Lost in a Sea of Dreams [OPEN]

[gemma0avery]

Sleeping under a tree isn’t always the smart thing to do, especially when it’s lunch, you’re a Gryffindor, and there are Slytherins about. Not that Slytherins are the only things you have to be worried about, there are also the Marauders and a few housemates out there that just don’t like you for no particular reason…

Yeah, Gemma probably wasn’t the safest she could be as she slept under the tree be the lake, but on a bright note she did have her loyal cat Fiend sleeping on her chest and he could be very intimidating…. If he hadn’t eaten lately or fancied that the person legs would be great to rub against that is.

Alright, so if a Slytherin decided to try and drowned her in the lake or the Marauders wanted to hang her upside in the air by some unseen force or even one of her disgruntled housemates decided to try and strange Gemma with her own tie she was defenseless. But seeing as Gemma was sleeping she didn’t care what foul, loathsome acts tried to do against her and wasn’t going to care until she woke up. Then, once she woke up that is, Gemma would most likely pound the offender into the ground while laughing in a very evil and maniacal way.

But for now she was sleeping without a thought or care in the world.

[brett]

Regulus Black made his way out towards the lake he'd had a quick bite from the lunch table, but really hadn't been all that hungry. So now he retreated to his safe spot by the lake for a bit of relaxation before he would have to return to class. Much of Reg's morning class had been spent flickering in and out of sleep. If this persisted it was only a matter of time before his school work was affected and if his grades dropped his parents would be disappointed and that was the last thing Regulus wanted.

But he would pull through, he always did in the end. As for now, a rest at the lake should do, but something was wrong. A Gryffindor girl had settled into his usual spot beneath the tree. True there were other trees, but Reg liked this one, not to mention it was a bit of a walk to the other trees and he didn't feel much up to that. No he wanted his tree. The Gryffindor was one he knew, Gemma Avery. Reg and Gemma had a pretty hit or miss relationship and he wasn't sure which one it would be today.

Reg had no desire to harm her so most of the hexes he knew were out. A harmless prank however, seemed justified if not required in this situation. He was rather good with the levitation charm, and he had proved with Indi that he could levitate a person as long as they cooperated. Seeing as Gemma she was in no position to object. Regulus withdrew his wand from his pocket and with a flick of his wand began levitating Gemma. Gently he began to move her levitated body out over the water of the lake. His arm began to strain from levitating a heavier weight, but he needed to make sure she would be deep enough not to hit her head on a rock...Reg was still a little iffy on healing spells.

Regulus brought his free hand to his straining wand hand for support. He had been swimming in the lake enough to know the water levels. She should be deep enough. Regulus had been following with his victims movement and was in the water himself up to his shins, but it would be worth it. Unable to hold any longer he dropped his wand releasing the spell. ow the fun starts

[gemma0avery]

Gemma had been dreaming such a good dream… She’d been at home in the rose garden in back when she’d spotted this really cute guy, and he was just her type to! She started to chase after the guy, but as she did a labyrinth with walls made of rose bushes sprung up from the ground and she became utterly lost. But Gemma knew she had to find the guy…

Gemma chased after him for a long time it seemed, and just as she finally caught up with him and was about to see his face there was a sudden rushing sensation….

And then Gemma hit the what with a splash.

“What the hell?!” she shrieked angrily as she initially hit the water, and then her following string of colorful cuss words were gurgled out as the cold lake water found its way into her throat and lungs. Luckily for whoever had caused her to end up in the water Gemma was a good swimmer. She made her way back up to the surface, sputtering water and her makeup running down her face.

Her eyes canning the shore, Gemma spotted Regulus Black standing a bit into the water. Feeling like an absolutely drenched cat Gemma shrieked.

“REGULUS BLACK!!! WHEN I GET MY HANDS ON YOU YOU’RE GOING TO REGRET YOU EVER EVEN TOUCHED THAT WAND!!!!” she screamed angrily as she made her way towards him, wand drawn.

