Closed A Secret Cry For Help

[Lauren Carter]

ID#87341

Lauren had been up all night, doubting what she had to do. She had send Aonghas an messenge an urgent one. It was now or never and she felt the time ticking. Never she had been so scared of going home. Gabriella wasn't there anymore, so all the attention went to her. Something where she would be happy about if it were positive things, but it was all negative. And she didn't knew if she would ever get to see Aonghas, and this castle. If her parents heard how she did it here on school. So far she was glad no one had ever spoken about her other than Professor Styx. She avoided that man for a reason and actually waited for the time her head of house would come for her. Everytime she saw her head of house walking by she hold her breath to see if he came for her. But so far nothing happend gladly. Lauren would want to tell Aonghas about her situation in a place that was not busy. No one could hear this. So when she walked in she checked if no one was inside and that needed to stay that way.

The blonde went sitting on the ground for a moment. Looking at her hands, was she doing good at this? Was it selfish to tell him about her home situation? What if she brought Aonghas in danger. She had no idea what her father would do. If Aonghas would tell someone else, she would never trust anyone again. So she had to let him promise to not tell anyone. She hoped she made the right decision. Lauren felt her hands shaking, nervous for the moment. But she deep down needed help, and was desperate. And adults she did not trust, so if her best friend knew of her situation perhaps that ment something. The blonde kept looking at the door waiting to it be opened and Aonghas to come in.

 

[Aonghas Fergusson]

Aonghas had received an urgent message from Lauren, he had both been hopeful to get one and a little worried. He had known, figured that something was going on with Lauren for a while but hadn’t either been sure what to do or if he really should push it. But, he was glad that she had reached out now and he would be able to do something, help if necessary, he wouldn’t stop himself from beginning her home with him if necessary, his parents be damned. They shouldn’t mind it really. Not when he was engaged to someone. This was just a friend in need and him using the resources they had an abundance of to help out. He had gotten out of bed and headed to where she was, he felt nervous about it, nervous about what would come from it, how he would manage it. He sighed a little and reached where she was. He stood outside the door for a moment and then after finding a little courage he walked in, ”Hey Lauren,” he said softly. As he spotted her, which wasn’t hard, they were the only ones in the room. ”Are you okay?” he started by asking, thinking the was a good way to start out. Just ask her how she was. Then she could tell him all about what was going on.​

 

[Lauren Carter]

The blonde watched her hands hoping the shaking would be less soon. Her whole body just could not hide the fact anymore, that she was hiding something. At the start of this year the blonde had been giving up pretending, but she fell back in old patterns easily. The light in her life was that she joined the quidditch team and actually was a part of the team now. The beater position also made her deal with her anger a bit, it was good to hit something. In this case the bludger, better than a person. Lauren looked at the door and it took long, perhaps Aonghas would not come. He was a lot with some other girl from Ravenclaw, she didn't knew her name but he was sure in love with her or something. And that was fine, Lauren had pushed him away as her friend and she was glad they were doing better now. At least they talked to eachother.

Lauren saw the door opening and Aonghas coming inside slowly. She sat on the cold floor, but that didn't mattered. She looked a moment again around to check of they were really alone and than spoke. '' Hey.'' she said soft. She hold her hands and looked at the floor for a moment. Was she ok? Well that was a big question to be answered, and mostly she would say yes. She would lie about everything, but she was here to tell him the truth. '' I'm glad you came. '' Lauren than started off and looked at Aonghas again. She than gestured that he could sit next to her or across her, what he wanted. She ignored the question and just went talking with a lot of pauses in between. '' You are my only friend. Someone I.. think I trust. That's why I wanted to talk to you. About something.. '' Lauren already felt she was gonna take the time to get to the point. But she still had some doubt, she trusted Aonghas she believed. But this would be the ultimate test. '' But you have to promise me. You won't tell ANYONE.'' The blonde than said as she looked him in the eye. She could go back still and tell a lie.

