A Second Draft
Sola felt her legs begin to get sore as she walked out into the Great Lake, which was a great distance away. With a self-inking quill in one hand, parchment in another, and a copy of The Daily Prophet tucked under one arm, she moved along, feeling numb.
After she had tried and failed to find peace in the Courtyard, she had to take more drastic decisions. She looked around for a place to sit and spent a good minute staring at the parchment, blank save for the words "Dear dad" written at the top. She last one had ended up covered in ink and crumpled into a ball. Knowing her frustration, it was likely this one would end up in the lake. She frowned, folding up the paper and tucking it away before taking out her copy of the Prophet. Nothing new, the regular news on Azkaban.
Ever since the war ended, there had been talk of partially de-Dementoring Azkaban. They were cruel, unnecessary, and dangerous, as the Ministry had found out when the Dementors had sided against them. Sola didn't really have any strong opinions on the subject. They hadn't tried this since Eldritch Diggory, and he hadn't been successful either.
She sighed, sitting back. It was entirely silent. One place she could think. But she knew, it wasn't the noise that had been holding her back.
@Heather Blair Moretti
After she had tried and failed to find peace in the Courtyard, she had to take more drastic decisions. She looked around for a place to sit and spent a good minute staring at the parchment, blank save for the words "Dear dad" written at the top. She last one had ended up covered in ink and crumpled into a ball. Knowing her frustration, it was likely this one would end up in the lake. She frowned, folding up the paper and tucking it away before taking out her copy of the Prophet. Nothing new, the regular news on Azkaban.
Ever since the war ended, there had been talk of partially de-Dementoring Azkaban. They were cruel, unnecessary, and dangerous, as the Ministry had found out when the Dementors had sided against them. Sola didn't really have any strong opinions on the subject. They hadn't tried this since Eldritch Diggory, and he hadn't been successful either.
She sighed, sitting back. It was entirely silent. One place she could think. But she knew, it wasn't the noise that had been holding her back.
@Heather Blair Moretti
- Sola Haze
A Second Draft
Running around, Heather felt as if her heart would burst out of her chest. She didn't stop, though; It wasn't unusual for the girl to overwork herself, sometimes to the point of fainting. To be able to stand up as much as she could, to try to push her limits, it made her feel good- and strong.
She slowed down, though, when she saw that she was approaching The Great Lake. Sighing, the girl wanted to turn around. For the past week, every time she went out, she arrived there. It was like a string was pulling her, making her unable to control her body! Though deep inside, the girl knew that this time, it was no magic, but the memories of her old village, back when she would go and sit hours and hours by the sea, with her family. She knew, in her heart, that it was the reminder of good old days that was pulling her towards the water. So, filled with the false hope that she would find a piece of the happiness she lost, Heather followed the path to the lake, preparing for another evening spent alone with the stars. It was a surprise, though, seeing that another person was already there. Soon, the girl smiled softly, and approached the young woman; upon closer inspection, she saw she was quite troubled. "Hey, is everything alright?" asked the blonde girl, frowning a little.
She slowed down, though, when she saw that she was approaching The Great Lake. Sighing, the girl wanted to turn around. For the past week, every time she went out, she arrived there. It was like a string was pulling her, making her unable to control her body! Though deep inside, the girl knew that this time, it was no magic, but the memories of her old village, back when she would go and sit hours and hours by the sea, with her family. She knew, in her heart, that it was the reminder of good old days that was pulling her towards the water. So, filled with the false hope that she would find a piece of the happiness she lost, Heather followed the path to the lake, preparing for another evening spent alone with the stars. It was a surprise, though, seeing that another person was already there. Soon, the girl smiled softly, and approached the young woman; upon closer inspection, she saw she was quite troubled. "Hey, is everything alright?" asked the blonde girl, frowning a little.
Interaction with @Sola Haze
The silver moon shines like faint nostalgia tugging at a melancholic soul and suddenly I am becoming the phantom whispers of all the people, I had to let go. // color code #4080FF
A Second Draft
Sola had begun scribbling again, determined this time to get something down and not to panic.
Dear dad,
I arrived at Hogwarts recently. I'm sorry for not owling sooner, but I've been busy with classes. The teachers seem a lot more strict than you said yours were.
