A Summer day PV Aida Finished

Aida loved to run through the grounds. She wasn’t allowed to run indoors, increasing a slight feeling of claustrophobia in the albino girl, but at least there were generally high ceilings and a lot of space inside the castle. Nonetheless, there was no replacement for a good run outside. Walking usually felt too slow, sometimes painfully so, but at least it wasn’t just standing still. Running made Aida feel like she was safe and actually achieving something, even if she wasn’t really.

It was quite the pleasant warm day and birds were singing in the trees. Aida should have been happy. Instead her thoughts kept whipping around in circles like a cyclone. Don’t let your reach exceed your grasp, don’t let your reach… she thought, still entirely confused about the deeper meaning of the words. Aida was growing quite tired from her run when she arrived at her usual rest stop, the oak tree with the best shade in the grove. Breathless and quite distracted, Aida failed to notice the boy leaning against the precisely opposite side of the tree. With a thud Aida threw herself against the tree at its base and then sat quietly, listening to her breathing as it returned to normal.

Alexander was just at the page describing the personality and actions of Salazar Slytherin. The Bigot that had founded the house he was currently a part of when he heard rapid footsteps approaching the tree. Suspicious of what might be approaching Alexander grabbed his wand, he did not know many combat spells but he could, at least temporarily, protect himself.

He then cautiously peeked around the tree, looking towards the origin of the sound. He saw an albino girl he had seen earlier, Aida he thought her name was, fling herself to the other end of the tree. Leaning against it herself and breathing rapidly.
Presumably, she had just been exercising, walking around the ground or something. Or at least he thought that was why she was breathing so rapidly and walking so fast. Especially since he didn't see anything following her, though he might just be missing something. He kept watching for a few seconds, making sure that the girl was not being chased for some reason before slowly walking around the tree in the direction of Aida.

Cautiously he said. "Hello" just as he reached the left side of the tree.
This statement was quickly followed by a question. "Are you alright? Were you running away from something ?" As he spoke a little concern was clear in his voice.

As Alexander moved around the tree Aida caught a glimpse of his shadow and tried to jump to her feet, spinning around, but one foot got caught on a tree root and she fell to the ground. Looking up, Aida’s wild eyes calmed once she recognized the shape above to be that of a boy she had met earlier. Suddenly Aida burst out laughing.

“Ha ha ha, sorry about that. Hello,” she said, amused at her own overreaction but scrambling back to her feet very quickly. “I’m okay. I was just running from my thoughts. I can never seem to outpace them,” she continued in a jovial tone. “You’re Alexander,” stated Aida. “Varel-lion I think. From the library. I like names with animals in them; they’re easy to remember. Do you like lions? Are you like a lion?" Aida caught herself beginning one of her usual rapid-fire series of questions and stopped herself. Come to think of it, the weather is very nice today, thought Aida, beginning to be slightly happy again.

The albino girl today was wearing a pair of brown leather breeches that she had just made and the same old white wool sweater she seemed to always have on. What her clothing lacked in professionalism they made up for in rustic charm, complementing her untamed hair and Highlander accent. Tucked under the neck of her sweater flickered the pearlescent shine of a white necklace folded into three strands. Dusting herself off, Aida used some spit to remove a scuff from her white knee-high boots.

When Aida talked Alexander could not help but gain a smile on a face. It was relaxing to see someone so honest and who just said what they thought. It was, refreshing.
The moment Aida fell on the ground Alexander was about to offer a hand but she quickly managed to get to her feet quickly.
The first words that came out of Alexander's mouth were. "You don't have to apologize. And thoughts are fleeting things aren't they. Some gone in a moment, others stuck in your head and unable to get away from."

Whilst she was talking Alexander was quiet. Making sure to mentally note all the questions she asked. It took a bit of effort but Alexander enjoyed the sensation. It allowed himself to think of a response to the questions as well. He then responded to each question point by point. Though he did have a smile on him when he responded to the various questions.

"You're right. My name is Alexander Varellion." He then looked into the air for a moment, wind blowing a little through his hair and he spoke again. "I think you introduced yourself as... Aida ? I don't think you told me a last name"

He then tried to recollect the questions she asked him and gained a smile as he managed to retain the memories of what she had asked. "I don't really know lions. Never even seen one at a zoo either."

