Christine Montgomery
 
Seventh Year[M:10]
In order for the light to shine so brightly, the darkness must be present.
Posts: 925
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Post by Christine Montgomery on Jun 18, 2009 16:30:27 GMT -5
She shook her head no. It wasn't Roland although of course it was, it was Roland and Sam, and the attack, and people she loved getting hurt, it was realizing that for once in her life her daddy couldn't protect her. What she had taken for granted for so long, was completely irrelevant. If someone wanted they could hurt her and he would have no say in it. Perhaps she was more protected than others, but did she deserve to be? She had taken so many risks with her life carelessly, and it was all she could do to keep from hating her carelessness, from wanting revenge.
She couldn't even explain her own mind. Pushing weakly out of his arms she moved away and slid down the wall holding herself away from everybody. She was so damn angry inside as well. Roland had been so confident, he had tried to help her deal with the Attack, then he went and got himself killed.
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Post by Geoffrey Montgomery on Jun 18, 2009 18:04:47 GMT -5
Geoffrey shot a helpless look at Riley, then at his father. This was much worse than he had expected. Compared to how she was now, her depressed state at Christmas had been nothing. Right now, he barely recognized the girl sitting hunched on the floor in front of him. And the worst part was that he had no idea what to say. There were no magic words, no spell, nothing that could make this better.
He walked over to her and bent down on his knees. "Chris, you have to snap out of this. You're alive, but you're living like you're half-dead already. And I refuse to let you go, you hear me?"
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Post by James Montgomery on Jun 21, 2009 11:39:00 GMT -5
Christine had been getting steadily worse, and James was at a loss. This was his little girl, and she had always been strong and independent. She never let him help her.
But this was different. Now, he simply couldn't help because he didn't know what to do.
Maybe Geoffrey could get through to her. He glanced at Riley, who looked near tears herself, and put a hand on her back. "Let's get you settled in, all right?" he said quietly, aiming to give his children a moment alone.
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Christine Montgomery
Seventh Year[M:10]
In order for the light to shine so brightly, the darkness must be present.
Posts: 925
|
Post by Christine Montgomery on Jun 23, 2009 5:11:29 GMT -5
Christine hated crying, everytime she thought she'd run out of tears she'd spill some more. Valiently as she watched her father walk away she stifled the tears. She wasn't sad though, well perhaps a part of her was, grief was funny in that way that it affected her. She was more angry than anything else, and when she was angry she couldn't control her emotions, thus the tears.
She saw the affect her tears had on her mother and the rest of the family, nobody knew how to help her, and she supposed she didn't make it easy in the least, perhaps she just didn't want to be helped.
"Sorry." She muttered to her brother wiping her cheeks, but without another word she got to her feet and left him slowly walking til she reached the stairs and quickly ascended until she was running back to her room.
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Post by Geoffrey Montgomery on Jun 23, 2009 14:50:18 GMT -5
"Christine!" Geoffrey called after her, reaching out a hand as if hoping that would stop her. But she was gone already, running up the stairs. He sighed and dropped his hand down, his shoulders slumping. Tears shone in his eyes as he turned to look at his father. "Dad... what are we going to do? She's falling apart."
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Post by James Montgomery on Jun 23, 2009 15:31:53 GMT -5
James sighed. "I don't know," he said. "She barely even acknowledges me. I was hoping she would respond to you," he said. Something had to get through to her. It was killing him to see his daughter like this, but he was out of ideas. He even got Chris to offer to take her out sailing, but she refused that as well.
"I'm at a loss, Geoff. Why don't you take Riley to settle in, and I'll try and talk to her. Again."
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Post by Riley Neves on Jun 23, 2009 15:37:24 GMT -5
Riley was trying hard to blend in, and when Christine ran off, she sighed. She felt guilty. Things shouldn't be this hard on her when his actual family was in so much pain.
"I can go," she said, gesturing towards the door. "I don't want to make things more uncomfortable for Christine. She needs you," Riley said quickly, unsure if she was talking to James or Geoffrey, or maybe both of them.
