Somber Day
Mid-September, the school day was over. This afternoon was cloud, and a bit tenebrous. A mist of fog was in the air around Hogwarts. Everything seemed quiet and dusky. The air was filled with the smell of parchment, dried leaves, and the cold of the evening. All the summer birds had migrated south, as you couldn't hear the warblers singing their tune.
Violet had just left the building, and decided to spend the afternoon outside. Although she wasn't very fond of the cold weather, she did appreciate the dense veil of hazze. Violet made her way to the courtyard, where a few other students also spent their evenings. She found herself pleased with the view from those stone archs. She really did enjoy Hogwarts, even when the mood was gloomy.
It had not made a month yet, since Violet arrived at Hogwarts, yet it felt so distant and remote from the whole United Kingdom. She was fond of the Castle though. Everything was so cozy inside, and outside, all was obscure. The wind made Violet shiver with cold, as she admired the view. She thought of drawing that image of Scotland's high terrains, but Violet didn't have much experience with drawing.
Violet missed her parents, her friends, and even the people from Upper Flagley. She always wondered what her muggle friends thought of the fact Violet had simly disappeared into a boarding school. She didn't mind it, in fact, Violet had already made a few friends.
Violet left the Courtyard, as it was almost Twilight, and some pnt, she was already shivering of cold.
Somber Day
Zara had been having a rather nice afternoon. She'd spent most of it outside with her sister, Esme, and a few of Esme's friends, enjoying what was probably one of the last decent afternoons before autumn truly settled over Hogwarts. The picnic had eventually turned into wandering around the grounds, talking about absolutely nothing important and everything important at the same time. Zara had been loving Hogwarts. She loved the castle most of all. There was always something new to discover, whether it was a staircase she'd somehow never noticed before or a corridor that seemed to lead somewhere completely different depending on the day. She loved meeting people, too. There were so many students she'd never met before, all with their own stories and lives she'd only just begun to learn about.
Eventually, though, the temperature had begun to drop.
Zara followed Esme toward the castle, her coat pulled comfortably around her as the evening fog settled over the grounds. The courtyard looked completely different in the mist. The stone seemed darker, the castle towers disappearing into the hazy sky. She was halfway through telling Esme about something she'd noticed earlier when she caught sight of someone ahead of them.
A girl. She seemed to be heading back toward the castle, and Zara noticed the way she shivered against the cold. Zara slowed. Her eyes flicked down toward her own coat before she looked back at the girl.
"I'll catch up with you, Es!" She didn't wait for much of a response before turning around and heading toward the girl. Zara wasn't entirely sure what she was going to say. Approaching strangers wasn't always as easy as it looked. Still, the girl was cold. Zara hurried slightly to catch up, then cleared her throat softly so she wouldn't startle her.
"Hi!" She offered the girl a small, friendly smile, "Are you cold?" It was probably an obvious question considering the girl had just shivered. Before she could overthink it, she started shrugging off her overcoat, "You can borrow mine if you like! My sweater is keeping me plenty warm." She held the coat out toward the girl, completely sincere, "Really, it's fine. I'm not going far and you look like you're about two minutes away from turning into an icicle." She gave a small laugh, hoping the joke would make the offer feel a little less awkward.
"I'm Zara, by the way." She realized she was still holding the coat out and quickly added, "You don't have to take it if you don't want to. I just thought I'd offer," Zara rocked slightly back on her heels, waiting for the girl's response,"Are you heading inside?" she asked, "I can walk back with you if you want"
Eventually, though, the temperature had begun to drop.
Zara followed Esme toward the castle, her coat pulled comfortably around her as the evening fog settled over the grounds. The courtyard looked completely different in the mist. The stone seemed darker, the castle towers disappearing into the hazy sky. She was halfway through telling Esme about something she'd noticed earlier when she caught sight of someone ahead of them.
A girl. She seemed to be heading back toward the castle, and Zara noticed the way she shivered against the cold. Zara slowed. Her eyes flicked down toward her own coat before she looked back at the girl.
