An Un-expeted Meeting Closed

Oh my gosh! I so agree! Healing plants are the best! Katie said with a wide smile. Some people think healing isn't exciting, but I disagree. Just because some of us would rather heal someone than hurt someone doesn't mean they are weak. I think the hat out me into Slytherin because of my ambition to help others and study plants. Katie continued. Then she paused. She wanted to ask Siobhán about something, but she wasn't confident. It had been grating on her for the past few weeks though, so she decided to go ahead and ask.
I have a question though. I was raised a pure-blood, but even though they were neutral in the types of magic that they used, they cared a lot for blood purity and the traditions. While I defiantly love wizarding traditions such as Yule, I'm not so sure about the blood purity party anymore. I've only heard their views before, so I hadn't thought much to question my beliefs, but this school is so diverse. And everyone here seems so talented. Does that make me a blood-traitor? I still want to practice wizard holidays over muggle ones, but if I am wrong on blood-purity, which I am not sure if I am or not, then am I one of the blood-traitors my parents hate and rant about? Katie was hesitant when asking Siobhán this. She didn't know the girl's blood status and didn't want to accidentally offend her with her parents views. A few weeks ago, Katie wouldn't have thought much of it. But now, after being at Hogwarts, Katie was less sure of her beliefs and their validity. Would her parents hate her if she did become a blood-traitor in their eyes? Probably. They may be neutral in their magic, but she had heard them rant and complain enough to know they wouldn't be happy for Katie questioning their ideals. She hoped Siobhán wouldn't think her stupid for asking a question. Katie truly didn't know any side other than her parents, but as the weeks had gone by at Hogwarts, was it her fault for starting to wonder if blood-purity wasn't true at all. It almost felt like a betrayal from what she had known her entire life. Katie felt tears lightly flow down her checks at the thought of this. The thought that her whole life could have been a lie. Or at least a major chunk of it.


@Siobhán Moore

Siobhán reached out and took Katie's hands in her own. "Don't fret now. I'm a pure-blood as well. My parents still look down on Muggle borns. I wish they didn't, but there's nothing I can do about it. I think the words 'blood traitor' is irrelevant now, don't you? It refers to pure-bloods and half-bloods siding against He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. The war is long over. Besides, isn't the blood purity party just a party? I'm lucky to not have such a thing in Ireland apparently. Surely, you can ask to be excused? If not, just say you're not feeling well."

Siobhán got a dark look on her face as she started thinking to herself. If only the world were not still stuck in it's old ways. Blood purity means nothing anymore. Magic is all the same. Why do people still think that it isn't? It just doesn't make any sense. What would compel those people to keep living in a such a way that makes life harder on others just because they were born differently? It doesn't make any sense at all to Siobhán. Maybe it never will. She looked up at Katie and her face softened. "Bollocks, I'm not helping at all, am I?"

@Katie Palsorette

Thanks. It does seem stupid to me now, it's just hard because it was the only thing I grew up knowing and believing. My parents think highly of blood purity, so they won't be happy with me. I'll just make sure they don't find out.
Katie cringed as she thought about what her parents would do to her if they new her newfound ideas. That'd not be pretty at all. No she couldn't let Siobhán know this detail. As her parents reminded her after every slip up: mud-bloods would think she deserved it, half-bloods wouldn't believe her, and pure-bloods would think her weak for not stopping it. Of course Katie hated that word now, the m-word, but it was what her parents always told her when reprimanding her. It didn't get out of her memory easily. A small, silent tear slipped down her cheek and she grimaced thinking about grew Siobhán would hate and despise her, just as her parents threatened, if she new the truth about Katie's "loving family". It'd be alright. She couldn't have seen her redaction because she didn't think it had been visible. She could have this one ally to befriend, even if Siobhán would hate her the moment she new the truth about her parents. Be disgusted that Katie couldn't stop it. Katie would be content and their less than pure-blood views would have to be hidden whole they were around her. Katie didn't have natural occulumency barriers, but she had compartmentalized her thoughts, so her parents wouldn't notice when they skimmed her thoughts, as always. She'd warn Siobhán not to make eye-contact with her parents if they ever met. That would be for a later day though.


