perchance to dream [ranger]

[Deleted]

ranger,

Sorry for not writing sooner. Didn't think that you'd want to be bothered, but Zander said you've been writing him, so here I am, bothering you. Hope that school has been going well &c. I'm about to leave for work, sorry for the shortness of this letter. Hope you're well.

kegan

@ranger

[Deleted]

@kegan

you aren't bothering me ke. school is going okay, i've entered my name in the tournament so i'm keeping fingers crossed that i get picked as champion. have a good day? if you get this before you get home.

ranger

[Deleted]

ranger,

I'm not a fan of the Triwizard Tournament as an idea, but if you're chosen, I promise I'll at least try to make it to one of the events. Day was fine - long shift at work, as usual. I think I'm going to be picking up an evening shift as well, so I tried to take a nap. It didn't work - too much to think about. How are classes going?

kegan

@ranger

[Deleted]

@kegan

i'll hold you to that you know. it'll be good to see you.
sounds brutal. i have prefect rounds tonight. not that i can tell the difference between day and night at the moment. how're things going for you? classes are okay. i haven't handed in a late paper yet so that's a plus!

ranger

[Deleted]

ranger,

Note that I included the word 'try'. I can't guarantee anything, especially since the Ministry has been kicking every department into high gear to make sure the Tournament goes off without a hitch.

Are you getting enough sleep? Sleep is imperative for success, you know. I'm being a bit of a hypocrite here since I haven't slept much since you left for school, but do as I say, not as I do. I ran into Rosie Fortescue the other day - it was good to see her again.

I will pointedly ignore that you said 'yet'. You should never hand in papers late. Sleep!

kegan

@ranger

[Deleted]

@kegan

yeah i noted it. i'll hold you to it but forgive you if you can't come. besides if i get chosen i'm sure either drew or zander will be at at least one event, so they'll be able to give you the low down. but it won't matter if i don't get chosen.

i'm not. i haven't been able to sleep since .. well you know. i try but it just doesn't happen. i think i doze for a few moments at a time but it's never solid. already sounding like dad again kegan. but i know, sleep is important. i'm trying i promise.

they will only ever be late by a day or two.

how is rosalie? is her dad getting any better?

ranger

[Deleted]

ranger,

I'm sure that half of Wizarding Britain will be at the events, including several Prophet reporters. I'll be able to get a summary no matter what. Don't beat yourself up if you don't get picked, Ranger - the Goblet probably knows that you have a lot on your plate, and it might want to save you from insanity by not adding more to that.

Sleeping potions help. They're the only reason I've been sleeping at all. Well, those and the fact that it's really difficult to stay awake for 72 24 hours in a row.

Sorry that I sound like Dad again since it obviously angered you a lot the first time I tried to be helpful. I was going more for Mom, but guess I fell short.

(Choosing not to comment on the paper situation, because a day or two is still an appreciable amount of time. If you can't finish your papers on time, maybe you should think about dropping out of Dueling Club.)

Rosie's good. It doesn't sound like her dad is getting any worse, but I don't think he's getting any better, either. It was nice to see her again, though. Reminded me of old times, when we were both just kids with two healthy, living parents. What I would give to have that again.

Hope you're doing well. Excuse the energy drink smell all over the parchment - I may have spilled one or four,

kegan

@ranger

[Deleted]

@kegan

hopefully it senses my ability to tackle everything thrown at me head on. but seriously, if it's going to not choose students with a lot on their plate no seventh years would be chosen.
i don't want to bug the nurses for any. i'll be okay. i'm getting used to the no sleep thing.
mom was one of a kind, i doubt anyone will ever be able to sound like she did. i'm sorry about the other day, it wasn't a good one

(i won't be dropping out kegan, the only way i'll leave the club is if i'm forced to and i don't see that happening)

i think we'd all give anything to have that again, pity there is no spell that can make it happen.
those things aren't good for you you know.

ranger

[Deleted]

ranger,

I'm sure there must be at least one person who isn't busy as hell! Even then, Range, there are a lot of dangers in the Triwizard Tournament. You might have flashbacks. You might have to fly. You know I just worry about you. Everyone deserves to have that - someone who cares about them enough to worry. I'm sure A & Z are both big worriers, too, but humor me, please.

You don't have to bug the nurses - ask Professor Aguillard. He likes you, right?

(You really oughtn't have told me that. I can and will write the headmaster if I think you're in over your head.)