She frowned, thinking to herself. That was a good start. It could carry her on.
The dorms are nice, and the Common room is a bit chilly, but they have a fire place and-
She stared at the page for a few moments. What was she going to say? Was she going to lie? Say she was put in Hufflepuff like him? What would he think when he found out where she was?
And the windows have a great view...
Father, I think I need to tell you something. I wasn't sorted into Hufflepuff. I was sorted--
She couldn't bring herself to write it. She put the paper down, feeling her eyes begin to water. It wasn't fair. She was not a Slytherin! She was nothing like-
She was pulled from her thoughts when a voice spoke to her. She hadn't heard someone approach, and it startled her. She instinctively grabbed her wand, but stopped herself as she looked at who it was. It was a Ravenclaw girl, likely First Year like her. Sola put her wand back into her robes and breathed.
"Oh, um, yeah," she said, then realized her eyes were watery. She quickly looked down and wiped her sleeve across her face. "Yeah, everything's fine."
Dear dad,
I arrived at Hogwarts recently. I'm sorry for not owling sooner, but I've been busy with classes. The teachers seem a lot more strict than you said yours were.
She frowned, thinking to herself. That was a good start. It could carry her on.
The dorms are nice, and the Common room is a bit chilly, but they have a fire place and-
She stared at the page for a few moments. What was she going to say? Was she going to lie? Say she was put in Hufflepuff like him? What would he think when he found out where she was?
And the windows have a great view...
Father, I think I need to tell you something. I wasn't sorted into Hufflepuff. I was sorted--
She couldn't bring herself to write it. She put the paper down, feeling her eyes begin to water. It wasn't fair. She was not a Slytherin! She was nothing like-
She was pulled from her thoughts when a voice spoke to her. She hadn't heard someone approach, and it startled her. She instinctively grabbed her wand, but stopped herself as she looked at who it was. It was a Ravenclaw girl, likely First Year like her. Sola put her wand back into her robes and breathed.
"Oh, um, yeah," she said, then realized her eyes were watery. She quickly looked down and wiped her sleeve across her face. "Yeah, everything's fine."
Interacting with @Heather Blair Moretti. Don't forget to subscribe to the thread.
- Sola Haze
A Second Draft
Biting the inside of her cheek, Heather sat down next to the other girl, noticing her glassy eyes. Even though she was afraid that she was overbearing, or that she might be labeled as nosy, she couldn't leave the girl alone here. Not when she was in this state. It reminded her too much of her past, and about how she had no one to stay beside her, to comfort her during hard times. Pushing a lock of her hair behind her ears, the girl tried to find her words. "It's okay, you don't have to tell me, but it's obvious that something is bothering you." Looking down, the blonde girl smiled sadly. "Is it because you miss your home? Or is it because of everything around here- are you just as confused as me? About what is happening, about our future and role?" Heather turned her head towards the lake, grabbing a rock and throwing in the water. It bounced a few times, making small circles around it, only to finally sink after some moments. Sighing softly, Heather realised she had forgotten something quite important. Without moving her gaze from the lake, she suddenly spoke "I am Heather, by the way."
The silver moon shines like faint nostalgia tugging at a melancholic soul and suddenly I am becoming the phantom whispers of all the people, I had to let go. // color code #4080FF
A Second Draft
Sola looked up at the name. It reminded her of her aunt, Heathra. She blinked a few times, frowning and returning her gaze to the paper in her hands.
"No," she said, realizing she had probably sounded rude. "No... I... I guess I miss home, but not that much." She was lonely, but it wasn't homesickness she was feeling. Not quite.
"It's just... I'm trying to write to my dad and I... I can't think what to write." She didn't know how to word it. How on earth was she supposed to? "I'm just worried... about things..." She absentmindedly tugged at her tie.
She looked out over the lake. "I'm Sola," she introduced herself, "Sola Haze." Maybe the girl had heard of her family. They were rather prominent in the Ministry and Law Enforcement. "I'm just... I'm worried about everything. Being good enough and such," she shrugged, her forehead wrinkling as her frown deepened.
