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Post by G. Novella on Jul 24, 2012 1:53:30 GMT -5
In her dream, Alice felt the scene change. The men who had attacked her tonight were now at her party. They demanded money, and her parents had disappeared. She insisted she'd find them, but the men refused to listen to her. She stumbled backwards, terrified, as they destroyed her birthday party. One finally caught her as she was running. He wrapped his arm around her neck, and she could feel herself gasping for air. She reached out with her hands, unable to scream, as she felt herself choke.
And then she woke up. Her hand was clasping a robe, and she felt like she was being lifted by someone. Her eyes were big and panicked as she gasped for air. She looked around wildly at first at what looked like hallway. Then she saw she was in Maxwell's arms, and she felt herself relax.
"Was just a dream," she muttered, still terrified.
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Post by kumainpink on Jul 24, 2012 2:02:09 GMT -5
"Was just a dream." came her small, terrified voice. Maxwell paused for a moment.
"Would you like some Dreamless Sleep?" he asked, concerned for her mental state.
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Post by G. Novella on Jul 24, 2012 2:08:40 GMT -5
She heard Maxwell's question, and thought about it for a few seconds.
"Yes please," she relented. She just wanted to sleep and not wake up to those nightmares.
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Post by kumainpink on Jul 24, 2012 2:16:20 GMT -5
"I'll get some for you in a moment," he said, walking once more. "But first, lets get you settled down." He turned to the left and entered the extra bedroom. He gently layed her down on the queen-sized bed. He then went to the small shelf, which had what appeared to be a new bottle of Dreamless Sleep. Maxwell grinned. Trust Cassalina to think of that.
He handed her the potion and gave her his most sincere smile. "Here you go, Alice. Sleep well."
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Post by G. Novella on Jul 24, 2012 2:23:08 GMT -5
Alice watched Maxwell approach her with a bottle of Dreamless Sleep. His kind smile made her feel safe. She smiled back at him as she lay in the large comfortable bed. She took the potion willingly from his hand, unstoppering the cork. Today had been such a long day. The more she thought about everything, the less she wanted to stay awake. She tipped the bottle to her lips and drank the entire potion. She could tell it was just the right amount for one persom.
"Thank you, for everything, and tell Cassalina thank you too," she said softly to him. As drowsiness took over, and her eyes drooped shut.
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Post by kumainpink on Jul 24, 2012 2:40:56 GMT -5
Maxwell took one last look at her peacefully sleeping form, and silently walked out of the room. Yawning loudly, he walked through the hall, looking at the various pictures along the way. Most of them were pictures of Cassalina, her parents and her older brother, Octavius. Some of the pictures were just of the two of them, and others included himself as well. There were even a few that included his own parents. In each of these photos, they were smiling, laughing and just enjoying life. It had been an idealistic time, as he'd told Alice. A golden age that had shined far too bright to last forever.
He arrived in the kitchen to see his adoptive sister waiting at the table, wearing a contemplative expression.
"You've redone the house again, I see." Maxwell said casually, sitting on the other side of the table. "Last time I was here, you had an underwater theme going on." It seemed that the decor changed each time he came. Before the ocean theme, it had been fire. And before that, rainbows. This time, it was done in simple, muted colors like white and lavender. It felt homier than usual.
Cassalina smiled wearily. "Yeah, well, I wanted something easier on the eyes this time around." she laughed nervously before asking, "Is she another one of your friends? The girl, I mean."
"Yes, she is." Maxwell said mildly, before taking a sip of his tea. Hm..Earl Gray.
"Can you explain how you met her? And how you ended up being attacked? I'd really like to know." Cassalina replied, seeming just a little put off. Maxwell sighed. This was going to be a long talk, indeed.
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Post by G. Novella on Jul 24, 2012 2:59:43 GMT -5
Alice felt her eyes open slowly. Bright white light flooded her vision. The room around her was completely white as well. She felt herself lying in the softest bed. Instantly she knew it wasn't hers. She rolled over to see she was in a huge room. The bed itself was a queen-size. She slowly sat up, trying to get her bearings. Where was she?
Then the memories of yesterday flooded her mind again. She grimaced and recognized this to be Cassalina's house. She looked down to see she was still wearing her red dress from yesterday. Beside her sat her family album. She smiled a little at the sight. She'd be okay. She could always start over. She chanted these things softly to herself, as she got out of the bed.
Slowly she made her way out of the room, trying to find Cassalina. The stairs at the end of the hall seemed like the perfect place to head rather than peeking into the rooms. As Alice strolled through the halls, her eyes were on the pictures, waving brightly or smiling from their frames. A young Maxwell, handsome and charming, stood out in the sea of strangers. She couldn't help but smile when she saw a picture of him in Slytherin quidditch robes, lifting a silver cup into the air.