"I'll catch up with you, Es!" She didn't wait for much of a response before turning around and heading toward the girl. Zara wasn't entirely sure what she was going to say. Approaching strangers wasn't always as easy as it looked. Still, the girl was cold. Zara hurried slightly to catch up, then cleared her throat softly so she wouldn't startle her.
"Hi!" She offered the girl a small, friendly smile, "Are you cold?" It was probably an obvious question considering the girl had just shivered. Before she could overthink it, she started shrugging off her overcoat, "You can borrow mine if you like! My sweater is keeping me plenty warm." She held the coat out toward the girl, completely sincere, "Really, it's fine. I'm not going far and you look like you're about two minutes away from turning into an icicle." She gave a small laugh, hoping the joke would make the offer feel a little less awkward.
"I'm Zara, by the way." She realized she was still holding the coat out and quickly added, "You don't have to take it if you don't want to. I just thought I'd offer," Zara rocked slightly back on her heels, waiting for the girl's response,"Are you heading inside?" she asked, "I can walk back with you if you want"
Somber Day
After Violet's pause to appreciate the evening, she started going towards the Castle, noticing two girls, also on the Courtyard, going with their lives, as she turned to the Castle's doors, one of the girls approached her.
"Hi. Are you cold?" Violet didn't notice she had been shivering that noticeably. She looked at the girl's robes. A Gryffindor, The Puff thought she had a really enigmatic face, Violet always thought that about people with blue eyes, they always seem intimadating. This girl was different, seemed soft, and she had a nice smile, that made Violet let her guard down.
As Violet was going to answer, the girl showed Violet her overcoat and asked if she wanted to borrow her coat. The girl also introduced herself, Vi thought she looked
"Nice to meet you, I'm Violet, but I really don't need the coat, thanks. If you want, then walk with me" She tried to add a friendly tone to her voice, and smiled as she awaited for the Zara's answer.
A strong wind passed through the courtyard, making Violet's hair blew across her face. She gathered the now frizzy and long waves, putting them on the other side, to avoid it happening again. "Let's go inside". She paused, as they both went inside the building "It's my First year in Hogwarts, and you?"
Somber Day
Zara nodded as Violet told her she didn't need the coat. She hugged it back against her body, giving a small shrug.
"I wouldn't mind walking! Where are you walking to?" She asked curiously. Zara followed alongside Violet. Hogwarts seemed to look different every day, and she was still trying to take everything in.
"It's mine too!" Zara said excitedly when Violet mentioned Hogwarts. She paused before quickly adding, "Well... kind of! I've got a brother and sister here too, so I kind of already know everything--" Zara stopped herself, realizing how that sounded, "Well... not everything. But a lot of things," she corrected with a small laugh. She looked around the castle as they entered, taking in the familiar halls.
"Sorry, sometimes I get a little excited and my brain doesn't know when to have me stop talking." She chuckled softly. Zara smiled to herself before looking back toward Violet.
"But I really do love it here. There's always something new to see. I've gotten lost a couple times already, though," She laughed quietly, continuing to follow Violet's lead through the castle.
"I wouldn't mind walking! Where are you walking to?" She asked curiously. Zara followed alongside Violet. Hogwarts seemed to look different every day, and she was still trying to take everything in.
"It's mine too!" Zara said excitedly when Violet mentioned Hogwarts. She paused before quickly adding, "Well... kind of! I've got a brother and sister here too, so I kind of already know everything--" Zara stopped herself, realizing how that sounded, "Well... not everything. But a lot of things," she corrected with a small laugh. She looked around the castle as they entered, taking in the familiar halls.
"Sorry, sometimes I get a little excited and my brain doesn't know when to have me stop talking." She chuckled softly. Zara smiled to herself before looking back toward Violet.
"But I really do love it here. There's always something new to see. I've gotten lost a couple times already, though," She laughed quietly, continuing to follow Violet's lead through the castle.
