wake me from this nightmare }{ open

[amelia susan bones]

Time is precious. Time is intricate. Time can become endless if seen with the right perspective. For Amelia Bones, time was infinite. Time was her constant friend and foe. Time left her damaged and perfected. Time was the constant which she both depended on and hated. Time stole her away into its gentle ticking and kept her wrapped up in its gears. Time was the one thing Amelia Bones could trust and understand. That is, until she was late for something. Then, time was nothing more than a petty bitch.

Why the time talk? Amelia was late for Transfigurations class. She hadn’t been late since her first year when she’d gotten lost. Amelia was that good. She put in that much effort. She cared that much. Yet, here she was, late. She didn’t really know what to do with herself. When students were late, Professor McGonagall locked them out. Amelia could practically feel the shame and embarrassment even though she knew she was over-reacting. She could shake out the jitters of having run to class and missed the start by at least ten minutes.

She tried, over and over, to justify her lateness. In truth, there was no good reason. She had been caught up in her muggle studies homework in the library. Amelia had always had a soft spot for Professor Port’s class. It was easily one of her favorites. She loved the concreteness to it. Muggle studies made her a more well-rounded person. Anyway, Muggle Studies wasn’t important right then. Muggle Studies was nothing more than a filthy little time thief in that moment. Amelia stood with her back up to the stone wall. She knew her face would be flushed and rosy. She knew that she wore that look of panic. She knew that the only people wandering the halls right then would be students with free periods and professors on breaks. Oh yes, and the students who chose not to attend their classes. Amelia gulped down a mix of choked mucus and saliva and tried to rid herself of thoughts of being picked on by class ditchers.

”For heaven’s sake Mellie, you’re seventeen. They’re students, not dragons. You scold them constantly under duties. Why should now be different?” Amelia whispered to herself. She tried to shove away the less consoling idea that now she sounded as batty as Peeves the Poltergeist. Talking to herself, what was coming of her? Was this some type of mid-student crises she was under-going? Amelia took a breath and sank down against the wall. Her Hufflepuff robes crinkled slightly and she felt so disorganized. She couldn’t get a grip. And then, it came to her. It was a gentle, high-pitched sound. Amelia was grateful for it.

”Are you alright Miss?” It was a portrait. The image was of a beautiful young woman in a long white dress. She had flowers in her shining brunette hair. She wore a look of concern as she spoke down to Amelia.

”Oh, uhm, yes. I’m quite fine. Thank you. Sorry, I’m just all in a fuss over nothing.” Amelia mumbled. She felt rather lost. Yet, there was something so warm about this portrait. ”I’m Amelia, by the way.” She introduced herself quietly. Amelia stood herself back up slowly and took a step forward so she could get a better look at the portrait.

”I Know.” The portrait confessed with a laughing smile. ”We all know, we portraits. They talk about you. They say that you take the time to get to know us. Not very many of the older students do. They’re much too used to us. They pass us right by. But not you, not Miss Amelia Bones.” The portrait sounded so admiring. Amelia felt as if she’d suddenly been shoved under a spotlight.

”I’m not all that, really. I’m just Amelia.” Amelia protested. She wanted things straightened out.

”Oh, sorry, they said you were modest, but I didn’t believe them. I suppose it’s just another of your many good qualities. I’m Mimsy. Mimsy Dellaportence. I used to be a famous witch, a long time ago. Now I’m just a portrait here on the wall. Funny how these things happen, isn’t it?” Mimsy was a talker. Amelia had to suppose that not many stopped to take the time. Perhaps that was what led to Mimsy’s verbal floodgates pouring outward.

”I’ve read about you. Mimsy the Beautiful. You were a Ravenclaw.” Amelia plucked the historical facts from her brain the same way that some girls plucked pedals off of flowers. ”And I’m not all that modest either. I mean, I do have some self-confidence.” Amelia felt defensive for reasons she couldn’t understand.

”Oh, please, just accept the flattering comments Miss Bones. We both know you need them.” Mimsy seemed snappy. Amelia was taken aback slightly.

