Cold Winter Nights

[Stefan Archer]

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<SIZE size="50">To say life had gotten better for the colourblind teen was completely false. If anything his life had steadily gotten worse. There had been complications in the previous term that had landed him back out of school and back in hospital in the muggle world. He'd attempted to keep up with the studies but everything had somewhat fallen apart. Much like his life. Since the death of his father, Stefan had gone from one tragedy to the next. The hospital staff had treated him horribly second time around. He had been deemed a flight risk. A teen with a high likelihood of acting violent due to his background. Anyone who knew Stefan knew it to be false, but these people didn't care. He hadn't been given the chance to show them that he was just a kid, just a fifteen year old boy coming to terms with the possibility of having a future. It wasn't like he would give up everything that Hogwarts and the magical world had given him. He couldn't. He owed it to them to at least try. To try to be the wizard he had always imagined he could be. However, as soon as his plans to go back to the wizarding world had been formed, Stefan had been sent into foster care. And the new parents hadn't been told of Stefan's abilities or where he attended school. He'd spent most of April, May and June at muggle school. And that had been the worse experience of his life. He would've taken being with his father over the people in his school. They hadn't bothered to get to know him. He was the kid who'd just appeared with no schooling background whatsoever. They'd picked on him merciless. And his foster family were not much better. He hadn't expected them to be kind, but he'd hoped they'd be better than his father. They weren't. Stefan couldn't believe his terrible luck. All he wanted was to go to school, be with his friends and have people who cared about him. He would be okay with everything else, with his foster family treating him like dirt if he was just able to go to school. It was why, when July hit, and his foster father had caused him to awake on the other side of his room, Stefan Archer gathered the remainder of his belongings and left. He walked out the door and never looked back. He had taken extra food and water, and for him this was it. He'd go to Hogwarts and he would just stay there.

As he wondered his mind moved to his friends. His best friend, Kate. The people he cared about. He'd told her about what his father had done to him. That everyday had been a new challenge. He could never admit to her that right now, was maybe the worst possible moment of his life. At least with his father he expected it. He knew his father would treat him in such a way, but the people at Hogwarts had been different. They'd let him be himself, make friends and grow as a person. The real world, the world outside those doors was a difficult one for the teen. No one seemed to care enough that he was the bullied. That all his life he'd had to deal with his father, and the moment where he would've been able to move on, where his life could've taken a turn for the better, it had stayed on the dark path. This time there had been no letters from Kate, no nothing. He couldn't blame her. Stefan had been selfish in thinking a perfect girl like Kate would just continue waiting around until he got his act together. Or until the hurricane that was his life passed. He knew that she deserved more than him. His life was a mess, and it would be for a long time. He just needed people, someone to care about him. Someone who would care enough to give him warm food, new clothes, someone who wouldn't make him do things he didn't want to do. Someone who actually cared. Sure it was great having friends, but some days Stefan just wanted his mom. A woman he didn't know, a woman he couldn't even remember.

After walked for the better part of three days, the slytherin teen finally made it to Brightstone village. He'd been on his feet for the most part, and had slowly dwindled down the amount of water he had. But, Stefan was glad to see a sight such as the school he simply loved. He had walked towards the grassy area, and taken a seat underneath a large tree. There was a light frosty wind blowing. The thin, old jumper that Stefan wore holding in none of the heat. He brought his knees up to his chest and leaned his head against his knees. There was a large bruise on the side of his face, but that was the only evidence of anything being wrong. But, the reality of his situation was hitting Stefan hard. He was a fifteen year old boy with no one and no where to go. He was truly alone in a world that he could only see in black and white. He couldn't go back to that home, and he couldn't go to Hogwarts just yet. He was cold and tired, sore and worn out. It was days like this that made Stefan just wish he had his mother. Someone to give him a hug, or a helping hand. Someone to just help him through this difficult time. Instead, he had nothing but empty air. For the first time in a long while, Stefan couldn't hold back his tears. He was fifteen years old, with no family, completely colourblind, and homeless. There was only so much he could take. His entire body racked as he tears cascaded down his face. He pressed his face into his knees and just hoped that things would get better. He did however realize that he'd been holding things in for too long. Too much had happened and even though he'd told Kate some of it, at times he just wished he could tell her everything. But he couldn't and now more than anything he just wished for some company. Someone to remind him how much he loved the world.
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[Sapphire Bookchild]