[brett]

Regulus stood at the shore unable to stop laughing even in the face of Gemma's terrible threats. It was actually even more hilarious than he had thought, and her reaction was priceless. Sirius would be proud of his little brother's pranking achievement. Originally he was just going to put Gemma on a tree branch, but the water had been such a better idea...even if his arms were still aching a little. Taking large gasps of air Regulus struggled to suppress his laughter as he made hos way back to shore.

A few more broken laughs and Reg had regained most of his composure at least enough to defend himself. Looking up to Gemma's make-up smeared face it took much of his will power not to burst into a fit of laughter again. Deciding it would be best to not look at Gemma directly he focused on a point just over her shoulder. "Who...me?" Regulus asked almost innocently as he did a 360 check as if looking for the real prankster. Of course all the proof needed was in his soggy sneakers.

"I thought Gryffindors were supposed to have a sense of humor, geez," Reg added trying to defend himself. He had decided that playing innocent wasn't going to work so might as well switch to trying to justify himself while flashing his most charming smile...though he wasn't sure even that would help him now. Really though, what did Gemma think would happen, taking a nap in broad daylight. Although in hind sight he probably should have taken Gemma's wand first.

[gemma0avery]

“Oh I have a sense of humor… I’m going to be laughing as hard as I can while you yelp with pain from what I’m going to do to you, you nasty little creature!!” she growled as she took on a dueling stance and aimed her wand right at Reg’s chest. It was true that Gemma kind of liked Regulus, but she wa never to happy when she woke up and waking up to fall in the lake definitely didn’t help that.

Yeah, she’d probably regret doing this later… Hell, she’d probably end up with a month’s worth of detentions for doing what she was about to… But Gemma didn’t care, the only thought on her mind at that moment was getting revenge on Reg.

“AVIS!!” she snapped, causing a flock of grey dove-like birds to emerge from her wand “Oppungo!” she cried out right afterwards. The birds cried out and started to launch themselves at Regulus.

[brett]

reg did his best to ready himself as Gemma pointed her wand at him. Apparently she hadn't found it quite as funny as he hoped. Oh well, Reg had expected retaliation of some sort. "On the plus side you look kinda cute all wet and angry," Reg offered in one last effort of self defense. Not surprisingly it didn't work, oh well time to use that trusty wand, a mid afternoon duel could be fun.

"Oh, not fair," Reg cried as Gemma's bird army swooped on him. There was a great irony in getting attacked by doves, but Reg was a little distracted with trying to evade his winged attackers to fully appreciate it. A simple Protego wouldn't really work and he wasn't sure a Patronus shield would hold up to actual birds as it was more of a magical shield. Reg covered his face with his arms as the birds pecked at him keeping tight hold on his wand.

Batting at the pestering birds and scrambling away an idea came to him, "Immobolus," He shouted as the flock came in for a second attack. Immediately the the wings slowed and stopped leaving the avian attackers frozen in midair. Reg wasn't exactly sure what to do with the birds now perhaps summon a hungry snake? Finally safe Reg brushed off his sleeves which now had a few scattered peck marks in the arms and shoulders. One had also managed to nip his ear...thank god birds didn't have teeth. "There, we even?" Regulus asked feeling that he had suffered the same amount of discomfort he had caused.

[gemma0avery]

Gemma had registered the cute remark, slightly that is, but by the time he’d said it Gemma was to riled up to care or go all girly because a guy she kind of had a thing for had just called her cute. But as soon as her little winged army had started to attack Reg Gemma started to feel regret.

One, sending dove-ish gray birds to attack your crush didn’t exactly strike any good and loving feelings into their heart. Two, she’d most likely get caught or ratted out and have points deducted and a detention on her record… Another detention that is, but at least it was the first detention for the current school year!

Gemma pulled out of her thoughts as she noticed her little, evil squadron of birds slowing down. Immobulus… That had been a good move for Reg to make….

Gemma scanned over Reg, noting the peck marks and the nip on the ear, and a slight smirk made its way onto her lips as she cast a spell that got rid of the birds.

