A bit of silence PV Skylar Blue

Skylar has been wandering around the library for a good hour now. She had originally intended to grab a few books and do her homework, but every time she thinks she got everything she needed, another book seems to catch her attention. So here she is, arms filled with books, standing in the middle of an overcrowded library. She could have sworn there were not that many people when she first came in here, but perhaps she has been here longer than she thought.

Skylar looks around and spots an empty seat next to this girl with dark brown wavy hair. The girl seems to be working hard on her assignment, though she looks quite bored as if she would rather do anything else. Skylar feels as if they met before and racks her brain for a name, but she still could not figure it out. She does, however, remember that the girl was one of those who were upset about their house placement.

Skylar suddenly feels extremely awkward standing in the middle of the library, so she decides to approach the girl and slides into the seat next to her. The girl looks up and Skylar gives her a friendly smile.

“Hi, I’m Skylar. What’s your name?”

She noticed that the girl had blue hair. She had never seen anyone with blue hair before. Her blue eyes glinted in the light from the windows.

“Hi, I’m Skylar. What’s your name?” the girl said.

She hadn't expected her to make an introduction and so was a little surprised.
"Oh, hi! I'm Natasha. Nice ter meet ya Skylar."

She had an enormous pile of books. She definitely didn't need that many. Natasha looked down to her own table which had a few scattered books about transfiguration and the book which she picked out to borrow.

She had seen Skylar before somewhere but couldn't recall where. Skylar sat down on the table next to her. She also had parchment with her so she supposed that Skylar was here to do homework as well.

It was clear she had gotten distracted.

"So, what brings you te the library?"

Well, it was usually either homework or reading. She was probably doing both, as was clear from the books and parchment. Even she had come to do homework but decided to check out a book along the way.

The library never failed to distract you. It was really an amazing place. She still couldn't believe that it had everything to you could ever want to know.

Word count - 213

"So, what brings you to the library?"

Skylar looks at the girl, Natasha, and gives her a sheepish smile.

“Uhh, well I was originally planning on doing homework, but as you can see…” Skylar gestures at the pile of books on her desk. “I got a little distracted. And by a little I mean that I spent at least an hour wandering around the shelves.”

Looking at it now, an hour is definitely an understatement. There was no way she got ten books in an hour. She mentally apologized to any other students who wanted the books as well, because they will have to wait for her to finish reading all of them.

Skylar’s eyes then drift towards Natasha’s desk. There were a few books on transfiguration and it was clear she was half way through her homework. Probably for transfiguration as well. However, her mind keeps drifting to the Sorting Ceremony and how upset Natasha had seemed. Finally, curiosity got the better of her.

“Hey, Natasha. Sorry if I'm overstepping, but were you the one who ran out the great hall during the Sorting Ceremony?”

You should not have said that. Skylar mentally kicked herself. Oh, she was so screwed.

“Hey, Natasha. Sorry if I'm overstepping, but were you the one who ran out the great hall during the Sorting Ceremony?”

Natasha blushed lightly. The mention was embarrassing, but in her defense, she was really upset. She had run away from the Great Hall just after learning she was a Gryffindor. It might have been an overreaction, she thought now.

"Um, yeah"she said. "I was hoping to be in Slytherin."

Hopefully, Skylar didn't judge her for that. Slytherin had a reputation for being a house of evil. But Natasha didn't think so. It was the house she had always wanted to be in. The house for the cunning and ambitious.

Plus, she was a parselmouth. Almost all parselmouths were sorted in Slytherin. So, she had thought she would be too.

She also personally hated Gryffindor, what with their reputation 0f being for the noble and brave. There were always so heroic and goody two shoes! Natasha wasn't that. She was nothing like a Gryffindor, so why was she sorted as one?

It was a question that always made Natasha feel uneasy. It was a question stalking her brain and attacking her when she least suspected it. Could the sorting hat be wrong? After all these years of sorting students, maybe it was broken?

Word count - 213

Mentions - @Skylar Blue

"Um, yeah. I was hoping to be in Slytherin.”

Skylar's eyebrows rise in surprise at Natasha's words. Not only didn't Natasha yell at her for that out-of-pocket question (which she had every right to do), apparently she wanted to be a Slytherin! It was not because Slytherin is considered evil or anything, but because Natasha seems every bit like a Gryffindor. Skylar wonders if that is what people think of her as well. Despite not wishing to be in Gryffindor, what if deep down she truly is one?

