Midnight Wanderings Finished

THE QUESTION WASN’T ALL THAT DIFFICULT TO ANSWER, but she still paused. “I suppose that my favourite class would have to be potions, though I would like to take Care of Magical Creatures.”

After her answer, Katrina responded, “I really like Charms, just because I never had magic growing up, and I’m pretty good at it. But I can’t wait to choose classes so I can take Care of Magical Creatures.” Sapphire hummed in response.

“I’ve always wanted to know more about all of the odd creatures that exist in our world,” she said. “Do you play any instruments?” she asked.

After the given answer, she said, “I play piano, but I can also play the flute. Although, last time I tried it, it almost blew up in my face…” The last part was a resentful mutter. Her damn adopted siblings. She didn’t even know how they’d gotten their hands on a smoke bomb, the little shits.

She flushed. “That has a bit of a convoluted story behind it,” she said. She frowned a bit to herself, fingernails suddenly digging into the skin of her arm. She felt the stinging, but not much. She’d only really notice if she broke the skin. Then she replaced the expression with on of neutrality, loosening her grip. No sense in hurting herself.

@Sapphire Riddle

Katrina nodded, a bit happy that they at least had the love of animals in common. Or at least the interest in magical creatures. For a moment Katrina was lost in her thoughts. Remembering a few weeks ago someone had mentioned that she was good healer and had thought that she would do that. She still wasn't quite sure where the future was calling her still.

"I play the piano, not too well, but you know, well enough. And I sing, but I don't know if that really counts or not," Katrina fiddled with her sleeve again, bashful for some reason. It dawned on her that only five people actually knew she sang.

Piano too. Katrina found more of a smile on her face, they had quite a bit in common now. But exploding flutes? A small part of her-- the mischievous part-- loved it. However, Katrina noticed that Sapphire seemed really upset about it.

"What about... your favorite color?" Katrina was already out of ideas.

Once Sapphire responded Katrina added, "I love teal, hence the dyed hair," Katrina fingered her teal streak. She looked back to the girl, at least this way they were getting to distract themselves, even for a little bit.

“UM… I PERSONALLY LIKE OCEAN BLUE,” Sapphire responded. She found it interesting that Katrina could play the piano as well. She seemed a bit sheepish when she’d said it though, so Sapphire couldn’t help wondering if that was a price of information she didn’t normally disclose.

She hummed to herself, trying to think of her own question. “What’s your favourite magical creature?” she asked, since they’d both expressed interest in the topic. She guessed that Katrina liked dragons at least, but she didn’t know if they were her favourite.

The song she’d been humming was now stuck in her head, playing in the background while she listened to the response.

When she got it, Sapphire put in her input. “Although they seem a bit sad, I personally find my favourite to be the thestrals. They may signify death, but they’re wonderful creatures. I can’t explain it very well…” She trailed off. She had an idea of why she liked the creatures, but she just didn’t know how to put it into words.

She went silent, just listening to the noises of the world. She wondered, once again, what would happen if a prefect found them. If Koko did, she didn’t know if she would be lenient. She also didn’t know any of the other prefects. So it would probably suck.

@Sapphire Riddle

Ocean blue was a really pretty color too. This was kind of nice, the girls had gotten themselves thoroughly distracted and Katrina was bathing in the comfort of no responsibilities. No one was around (yet) to get them in trouble. They could say pretty much whatever they wanted too, and no one would know but them. Katrina was certain this girl could be trusted. She hadn't said it, but Katrina completely trusted the girl, anyone who had been through things as though as that knew how to keep a secret.

"Dragons. Definitely dragons," There was zero hesitation this time. Katrina immediately had her response. Besides the dragon on her sleeve, she always drew dragons, she read and knew pretty much everything about dragons, she had made an origami dragon and was obsessed with dragons. Nonetheless, Katrina didn't talk about it much. She didn't really talk about anything about herself that much, it was usually too painful.

Katrina nodded with her comment about thestrals. It was kind of a respect for something that is so troubled that death makes it unique. It was a feeling you really couldn't put to words, but Katrina kind of understood, not fully, but kind of.

