Forgiving the Past and Giving Presents PV Thora

@Katrina Walker

"Forgiving is easy. Forgetting and trusting again is the hard part."

A sense of vitality seemed to stir within Hogwarts, waking up the tired castle after winter break. The steady stream of students, finally cheerful from the holidays, that had been arriving over the past couple days had certainly brightened up the entire place with the shouts of young students echoing off the stone walls once more. With the resuming of school meant homework. And although homework was dreary and an awful pain, Thora appreciated it. Homework meant a distraction. Homework meant somewhere to escape to. Homework meant something to do when she couldn't find a friend, couldn't find someone to talk to.

It was surprisingly easy to come across people here--after all, Thora had gotten to know a few students just the previous day. It was just the people she needed to talk to who were ever elusive, escaping her grasp. Now that everyone most certainly was back within the castle's limits, she was keen to seek out one of her friends to talk. The snek had planned to do so just that morning, before classes started. But alas, fate had other ideas.

Thora had been caught up in greeting acquaintances and several conversations in her common room, everyone having not seen each other for a couple weeks. While she was typically a morning person and was able to get up with the sun, even with her early wake-up, time had not been her friend. A frantic rush for the dorm had resulted in an only slightly rumpled-looking Thora clad in the trademark Slytherin robes--green and silver tie with the black robes on top--and a pair of combat boots she had managed to find. Fashion had never been her thing, but one wouldn't exactly call Thora out-of-style, either. 

It was a Monday and the start of school. Trying to avoid being late, Thora clomped up the stairs to the main floor and beelined for the staircases. The girl slowed to a walk as she fought to balance a tote bag stuffed full with books on a shoulder, then stopped for a split second as she heard her name being called out. Whoever it was, Merlin, they had called at the wrong time. Two minutes and a class to get to wasn't easy, and Thora needed to get moving, fast.

But then her paranoia got the better of her. It could be a prefect, one of her friends, anyone that she would hate herself for ignoring. So, Thora paused, spinning on a heel, while skillfully keeping her books in the bag. Sharp green eyes scanning her surroundings, the girl cocked her head to the side. Who was calling to her? She didn't see anyone whom she knew here, nor did she see anyone with even their mouths open. Thora was the only one stationary in the river of moving students.

And then a familiar--Thora wasn't sure whether it was a good thing or not--redhead appeared near her. Oh, heck. Not her. She knew better than to be scared of Katrina, having encountered her many a time since her little attack in the library. Still, she was incredibly wary of the Gryffindor. Sure, maybe she could forgive Katrina and let them get somewhere with their shredded relationship, but never, ever would she forget. And however ironic it was, with the group of friends Thora was finally able to start gathering, she hadn't any trust left.

She was done trusting after a mishap. She had gone to the ball and expected a fun, if not a little hectic night. She had trusted the Headmaster, trusted the Professors to keep the students safe from possible death. What had she received in return? A night of horror after horror followed by endless trauma. Thora had trusted Katrina as a friend, but what had she received in return? A near-concussion and miserable hours in the Hospital Wing. Perhaps she could let go of it just for once, but forever was a long time. Longer than Thora could forget something. Some things would stay etched in her memory forever, and it seemed like the unfortunate happening was one of those.

"Hey, Katrina," Thora kept her voice flat. The other girl held a package in her hand, she noticed, but there was no reason it was for her. The snek had done nothing to deserve a gift nor her friendship--didn't exactly want it either--and that was completely fine with her. As far as she knew, she hadn't done anything yet to offend the Gryffindor. Why she wanted to talk to Thora was completely beyond her. Shifting on her feet nervously, eyes darting towards the staircases, Thora waited for a response. Hopefully, it would be a fast one so she could get to class fast.

Katrina Walker noticed Thora Larkston's apprehensiveness from the moment she saw her. She was wearing a classic uniform and a pair of combat boots. The look resembled Katrina's own, back robes with the Gryffindor red and gold tie she had a pair of black slip on shoes under. She wished that there was a better design for their crest. But that was a thought for another time.

"There you are! I was looking for you." Katrina smiled holding out the carefully wrapped present, "This is a Christmas present for you... this too." she handed the letter and candy cane. It was a kind of peace offering for her. They were close to being friends before the incident in the library. This was a reminder that there used to be a connection between the two.

"I don't need anything in return. I just wanted to say sorry and make up for our misunderstanding," It was tough to say, but felt good to get it out. She knew that the Slytherin would never trust her again, but there was no reason for them to be negative to each other. Katrina was ready to do anything she could to make things right with the girl.

First this, an apology besides the one in the hospital wing. Then, maybe another present later. More apologies, a bit of time. And a lot of patients and maybe the two could become close again. It was a far stretch, but it was Katrina's goal to make things right again.

They only had a bit of time before class started and Katrina had an assignment to turn in. She waited to see if Thora would say anything more before she headed out to class and focused on the other gifts to give.

Katrina Walker leaves thread

@Katrina Walker

Guilt went cartwheeling through Thora's brain as Katrina presented not one, but two presents. Bridget had given her a present before break, and now Katrina? It wasn't like the Slytherin to be so unprepared, and even less so with gifts, of all things. Everyone was being much too nice to her. After all, Thora was no more than a little magical nerd. She had no social knowledge and only a handful of friends, while others seemed to be comfortable with practically half of the population.

Maybe everyone had warmed up, though. She was surprised especially at Katrina's gift, though. They weren't on the best terms, and while Thora wasn't the most open to restarting their friendship, she felt that the tension was equally both girls' fault. While the lion had clearly started the conflict, Thora wasn't about to forget about it. Sure, that was her fault, but that was how she was. Thora was wary. It was simply part of her character. 

Besides, why was Katrina giving her a present? Was she trying to suck up to her, or maybe apologize yet again by way of a gift? Thora absolutely hated people who tried to get on people's good side by simply being simperingly nice. It was almost sickening, the way people did so. It didn't seem much like Katrina to do something like that, though, so perhaps Thora would have given her the benefit of doubt, had she been in a better mood. 

But no, she was nearly late to class. So, biting her lip as to avoid sending a suspicious glare in the other girl's--no, her former friend's--direction, Thora gingerly accepted the carefully wrapped presents. Hopefully, this wasn't some kind of trick where there was a Dungbomb or something even more deadly inside. This was not a day to die--and not from something so stupid, anyways.

And as the Gryffindor explained that it was partially as an apology, Thora couldn't help but let out a cough. Seriously? When you near-killed someone, giving a Christmas gift wasn't the best way to go. It simply didn't cut it. But okay, she still appreciated the gesture.

"Thanks, Katrina," Thora said, rummaging through her bag and finding yet another Chocolate Frog still in the box. At least she had her random stash of sweets at the bottom of her bag. She wasn't supposed to have them, persay, but she was sneaky enough to get in and out. And wasn't that what mattered? "Here's a Chocolate Frog," she explained, holding out the royal-blue pentagonal box, "I'm sorry I don't have a better present for you," Thora trailed off. While the lion was not even close to a friend, she still felt bad. Presents had been a longstanding tradition for her, and forgetting them had never even been a possibility. How had she been so quick to forget this year?

Watching nervously as the people in the halls thinned out, Thora turned and tore up the stairs. Charms was much, much too far away. 

~Thread left~