Between Glances I'm Invisible, But Still Here
It was early evening when I walked into the Great Hall. Classes are already over and everything looks calmer now. I changed from my school uniform into something which feels more like me. A dark blue jacket with subtle gold details with a white blouse under it and a red bow at the collar. I’m wearing a pleated skirt in the same color as my blazer. I know this kind of outfit isn’t what most of the girls would choose to wear after the lessons. Some people might find these too much, or a bit uncomfortable, but I don’t. I actually like them. They make me feel more settled and I can finally be myself.
I moved slowly into the hall, but not heading straight for a seit. There are many empty places all around, but I hesitate, just as usual. Most people already seem they know where they’re going and who they’re gong to sitting with for the dinner. I notice a some similar, but I have never been good at just coming by and starting a conversation with anybody.
I stopped next to one of the tables and held my hands together, trying not to look as awkward as I actually felt. I was listening to the sounds all around me, I heard quiet talking, and some cheerful laughter. I wanted to join, I wanted to feel great as well, but I didn’t know how to step in without feeling awkward. But I didn’t leave. Being here still feels better than being alone anywhere else, so I’ll just take a small breath and stay where I am, telling myself that everything is going to be just fine. Maybe someone will come to me first, or maybe I’ll be able to find the courage to just sit down on my own. Either way, I’m here, and for now this feels just enough for me.
I moved slowly into the hall, but not heading straight for a seit. There are many empty places all around, but I hesitate, just as usual. Most people already seem they know where they’re going and who they’re gong to sitting with for the dinner. I notice a some similar, but I have never been good at just coming by and starting a conversation with anybody.
I stopped next to one of the tables and held my hands together, trying not to look as awkward as I actually felt. I was listening to the sounds all around me, I heard quiet talking, and some cheerful laughter. I wanted to join, I wanted to feel great as well, but I didn’t know how to step in without feeling awkward. But I didn’t leave. Being here still feels better than being alone anywhere else, so I’ll just take a small breath and stay where I am, telling myself that everything is going to be just fine. Maybe someone will come to me first, or maybe I’ll be able to find the courage to just sit down on my own. Either way, I’m here, and for now this feels just enough for me.
Last edited by Christina Brooks Powell on 21 Jan 2026, 21:43, edited 2 times in total.
Between Glances I'm Invisible, But Still Here
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Interacting with: @Christina Brooks Powell
Mentioning: N/A
Date: N/AWord Count: 270
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✽The day had been exhausting. Though now the day was coming to an end. That thought alone tied into the fact that she would hopefully be eating dinner with her boyfriend pushed her to keep going. The days were getting longer as classes pushed into full-swing again. Avery had forgotten how exhausting yet rewarding days at Hogwarts could be.
She hadn't had time to change. Then again, her last class was astronomy. A class she thoroughly enjoyed, and was even an intern for. Though she didn't plan on taking a path in her future that involved too much astronomy, she still enjoyed getting a deeper understanding of the constellations and other celestial objects.
Avery walked into the Great Hall quietly. Causing a scene by bursting in didn't sound like her brightest idea especially after a long day of classes, so a simple and nonchalant entrance sounded best. With a quick glance around the room, she saw no sign of her Ravenclaw boyfriend. He was probably changing or heading back from his own classes. Or maybe he had chosen to skip that night's meal. Either way, Avery didn't mind. She knew there was always someone that she could chat with.
Upon a quick glance around the room, she noticed another girl standing in the shadows of laughter and conversation around the room. She was younger than Avery. By the look of her, probably a first year. That thought alone pushed Avery to greet her. If anything, she would get a new friend to spend dinner with that night.
"Hi. I'm Avery. And you?" Avery smiled brightly at the younger girl.
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Credit: Mylo Atkins
Be the change you wish to see |
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in the world. |
Between Glances I'm Invisible, But Still Here
I was standing quietly at one of the tables, glancing around the room, when I had noticed someone coming towards me. At first I didn’t think much of it, because it’s usual, that people come and go talking to each other all the time, but instead, she looked at me, and when our eyes met I realized, that she’s actually coming towards me.
She adressed me with a kind greeting while I was just looking at her surprised. I didn’t expect anyone to start a conversation with me, so it took some seconds to react.
„Oh, hi!” I said quietly, but tried to be as kind as I could be. „I’m Chrissy. Umm, Christina. Christina Brooks Powell.” I smiled a little. „Nice to meet you, Avery!”
She seemed older than me, and more comfortable here, like she belonged here for ages now. That made me feel strange, but still relieved.