“Yeah, I guess we’re even…” She told him lightly as she fluffed her hair in an attempt to make it dry faster “But next time I end up in the lake because of you you’re dead meat….” Gemma warned, giving up on trying her hair naturally and instead she casting a drying spell.

[brett]

"Deal," Regulus agreed. That seemed a fair compromise and as long as it kept him safe from further mass bird attacks. As he watched Gemma attempt to fluff her hair he realized first of all he hadn't been lying when he said she looked cute wet. Secondly he realized maybe he had been a bit cruel in dumping her in the lake, but that didn't mean he was about to apologize. At least not directly.

"No hard feelings then?" Regulus asked clarifying that they had indeed reached a truce. After all he'd hate for the fiesty little red head to hold a grudge against him. "What were you doing sleeping out here anyway?" Reg asked. Now that he had a bit of fun he was in the mood for a little conversation.

Well he would need to bare in mind that Gemma was not a good prank target for further reference. And people wondered why he picked on first years. It was just far less likely that he get attacked back. It was pretty much the same reason Sirius and the marauders picked on Snape. Nothing against the guy, but if he wanted them to stop he needed to start fighting back. Then again 4 against 1 were pretty tough odds.

[gemma0avery]

“No hard feelings I guess… I was the one stupid enough to sleep out in the open…” Gemma told Reg as she wiped her make up off with her tie, she’d decided she could just get a house elf to clean it for her later. She wondered, though it’s not likely she would ask him or anything, if Reg had actually meant it when he’d called her cute. She kind of hoped so.

“Hmm? Oh, why did I sleep out here?” she said, taking a moment to comprehend that he was still there and had asked her another question “Well…” Gemma eyed Reg, wondering if she should tell him.

“Well, I haven’t really been sleeping well lately.” She said, deciding it wouldn’t hurt to tell him “Actually I’ve never really slept well, but lately for some reason I’ve been sleeping less and less and when I do sleep its fit full and full of nightmares….” She admitted to Reg with a shrug, though if he looked closely Reg would probably notice the light blush on her pale cheeks from talking about something as private as her dreams and sleeping patterns to someone she barely knew.

[brett]

Wow. A Gryffindor who actually admitted something could possibly be there fault. Regulus was beginning to think Gemma wasn't as bad as he thought. Not that he thought her to be terrible, just thought her to hold up to Gryffindor norms. Although what he thought as Gryffindor norms were actually more like marauders norms. Apparently there was a difference.

Talking to Gryffindors was actually opening up Reg's to just how wrong he had been. Of course he wouldn't ever say that out loud. He would just make people assume he had always known there were some good Gryffindors and scold his opponents for thinking otherwise of him. After all he couldn't let anyone get the impression that he was anything less than perfect, that just would not do.

Regulus was fully prepared to begin mocking the redheads sleeping problems, but found it impossible considering he was suffering from the same thing as of late. He diverted his eyes from Gemma to the ground considering his options. "Looks like you and I have more in common than a thought," he said finally tossing a small smile in attempt to hide his doubt over what he just revealed. Regulus didn't like revealing anything personal about himself, yet he was by nature a trusting person. How this happened even he's not sure, and yes he did indeed see the irony in the two traits. It seemed that Regulus' life was always full of more irony than he would have liked.

[gemma0avery]

Absolutely amazing… A Slytherin who wasn’t going to tease her until her dying day for admitting some kind of weakness out loud… Gemma could swear that somewhere in her mind something broke, or was adjusted. One of the two.

Gemma wasn’t usually one to set someone into a stereotype, but he was Regulus Black. And Regulus Black was supposed to be the definition of Slytherin! Honestly, finding out that Reg both had sleeping problems and didn’t fit into the usual Slytherin stereotype was a major awakening for Gemma.

“You to then? I’d think it was some kind of illness if I hadn’t had sleeping problems since I was little…” Gemma told Reg with a reassuring smile, trying to convey that his sleeping problems would be their secret “Maybe you’ll be able to break out of it while you’re in the early stages, it’s a bit late for me though… I do suggest hot tea before bed though, it’ll calm you down and help you relax.” She added knowingly.