He tapped his foot on the ground whilst he looked at the black top.
"I don't study lions so I don't know exactly what characteristics they have. If I am to go off Gryffindor house." Alexander laughed a little.

As he laughed his shadows went a little looser. The laugh itself could be described as a little sad. "Well I am not brave or courageous. Or suicidally reckless for that matter. You could say that I am far more... pragmatic"

He then let out a tired sigh, though it was a relieved one as well. As if tension was leaving his breath. Alexander then stared at Aida, looking at her unique albino features and then drifting towards her clothes. Looking at her clothes and their unique features. He seemed to think for a moment, thinking hard. He then commented on them.
"Huh, never really seen clothes like those before. Are they home-made or from your parents? "
Alexander himself was mostly wearing school uniform.

Aida nodded. “Yes, Aida Mòrsgor-Ama Ellwood. I like ‘pragmatic.’ My parents… aren’t around anymore, but I did learn how to make clothing on the ranch. I spun this sweater myself on a loom with wool from the sheep we raised. The breeches are new! I just made them. I don’t know what animal the leather is from but I got it at Diagon Alley. I don’t have much clothing; this pair of pants makes two now. I never found material to make a shirt. Otherwise, I just wear the school uniform like you. I don't know how to make shoes and these are getting a little tight, so that's kind of a problem, especially when I go running.”

Aida smiled back at Alexander, who seemed a little happy. Well, until that sad laugh. She wondered about the meaning of his sigh after his word “pragmatic.” What was he thinking about? Was there something bothering him? Aida was highly attuned to observing and predicting the emotions of other people and animals, for a number of reasons…

“Is there anything bothering you?” asked Aida gently. She liked how the conversation was going. Unlike many conversations with other students, talking with Alexander gave her the impression that here she could develop some deeper level of social interaction than superficial pleasantries. Aida still felt like a total stranger to people at the school, even if they had interacted a few times before.

After Aida spoke the question Alexander went from leaning against the tree to sliding down. Sitting uncomfortably on a tree stump that was next to the spot where he was leaning against before. He then seemed to stare forwards for some time. About 30 seconds if someone had been keeping count. Looking blankly towards the forbidden forest in the distance. His mind severely occupied.

Alexander's face then shifted towards Aida. He gave a sad smile. "I am afraid that Ic can't outrun my thoughts either."

He was then silent again. Though for a shorter period this time, only about 10 seconds. Though at least for Alexander it felt like an eternity. Once more he stared towards the forest before looking back at Aida. He then shifted his legs over each other and let out another sigh.
"I suppose I am a little haunted by memories before Hogwarts. " He then twiddled his thumbs a little.
"Those traits from earlier, courage and bravery. They are traits that I do not quite posses. If anything those traits are the opposite of the traits that I possess."

Alexander then frowned a moment before putting on a more warm smile. Though it seemed to be a bit fake, as if it was hiding something else. With his eyes glistening a little more than they should. Seeming to be a little more moisturized than they would normally be. He still spoke with a kind tone though. One that was not fake but one that hid other emotions.

"But hey, the past is the past, it can't be changed. We can only look to the future. ". He then shifted his legs upwards once more and cleaned some of the dirt from his pants. Roughly in the butt area. Hands quickly going up and down it.

Then after a few seconds, he spoke once more. "So what do you think of the Blossom Ball ?" Alexander then got a small, almost mocking smile. "It seems to me almost Gryffindorish. Reckless and stupid. The staff blew it off officially because of the current danger, as well as the previous catastrophic results, but it is reorganized again. It is as if people are asking to be attacked."

Aida sat down next to Alexander at a friendly but respectful distance. “I don’t expect you to trust me since we only met recently, but if you want to talk to me about it then I want to help, even if it’s just listening. I believe that we are haunted by memory when there are things we were meant to learn that we still need to figure out.” Aida grabbed one of her boots and started moving it around on her foot to try to make it more comfortable. Really, she needed larger shoes to accommodate her growing feet, but these at least she didn’t want to let go of yet… although they caused such pain. Aida looked up at the oak tree’s leaves glowing brilliant green, translucent in the sunlight. Its little acorns were beginning to brown.

“Maybe in the winter we can roast some acorns, huh?” said Aida quietly. She felt a lump growing in the back of her throat but Aida thought back to what Professor @Morfran Griffith had said about needing to be a refuge. She would be strong. The tension in Aida's body quickly dissipated.

