Can't Ask for Help
@Rose Moon1/27/26"Come on, stupid height!" Rosalyn whispered, reaching up as high as she could. She was on her tiptoes, and still could not manage to reach the book. It was up on the top shelf, and she was not quite tall enough to get to it. She needed it for one of her classes, an extra bit of studying she wanted to do for History of Magic, but she couldn't manage to reach it, even trying her hardest.
She knew that she should ask for some help, but she didn't exactly know how. Should she just...walk up to someone and ask? What if they found her annoying? Or didn't feel like helping her? Or just...perhaps it was better for her to not even ask.
She'd grown up doing things on her own, it wasn't exactly new to her. Her parents were very kind, but often left her alone. They worked often and she rarely ever saw them, and she'd learned to do most things on her own.
"Ugh!" she said quietly to herself, frustrated that she was still too short to reach the damn book.
Whoa, she never cursed. Wow, was that how angry she was?
She tried jumping a bit, but was still a few inches too short to reach the book. She had left her wand in her dorm, thinking she could just grab the book and go back, so she had no way to get it down using magic.
"Whatever, it's fine." she whispered, lowering herself back down to her plain old non-tiptoed feet. She was rather disappointed in herself, not even able to get a simple book down from a shelf.
Last edited by Rosalyn Willows on 11 Feb 2026, 13:53, edited 3 times in total.
Can't Ask for Help
Keen Eye / Lovely Creature / Healing Sage / Calming Presence / Animagus / Nonverbal Magic / Apparition
✧@Rosayln Willows / Jan 27th, 2026 / outfit✧
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Rose walked through the castle, her nose, cheeks, and fingers still bitten pink by the cold. The Owlrey was truly a frigid place in the winter, but it was worth it to wait and get her mother's letter as soon as it arrived.
That letter was clutched in her hand as she walked. Lately, Rose felt that she had wasted a lot of time over the past few years being upset at her mother. Rose had been mad through it all. Mad about her absence growing up, mad about her getting married, mad about the divorce. She hadn't been verbal about this anger in most cases, which probably made it worse, bottled up inside of her.
But in the past few months, Rose had a newfound appreciation for her mother. Pearl Moon had been through a lot, and Rose found she couldn't blame her for the ways that she dealt with her grief. Being a single mother to five couldn't have been easy, and Rose would never know all that she gave up to support them. Her marriage to Luke hadn't been an intentional remodeling of their family, but an attempt at her own happiness, something she hadn't prioritized in her life for years. But relationships built on emotion, Rose found, were hardly ever lasting, and though the redhead wished that she and Luke could have made it work, it wasn't meant to be.
Pearl Moon had every right, after all that she'd been through, to isolate and to work obsessively in order to cope. But lately, those habits were fading. She took as much time off of work during holidays as she could, and constantly tried to spend time with her kids when they were home, owling them when they weren't. Rose enjoyed every letter she received from her mom, filling her in on the work gossip and reacting to Rose's recent achievements and events. Rose's plan was to go to the library and write her mother back.
But as she slowed her pace upon entering the library, breathing in the beautiful serenity of her favorite place in the castle and approaching her usual table at the back of the room, she saw another student that made her pause.
She was smaller than Rose, likely due to her age, and had pretty blonde hair. She seemed to be reaching for a book on a high shelf and couldn't quite reach. Rose looked around. She thought of just sitting down, resuming her task that she had to admit she was excited to do, but she couldn't just let a student struggle like this. Plus, Rose had a habit of sticking her nose in places it wasn't needed because she thought she could help. Though she wasn't entirely sure why the girl hadn't tried to ask anyone else to help her get it down.
Rose tucked the letter into the inside pocket of her school robes and came up to her, pointing her wand up at the book. "Accio book," she said softly. Rose could have done it without speaking, but she wanted the younger student to know she was there, rather than just startling her. The book, upon her summoning charm, snapped into her left hand, and Rose offered it to the girl. "Here," she said, a friendly expression on her face. "Were you trying to get this?"
Can't Ask for Help
@Rose Moon1/27/26"Oh, thank you! Yes, that's what I was trying to get." Rosalyn said, a bit surprised by the girl. She hadn't seen her there until she'd cast the charm to get it down.
She took the book, not quite sure what to say. She'd been really nice, and Rosalyn wanted to say thank you. Normally, she would give candy, but she'd forgotten her things back at her dorm, not thinking she'd need them. Bummer, the one time she needed it.