"No," she said, realizing she had probably sounded rude. "No... I... I guess I miss home, but not that much." She was lonely, but it wasn't homesickness she was feeling. Not quite.
"It's just... I'm trying to write to my dad and I... I can't think what to write." She didn't know how to word it. How on earth was she supposed to? "I'm just worried... about things..." She absentmindedly tugged at her tie.
She looked out over the lake. "I'm Sola," she introduced herself, "Sola Haze." Maybe the girl had heard of her family. They were rather prominent in the Ministry and Law Enforcement. "I'm just... I'm worried about everything. Being good enough and such," she shrugged, her forehead wrinkling as her frown deepened.
- Sola Haze
A Second Draft
Nodding, the girl made herself more comfortable, bringing her knees to her chest. The name sounded familiar- but she couldn't put her finger on it. Maybe she knew it from her father's diary? Still, she had read it a long time ago, so she couldn't be sure. Turning around, she glanced at the letter from the girl's hands, feeling her eyes getting teary. Fiddling with her fingers, Heather bit her lip and turned her head. "Everyone feels, at some point or another, that they are disappointing the others. You just have to shrug this feeling off and to try to do your best not because of the fear of failing, but for your own happiness. Think about it, this experience at Hogwarts- this exact date, this exact moment- is gone forever in the next second. Without noticing it, our lives are passing through our eyes! Is it really worth it missing some of the best days of your life worrying about what anyone else thinks? Live your life, and don't let yourself be constricted by anyone's expectations." " As Heather dug her nails into her hands, she continued, without looking at Sola. "And about the letter, you should not think, you should just write. Whatever comes to your mind, even though by the end it's a mess. It means that you wrote everything from your soul," the girl stopped and finally turned to Sola. Putting her head on her knees, she smiled bitterly. Regaining her composure, she sighed and frowned. "I...I am sorry if I was to mosy, or harsh. But, you know, I think you don't see how lucky you are. I, I cannot write to my father anymore. He's..." Heather bit her lip and closed her eyes, trying not to show how hurt she actually was. "He's dead. And if I could, I would write him every little thing. But I can't. "
The silver moon shines like faint nostalgia tugging at a melancholic soul and suddenly I am becoming the phantom whispers of all the people, I had to let go. // color code #4080FF
A Second Draft
Sola frowned. "I'm not worried about what other people think. I'm worried about what I am..." She was worried about being a bad person. Slytherin had a bad reputation, yes, but her fears were more personal.
The girl spoke again, appologizing. And then she said her father was... dead. That was a shock Sola hadn't been expecting.
"Oh," she said, speechless. "I'm... I'm sorry... what happened?" She immediately regretted saying that. That was prying, she shouldn't have said that.
She couldn't imagine what it would be like to lose one parent, though it was a fear she'd had for a long time. Once while her aunt Heathra was visiting, a Boggart had found its way into the closet in their house. She hadn't been expecting to find a Ministry-sealed Howler in there announcing her father had been KIA.
That thing had almost gotten her, and it would have if her Aunt hadn't come in and cast some spell on it that turned it into a pink Howler that sand Celestina Warbeck.
The girl spoke again, appologizing. And then she said her father was... dead. That was a shock Sola hadn't been expecting.
"Oh," she said, speechless. "I'm... I'm sorry... what happened?" She immediately regretted saying that. That was prying, she shouldn't have said that.
She couldn't imagine what it would be like to lose one parent, though it was a fear she'd had for a long time. Once while her aunt Heathra was visiting, a Boggart had found its way into the closet in their house. She hadn't been expecting to find a Ministry-sealed Howler in there announcing her father had been KIA.
That thing had almost gotten her, and it would have if her Aunt hadn't come in and cast some spell on it that turned it into a pink Howler that sand Celestina Warbeck.