Sapphire was living on top of the world. She got her voice back not a couple of days ago and she had been a part of bringing down her adoptive mother who, for lack of a better word, was a monster. It wasn't all great, the comic she drew of her life with in the walls of Bella-Donna Manor had brought forth memories that she had wanted to forget for so long but in the end it had helped the Aurors get through the maze and find the siblings that she had never known but had somehow knew that they lay under the sunflowers in the garden. Sapphire still woke up with nightmares from her time in the Manor but at least she was safe. Now she could focus on school and, for the first time, life a head of her.

The absence of the pixie mark on her shoulder had left her feeling like something was missing though. Not the mark itself but something like color on her skin. Finally she decided what was missing. The day afterwards she had talked Lilith to take her into the muggle world and get her her first tattoo. A set of stars on the corner of her right eye. Sapphire had found that her skin was another empty canvas and it was her job to fill it with stuff that looked cool and had meaning to her. She walked the streets of Brightstone doing a bit of shopping for school (and visiting the quill shop to forfll her secret obsession with quills) when she saw a shape on the ground somewhat sobbing.

Sapphire reconised the state he was in because Sapphire had spent a month out on the streets on her own, begging for food and taking shelter where she could. "Hey, hey here take some coins and get yourself a meal at the hogs head. No one minds the smell there." Sapphire said kindly. She knew this because on the rare occasion that she had gotten some coins to her name Sapphire had gone there for a bit of food. The pub smelled sour itself so there was no reason why people would mind the people smelling. "Then we can see about getting you a place to stay for the night if you want." She continued in that soft melodic Greek accent that she just recently found out she had.

 

[Stefan Archer]

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<SIZE size="50">There was a part of him that considered that he should just go back to his old house. There wouldn't be anyone there. They surely won't have sold it. He had a whole bunch of things in the house he wanted to have. Things that belonged to his father that he wanted. He was sure there would be a photo of his mother. There had to be one. It wasn't like she was invisible so she couldn't be seen. Sure, now she was, but there had to be a time when his father had felt love for her. In the same way that he felt love for Kate. The way that her smile alone could pretend up his day. The way he could feel like nothing and she would just be there and make him feel a hundred times better. It was the one person he desired above all others to just appear before him. He just wanted to be with his friends, but the trek to England where Kate and her family resided was a much longer one, and one he couldn't do without money. Which he had very little of. He had barely anything, he had a small bag of the remainder of his belongings, and most of what was in the bag was actually food. Since he'd been brave enough to take from the foster family's fridge. Something he would've never dared do at his fathers. But, his father barely had any food at the house, so nine times out of ten, taking food wasn't even an option since there was none. That family had food, only they'd more or less just flaunted it in front of the starving teen. It was wonder he thought that he'd managed to make it through the last months. His life had not gotten any better. When all he hoped for, all he prayed for would be for something to improve. Anything to improve. He could, as he always said, deal with the colorblindness, but he continuous lack of a family, the loneliness, and lack of people who cared was really getting to him. He was only human, and Stefan was sure he deserved to be treated like one. he knew he did. It was no longer a case of maybe he did. Stefan was tired of being mistreated. Of being put down. He wanted things to be different, more than anything he just wanted a chance at a normal life. Stefan Archer wondered what he could've possibly done in a previous life to have gotten this bad a hand. The slytherin teen didn't even know how to put into words how upsetting it was to him. At fifteen, to have quite literally nothing.