"Well... what about your future? What do you see yourself doing career-wise?"

After Sapphire responded, Katrina did as well, "I'm good at healing, but I really want to be a Magizoologist. Maybe I can find a way to do both somehow?"

SAPPHIRE HAD TO THINK ABOUT HER ANSWER FOR A SECOND. She wanted to work with creatures, but she wanted to write as well. She supposed that she could technically do both, but she’d never really considered her future before.

“I’d like to pursue a career in magizoology and also write. I’ve always wanted to be an author, and both of the jobs would allow be to travel and see the world,” she said, voice quiet. “I’ve always been curious, and I want to see everything the world has to offer.”

“I’m good at healing, but I really want to be a Magizoologist. Maybe I can find a way to do both somehow?”

Sapphire nodded. “You could probably find a profession in healing creatures. Or hey, if we both got jobs in that field, we could even collaborate,” she said.

She headed back over to the railing. “Do you have a favourite legend?” she asked. It was a more difficult question.

She waited for the response. “I personally like the one about Arachne, but I think that Athena should’ve been able to handle defeat better,” she said. “Her reaction was petty and jealous, and that’s quite the stupid reason,” She grumbled. Come at me, weaver. I dare you.

@Sapphire Riddle

Katrina found another smile on her face, how cool would it be if they grew up and worked together. The lioness followed Sapphire to the railing again, this time paying a bit more attention to the Slytherin's mannerisms. The lioness didn't want a repeat of last time.

"Legend... I-- don't know," Katrina pursed her lips thoughtfully. She never really read much fantasy or lore. She really only read things that were information about animals or magic or dragons. She also read a lot of older genres like medieval and some poetry. That being said, any books about magic or dragons she would devour.

For the life of her, she couldn't think about any mythology, "I really don't read that kind of stuff I guess..." She felt bad not answering a question, but her imagination about legends had run dry.

Sapphire mentioned Athena and Karina remember that was the goddess of war? love? something important? A hint of a blush rose to her cheeks, she vowed to herself that the next chance she got she would read up on Greek mythology.

"So, I hope i'm not crossing a line with bringing up other things." Katrina drew out the last word, "What do you think about none humans at the school, werewolves and damphires and such,"

Before Sapphire could answer, she gave her response, "I think that it's pretty cool that we get to talk to and interact with different kinds of people. I mean, being a full human is kind of boring, I do wish I at least had more magic potential. I'm still not sure why Hogwarts accepted me, its not like I'm good at magic. The only spell I've actually cast not in class was a fire charm at a flag during a club game and at the Blossomball... ," Katrina trailed off wishing she hadn't gone on such a rant. She now felt a panic attack coming on, she was suddenly freezing cold and her fingers were going numb. Why, oh why, did she bring up that dreaded night. She began to shake and held on the railing so tight her fingers turned white. Steadying her breathing, Katrina turned to Sapphire.

"I, sorry-- I" Her throat closed up as the panic swept over her.

SAPPHIRE COULDN’T HELP THE WAVE IF PANIC THAT SWEPT OVER HER. She had no fucking idea how to deal with panic attacks. “Um, did the cause have something to do with that event you mentioned?” she asked, careful not to say the actual word. “Fuck. Of course I’m met with a situation that I can’t handle properly! Um, okay.”

She pulled a book she’d grabbed on mental health, which she’d originally grabbed for her own benefit, but was now using it to try and help the other girl. “Um, you need to breath,” she started. Words started flowing more easily. “Whatever is causing the reaction, it’s not here. It’s not physically here. I- I’ll answer your question. I think it’s pretty cool as well. I have a friend who’s a damphire. And you’re right, being entirely human does seem quite boring. There are so many possibilities, and honestly–we should appreciate them instead of shunning them. We could learn a lot from them if we weren’t so against the existence of some of them.”

She tried to smile, but it was more of a grimace. “Gods damn it,” she cursed. “I don’t think I even know what the word smile means,” she said. Partially true, partially an attempt to lighten the mood.

“Whatever it is, you’re going to be just fine.”

