Nolan let out a sigh in frustration. Like most of the other students caught up in tonight's mess, he couldn't get to sleep. Unlike them, however, he didn't bother to try. And unlike Moirah, he wasn't making anyone suffer from it. 

The aftermath of the attack had been a whirlwind of students and teachers, and worried voices trying to keep calm. HE was lucky enough to be one of the uninjured ones, only having breathed in a bit of smoke. But he had imagined through all that he'd get a chance at least to talk to his brothers. Unfortunately the teachers thought it best that no one be allowed to see them. He had to admit the last thing he wanted to hear was a bunch of questions from the other students.

So he found himself seated at a small desk in the corner of the room, staring up at the ceiling and composing the letter to his parents he'd have to write in the morning. He didn't have a means of writing it so at this point his process was mental rambling that he drew phrases form to include in his letter once he wrote it.
[i]
"Sorry I didn't write after what happened on the train. I thought I'd just write one letter and include my boring first day"

"I didn't really blow up a door on someone"

"My wand still hasn't done anything"

"I made a new friend"

"I guess I can't say Roy didn't warn me about how easy it was to get in trouble"

"I haven't gotten a chance to study yet, but our teacher wants us to curse her teaching position"

"Did I mention I'm in Slytherin"

"I don't know why my first day was a mess"

"I really am having a good time here, if you just ignore the attacks"

"I didn't do anything to help her"[/i]


"Moirah! Please. Sit. Still."

The whisper was louder than he had meant it to be, but no one really reacted. Except for Moirah of course, who Nolan had been content to ignore until her wanderings brought her closer to his table. The girl reacted with momentary stunned silence. To Nolan's displeasure he found the silence just as bad as the sounds of the Slytherin girl's fidgeting. He ran a frustrated hand through his hair, and got up from his chair before she could speak. He grabbed the wand that had set on the small desk and trudged to the other side of the room. He glanced at Caelum's bed as he passed but quickly looked away. 

He plopped down on the bed he had been assigned to. Lying back, he closed his eyes and tried to imagine the last Quidditch match he'd heard on the wireless. It often helped him get his mind off of things to turn his attention to something like a game of Quidditch or football. There was too much activity for the thoughts to put him to sleep, but he had already given up on falling asleep.