The noise of someone approaching didn't even register in Stefan. All he could do was sit and let the tears cascade down his face. He could do nothing to stop his body from shaking. He couldn't stop it, he didn't know how he was going to possibly be able to stop crying. It just, it all just hurt so bad. He just wanted something normal. He had always been told that crying was a form of weakness, but some days no matter how hard you try there was no escaping it. He doubted most would make it this far without crying, or breaking down. He could tell himself that he had reached his wits end, and like most he had to let some of it out. He had to let himself let go of some of the pain. All of emotions he'd kept inside for so long. All the times, he'd felt close to breaking down and for the sake of those around him, told himself no. The voice of the girl startled him. He jumped slightly, and glossy, tear filled blue eyes stared up at her. There were tear streaks on his face, and a completely broken expression in his eyes. The fading bruise on Stefan's face clear in the light of the evening. Stefan didn't stop the tears from continuing to fall from the blue eyes, or stop his body from shaking. But he was confused, why would someone give him money. He didn't want to take it. This girl was probably only a little older than him, and he was worried it was a trick, that she was saying such things, but didn't mean them. That the moment he reached out to her, she would take them away and just leave. "I have food." A soft, voice said through the many, many tears. He motioned to the bag at his side. "I'm fine. I don't need a place to stay" It was suffice to stay that as much as Stefan wanted to follow this girl, he didn't know her. He didn't trust her, and while he was pretty desperate for at least a blanket, or something warm, he didn't know if she was going to want to help him, or just turn him back over to social services. He wanted to trust her, he needed to trust her, he didn't know how many more nights he could spend sleeping outside before he caught a cold, or something worse. "I can't"
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[Sapphire Bookchild]

Sapphire took a good look at the boy's face and there was a spark of recongnition. "We met once. One Halloween as I was talkin to Tara. You where bothered by the glitter that I used to talk that night." Sapphire said hoping to jog his memory though she remembered that the last thing she wanted to do was remember old friends when she had been homeless. Sapphire took a seat next to the boy and put her shopping bag next to her. "I know what it's like. I won't tell anyone who you are if that's what your worred about." She said her voice soft and conforting. she eould have given anything for someone to reach out to her like she was to this boy right now. Then again she might have thought it to be a dympna trick.

Sapphire spotted the bruse on the side of the boy's face. She reached out and turned his face more to the street lamp. "I know what that's like too. No one ever assums that crucio leaves marks but it does." She said then lifted her shirt slightly to show him what looked like a burn mark on her torso. "In some cases this was getting off lightly. she said as her mind took her back to the cold halls of Bella-Donna. The fear she felt when she had to go back there on school holidays.

There had been times where she had thought of just letting herself drop from the astronomy tower or making it look loke she had an accident in the lake. Sapphire had shaken those thoughts by drawing or listening to music. In some instances she imagened that people would be sad if she took her own life. The negation was that she still had to suffer because of her inadiquesies. That was while she lived with Dympna though. Now that she has a space in the La Fey household she was starting to love herself again and letting the scars heal. "Let me buy you something warm to put in you at least. If you want to go then you can and never see me again." She said told him with a kind smile on her face. She hoped he would accept her help. It was hard out there and kindness was rare.

 

[Stefan Archer]

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<SIZE size="50">The teen couldn't remember ever seeing this girl. It was understandable, he was a teen with a whole mound of issues that seemed to happen one after another. The little bits of happiness were being drowned by everything else in his life. There was no way for someone like Stefan Archer to be able to stop the bad memories being all he currently knew. However, after taking a deep breath and wiping the tears from his eyes, an attempt to stop the steady flow of tears he suddenly remembered the girl. She didn't talk, she hadn't then. But now she was. He gave her a small attempt at something resembling a smile, but it was a failure. He couldn't smile, he had somehow pretty much forgotten over the past few months what it meant to be happy. To smile and mean it. To smile and not be attempting to not get the crap beaten out of him. It had been a brief encounter. He hadn't really remembered that Halloween in the slightest. Halloween was something that scared him, he didn't know what it was about the day. Parts of himself was sure that he should love the holiday, but he hated it. He was slowly remembering the Halloween in which they'd met.The glitter had annoyed him, he was colourblind, the glitter had reflected the light, and this hurt Stefan's eyes. Well, they hurt them, in the sense that it made it difficult for him to see even two meters in front of him. He looked up at her as she spoke. He appreciated what she was saying, but that had been words, there was no guarantee that she would be true to her word. He didn't know if he could run the risk. Of course, no matter what happened he would always leave the family he was placed with if they treated him like dirt. Sure, he knew he deserved it, but he didn't want to have to live through it any more. Not anymore. "PLease don't"