@Siobhán Moore

"What do you mean by that? That your parents mustn't know?" Siobhán asked. The longer she watch Katie, the more she realized she was having an internal struggle. She herself had many of those when dealing with and being around her own parents. With the way Katie seemed to be handling it though, was not good. Siobhán saw the tear and the cringe. Something awful must be happening at home. Something horrible. Siobhán thinks she might have a clue, but jumping to this awful conclusion would be horrible, no less saying it out loud. No, if she wants to tell me, she will. If not then that's what she wishes. I hope to Merlin that it's not what I'm thinking it is.

Siobhán understood a little though. Her parents wouldn't understand why she doesn't care for blood purity anymore, just how she doesn't understand how they do. But what Katie said is confusing. Siobhán laughed a little then looked back at Katie. "I'm sorry. I'm not laughing at you. It's the situation. You've me a little confused and that's not something I'm used to. It's a little funny, if I do say so myself. What do you mean though? I don't understand."

@Katie Palsorette

Look. I probably shouldn't have said anything, it's just, Katie's voice breaks, It's just, I'll tell you, but please don't think terribly of me. Katie whispers softly. She could trust Siobhán. Right?
My parents are strict with their views. Whenever I question them or even slightly mess up in their eyes, they, they, could Katie tell Siobhán? She wanted to trust her. She thought Siobhán would understand. She truly didn't think Siobhán would hate her for this. But what about what her parents told her?No. She could do this. She would tell her and then Siobhán would hate her, laugh at her, and never talk to her again, but she'd tell her. She'd tell her because some secrets wee just too hard to keep bottled up and locked inside a mind for too long. Besides, Siobhán seemed genuinely concerned. Then again, she didn't know just how messed up Katie was. How weak Katie was. Well, no time like the present, she supposed.
They hit me. Hard. And punch me too. Sometimes send cutting hexes at my wrists, arms, and back. Sometimes, just hit and punch me. You can go on and hate me now. Katie said, not even bothering to hide the fact that she was crying now.


@Siobhán Moore

"That's barbaric! That's- You must tell someone! A professor, your head of house, the headmaster! Anybody!" Siobhán yelled. What kind of parent pure-blood or not, does that to their child. It's outrageous. "What kind of parents do this? This is nonsensical! Nothing should prompt such behavior from parents!"

Siobhán put her bag on the table, stood up on the bench and started pacing on the bench. "I can't fathom why. Maybe it's my never being through it. Sure, my parents are holier-than-thou, but they've never-... They've never hurt me for it. Then again it's also not as if I yell pure-bloods ideals are idiotic out loud in front of them," Siobhán stopped pacing, thought for a moment, then continued pacing. "You must tell someone!

Siobhán, still pacing, couldn't believe that her assumption was right, though hearing it didn't make it any less hard. What if her parents started treating her like that if they knew she didn't care about purity? It would be preposterous. Then again, maybe not. They were never home. Always at work. Even when they were home, they barely spoke to Siobhán as if her soul purpose was just to be the heir. Still, it gave no parent any right to treat their children so horribly.

@Katie Palsorette
I went back and edited my posts a little, so if that last bit is confusing, just go back a little.

No! I can't tell anyone. No-one would believe me, and if my parents found out, that- they'd... Katie's sentence broke off and her throat ran dry thinking about just what they'd do I'd they knew she told someone, much less her beliefs. They'd kill me. She said softly, they'd kill me and they'd do it even if it was the last thing they did before Azkaban. Not to mention they are extremely wealthy. They could get off even if they killed me, as long as their wasn't enough evidence against them. And they're Slytherins. They'd make sure that their wasn't enough evidence. Her throat cracked. Katie didn't want to die. Even agreed all the abuse, punishments, and scars that probably would never fade, she didn't want to die. It was part of the reason that Katie thought she wanted to be a healer or something. So that she could help people who were hurt. She had never been allowed to use a healer if the injuries were from her punishments. That was part of the reason that so many of them scarred. Not to mention, her parents had taught her flavours since she was five. It was why nobody ever doubted her treatment. They didn't see the long, jagged scar that ran down her nose and pay her ear. Or the faint white lines of whips and cutting hexes against her knuckles and wrists. They just saw the perfect pure-blood. They couldn't have been farther from the truth of course.Please don't tell. She whimpered, tears lacing her cheeks now. They don't know my sexuality either of course. I've always been bi, where I'm attracted to both girls and guys, but they are quite one man and one woman only people. I imagine that they'll have a marriage contact for me by the time I'm fourteen to some wealthy pure-blood heir. It isn't fair that I'll only have the possibility of being with half the people I'm attracted to, and it isn't fair that I can't tell them my true feelings on blood purity any, because both of those differ from their ideals, but I can't go to anyone else. It is my burden to shoulder.