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Post by Geoffrey Montgomery on Jun 23, 2009 15:40:55 GMT -5
Geoffrey nodded, a feeling of despair creeping over him. It was difficult to imagine things getting much worse than they already were, and yet, he couldn't see the light at the end of the tunnel, either. And for Geoffrey, who was used to being optimistic and positive in most things, this was a pretty devastating realization. For him to be unable to find the good in any situation was a sign of just how bad things were.
"OK, thanks, Dad," he said, his tone dejected.
When Riley offered to leave, however, he took her hand in his. "No, don't. Please stay. I don't think your leaving will make Christine any happier. If anything, having you here can only help her. She needs people right now, she shouldn't be allowed to close herself off from everyone. Please, I promise... it'll be OK. Let's just get you settled into your room."
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Post by Riley Neves on Jun 23, 2009 17:10:31 GMT -5
Riley gave Geoffrey a look. "I really don't want to put anyone out, Geoff," she said, looking after where Christine had disappeared, but she sighed, giving in.
"All right," she said, picking up her featherlight trunk. "Same room as I used to get when I visited?" she asked, which was the room right next to his.
She suspected that Geoffrey wanted her to stay more for her benefit than Christine's, but maybe it would do them both some good.
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Christine Montgomery
Seventh Year[M:10]
In order for the light to shine so brightly, the darkness must be present.
Posts: 925
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Post by Christine Montgomery on Jun 23, 2009 17:21:58 GMT -5
She dreaded the questions she knew were coming her way and staring out her window she resisted the urge to flee, barely. The problem was she couldn't get far enough away, they would find her, they certainly had the resources to figure out her whereabouts. She sighed, they gave her space, it wasn't that, she wasn't sure what it was, perhaps she should have gone sailing with her uncle, perhaps she should have stowed away with Spencer.
Tapping her fingers rythmically as a sign of agitation she contemplated her next moves, and once again turned her head to stare out the window.
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Post by Geoffrey Montgomery on Jun 27, 2009 11:39:42 GMT -5
"For the last time, Riley, you're not putting anyone out," Geoffrey said in a firm yet gentle voice. "We have more space here than we know what to do with. It's going to be fine."
It actually felt a little weird for Geoffrey to be back, too. Since he was used to living on his own, it would be a bit of an adjustment to go back to meal schedules, set menus, and all the extra people walking around. But he knew it was probably what he needed, and that Riley needed it as well.
"Yeah, same room as always. Come on, I'll help you get set up." He started toward the stairs.
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Post by Riley Neves on Jul 1, 2009 14:39:53 GMT -5
Riley frowned at him. She knew there was plenty of room, but the way Christine was... Merlin, she just didn't have a right to be mourning like this.
"Fine," she said, her tone saying she would stop asking, but that she still felt bad. She took her featherlight trunk and nodded, indicating that she was ready. "I actually kind of miss this place," she said, changing the subject. This had been her home for a few summers, and most of her good memories from her younger years were here and with Geoff.
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Post by Geoffrey Montgomery on Jul 1, 2009 17:27:30 GMT -5
"Yeah, me too, actually," Geoffrey said. "I don't mind cooking for myself and all, but sometimes it's nice to be spoiled, you know? And you know, in a house this big, if you get enough of all the family togetherness, you can always go over to the west wing."
He was trying to keep his tone light as he led her up the stairs. As much as he wanted to believe it could be like the way it used to be, when she would stay over for the summer, he knew it wouldn't. Those days were so innocent, and they could never be that innocent again.
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Post by Riley Neves on Jul 2, 2009 13:21:12 GMT -5
"Yeah," Riley agreed softly. She remembered his familu and their dinners and everything. It was nice, something she'd never had, but it could get overwhelming sometimes, too. Still, she was ever thankful to them for always welcoming her when things just got to be too much. She followed Geoffrey to the guest room she always stayed in, opening the door and taking a deep breath.
"Welcome home," she said softly, then smiled at Geoff as she stepped in and set her trunk down.
"It won't be like this for long," she said, looking up at him through her lashes. "I'll make this right."
