After Curfew, Sept 7th, 1894 — Gryffindor Tower

He lasted a whole week.

A schedule full of classes, all sorts of new people to meet, and plenty of learning could keep Desmond occupied during the daytimes and some of the evening. Of course, he and Gia talked often every day, but after curfew there were only his roommates. The boy was getting to know the other boys in his room well enough, but tonight they were asleep and he was not.

For the first time since he could remember, Des felt truly alone.

The canopy of his bedframe was so familiar by now that the boy could close his eyes and see it still. He could have dreamed of that, except every time those eyes closed, his body reminded him of the empty glass of water on his nightstand. Torn between the unpleasant comfort of his bedsheets and the empty promise of relief, Des finally wrestled himself free of the bed as quietly as he could.

Once Desmond found a little content at the bottom of a toilet, he padded his way around the climbing halls of Gryffindor tower. The night was keeping the rest from him, as elusive as the shadow that seemed to be chasing him. Alone in his pajamas and slippers, he straightened up as he turned around, looking as large as he could in the moonlit shadows, calling out, "Boo!"

Wouldn't it be funny if the shadow was actually a ghost?

The boy would have to be satisfied with the shape of another Gryffindor instead, proving he wasn't alone after all. He relaxed, giggling softly at his hope to scare off a nightly boogey. Desmond wasn't actually the kind of terror that Hogwarts seemed to assume of his house. "Can't sleep either?"

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James Callum

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Courtesy of the lovely Lady!

James didn't usually suffer from insomnia--all his energy had to come from somewhere, after all--but he'd realized over the past year that he didn't initially do well with changes of scenery. He always seemed to have at least a few rough nights of sleep when he arrived at school or returned home, but would get over it eventually. It wasn't so bad, though he thought he'd probably skip out on going home for Easter holidays this year. They just weren't long enough to be worth the effort.

When it became clear that sleep wasn't going to be forthcoming for awhile, James slipped from his bed rather than chance waking his roommates with his tossing and turning. He paused to pick up a book on his way out of the dormitory--partially in the hopes it would help him get sleepy, and partially because he should at least have something to do.

His intent was to head down to the common room to try reading by the light of the fire, or, failing that, wandlight, but he didn't quite make it that before he was startled by someone's voice. James jumped in surprise, then laughed, quickly covering his mouth to keep from being too loud. "Nope," James answered. "Always takes a while to get used to a new space." He squinted through the dark at the other boy. "Shacklebolt, right? You're a first year, aren't you?"

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   Desmond Shacklebolt

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Set by MJ <3

"Yeah, what gave it away?" Desmond agreed, trying to keep from snickering at the other boy's reaction. He figured there had to be some magical way to tell the years apart. All the older students started looking the same to him, except that some of them were really old and should probably already be off working and getting married or doing whatever old people did after Hogwarts. He squinted through the dark, trying to place his recognition to a name. "And you're Callum."

Getting used to a new space wasn't really a problem Des had. Mama joked that he could fall asleep anywhere, and maybe she was right. The sleep would come eventually if he wanted to lie awake for another hour, staring into oblivion. Everything else was the problem right now. Des knew he wouldn't have Mama and Papa just down the hall when he got to Hogwarts, he was big enough to handle that. But even Gia was in another tower, and tonight that was just too far away.

"I had a better bed at home," Des said after a moment, giving his shoulders a small shrug. It was the best explanation he had to offer for his nighttime stroll. Though the boy had to admit it was pleasant to be out in the quiet, cool air. The castle was different without the din of other students awake and milling about. He grinned, as if Des had just stumbled upon some great secret no one had thought to pass along yet. "Oh, the common room must be completely empty at this hour. Let's go sit in the really comfortable chairs."

They looked comfortable to his eyes, in any case. And with their seats always hosting older students, he figured it must be true.

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Courtesy of the lovely Lady!