Break on Me PV O. Winters Closed

Opeila felt good. Since summer camp had started, she really felt good. In June, when they knew that they would all have to leave the school for a month, the Slytherin had been at peace with it. She had been alright, she didn't know where she would go, but she could vaguely imagine.

Back then she had not known that she would meet Lysander Virtanen. Opeila hadn't known that her knew guardians had a son at all but that son had certainly made July a lot more present. The best thing was their week in Diagon Alley, just the two of them being able to sleep as long as they wanted, eat when and what they wanted and wander through the different shops for days. It had been a lot of fun and the fun only went on in summer camp.

The young girl hadn't been that cheerful for what felt like years and on this day in a moment that was not filled with camp activities, Opeila wandered off, only accompanied by her cat, who seemed to be affected by his mistress' mood. The young cat jumped around, chasing butterflies, birds and wasps alike and rolling around in the grass.

Opeila was looking over to the Great Lake where some people were swimming in the little area they had separated, when she heard a cry. She spun around, her head snapping in the direction where the noise came from. Loras nearby also froze, staring in the same direction.

The young Slytherin made her way over to the edge of the campground, where a few trees stood, her right hand already placed on her wand. Did anyone get attacked? Was there something in the camp they didn't know about?
No. When Opeila arrived, she found a girl instead who sat against a tree, hiding her face behind her knees.

It took Opeila a moment to realize who that girl was. "Illowy", she said surprised and let go of her wand. Her gaze fell on Illowy's hand, he cut knuckles. Did she... hit anything? For a moment Opeila didn't know what to do. She had talked to her fellow duellist a few times now, but for one she didn't know her that well and then... she simply didn't know what to do. She had never seen Illowy emotional.

In the end, she sat down across her, maybe a meter away and held out a handkerchief in her direction. It was the one Lady Winter had made for her, the letters O.W. had been sewed into it. She didn't ask her housemate if she was alright, Opeila didn't need to hear something she could clearly see. She didn't ask her what was wrong either. Opeila knew how it felt to carry something dark and heavy around until it forced its way out and she would end up the same way as Illowy was now, everytime. Opeila wouldn't have appreciated nosy kids asking questions in a moment such as this.

Instead she would give her housemate time, if Illowy wanted to talk, it would be her who would show that. It didn't need Opeila to ask. "I can leave again if you want. Or I can stay and keep you company. You don't have to tell me anything if you don't want to.", Opeila said softly.

@Opeila Winters

Killian sat off, watching his mistress's breakdown until she settled, pensively taking post at her side and laying down next to her. Not that Illowy paid much mind to the patient creature, who was well versed by now it was better to wait for her to come to him when she was ready for his comfort. Though at the approach of the younger Slytherin and her own kitty, he raised his head curiously with a short flick of his tail.

Hearing he name, the older girl nearly flinched before looking up. She'd half expected to see Bridget, she being the only other person Illowy might've imagined would care enough to approach her while she was such an utter mess. Yet instead, it was Opelia, one of the other duellists on her team. They weren't exactly close beyond being in the same house and chatting in passing, but Illowy wasn't sure if she'd go as far as to convince herself the younger girl was her friend.

Illowy made some haphazard attempts to rub away her tears, but not to much avail. The dams were broken, and the tears wouldn't stop no matter how much she tried to will it. The girl certainly wasn't known for being emotional; if anything the opposite. Illowy liked to keep herself in check and reserved most of the time, and only a very small handful of people had seen her in such a state of vulnerability. Weakness was not a trait Illowy cared to display. She hated allowing anyone to see that there might've been a way to get to her, a way to hurt her.

The level of shame and embarrassment she felt in that moment of being caught couldn't be put into words as the other girl sat down quietly across from her, offering a handkerchief. Pride already wounded at her inability to even try to play off like she'd not been crying like a baby, Illowy reluctantly took the small offering, mopping her cheeks with the soft cloth; it felt like some injured animal licking her wounds while the other kept watch over the pathetic scene.

Truthfully, she couldn't decide if the silence in place of the other's lack of questions was comforting or painful. Perhaps a little of both, in some way or another. Inevitably, the silence was broken by Opeila. Illowy couldn't seem to bare to meet the girl's eyes for more then a second or two, "What's it matter?" she replied, emotion thickening the Irish accept she usually tried to keep so smoothed and proper, and perhaps sounding more defensive then she should've towards someone who was only trying to help, "Do what ye'like. Yer grown enough t'decide tha'." if it was some attempt to scare the other off with her coldness, it might've been better executed if tears weren't still streaming down her face and if her voice wasn't trembling.

She pulled her knees closer to her chest and hid her face there, as though trying to make herself so small she might melt away into the tree entirely and disappear. What was she even suppose to say to this girl? A practical stranger. How could she even try to explain without giving Kyle's secret away?

Illowy sniffled, "I jus' wanne see my cousin, an' I wanne go home..." she mumbled.

