Nightmare before Christmas ((anyone))

[Rayne Hamilton R3]

Rayne sat in the Student Lounge. It was Christmas Eve she had sent all her presents off to the respective recipients. Now all she had to do was wait for morning so she could go up to her common room and find the book on herbology her dad would undoubtedly send. The actual useful present her mother would send (a book on major dark arts) and the pair of socks her cousin would send. Rayne sighed for once she wished she would get something cool and something she wanted for a change. It wasn't that her parents couldn't afford something cool no it was just they were obsessed with her being the best in her class in the school if they could manage it. As a result she didn't get pretty things or cool things that everyone else got no she got books. All in all Christmas was a pretty dull time for her so she'd spend it in the Student Lounge until it passed.

Opening her beautiful leather bound journal she tried to think of something to write to pass the time. While most people would be happy and write about how joyful the christmas time was she was flat out depressed and her writing showed it. Flipping through her pages she found the poem she had written just hours before.

I hide my pain behind the mask I want to tell but fear to ask. The solace I seek it isn't there sometimes I wonder if they even care. I also wonder if I die will my friends even cry. Or will they laugh, and jump and play, because I'm not there to darken their day. The face I show, it isn't real. I want to take off the mask, show how I feel. But the mask it stays in place fixed so firmly upon my face. I pinch I pry, I push and nudge. But the mask it doesn't budge. Numbness spreads as I see I don't wear the mask, the mask wears me.

[hpfan1]

Anna sulked to the Student Lounge, so far her Christmas Eve had been horrible, most of her friends had gone home and Tempe had just told her something very sad and disturbing (see grounds, just a short stroll, for details). She had not recieved one single Merry Christmas from anyone but Tempe and to make matters worse, she was failing Divination, although she didn't see why she cared since Divination was just plain boring. She reached the lounge and swung the door open. No one was there, but of course everyone had gone home for the Christmas holidays, and they wouldn't be back for another week, but wait there was a girl in the corner of the room, she was writing in a leather journal, Rayne was the girl's name and Anna enjoyed her company, even though she rarely saw her.

" Oh, hello, why are you looking so crummy, did you not get any good Christmas presents?" Anna asked.

[Rayne Hamilton R3]

Rayne slammed the journal shut in surprise when she heard another female voice. Luckily it was Anna a girl she'd met once or twice before and not someone whose company she didn't enjoy like a certain female slytherin for example. Since it was someone she sort of knew she reopened the journal only she flipped past that particular poem and to a blank page.

Rayne realized she must still look particularly mopey if Anna was asking why she looked crummy so she made sure she fixed that. Now looking at her you'd think everything was peechy keen. She was a good actress like that. One of her very old ex-friends once told her that Rayne was perfect in every way except the mental instability. That had driven off one friends she refused to drive off another because she was feeling particularly sad for herself at the moment.

"Nah I was just thinking about the past is all. As for my presents my family holds strictly to the belief that you should only get Christmas presents on Christmas day." She said wrinkling her nose and letting out a chuckle. "How about you did you get anything worth while yet?"

[hakhuraziel]

The doors burst open to the Student's lounge and Vlad stomped in with his thick black boots. He didn't think anyone was in there as he threw his weight around barging past the fire to his usual table and slamming himself into the seat, failing to look around the room. He didn't have any books with him just one envelope and a quill, he removed an ink pot from his deepest pocket while removing his long jacket. He was wearing a blue sweater which looked really comfy and clung to his body.

He was just staring at this blank envelope, it was a christmas card he'd bought from Diagon alley, it had cost him 5 sickles and 4 knuts, quite a lot for a Christmas card, but it was lined with gold and silk to the touch, a card this special could only be for one person.

The trouble was he didn't have a damn clue how to even begin writing it, what did he say to her, was he making things seem too serious between them now, maybe she enjoyed his attention and all but this was too much, after all they hadn't really discussed their feelings at all. Vlad realised the card was whatever he wanted it to be, a Seasons Greetings, a revelation of undying love, trouble is he didn't know if what he wanted stood any chance of being a reality.

Nevertheless, he began to write in his scruffy yet readable hand writing, 'To Rayne'. He then realised he'd better get every single word right or else the card wouldn't be perfect, and perfection is what he always demanded of himself. Hunched over the table again, very much like the first time he met her.

In films and on tv to see people writing with Quills it was always so neat and crafted, it was quite a controversy to see Vlad using one as best he could... the scruffiness was obvious and he'd have been better off with a ballpoint, but he liked the feel of the feather on his fingers he played with it. 'I have been thinking a lot since i met you, and i wanted to send you this card to let you know...' he stopped writing again, what the heck should he write! oh well, atleast he was all alone in the lounge and had plenty of time to think about, he'd give it to her the next day and just hope he'd said what he needed to get off his chest, and that she'd receive it well.

