relevé private friendship c

Though Kitty was not a creature entirely out of her element in the cold, Koldovstoretz was a different beast in its entirety.

In places like this, she was reminded of where she came from. Neither South Carolina nor Florence, both places she considered (in one way or another) home, were particularly known for harsh winters. Her apartment was in London, where things were colder, sure, but still rather mild. Though she had travelled plenty both while in university and as a cursebreaker to places warm and cold, the closest she had to actively living through something like this, day by day, was the past few months she had spent in Scotland.

And still — the castle could not be compared to Russia’s frozen landscape.

The wind here whipped through her hair and at her skin, leaving behind a sharp numbness in rosy cheeks. The snow piled on so thick that the layers packed down into something tough and slippery, making every step in Kitty’s boots feel just a little treacherous. The cold had slipped underneath the layers of her sweater and jacket and wrapped itself around her like yet another garment: one that the profound amount of layers she was wearing could only pile on top of, not entirely keep out. Kitty found herself rubbing her gloved hands together instinctively. It didn’t help. Her eyes caught the snow with the wonder of someone who grew up under blaring sun and suffocating humidity; the late afternoon's slowly dropping sun bounced off the sheer amount of bright white and making her squint slightly.

Still, even with the white flurry that spun through the air, catching on Kitty’s hair and clothes, she could not be upset. Yes, she wrapped her arms around herself, trying to retain as much warmth as she could; but either way, she was happy to be arriving at Koldovstoretz. Not only because it would be her first time seeing Anthonie in years, but also because she had new friends to find joy in: Desislava Nenovsky and Helen Aletheia Doukas, both fellow Hogwarts faculty members, the professor of Divination and the Librarian respectively.

Ms Doukas was the first Hogwarts staff member (outside of one unfortunate blonde Kitty would rather not think about) to welcome her to Hogwarts. With a single invitation and a very nice tea set up in the ballroom, the two bonded over macarons and travel stories. Helen understood something that usually hid beneath Kitty’s skin; the prevailing feeling of people watching anything graceful or beautiful like vultures ready to swoop in claws first. Desislava — Desi — was the unfortunate recipient of Kitty’s rug last month and a half ago, when Kitty was going through unprecedented difficulties with getting some furniture delivered. What started off as a postage mishap quickly revealed a kindred spirit. Desi looked at the world with the same interest and curiosity that Kitty aspired towards, and provided perspective Kitty couldn’t have dreamed of.

Kitty hadn’t been worried about who to find lodging with in the Koldovstoretz yurts as the International Magic Olympic Games approached. She had never minded randomly assigned roommates — especially considering they surely would have been fellow professors or faculty members — but she had to admit, it was nice not to have to bother with it. The three of them had agreed to room (yurt?) together when the event was first announced; Kitty was more than excited to push for the idea, really. They had met up and unpacked earlier that day, and after a moment of rest, were free to make use of the amenities – starting with the frozen over Lake Bear and the ice skates provided nearby.

Kitty felt a little like a penguin, cautiously waddling through the snowy landscape in an effort to find a pair in her size. She hadn’t been forced to keep her balance like this in a while — since she quit ballet, actually, in her… fifth year at Ilvermorny? Ages ago, now. Replacing her suede pink boots with a sleek white pair and lacing them up, she was tempted to reminisce on sleek ribbons and the feeling of weightlessness. Though now it was in the midst of snow and ice, and on thin blades instead of a box, perhaps she could regain at least some of the grace and elegance—

Kitty was humbled very quickly. Though she hadn’t immediately collapsed, her balance still well-tuned and the blades proving only a small obstacle, she had not counted on her lack of ability to actually move on them. With a slight stumble, she barely caught herself on the rack of ice skates, inches away from collapsing into Desi and Helen both.

“So,” Kitty cleared her throat, cheeks flushing slightly. She found her balance again, straightening up with the help of the structure. Even feeling a small bruise form on her leg from her slight slip, there was the hint of laughter bubbling up to her lips. “You guys, uh, find your sizes okay?”