Reflections PV: Thora Larkston Finished

Thora skipped out onto the welcoming grounds of Hogwarts. The day proved to be wonderful--the golden sun shining down on the ancient castle made it come alive. The scores of casually dressed magical students certainly improved the effect. Thora herself was wearing a simple t-shirt and a pair of jean shorts--like the other campers, she saw no reason in wearing the wizarding robes that were required for school days. 

Carefree, the redhead paused, glancing around. The past school year had been much like any other--she had seen herself through her classes with good grades and thrived on her own. That wasn't to say that she wasn't lonely. There was many a day when the Slytherin would sit on her own in the library, common room, or at mealtimes, watching other students banter back and forth and wished she could have the same relationship with someone. Someone to be friends with, someone she could depend on. 

The redhead pulled herself back to the situation at hand. Of course, there was no one she could go to, no one to hang out with for a fun summer afternoon. Thora began to scan the grass for anyone, anyone she might even recognize from classes. The young Slytherin heaved a sigh of relief as she spotted Katrina Walker, a Gryffindor she had met a couple weeks back, sitting by herself on the banks of the Great Lake. 

Hopefully I won't intrude on whatever she's doing... Thora thought as she strode over to the dark lake. Approaching the auburn-haired girl, the snake realized that her fellow second year was writing. It looked like Katrina was using an old journal and a quill... Hurriedly, Thora tried to muffle her footsteps, hoping not to scare the girl out of her wits. Timidly tapping her on the shoulder, she said, "Hi, Katrina. Mind if I join you?" 

Patting the unusually light bookbag slung over her shoulder, Thora felt her sketchbook. Hopefully she had a couple pencils and paints because, well, she had time to kill. What better to spend it than to get to know a friend and paint at the same time? 

Katrina jumped with fright when she felt a nudge on her shoulder. Her hand quickly reached for her wand. She sighed with relief when she noted the girl as Thora Larkston, whom she had met a few times. She regained her composure and smiled warmly at her -trying to push her reaction aside.

“Hi again. Sure, I don’t mind if you join.” Katrina inwardly giggled at her fright.

She finished writing the sentence she was on and gestured for the snake to sit beside her. She set her quill down and forced herself to make eye contact.

“So, um- how are you?” the Gryffindor desperately tried to start a conversation. The silence was unbearable. “I heard you signed up for dueling.” she stopped herself from rambling and looked at the lake again.

Ugh, I can’t believe I jumped. I hope it wasn’t rude. I also hope she doesn’t think I’m stalking her, I just read the list of sign-ups for dueling. I only wanted to duel for a little while. Katrina shook herself from her thoughts and took off the dark grey sweater she had been wearing and tied it haphazardly around her waist. The sun was way to warm today for her liking. A soft sigh escaped her lips and she, again, gazed at the lake.

Thora cringed just a bit as the other girl practically leapt up, startled. "Sorry," the Slytherin murmured, although she doubted the other girl could even hear her. But she breathed a hasty sigh of relief as Katrina answered, “Hi again. Sure, I don’t mind if you join.” Thora smiled, trying not to come across as fake, as the Gryffindor made painful eye contact. 

“So, um- how are you?” One of the awkward conversation starters that Thora herself had fallen to for countless times, trying to find a way to get to know someone. "I'm good--" the Slytherin started, wanting to trust the red haired girl but not quite ready to do so yet. She did do her best to draw out of her little "shell" though. Being in the same cabin as this girl, Thora felt a little more comfortable and decided to open up just a bit. "Summer Camp's been fun, I think, but I kind of want to start classes again. You know, it does get old after a while..." Thora continued, feeling bad for kind of shutting the other girl out. 

“I heard you signed up for dueling.” Katrina commented, saving Thora from finding something else to say. How did she know I was on the dueling sign-up list? I thought the parchment was posted outside of the Slytherin Common Room. Other houses aren't supposed to be able to see that... Brushing the thoughts aside, the redhead smiled and tried to give the Gryffindor the benefit of the doubt--for all Thora knew, the information could've been given to the other houses as well. 