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Post by Geoffrey Montgomery on Jul 2, 2009 14:12:59 GMT -5
Geoffrey shook his head. "You don't have to make things right. That's not your responsibility. And I'm not even sure this can be made right, unless you could bring Roland back from the dead or something. I know you want to get the guy who killed him, and that's important, but ultimately, it won't help. He'll still be gone."
He sighed, and gave her a quick hug. "Why don't you lie down and rest for a bit? You look beat. Dinner won't be for a couple of hours, so you might as well relax before you have to go down and be social."
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Post by Riley Neves on Jul 7, 2009 15:41:45 GMT -5
Riley shook her head. "No. I refuse to believe that. I have to believe that he might come back to me if I find his killer." She didn;t care that it sounded crazy and impossible. She just needed something wild to believe in to make all of this worth it.
She sighed as she hugged him back. "I'll lay down. Will you be close by?" she asked, not caring that she sounded a bit needy. She figured she was allowed by this point. "And you'll come get me before dinner, right?"
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Post by Geoffrey Montgomery on Jul 8, 2009 13:42:08 GMT -5
Geoffrey's heart ached when she said that. It had to be the saddest thing he had ever heard. He wisely refrained from reminding her that what she wished for simply wasn't possible. If that was what it took to get her through this rough patch, then far be it from him to crush her spirits.
"I'll be right next door," he said gently. "Maybe I'll even take a little rest before dinner. You know, all the stress at the Floo Network department can be so exhausting." He rolled his eyes to show he was kidding.
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Post by Riley Neves on Jul 8, 2009 15:44:24 GMT -5
Riley smiled a little at his joke. "I imagine it can be. You never know when you'll get one of those last minute floo problems," she teased, unaware of the foreshadowing in her statement.
She pulled him into a hug. "Thank you, Geoffrey." She held him for a moment, and then pulled away. "I'll try and get some rest then. But please come get me for dinner, even if I'm asleep." She really felt like she owed him a lot. One day.... she kept thinking it, but when she was back on her feet, she would make it up to him and everyone else.
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Post by Geoffrey Montgomery on Jul 8, 2009 16:31:43 GMT -5
Geoffrey hugged her back tightly, and felt an ache in his heart when she pulled away. Riley really was like a sister to him, and he hated to see her suffer like this. And it certainly wasn't helping that Christine was even more miserable than Riley was. Between the two of them, Geoffrey felt completely helpless.
"All right, I'll be sure to come get you," he said with a soft smile. "Just get some rest."
He gave her one last worried look before he left the room, closing the door behind him.
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Post by Riley Neves on Jul 8, 2009 18:09:47 GMT -5
Riley watched him go, feeling the oppressive silence close in around her and she sighed, closing the door behind Geoffrey.
She went to her trunk and pulled out a sleeping potion. Even with that, it was a pretty 50/50 chance that she would actually fall asleep. She was usually too stressed and too wound up to sleep, no matter how many potions she took.
Swallowing the potion, she curled up on the bed. She wondered if it had been used recently, because the comforter smelled brand new. It was actually all she could focus on at the moment, unblinkingly staring at the far side of the room.
It was 45 minutes or so before she fell asleep, though she didn't even realize that she was asleep.
Roland was suspended in air, thrashing and burning inside the warehouse. Riley was being held back while Lyle Inophen and Blake Malfoy laughed, prolonging Roland's torture. She was trying so hard to run to him, but she couldn't get away, and it only made their attackers laugh louder.
Roland looked at her, begging her to help him, to come save him. She was fighting and clawing to get away, but it was all in vain. A second later, the building exploded, tearing apart Roland's body in vivid detail to Riley's eyes.
She screamed, both in the dream and out loud. Her eyes opened, and she was instantly aware of where she was and that her cheeks were wet with tears. She gave into them. she couldn't keep doing this, it was too much. But she was just so tired.
When she calmed down a few moments later, she got to her feet and crossed the floor, leaving her room behind as she quietly slipped into the one next door. "Geoff?"
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