"Uh, I'm Rosie, by the way! What's your name? And thanks again for the help, I guess I just need to get taller!" she said, trying to joke a bit, and introducing herself.
The girl who had helped her was very pretty, with reddish hair and gorgeous freckles. Rosalyn's only really came out during the summer, so they weren't there in the middle of winter. She definitely looked older than Rosalyn, and seemed pretty mature, too.
"Sorry if I distracted you from doing something, though." she said, hoping that she hadn't stopped the nice girl from doing what she needed to.
Rosalyn realized that she hadn't even looked down at the book she'd taken to make sure that it was the right one. She looked down, and sure enough, it was the right book. That was a good thing, because it would have been pretty awkward if it wasn't correct.
Can't Ask for Help
[quote]
Keen Eye / Lovely Creature / Healing Sage / Calming Presence / Animagus / Nonverbal Magic / Apparition
✧@Rosayln Willows / Jan 27th, 2026 / outfit✧
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The blonde girl quickly thanked her, grateful for her help, and Rose smiled, her friendly demeanor shining through. She was relieved that the girl hadn't been upset for her help, since Rose didn't really ask. "Of course," Rose said, reassuring her that it really was no problem from her, before the younger student introduced herself as Rosie.
Rose almost thought she was joking, but there was no mischief in the girl's eyes, and Rose's eyebrows raised in surprise. "You're not going to believe this," she laughed softly, the funny coincidence of the situation striking her. "My name is Rose, actually. It's nice to meet you, Rosie. Is Rosie a nickname for something?"
Her father used to call her Rosie when she was little, and her boyfriend, Eyre, did as well when they dated back in her early years at Hogwarts. Though both of those had been a long time ago, the memories of that nickname brought up the fond feelings she had for both of them, though her father had passed and she had drifted away from Eyre. There weren't very many nicknames for an already short name like Rose, so the obvious options for endearments were fairly limited. But there was something so personal about a nickname that Rose liked so much, to have a unique and individual twist put on one's given name. All that to say, Rosie's name was really cute.
The girl whose name was so incidentally near her own then apologized, in case she distracted Rose from doing something. "No, not at all," Rose said, though it was a little bit of a lie. She had been on her way to do something else, but it wouldn't really be goody-two-shoes Rose if she just let another student struggle without even trying to help. "Though I am curious- why didn't you ask anyone to help you get it down?" she asked, a slight glimmer of humor with the curiosity in her green eyes as she glanced up at the high shelf Rosie had been attempting to get this book from.
Keen Eye / Lovely Creature / Healing Sage / Calming Presence / Animagus / Nonverbal Magic / Apparition
✧@Rosayln Willows / Jan 27th, 2026 / outfit✧
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The blonde girl quickly thanked her, grateful for her help, and Rose smiled, her friendly demeanor shining through. She was relieved that the girl hadn't been upset for her help, since Rose didn't really ask. "Of course," Rose said, reassuring her that it really was no problem from her, before the younger student introduced herself as Rosie.
Rose almost thought she was joking, but there was no mischief in the girl's eyes, and Rose's eyebrows raised in surprise. "You're not going to believe this," she laughed softly, the funny coincidence of the situation striking her. "My name is Rose, actually. It's nice to meet you, Rosie. Is Rosie a nickname for something?"
Her father used to call her Rosie when she was little, and her boyfriend, Eyre, did as well when they dated back in her early years at Hogwarts. Though both of those had been a long time ago, the memories of that nickname brought up the fond feelings she had for both of them, though her father had passed and she had drifted away from Eyre. There weren't very many nicknames for an already short name like Rose, so the obvious options for endearments were fairly limited. But there was something so personal about a nickname that Rose liked so much, to have a unique and individual twist put on one's given name. All that to say, Rosie's name was really cute.
The girl whose name was so incidentally near her own then apologized, in case she distracted Rose from doing something. "No, not at all," Rose said, though it was a little bit of a lie. She had been on her way to do something else, but it wouldn't really be goody-two-shoes Rose if she just let another student struggle without even trying to help. "Though I am curious- why didn't you ask anyone to help you get it down?" she asked, a slight glimmer of humor with the curiosity in her green eyes as she glanced up at the high shelf Rosie had been attempting to get this book from.
Can't Ask for Help
@Rose Moon1/27/26"Really? That's crazy! Yeah, it's short for Rosalyn, but that's a mouthful. Pretty much everybody, or at least the people I know, call me Rosie!" she said, surprised at the fact that she and the very nice girl almost shared a name.