„I was just wondering here…” I sad while glanced at the tables. „I just couldn’t decide where to sit.” I told, then looked back at here, trying not to retreat into silence again as I usually feel when I realize that I became to open to the world.
„Did you just get here, or are you waiting for someone?” I asked while a small smile has been started appearing on my face. ~Well, that is a conversation, isn’t it?~ I thought.
She adressed me with a kind greeting while I was just looking at her surprised. I didn’t expect anyone to start a conversation with me, so it took some seconds to react.
„Oh, hi!” I said quietly, but tried to be as kind as I could be. „I’m Chrissy. Umm, Christina. Christina Brooks Powell.” I smiled a little. „Nice to meet you, Avery!”
She seemed older than me, and more comfortable here, like she belonged here for ages now. That made me feel strange, but still relieved.
„I was just wondering here…” I sad while glanced at the tables. „I just couldn’t decide where to sit.” I told, then looked back at here, trying not to retreat into silence again as I usually feel when I realize that I became to open to the world.
„Did you just get here, or are you waiting for someone?” I asked while a small smile has been started appearing on my face. ~Well, that is a conversation, isn’t it?~ I thought.
Between Glances I'm Invisible, But Still Here
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Interacting with: @Christina Brooks Powell
Mentioning: N/A
Date: N/AWord Count: 237
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✽"It's nice to meet you as well, Chrissy." Avery smiled again at the girl. Hoping she hadn't frightened her. Avery had a way of always accidentally either bumping into people or stumbling in upon them.
Avery listened as the girl spoke softly. Shyly. She spoke of how she didn't know where to sit. "Ah, yes. The trouble of finding where to sit. That happens a lot. Especially during dinner if you don't get here early enough. Looks like there's a spot open at the Ravenclaw table if you want to sit there." Avery gestured to an open spot at the table wide enough for the two girls to sit.
Avery was surprised when Chrissy asked if she had just arrived or was waiting for someone. She hadn't expected the question, but she didn't mind it at all. It had just startled her out of her thoughts. "Oh, I just arrived. Though I was looking around for my boyfriend. He's a Ravenclaw like you, but it looks as if he's not here at the moment, so I'm all free for the night. What about you? Are you waiting for anyone?"
A slight murmur came over the room as the Great Hall filled. Laughter rang above the chatter as more and more students arrived. Soon enough dinner would be in full swing. Soon enough she would finally get to know this seemingly sweet girl better, and she couldn't wait.
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Credit: Mylo Atkins
Be the change you wish to see |
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in the world. |
Between Glances I'm Invisible, But Still Here
I felt strange, but I wasn’t scared. I just don’t talk often, especially not to strangers. Maybe that’s why I don’t have many friends. Anyway, this girl, Avery, seems quite nice, she even smiles at me. So I tried to gather my strength and answer like someone who knows how to talk to other people.
- “Yes, everyone already has a place among their friends. If I arrive late and alone, it’s really hard to find a place because I don’t want to bother anyone.” – I started explaining why I felt the way I did, although maybe it wasn’t necessary, because Avery seemed to understand the problem exactly.
-“Do you have a friend?” – I asked back, when told me that she was looking for her partner, who wasn’t here right now. ~And he's a Ravenclaw too!~ I thought in amazement, while I realized that she was now alone then, just like me, which probably meant that I wouldn't have to have dinner alone today. Of course, only if I wasn't a coward.
-"No, I... I'm not waiting for anyone. I'm alone. Do you want to sit down somewhere with me then?" Although I couldn't see my face, I was pretty sure that It turned completely red after the question. I usually never invite anyone to sit with me, I prefer to hide in my sad loneliness rather than even think that someone else might want to spend time with me, let alone ask someone about it. This evening, however, could be different. Maybe the ice had broken and I could finally meet my first friend in this huge castle?
- “Yes, everyone already has a place among their friends. If I arrive late and alone, it’s really hard to find a place because I don’t want to bother anyone.” – I started explaining why I felt the way I did, although maybe it wasn’t necessary, because Avery seemed to understand the problem exactly.
-“Do you have a friend?” – I asked back, when told me that she was looking for her partner, who wasn’t here right now. ~And he's a Ravenclaw too!~ I thought in amazement, while I realized that she was now alone then, just like me, which probably meant that I wouldn't have to have dinner alone today. Of course, only if I wasn't a coward.
-"No, I... I'm not waiting for anyone. I'm alone. Do you want to sit down somewhere with me then?" Although I couldn't see my face, I was pretty sure that It turned completely red after the question. I usually never invite anyone to sit with me, I prefer to hide in my sad loneliness rather than even think that someone else might want to spend time with me, let alone ask someone about it. This evening, however, could be different. Maybe the ice had broken and I could finally meet my first friend in this huge castle?