@Siobhán Moore
Also, don't worry, I got a length warning too today, so I had to make a few edits also. Did you also get the Gryffindor prefect?

Siobhán sat back down and put her head on the table. She didn't know what to say. Someone should be notified, but if Katie didn't want the authorities knowing then there was nothing she could do. She'd just have to leave it up to Katie to decide even if the silent route didn't sit right with her, at least in this situation. Eleven years old and scared of your own parents. She couldn't imagine what that must feel like.

Siobhán lifted her head and looked at Katie. "All right. I don't agree, but all right. If you don't want to tell someone, then I won't make you. It's your choice. To be fair, I can't relate to your situation. All I could do is advise you tell an adult." She sighed. She didn't know what else to say to make the situation less stressful. She rubbed her scar that went from the base of her thumb to the middle of the back of her hand. Katie's situation is the worst and it seems that she can't do anthing about it. That's what upset Siobhán the most. "Too bad we're not in Gryffindor", she chuckled a little. "I'm also glad I'm not. Too much red for me."

@Katie Palsorette
Yep. Gave me a heart attck too.

Thank you Katie whispered. She glanced down at her watch. Shoot! It is dinner time. Do you want to meat up in the abandoned toilets at midnight to talk more? Tomorrow's a Saturday, so we don't have classes to worry about or accidentally fall asleep in. Katie hoped Siobhán would say yes. She'd understand if she didn't want to be around the poor, weak pure-blood who couldn't even stick up for herself. She wouldn't blame her. Katie was slightly supprised she still didn't hate her. She had been expecting her to laugh and mock her or something. Obviously she had been relieved Siobhán hadn't done that, but she still was surprised by it. Her parents seemed convinced no-one would like her if she told them, and Katie honestly believed them. Why wouldn't someone hate her for being weak?
Of course if you don't want to, I wouldn't blame you at all. I know I'm weak and that people tend to not want to be around weak and pathetic people. I just thought maybe you might want to, so yeah. Katie quickly added. She didn't want Siobhán to feel pressured. Anyway, I do have to go to dinner, spool are you in? Katie asked crossing her fingers, holding onto a glimmer of hope that Siobhán didn't hate her, despite her weakness in standing up for herself and what she believed in.


@Siobhán Moore

Siobhán enjoyed this impromptu meeting. She got her work done and hopefully made a new friend. Said possible new friend also wants to meet again. This is scary. Siobhán's never had an actual friend before. Is this how it works? You just chat about things? About your life? Seems simple enough. The idea of having a friend excites her, but she's also scared of ruining it. Her only friends are house elves, if you can even count those. What if I ruin this before it even starts? I guess I'll take a risk.

Siobhán looked at her watch as well. "Oh! It is dinner time. I suppose we should be heading down there." Siobhán made sure she had all her things gathered. Then she realized that Katie had said. Abandoned Toilets. "Why, Miss Palsorette! Are you trying to get me all alone? How scandalous!" Siobhán smirked for a second, then laughed.

"Of course, I'll meet you tomorrow night. Though I don't know why you want to meet so late. It is the Abandoned Toilets after all... Wait, midnight's after curfew. Let's meet earlier, say after dinner? That seems more reasonable and plenty of time to chat before we get caught for being out late." Siobhán squealed uncharacteristically, excitedly, and covered her mouth slightly, " Getting caught! Could you imagine?"

@Katie Palsorette