The Sun is a Star PV Albert Peshkov Closed

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@Albert Peshkov

“You know... people ask that and I don’t understand why. They don’t get anything out of it, and I guess it’s kinda mysterious but...”

“- mysterious? It’s a literal eye patch. No judgement but I was wondering how you got it. And it was definitely NOT from some magical creature. It doesn’t matter to me anyways. Not that you are one for eye contact.” Albert butted in.

Claudia raised her eyebrows - well, Albert could see only one but she did anyways - and shook her head. Had she imagined the part where he had said “I’m sorry?” What had happened to that timid Ravenclaw she had seen from before? Well, she guess she liked this one better. He wasn’t afraid to contradict her...

He was kind of like Claudia, in a way.

But she knew he did care. Or did he not? If he didn’t care he wouldn’t’ve asked her. Then again, Claudia’s curiosity was the main factor in asking questions - not her feelings. Well, almost. Unless someone struck a nerve with her, Claudia was mainly chill. She didn’t know what was coming out of her mouth when she said, “Ok, Um, th-this is something I’m not proud about. While I say I love all types of genres, I really don’t. If the main or only genre is romance, I won’t read it. I’m fine with a little side romance, but if it is the main plot of the story...”

“Well, that sure is strange,” he mimicked her. Claudia just rolled her eye. Yes, she knew she was a strange person. She also was quite talkative, for an introvert. Maybe she just preferred others to approach her, instead of the other way around.

No, she thought, I just don’t like the idea of friends. Coddling you, complimenting you - Claudia stopped her thoughts. Was that what she’s was doing? She was bitter with Albert for touching a topic she didn’t want to talk about! Wasn’t she being coddled? Wasn’t she asking certain things of other people that surely was going to come? Boy am I acting immature.

“Well, this may sound strange... But do you want to grab food somewhere? I’m hungry. Maybe we could go somewhere?” he asked.

Claudia stumbled back in shock, but quickly regained herself. Even though she wasn’t hungry herself and didn’t really want to go, she didn’t want to stay and keep having to talk with Albert in a way like they were daring each other forward. Who would take the first move? Who would finally take the dare? Claudia collected up her thoughts and shrugged, “Sure.” she said simply, but with an edge to it, as if she was challenging him on.

Maybe she took the dare, but that didn’t mean Albert couldn’t too.

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@Albert Peshkov

After Claudia agreed to food, Albert started to lead the pair down the stairs of the tower. The grey stone always seemed chilled and wet to Claudia, even during a sunny day. “So what’s - er, your backstory... I mean how did you come to Hogwarts?” Albert asked her, “No need to lie to me. I won’t tell anybody.”

Claudia shot a confused glance at the boy, Well that sure was random. She was prepared for the first part, but not the last. Did Albert really see her as lying? Deceptive? Claudia knew that she had lied and misled him in parts of the conversation, but was he really that suspicious of her? It seemed... odd, strange - as many of the other students in Hogwarts didn’t even have the slightest hint of doubt that her words were lies. But Albert did... Claudia was beginning to find out that he was more and more like her, and she wasn’t sure if she liked it.

“Well,” she started, seemingly ready to tell a great tale, “I, er, got a letter.” Claudia’s face was blank, but inside she was embarrassed of her words. That was probably the lamest story ever told! No plot, no introduction, not even another paragraph! Not even another sentence. Claudia opened her mouth to try again, “I guess... I guess... well, the truth is... I really, um, really don’t know. Be-Being a pureblood and all I was pretty much guaranteed to go to Hogwarts.”

Claudia wondered for him what it was like. Not knowing if you were magical or not. Being a half-blood. Was it... frightening? Embarrassing? Did he live his whole life in doubt about him and his abilities? “But, uh, I guess it was different for you...” Claudia gulped, hoping that her words hadn’t opened a wound.

Like his had.

Like his had opened up a wound for her. But it was necessary. Some people thought it was best not to ask... probably was. But Claudia admired those who had the guts to straight-out ask her. The ones who weren’t afraid. Clearly those were the ones who didn’t actually think Claudia was different because of her missing eye. Who didn’t see her as interesting because of it. Claudia was tired of her eyepatch being the one thing people centered on.

And maybe, just maybe, she was tired of... herself.

How she was always distant, quiet. How she could never seem to force out the truth about her eyepatch. How she was just... her. She was tired of it, all of it. All of the bias, complaining... everything. Hogwarts was her new beginning, but she had already screwed it up. Her and her stupid eyepatch had screwed it up! Claudia’s brain was contradicting her actions... she just wanted it to stop, all of it! Everything to stop!

Stop.

Having a mental breakdown is not going to help.

So stop.

