A Terrifying Surprise (Levi/Gabby/Angel)

[broadway]

Raychel climbed the steps to the Owlery like she did every other day of her life. She was perky and cheerful, in an unusually good mood at the moment. An owl landed in fron of her with an official looking envelope with her name neatly written on the front. Her full name. Raychel hesitantly took the letter from the bird's mouth and fished something for the owl to deliver out of her pocket. Graciously, to owl took the snack and letter, then flew off.

Raychel flipped the letter over. It had the Ministry's offical seal stamped onto the back. Not caring anymore, she tore open the letter, and read the devastating letter.

Dear Raychel Alison McFarland,

We regret having to inform you of this terrible tragedy. Your parents, Joseph Michael McFarland (Muggle, age 50) and Jessica Ray McFarland (Muggle, age 48) have been found dead. The cause of death is not obvious as of late. Their bodies are being held for further testing at St. Mungo's. Please come down when you have the time to arrange the funerals and for the official reading of their wills.
Again, we are very sorry for your loss and hope that all is well.

Sincerely,
The Minister of Magic

Raychel sunk to her knees, rereading the letter over again multiple times. With each word, her shoulder shook, tears threatening to burst out of her eyes. Finally, the tears came. She sobbed as hard as she had ever sobbed in her life. These gut-wrenching sobs shook her entire being. "Nein! Nein! Nein!" she repeated softly, over and over again. "Pourquoi papa et mamen, pourquoi?!" she yelled in French. She had never felt such despair in her life, and it made her speak in every which language that she knew. Somebody's hand came down upon her shoulder lovingly, but she did not look up to ee who it was.

[imadecoy]

Levi had come up to the owlery that morning, he liked going there to think, the owls did not bother him in the slightest, his peers, though... That was an entirely different story. When Levi opened the door, that was when he saw her again. He felt his throat tighten. Raychel. She was sobbing hysterically, and he felt a sudden urge of anger, he wanted to avenge her, cause great pain to whoever had hurt her. Hesitantly, Levi laid a hand on her shoulder, not surewhat to do, he never knew how to act around crying girls, they made him feel uneasy.

[broadway]

Finally, Raychel's mind registered the hand resting upon her shoulder. She stifled her sobs and wiped her eyes. Looking up, she saw Levi. The light was hitting him at just the right angle. Tears welled up in her eyes again. He looked beautiful. " You look like an angel..." She muttered dreamily. She was in a depression filled daze and she didn't realize what she was saying. Lokking back down at the letter she clutched in her hands, Raychel sat back and quietly mourned.

[imadecoy]

Levi blushed deeply, but was unsure of what to say. She sounded delirious, he had half a mind to take her down to the hospital wing, and then remembered that they did not have a nurse anymore, although a professor was required to stop by on an hourly basis to be sure no one needed help. Levi sat beside her, trying to think of how to act, he noticed she was holding a letter, it must not have brought good news, but he did not want to pry, especially if Raychel did not feel like sharing. He rested his arms on opposite knees and looked her directly in the eye. "What's wrong?" Levi asked.

[broadway]

Raychel took a rattling breath. "My parents... they were found dead." she managed to spit out. She handed the letter over to Levi. "I think they might have been.... killed.." she choked on the last word. The thought of her parents getting murdered was too horrible to believe. "The Minister wouldn't have gotten involved if they weren't killed by wizards." she looked up solemnly into Levi's eyes. Taking his hands, she squeezed, them, hoping to reassure herself. An instant warmth flooded her body, and she took a deep breath. "I'm scared, Levi. What if everything.... every story about Death Eater's, about Isabelle. What if they are true?"

[imadecoy]

"The night is darkest just before the dawn," said Levi. "Something is out there, no question about it. We just have to be ready when it comes." He wished that he could have said something a bit more comforting than that, but he wasn't the best with words, at least not when they came from his mouth. Uncharacteristically for him, Levi pulled Raychel close to him, allowing her to cry on his shoulder, keeping an arm around her. He could hardly imagine what it would be like for your parents to just be... Gone. Levi made a mental note to send a letter to his father later that day, to try and patch things up between them.