[Rose Callaghan R3]

Rose needed some time to think, and a break away from the cold of the courtyard. The student lounge would work, it's fire was always comforting. She opened the doors to the lounge quietly, peering in before she made her way in. She immediately saw Rayne, and then another girl, one she had seen before. She smiled, good company for the eve of Christmas.

"Hey Rayne, Anna." Rose said, nodding a greeting and smiling. She noticed Vlad sitting by himself, poring over a blank card. He always seemed to keep to himself. "Vlad." She greeted him under her breath.

Rayne seemed her usual self, and with her journal no less. Rose felt awkward standing there so she went to take a seat by the two girls. They seemed to have been already speaking but Rose noticed Rayne's journal and reached for it, curiosity taking her over, but she stopped and turned to Rayne. "Mind if I take a look?" She asked.

[Rayne Hamilton R3]

Rayne looked up startled as the door to the lounge was thrown open and someone stormed in. Her angry outburst was lost as she realized it was Vlad. Much to her dismay he seemed to be lost in thought and as a result he completely overlooked her and her aquaintance and went to sit on the complete other side of the room. At least she hoped he was too lost in thought to notice her because as sad as that made her it would make her even sadder if he was purposely ignoring her.

"Oy you might want to watch the door there love." She called over to Vlad. "And stop sitting by yourself you dork there's plenty of room over here." She motioned to a seat on her right that was empty.

Rayne got an even bigger surprise when Rose walked in. Rose was fast becoming one of her best friends though in reality she only had a few so becoming the best wasn't that hard. She smiled as Rose automatically reached for her journal. Unlike most people Rose was one of the few that could get away taking something like that without asking. Apparently Rose didn't know that as she stopped mid gesture and actually asked to see it. "Yeah sure take it." She said handing the leather journal over.

Rayne balled up a piece of paper from her bag and threw it at Vlad. "Get over here love." She said laughing. Hopefully Vlad wouldn't get angry with her for throwing something at him. Most people would just shrug it off. With Vlad it was very up in the air what his reaction would be. In her opinion it was one of his best qualities. Anyway if he did get angry then she'd apologize and he'd hopefully forgive her. If he didn't then no harm no foul.

[hakhuraziel]

Vlad got smacked in the face by a ball of paper.

He sort of just sat there like a statue for a couple of seconds, then looked over his left shoulder at the congregation of girls. He turned slowly towards them like he didn't know what to expect, most of his actions were slow and dazes, like he was always taking his time and just generally not on full alert. Kind of like a college drop out who lived in their parents basement, he seemed very unenthusiastic when he approached things.

Bloody hell, it was Rayne! And two others he wasn't familiar with but probably knew in some way shape or form, terrible memory Vlad had. He stared at Rayne who was giving him a welcome smile, and the way she was sat looked very cosey and casual. All of them did. She had becokned him over just as casually and he wasn't going to be rude and refuse. He picked up the card, not thinking... rested his quill in the ink pot and stood up, walking over to them.

'You three were here since i arrived? I'm sorry i did not notice' The card was in plain view as he stood in front of them all, he looked really out of place just standing there in front of them and since there weren't really any seats near them, he asked 'should i pull up a chair'?

[Rose Callaghan R3]

Rose muttered a thanks as she took Rayne's journal and pulled her knees to her chest on the chair, in an attempt to get warm. Flipping through it she heard Vlads question and she patted the chair next to her, not taking her eyes off the journal to see if he acknowledged the gesture.

She came upon page after page of thoughts, and then to a poem. She habitually bit her fingernails as she read it, her eyes scanning the page line after line. To everyone around her she must have looked like a paranoid kid fixed on a Christmas carol, waiting for the next morning. The poem was very nice, but she didn't say anything, lest Rayne would not want to talk of it. She continued to flip through the pages.

[Rayne Hamilton R3]

Rayne smiled as Vlad came over. He seemed a little out of it still seeing as how he had a christmas card in his hand still and asked if there was a place to sit. Rayne laughed and pointed to the same chair Rose had patted. It would sit him right next to herself and Rose she hoped he'd take the seat. "Take a seat love."

Rayne looked at the christmas card while she was waiting for him to take his seat. It was a very nice Christmas card and looked fairly expensive. She noticed scanning over it that it had her name on it. Biting her lip to keep from snatching it from him she wondered if he was really sending her a christmas card or if it was just some kind of cruel joke. Vlad didn't seem the type to be a mean joke playing person but there was always room for misconceptions about others. Rayne looked away from the card if it was for her she'd get it tomorrow if it wasn't she'd forget it exsisted.