Stefan's mind glossed over the part where she said she knew what it was like. It wasn't like he was used to people actually knowing what it was actually like for him, so instead his mind just erased the words from his brain. He looked away again. Hoping that she'd maybe just leave. As much as he hated being alone, and how much he really wanted her company, he couldn't. He didn't know her. For all he knew, his foster family had sent this girl after him. It was unlikely, so very unlikely but yet, here she was. Trying to help, and all the Slytherin teen could find himself doing was pushing her away. He pulled away from her as she turned his face. He was then confused about what she said, he knew that crucio was a curse, but it wasn't what had inflicted his injury. No one in his family, or foster family as far as he knew had magical blood, it was just Stefan. He looked at the mark she showed him. He couldn't be that brave. lifting his shirt was something else. The scars he had, the faded bruises. There was too much. Instead he shook his head at her. "It wasn't any curse that left the bruise." Stefan muttered. He couldn't directly say that it was actually someone. Someone had curled their hand into a fist and punched him hard. It was pain, but it was different. He was sure he would be able to deal with a curse better than a person's actual fist. At least the person wasn't close, there was no connection whatsoever, just pain. It could be anticipated a lot easier than an angry fit. But in both cases it wasn't what a person deserved. "I'm sorry" He said. He didn't know why he said that, but like how when people died, and said sorry it felt like the same was meant to occur in this situation. As he shivered, he looked up at the girl. Something warm, that sounded perfect. He didn't know why she was so kind to him. Everyone in the past few months had been horrible to him, and suddenly here was this girl. Who didn't appear to hate him. In fact she was being nice to him. "Okay." He muttered. Stefan figured it was a pretty good deal. He was cold, he didn't have anything thicker, and the nights would be long and cold until he got back to Hogwarts. "Thank you."
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[Sapphire Bookchild]

He must of thought she had said on him instead of in him but it was what he wanted, she had gotten a bonus working as a stock girl for Honeyduke's. Morgan had said that she didn't have to work but somehow she didn't feel right using her money. Sapphire got up off the ground and offered her hand down to Stefan for him to take. "No I would guess it was done the muggle way, three days old I suppose. I don't have access to the balm that I used to use when such 'accidents' happened in the house. I would have gotten rid of that for you." She said then turned to one of the shops. She had been planing to get him some soup or something but a cloak worked just as well.

"Like I said, most of the time if we where crucio'd we where lucky. If she had to discipline us the muggle way we where better off dead." She said thinking of what she had done to Jasper at one point. He hadn't been able get out of bed for a while afterwards. Sapphire was working on her comic again. She wanted to publish it to tell people what happened to them All of those that where adopted or more like it abducted by Dympna Bella-Donna. She wanted to show the world that it was possible to survive something like that and thrive afterwards with little damage. Though there where those that thought that Sapphire was more damaged than she let let on. Sapphire had found if she was damaged she put it all into her art.

She looked back to see if Stefan was following her. "My name is Sapphire if you don't remember. Like the gem. Last time we saw each other my voice was gone." She said. Sapphire was still enjoying the fact that she could talk again. Her voice had sounded a little raspy because of the lack of use for so many years and talking for a long period of time made her jaw hurt but she was getting used to it. She was also learning to filter some of what she thought just as she did when she had to sign or write everything down. Sometimes her thoughts where best not uttered out loud though she didn't much point in it.

 

[Stefan Archer]

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Stefan Archer was a boy who was currently attempting to figure everything out in his life. Though he'd just started to plan his future, he was unsure as to what he would do once the school year was over. As much as he was going to be okay currently living for a little bit like, this, he knew that in time he would have to come to some decision about what he was going to do with his life. What he was going to do about a home, or what he was going to do about making money. Without a roof over his head, there was no way he could make money. And without money there was no way he was going to have a roof over his head. He stared at the girl and wiped away a few remainder tears. Stefan could hardly imagine that he would ever run into someone else who had been in a situation somewhat similar to his. Of course the difference being that she clearly had siblings or other people in her life going through the same thing at the same time as her, where as he was just alone. He had no one, and it wasn't an easy thing to talk about either. He couldn't just say, oh yeah, so my dad hits me. Or hit me, past tense. I can't remember a time when he didn't. He didn't know how to then say that his foster family and everyone in the muggle world had treated him horribly. How could he say that when a good thing happened to him, a bad thing, with twice the amount of destructive powers hit even harder. The slytherin teen got to his feet and began walking, slightly slower and slightly behind her. His feet ached. He felt so exhausted, all he really wanted to do was sleep. Somewhere warm and hopefully dry. The colourblind boy knew however that he didn't really have a choice in the matter. Wherever he could find would have to do. It still puzzled him that she was helping him. It was odd, he hadn't seen this much kindness in a little while. He had missed it, but he also knew that no matter what there would always be people out there that just wanted Stefan to do what where they wanted him to do. Stefan was sure that in a little while he would able to possibly get on his feet and just be able to live a very normal and safe life, but for now, he couldn't. He was a teen on the run. No one technically knew where he was, and he didn't want them to know. People just put him down everyday. Hogwarts was truly the only place where he didn't feel like people were constantly trying to make him feel worse that he already did. It was the only place he had never been bullied before. It was why he was very happy to be returning after such a sketchy year.