 

[Aonghas Fergusson]

Aonghas looked at her as she was sat on the floor, he noted that she motioned to the area next to her for him to sit but he hesitated for a moment. He looked towards it and then just nodded, seemingly finding his feet and going to sit down next to her. He knew in his mind that his problems, his family issues were nothing in comparison to hers, that where he was struggling with his family because purebloods had problems, he always got the impression that to Lauren they would be childish. He nodded at her words, he was warmed by the fact that she trusted him, that she was his friend, he wanted her to trust him, he wanted to help her. What use was all the status and power if he couldn’t do some good with it. He might sign his life away to the family and the family cause but if he couldn’t do a little something with it, then what good was it. Aonghas sighed as she asked him to not tell anyone. He looked at her, really found himself looking at her. Looking for anything in her expression that would give away what she was feeling, where the truth lay. She really didn’t want him to tell anyone, but how was he supposed to help her. However, perhaps this was a good first step, telling him then he could persuade her, maybe he could help her without actually telling anyone. Perhaps that would be the thing to do here. So he nodded, ”Ah promise Lauren,” he told her. He would need to promise this now, and then after he could deal with whatever it was and what his promise had actually meant. ​

 

[Lauren Carter]

Lauren watched Aonghas and she just hoped she didn't made a mistake. He went sitting next to her but she couldn't noticed he seemed a bit nervous or something in that way too. But perhaps that was her fault, she made this so secret ofcourse. But it was, and it was neccesary to be so secret. So the blonde sighted for a moment heavy. He stayed silent for a while, it seemed like he had to think of his answer and that made Lauren insecure. She could trust him right? He just looked at her and she looked at him, and she wished she could read his mind now like Styx had done hers. But than he answered, that he promised. He did, and that ment something. But Lauren wanted to make very sure he did. '' You said it. And you have to mean it. If you break your promise...'' The blonde than said and she could not help but talk a bit like her father it scared her. She didn't want to treaten him. '' I will never speak to you again. It's for your own best interest you will shut your mouth.'' The blonde than said a bit more serious. Though she hoped she didn't hurted him, but he had to know how serious it was. Lauren was so scared that she would follow into her fathers path when she grew older. They always told her she was so different, but she hoped she would actually be. Lauren also doubted of writing Gabriella. But it should be the other way around, she had to write her.

 

[Aonghas Fergusson]

Aonghas hated that she was making him swear it, that she really needed him to promise that he wouldn’t say anything about what she was about to say to anyone, that would be the easiest way for him to help her. He didn’t know what else he could do, he didn’t think he was that equipped to just talk to her about it. He didn’t think he would know how to persuade her to tell someone depending on what she said. Perhaps it was just a little embarrassing and he was overthinking it, but he’d noticed things about Lauren, he’d always remember her reaction that time when he’d randomly grabbed her to get her attention on Brightstone. He had never expected such a reaction but it made him think that something was wrong, more so than in his own family. His family was harsh and hot headed, but he knew at the core they cared about each other, there were just other factors affecting it. He knew that making this promise and breaking it would be a bad thing, she was really pressing that he couldn’t tell anyone. ”Ah promise ye Lauren,” he said to her, he would just find out what was going on and then he could help her, convince her to tell someone else, who could do more or if she didn’t want that to just convince her to come back to his family where she wouldn’t have to think about it and he wouldn’t have to tell anyone and break a promise to her. ”Ah swear on ma ma’s life, ah willnae tell anyone,” he tried to assure her. ​

 

[Lauren Carter]

The blonde waited for her friend to answer. She needed to make sure that he was to be promised, that what she wanted and believed was true. And that he would just listen and hear her out, without taking actions. Or tell someone else. She had to make sure he would not do something but that would come. Aonghas said again he promised and Lauren looked at him, not looking away to see if he was true to her. There seem to be some doubt but that was because Lauren just had trouble with trusting people. But this was her trying to open up, to the one person she thought she could trust. And than he sweared on his mothers life, and for him that was a a lot perhaps. Lauren could never tell him that, not that she didn't cared if her mother died. Her parents were her parents still. But the relationship was just not that good. Lauren than nodded and sighted again deeply. '' Okay.'' She than said and felt still doubt, but she had to tell someone. Lauren felt powerless and just lying it on the table to someone perhaps helped, and this was a cry for help perhaps. But Lauren just knew what the consequences were if her father knew that someone did. It would ruin his and their family name.

