20 Jul 2025, 10:24
Hi Again, Don't Want to Say Goodbye
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The cold breeze outside the castle made Dove regret her cosy bedroom. The beige curtains, her navy blue bed in which she was in only a few minutes ago were already starting to be missed. But she needed some fresh air, to clear her mind : it was perfecr for a reading time. Of course, she could go to the library, it was obviously warmer than the courtyard, and with a better reading atmosphere, but sometimes, some changes were necessary.
Dove was a bit exagerating, it wasn't this cold outside, hence her Ravenclaw scarf being the only new warm accessory to her outfit, since she's wearing her usual ravenclaw uniform (being robe-less).
She was looking around her, not so many people were here, it was almost empty of students. It was great, even perfect, she could read quietly. She took place near the fountain, and put her detective novel just next to her, taking a moment to close her eyes. It was a saturday, quite early in the morning (around 9am). The only sound next to her was the water falling from the fountain and softly hitting the pond. It was so relaxing Dove closed her eyes for a moment, so she could concentrate on this appeasing noise. It reminded her of the lake near her grandparents', where ducks and frogs were playing with the water, or the sound of the rain tickling on the lake's surface.
Dove opened her eyes quite agressively : she heard the clock ringing ten times. Have I fallen asleep ? Fortunatly I didn't fell into the water. she thought.
She looked around her, a few more people had join the courtyard. Shoot, I won't be alone for reading. and she looked next to her, her book was gone. Panic was starting to grow into her stomach, where was it ? She took a look on the ground, there was no sign of her novel. Did it fall into the water ? She hoped not, it was her mamm-gozh (grandma)'s book she offered her during the holidays. She had waited to finish reading a few books before starting it. Well, she didn't even read the first page, since she was supposed to do it an hour ago instead of falling asleep.
So then she looked at the fountain, and ideed found her book in it. Oh no... She put her hand in the water to get it back, it was ruined. She felt the tears coming, and whipped of directly after it fell on her cheeks. A few people were around her, she didn't want them to see she was crying.
Interacting with : @Nova Astron | Date of thread : 11/10/2025 | WC : 446/200
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20 Jul 2025, 17:11
Hi Again, Don't Want to Say Goodbye
Nova grumbled to herself as she walked into the Courtyard which was filled with small groups of people here and there. She hadn’t slept all that well, too busy finishing up some homework she had put off for about a week. She was a tad bit irritable, prone to snapping at anyone who tried to toe the line with her. Fortunately for both parties, no one did so.
She utterly despised mornings like this—grey, boring and freezing cold. As she breathed in the fresh air of the Saturday morning, she noticed something. She saw Dove and was about to call out and wave, her bad mood fading a little after seeing her. But after seeing the light tear streaks on Dove’s cheeks, she quickly slowed in her tracks. Her eyes flickered around, wondering if someone had done anything to her.
She jogged over, expression filled with worry. “Dove?” She pulled out a small, white handkerchief as she spoke, voice steady. “Are you alright? What happened?” She crouched down a bit to sit next to her and gave her a once-over, examining her for any injuries. She saw none except a completely soaked book next to her.
She raised an eyebrow, the cogs in her sleep-addled brain turning as she came to a conclusion. Her eyes widened in sympathy as she spoke. “Oh, is that your book?” She looked down at the book again. It looked like it had been submerged for hours. Its colour was darkened by the water.
She put the handkerchief next to Dove, close to her lap. She didn’t want to shove it into her hand, just letting it be there if she needed to use it. She stayed quiet, waiting for a reaction from Dove. Nova definitely hadn’t expected this from a bad morning.
Thoughts - Italic ~ Nova's Speech - #a88400 ~ Dove's speech - #1f2def
NOTES@Dove CullenWORD COUNT: 299/200 wordsForward dated to October 11, 2025
21 Jul 2025, 09:17
Hi Again, Don't Want to Say Goodbye
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After whipping her tears and considering going back to her bedroom to be depressed alone, Dove heard foot steps going towards her, and a pretty familiar voice. Oh no, what is she doing here ? It was definitly not the right time. Nova... she always wanted to make good impression in front of her. Well, she kind of always act shy, but since it doesn't seem to bother the hufflepiff girl, then she doesn't have to change it and force herself to act different. But crying ? In front of her crush ? No, thay was too awkward. She didn't want to be seen "fragile", even more for a stupid book ! Well, it wasn't a "stupid" book, but for someone outside her thoughts, it was.
Dove didn't dare to speak, she felt this ball inside her throat, as if it would transform into tears if she let sound coming out of her mouth, which meant she didn't answer to Nova's question about what happened to her. And even if she could talk, what could have she said ? "Oh, it's my book, it fell in the water." No one cries over a book. Moreover, as well as speaking, Dove didn't dare to look at the pretty face next to her. She knew the simple view of it would make her get flushered. And if she didn't have control of herself, then she would start to cry. But she didn't want to act rude of awkward, so she slighlty turned her head, still without looking at Nova, while this so kind girl had got the problem was Dove's novel. She still could talk, so Dove just moved her head up and down to acquiesce. However, when she saw Nova put some tissue next to her, as if she wanted to take care of Dove's sadness, it made her blush, but like really. Blush so much the hotness of her face could have had dried every tear thay could have fallen from her eyes.
