’ve been me. I’m sorry it wasn’t me.”
RE: Relief :: The Cousins - Matilda Nordstrom - 11-16-2025
Tilly had a shift in the Hospital Wing, but that honestly didn’t matter, she would be headed there anyways. The lockdown had been excruciating. With her cousin Ever and her best friend Rae both recovering from unknown horrors, Tilly wanted to be with them. Sure, she wasn’t a healer, but providing comfort she could do.
Putting on her uniform took far too long, but it was required while on duty, so she went through the painstakingly slow process of braiding her hair and getting sll the specific pieces put into place.
Finally ready, Tilly ran to the wing, then got caught by Deputy Blackwood and was forced to walk the rest of the way. Fast walk. It was as close to a run without being a run that she could get.
When she got to the wing, Tilly tossed her stuff in the staff area and then made her way towards the ward. All the beds were partitioned off, which made sense. Rae had a visitor already, so she decided to wait on her, instead going straight for Ever.
Rounding the corner her breath caught. Alice was already there, both girls crying, locked in a tight embrace. Ever looked wrecked. Swollen tired eyes, hair a mess, face pale. She wanted to join in, but decided to give them a few minutes. The sisters were close, and the events of yesterday just about did Alice in.
Tilly couldn’t do much in the ward, but she could make tea. Her duties in the greenhouse would wait for a few hours. Picking out an herbal blend, specifically for calming, stress and anxiety seemed like a safe bet. Lemon balm, passion flower, chamomile and lavender were steeping in hot water, while Tilly ran to refill the honey jar. She didn’t want to think about why honey would be nice, all the screaming… their throats had to be war.
Once the tray was ready, Tilly put it on the cart and went to work. Peaking in on Rae and Benji, not shocking, she gave them both some Tea and a hug each. Holding onto Rae for a few tight beats. Maevie was asleep, so she moved onto Ever and Alice.
The unmistakable clatter of the cart caused them to pull away, looking at her as she rounded the partition, Tilly stilled and looked over Ever more fully. She was whole, but looked withdrawn. She gave her cousin a tight hug then pulled back to look over her face. “I’m not going to ask if your ok, but it will be ok. We’ll help you get through this.” She kissed her on the cheek then passed out the tea. “Drink this, it will help settle the nerves and will feel good on your throat.”
Making a quick run to her bag, Tilly came back with a brush and hair elastics. “Scooch up Ev, let me brush your hair out.”
RE: Relief :: The Cousins - Everleigh Ravenstone - 11-16-2025
Alice’s arms around her were just right. She felt warm for the first time since the tower. “I’m so happy you’re okay, I wanted to be there so bad, I wanted to be the one taken, not you. It should’ve been me. I’m sorry it wasn’t me.”
Alice’s words were just wrong. So wrong. “NO! Not you, never you.” Ever said with a soar raspy voice. Her throat felt like razor blades had been hiding in her dinner. The thought of Alice in that tower was far too horrible to entertain. Ever sat back, holding tightly to Alice’s hands.
She needed the contact. It held her to the here and now. “I’ll be ok, I promise, I’m ok. Ok, it’s ok. It’s over right? He’s gone? Their gone? They said there were two. Are there more?”
Ever was barely making sense. Lack of sleep coupled with trauma will do that. Just thinking that there could be more of them in the castle made her skin crawl. Would she ever feel safe again?
Just as her ramblings stopped, hands shaking, Tilly came around the corner with a cart. Because of course, Tilly was the mother of the group. Always having snacks in her bag, taking care of those she loved. Her hug was strong and warm. Soothing another broken piece in her chest.
“Drink this, it will help settle the nerves and will feel good on your throat.” Handing her the cup, it clattered against the small plate, but Ever managed to get a few sips in, relishing the feel as it soothed her ravaged throat.
Tilly came back suddenly with a brush, instructing Ever to move up, which she did. The feel of something so simple, a brush running through her hair. The repetition of it, was soothing. Shutting her eyes she breathed a large sigh of relief. “Thanks.” was all she said, her body relaxing into her cousin, letting Tilly take some of her troubles.
RE: Relief :: The Cousins - Alice Ravenstone - 11-16-2025
“NO! Not you, never you.”
Alice looked at Everleigh after her sister leaned back, shaking her head. No matter how much she protested, Alice would truly give her life for her sister. It was definitely one of the reasons she was made a Hufflepuff. Her loyalty ran deep.
The older of the two looked at their hands, and squeezed them. She made herself comfortable on the space in front of her sister on the bed, still holding her hands tightly. She wouldn’t be leaving the Wing at all that day. She might even be forced to eat, if she were honest.
“I’ll be ok, I promise, I’m ok. Ok, it’s ok. It’s over right? He’s gone? They’re gone? They said there were two. Are there more?”
Would Ever be okay? She was saying she would, but Alice just wasn’t sure. She nodded slightly despite her doubt, hoping that her sister was right. Perhaps she would be okay. Tilly had told her that Ever was the strongest of them, so surely she’d be okay. But Alice didn’t want to lie to herself.
