Push Thy Self, with a Friend in Tow PV Harumi Everdane

The library was Harumi's second home at this point, she spent alot of her time reading about anything and everything, Potions and Herbology seemed to be the ones she most read about. They seemed to captivate her in a way no other subject did, perhaps it was the calmness of them, after all, you won't need to wave your wand alot in them, much unlike charms or defence against the dark arts, where you could accidentally hurt someone if you did the wrong wand movement, or pronounced the incantation the wrong way. Perhaps Potions and Herbology were actually just as dangerous, but Harumi was biased towards them anyway, they, after all, are her favourite subjects

----Today was no different than any other, a free Sunday was the perfect time for a quick read, if you call reading a few books, all of which are totally unrelated, quick, so Harumi decided to head to the library, and spend her day there.

----Inside the library, Harumi looked around, what shall she read? Something related to the homework she may or may not have piled up accidentally? Or something completely unrelated just because she wants to read it? The obvious answer is to finish the homework first, but was she responsible enough to do that?

----Oh well, it seems in the end she was responsible enough, she begrudgingly picked books related to the homework she had—Potions and Herbology homework but homework nonetheless!—looking surrendered to the tons of writing she'll probably have to do later.

----Having picked the books she was going to read, all of which were related to something she likes one way or another, She started looking around for a place to sit, usually she would have found an empty place, but today she decided on going out of her comfort zone, she will try to initiate a conversation with someone!

----It might seem like a small thing, but after not being accepted by her classmates for so long in the past, even something as small as talking to someone seemed like an impossible feat in her eyes, but she was going to change that, little by little.

----After taking a quick glance around the library, she saw a girl sitting alone and studying potions, potions! So obviously Harumi decided if she's going to talk with someone, it might as well be someone who has similar interests, Harumi was sure the girl is from first year like her too.

----So Harumi approached the girl, pretending to be confident while screaming internally. "Hi, I'm Harumi. I saw you studying potions, I was about to do the same, mind if I join you?" She asked as she smiled cheerfully.

The scent of books never failed to calm Marcella's nerves. She was so immersed in her studies that she had not noticed when the girl approached. She looked up to see a beautiful Hufflepuff. "Oh, hi! I'm Marcella, by the way," she said, smiling warmly. "Take a seat!" she said delightfully. Yes, a new friend! "Are you very interested in potions?" Marcella always had a keen interest in Potions. Ever since she was a young child, she'd make her father and mother read to her from any potions book she could find. The summer prior to her attending Hogwarts, Marcella had read about all the potions in her school's potions syllabus. She had stayed up late into the night to memorise the uses of the ingredients, how to make various potions, their uses and their effects. Just thinking about potions sent a thrill of excitement through her veins.

"I often come to the library to study and simply just to have some quality time with myself. How about you? Do you come here often?" She asked as she doodled drawings of potions and skulls on her parchment. She was reading about the origins of potion ingredients. It was a fun read.

Harumi quickly took a seat across from the girl, she also put the books she picked on the table showing them to the other girl in the process. "I like your name! Can I call you Mars?" She asked, Harumi enjoyed a variety of different topics, and although astronomy wasn't exactly her favourite, she absolutely loved reading about the outer space, calling the girl Mars was Harumi's subtle way of showing she cared about her.

----"Yeah! I absolutely adore Potions and Herbology, I find them really fun." She answered delightfully, it wasn't going to take her long to start talking non-stop if it's about the things she likes, she is an introvert until there's something she likes.

----"I come to the library often as well! I like reading, so I spend my time here if I have nothing better to do." She explained. "Or when I want to pretend to study, but actually read something else, like right now" She added with a bit of cheekiness, she might look like a nerd to some, but she certainly doesn't fit the "Loves studying" criteria very well, she absolutely hates studying and tests, who loves that anyway?!

----Harumi looked at the girl's doodles curiously. "Do you also like drawing? Or is it just a pass time?" Harumi asked after seeing the potions and skulls doodles.

The thrill of meeting a new soul was something the child of death would never accustom to. It was an all new experience. And to say she didn't love it would be the understatement of the century. Marcella was in dire need of socialization, and she was glad the kind Hufflepuff girl had decided to talk to her. "Of course you can! If you don't mind, may I call you Haru?" she asked, scratching the back of her neck.

It isn't like socialization is hard for Marcy; it's just that she never finds the right person. They're all, may they take all the offense present, boring and bland. Having grown up with the pressure to be perfect at everything, Marcella found herself striving to be so at every waking moment. The pressure wasn't family-wide; it was only from her grandfather, Lorenzo. But he, like everyone else, had his redemption, and he's all too good to her now. "Potions intrigue me quite a lot, the way they are made," Marcella mimicked the smooth finish of the liquid with her hands. Elegance had been hardwired into her ever since the day she was born. No di Angelo can be imperfect. She sighed and continued, "The feel of knowing the right thing to do, the pride in being able to finish something successful, it's out of this world..." Her eyes glazed as she reminisced about the feeling. The trance broke as she took notice of her company once more. "Sorry about that," she said, fidgeting with her fingers, "Potions tend to fascinate me a lot." She said with a graceful smile adorning her rosy lips.

"Well, it's either here or the Great Lake. Silence resonates with me a lot. It isn't necessarily lonely unless I'm overthinking," she chuckled. "It's serene... What are you reading at the moment?" Curiosity overcame her.

Marcella looked up from her doodle, "I like drawing quite a lot, actually, I'd go as far as to say that it helps keep me sane," she chuckled. "How about you? What helps you keep your peace of mind?"

Smiling the girl answered "Yes, you can! Call me whatever you like!" Harumi didn't really mind anyone calling her anything, everyone seemed to collectively agree on "Haru" anyway.

----Harumi listened tentatively to the girl talk about her passion for potions. Harumi always admired those who clearly love something and try their best to excel at it. Harumi liked alot of things, but there was nothing she could say she was the best at, she's always a little bit more than decent but never the best. That never made her feel bad, but it made her feel distant from everyone else, there were times when her classmates during elementary school started talking about their talents, and Harumi would find herself wondering, what's hers?

----"Oh, don't be sorry! I like listening to people talk about their passions, I find it intriguing." She said a bit lost in thought. "Yeah, the great lake is awesome too, though I feel more exposed when I sit there. I prefer places where I can just hide in a corner." She replied, finally looking more focused. "Something about Potions and Herbology, I think. I'm pretty sure it's not exactly part of the curriculum though." Harumi answered while looking at the books. "I'm supposed to study, but well.." Harumi added, she definitely did not plan on studying.

----The girl's question about what keeps her peace of mind made her think, that's such a deep question, Harumi probably wasn't ready for it. "I do alot of things that could fit into that category... hmm probably observing." she decided. "I like watching how everyone reacts differently to the same things, and how everyone interprets things in totally different, maybe even opposite, ways." She said enthusiastically. "Isn't it weird how people can be very different and yet very similar at the same time?! She wondered, looking very captivated by the topic.