”What does that mean exactly?” Amelia asked. It was a curious sort of question. She was neither harsh nor demanding. She kept her gaze trained on quizzically interested.

”The portrait of Sir Wilfred down near the Hufflepuff common said he’s seen you crying as you wander the halls at night after duties. He says you cry because no one likes you. Why don’t they like you Amelia Bones? Why don’t the people like you?” Mimsy was incredibly pushy. For someone so beautiful, she was not as kind as suggested.

”I am not so sure.” Amelia said slowly, trying to buy time. Time was not her companion that day. No, not at all.

”I’ll tell you why Amelia.” Mimsy was building up to this, Amelia could see that now.

”Why? Why don’t people like me Mimsy?” Amelia asked. Her eyes were fixed on the portrait’s.

”You’re a bit like an alien from outer space, aren’t you? You are better off observing them, studying them, rather than joining in and being part of the things that they are part of. In a sense, Miss Amelia Bones, you’re just like us. Except you’re not locked behind the paint. No, you’re out there. You don’t really belong anywhere at all.” Mimsy looked triumphant. Amelia merely stared. Her curiosity vanished. In its place was an emptiness. Mimsy’s triumphant smile eased away and she realized what Amelia was feeling. Instead of continuing their conversation, Mimsy stepped into the portrait next to her and left. Mimsy could be heard all down the corridor as she portrait hopped in order to get as far away from Amelia as possible.

”She’s right.” Amelia said to herself as she turned away from Mimsy’s empty portrait. Amelia looked down at her shiny black school shoes. She consulted the floorboards, trying to divert her thoughts. What an impossible task. Amelia was an alien from another planet, a portrait. She wasn’t meant to be there or to take part in life. She was only meant to watch. She was only meant to see, not to feel. Life was a museum and Amelia was a spectator. Suddenly, none of the exhibits seemed as interesting as they had before her conversation with Mimsy.

Lost to the racing of her mind, Amelia was unable to notice that she had sat down on the floor. She looked like a rag doll. Her back was against the stone wall, her head lolled to one side as she stared at the wall opposite her. Her waving blond locks were tangled and left down out of sheer lack of inspiration. Her legs were sprawled into the empty hallway. She needn’t worry about tripping anyone, she was the only one there. She felt useless and shut down and completely invisible. How long would she remain invisible? How long would time steal her into its mess of ticking and lose her? How long would Amelia take before she found her own way into the world like everyone else? Would she ever be like everyone else? That was all she wanted.

[theodore oliver tonks]

Ted never missed a class. Well, it would be foolish of him to, anyway. He was different than most of the rest of is classmates, and though a good chunk of them were different like him, it often felt like he was alone, in exile. He, did not come from magical blood, no, he was a muggle born. Now was not a good time in this world, to be a child of muggles. It wasn't acceptable to most people, nor at this rate did he believe it would ever be. The prejudice had just been too strong for too long, and while he would love to make peace, him alone in the situation he was it just wasn't going to cut it. Unless many individuals joined forces together to make a group to stop this, well, he'd continue to be the object of constant ridicule from those who thought of themselves as above him due to their magical ancestry.

He felt like an outcast, because he was an outcast. Everything about Ted just didn't fit with anything here. He was quiet, polite, and so inexplicably, and undeniably...boring. What was he even doing, looking at her that way? In that way were constantly, he was hoping she'd look back at him, with the same expression. Theodore had seen his dark-haired beauty before, she was in the year below him. But when he saw her picking her books up and getting ready to leave the classroom, the light hit her just ever so perfectly and he was frozen, transfixed by how truly captivating she was. Excuse me. she'd mumbled softly, pulling him from his daze. He had awkwardly shifted, allowing her to pass. Ted had stood there watching, her walk away, until Abbott had yelled Oi, Tonks! and he'd finally snapped out of it, taking his seat wordlessly, feeling completely and utterly foolish. He had never wanted to be that guy. The one who fell so suddenly and so hard for the perfect girl. Perfect in all senses, except the fact that she probably didn't even know he existed, and if she did, she would never be his.