Somber Day
She listened to Zara with a smile on her face. Violet had been doing friends quite well. A lot of people were nice to her and she was to them aswell.
"I was thinking of going to the Great Hall, when we arrive it'll probably be dinner time already."
Violet quietly listened to Zara as they paced in the direction of the Great Hall. They passed through multiple corridors, walking slowly through the Halls of dimly lit stone walls and stepped on the Damask carpets that covered some of the floor.
"Don't worry, you can keep talking, I like listening to people."
Violet looked at the walls and arched stone windows as they kept walking around the Castle. You could see from the windows, the trees moving with the wind, and the howling slowly disappear as they moved forward, away from the Castle doors.
"I don't have siblings, I only know a bit of Hogwarts from what my father told me. I'm a bit forgetful too, so it's difficult for me to recall where some classes are, but at least I remember the main areas."
Change of scene to the Small Hall
She catched her breath, listening to Zara chatting about the Castle.
As they got closer to the main areas, you could listen to the noise of some students. The pair of girls slowly left the dimly lit area, as they arrived to the entrance of the Small Hall.
"Hogwarts really is an interesting place. Well, we're here. I really enjoyed talking to you."
A moment of pause happened. From the nearby windows, raindrops could be heard. A small drizzle of rain started as Violet standed near the fireplace with Zara.
Somber Day
Zara smiled when Violet told her she could keep talking, seeming pleased by the response, "That's good. I really like to talk. My dad says it's because I like the sound of my own voice." She grinned slightly. "I think I have a good voice."
She continued walking beside Violet, occasionally glancing around the familiar corridors as they made their way toward the Small Hall.
"Is your dad a wizard?" Zara asked, glancing over at Violet. "Both of my parents are. They met here!" She smiled as they continued along, her eyes briefly wandering toward the tall windows as the rain began tapping against them.
"So you've mostly just heard about Hogwarts from your dad?" Zara asked. "I bet that's a little different from actually being here."
As they reached the Small Hall, Zara stepped inside and immediately seemed more comfortable with the warmth of the room. She looked toward the fireplace before glancing around at the students beginning to gather for dinner. Zara shifted her coat in her arms before looking back at Violet.
"Do you want to sit together?" she asked. "I'm sure you have plenty of friends to sit with, so it's okay if not,"She paused briefly before adding, "But if you didn't...?" A hopeful smile crossed her face,"I wouldn't mind having someone to sit with." Zara glanced toward the tables before looking back at Violet," Don't worry as long as its not a major feast we could sit at the same table...I think?" She chuckled softly.
"And if you ever need help finding somewhere, you can ask me." She smiled. "I know pretty much everywhere around here by now." She gave a small laugh.
She continued walking beside Violet, occasionally glancing around the familiar corridors as they made their way toward the Small Hall.
"Is your dad a wizard?" Zara asked, glancing over at Violet. "Both of my parents are. They met here!" She smiled as they continued along, her eyes briefly wandering toward the tall windows as the rain began tapping against them.
"So you've mostly just heard about Hogwarts from your dad?" Zara asked. "I bet that's a little different from actually being here."
As they reached the Small Hall, Zara stepped inside and immediately seemed more comfortable with the warmth of the room. She looked toward the fireplace before glancing around at the students beginning to gather for dinner. Zara shifted her coat in her arms before looking back at Violet.
"Do you want to sit together?" she asked. "I'm sure you have plenty of friends to sit with, so it's okay if not,"She paused briefly before adding, "But if you didn't...?" A hopeful smile crossed her face,"I wouldn't mind having someone to sit with." Zara glanced toward the tables before looking back at Violet," Don't worry as long as its not a major feast we could sit at the same table...I think?" She chuckled softly.
"And if you ever need help finding somewhere, you can ask me." She smiled. "I know pretty much everywhere around here by now." She gave a small laugh.
Somber Day
Violet smiled a bit as she heard the Gryffindor say she liked her own voice. Violet never thought if she liked her own voice or not, as she didn't really payed attention to that sort of details. She then answered, with a slight chuckle.
