Houses

When at last she reached her bedroom door, she leant against the frame to look back at her dad and offer what she hoped was a reassuring smile. The pause allowed her to prepare herself for the small journey to her bed, and she was glad of it as she made to close the door.

Tessa waited for the sound of his footsteps to fade before struggling across the room to her bed. She rummaged beneath the covers for the journal until she located and withdrew it, pausing to run her fingers across the cover. It felt surprisingly heavy in her lap as she opened it.

"No," she said quietly, a smile gracing her features. "Although Nutmeg did get some things. I got a lot of food, and lotions and stuff. It was nice seeing everyone together."

"Their days at school," she said, rolling her eyes. "As usual."

"I get the feeling they weren't loose cannons," she smirked. "Uh, Lizzie, d'you mind if I go to sleep again? S'just 'm still tired from before, and I think I'll feel better if I rest."

Tessa smiled, closing the book and laying it down carefully on her side table before sinking into the covers, tugging them tight around her shoulders. She was asleep within five minutes.

It was nearing midnight when Tessa awoke. For the second time that day, she sat bolt upright, breathing heavily. The memory of a nightmare stirred at the surface of her mind, and she vaguely remembered the words 'she's gone,' before all recollection of the unpleasant dream slipped from her head. Almost instinctively, she reached for Elizabeth's journal and nudged it open.

"Morning. Or night. I don't know. What happened there?" She mused, trailing a finger delicately over the ink splatters.

Tessa frowned, but shrugged it off. "Oh!" Her eyes widened. "I completely forgot to send an owl off to everyone!"