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My Neighbor Dumbledore: A Mini Fest
Stats:
Published:
2022-12-12
Words:
670
Chapters:
1/1
Comments:
11
Kudos:
22
Bookmarks:
1
Hits:
279

my body is a cage (set his body free)

Summary:

“Don't you remember anything?”

“Just little pieces.” You start slowly. ”Bella kept calling my name in the darkness. I followed her voice and woke up lying here.”

Notes:

Prompt:

 

“Don’t you remember anything?”

“Just little pieces. [Character Name] kept calling my name in the darkness. I followed her voice and woke up lying here.”

Thanks to my Beta!

(See the end of the work for more notes.)

Chapter 1

Chapter Text

my body is a cage (set his body free)

The nib of her quill writes firmly on a white sheet of paper, and you watch her every little move. The nib and the hand - long, slender fingers and a black, fluffy feather. You swallow because the person in front of you is gorgeous; you've never seen a more beautiful woman in your entire life. Long, smooth blonde hair frames her pale, freckled face.

 

She looks up and her silver-blue irises are staring straight at you. She smiles - the corner of her mouth lifts up and you take a sharp breath.

 

Your mother had been telling you that from the two sons she had, you will be the one to break hearts—not Sirius.

 

"Let's get started if you're ready." She speaks and her voice is so soft you feel uncomfortable.

 

You nod your head and lick your lips, unsure of what's going to happen next. But it's just a statement and a question, nothing more.

 

“About that night.” She initiates the topic, and you already know what you're going to hear. You lick your lips, and on the tip of your tongue you have the answer to her question ready. 

 

“Don't you remember anything?”

 

“Just little pieces.” You start slowly. ”Bella kept calling my name in the darkness. I followed her voice and woke up lying here.”

 

The feather you are watching rises and falls, you follow the dark colour with your eyes and close them accidentally.

 

You feel the wind on your face and that fear that makes your skin crawl. You wince involuntarily and bitterness appears in your mouth. Shivers of disgust run through your body, and even though you know it's just a memory, you—

 

You can't get out of this fucking cage, thoughts invade your mind and you're drowning in a sticky, slimy liquid—

 

"Regulus." Her warm, kind voice makes you suddenly open your eyes. You realise that you're panting, that you can't catch your breath, that...

 

"Inhale." Her soft hand grabs yours and squeezes tight. You inhale and she nods. "Exhale." 

You exhale through your mouth, slowly, emptying your lungs, and she keeps staring at you.

 

She smiles and you feel you can trust her. After a while, you calm down enough that the intrusive thoughts disappear.

 

Your brain is empty, calm. You feel peace; you are safe. 

 

You can trust her. You know that. 

 

“Regulus, you are doing great today.” She assures you and you nod. 

 

You can trust her.

 

She is not Bella. She wouldn’t hurt you. 

 

 

Luna Black leaves the patient’s room and she knows she needs a moment. She knew perfectly well what awaited her when Sirius asked her for help. However, she didn't expect it would be so difficult to bear.

 

She didn't know Regulus before all this happened - his life was only told to her by her husband. And he knew only one side of the story - the other one would remain untold forever. 

 

Trauma had accompanied Luna since childhood and that is why she devoted her whole life to helping others. And she was excellent at her job. 

 

Except this one case. 

 

Regulus had been in the same state for years - his every day looked the same. Their conversations were similar every day because he couldn't remember what they had been talking about the day before. Luna tried to force his brain to regenerate, but all it achieved was the opposite effect.

 

Specific questions triggered strong defensive reactions, panic attacks, and intrusive thoughts. With a heavy heart she prepared to talk to Sirius - she knew it was time for some tough decisions. Regulus was nearing fifty, though in his mind he was still twenty. His body was his cage, and it hurt both him and Sirius.

 

Luna looks up to see a familiar silhouette. Her husband has entered the corridor. His gaze holds  a question - the same for years - but she just shakes her head.

 

Nothing has changed, same thing again.

 

Same scenario, same reactions.

 

Same story.

 

Again.

Notes:

/title is from Peter Gabriel song, My body is a cage.