"Stefan. But you probably remember" Stefan muttered quietly, attempting to keep up with Sapphire, he wasn't sure if he wanted to still be following her, but it truly was that he had no other options. There was really nothing else he could do for himself, and it had come to the point where he was ready to ask for help. He did however feel bad about the fact that he hadn't remembered her name. "I'm sorry about forgetting your name. It's been one of those years." it was a phrase that Stefan heard used often enough, but he thought it applied to him more. Because no one could claim to having a year quite like Stefan. He was without a home, lacking in family and he in everything. His father had almost taken Stefan with him as well. Stefan was just very glad that he was even still alive and no longer thought about things like that. He didn't need to. He was alive now, and though each day was a personal struggle, he knew in his heart that he would make it. That he would be able ten years down the line to be able to smile and say, yes, I made it. I survived. Although on most days, he thought that it would close to impossible to achieve. He just hoped in his heart that he would. He wanted to, more than anything. He needed to. He owed it to all people that he could just live love enough to at least get the courage to tell Kate that he loved her. "I like your voice. It's less harsh than most" It also helped that she wasn't yelling or screeching at him. Everything with this girl was just easier. He didn't have to be constantly trying to be sure he didn't "how've you been?" Stefan added hoping to break the ice and steer conversation well away from him and what happened to lead him to this point.​

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[Sapphire Bookchild]

Sapphire lead him into a shop and showed him a rack of cloaks that he could chose from. "Pick what you like. I work now so I don't mind sharing. **** Blick can wait." She said thinking of the clay that she had wanted to get. It wasn't anything that needed to gotten right away. Her thoughts went back to Ruby and how broken she seemed at the moment. It was going to be hard getting her back to where she was. Sapphire wanted her little sister back but she knew that she was never really going to come back. Once sunshine like that was clouded over it was hard to get the radiance back as strong as it once was. "Took me a while to remember your name too. I know Tara was with you and I've seen you a few times around school. Kate talked about you once or twice I think." She said trying to think back to the conversations she had been present for but never been able to take a part of.

"I've been fine for the most part. The woman that took made it so I couldn't talk is serving time in Askaban and I got my voice back so I'm doing alright. My sister is struggling a bit but she'll get better soon. Morigan's..." Sapphire made a fist and put it in her open palm. "Morgan! How could I have forgotten about her? Stefan are you sure you don't need anywhere to stay. I'm sure Morgan will be more than happy to let you stay for a while like she's doing for me." She said. She was really was dumb for forgetting about Morgan. It had been only last year when Sapphire had broken into her shop to find a warm place to sleep. Morgan had taken her in and helped her in anyway she could. Sapphire couldn't thank her enough for it. She was sure that she would take in Stefan the same way. Morgan's heart knew no limits, the same with her natural daughters all except maybe Eden who seemed withdrawn from everyone else.