He couldn't explain what caused him to go there, to take the long way to his next class. He would have already barely made it on time as it was. But he did, call it instinct, or whatever, Ted was happy he did. Or at least, relieved with his decision when he saw one Amelia Bones curled up into a ball there. The girl happened to be his best friend. She was the one thing truly keeping him anchored to this world. Though there was Andromeda, she couldn't really help. Even through his obsession, he could tell that it was mad infatuation, and feelings that would never be reciprocated. Amelia was so much more than that to him. Without a word, he slid to the floor beside her, pulling her close to him. He could feel her body tremble, and he just held her like that. Right now, the pair of them were silent. If words were necessary, they would come eventually. That was why they were like this. They were both outcasts, and whether he liked it or not, Amelia's pain was his pain. And it had been that way for a long time now, and nothing could change that. He didn't mind it in the least, because at least he could make a difference to someone, and he knew there was at least one person who could understand him, and he would forever be grateful for that.

[amelia susan bones]

Through all her years at Hogwarts so far, Amelia had suffered through the task of trying to socialize and make friends. She’d never, ever been good at it. That was why she was what she was. She was awkward and shy and quiet. And she talked to portraits and some of the portraits turned out to be like Mimsy. She’d made friends, but they seemed to come and go. There had been Lainey, her childhood confidant. They’d grown up through the school years together, braiding each other’s hair and telling secrets. And then, well, Lainey grew up and Amelia didn’t. And now, Lainey was beginning to seem as awkward as everyone else. There had been Kevin Willis who shared aspirations and school duties with her. And Amelia certainly considered him a friend, but no one in Amelia’s life was quite as connected to her as Ted.

For as long as they’d been at school, they’d been friends. They didn’t fit in anywhere. They didn’t do what they were supposed to do. They were smart, but boring. They were much too ordinary amidst all the things that supposedly made them weird to everyone else. Most days, Amelia felt like Ted was the male version of herself. Like they shared blood or something. She felt more attached to Ted than her younger brothers. Ted was closer to her. Ted knew her better than anyone else. And she liked to think she knew him better than anyone else too. It wasn’t as if they fancied each other. They simply belonged together. They fit like puzzle pieces. They would forever be comfortable around the other, because that’s how they were built.

As soon as she felt him pull her closer to him, Mellie began to feel a strong sense of relief. She was still trembling gently and a few tears had managed to steam from her eyes and dropped down to her school robes, staining them only briefly before drying. He would know, without a word, what she felt. He always seemed to be that way and Mellie was so grateful for him. So, after a few moments like that, in the silence with their friendship holding Amelia together, she managed to calm herself down. She inhaled deeply and then exhaled with a bit of extra effort. It eased her usual, panic-ridden anxieties and she started to feel at peace with everything around her. Now, she could breathe evenly and feel as normal as was possible for a girl like her.

”Rough day.” She murmured softly, as if that explained it all. And, perhaps, it did. Ted had dealt with enough rough days at this school to empathize, she was certain. ”Why were you late?” Her voice was a soft, whimpering kind of thing. That always seemed to happen after she’d been crying. She sounded like a small child. She knew how to find her voice and sound empowered and speak up, but she rarely ever did. This year though, she was determined. She was keeping a secret from everyone around her. She was doing something very rebellious. And not just rebellious in that teenage school-girl kind of way either. She was doing something that she was certain Ted would be proud of her for, but she couldn’t tell a soul. It was for her own safety that she not tell anyone.

”Watching that girl again? The one you like? What’s her name again?” Mellie murmured, her voice going back to normal slowly. She and Ted talked constantly. She knew he had a crush on this girl, and infatuated kind of thing, and she also knew he wouldn’t talk to just anyone about the entire thing. But they were best friends. And best friends shared these kinds of secrets. Mellie had certainly voiced her very quiet crush on Kevin Willis to Ted before. Although that wasn’t anything she actually felt like pursuing. Amelia couldn’t handle the entire dating thing. She could hardly handle friends! She could hardly handle conversations with portraits, as she’d discovered today.