A Hard Pill to Swallow. PV Haley Rose

Interacting with @Sarah Lightwood

Startled eyes shot upwards at the sudden words, Sarah not expecting anyone else to be here. She caught sight of a ginger Gryffindor crouching in front of her, expression a mix of pity and something she couldn’t work out.

The second she’d managed to get her heart rate to level, she cursed inwardly. She shouldn’t have let herself be found in this state. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d cried in front of someone and she hated the feeling it caused. She’d perfected her ‘mask’ years ago, having to learn to hide her emotions early in order to make it through living with her father. He was a traditionalist, a blood purist. He hated anyone who wasn’t Pure-Blood and thought himself high above them all. Sarah had learned to hide how upset his bigoted ways made her, usually masking sorrow with anger or sarcasm or wit. She wasn’t used to letting sadness slip past her mask and the fact that this girl, this stranger, was seeing her like this, left a bitter taste in her mouth. She indignantly wiped at her eyes, grew irises no doubt surrounded by an angry red.

“No, you can’t,” She snapped, let her eyebrows draw into a deep scowl as she looked across at the girl. The anger from before had returned. Anger at herself, though she directed it at the Gryffindor in front of her. Sarah was intimidating by nature. Her sharp features and obnoxiously bright hair mixed with her Slytherin tie often left people steering clear. It was something she usually hated - to be judged before she’d even been allowed to open her mouth. Now she found herself wishing for the usual intimidating look which came so naturally. Her scowl deepened.

She caught the girl’s eyes wandering to her disarmed letter and was quick to snatch the parchment back into her hands. It did nothing but remind her of her father’s words. Swallow your pride, child, and learn your place. She hiccuped. The noise was a drastic juxtaposition to the glare still settled on her face - the glare she could feel slipping away. Her anger was misplace, she knew that. This girl hadn’t been the one who’d written yet another dreadful letter. Nor was she the one who’d allowed herself to blubber in the bathroom floor like an idiot. She made a silent vow to herself, both to refrain from having breakdowns in public spaces, and to stop reading the owls she received from her father. His words were poison. And they were quickly poisoning her.

“Sorry. Just because I feel like crap, doesn’t mean I have to make you feel bad too,” She said eventually, pointedly avoiding the girl’s eyes. She was embarrassed that she’d been caught crying and irritated with herself for snapping at someone who’d just been trying to offer help. Pull yourself together, Sarah, she thought desperately, forcing a deep breath. It was far shakier than she’d have liked but it was enough to calm her breathing to some degree. “I don’t suppose you’d believe me if I told you it was just allergies?” She asked, making her face form a grin in an attempt to lighten the tone she’d set. She’d let her mask falter - let it crack - but she’d not let it shatter entirely.

Interacting with @Sarah Lightwood

Despite the utter embarrassment which was currently creeping into every inch of her body, Sarah couldn’t help but be impressed by the girl’s words. She liked the playful bite behind them. There were many people in this castle who’d dare not argue with her, be it her name or appearance or house. But the fact that this girl had point blank admitted that she didn’t believe her was refreshing. Even if it was likely in part due to how vulnerable the Slytherin no doubt looked in this moment.

When the girl offered her assistance, Sarah’s initial remark was to deny it - say she was fin, thank her for her concern, and be on her way. But as the girl shifted into a position which suggested she wasn’t going to be going anywhere soon, the green haired girl decided she might as well vent. She’d already been caught red handed - or rather red faced - so why not. Besides, the girl had a kind smile, one which reminded her of her late mother.

“My father, he,” Sarah paused for a moment, unsure exactly what she could offer this stranger without giving too much away. “My father is a prick,” the words left her mouth before she’d really considered them. Though the moment she registered what she’d said, she didn’t take it back. It was true, he was in fact a prick. “He’s bigoted and rude and expects me to be the same way but I don’t want to be. I won’t.” Her voice became shaky and she took a moment to compose herself. “He keeps threatening to take me out of Hogwarts. At first I thought they were empty, but I’m not so sure anymore. Merlin, if he could see me now.” It was true, the worry had started to creep in that if she upset him much more, he might actually follow through with the threats. “I just, I was having a nice day and then his stupid letter ruined it. I guess I’ve been bottling it up for a while.” The words spilled form her mouth like the tears had before. She wasn’t entirely sure why she’d decided to confide in a someone, a stranger no less, but here she was.

“Or, you know, I really am just highly allergic to bathroom floors,” She added at the end. She grinned, her words no longer meant to convince the girl of the ridiculous allergies story, but to lighten the mood. Sarah’s social skills weren’t all they should be. In fact, they were severely lacking for such an extroverted and talkative girl. She’d grown up surrounded by adults whom she’d wanted to irritate though, and it meant she often said the wrong thing when trying to actually be friendly to people her own age. She was working on it though.

“I’m Sarah, by the way,” She said, extending her hand out to the red headed girl before her. “And I promise I’m not usually like, well, this,” She added as an after thought, motioning to her still red face which held the remnants of tear-stains and letting a soft chuckle pass her lips.

Knowing how some members of the Wizarding World got about blood and family, Sarah was happy that her comment about her father earned her a laugh. It would be just her luck that the one person she’d found and ended up spilling her secrets to was offended by the idea of her insulting her father. It wasn’t unheard of. She’d once spent an entire evening speaking to the son of a dinner guest her father had invited to the manor about how irritating she found the whole affair, only to find out later that the snitch had recalled everything she said to his mother, and subsequently her father. She’d been condemned to her room for two weeks after that.

She couldn’t hold back the warm smile which fell on her lips at the girl’s deduction of her. Strong. It was a word she sometimes associated with herself, more out of self-pity than of any actual merit, but hearing another person suggest she was strong made a proud warmth settle in her stomach. And no, it didn’t matter that this girl didn’t actually know anything about her or her situation; it was enough, and it helped chase away the remnants of her spiralling depressive state which she’d been slowly sinking into. She hastily wiped at her face, trying to rid it of any remaining moisture. She was okay now – she’d had her moment and apparently spilling her guts to a stranger had helped her get over it. “Thank you,” She spoke softly, though the sincerity behind her words was obvious. She meant it. truly meant it.

“I’m Haley," The girl supplied, and Sarah found her thoughts immediately comparing the girl’s fiery hair to the comet she’d been reading about the week prior. Halley’s comet was a spectacle to behold, and she wondered whether the similarities between the girl and the phenomenon were purely in their similar names. The wink she’d just shot her suggested there was perhaps more to her. The potential of this girl – of what she was like or who she liked to surround herself with – flitted around her mind as she took her hand. Sarah’s only smiled more.

“Well, I’ve been known for my rather expansive vocabulary,” Sarah allowed herself a chuckle as she considered how often she’d been scolded for her use of language not deemed appropriate for a young lady of her apparent standing. As though her father could talk. “As much as I’d love to sit here all day and express my frustration of that man, I’m afraid we simply don’t have the time,” This time Sarah was the one to wink, having quickly shaken her head at the girl when he’d offered to leave. The heavy feeling which had second she’d received her note had lifted significantly and she thought it perhaps best not to dwell too much on it. A change of topic would be welcomed.

“Perhaps something a bit lighter?” She suggested, taking a moment to consider what might be said lighter topic, and settling on the basics. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but I’m thinking first year, right?” She asked, taking note of Haley’s slightly shorter stature, but more so basing her assumption on the fact that she’d never seen the girl before. “How are you finding Hogwarts so far? Intense but amazing?”

Interacting with @Sarah Lightwood