After Daybreak

@Calypso Starling

Rhea had expected to the Quidditch Pitch to be empty. She should've known.

It was early morning. The air was crisp and cold, and the frosted grass crunched beneath her feet as she clomped along in heavy boots. The breeze stung her face and her skin flushed as her blood flow slowed in an attempt to warm her from the inside. She had not yet adapted to the cold, and despite it the sun produced a brilliant blinding glare. It was obvious the world would thaw soon. In fact, she could feel it progressively getting warmer by the minute. Or maybe she was just imagining it.

This was too complicated. She retreated back into her own mind, as usual.

The truth was, Rhea needed fresh air and alone time. Time to think. She had class soon, but being in a small stuffy classroom felt like torture in that moment. Her thoughts had kind of been accumulating ever since the Sorting Ceremony, and if she didn't get space she believed she would explode. Not literally of course. It was a hyperbole. Or an exaggeration. Quite honestly, she didn't know the difference between those words. Overstatement? Amplification? English was such a miserable language. It had so many unnecessary, repetitive words and lacked so many important ones.

Also, she was a Gryffindor. Completely unrelated but she couldn't stop thinking about it.

She had been outraged at first, of course. Now she was just mildly indignant. She was sure the next stage would be acceptance, but she was certainly not there yet.

She had known that this wasn't where she belonged. So assured that there had been a mistake, so absolutely positive that she would loath it for the rest of her life. She had seriously considered demanding a re-do from the Headmaster, but of course she wasn't brave enough for that. Not to mention he would almost certainly refuse. Now she did her best to distract herself from this disaster, this fate, by taking an early-morning walk across the wide flat of the Quidditch Training Pitch.

Okay, maybe she was a little more than mildly indignant.

She removed her cloak; it was getting really warm. Then she shook herself out of her reverie, looked around, and locked eyes with another student that stood directly in front of her. It was a girl, slightly taller, so Rhea had to tilt her head up to meet her eyes. She had a length of wavy brown hair down her back. The girl was wearing a Gryffindor uniform and looked a little confused, but not angry.

"Sorry," Rhea apologized automatically. "I didn't see you there."

@Rhea Miller

"Sorry. I didn't see you there."
The girl was slightly shorter than Cal, and wore the same Gryffindor sweater as she, but instead of grey slacks, the girl wore the uniform tights and skirt. She carried her robe slung over one arm. Cal spotted no prefect badge, so she relaxed a bit. "Oh, um, no problem," Calypso replied. "I, uh, just needed to get out and think. I saw on the bulletin board that there was no practice this morning and thought, 'Ok, the quidditch pitch...' " Aaand she was rambling. Great. "...Anyway. So, I'm Calypso. Calypso Starling." The girl's face formed a sort of half-smile. "Rhea Miller."

I wonder what she's doing out here, Cal thought to herself. Would it be rude to ask?

"So, Rhea, what class do you have first?" Rhea's half-smile disappeared. "Herbology." Was that a hint of disdain Calypso sensed in her voice? "Really? Me too! Starts at nine, like most first classes." Mental. Face. Palm. Rhea laughed a little. "Yeah. Like most first classes. You in first year like me?" Glad for a question she could (hopefully) answer without making a fool of herself, Calypso answered "Yeah. I'm a First Year, too."

The two fell into stride now, slowly walking around the perimeter of the quidditch pitch.
"I honestly didn't expect to be in Gryffindor," Cal admitted. "Thought I was going to be a Ravenclaw for sure." She paused thoughtfully. "I didn't think I was brave enough. Or loud enough. Or any of the things I associated with the house." Rhea looked genuinely interested now. "But you know, I'm starting to think there might be more than one kind of bravery." Her fellow Gryffindor's face took on a strange expression she couldn't quite read.

Oh no. Did I say something wrong? Great. Just when I thought maybe we were getting to be something like friends...

@Calypso Starling

It occured to Rhea that she didn't have to wear the uniform at this hour, and she wished she were in something more comfortable. She felt ridiculous in her pleated skirt and little black shoes, next to this girl Calypso in her casual slacks. Maybe when they had Herbology together Rhea would talk more easily. After all, Calypso was exploiting her greatest weakness: other people. They just made no sense! How was she supposed to feel comfortable around them if she didn't know what they were thinking?

She looked over at Calypso, who had just started talking again. "I honestly didn't expect to be in Gryffindor," she was saying. "Thought I was going to be a Ravenclaw for sure."