She'd been going by Rosie for as long as she could remember, thought there was that one summer she went by Lynn, but she wasn't a huge fan of that nickname. Don't get her wrong, she loved the name Rosalyn, but preferred to shorten it.
"Why didn't I ask for help? I just didn't want to make my own height(or lack of it) anyone else's problem. Thank you for helping, though!" Rosie said, trying to just brush that bit off. She'd just gotten used to doing things herself, but stupid genetics had failed her and made her pretty short, even for being 11. At 135-ish cm, or 4'5", she didn't have too much to work with. Luckily she was at the age for a growth spurt, and she hoped she'd gain at least a few more inches within the year.
"What were you here to do? Probably to get a book, if I'm not mistaken?" she asked, trying to switch the topic of conversation from herself to Rose, before silence filled the space and made things too awkward.
Can't Ask for Help
Keen Eye / Lovely Creature / Healing Sage / Calming Presence / Animagus / Nonverbal Magic / Apparition
✧@Rosayln Willows / Jan 27th, 2026 / outfit✧
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Rosalyn. That was pretty. Rose always wondered what it would be like to have a longer name, a fancier name, that would include a nickname. Her first, middle, and last name were all short, only really approaching mouthful status when she said all of them. She guessed she would never know what it would be like to need a nickname, but she didn't mind that any given to her were on a purely relational basis.
Anyone else's problem. First they almost shared a name, and now this Rosalyn was starting to sound like Rose when she was younger, so determined to not make any of her problems spill out onto anyone else's plate. Independence was that kind of attribute that could be a blessing and a curse. It was good to be able to do things by yourself and enjoy your own company, but due to the fact that independence was such an inherently lonely thing, it could also grow to hurt. Rose knew that much, at least, from experience.
The redhead did notice her quick change of subject, but entertained the question anyway, saying, "Oh, I was just coming in here for the quiet. I'm writing back to my mum since she sent me an owl." Rose looked around. She supposed the guess of her getting a book was a good one, since that was kind of the jist of this whole room. "The library really is one of my favorite parts of the castle," she said, a quiet kind of fondness shining through her words. Over her years, so many days had been spent in the library studying, doing homework, reading, hanging out with friends- you name it. The redhead was grasped briefly by an ache in her chest, reminding her that she wouldn't always get to hang out in this library. One more semester, and the towering shelves would no longer be a solace she could seek.
Shaking off the nostalgia and bittersweet reminder of all this place had been to her, Rose looked back down at the younger student. "You can come sit with me, if you like," she offered, an extension of Rosie's redirection of their conversation. If the girl accepted, Rose would lead her to the table she intended to sit at previously, taking a seat.
"You know, asking for help isn't all that bad all the time," she said, looking in her bag for a piece of parchment and a quill. "It only took me a couple of seconds to help you out," she pointed out before adding with a small smile and a sparkle in her eye, "Plus I got to meet someone who shared my name. Almost, at least."
So sorry for the wait!
Can't Ask for Help
Beautiful Banner by the amazing Dido Bleaklane! FC by the awesome Cassandra Tarot!
As she was awaiting the older girl's response, Rosie began to fidget in the way she most liked to. Picking up a curl from her shoulder, she started to pull it at, watching the bit of hair uncoil before springing back into place.
"Oh, that makes sense! This place is rather quiet...or, well, it was until I needed help. So sorry again!" she said, still feeling horrible about the display of pathetic shortness, and in front of a seventh-year no less!
"It's one of my favourite places too! I absolutely love reading, and this place has more books than I could have even imagined existed before I figured out that I'm magical!" Rosie said, happy to know that there was someone else who absolutely loved the place.
Don't get her wrong-every place in this entire school was filled with magic and wonder and more chances for adventure than she believed possible to find! However, the Library would always win out, with the Slytherin Common Room quite close.
"Oh, thank you so much! I'd love to." she said, following Rose to a table before sitting down at the seat across from her, beginning to rummage through the bag at her hip for something to eat, because she was feeling rather hungry. After a few seconds, Rosie managed to grab hold of a chocolate bar stashed into her designated sweets pocket, because that's how much she always had on her.
As she opened up the wrapper and popped a small square of the sweet into her mouth, Rosalyn heard as Rose began to speak to her, about how getting help is not always a bad thing.
"Yeah, I guess you're right. It's just…kind of hard sometimes, you know? But thanks again, and I'm glad we met too! You seem really cool!" she said, after the chocolate melted into the much needed sugar she craved. There was no fear at calling the girl cool, as she was a seventh-year, which objectively made her a very interesting and knowledged person.