Stalking pv Graci Laren

Graci loved it at Hogwarts. Everything about it. From the architecture, to the classes, even the people. Ah, the people are probably the most lovely. Like Isla, Asterius, Eira. Loads of 'em. I should probably catch up with all of them soon. Haven't talked to them in ages.

her thought process went a lot like that as she walked through the hall of Hogwarts, relishing in the fact that it wasn't deadly silent like you would think a medieval castle of a school would be. I don't think I'm too good with silence. It would feel too cold in this dreary place.

She didn't have a destination in mind, she just went with the flow of foot traffic. There was the occasional burst of red hair that reminded her of Zoe. She was quickly brought back to reality by the blue accents to their robes.

Haven't seen Zo in ages... even longer than most of those people I met at the beginning of the year. I miss her. A lot. But I also think it was helpful for us to be separated. For me, at least.

Graci saw the same hair and swatches of blue again and wondered what was going on.

How odd, I've gotten flashes of the same hair and robes at last four times. They could always just need to get this direction but.... Could it really be a coincidence?

Graci was starting to think she'd gone insane. Why would someone be following her? But also, who was trailing her? She didn't know why someone would do that, she was nothing special. Had no secrets either. Maybe they were just bored?

Off-brand paranoia was setting in. Was she in trouble? She didn't think she was. nothing she did was offensive.

Oh. I could literally just ask. Huh, how stupid I've been.

Graci stopped and turned around, the redhead in question seemed a bit zoned out, and was paying much attention.

"Uhm, this probably sounds weird, but have you been following me? You probably haven't but I just kept seeing you and...."

Graci purposefully trailed off, hoping the girl would just say that she hadn't and was just going to the same place as Graci. Which would've been weird because Graci wasn't going anywhere. And if she was it was probably Gryffindor house as that was the direction she was walking in.

She was fiddling with her bracelets, trying to figure this girl out. She seemed a bit more at ease here, combine that and judging by her height, she was probably a second year.

Even if this girl was following her though, she still wouldn't admit it... would she?

Graci was rather surprised that the girl had, however inadvertently, admitted that she was following her.

"It's no problem, really, it's not like I was going somewhere to get into trouble or anything. And what was so fun about last year? I mean, I'm sure it was wonderful and all."

Graci didn't know what to do. She had never been in a situation like this before. And had never really expected to. Like, what eleven year old expects for a cool, older kid to be randomly following them? Not me, that's for sure.

"It's fine, though I haven't really gotten bored here yet, there is far too much to do. Especially with it being my first year, everything is all so new to me. And it's really no problem, really, I just kept seeing your hair and thinking it was my sister and then... it wasn't."

Graci smiled, not knowing when to stop talking, turning her gaze to the floor like the other girl. Mentally face-palming at her rambling {It never goes away. I fear I will never grow out of my yapping. Lets hope people are good listeners then.} as well as for mentioning Zoe. Like, who even does that? I really need to find conversation devices other than my family.

Graci felt really bad for this girl. Not in a 'aw, poor thing' kind of way, but 'it must be hard to not be close with you friends anymore' kind of way.

"That's unfortunate. I don't have many friends yet, but yes, it's only my first year, so I figure I got time. About seven years, to be exact. Obviously. And I do very much look forward to finding all the interesting places here. I mean, I won't be able to find them all, but hopefully most of them."

Graci didn't know why she was blabbering so much. She didn't really have a point to her words, but then again, oftentimes she didn't. Does anyone though? And certainly not all the time.

That got her to thinking about why she talked so much. In reality it wasn't that much, but she felt like she did. People are so weird. We make noises all day, trying to help others understand what our experience in this life is like. We crave connection.

That must have been why this girl seemed so down. The people she felt comfortable sharing with no longer connected with her.

That’s so sad! I hope she finds her people soon. And that they don’t leave like the others.

Graci was glad this girl was lightening up a bit. She could handle more mellowed conversations, but they were far less fun than happy ones. Though you usually got to know a person better when things are hard.

"Unexpected is definitely a word I'd use for Hogwarts and all of it's students. We're an odd bunch, but the school is even weirder."

She had not had very many odd experiences per se, but she'd seen odd things. Could be her hyperactive imagination, could have actually happened. In a world of magic, near anything might've happened.

Graci smiled at the girl's words, she enjoyed brightening others's days. Life was far too short to be unhappy and sullen. "Well, I'm glad, it's never fun to have a glum afternoon, especially when the weather is nice. I don't actually know what the weather is, but I like most kinds."

It was true. The only kind of weather she didn't like was when it was bottle cold but I snow. When all the leaves had fallen and the earth looked bare. 'Stick Season' she was pretty sure they called it. That's a song as well though, isn't it? I'm pretty sure that it is. Regardless, it was nasty weather that nothing could make better.