Entry for the "Crystals, Gemstones and Astrology (Competition/Challenge)" - Malachite Gemstone ; Basic Level: Write about a bad nightmare. (150-600 words)

Entry for the "Halloween Collection Competition" - prompt: 60. (title) Dark Was The Night

To make up for the sad theme of Starchild ;)

A starless night was lying over the small coastal village Kilgalligan, home to a wizarding community in the north of Ireland.

In a cottage near the cliffs, Rolanda and Severus Snape were fast asleep, cuddled together under their blanket, shielding themselves from the cold the autumn storms brought with them.

Everything was peaceful... until a high-pitched scream disturbed the silence of the night.

Before Rolanda or Severus could react after being ripped from their sleep, a small girl came racing into their room, her long, black hair flying behind her.

"Mommy, Daddy!," the girl wailed, tears running down her cheeks as she jumped onto the bed and crawled underneath the blanket, kicking her father in the stomach while climbing over him. Severus released a groan, hissing:"Abby, my little feather, what is going on?"

"I had a nightmare, daddy... a really bad one...," Abby sobbed and Severus instantly pulled her into his arms while Rolanda wiped the tears from her daughters cheeks.

"Oh, feather, tell daddy about it and afterwards everything will be better!"

Abby snuggled into her fathers arms while her small fingers grabbed her mothers hand.

"It was awful, daddy... I was playing by the cliffs, it was a beautiful day, the sun was shining and it was warm. But then, suddenly, there were all these dark clouds and they darkened the sky and then, some black, foggy monsters were coming from the clouds... I started to run because I was so scared and they chased after me! But I was not fast enough, daddy... And then they grabbed me, their hands were so cold and I felt like I would never feel any happiness again. They dragged me back towards the cliffs and no matter how much I struggled against their grips, I could not break free... and then they shoved me over the edge and I was... was falling..."

Severus rocked her gently as the single teardrops turned into a stream that flowed down her cheeks...

"It's okay, my little princess, it was just a dream... you are safe here, mummy and daddy are always protecting you, Abby. Nothing will ever happen to you."

"Promised?"

"Promised," Severus whispered, wiping her tears away and pressing a kiss to her black curls. "Now get your teddy and sleep here with mummy and daddy, okay?"

Looking rather soothed, Abby jumped and ran to her room to get her teddy-bear which she had left in her bed when she had went to her parents' bedroom in panic.

Rolanda smiled at her husband and touched his cheek, whispering sleepily:"If anybody knew that you are such a softy..."