Lauren was finding the right words, how could you start this conversation? It was hard to talk about it, so than she figured perhaps showing it was enough. Or at least as an opener, a way to say something without using words. Lauren stood up and than looked at Aonghas before turning her back to him. She looked another time if they were alone, but they were. Lauren looked at the wall for a moment and felt her hands shaking, looking at them for a moment and than back to the wall. She than took off her jacket, so that her arms were shown. And a piece of her back, so that she had her shirt on. She dropped her jacket on the ground and felt her hands shaking, a tear in the corner of her eye. Because this was scary, showing it. What Aonghas now saw, was some skin but mostly arms with bruises and at her back. Hidden for the outside, always covering it up. It was scary to turn around now. Lauren sighted and felt a tear rolling from her cheek down on the ground. Than she slowly turned around and looked at the ground, she could not look at Aonghas. And more tears came. The emotions she hid away, she now embraced. Ofcourse she had told lies about her being clumsy and being a beater, when there was something not to be covered. She had a black eye at the beginning of the year, and could tell lies about that too. But this said it all. Lauren still looked at the ground before Aonghas. He could ask if he wanted, but she could not find words right now. It was too hard. This was a start.

 

[Aonghas Fergusson]

Aonghas watched her, he could see that she was really struggling to say what was wrong, and he grew increasingly worried. He didn’t particularly like the silence, he didn’t particular know what to do, but he knew he couldn’t rush her. He couldn’t force her to admit something she wasn’t ready to. Eventually she spoke and then fell silent again, turning away from him, standing up. He knew they were alone, and he watched as she pulled her jacket away and the all too clear bruising on her skin. He felt rage fill his heart, he felt pure unadulterated rage. He’d had his suspicions, he’d had his concerns but none of them had ever caused this reaction in him. Seeing it in front of him was what caused it. He knew the rage was clear on his expression, but it softened slightly as he spotted that Lauren was crying. He didn’t want to scare her, he didn’t want to scare her into thinking he was like that too. He didn’t want her to think he pitied her either. But instead he stood up and offered up his arms for a hug, he felt like he shouldn’t force the hug upon her, but let her decide. He didn’t know what to say but wanted to just provide comfort. ”Ah ‘hink ye should tell a professor Lauren, and ah ‘hink ye should come and live wae ma family,” he didn’t want her to go back to such an environment and he didn’t care if her family had some status, they had nothing compared with what Aonghas knew his own family had. He wanted to make sure she was safe. ​

 

[Lauren Carter]

Lauren still felt the tears rolling and she didn't even tried to hide them, not in front of Aonghas. She could not hide them now. How hard she tried to. But it was difficult to watch him in the eye now. How could she? But he was silent and she hoped he would not do anything stupid now. She saw that he stood up she noticed his legs and he hold out his arms for her. Lauren looked at the arms for a moment, still avoiding making eyecontact. It wasn't exactly something she liked of doing. Lauren avoided contact, and didn't knew what to do with it. She didn't remembered when her parents hugged her. If it ever happend into her life. Lauren had no idea. She put her hands for her eyes for a moment ignorning the arms Aonghas offered her. Than he spoke to her and she listened to what he said. He gave her advice but she shook her head directly and looked at Aonghas directly with an scared look. '' No!'' She said directly. Not a professor, that was not gonna happen. '' Not a professor.. They can't be trusted.'' Lauren than stated and wiped away her tears for a moment and grabbed her jacket and put it on quickly. To cover it up again. Looking around again. Live with Aonghas his family. She than went sitting on the ground again and looked at the ground.
'' No one can know.'' Lauren than said again. And looked to the ground.