Between Glances I'm Invisible, But Still Here
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Interacting with: @Christina Brooks Powell
Mentioning: N/A
Date: N/AWord Count: 212
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✽"A friend? Well, yes, I do, but I rarely sit with her during mealtimes. We usually hang around the pitch or in other places. Mealtimes are usually too chaotic." Avery smiled as she explained. It was true. She hadn't seen her best friend, Lya, in what felt like forever. She just hoped she would see the girl again soon.
"Of course I'd love to sit with you! I have nowhere else better to sit!" Avery grinned. She was glad to be getting a new friend. It was always nice to meet new people. Each person she had met during her time at Hogwarts was all different. She was glad for that. Everyone she had met had been nice, but there were a select few that had started off standoffish. Though Avery knew those select few would eventually be open. Wariness was a survival and self-defense mechanism of someone that didn't trust easily.
Avery noticed the red embarrassment creeping across the girl's cheeks, but Avery chose to ignore it. It would not do for the girl to become more embarrassed or nervous because Avery asked if she was okay. Avery understood how hard it could be to open up to other people. It was one of the hardest things she herself had done.
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Credit: Mylo Atkins
Be the change you wish to see |
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in the world. |
Between Glances I'm Invisible, But Still Here
Chaos. Yes, that’s the best word for what I see around us. The noise of conversations, the clinking of spoons and forks, it’s all a bit too much for me. I also realize that I’m just standing there, instead of answering. In the end, the poor girl will think that I don’t really care about her company.
- “You’re right. It really is so… crowded these days. I don’t like crowds.” I replied. My smile was sincere when Avery happily accepted the invitation to spend this dinner with me today. Well, I won’t be alone tonight, that’s for sure. I had mixed feelings, I was afraid of it, but I was much happier.
- “Then let’s find a place!” I said, and looked around among the tables, then headed for a part where there were the fewest people.
- “It’ll be nice here, right?” I asked, and if Avery agreed, I took a seat at the table, adjusting my skirt underneath me and adjusting the little ribbon around my neck.
- "Umm, is it okay to come down like this? As I know we are allowed to wear anything here, but this is the first time I'm having dinner without my uniform. I'm not sure that I'm really allowed." I didn't know why I said that, but nothing better, more meaningful topic came to mind, so I continued to talk stupidly, shyly, about irrelevant things, hoping to continue to give the impression that I wasn't completely lame in the art of conversation.
- “You’re right. It really is so… crowded these days. I don’t like crowds.” I replied. My smile was sincere when Avery happily accepted the invitation to spend this dinner with me today. Well, I won’t be alone tonight, that’s for sure. I had mixed feelings, I was afraid of it, but I was much happier.
- “Then let’s find a place!” I said, and looked around among the tables, then headed for a part where there were the fewest people.
- “It’ll be nice here, right?” I asked, and if Avery agreed, I took a seat at the table, adjusting my skirt underneath me and adjusting the little ribbon around my neck.
- "Umm, is it okay to come down like this? As I know we are allowed to wear anything here, but this is the first time I'm having dinner without my uniform. I'm not sure that I'm really allowed." I didn't know why I said that, but nothing better, more meaningful topic came to mind, so I continued to talk stupidly, shyly, about irrelevant things, hoping to continue to give the impression that I wasn't completely lame in the art of conversation.
Between Glances I'm Invisible, But Still Here
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Interacting with: @Christina Brooks Powell
Mentioning: N/A
Date: N/AWord Count: 214
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✽Avery nodded. She knew what it felt like to want to be alone away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Though with new students arriving at Hogwarts every year, the school just became more and more full. Making many skip meals just to get some peace and quiet in their day. Avery knew from experience that those moments alone could be hard to come by. Especially in the Gryffindor Common Room where chaotic events could happen every week if not every few days.
"It's fine with me." Avery smiled as she sat down next to the younger bird.
"Well, you're right. It's technically not allowed, but you'll be fine for tonight. I won't tell." Avery smiled again. Then she turned her head to grab a small steak and some boiled potatoes. She was hungry, but not hungry enough to eat a large meal.
"So, forgive me if I have already asked this question, but how has your experience at Hogwarts been so far? I understand that it can be quite overwhelming. Especially if you're not used to magic or even come from the muggle world." Avery questioned. Her curiosity hopefully had sparked conversation and not left them in awkward silence. She wanted to make sure that Christina felt welcome and not uncomfortable.
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Credit: Mylo Atkins
Be the change you wish to see |
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in the world. |