She decided she couldn't stay tuned, when the curly haired girl had been so kind to her.
"Thank you, you- you're beind to nice. And yes, hum it- it's my grandma's book that hum fell into the water so..."
She felt embarassed saying this out loud, as if she shouldn't have confessed about this. But Nova... she was acting so sweet with her, and she must have gotten into the courtyard for another reason than confort this poor crying girl. Whas she acting this way for all her friends ? Of was she only doing this for Dove ? She was feeling a bit egoist to think thay way, because deep down inside of her, she wanted Nova to be only kind to her. Gosh, I wish I had seen her with her friends, so I could know how she acts with them. she thought.
She took a look at the handkerchief, she didn't dare to use it. So instead, she said :
"I am feeling much bet- better now thanks. Hum, I hum owe you one ?"
Her voice got higher at the end of her sentance, as if she wasn't sure of what she was saying. She wanted Nova to know thay she could be there for her too.
Oh, and what she said was part true, she was feeling better, but only because Nova was still sitting next to her. I don't want her to leave, even of I know she has mire important things to do... Why am I such a big egoist ?
Too many feelings were fighting inside of her heart, sadness, regret, but the two main principles were wisdom and love. Wisdom, which was saying she should let Nova go back to her business, and love, which wanted to say everything to her, confess. What should she do ?
Interacting with : @Nova Astron | Date of thread : 11/10/2025 | WC : 639/200
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22 Jul 2025, 15:36
Hi Again, Don't Want to Say Goodbye
Nova stayed quiet as Dove confirmed her suspicions, looking rather defeated. She could tell Dove felt embarrassed, maybe overwhelmed. She smiled at her, trying to convey that she was just trying to make her feel better. She didn’t think it was silly. A book from her grandmother? Of course that would be upsetting. Nova would be bothered too.
She sat up a little straighter, shifting so she was closer to Dove. “That sucks, Dove. I’m sorry,” she said, her tone sympathetic. “I’d be crying too if my book tried to drown when I wasn’t looking.” She hadn’t meant to crack a joke, but she didn’t know what to tell her to make her feel better, even if it was just a little.
She rubbed her hands against the cold, then looked back at Dove. “You don’t owe me anything! Friends gotta help friends, don’t they?” she responded with a grin, hair flying around in the breeze that whipped gently through the courtyard. She didn’t bother fixing it, letting her hair hang in her eyes.
She glanced toward the stone rim of the fountain, eyeing the water like it had done something personal. “Rude of it, honestly.” Her tone was lighter now as she flexed her fingers to rid them of the stiffness from the cold. Stupid wind. She thought to herself, glancing at Dove again with a smile.
“If you want, we could get something sweet to drink. We could sneak into the kitchens.” She whispered conspiratorially, a mischievous smile on her face. Maybe a good drink could fix her utterly drastic morning.
Thoughts - Italic ~ Nova's Speech - #a88400 ~ Dove's speech - #1f2def
NOTES@Dove CullenWORD COUNT: 263/200 wordsForward dated to October 11, 2025
23 Jul 2025, 15:18
Hi Again, Don't Want to Say Goodbye
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Cold breeze, acompanied by Nova's smile conforted Dove. But there was one thing that made her feel a bit more hesitant. Friends ? At least we are, I'm glad to know it but... but what ? As she wanted Nova to tell her she saw her more than friends ?
And then she realised what she was thinking, and felt her cheeks blush about it. She really needed to stop thinking about the Hufflepuff this way, it was getting overwhelming.
"Yeah... water's not really nice." she joked with her. At least, she found this relationship confortable, Nova was very kind to Dove, and Dove, well she hadn't really had the opportunity to help her crush in some way, but she knew she would do the same for her. Moreover, Nova didn't seem to be annoyed by Dove's shyness, fortunatly, because it's hard not to be next to her. Ahhh, what a healthy friendship, if only-
Wow, why was her heart beating like that ? Nova was close, too close even, since she whispered some twisted idea. Not that it didn't please Dove, after all it would make her think about something else than her ruined book (she still didn't know what she was going to do with that) but she could never act normal in those kitchen, alone with her ?"Yeah, I'd to- totally love that. Hum, wh-when would we hum go ?" she didn't know if Nova anwered to her question or not. To be honest, she asked it but she felt lost while saying it, she wasn't on her feet right now, but as she was having a walk in her head. She didn't see herself coming with the joyful girl without telling her what she had felt this past month. It may would be weird, for both of them.
However, she knew her feeling weren't reciprocal, even if deep down she wanted to be, she was sure, at almost 100 percent Nova didn't like her in the same way Dove did. How could she tell her, like directly, or on their way to drink something ? She took a deep breathe, as if she was about to cast a spell. She concentrated herself, trying to find the perfect words to explain her feelings, without stuttering she hoped. "Hum Nova, I- I believe that I have a, well hum, a crush on you."