 

[Aonghas Fergusson]

Aonghas couldn’t understand why lauren wouldn’t want to take this to a professor, take it to anyone who he was sure would want to help her get out of that situation. He didn’t really know what to do, he didn’t feel too rejected by her reluctance to hug, figuring that she very much just probably didn’t want to feel close. ”Why can’t they be trusted?” he hated having to ask it, but he didn’t understand her reluctance, perhaps this would help him understand a little more. He watched as she took the jacket and covered up again. Just watching as she sat back down on the ground. ”Well, if ye won’t tell anyone, at least let me help,” he said, he still thought it would be a better idea to tell someone about it. Though he knew that it wasn’t like he went around broadcasting what went on in his family, and he knew his brother hadn’t really when all that had happened, but that didn’t mean it was the right choice and his parents had never hit him before. He knew his father wouldn’t hit him, because Aonghas would just hit back. But that didn’t exactly mean it would be right. ”Come back tae scotland wae me,” he suggested. Perhaps if she felt safe, ”We dinnae need tae tell anyone why,” he said to her. He sat down in front of her, wanting to reach out to her and provide any comfort he could but he got the feeling she wouldn’t want a lot of it. ”Ma family can keep ye safe,” ​

 

[Lauren Carter]

Lauren was not sure what to say and not. She had told Aonghas or actually showed him and that was enough. He asked her why she could be trusted. '' Because adults only think of what's best for them. Things are not that black and white. '' Lauren than said bitter to Aonghas. She thought of Styx. '' Remember the lesson with Styx with the Boggarts. Styx can read minds apparently. I never should have gone to that class. He just said to my face he knew. And he forced me to tell, or otherwise he would tell Professor Carter. I think he already has. But it's my life and not theirs. I decide what I want to do with it. '' Lauren than responded and was almost scared of how open she was to Aonghas now. But he could know of it. Styx was stupid and perhaps it was in her best interest he did it, but the way he did it was mean. Reading peoples mind without permission. She was glad to hear that Aonghas wouldn't tell anyone. Lauren was so scared of that. He should know that it was dangerous to know. '' What can you do? You can't do anything.. not against them. I'm afraid of what would happen if they knew, that you know.'' Lauren than explained to Aonghas and still looked around if there was no one. Perhaps Styx was, perhaps he send Aonghas to her. But that was just being paranoid. He suggested going to Scotland, how lovely that sounded but she could not involve his family. If her father knew where she was she was afraid. How powerfull Aonghas family seemed to be. '' I... can't. It's not possible. Thank you.. Just keep this for yourself.'' The blonde than said again. And felt at her arm for a moment she was glad to have her jacket on again. It felt better and safer. It was a lot to take in for Aonghas as well, but the fact she told him this ment he was special for her. Perhaps the hugs came later she wasn't ready for it. But if she had her own control it felt better. '' Can you just hold me for a moment? I don't like hugs usually but it feels good now.'' Lauren than went sitting next to Aonghas slowy. Just as friends ofcourse, but she actually could use one know. Someone who loved her for who she was and accepted her.

 

[Aonghas Fergusson]

Aonghas had to nod a little, though his family was nothing like hers, they were not good people, his parents were adults who looked out for their own interests, but he knew that people did in general. He looked out for himself a lot, he knew that others did the same, but he wouldn’t blame her for thinking it. He wasn’t too surprised about Styx but more frustrated that he hadn’t done more to help her. He couldn’t help but want to support her and make her feel safe, but she had to make the choices necessary. She had to decide what she wanted, at the mention of what he could do Aonghas sighed, ”Ma family are an old pureblood family, we’ve lots of influence and power, you know?” Aonghas said to her, he wanted to assure her that her father wouldn’t dare hurt him, because his father, his grandfather, the family that Aonghas was set to marry into, the links they held...His family had been mostly pacifists during the war, but he knew that if it came down to them, they’d do it. ”If ye need our help, ye’re always welcome,” Aonghas told her with a sincere tone. He wouldn’t push it, but he would push that he could help her, that his family could help if they needed to. ”Ahm no happy about keepin’ it tae maself but ah will, fae ye,” he told her. He nodded and brought her close in a tight hug. If that was what she wanted then that’s what she would get. ​