Family Secrets
Let's explore this box @Simon KincaidIt had been some time since the holidays and her visit to her grandfather and Haley had almost forgotten the small box she had received from him. She had no chance to look inside it at home and had taken it with her to Hogwarts. This morning, when she went to get something from her suitcase, which she had stowed under her bed, she came across the small box. How could she have forgotten it? The whole holiday she could hardly wait to explore all this and yet she had totally forgot it.
Her grandfather hadn't told her what was inside, probably he had never looked himself, she just knew that these were things of her mother's that had been left behind after she had moved out. Her desire for the stories hidden there was big and without hesitation she pulled the small box from under her bed to take it with her to the library.
She grabbed her bag, tucked the box under her right arm and made her way down the stairs to the library and after briefly scanning the rows with her gaze, she had already found her destination. Simon was already sitting at one of the tables and had opened some books in front of him. She went straight to him and set the box down on the table, grinning broadly at him. "Fancy a quick study break?" she asked him with a wink and sat down on the empty chair next to him.
Actually, she had a small pile of homework to do, but her thoughts only circled around this small wooden box, the contents of which were unknown to her until now.
Last edited by Haley Rose on 16 May 2021, 17:08, edited 1 time in total.
The only one who fear death are those with regrets
Family Secrets
Curious about the box belonging to @Haley Rose
"As long as it doesn't involve baked goods," he said as his eyes turned from her to the box. He didn't know what the box was or contained, but he could tell that it seemed to fill Haley with excitement.
It didn't look like the type of box that would have cupcakes or cookies inside. He was just teasing as she knew his disdain for sweets. No, this was an intricate wooden box that someone would place mementos in or keepsakes.
He tore out a sheet of parchment from the notebook he had with him and marked one of the pages of a book, closing it then and stacking it on the others so there would be more room upon the tabletop in front of them. There was plenty of space, but he wanted to put everything aside so that Haley knew she had his undivided attention.
"Study breaks are always welcomed and most beneficial. I once quoted a study done from Princeton University about the benefits of relaxation over constant brain productivity. Granted, it was to try and justify why I didn't have an assignment turned in for a mathematics class and the instructor wasn't very convinced..."
"Suppose some just don't appreciate scientific studies... What can you do?" he smiled over at Haley and then gently moved the box so he could see the other side of it.
"So what is this?" he asked, his curiosity spiked. It wasn't something she normally had with her and the way she set it down front and center indicated it was most likely what she was wanting to investigate during this study break of his.
Be kind to one another. (*iNPC is Miles Thatcher)
Family Secrets
Pictures and more @Simon KincaidHaley played the game and looked at him offended, "But..." she hesitated for a moment, "I baked especially for you a- and I thought you would be happy". She looked at him sadly but rolled her eyes, stuck her tongue out at him and started laughing. Of course she wouldn't serve Simons sweet cupcakes, after all she knew he didn't like it but she kept the thought in the back of her mind to prank him at some point.
She listened intently to his lecture of study breaks and nodded as if taking notes inside. "Very interesting, mhm." She grinned broadly at him and waited a moment as he moved his things to the side.
Her eyes fell on the box again, "These my dear," she began, placing her hands on the box, "Are things from my mother's youth." She paused for a moment, feeling the tingling in her hands. She would have liked to rip open the box immediately and rummage through everything, but she waited a moment while her eyes were on the box. She didn't know what to expect and for a moment she was afraid. What if it was something she wouldn't want to know? But for not doing it, Haley was far too curious.
Carefully, she opened the small lock on the box and let the lid flip back. Her eyes wandered to Simon and she looked at the box again. She felt as if she was uncovering a long-hidden secret after searching for so long. She pulled the box closer to the two of them so they could both look inside and at the top were some pictures. She took out the stack of pictures and passed some over to Simon while keeping some in her hand.
In the first picture she could make out three girls in a Ravenclaw uniform, in the middle was her mother, she had recognised her immediately. All three were laughing heartily and Haley let it sink in for a moment before looking through the other pictures. Many of the pictures were of her mother with friends, laughing, hugging or sitting together at a table with a large pitcher of drinks in front of them. "I bet this was taken in Hogsmead." She guessed and showed the picture to Simon. She looked at one of the pictures she had given him and her eyes grew big. "Oh my God, that's my parents." She said excitedly and pointed to the picture. There was her mother and father in their youth and she had immediately fallen in love with the picture.