“Yeah, they said Thayer is dead. And Healer Byrne caught the other one. It was the Runes professor.” The lack of trust that Alice had for the other adults in the castle was sad. Truly sad.
“I dunno if there are more… but I wouldn’t be surprised.” Honestly, it was unsettling knowing that there could be more professors off their rockers. Although, just the fact that two were there was a lot already. She hoped there weren’t more.
Tilly returned and handed the two girls a tea cup. She reluctantly let go of Ever’s hands so she could take a drink, then she set both of their cups on the bedside table and grabbed her hands again. It was possible the Ravenclaw may get annoyed by how much Alice was going to be around her, checking on her, babying her, but she really didn’t care.
Alice watched their cousin get behind the young girl and begin to brush out her hair. “Is there anything I can get you? Blankets, pillows, something?” she asked, her eyes studying Ever's face. She didn’t want to feel like there was nothing she could do. “Something to eat?”
RE: Relief :: The Cousins - Matilda Nordstrom - 11-16-2025
Tilly could see the pain in Alice’s eyes. She was so in tune with Ever. Protective, loyal, doting. Tilly could vaguely remember when they were kids, Alice would get so angry when other people were holding ‘her baby.’ Last night must have been a true nightmare for Alice.
Ever seemed so… not herself. Tumbling over her words, rambling, this was not the cousin she remembered. Which was to be expected after trauma, but it made Tilly’s heart hurt even more. Ever was typically so well spoken. Quiet, contemplative, only speaking when her thoughts were well placed and organized.
“Yeah, they said Thayer is dead. And Healer Byrne caught the other one. It was the Runes professor.” Tilly still couldn’t believe who the spies were. She had actually enjoyed Runes this term. “I dunno if there are more… but I wouldn’t be surprised.” Tilly gave Alice a very pointed SHUT UP look, not wanting to freak Ever out any more than she already was.
“But don’t you worry. Haswell and Blackwood will be questioning every person in this castle. Nothing like this will ever happen again.”
Running her hands through Ever’s hair, having brushed out all the tangles, Tilly hoped what she was doing helped sooth her in some small way. “Did you sleep last night at all? I assume they gave you something.”
RE: Relief :: The Cousins - Everleigh Ravenstone - 11-16-2025
“Yeah, they said Thayer is dead. And Healer Byrne caught the other one. It was the Runes professor.” Wait what? The Runes Professor? Really? “I dunno if there are more… but I wouldn’t be surprised.” Ever’s eyes grew wide. No, no no no. They were gone. They had to be gone.
“But they're gone right? I can’t… They have to be gone. Not again Alice. I can’t.”
Tears came to Ever’s eyes. There was no one in this castle that she could trust, besides the two girls surrounding her at this very moment. How was she supposed to go back to normal, return to classes and her common room without Alice or Tilly. What if another maniac came for her again?
Ever shook her head, dislodging Tilly’s hands from her long dark hair. “No, no, no, no.”
Tilly’s arms came around her, hugging her tight from behind. She whispered reassuring words in her ear, calming Ever just slightly. Ever’s eyes were shut tight, which was a bad idea. The darkness was bad. It brought back memories. Shadows and pain.
Her eyes opened up abruptly, heart beating faster than a race horse, breaths coming out in pants, she was seconds away from hyperventilating, but seeing Alice and hearing Tilly. Her arms grounding her to the here and now, helped. Drowning out all the negative thoughts in her head, Ever stared at her sister and breathed. In and Out. In and Out.
((Power play okayed by Tilly's Human))
RE: Relief :: The Cousins - Alice Ravenstone - 11-16-2025
Alice frowned when she saw the look on Tilly’s face, and then heard Ever begin to panic. She should have known better. She really should have. She considered her sister an extension of herself. But Alice didn’t know how to handle the new negative outlook she had on life.
Some things were best left unsaid, she supposed.
And she’d messed up. Alice bit her lip as her sister freaked out – because of her. The Hufflepuff felt… she wasn’t even sure how she felt. Emotions were running high, and she had not slept at all. Hardly at all, anyways. She had to fix this.
“But also… they’re gonna be more cautious and I can promise you that no one will be able to get to you again,” she said, her heart beating fast. She believed that. There were a ton of aurors that worked at Hogwarts and now that this happened. Alice would step in front of her sister any day and take her place, whether Ever approved or not.
Everyone should be safe. Should be. They should have been.
Blue eyes met her brown ones, and Alice did her best to push her uncertainty down. She’d keep that to herself. Or maybe talk to Tilly about it later. She didn’t know. She breathed in and out with her sister, determined to get the girl to calm down.
Alice would have to ask Professor Laurence if there was any way she could sleep at least in the Ravenclaw common room for a while. If only they could stay together. The three of them. If it was the three of them, then they could handle this. If they were all separated…
“Here,” Alice handed her sister her teacup again once she had fully calmed down. “Is there anything I can do for you?” she asked, feeling totally helpless.
If Ever was not her sister, then she would be able to handle this better. A damp wash cloth. That could be nice. Without waiting for a response, Alice was up and getting a cloth. She got it slightly wet, then sat back down in front of her sister on her bed.
She reached forward and gently touched the cloth to her forehead, hoping that might help her relax some.