"Yeah, I signed up for dueling. I probably won't win, because I'm not that good, but since we got the chance, I just thought it would be a good idea," the redhead answered. She glanced over at her cabinmate, who seemed to be fidgeting quite uncomfortably. "So, what do you think about Summer Camp?" Thora directed the question back at the other girl, hoping that she would give a long answer so she could start sketching. Hopefully that's not selfish of me, she thought apprehensively. Taking out her sketchbook, she flipped the sketch of the Great Lake she had began and started to draw, adding shadows to the picture. 

“I mean, Summer Camp has been great. But I hoped I could actually make friends... well, besides you.” Katrina tried to make that brunt statement kinder, “I didn’t mean it like that, we already met before summer. And I feel like I haven’t done anything, beside the lake. Katrina paused and noticed Thora had opened her sketchbook, “I can’t wait for classes, I’m kind of worried about some of the dangerous creatures though.” Katina stole another glance at the Slytherin’s notebook, “That’s a beautiful sketch.”

Katrina opened her own journal to a page where she had been drawing the castle. She grabbed a pencil out and continued on the largest turret, drawing was a great way to wind down. And Katrina did think she was decent at it. It dawned on her that it was her birthday and she made a quiet noise, no one even knew. She continued drawing a window on the tower and added ivy to the side.

She again got lost in her thoughts about her brother, friends, summer, and her birthday. It seemed like she was stuck in a hamster wheel, dwelling over things that shouldn’t be dwelt over. She continued drawing the turret and began adding bricks and more ivy on the turret.

“So, what class are you most exited for?”

Thora smiled as Katrina referred to her as a friend. She was happy the Gryffindor wanted to befriend her, although not making friends easily, Thora wasn't sure how fast that would move along. “I can’t wait for classes, I’m kind of worried about some of the dangerous creatures though," the other redhead continued. The Slytherin smiled, feeling kind of the same way. It would be interesting to learn about the deadly creatures and such that she hadn't known about before, although she didn't want anything life-threatening, obviously. 

“That’s a beautiful sketch.” Katrina added, glancing at the Slytherin's open notebook. Startled, Thora looked up. "Oh, thanks," she blushed. Looking at the Gryffindor's own notebook, she returned the compliment. "Yours looks awesome too," Thora said. Katrina's sketch was so good, the deep shadows of the castle captured on the small piece of paper. Honestly, the Slytherin wasn't much for drawing, it was just that she did have to have a rough sketch before painting. 

Trading her pencil for her set of paints, Thora found a paintbrush and began to add color to her messy sketch. Deep turquoise-greens for the lake, and bright green-yellows for the surrounding grass. As the two girls worked on in contented silence, Katrina asked, “So, what class are you most excited for?”

"Charms, probably," Thora answered, "I find it the most useful and hands-on. I don't like History of Magic though." She wasn't sure how much to share with her fellow second year quite yet, although she still wanted to be kind to her. No doubt they would likely become fast friends, but again, that was the future. And this is now. "How about you?" 

Thora just realized she hadn't really added much to the conversation--it was just Katrina. Feeling bad about it, she took another closer look at the Gryffindor's sketch. "How'd you get such deep shadows in your drawing? It looks so real... I can't ever get my drawings to look 3D." Well, if they had the same interests, might as well put it to use. 

Katrina smiled as they worked in silence, it was nice to actually do something with another person for once. Thora opened some paints and began to add color to her scape. She asked what classes and Katrina thought for a bit before she responded.

“I am decent at Astronomy, my dad would take me out in his truck and we would go until the starts were as bright as possible, then we would sit in a tent without the rain cover and he would point out constellations. Katrina seriously surprised herself that she felt comfortable telling someone this. She paused and continued, “I enjoy Charms but-I’m not so good at it.

Katrina blushed at the compliments on her drawing. “I’m not really sure how I do it. I just copy what I see as basic shapes and then I just add layers and layers. Using different shapes to add texture. I can never add color though, it doesn’t have an eraser!” Katrina added a silly smile at the end.

Katrina focused on the roof of the turret, paying close attention to the texture of the shingles. The girl decided to add a dragon to be on the side, she drew the basic shape, although it just looked like a blob right now. “I’m really fascinated in dragons. I never thought they exis- What creature fascinates you the most?” Katrina winced on almost making it obvious that she was a muggleborn. She smiled trying to hide her uncomforted self. She added a vine of ivy and the shadows to the shingles.

