Entry for the "Halloween Collection Competition" - prompt: 27. Hearing a ghost story

Entry for "Ancient Runes" at "Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry (Challenges and Assignments)"

Task: Alt: Write about a character receiving a warning. 400 words min Extra Prompt: (word) Luck

„So, Abby, are you already excited to go Trick and Treating tomorrow?," Severus asked as he gently pulled the blanket over his daughter, who had just made herself comfortable in her bed.

„Yes, Daddy... I hope I will get a lot of chocolate," the small girl replied, shooting a wide smile at her father, who returned it.

„Oh, I am sure you will. Goodnight, my little angel."

He pressed a soft kiss on her forehead after pushing her black curls out of the way, but her tiny hands were holding on to his arm. Her expression was accusing as she said:"Daddy... stop pretending that you keep forgetting about reading a bedtime story to me."

„But Abby, we already read all of your short stories... and don't you think you are starting to be a bit too old for a story?"

Abby giggled sweetly, shaking her head.

„I will never be too old, Daddy. Besides, I am only 4 yet. And I want to hear a ghost story, because of Halloween."

Severus sighed deeply before nodding and thinking about a good story. Very soon after Abby's birth, he had come to realise that his mother had rarely ever told him any goodnight tales. Rolanda had had to take this part for some time before Severus had found the courage to borrow some childrens books and read them to Abby.

„A ghost story... whatever my little princess wishes... hm... let me think. Ah, okay, I got one."

Abby looked eager to hear whatever her father had in store and so Severus started to narrate:"In a few years, when you turn eleven, my angel, you will go to Hogwarts, whose castle is a home to many ghosts. One of these ghosts is the Nearly Headless Nick."

„Nearly Headless?"

„Abby, don't interrupt me or I will not go on with the story."

„Sorry... I'll be quiet, Daddy."

„Nearly Headless Nick is, as his nickname says, nearly beheaded. He lived a long, long time ago, in the times of knights and princesses. Nick was a poor student, Abby, so pay attention. As he had been really lazy about his Transfigurations studies as a young man, he performed a spell badly and ended up in prison. Back then, people were punished much harder for messing things up and therefore they sentenced Nick to death. They were going to behead him with a axe. Shivering so much that they had to support him, Nick was walked towards the executioner, who was sharpening his blade..."

„Severus! What the hell do you think you are doing?!"

Rolanda was standing in the doorway, her eyes wide in surprise and horror. Severus stared at his wife for a moment, then he answered:"Telling our daughter a bedtime story..."

„Abby, sweety, sleep now, okay? Mummy and Daddy will both read you a story tomorrow evening, okay? Severus, a word."

He could tell by the tone of his wife's voice that she was furious – and it was always dangerous for him when Rolanda was angry with him.

As soon as they were downstairs, Rolanda released her anger.

„Severus, how can you tell our small daughter a story about how somebody died?! She is too young for bloody tales about people who are almost loosing their head!"

„But she wished for a ghost sto..."

„She is four years old, Severus! I swear, if she has any nightmares tonight, YOU will be spending the whole night at her bed to comfort her because those images cause her to be afraid of falling asleep! With a little bit of luck she will not imagine any things from your so called story."

„Ro, I am sorry, I did not..."

„Severus, she is just a child! It should be clear to you that she is not supposed to hear tales like this. I warn you, if you ever read or narrate anything to her without thinking about the content beforehand, I will make you go to ballett class with her! And you will be wearing her tutu!"

Severus gulped as her finger drilled into his chest and he could not do anything else but beg for Rolanda to forgive him – he found it wise to keep it a secret from Rolanda that Abby and he had been reading some inappropriate books before. They would have to be way more careful.