As she headed down the stairs, she found the house to be enormous. It was tastefully decorated, and the white, though overpowering, felt homey. Finally she found a kitchen area, and realized just how hungry she was. She didn't want to sift through the kitchen however, so she moved to look out the windows at the garden of strange plants. She didn't even notice the footsteps approaching her.
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Post by kumainpink on Jul 24, 2012 3:11:45 GMT -5
Cassalina took a moment to stare at the girl who had come with Maxwell last night. She didn't look anything at all like his usual allies - nearly half his age and so frail. And yet, she had impressed him enough to be added to their group - on a trial basis for the time being. That alone spoke volumes. But to think that he'd actually risk his life to keep her safe? Well, that had to mean she was trustworthy. Maxwell wouldn't trust just anyone, after all.
"Good morning, sleepyhead." she greeted pleasantly. "I was wondering when you'd wake up."
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Post by G. Novella on Jul 24, 2012 3:27:13 GMT -5
Alice jumped in surprise at being snuck up on. She turned to face Cassalina, incredibly embarrassed. The other woman was smiling at her warmly.
"Ah, I'm so sorry, I didn't know where to go and I ended up here," said Alice immediately. "Ah, thank you so much for letting me stay here ma'am!"
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Post by kumainpink on Jul 24, 2012 3:32:19 GMT -5
"No need to be so formal." She said, amused by the girl's reaction. "My name is Cassalina Yaxley, but you may call me Cassie if you want."
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Post by G. Novella on Jul 24, 2012 3:42:12 GMT -5
Alice nodded, relieved that the woman seemed kind. She smiled back at her.
"This is a lovely house, Ms. Cassie," said Alice, "Ah, do you know if Maxwell was alright? I barely saw him after, everything last night.
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Post by kumainpink on Jul 24, 2012 3:48:30 GMT -5
"He left a few hours ago, saying that he had business to deal with at the Ministry." Cassalina sighed indulgently. "That man is always dedicated to his work. Of course, the fact that you were harmed seems to have put him on the war path."
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Post by G. Novella on Jul 24, 2012 4:12:14 GMT -5
"Oh, I'm sure he'd be angry on behalf of anyone," said Alice shyly. Then she scrambled quickly for some sort of conversation, "How long have you known him? Maxwell never really told me much about your relationship."
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Post by kumainpink on Jul 24, 2012 4:35:29 GMT -5
Cassalina considered her for a moment. You really have no idea, do you? No idea at all how you've changed him in such a short amount of time. "Maxwell, my brother and I know each other from Hogwarts. I was a year lower than him, while my brother was three years above him. We just sort of clicked during my first year, and the three of us became friends." She scowled for a moment. "Unfortunately, Maxwell made friends with Garrison Vaynes, and we had to deal with him tagging along every now and then." She paused for a moment. "Is there anything specific you'd like to know?"
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Post by G. Novella on Jul 24, 2012 4:47:03 GMT -5
Alice was pleased at the openness of the conversation. She was worried she'd offend the older woman, but she seemed so at ease that Alice found herself feeling right at home.
"You knew the minister growing up?" asked Alice remembering the name. She thought about a specific she wanted to know. "Do you know anything about Maxwell's healing records? I want to gather as much data as I can since he's hired me as a part-time healer."
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Post by kumainpink on Jul 24, 2012 4:57:20 GMT -5
"Yes, we all knew each other quite well, though we tried to avoid Garrison when we could." she made a face. "Even as a kid, he was a bother to be around." She regarded Alice seriously for a moment. "Yes, Maxwell did mention that bit of information last night. Though, before I answer your question, you must answer one of mine: what will you do with this information?"
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Post by G. Novella on Jul 24, 2012 5:16:35 GMT -5
Alice was surprised by the last question. Then she remembered Maxwell's story of women using him for money or worse. She realized Cassalina must want to have her suspicions cleared.
"I plan to use it to develop a list of any potions he may need to take for unmended injuries and illnesses, as well as know what ingredients to avoid as they may not suit his body. As well I'd use it to determine any future health problems that can be avoided," said Alice seriously, and then dropping her voice, "I owe him my life, I swear I won't use the information to take his, nor will I tell anyone the information. I swear it. You can have me take a vow if you're still concerned."
((I find it funny that she's going to make Maxwell stronger than he is now and she's not even in love with him yet))
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Post by kumainpink on Jul 24, 2012 5:26:30 GMT -5
(( I find it completely and totally awesome ))
"That won't be necessary, Alice. All I ask is that you do right by him." she replied, both impressed and pleased with her answer. The girl had gone from frail almost intimidating in a matter of seconds. Definitely more than meets the eye. "As for his medical records, I'll give them to you later today. I've been his personal healer for the time, though I don't have much skill." She winced at the memory of the last time she'd tried to heal him. "I'm grateful that he'll have someone better suited to the role."
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Post by G. Novella on Jul 24, 2012 5:32:35 GMT -5
Alice broke into a smile. She was relieved Cassalina trusted her. She didn't want to get on the woman's bad side after all.
