---

The pale, grey-white light of the moon left a curious glow within Elliot's flat, mingling with the warm, orange and yellow tones of candlelight that helped to illuminate the rest of the space within. Elliot was thankful that tonight was a full moon, it meant more light and less shadows to haunt her thoughts and dreams. She had been haunted every night for over a week now.

She had tried to cook dinner for herself a little earlier, but the silence of her flat left her nervous and without an appetite, so she kept herself close to the candelabras scattered about the main area instead. Their glow and their gentle warmth helped her to feel a little better. However, it was getting late but she couldn't bring herself to fall asleep yet. She almost wished she didn't have to, just so she could keep the nightmares and bad memories away for a little longer. But, after more than a week of only a few hours of sleep a day Elliot's nerves were shot, her brain fried, and almost desperate for something to help. She could have gone to get a sleeping potion but she didn't want to lie, nor did she feel that the lie of "I can't sleep at night" or "sudden insomnia" were legitimate enough reasons. Part of it was because she was just too stubborn, too proud, to ask for help with this. This was her problem, and she was going to deal with it.

With a long sigh Elliot sat herself down on her little couch and pulled her feet up and got herself into a fairly curled up position there, retreating from the shadows that still clung to the deepest corners of her flat. The silence was almost maddening at this point. There had been moments where even her own breathing startled her into thinking it was the dementor's breathing nearby, gasping away at everything good she felt or remembered. Squeezing her eyes shut and biting at her index finger Elliot forced herself to keep calm.

        RAP RAP RAP

Ambrose’s knuckles pounded Elliot’s door before both of his feet were even planted. Wet footprints formed as he adjusted to a more proper stance outside of her flat, and he quickly took to ignoring the deaf silence that he had interrupted. In the crook of his arm: Elliot’s copy of Olde and Forgotten Bewitchments and Charmes.

He tapped a finger on the hard cover, sighing into his scarf. It was too cold to be running around like this. His better judgement told him to stay home, find some dinner, and take an early night; however, this was a task he'd brushed aside for too long. It would be a quick trip, hopefully. Not that he didn't want to see Elliot, but -- Ambrose shifted his weight -- it had been a busy day.

It was late, but not so late that he felt it inappropriate to turn up on her doorstep (although his mother would vehemently disagree). Besides, even with his barely-dry hair and lazy change of clothes, it was the earliest he could manage. Another late shift; his third in a row... She would understand, right? After all, he’d only come to return her book. At least, that was what he planned to tell her.

He poised his knuckles to knock again, though he hesitated. Should he knock again? What if she was busy? Ambrose considered that for a moment...

Right, that was probably enough consideration.

        RAP RAP RAP

      RAP RAP RAP

The knocking at Elliot's door was so sudden and unexpected that it easily jolted her out of her focus. She couldn't help but let out a shriek that lasted for a second before she clasped her hands over mouth and squeezed her eyes shut again. Whatever was left of her yell came out as a mixture of a half moan, half whimper from her throat. She curled herself up even tighter, taking a few deep breaths to try and calm herself. There was nothing wrong, only somebody at her door, that was all.

Heaving a sigh as she finally calmed herself she rose to her feet and went over to the door. But when the second round of knocks hit her door she stalled, freezing for a split second before forcing herself forward. She talked to herself silently, repeating that there was nothing to be afraid of, only someone at the door.

Her tired eyes blinked in surprise when she opened the door and looked straight into a familiar face.

"Ambrose. I'm sorry, I wasn't expecting anyone," she said, stumbling over her words. The surprise remained on her face, as well as a bit of disbelief, relief, as well as good bit of exhaustion. She absentmindedly stroked her hand back through her fringe and hair. "Come in," she said as she swung the door wide enough for him to stride through.