Her eyes wandered back to the box and she took out a pile of books and placed them on the table, then a small package consisting of letters tied together, a small teddy bear and a feather.
The only one who fear death are those with regrets
Family Secrets
Scanning over memories with @Haley Rose
Simon glanced at some of the photos in his hand, also some of her mother with some friends from her Hogwarts days. Interesting to see how the uniforms really hadn't changed all that much. He glanced up to Haley, watching her expression as she sorted through the photographs she held. When she got to the one of her parents, he could see her happiness and it made him smile.
"So what do you think the letters are? Notes from home like correspondence back and forth with her parents? Love letters from your father? Maybe she was luckier than you were and had someone to write her poetry." He had thought about writing something for Haley but he figured he would fail miserably. Maybe in the years to come when he had matured and practiced more of his writing skills. It would sound very juvenile if he attempted it now. Better to wait.
"Open them," he said, and then paused and laughed a little, realizing that he was as eager to see all that was in this box as she was. Simon hadn't even met her parents, but that didn't stop him from wanting to know more - especially when there was odd estrangement between the mother and her family at some point or another. It was a divide that seemed to happen and while he didn't know the details, it didn't sound as if Haley's grandparents harbored any ill will toward her in her meeting with them over Spring Break.
Be kind to one another. (*iNPC is Miles Thatcher)
Family Secrets
The Secret she looked for so long @Simon KincaidHaley didn't know if she had any expectations of the content, but she was more than happy with the result. She loved all the memories, the pictures and all that she would discover. It felt as if a small part of her had been part of all these moments. It was hard not to grin at all of this, but she didn't notice it herself.
She laughed at Simon's remark and looked at the wrapped letters. "I'm still young, maybe one day I'll meet someone who sends me love letters too." She joked but she couldn't think of anyone she would rather receive some letters than from Simon himself. She untied the string and looked at the letters for a moment, something inside her held her back but Simon's words encouraged her and she began to open the first letter.
"Dear Stephanie, I really do miss you." She read out and rolled her eyes. "Yep, love letter." She remarked and put the letter aside without finishing reading it. She gave Simon a quick nod to let him read it quietly but she still wanted to get through the others and she didn't know how interested she really was in the "I love you's" from her young parents.
As she skimmed through the other letters, a pile of letters from her father had quickly built up. Basically, most consisted of "I miss you," "I love you," "I'm looking forward to seeing you," and "this happened to me this week."ReducioLetter 1:
"Dear Steph,
I really do miss you. You can't imagine how much. I look forward to when we can finally see each other again and hope you have a good time at your school.
Believe me when I tell you that my parents were startled when suddenly an owl knocked on our window. I had to hold back a laugh but managed to convince them that it was nothing more than that and by now it has already been forgotten.
I'm sorry that you and your family don't have a good relationship at the moment and I really hope that things will get back on track.
I love you.
David."
She continued to sort through the letters for a while until one from her grandparents fell between her hands.
Haley was surprised at how formally Stephanie's parents communicated with her and it saddened her that they had responded in such a way. It was a letter from her first year at school and Haley found it hard to imagine how hard those words must have been for her mother. But she suspected it mattered to her to some extent because she had never thrown it away. She knew about this "problem", but she never knew that her grandparents were disappointed in their own daughter for something over which she had no control.ReducioLetter 2:
"Dear Stephanie,
Your news about being sorted into Ravenclaw more than surprised us. The first in our family who is not a Slytherin. We have to be honest with you, it disappointed us a little but we can't change the situation.
Always remember the things we have taught you and never forget where you come from.
With kind regards
Cecilia and Godric Rose"
She searched through the rest of the letters to discover more from her grandparents and came across two more letters, which she opened immediately.
Haley had to start reading the letter several times. Over and over she thought she had missed a word. A piece of information that negated the actual statement, but it wasn't the case. Her smile disappeared and a strange feeling developed in the pit of her stomach. It all began to make sense. Why the paths in the family diverged. Worth less, such bullshit. Such words from her own grandparents hurt her incredibly, after all she was a half-blood herself and she couldn't imagine how much they must have hurt her mother back then.ReducioLetter 3:
"Stephanie,
We found out from Daniel's parents that you hang out with half-bloods and Muggles at Hogwarts. Have you forgotten everything we taught you? It's time you understood that not all wizards are created equal. There are some of us, like the Rose family, the Bennetts or the Bensons, purebloods, who are worth more than others. But we've been over all this so many times before.