“You know, I didn’t want to be a Gryffindor either.” Skylar says as she glances over at Natasha.

“I always thought I would be better in Ravenclaw. I loved reading, learning, and my name literally has blue in it.

I didn’t think I would fit in with Gryffindor because they all just seemed so… heroic and whatever. Every time someone mentions Gryffindor, all I can imagine is a bunch of red and gold bathed in glory. But I wasn’t like that.

I like my books, I like my stories, I like my quiet. I thought I was meant to be like my mom, a Ravenclaw with eyes filled with cleverness.” Skylar sighs as she reminisces her past.

“But, I wanted to be an Auror like my father. I wanted to make a change, and I wanted to help others who couldn’t help themselves. To explore, to learn, to be respected.

I suppose that’s why I’m Gryffindor. I am a Dreamer. The ambitions I have and the path I wish to take make me who I am.” Skylar looks at Natasha and smiles.

“My point is, there is a reason you’re here. You may not know it yet, but perhaps it is your ambitions, your personality, or even your future that made you a Gryffindor. My parents told me that no matter what house I was sorted in, I am still me. Our house doesn’t define us, Natasha. It’s what we do with it. Perhaps the Sorting Hat saw something we didn’t. The Sorting Hat told me that only in Gryffindor will my true potential shine. So perhaps it puts you here for the same reason, too.”

Skylar then shrugs and takes out her homework. “It’s just a little something I realized while in Hogwarts. If it counts for anything, I thought you were a Gryffindor through and through. Your confidence, determination, and activeness in the school is really admirable. So, friend, I sure do hope you don’t mind being a Gryffindor, because I am glad you're here.”

"It's not that I really care what house I'm in." This was a lie. "It's just I hoped for Slytherin. Maybe I do have a bit of Gryffindor in me. But I'm less of a Gryffindor than you thought I was. Did you know I'm a parseltongue?"

This was something Natasha had never said to anyone before. She liked the ability of course. But it also meant that she was in some way, related to Salazer Slytherin, who was the founder of Slytherin.

"My whole family are also Slytherins with the occasional Ravenclaw. I'm probably the only one in my family who's in Gryffindor. It's disappointing to say the least. My family already hates my mom for marrying a muggle. We're mostly pureblood with the occasional exceptions like my mom. "

A part of her wanted to be pureblood. She couldn't explain it. It's not like she hated muggles or anything but being pureblood just felt powerful.

"My mom's not even a parselmouth. My grandmother was so happy to find that I was one. It's like a connection to my heritage. To Slytherin. They never expected me to end up in Gryffindor."

"I understand why you would've wanted to be in Ravenclaw. I always thought if I wasn't going to be in Slytherin, I would definitely be in Ravenclaw."

Word count - 219
@Skylar Blue

"It's not that I really care what house I'm in.”

Skylar narrows her eyes at that. She does not think that Natasha is lying, per se, but it seems like she is trying to convince herself that she does not care when she truly does.

"It's just I hoped for Slytherin. Maybe I do have a bit of Gryffindor in me. But I'm less of a Gryffindor than you thought I was. Did you know I'm a parseltongue?”

Skylar tilts her head to the side. Huh. She did not know that. That explains a lot, actually. Parseltongues are usually sorted into Slytherin, so it makes sense that Natasha would want to be there as well.

"My mom's not even a parselmouth. My grandmother was so happy to find that I was one. It's like a connection to my heritage. To Slytherin. They never expected me to end up in Gryffindor.”

"I understand why you would've wanted to be in Ravenclaw. I always thought if I wasn't going to be in Slytherin, I would definitely be in Ravenclaw.”

Ah. That is why. Family can be a tricky thing. And if Natasha's family wanted her to be Slytherin, that meant they must have disliked Gryffindor. Skylar cannot help but internally scoff at her charmed life. She may have kind parents that support her no matter what, but others do not. Skylar is forever grateful for the family she has, but she also understands that not everyone lives in a happy little bubble like her. Despite being wizard-born, she was incredibly lucky to have parents who love and accept everyone. Sometimes too accepting. Natasha comes from a stricter family. Most likely of pure-blood descent. The stress they put on each other is only something Skylar can imagine. She does not know how she would deal with her family if she was sorted into a house they despised, if they had any. She looks at Natasha again.