This piqued Rhea's interet. Maybe the two of them had more in common than she had suspected.

Calypso seemed to notice Rhea's newfounded intrigue, and she continued with more enthusiasm. "I didn't think I was brave enough. Or loud enough. Or any of the things I associated with the house." Rhea found herself grinning a little, but forced herself to keep a straight face. She didn't want Calypso to think she was mental.

"But you know, I'm starting to think there might be more than one kind of bravery."

That made Rhea pause. More than one type of bravery? That was a new idea. She tried to recall the exact definition of bravery. Or course she couldn't remember, and turned to ask her new acquaintance, who looked very nervous.

"Sorry," Calypso said quickly. "I didn't mean to upset you, or anything. I just... that was my observation. Again, my bad. It wasn't my intention. I don't know what I'm saying anymore." She laughed awkwardly.

It took a moment for Rhea to comprehend what Calypso had just expressed, and she stared blankly for a moment before shaking herself out of her reverie. "Oh, it's okay," she said hastily. "Sorry, I was just... thinking..." She remembered what she had been about to inquire. "What's the exact definition of bravery?"

Calypso blinked. "Er, Merriam-Webster defines it as 'the quality or state of having or showing mental or moral strength to face danger, fear, or difficulty'. That's kind of what I meant. It's not just in the face of danger, it can be in the face of any type of difficulty. I think it's just perseverance, right? That's what bravery really is. That's what we got put in Gryffindor." Another thoughtful pause. "Well, maybe not that. Bravery can be as simple as, well, comforting a friend on a bad day. Letting people know their not alone. Standing up for what's right."

"It comes in many forms," Rhea agreed, not even really thinking about it. "It doesn't have to be loud, or explosive, or even chivalrous. The Sorting Hat said that above all, I had courage. Maybe that's what he meant. Perseverance. That's the type of bravery I have. And you... you seem to be a more 'standing up for what's right' type of person."

"Wow, you do talk!" Calypso laughed. She appeared a lot more comfortable now. So was Rhea, now that she realized they had something this prominent in common. "I'll take that as a compliment. I guess you could be right. I mean, I'm an activist, and I'm passionate about that."

"Me too!" said Rhea enthusiastically. "Mostly about global warming. The ignorance of these people- we need to reduce our eco footprint. The world is burning thanks to us, and so many people don't care at all."

"I completely agree. Do you go to a lot of protests?"

"I try. My dad doesn't have a car..."

The conversation continued for a good while, and Rhea lost track of time. She hadn't spoken this effortlessly with someone since hanging out at Hadley Gomez's in Queensbury. She didn't hesitate or stumble over her words, and her laughter was genuine. Calypso had wide expressive eyes that somehow seemed to convey all her opinions and emotions. That made it easier, certainly.

Rhea didn't know how long they had been talking until Calypso gasped sharply beside her.

@Rhea Miller

"It comes in many forms. It doesn't have to be loud, or explosive, or even chivalrous."

Cal was surprised. How had this girl, one she had only met a few minutes ago, voiced aloud exactly what was in her head? Rhea continued.

"The Sorting Hat said that above all, I had courage. Maybe that's what he meant. Perseverance. That's the type of bravery I have. And you... you seem to be a more 'standing up for what's right' type of person."

"Wow, you do talk," Calypso laughed.

the two continued to chat, growing more comfortable with each other as they did, the initial awkwardness melting away. They talked about activism, and their newfound Gryffindor-dom. They discussed the food at Hogwarts, and both their tendencies for introspection. Their likes, their hobbies. They were both so different, and yet, there was something in them that had found it's equal in the other.

After who knows how long, Cal absently glanced down at her watch and took a sharp intake of breath. "Um, Rhea?" Rhea looked slightly concerned. "Yeah?" Calypso was starting to panic now. "It's a quarter to nine."

They had somehow talked all through the breakfast period and were about to be late for Herbology. Instantly, Rhea's eyes widened. "We're gonna be late," she said. "We'd better hurry." Cal nodded vigorously. Calypso and Rhea tore off across the grounds, the dew from the still-wet lawn soaking into their stockings. Breathless and askew, they arrived at Greenhouse One seven minutes after the bell had rung. There goes my perfect punctuality record, Cal thought. But somehow, she found that she didn't mind as much as she had thought she would have.

Cal and Rhea locked eyes, and burst into laughter.