Opeila did not feel sorry for Illowy, there was no pity on the young Slytherin's face. She knew how it was to be found in the middle of the breakdown. Humiliating. A part wanting to share burdens, the other knowing that she could not. Maybe that was the reason why Illowy's cool response had no effect on her at all. Opeila was not sure why she stayed. Illowy and her were practically strangers who had some pleasant conversations in the past, far away from being close enough to share secrets and feelings.

But maybe that was enough for now. Illowy did not need to talk, tell Opeila anything she couldn't or didn't want to, but leaving her alone seemed like a cruel thing to do, when she was so obviously... falling. So Opeila gave her the handkerchief, leaned her head against the tree behind her and waited. Waited until Illowy told her to leave or maybe actually talked to her. Loras did not care so much about the other emotional human- but the cat next to her. Carefully he stepped closer to the other animal, meowing quietly.

Opeila looked at Illowy again when she said that she wanted to see her cousin and go home. "Is that the cousin who also goes to Hogwarts?", the younger Slytherin asked. Illowy had told her about him- Kyle DeRook- when they first met but Opeila never got to meet him, or so she thought. "Is he not coming to Hogwarts this year?" She asked the questions the was she did on purpose. If Illowy did not want to explain or was too emotional to speak, she could nod or shake her head.

@Opeila Winters

Killian stirred from his post when he took notice of the other kitty taking notice of him, chittering back in response and leaning towards it with a sniff. Perhaps in a different time, in a different circumstance, Illowy might've smiled about it, and wondered what the pair might've been staying to one another. Was Killian aware enough to understand what was happening to communicate whatever secrets she might've had to the other? Or perhaps they were making friendly introductions, following some gentlemanly kitty etiquette? A wondering for a more innocent, less troubled mind.

Illowy couldn't guess why Opeila stayed, leaning back against the same tree and settling in. What for? Certainly the other couldn't care about a practical stranger that much; or there was the possibility she was wanting to gather whatever she could in the older snakes vulnerability to later exploit her weaknesses... though even Illowy had to admit that was a rather paranoid thought to have. Just as well, Opeila didn't strike her as the vindictive type. Especially if they'd yet to even have a reason to behave in such a way towards each other.

Opeila wondered to her if this was the same cousin she'd warned against mentioned before. The girl nodded, sniffling and lifting her face to rest her chin on her knees. Then came the inquiry if he was coming back to school. Illowy gave a small shake of her head in response, "No... no he's not." she combed her fingers back through her hair, pulling some strands loose from it's hair stick in the process, "He... something bad happened, and we-" she stopped, swallowing hard as she corrected herself, "-he, ran away... and left me behind. And we don't know where he is, or what happened, or if he's okay..." Illowy's voice cracked a little towards the end and she roughly wiped at her eyes with the cloth.

"I know he's a complete arse, and everyone else is probably gonna think 'good riddance that he's gone'... but he was the only person, the only family, I had that didn't lie to me or treat me different. Everything felt normal again when we're together, I could tell him anything and feel okay about it... he's never left me behind before an' he just... did." While she was trying to pick and choose her explanation carefully, it was all coming out like word vomit, "He just left me there, alone." her mind still felt like she was there in that dark wood behind her aunt and uncle's house, searching through the trees for something familiar; running around blindly, never minding the sharp rocks and twigs under her bare feet trying to find any hint or flash of him in the darkness.

At some point, she must've fallen back into that memory, finding herself staring off towards the trees before she passed a look toward her housemate, "I don' know what I'm supposed t'do now. Ky is like my brother. We're suppose to take care of each other, look out for each other and protect each other... now I feel about as useful as a quill with no ink. I should be home, trying to find him."

Loras sniffed the other cat as well and Opeila warily side-eyed the two animals. Now Loras would either be friendly or she would remove him from the situation. He could be a rather rude little one. But there was no need to worry, Loras meowed again and sat down on the ground in front of Killian. Opeila was glad, it would be good for him to make some new friends.

But Illowy was the one Opeila cared the most about right now, so she let the cats do whatever they liked and focused on the older student, who had finally begun to talk to her. Her cousin had run away, he wasn't coming back to school this year. And Illowy was scared for him. Something tightened painfully in Opeila's chest and she took a deep breath. Yes. Yes, she knew exactly what that fear felt like.

Illowy went on about how he was disliked by many, but the only family who treated her decently. Opeila nodded. "You don't have to justify your feelings."
He had left her behind and Opeila knew at least one reason why that was what he had to do. The black marks on her housemate's face told a story that the two girls shared. Neither of them could leave, they were both trapped by a parasite inside their bodies.

"You wanna know what I think? I don't know your cousin, but if he's as much of an arse as you say he is, he's gonna get through it. Most arses are fighters with strong nerves. They know how to deal with people who react negatively to them. I believe that he is still out there." Opeila meant it.

She closed her mouth again, thinking for a moment. "My father is out there too, running from a wizard who wants to kill him. He's a policeman and an arse at times, which is why he is still alive too, he has to be. And when we're out of here, I'll look for him. And I'll help you find your cousin too, if you want. We're witches, I don't think there's much we can't do." She offered Illowy a weak smile.