“You are strong, Natasha. And you're not giving yourself enough credit. I won't tell you that being a Gryffindor is all sunshine and rainbows, but it is not completely awful as well.

I will not pretend I know the pressure of needing to be in a different house, because I have never felt the need before. My parents always accepted me for who I am, so to fake understanding of your situation will only disrespect you and them. However, if you need someone to listen, I'll be here. I do not give empty promises, Natasha. When I say I'll be here, I will.”

Skylar gives Natasha a nod and offers her hand. She does not give an overly cheerful smile, nor does she give pity in any form. All she is giving is quiet understanding and support. Natasha has great spirit and strength. To pity her is to insult her ability. To fake a smile is to undermine the seriousness of the situation.

“Just because you're a parseltongue doesn't mean you have to be in Slytherin. Who knows? You might make history as one of the first Gryffindor parseltongues. And even if you are not accepted for who you are, then it’s everyone else’s loss because you are amazing.”

Now Skylar smiles at Natasha. Not the big, happy grin she usually does, but a small one. One that says I know this is important to you, so it's important to me, too.

"You are strong, Natasha. And you're not giving yourself enough credit. I won't tell you that being a Gryffindor is all sunshine and rainbows, but it is not completely awful as well.
I will not pretend I know the pressure of needing to be in a different house, because I have never felt the need before. My parents always accepted me for who I am, so to fake understanding of your situation will only disrespect you and them. However, if you need someone to listen, I'll be here. I do not give empty promises, Natasha. When I say I'll be here, I will. Just because you're a parseltongue doesn't mean you have to be in Slytherin. Who knows? You might make history as one of the first Gryffindor parseltongues. And even if you are not accepted for who you are, then it’s everyone else’s loss because you are amazing.”

That felt really nice. Skylar was a nice person.

"I don't really feel the need to. My parents don't care, because my mom is kind of a rebel. She married a muggle and she left the family home and stuff like that. She wasn't even a parseltongue. So our side of the family has always felt scorn for that. But I've always just not wanted to be a rebel. Just be like the rest of my family. My relatives like me more than my mom because I'm a parselmouth and I love Slytherin. So they always kind of accepted me, more than my mom at least. I haven't seen them since last summer, but I suppose they've caught on that I'm a Gryffindor. Ugh... I just wish I could be like the rest of them. "

It wasn't like she was pressured. Her mom didn't care. But she did. For some reason she wanted to fit in with the rest of the family, but her mom didn't care. She didn't know why or for what reason. It just felt good to be like them. She was dreading meeting them in the summer. At least her father's side grandparents didn't care. They lived in London and well didn't really know much. They knew my mother was a witch and that I was one too. But they didn't have much other knowledge about the wizarding world.

299 words
@Skylar Blue

"I don't really feel the need to. My parents don't care, because my mom is kind of a rebel. She married a muggle and she left the family home and stuff like that. She wasn't even a parseltongue. So our side of the family has always felt scorn for that. But I've always just not wanted to be a rebel. Just be like the rest of my family. My relatives like me more than my mom because I'm a parselmouth and I love Slytherin. So they always kind of accepted me, more than my mom at least. I haven't seen them since last summer, but I suppose they've caught on that I'm a Gryffindor. Ugh... I just wish I could be like the rest of them. "

Skylar nods at that. She understands the feeling. She also wants to fit in with everyone and be liked. To feel a sense of connection and community. Family is an important thing, so Natasha probably wants to please them as much as possible, too. Skylar shrugs and gives Natasha a small smile.

"Well, I won't give you that whole 'be yourself' speech, because if I'm being honest, I don't even know who I am. But I guess that's just a journey both of us will have to take, isn't it?" Skylar digs through her bag and offers some treats to Natasha.

"I'm glad I met you, Natasha. Hogwarts is a confusing place, so I'm happy that you are here. I do get that you want to be like the rest of your family though. Being the same with everyone gives the sense of closeness, like a herd. By having something in common, it's easier to connect to each other."

"But sometimes, being out of our comfort zone is what it really takes to find something new. At least that's what my mom tells me."

Skylar gives Natasha a lopsided grin. She looks around the library and notices that a lot of people have already left. Hm. They must have been here for a while.

"Say, you want to go eat some dinner together later?"