"I swear I'll do my best for him. I have a little training when I assisted the school nurse. Ah, I'm not sure how long I'll be staying here. Rest assured that I'll begin looking for a place to stay so that I'm not too much of a bother. Is there a Floo connection I can use to reach Maxwell when he needs me for the time being?" asked Alice.
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Post by kumainpink on Jul 24, 2012 5:43:10 GMT -5
"First of all, having you stay here isn't a bother. I love having company over!" Cassalina said, her mood brightened considerably. "I stay here by myself most of the time, so it's nice to have another person in the house. And of course, you are welcome to use my Floo at any time. All I ask is that you replace the powder if you use the last of it. Is that fair?"
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Post by G. Novella on Jul 24, 2012 5:49:59 GMT -5
Alice smiled earnestly.
"That's fine by me. Shall we get some breakfast than? And may I borrow a shower? I'd like to freshen up," said Alice. "Maxwell told me you rather like to shop, and I'll need to buy myself a few sets of clothes."
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Post by kumainpink on Jul 24, 2012 5:57:41 GMT -5
Cassalina beamed. "Why don't you get a shower first, while I make you breakfast? Is there anything you're hungry for?" Now that she had no reason to be suspicious, a well of excitement flooded her, making her already pleasant mood even better. At the mention of clothes, her mind started coming up with all sorts of possibilities.
Reds, greens, blues and golds would look best on her. Maybe even a little pink. But the colors need to stand out, so that she does too.
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Post by G. Novella on Jul 24, 2012 6:05:46 GMT -5
"I'm not fussy, just some fruit would be fine! Or whatever you're fond of," said Alice, not wanting to bother Cassalina. "I'll go get showered. Are the towels in the bathroom? I can wear this dress so clothes aren't an issue."
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Post by kumainpink on Jul 24, 2012 6:39:07 GMT -5
"Towels are in the hallway cupboard, and the bathroom is to your left." Cassalina said placidly. And with that, she rummaged around the fridge and cupboards until she found everything necessary to make French Toast.
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Post by G. Novella on Jul 24, 2012 6:52:40 GMT -5
With that, Alice left to take a shower. She found the bathroom, which like the house, was pure white. The towels were white as well. She tapped the knob with her wand to start it, and then requested the level heat. The shower was luxurious, and Alice washed herself entirely. She felt clean removing all the muck. It was like she was becoming anew again.
She winced as she washed her neck and collarbone. She looked down, and was taken aback by the rather large bruise on the left side of her neck and collarbone. That was where Mitch pushed down the hardest. It was fresh and purple, somewhat resembling a hand, and could easily be covered if she left her hair down and nobody touched it. However, she'd need to make some bruise removal paste for herself, and Maxwell.
Getting out, she dried herself with the fluffy white towel, and then put on her old clothes. The first thing she needed to do was buy some new clothes. She combed her curls with her finger, and purposely sorted more over that bruise.
Once she returned to the kitchen, she was surprised by the lovely French Toast.
"It looks lovely!" she exclaimed, "You enjoy cooking?"
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Post by kumainpink on Jul 24, 2012 6:57:59 GMT -5
"Thank you! And yes, I do enjoy cooking. It's just like brewing potions, in plenty of ways." she said, setting the table for the two of them. "Though potions are more precise, both require a decent amount of skill, patience and a knowledge of the art in order to be done well." She went into the fridge and got out a pitcher of orange juice and set it on the table. "I made plenty, so have as much as you like!"
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Post by G. Novella on Jul 24, 2012 7:28:54 GMT -5
Alice beamed at her.
"Thank you!" she exclaimed, taking a seat at the table and pouring herself a glass of orange juice.
"So where do you work? I'm thinking I'll step into the ministry today. I need to tell my boss my situation, and ask if I can get my salary a month early. If you work nearby, we could go together," offered Alice.
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Post by kumainpink on Jul 24, 2012 7:41:16 GMT -5
"You're welcome, Alice." Cassalina said, before taking a bite of her French Toast. "I have a stay-at-home business, and I make my own hours, so I'm currently free at the moment." She frowned at her. "Today wouldn't be a good time to go to the Ministry, though. The Aurors are being sent out to battle in the forest and things are a mess." In reality, she was worried about what Alice would think if she caught Maxwell being...cruel with his punishments.
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Post by G. Novella on Jul 24, 2012 8:01:40 GMT -5
"I know, a friend of mine is involved. I really just want to be there to see him come home. And I don't plan to work, but I need to get my salary if I'm going to shop today. Besides, I need to apologize again to Maxwell after last night. He's probably busy, so I'll find him when he's done," said Alice as she bit into the toast.
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Post by kumainpink on Jul 24, 2012 8:04:29 GMT -5
Cassalina sighed. She supposed that as long as she stayed away from the dungeons, it would be alright. "Okay then, but after we're done at the Ministry, it'll be time for clothes shopping!" She cheered herself up with that thought.
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