No spell, no Time Turners, no nothing. It's probably for the better, but I still wonder. I was reading Beedle the Bard the other day, and I read the Three Brothers story, and I kept on thinking about what the world would be like if we had the Resurrection Stone. Technically, if you wanted to, Andrew, Zander, and you could be the three brothers. You know, Andrew isn't all that power hungry, but Zander did lose the girl he loved, and there are three of you. (Obviously, I don't count because I'm not technically a brother.)

They're not good for me, but they're what get me through the harder days. Miss you.

kegan

@ranger

[Deleted]

@kegan

here i was thinking it was going to be a walk in the park. i know it's dangerous kegan. i'm prepared for if i have to fly. i was working on it during the summer holidays. i can't fly like i used to but i can survive being in the air for a while. i know you worry and i love you for it, but worry a little less? i'm a big boy now kegan. i can make my own choices.
i assume so. but everyone is busy with the extra students and the tournament. i promise it's fine.

(headmaster longbottom put me in charge, i'm sure he already thinks i can handle it)

i love that story. though i think drew would be the one who could cheat death, zander would bring back bay and i'd be the stupid one who would get themselves killed in the search for power. you still count just as much as we do. you can be the sibling in the back of the story shaking their head at the stupidity of their brothers?

can't you think of something healthier? we don't want to loose you too.
miss you, love you.

ranger

[Deleted]

ranger,

No matter how big you get, you're always going to be my little brother. There's no escaping that. (Unless, of course, you decide on being a little sibling or little sister, in which case I would totally support your decision not to want to be called my little brother.)

If you say so. I sent a package with a different owl with some Sleeping Draught for you just in case you change your mind. If you don't want it, feel free just to redirect the package to the hospital wing.

(Headmaster Longbottom can be persuaded, I'm sure. If I bring it to his attention that your grades are slipping, I think he'd be more than happy to demote you. Not a threat, just a consideration.)

I think I agree with your rearranging, though I do like to believe that you wouldn't be as stupid as the oldest brother and go bragging about your conquests. Personally, if I ever met Death, the only thing I'd want from him was answers. I don't need a cloak or a wand or a stone - I can find all of those things anywhere, but there are some questions only Death himself could answer. Why Mom and Dad? And why Rosie's dad?

Drinking an energy drink or two isn't going to kill me, Ranger. Maybe if you decide to take the Sleeping Draught I'll think about cutting back a little.

Miss you more. Love you most.

kegan

@ranger

[Deleted]

@kegan

so i can be fifty and still be your little brother. great. (i'll always be your brother kegan, that's the way i am)

i'll think about it. if i don't get some sleep in the next few days i'll promise i'll take some.
(my grades aren't slipping and nor will they start to. please don't push this kegan. i know you mean well but)

i wouldn't brag about my conquests but i know that i'd probably be power hungry. just a feeling. i don't ever want to feel powerless again. there are a few people i'd ask about. mom and dad for one. rosie's dad isn't dead. i'd ask about braylynn. why take so many people from zander. lets find the bridge and cheat death just to see.

take it down to one of those things a day and i'll consider it? just kidding. i kind of already took some of one. just a little to see if it helps.
nope, you big goof.

ranger

[Deleted]

ranger,

That's exactly what I mean. (That's fine too. Just wanted to say that it was fine if you weren't.)

I'm saving this letter so I have proof of your promise.

I wish I could say it's comforting that you wouldn't be a braggart, but the whole power-hungry thing isn't much better. There has to be a balance between that and being powerless, doesn't there? I hate to say it, Range, but Rosie's dad might as well be dead. He hasn't gotten better in a year, which means he's spent a lot of energy fighting it off and still hasn't made any progress. It stinks because everyone knows he's dying, but no one can say anything about it, because he's not dead yet. I don't want to cheat Death, because that will just make him angry, and angry Death is not-nice Death.

I only drank two today, so there.

I still miss you more.

kegan

@ranger

[Deleted]

@kegan

you have my word kegan, you don't need to save the piece of paper.

i never said it was any better, just that i'd rather have as much power as i can and know how to use it properly. he might start making progress. medicinal magic is always changing and they're always finding new things. he might even start trying some muggle remedies, you never know. it's about staying positive and writing him off won't help him any will it?

that's one too many.

ranger

[Deleted]

ranger,

I won't save the paper, then.

I wouldn't say that I'm writing him off so much as I am being realistic. It would hurt more to believe that magical medicine is going to progress fast enough to save him and then be disappointed than it would just to accept that he's probably not going to make it much longer. Rosie agrees. It's a waiting game, and she's my best friend, so I'll wait with her, even if I know how it's going to end.

I'm trying, Ranger. I'm trying.

kegan

@ranger