We hope to stop receiving such information and hope you realise the seriousness of this situation.
Congratulations on passing your exams, we expected nothing but an "O" from you.
With kind regards
Cecilia and Godric Rose"
There was one letter left but Haley hesitated before opening it. Could it get any worse? No, at least she hoped so.
Haley couldn't believe it. Anger, annoyance and sadness rose in her as she read the lines. She put the letter aside and sank back in her chair, overwhelmed with all the thoughts that were going through her head at that moment.ReducioLetter 4:
"Dear Stephanie,
Once again we have been disappointed by you. All our attempts to guide you on the right path have failed. All our pleas and warnings have been ignored by you, we know no more.
Your decision to maintain your relationship with these muggle boy has only shown us that it is all worth nothing to you. Your family is worth nothing to you and we want nothing more to do with any of this. As you will be of age in a few weeks, we think it is the best decision for you to move out.
It hurts us, but it seems we have lost our daughter.
With kind regards
Cecilia and Godric Rose"
Her grandmother, who was such a loving woman, who meant so much to her, had disowned her own daughter. And all because her mother was in love with her father. The world was upside down for Haley.
The only one who fear death are those with regrets
Family Secrets
Discovering a painful past with @Haley Rose
It was all such a silly thing to get upset over. Those of magic were just mortal beings, humans, as those without - only some had an ability that the others didn't. Simon, who didn't even have a connection with Haley's mother, and who didn't even know her grandparents, still felt a pang of disappointment and lots of sadness as the words in the letters were continued to be read. To write, one had to choose the words in which they delivered - not like speaking where someone might say something without much thought. These people knew the pain they were inflicting upon their daughter.
Simon glanced over to Haley now and again, seeing that sadness reach her, more and more so with each moment that passed. "It's all rather harsh," he agreed, knowing his words weren't the perfect fit for the moment, but he wanted her to know the at least got it too. He didn't know these people personally but he could feel how painful it must be for Haley, how truly devastating it must have been for her mother.
She had visited her grandparents and she had liked her time there...even if it had brought her questions. He hated that she was now getting a different look at them. Still, if it happened, it happened. People had to own up to their actions.
"Your mum must have gone through a lot, but also loved your father quite devotedly to still be with him; given the stakes that they set for her." That was the only good that would perhaps come out of this.
Simon reached out to take her hand, to help remind her that whatever she was going through, it wasn't done alone. His hand with her grandfather's ring came to take hers that wore her grandmother's ring. ...Should they still wear them now?
Be kind to one another. (*iNPC is Miles Thatcher)
Family Secrets
Confused with @Simon Kincaid
Good, Haley learned more about her family. But what she learned was unfortunately not good. They were all in Slytherin, except for her and her mother. Nothing bad at first, after all, she wanted to be in Slytherin herself. Was that perhaps the reason? No, such a thing was hardly transferable via genes, or was it? She would worry about that now, if there wasn't another problem there - It had been a problem for her grandparents.
But not only the decision of the sorting hat was a problem, no also with whom her mother had given herself. She clenched her fists at the lines. Half-bloods and Muggles. She scoffed as she reread the letter. Who was so intolerant and could really believe that purebloods were better? From the looks of it, her own family.
So much was going through her mind. Sadness, anger, and a whole lot of confusion. Was this a bad joke? How could it be? Her grandmother was so loving, yet she had kicked her own daughter out of the house for dating a muggle. At that moment, she hated her grandmother. Also her grandfather, from whom she had the letters. Was he not who she thought he was after all?
Haley put her head in her hands, not knowing what to do. When Simon began to speak, she startled for a moment. She had almost forgotten that he was here with her. That he had read the letters, too. What did he have to think of her family now? Surely he would never come to visit her now. Who could blame him, no one would want to meet such a bad family. No one would want to be PART of such a family.