“Anyway, the Blossom Ball… There are some people who just love to punish people and animals; it makes them happy to feel that power. At first I thought cancelling the Ball was a trap made by someone who wants an excuse to punish students. Dangle something fun in front of them and say they can’t have it, just so they will try to make fun for themselves. I wasn’t here for the earlier Blossom Balls, but… I don’t think so many professors would get behind cancelling the event if there weren’t actually some danger, even if one angry person was behind the cancellation in the first place.” Aida seemed satisfied enough with one boot and started to work on adjusting her other one. “I think you’re right, there must be some real danger. The way students are still planning the ball shows how little the professors have earned their students’ trust.” Aida began picking up some of the acorns on the ground that fell last year. “Some students are probably upset about all the rules and so are doing this to stretch their wings a bit inside their cages. Even the students want to feel like they have some amount of power, even if it means ignoring the danger they put themselves in.” Aida threw the old acorns into the distance, wondering how far any of them would end up getting away from the tree.

Alexander's eyes went towards the grass. His hand going through the dry stalks before responding."Thank you for the offer. I really appreciate it. I might take you up on it one day but not today."

He then saw that Aida was fidgeting and adjusting her shoes. His brows furrowed for a moment, then he relegated to his mind as something uncomfortable being in her shoes. As a small stone, those things were annoying, if it continued to be a problem he might talk about it with her at a later time.

As she spoke about Acorns Alexander got a surprised and thoughtful look. Before responding, a more genuine smile now on his face. "Seems like a good idea to me. Though I have never done anything like that before. I've mostly lived in urban areas. Villages and cities. I prefer the former honestly."

He then attentively listened to Aida's thoughts on the Blossom Ball and the people. His attention focused almost entirely on the object and looking intrigued by her perspective on the issue.
After she finished speaking Alexander thought about what he could add to the conversation. As well as processing what she had just said.

He then shifted his legs so he could sit more comfortably and spoke. Being careful not to accidentally bump into Aida himself.
"If we are to liken the behavior of the students and professors then I would say that students behave like a bird leaving its nest. It attempts to fly on its own, away from the stern discipline of its mother. But the bird is still too young, too inexperienced. It flies from its nest without being ready or aware of the predators that lurk outside of it." Alexander took a breath. Letting his hand go through his hair before going to the back of his head as he leaned against the tree. Leaving a few stalks of grass in his hair as he did so.

"However I would liken the behaviour of the professors more akin to a bad pet owner. It tells its still untrained pet to not leave the garden. But it does not create any barriers to prevent its escape. They are acting irrationally and are not thinking about how the students will act. "

He shifted once more, his but shifting to try and become more comfortable. Though he was mostly unsuccessful in doing so, trees were generally not known as good seating. At least in their natural form.
"Though to be fair to them. They could have much on their mind. The curriculum, investigating what happened in the common room and all that kind of stuff. They might just be too occupied to thoroughly think about their actions."

Alexander took in a breath, after speaking this much he needed a quick moment to take a breath and he quickly exhaled and inhaled air.
"Though on the topic of power, I think that it would be more accurate to describe that the Professors and Students desire to have control rather than power. Able to control their actions and those of others. With the professors having a benevolent intent but lacking control. They lack the influence, trust, or generally speaking leverage to control the students. And that will inevitably lead to students taking control for themselves. Without realizing the consequences of their actions."

“Certainly the students are ignorant, like in your baby bird analogy. Yet, this is because the professors are keeping us ignorant. Just as the students don’t trust their professors, the professors don’t trust their students either. As a result they keep secrets about the true nature of the danger, as if we were too stupid to act correctly after hearing that information. Instead, the secrecy makes the students even less trusting, so they decide to break the rules and generate more distrust. Or else… the professors are actually as ignorant as we are and are trying to hide this fact because they fear losing more control of us. Either way, they are not being forthright and honest, perpetuating the cycle of dishonesty and distrust.”

Aida started braiding together blades of grass, occasionally looking up at Alexander to watch his reactions. Upon hearing his comparison of students to pets lacking barriers to prevent their escape, Aida stopped fidgeting and grew very still. Her expression became unreadable but she continued breathing normally. “Is that what we are? Their pets? How would you like them to control us more?” Aida spoke calmly, rolling onto her feet into a squat. I wonder how many of @Griffith’s beasts are trapped and unable to leave, she thought.