- 2 Week Drabble Wars/Prompt 1: "There's a lady in a dirty nightgown that I see in my dreams." - The Conjuring

- Pocket Mortys Challenge: Psychokinetic Morty - Write about someone using wandless magic

Pairings/Characters: Barty/Mrs. Crouch

Word Count: 349


Secrets in the Stars

Mrs Crouch ran into her young sons bedroom at the sound of his screams, and crouched down at the side of his bed. "Barty, dear, what's wrong?" she shouted over his wails, reaching out to clamp a hand to his forehead. His skin was clammy and wet, his sandy hair sticking to his face. "Calm down, sweetie."

Gasping, Barty focused on his mothers face. He sucked his breaths in shallowly, as though each wheeze of his lungs was too much effort. Finally, when he was relatively composed, he grasped his mother's hand, digging his nails into her skin. She didn't complain, instead using her free and to stroke back his damp fringe. "Mummy, it was awful."

"What was awful, my love?" she asked soothingly, tucking the blankets under Barty's chin.

"There's a lady in a dirty nightgown that I see in my dreams," he whispered, his brown eyes wide and doe-like. In a lower tone, as though he didn't want his father in the next room to hear, he added: "I think it might be Granny."

Mrs. Crouch burst into a short peal of laughter, and then shook her head as Barty's eyes welled up with tears. "Oh, honey. I'm not laughing at you. Honestly, I think I've had nightmares about Grandma, too."

Barty blinked up at her. "Really?"

"She's a very scary lady," Mrs. Crouch said. "But don't tell Daddy I said that," she added in a whisper. Barty's face broke into a grin, and he nodded vigorously. He loved secrets.

"It's our secret, Mummy."

"Good boy," Mrs. Crouch said. She sat up, and looked up at the bare ceiling. After thinking for a moment, she waved her index finger in a slow, spiralling motion towards the ceiling. Before Barty's eyes, a group of blinking, soft white stars erupted above him. "These special stars will watch over you while you sleep, baby," she promised, and leaned down to press a kiss to his cheek. "Mummy loves you."

"I love you too, Mummy," Barty whispered, his eyes slipping shut as Mrs. Crouch left his bedroom.