Thora listened intently as the Gryffindor expounded upon how she shaded her drawings so well. Perhaps she was missing something? Well, the redhead had never exactly been great at drawing, so maybe she should just focus on the painting. 

Thora continued to paint the deep hues of the lake she was gazing at as Katrina told her how much she loved dragons. The Slytherin tucked the bit of information away--it might be helpful later, for conversations or even future birthday presents. You never know when a good friend might come along. Looking up from her drawing, the redhead realized she was probably being quite rude. She was honestly quite naive in the sense of social interaction, not having a single soul to call friend in her years of childhood. 

Ignoring her precious painting for just a few moments, Thora didn't miss it as Katrina said she never knew dragons had--existed? Well, that was Thora's best guess of what the other girl had said--she trailed off after exis--. Perhaps the lion was a Muggleborn as well--she wasn't rude enough to ask, although she was definitely wasn't about to tell her cabinmate that she wasn't wizardborn herself. 

And as Katrina asked about her favorite creature... She had to think hard about this one. She did want to take Care of Magical Creatures in her third year, but until then, she hadn't really officially learned about any magical creatures, aside from those she read about in her books. "Um... I like dragons too, I guess," the Slytherin stumbled, "They're cool... I know a thing or two about kneazles, but I don't exactly like those. Do you know about those?" Thora finished weakly. She, along with Bridget, another girl in her year, had accidentally visited the Whomping Willow and had seen a kneazle a couple months back. Apparently, they could detect untrustworthy people... Shaking the thoughts out of her head, she turned back to her painting. She felt bad that she couldn't continue the conversation, but she wasn't sure what she could say without being too prying...

"Hmm, kneasles. Aren't those the cat like things? Katrina inquired.

The red-head leaned over and began on the dragon. She added a large expance of wing portruding from each side, clutching to the shingles. Large claws hung to the gutter. It's face had sharp angles, but his expression was calm. Spines ran from his face to tail. The dragon was quite magnificant in it's grandure.

Katrina wanted to tell Thora about why she was here, but she didn't want to be imposing. In all honesty, it was her birthday and she just wanted someone to share it with. She struggled with herself and tried to focus on the dragon. "So, what brings you here today?"

Katrina looked over at the deep blues of Thora's lake and wished she could add color to her dragon. If the girl even tried, the dragon would end up as a big blob of color. She clutched her fist in frustration and took a deep breath.

The dragon on Katrina's page began to take shape, from the membranes in his wing, to the scales on his neck, and even to the pointy tip of his tail. Katrina let her emotions lead the dragon. She always created her best work when she had strong emotions. This dragon on the castle was beginning to be the best she has ever made.

Thora's paintbrush swished over the page in long strokes. A small smile sneaked its way onto the redhead's face as she worked, realizing it was one of her best works. Startled, she looked up as Katrina asked about her reasons for being at the Great Lake. "Um, I guess I didn't really know what to do today, and I saw you over by the lake and decided to come over." 

The Slytherin barely stopped herself from continuing. She had just been about to admit to the Gryffindor that Katrina was the only friend she had in Summer Camp. Thora really wanted to--had no problem, really--trusting the other girl, but didn't want to take the wrong move. Katrina, really, had given her no basis for not trusting her, so Thora kind of felt bad for it. The redhead thought back to the incident in March, when Katrina's parents had died. She had opened up and shared with her and Margo (another Slytherin) then, and Thora felt that she owed her for that. So, after of moments of fidgeting anxiously with the shoelaces of her scuffed sneakers, she looked up.

"I don't really have any friends here, so I guess I just wanted to come hang out," she admitted softly, cheeks burning a bright red. "Um, how about you?" she finished quickly, finally letting go of her sketchbook and glancing at the other girl. At least she had gotten that over with. Thora knew that if she hadn't said something, told Katrina, she would've had to carry the guilty feeling in her gut. Oddly enough, she felt like she was betraying her other "friend", in a way. Bridget Collins had been awfully nice to her, helping her out when they had run into the Whomping Willow, sticking up to her in the duel. Well... Thora sighed. This friend thing was so hard...