Reducio

I tried and probably failed to deal with a panic attack.

@Sapphire Riddle

Katrina couldn't help it. She was gasping for air and was already dizzy and closing off. Her mind was removing her from reality and plopping her right in the moment that the mosp flew at her face, stinging her ear. Then the screams, the wails, her delusional panic. Blood. Fire. Pain. Everything came crashing down and Katrina didn't even realize she was now sitting on the stone floor of the turret. Her eyes were wide open, unseeing. She couldn't feel her hands on her feet, but she could hear her heartbeat loud in her ears.

"It's the mosp-- d-don't hurt me... I can't h-h-help please-- make it st-stop," The second-year could hear a voice, frightened. She needed to help them. She was okay, everyone else was hurting more than she was. Weren't they? Was she still in the Blossomball? They were okay, right?

The voice, it was calmer. Katrina wasn't she was more scared. Were they going to die? She couldn't help them. She was too scared. Shaking, Katrina looked up, seeing the face of the pale girl, but she also wasn't seeing her. She was seeing the face of the girl and boy who had been on fire. That she couldn't help. She couldn't help them.

“Whatever it is, you’re going to be just fine.” But how could they, she, the girl- Sapphire say that. It was hurting them. She had to save them. "But, I can't help th-them. There's no-nothing I can do," Katrina pulled her legs up and smothered her words in the sleeve of her school robes.

School robes. She wasn't in her teal dress. She was in school robes. And she didn't have her hair up. She wasn't in the ball. But she was? She wasn't there, it wasn't real. It isn't real. Its a panic attack. Come on Katrina, breathe. Just breathe. She was gasping for air, forcing it into her lungs and out, slowing it. Her breathing slowly returned to normal, but she was still shaky and her eyes were wide, like a deer facing an angry bear. But the Slytherin wasn't a bear, she was nice. Wasn't she, she wasn't doing to hurt her.

But she was so scared, "It-it's not real. I-I-Is it?" She whimpered, trapped by the fear of the past.

SAPPHIRE SAT DOWN NEXT TO KATRINA ON THE FLOOR OF THE TOWER, mentally drained. She had no idea how to deal with such things, and she’d been virtually no help. And while that may not have been true, she always beat herself down.

“I’m… sorry I couldn’t be more help,” she said. But at least I know a topic to not bring up, she said.

She didn’t know whether to continue the questionnaire or not. She shut the book on mental health and stuffed it into her bag, sighing. “Er… are you alright now?” she said. Her voice was quiet, not taking her eyes off her feet.

I hate that such a simple thing can make me feel like a failure, she thought bitterly. And I hate feeling helpless. She crosses her legs, watching the sky through the opening.

She sighed, taking her wand from behind her ear and running her fingers across the wood. It was a comfort to her. Helped relieve the pressures. “Um…” She had no idea what to do now. An awkward silence stretched through the space. She pulled herself together and turned towards her Gryffindor companion. “So what’s our next move?” she asked. It was all she knew how to do.

Katrina slowly returned to reality, shaking uncontrollably. The ocean of fear still kept her paralyzed, but at least she wasn’t still trapped in her memories. The second year felt the sharp pins and needles as the blood flow returned to her hand and feet. Katrina looked back to Sapphire.

“I-I’m sorry, I,” Katrina stopped, slowing her gasping breaths, “Panic attacks, I-get them a lot, that was one-w-was really bad,” The lioness couldn’t help the stutter that still leaked into her voice.

The Gryffindor turned to the Slytherin, “I, can we go back down? I’m really cold...“ Katrina trialed off, she wasn’t ready yet to return to the common room, but she still wanted to talk some. “I don’t want to go back, but— I think the Pitch triggered it,“ She bit her lip really hard stopping a second wave.

She wanted to talk about it, but not get triggered again. It was so hard and and scary, she was only a 12-year-old after all. But Katrina hated being in the center of attention when she felt so weak. She was much more comfortable helping Someone else.

“We can stay here if you want to though,” Katrina rubbed her sleeve furiously, hoping that it could help her. She was still shaky, but her head was more level now.