[brett]

"Right, because those things have seemed to help you so much," Regulus snarled. He knew Gemma was just trying to help, but he had revealed something he shouldn't have. Never admit to anything that can be seen as a weakness, that was one of his earliest lessons, how could he have forgotten? Best to just throw out underhanded comments now and deny it if Gemma tried spreading the rumor.

He was being stupid now. "This isn't the first time this has happened," he explained once again diverting his eyes. For Regulus it came and it went. Since he was young...maybe 10. He'd had nightmares before that, but not like this and they would be more the result of watching a scary movie than anything. No, what he was suffering now had him terrified to fall asleep at night.

Why did he all of a sudden find himself caring what Gemma thought of him. He was an independant he didn't need anyone...yea right. Still he was usually able to insult without feeling guilt. Was it because Gemma was yet another cute Gryffindor girl and he had now trained his body to care what they thought? Whatever it was it needed to stop.

[gemma0avery]

Gemma could practically feel her defenses prickle when Regulus snarled back a reply, she never really had reacted well to insults and cruel tones. In fact, she’d been suspended back when she was ten from her school for slugging a classmate that had called her a bastard child because she didn’t live with her parents. Despite this fact Gemma tried to calm herself down and take it in stride. Seeing as Gemma was a Gryffindor and Regulus a Slytherin stuff like that was prone to happening, but maybe she just kind of hoped they could get past all that and become friends… Even if the friendship would have to be secret.

After calming down a bit and ignoring her natural defenses that practically screamed for Gemma to hex Regulus and run she was able to register the next thing Reg said. This isn’t the first time this happened, he has said. But it wasn’t the first time Regulus, and that meant teas and trying to relax weren’t going to work.

“Well…” She said softly, as if she’d never heard him snarl back a reply “What’s it like for you? Is it nightmares or just that you can’t seem to fall asleep or that you just don’t seem tired at all? That’s if you want to tell me I mean, but if you do we can probably figure out how to help you.” She asked him, adding the last part only as a second thought.

[brett]

Regulus considered for a moment. Part of him was aching to get it all off his chest, all the nightmares the horrible images, everything. Yet another part of him ached to shout something insulting and leave. Could he trust Gemma? How did he know this wasn't all just a plot to get him to reveal something she could use against him? 'Yes, Reg she planned you coming up to her and dumping her in the lake as part of a master scheme to know your dreams,' And now he was talking to himself...great.

"Nightmares..." Regulus said hesitating, should he stop there or keep talking? If he was going to tell he might as well tell it all. "Nightmares so bad I don't want to go to sleep at night," he continued quietly ashamed by this. But it was night after night of torture, confusion and pain, who would want that? Still no man should fear his dreams, they weren't real...so why did he feel like they were?

Well he knew they weren't real like he was talking to Gemma, but they were real in that he always felt aware of his body and of any pain it received. Weren't you not supposed to feel pain in dreams? Had his mind become so convincing that he could hurt himself in his sleep, or was is something else? Or worse someone else.

[gemma0avery]

Gemma listened intently to Regulus’ explanation of what his problem was as she mentally scanned the doctor’s, and therapists, explanation of what she could do to settle into sleep and what might be causing her nightmares. Gemma sighed, without knowing the extent of the nightmares and kind of what happened in them she couldn’t really help Reg diagnose what was causing his nightmares or how to stop them, as well as what they might mean… But this meant she would have to delve deeper and she wasn’t sure if he’d share anymore…

“I know you’ll probably not feel comfortable telling me anymore, so I’ll totally understand if you just kind of glare and stomp off or something, but I can’t really help you figure out how to stop or what’s causing your nightmares unless you kind of tell me how often they occur and kind of what happens in them…” Gemma explained apologetically “And maybe if you want I could help you figure out what they mean… I kind of got into figuring out dreams around when I was ten so I could figure out what my subconscious was trying to tell me…”

The last bit of what Gemma said came out in a murmur as she started to stall and brace herself for any of Reg’s possible reactions, she was delving kind of deep for barely knowing him and being in a house that he kind of despised.