[broadway]

Raychel laid her head on Levi's shoulder and sobbed quietly. She felt cold, eerily cold. She moved close to him as if they were in the middle of winter, not spring. The sun was shining outside, the first time that spring, but that didn't make a difference. The cold was something deep within her soul. She took Levi's free hand and squeezed it gently between hers. Looking up, she smiled weakly. "Thank you." she managed to say, in a voice barely above a whisper. She felt all the energy that she had moments before had vanished. Raychel wanted to bolt out and just get all the preparations done for her parents' funeral, but she wanted to stay here in Levi's arms more.

[imadecoy]

Levi nodded, he did not want to disturb her moment just then. He felt that now it was more important to be there for Raychel than speak with her. Besides, he figured that anything else that came out of his mouth would just make him sound stupid and insensitive. He kept quiet, and gently rubbed Raychel's upper arm with his hand, wondering what he should do with the situation.

[broadway]

Raychel kept her head on Levi's shoulder. She felt a bit drowsy, but didn't want to sleep. She closed her eyes gently and took a deep breath. Her chest rattled, but less so than usual. 'Good. I'm calming down.' she thought. Levi's hand stroking her arm was extremely comforting and loving. She thought that she couldn't feel any safer than with him at that moment. She continued taking deep breaths, her mind wandering. For the first time since she was with Levi, her powers didn't go off unexpectedly. Her mind wasn't invading his, her element wasn't raging. She almost felt at peace. If only her parents weren't dead...

[imadecoy]

Levi fell deep into the confines of his own mind once more, but did not stop gently pulling his hand up and down Raychel's upper arm, that was the only thing he felt that he was able to do without messing something up. He never felt that he could do anything outside of academics properly, which was why he clung so much to him. Levi felt that his work was the only area where he was not criticized or ridiculed.

[broadway]

Raychel sighed deeply. She was comfortable here in Levi's arms. She took the hand not rubbing her arm and began gently massaging his fingers with hers. At the moment, it was not to be a romantic gesture, not even entirely flirtacious. This gesture was to show Levi that she was here. Bravely, she tried something. She poked gently into his mind and placed a thought inside his head. 'Levi, thank you for everything. I don't know what I would be doing without you.' was the best thing she could think of, given the situation.

[imadecoy]

Levi jumped violently when a thought that was not his own came across his mind. It sounded almost like Raychel's voice. He had certainly not been expecting that to happen just then, it was the most peculiar thing, having someone else put their thoughts into your head. Levi had always thought of his mind being a private place that he did not have to share with anyone, he did not like his space being invaded like that. "Sure, anytime," said Levi.

[broadway]

Raychel stopped massage his finger when he jumped. She untangled herself from his arm and stood. She sat by the window. "Gosh, that was the worst thing I could have ever done. I'm sorry." She replied quietly. She sat quietly for a while, slightly missing Levi's touch. She felt that if she came back and resumed the position they were previously in, he would think it awkward. Raychel actually longed for his touch again, and desperately hoped he would come over to her.

[imadecoy]

Not even thinking about what he was doing, Levi stood up and placed his hands on Raychel's shoulders. He looked her directly in the eye. "No, you have done no wrong, I just was not expecting it," said Levi. "Come now, how about we go somewhere a bit more quiet." Sure, the owlery was not loud, but it was not very private. He was going to take her to the Room of Requirement, it could turn into anything that they needed it for.

[broadway]

Raychel nodded. She walked next to Levi. They did not touch in physicality, but they touched in mind. Raychel honestly could not think of a way to speak to levi at that moment. Levi lead her towards the door to the Room of Requirment. She opened to door slowly and smiled weakly.

Inside the Room, there was a a soft single bed, not doubt for her to rest. Obviously, the Room could tell Raychel wanted to spend the whole day here, they had a section of the room set off to be used as a bathroom, and another as a small kitchen. There was a lovely black piano sitting in the middle of the room, and in another part there was a loveseat. She made her way to the plush loveseat, finding a comfortable spot. She made room for Levi.