 

[Stefan Archer]

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There was nothing that surprised Stefan more than the kindness of some. He'd dealt with so much bullshit in his life, that a little bit of kindness went a long way. That tiny bit of sunshine on a rainy day kind of situation. He never imagined it would be now. Sure, at the point he had hit rock bottom. Like there was very little that he could do at this point that could make his life worse. This was truly the point where things had to get better. There of course was a way in which it could get worse, but that really true. He really hoped it wasn't. It wasn't like he knew how to handle tough times, but he was positive that he had been through enough. Positive that he would in fact that things really could not get worse. He could only think that it was up from here on out. That he would be able to work things out. That he would manage to gain some normality in a life that had been more like a endless fall. That he would find his center and find a way of not crashing upon the floor. It wasn't the best method, he wasn't sure it would ever work. Part of his mind was telling him that no matter how hard he tried for a normal life, for him, it was just something that wasn't going to happen. He was optimistic, but even in this store. Even with this girl, he didn't want her to spend her money. His mind told him he wasn't going to be able to make good use of it. He often forgot that he no longer had a dad that would in fact tear him apart, and everything that he had ever gotten. Now he didn't have his father, he shouldn't have that kind of a fear, but it lingered on. Like in his dreams. Where this had been a dream. Where Hogwarts didn't exist and he spent the dream petrified of what his father could do. This did however mean that he awoke, in a huge sweat with his heart racing. Sure, some nights it would be fine, but tonight. Right now, it wasn't what he needed. To be living around and not be able to just sleep for an entire night. He felt dead on his feet. He didn't quite know how he was going to make it until the start of the term. He had nothing. He was so tired, so cold, so hurt. This kindness from Sapphire was enough to make him feel like maybe it wouldn't be so bad. That he could make it.

What he couldn't figure out was how on earth he was meant to pick a cloak. A blanket would've sufficed. Something to keep him slightly warmer than he was usually. He looked at the price first, each time. He didn't care if it wasn't that comfortable, he wasn't looking for that. He wanted warmth. Something to help him cover himself in the dead of this winter. Until he got himself settled and was able to find a place to stay. Which he clearly currently didn't have. He had all of his belongings in the bag on his back. He looked back at the girl as she spoke again. Kate spoke about him, he smiled slightly thinking of Kate. He missed her a lot. He didn't know if she missed him, but he knew that he missed her. It wasn't easy being him, and he knew it wasn't easy for someone to be his friend. He knew that he was self-centered that, in all fairness he did believe some of the time that he didn't deserve friends, let alone a girl as amazing and perfect as Kate. The blue eyes drifted up again at the girl as she talked. About the woman who had hurt her. He could barely think of his father without getting terrible memories, he could even less talk about it. He didn't know if he would ever be ready to talk about it. He dropped what he was holding when she said he should go stay with them. He was quick to pick it up and place down on the shelf. He couldn't understand why she would be so nice to him. He didn't know whether to say yes, or to turn it down and just walk away. It would be nice to feel safe. For at least one night. For just a night. He turned back to the cloaks, and wondered how bad could it really be. He could just leave if it didn't work out. He had that option, there was nothing tying him to anything. "She won't mind?" He asked turning back to face Sapphire. "Just for the one night, that's all I need." Stefan knew that he was taking a risk, what happened if she was lying to him. She had no reason but, Stefan trusted very few people. But, he was so tired, he was willing to take such a risk, just for a good nights sleep. "Just for one night."​

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[Sapphire Bookchild]

Sapphire could talk about what she had been through because she had already drawn it out for the Ministry to see. Yes there where parts of what happened to her that she would never talk about with anyone unless she was really close to that person but she could talk about how it was for them in general. That and she was happy that Dympna was now in Askaban looking at a life long term. Her pain had been emence but that didn't mean that she had to ware it on her skin. There was beauty in the world and Sapphire as an artist could see it no matter what happened. She leaned on the stack of cloaks and smiled at Stefan. "Oh Morgan will more than not mind. She will tell you you can stay more than one night if you need more. And because of one of daughters the house now has more room so it's not a problem." Sapphire said remembering the house that she was starting to be able to call home.

"Morgan won't keep you there though if you don't want to stay you're free to go if you want to. She's really as close to an angel that a castaway like me will ever be able to get. She said. She sounded nonchalant about it but really it was something that bothered her. Why did she have to go through what she did in the first place? Had she not been good enough for her parents to keep her? This is what Dympna told them, that they had been cast aside by their parents so she picked them up and they should have been grateful that they had her. Sapphire had believed it for the first part of her life the second had been spent resenting her parents because they left her to be abused by Dympna. Setting those thoughts aside Sapphire smiled and thumped the cloak rack. "Come on pick something, we pay for it then we can go see Morgan." She said nodding towards the door. It was getting late anyway and she was sure Morgan would wonder where she had gotten to.