Claudia took a deep breath in and out. Complaining inside her head wasn’t going to help. So, to keep her mind from caving inward, she listened to Albert.

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Kateri had been in her tower that evening as with any other, office hours tended to run a little longer than she expected them too at times so often she would be sure to have set up for class ahead of time and prepare for a long night. As per usual, the main door to the classroom was open since the professor would be residing in the tower for the evening, though the above observation deck was still locked with an enchantment to keep out any curious students. Though she was aware of some students trying to sneak their way into the tower only to be surprised when Kateri poked her head out from behind her shelves, or returned from a back room to find them leaning close to the magical barrier that surrounded the tower, invisible to the eye as well as their fear as the students peered over the railing. More often than naught, the young woman would allow students to have their moment or conversation before interrupting.

Often they would jump in shock, not realizing that when they thought they had been alone, the young woman was actually busy working away on research, future lectures or helping another student that had come to talk or take advantage of her office hours. Tonight seemed no different, after her class was finished for the evening should she have one, another young student would find their way to the tower. Observing them for awhile, since she was still in the tower as per her office hours and clearly they were too wrapped up in their conversation to notice she had been there the entire time, Kateri finally walked over, arms crossed in front of her waist, Kateri would smile and ask them, "Did you need something? It is rather late and far past curfew by the looks of it." Should they require assistance with homework or the like, have a question of their own, need a place to quietly study or read, or possibly an ear to listen, Kateri would offer it to them. Otherwise she would make it known that it was reaching curfew, if not already past the clearly stated 10 o’clock curfew set in place at Hogwarts and usher them towards the door, letting them know they needed to return to their dorm.

OOC Note: The Astronomy tower is always locked to students when the Professor is not in attendance, there is no class, outside office hours, or other supervision. I do not mind if you thread in this area just be aware I will roll to catch you as you might think you are alone but I am in the office... watching... Though I always like when people are mindful of the curfew and possibly take advantage of the space in order to develop their character. Feel free to owl me or reach out on discord should you have questions or an idea to thread in the tower.
You can respond to the Professor if you wish, though I will lock the thread after 72 hours.

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@Albert Peshkov@Kateri Karr

“So what’s - er, your backstory... I mean how did you come to Hogwarts? No need to lie to me. I won’t tell anybody.” Albert said.

“Well, I, er, got a letter.” She responded lamely. She couldn’t think of anything else to say that could phrase how she got into Hogwarts without sounding even more strange. “I guess... I guess... we’ll, the truth is... I really, um, really don’t know. Be-Being a pureblood and all I was pretty much guaranteed to go to Hogwarts. But, uh, I guess it was different for you...” she said, cheaply using Alberts’ blood status as a line to say.

As soon as Claudia added her blood comparison, she wanted to take it back. While it was nothing more than a thought, a wonder, something she was questioning as she didn’t have the experience, Albert might’ve taken it in the wrong way. Worried that he would misunderstand- this time, not on purpose - Claudia shot a glance his way and studied his expression.

“No, it was the exact same for me... Some stupid animal dropped a letter in my window.” Albert’s face was blank when he said this, but his tone was slightly bitter. Clearly he didn’t like being reminded that he wasn’t fully magic. Or was he? Was magic a trait passed down or something a person acquired - like a gift? Was it actually possible for someone to be “half magic?” Claudia thought that was the blood status, how it told people their magic type, but was it actually that half bloods had less magic than pureblood and wizard-born wizards? Claudia shook her head, disbelieving. If that was true, some of the greats would never have been, well, great.

“Well - I’m still kinda surprised at the whole Hogwarts dealio. It’s... a huge place and still has a somewhat imposing air to it... and I’m unsure what to make of it,”

She shrugged at his words. As she was a pureblood, her parents had kind of prepared herself for Hogwarts. However, the tales and stories that she had heard were nothing compared to the actual thing. Hogwarts was huge and foreboding to Claudia, and even still later in the year she got lost in its halls.

“I don’t know much at all about this school, and it seems to get weirder every time I look at it.”

Right then, a tall figure chose its time to walk in. Claudia jumped in shock as she realized that someone else was there. As they stepped into the light, the figure smiled and opened their mouth as if to talk. “Did you need something? It is rather late and far past curfew by the looks of it.” they recited, having clearly said this before. The figure’s smile seemed forced, and their arms were crossed in front of them. As Claudia looked longer, she could barely make out the features of...

Claudia stared at the professor of astronomy and gulped. Speaking of weird, Albert, here comes a professor with eyeshadow on the back of her head, she thought. “Oh! Er, uh... W-we’re terribly sorry. We were... just leaving.” she responded shakily, clearly offset by the presence in front of her.

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