Oh my gosh, she finally said it, after all this time, when she first confessed to her cousin, by letter, he responded to her saying she should tell her when she was ready. She had the feeling it was now, but she wasn't sure, and could feel her cheeks burning. She didn't dare to look directly at Nova. She was afraid of her reaction, even if she did confess to know the Hufflepuff's feelings.
Interacting with : @Nova Astron | Date of thread : 11/10/2025 | WC : 469/200
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23 Jul 2025, 16:45
Hi Again, Don't Want to Say Goodbye
Nova smiled widely as Dove agreed to go along with her mischief. She stood up, smoothing out her skirt as she spoke. “We can go now! I haven’t been there that much but I’ve seen some other Hufflepuffs sneak in.” She hardly noticed how Dove seemed to be acting more nervous than usual. She continued speaking, going on about how some Hufflepuffs had at some point gotten detention because they got caught when Dove said the words that shut her up completely.
I think I have a crush on you. The words rang in her ears, stopping her in her tracks as she froze. She couldn’t figure out what to say, the first thing leaving her mouth being, “Oh.” It hung in the space between them, small and awkward. She turned to face Dove, all thought of a good snack gone from her mind. A crush? On me? She had no idea how to respond, wondering if she should pretend she hadn’t heard her. But she couldn’t now, the silence had stretched on far too long now.
She turned slowly to face Dove, whose face was rather red now. She hadn’t noticed before. What was she supposed to do? She didn’t think of Dove like that at all. She opened and closed her mouth, finally saying something to the girl sitting next to her. “Um, I had no idea,” she started, voice hesitant but not cold. Her hands started fiddling with the end of her skirt and her eyes darted around for a second before returning to Dove. She didn’t want to make Dove feel embarrassed, but she also had no idea on how to make the situation any less awkward than it already was.
“I mean, that’s really sweet of you, Dove,” she said, the words careful and slow. “And it’s really brave, too. I’m flattered, but I don’t really think of you the same.” She felt awful saying it, unable to soften the blow more. She didn’t want to be rude to her but the only thing Nova felt for her was friendship. She did care about her, really. Even if they had only known each other for a month. “Sorry, Dove.” She mumbled, voice soft. “I don’t want to make you feel weird,” she added quickly, barely louder than a whisper. “I still want to stay friends, but if you don’t, it’s fine.”
Thoughts - Italic ~ Nova's Speech - #a88400 ~ Dove's speech - #1f2def
NOTES@Dove CullenWORD COUNT: 396/200 wordsForward dated to October 11, 2025
23 Jul 2025, 18:10
Hi Again, Don't Want to Say Goodbye
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Oh Was resonating into Dove's head. How could a simple word make her want to cry so bad ? Nova wouldn't have to speak, she already knew what was going to happen. She didn't like her that way. And she could totally understand, first, maybe girls weren't her thing. Well, Dove thought too before she had met her. Anyway, she took some deap breathes, again, hoping it would prevent her for crying. She was sensing Nova was trying not to hurt her by not sharing her feelings, so crying wouldn't help her, at all. She would do that in her bed, tonight, when it would be all dark and everyone would sleep.
The hufflepuff not liking her back was predictable, but that she didn't had any clue that Dove had a crush on her ? It unsettled her so much she turned around to look at Nova. She must have thought her shyness was her entire personality, but it actually wasn't. Well yeah, sure Dove was a bit shy, but it was only worse because of her crush on her.
She appreciated how Nova seemed to use words and a voice tone that wouldn't be too hurtful. Of course, Dove was hurt, it was a normal feeling when you confessed and they didn't like you back, but she actually felt better than before she admited her crush on her. "You don't have to be sorry, it's okay I promise." Wait, she said all this, without stuttering ? Maybe all her stutter before was due because she was afraid Nova might knew she liked her, but now that it was the case, it's as she didn't really care now.
Moreover, she was actually surprised that Nova was the one hoping Dove wouldn't find this awkard, when the Ravenclaw was scared it would be the contrary. "Of course I want to stay friends with you. I actually thought you would be the one not wanting." She even laughed while saying that. Wow, she should have confessed a longer time ago, she would have lost this weight in her stomach a lot earlier.
Dove was thinking her crush on Nova wouldn't disappear just like that, but knowing this wasn't reciprocal meant this would probably go away one day. At least she hoped. She knew her father had a big crush on some girl before her met her mother. Like Dove, this girl didn't like him back. But he lost her feelings for her and was now married to her mother. Anyway, Dove looked at Nova, since she was now officially her friend. Still crush, but not secret, and she would do some efforts to see her only as a good friend. "I hope you still want to hum, go for drink, 'cause I'm kinda thirsty." she said, with a smile. She didn't want to say goodbye now to Nova.
Interacting with : @Nova Astron | Date of thread : 11/10/2025 | WC : 476/200
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