"You do have a soothing voice, now that I've noticed."
As they reached the warmth of the fireplace, Violet explained a bit of her family history.
"I'm half-blood, my mum's a muggle. From what my father told me, my grandparents didn't like muggles, so they basically eloped." She paused, trying to explain herself . "I mean, they didn't really run away. My grandparents just don't want anything to do with a muggle, so we cut contacts, but they probably know where we are. They just don't bother about it, honestly we don't bother about it either."
Violet smiled at the thought of such a brave and dramatic act. She sometimes forgets her father actually has businesses other than her family and his work at the Ministry.
Zara then spoke about them sitting together, which Violet smiled at, but then she remembered that they weren't in the same House.
"I'd love to sit with you, but I think you're a Gryffindor and the tables are separated by Houses, so..." she paused, looking at the dark wooden walls full of paintings with famous wizards. She then snapped and looked at Zara again, remembering how that could sound.
"Oh sorry, that sounded a bit rude. What I mean is that I'd love to meet with you again, but probably we can't do that at dinner."
"Besides, you were also with your friend, weren't you? Back in the Courtyard."
She spoke fast-paced, a bit nervous.
She looked around, at the different people already entering the Great Hall for the evening meal. Violet could hear them laugh as they passed through the girls. She then glanced back at Zara, looking for a sign of anger or disapproval on her eyes.
Violet did overthink some of her interactions with others, but seemed to be the only one that continued to.
Somber Day
Zara straightened up slightly at hearing that her voice was soothing. A compliment like that wasn't something she had heard before, and she couldn't help the small smile that appeared on her face. She listened carefully as Violet explained her family situation, her expression becoming a little more thoughtful as she took in everything she was being told. There was something interesting about hearing how other people had grown up, especially when their families were so different from her own.
When Violet mentioned the different Houses, Zara's expression shifted with realization, "Oh, yeah..." She nodded slowly, "Leo said it was okay for meals that aren't big feasts, but he's a sixth year, so it's probably different for him."
She shrugged, seeming to accept that there wasn't much they could do about it. Then Zara's attention returned to something Violet had said earlier.
"That wasn't my friend. That was my sister!" she explained. "Well, my sister and her friends, they're 4th years. Her name is Esme. And Leo is my brother!" She smiled. Zara glanced toward the Great Hall, where more students were beginning to gather for dinner. She shifted her coat in her arms before looking back at Violet.
"I guess I'll see you later, then?" she said. "I'll be around. It's hard to miss me."There was a playful little grin on her face as she took a small step backward.
Then she paused,"Oh!" Zara looked at Violet again, her expression becoming curious.
"Violet, why were you looking so somber earlier?" She tilted her head slightly. Zara's voice was softer now, the teasing from a moment ago gone. She wasn't trying to pry. She simply was genuinely interested, and willing to listen if Violet wanted to tell her.
When Violet mentioned the different Houses, Zara's expression shifted with realization, "Oh, yeah..." She nodded slowly, "Leo said it was okay for meals that aren't big feasts, but he's a sixth year, so it's probably different for him."
She shrugged, seeming to accept that there wasn't much they could do about it. Then Zara's attention returned to something Violet had said earlier.
"That wasn't my friend. That was my sister!" she explained. "Well, my sister and her friends, they're 4th years. Her name is Esme. And Leo is my brother!" She smiled. Zara glanced toward the Great Hall, where more students were beginning to gather for dinner. She shifted her coat in her arms before looking back at Violet.
"I guess I'll see you later, then?" she said. "I'll be around. It's hard to miss me."There was a playful little grin on her face as she took a small step backward.
Then she paused,"Oh!" Zara looked at Violet again, her expression becoming curious.
"Violet, why were you looking so somber earlier?" She tilted her head slightly. Zara's voice was softer now, the teasing from a moment ago gone. She wasn't trying to pry. She simply was genuinely interested, and willing to listen if Violet wanted to tell her.