Escape from a Nightmare (open)

[Alessandro Darko]

He swished his wand in a circular motion, then adding a jab-flick. "Expecto Patronum!" He cried. His happy memory was, this time, receiving his Hogwarts Invitation letter on his 11 birthday. He remembered the way his mum looked as she spotted the owl coming first. She was so happy, she almost had tears in her eyes. As he remembered this he began to feel that warm feeling as he remembered how excited he was to really be going to Hogwarts for the first time.

A light sparkled at the tip of his wand, and then exploded in a bright flash, emitting a streak of luminous, white light spiraling across the room. It swirled into a larger mass finally forming the shape of a stallion, galloping around the kitchen, it's mane and tail blazing as if it was pure fire.

He felt that happiness being sucked through the wand as he began to feed it with another memory. He smiled and looked to Susan. "How appropriate, no?" He laughed. "The Italian Stallion!" He grinned foolishly as he brought his gaze back to his patronus. He felt his happiness waning, so he let it go and dropped his wand, resulting in his patronus vanishing in a swirl of light.

He drew in a deep breath. "The whole experience really takes a lot out of you to sustain it for a length of time..." He said taking in another breath.

[Susan Matthews]

"Oh!" She gasped as she watched the light and smoke produced from the spell form a large glowing stallion. As the stallion passed her, she felt a wave of Alessandro's happiness pass over her. She smiled instinctively as the warmth that filled the room along with the light from the galloping patronus.

As quickly as it appeared, it was gone again. Susan understood that it took a lot of energy to keep a patronus going. Energy that wasn't exactly available at this time of night, especially with the both of them lacking sleep. As the silvery smoke and extra light dissipated, the previous cold returned to the kitchen sending a shiver down Susan's back.

Though the patronus was gone, Susan kept up her smile. "That was amazing!" Susan complemented, feeling that there was a better word than 'amazing' that should have been used. Her thoughts lingered on the way the glowing stallion had effortlessly formed from the wispy smoke. Susan made a promise to herself, to practice her own patronus. She knew it would be come in handy, and it was always a good spell just to know.

[Alessandro Darko]

He smiled as he seemed to have impressed her with his patronus. He wondered why it took the form of a horse, and wondered if it had some kind of meaning as to who he was as a person.

"Thanks...It took me forever to finally get it to work. But you'll manage the same thing in due time, just practice whenever you get the chance. However, the trick is finding a spot to practice without being interrupted. I found the ballroom to be a good space, but the room of requirement probably is better suited for that kind of magic." He said longwindedly.

He let out a tired yawn as he clamped his hand over his mouth. "Sorry, it's getting late...I should probably get back to my dorm and...not sleep..." He said with a sad chuckle. He replaced his wand within his robes and made his way over to the doors to the kitchens.

He turned back to look at her. "You did a great job Susan, keep it up and you'll have it in no time flat." He gave her a warm assuring smile and proceeded to exit the kitchen. Before he closed the door, he popped his head back in quickly.

"Good night! pleasant dreams, Susan!" He called and then withdrew his head. He frowned as he walked up the corridor thinking to himself.

It's a pity that I wont....

[Susan Matthews]

"Thank you," Susan said mostly for the compliments, the wishing of well dreams and for being a good friend. She smiled weakly. "Good night, Alessandro!" Susan called with a small wave as he presumably made his way to the Ravenclaw dormitories.

The hour of the night had gotten to Susan as well. Her hot chocolate was now to be considered a "lukewarm chocolate" that was no longer desirable in any way. She carried the still full cup of the once-hot chocolate along with Alessandro's forgotten tea to the sink in the kitchen and began to hand wash the cups herself. The warm soapy water on her hands had a soothing effect that was soon dismissed by an elf who insisted on washing the cups for her. Reluctantly, Susan handed over the mugs and dried her hands on a clean rag supplied by another house elf. Feeling like she needed to do something to help clean, she waved her wand sending most of the furniture back to its original places.

"Thanks for your trouble," Susan politely told the elves present in the kitchen before leaving the kitchen and heading for her own dormitory to try to find some of those "pleasant dreams" Alessandro had spoken of before dawn came again.