She gave him a weak smile and nodded. "Yeah, she must really love him a lot." She agreed. Still, she was at a loss for words. She felt she had to justify herself, to defend her family but she couldn't. How could she ever, after what she had just learned?
She looked at Simon's hand and hers, again a weak smile. She was grateful to have Simon by her side, but she wished he hadn't found out. She wished she had never known it herself. She always wanted to know everything about her family. Now she knew more, but she regretted it as never before.
Haley's eyes also fell on the rings, something inside her told her to rip it off her finger and throw it in the corner, but she couldn't. It was something inside her that was holding her back.
She looked back at Simon now, "I don't know what to do." she said honestly, sagging in her chair. "All this time I wanted to know about my family. Now I know why it was always a secret. And now I wish I never knew." A single tear slid down her cheek. She was hurt, she didn't want to cry. She was getting mad. Pissed at everything and everyone. Aggressively, she wiped the tear from her face with the back of her hand and scoffed.
"I'm sorry you're going through all this. I don't even want to know what you think of my family now. I don't even know what to think of my family myself." She fell silent, despair written all over her face. "I can only assure you that my parents and I are not like THAT. " She pointed her gaze disdainfully at the letters.
The only one who fear death are those with regrets
Family Secrets
Thoughts with @Haley Rose
Simon hated to see Haley's opinion of her grandparents change like this but he understood it completely because this would affect a lot about them. "Now this doesn't change how I feel about all your family," he assured her. Like her parents, it made him only admire her mother more for wanting to be with who she wanted to be with. The grandparents, though? Well, that was a different story.
He knew that while Haley had many questions about her visit with her grandparents, that she still enjoyed it. He knew she was planning to visit again. "I guess you could always try to find out if they've had any regrets for the way they treated her. I mean that's a possibility. She is their daughter," and while Simon didn't know a great deal about family he knew you didn't outcast them like that.
His eyes fell for a moment on the ring he wore daily, the one of Haley's grandfather's that was given to him to wear. "Or maybe it could be taken as a lesson on what not to do, you know? Maybe it's kudos to you for knowing its wrong and just never take something that far?" Sometimes you could learn from someone's example on a matter - and sometimes you could learn from their mistake.
Be kind to one another. (*iNPC is Miles Thatcher)
Family Secrets
Thanks again to @Simon KincaidHow was it possible that one could be so mistaken about one's own family? She now understood why she never learned anything, that was something you didn't tell a twelve-year-old girl. She had dark ancestors, two of them her grandparents. Her grandmother, whom she loved so much. Her grandfather, who she had only recently met and had such a great time with. Haley couldn't believe they were like this. That they were evil but the proof was right in front of her eyes, she couldn't deny it.
She would have loved to send an angry letter to her grandmother right away. Confront her, but she couldn't do that. Because then she would have to explain how she knew and then she would get into hot water. After all, she had met her grandfather in secret. She had to think about the next meeting in the summer break and the first thing that came to her mind was to cancel it and break off contact. But she wouldn't do that, she wouldn't leave Aiden hanging there, if it was all true and her grandfather was still like that, then this was not a safe place. Besides, she wanted answers from him now. Give him a chance to explain everything, a big misunderstanding. That was what she hoped. That it was all just a big misunderstanding.
Simon had a similar idea and she nodded at him, "Yes. I need to make a plan, I want answers about all this." Again she looked at the letters in disgust. "I will visit Godric this summer and maybe it will be the last time. But I will give him a chance to explain all this." She spoke confidently, she had set her mind to it and she would make it happen exactly that way, no one could stop her.
She put all the letters and pictures and other things spread out on the table back into the box. That was enough for today and for the time being she would not try to find out anything more about her family. That was more than enough and maybe she should concentrate more on her father's family tree. Muggles, no wizards, no discussions about pure blood. She was sure she wouldn't come across such shocking information there.
She looked to Simon, "Thank you." She smiled weakly and gave him a kiss on the cheek. She felt sorry for always dragging Simon into her drama. It was almost like she was putting it on. The story with her family, the howler, the ups and downs because of her little talent. Yet he was still here by her side. Standing through the next drama with her.
"I need some rest." Admitted Haley honestly, it was all causing headaches and she needed some time to herself now. She would say goodbye to Simon before heading to her dorm and skipping dinner.
The only one who fear death are those with regrets