- Sola Haze
A Second Draft
Heather raised her eyebrows? What she was? What did Sola mean? Then, her eyes fell on the green tie. Ah, Slytherin. Honestly, the clichés she heard about every house were dust in her eyes. She would never trust any gossip- She knew how people usually twist the truth in the worst ways. Shrugging, Heather frowned. "Uh, he died when I was younger, so I don't remember much. One day, he just left the house, and never came back. Some fishermen found him in the sea a couple days later. Only when I grew up I actually found the truth, my father was a wizard!" The girl smiled a little, reminiscing about the time when her mother told the truth. "He was an... Che roba!I can't remember what was the name," the girl trailed off, lost in thought. She seemed more lively than before, talking about her father always made her excited. "Aha! He was an Auror, I think that is the word? Mhm, that was the name." Heather smiled sheepishly. "I am still learning terms from the wizarding world, so I tend to forget some words." Frowning a little, she continued "Alessandro Carter. He was Italian, and he was an amazing man and wizard. Too bad people from both worlds liked to label him with the weirdest names, only because he cared about the others."
Che roba! = Unbelievable!
Che roba! = Unbelievable!
The silver moon shines like faint nostalgia tugging at a melancholic soul and suddenly I am becoming the phantom whispers of all the people, I had to let go. // color code #4080FF
A Second Draft
Sola perked up when she said he was an Auror. But as the story went on, she realized something sad, and it showed on her face, as the excitement deteriorated into sadness. Label... Blood Traitor. She understood that term well. It had been applied to her family for generations.
"My dad's an Auror too," she said. "His name's Walter Haze. He's been working for the Ministry for over twelve years..." She frowned, folding up the paper in her hands. "He mentioned an Alessandro. I think they used to work together... but then he stopped showing up for work." She took the Daily Prophet from under her arm and held it, but didn't open it yet.
"Apparently there was an investigation. My dad worked on that. He said they caught some suspects... they're in Azkaban now." She opened the Prophet, which had an article about the review of conditions in Azkaban. There were images of inmates in various states of disrepair. One made her flinch, but she avoided that one. "I don't know if they're in here, but they got what they deserved," she muttered.
"My dad's an Auror too," she said. "His name's Walter Haze. He's been working for the Ministry for over twelve years..." She frowned, folding up the paper in her hands. "He mentioned an Alessandro. I think they used to work together... but then he stopped showing up for work." She took the Daily Prophet from under her arm and held it, but didn't open it yet.
"Apparently there was an investigation. My dad worked on that. He said they caught some suspects... they're in Azkaban now." She opened the Prophet, which had an article about the review of conditions in Azkaban. There were images of inmates in various states of disrepair. One made her flinch, but she avoided that one. "I don't know if they're in here, but they got what they deserved," she muttered.
- Sola Haze
A Second Draft
Heather frowned. Investigation? Suspects? She always knew something fishy was around her father's death, after all he had been working for years as an Auror, and never got hurt. Suddenly, though, he died? It made no sense, even a child could see that. She could try to find out more, but Heather didn't think her companion would know more about this subject. After all, parents usually protect their children from their jobs, especially if they are dangerous. (Come to think, she never wondered when she was younger what her father actually worked)
Hearing Sola's next words, Heather became curious. Not really getting what she meant, the girl cleared her throat and crossed her arms. "Azkaban? What is that?" Looking at the newspaper, the girl flinched, then widened her eyes. Were those images...moving? Was she crazy? Or was she just tired? "Ah! You newspaper- do you see that? The pictures are moving! exclaimed the girl, with excitement. Then, at a closer look, she yelped. Those men looked like they were in hell. Some of them were screaming, others were crying, and others....looked soulless. Heather forgot for a second that she was looking at a newspaper, and feeling as if those faces were right there, in front of her, she felt chills going down her spine.
Hearing Sola's next words, Heather became curious. Not really getting what she meant, the girl cleared her throat and crossed her arms. "Azkaban? What is that?" Looking at the newspaper, the girl flinched, then widened her eyes. Were those images...moving? Was she crazy? Or was she just tired? "Ah! You newspaper- do you see that? The pictures are moving! exclaimed the girl, with excitement. Then, at a closer look, she yelped. Those men looked like they were in hell. Some of them were screaming, others were crying, and others....looked soulless. Heather forgot for a second that she was looking at a newspaper, and feeling as if those faces were right there, in front of her, she felt chills going down her spine.
The silver moon shines like faint nostalgia tugging at a melancholic soul and suddenly I am becoming the phantom whispers of all the people, I had to let go. // color code #4080FF