Wandering Feet PV Dale Rivala Closed

"Did you see a lot of magical creatures back home?" he asked her. "It sounds like it was a wonderful place to live."

Fiona's smile dropped slightly "It really was a wonderful place to live . . . I wish my family hadn't decided to move" She confessed. As she looked over at Dale and saw how excited he was, Fiona mentally slapped herself 'don't start being a downer! he's actually enjoying his time with you!

She nervously cleared her throat before addressing his question "um . . . kind of, but nothing too exciting. Mostly just the everyday fairies and gnomes. . . Sometimes my mom or uncle would take me with on their patrols for work, but never anywhere too dangerous. She glanced back at Dale for a moment before quickly apologizing "Oh! I never mentioned what my family does career wise, I'm so sorry!"

She took a moment to collect her thoughts before explaining "Both my parents and uncle are magizoologist, those who study magical creatures. We actually lived in one of Scotlands largest national parks, Cairngorms, well my Uncle still does. Anyways, we were able to live in a national park because they work for the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. Dad mostly just did research and wrote reports at home, but mom and uncle were always out in the park, keeping track of the magical wildlife. They had to map out the locations and temperament of all magical creatures in the park, occasionally setting up muggle repellent spells around certain areas to keep muggles from getting harmed. . . mostly around Roran trees, fairies can get quite nasty. . . anyways, just a few years ago my mom recently got her specialist certification for marine magical wildlife. So that's why we moved to St Ives, England . . . it's right on the coast."

Fiona took a deep breath and apologized once again "I'm sorry, that was a bit long, I tend to ramble on some times."

Every day fairies and gnomes? Of course there are every day fairies and gnomes.

Dale was quickly coming to the realization that he wasn't going to be able to keep up in conversations like this if he didn't come clean about his heritage, or at least confide in someone that could help him with basic knowledge that he should have. He looked down at the floor and saw that his worrying was causing his hands to fidget, and he quickly shoved them into his pockets.

Dale nodded along as Fiona told him what her parents did and talked about Cairngorms. He had heard of Cairngorms, but had never actually been to Scotland himself. His own parents were always to busy to travel. Regardless, he was certain he never heard of any fairies being spotted in the national park. He guessed that meant Fiona's family did a good job of keeping the magical creatures kept away from the muggle world.

"No, it wasn't too long," Dale assured her as she finished her story. "It all sounds really brilliant! I'm sorry you had to move." He kicked himself, remembering the face she made when he inadvertently caused her to think of the move.

Change the subject!

"My family lives on the coast too," he offered. "But further up north. We're from Liverpool." He shook his head before continuing. "They didn't do anything as interesting as yours did, though. My parents are, um-" He paused. "They're just lawyers." He ran a hand through his messy hair, embarrassed by how boring his parents' jobs were compared to Fiona's.

Dale really was too kind, not minding her long explanations. She perked up a bit as he mentioned also living on the coast. Fiona wondered if he shared any of her same fears of the ocean, as she was about to ask him about that she noticed his discomfort. She watched him quizzically as he added that his parents were . . . lawyers?

Fiona pondered for a moment, she wasn't familiar with that term. All her parents ever talked about was work related stuff, her Uncle sometimes complained about other departments at the Ministry of Magic. Her cousins had talked about a couple different careers paths, but never mentioned anything that sounded like 'Lawyers' 'Come on Fi, think! you must have heard it somewhere ...' She began to panic a little, growing up so secluded prevented her from learning about a variety of jobs 'I have no idea what a lawyer is ... he's going to think I'm an idiot, that I live under a rock or something'

Fiona flushed with embarrassment, quickly looking away as she quietly confessed "um . . . I'm, I'm really sorry, but ... what exactly is a ... lawyer?"

Still looking away, she nervously began to play with a strand of her hair, praying he wouldn't be offended.

A wave of panic suddenly rushed through Dale's mind. Did lawyers really not exist in the magical world? What about courtrooms? What happened when someone broke the law? No, no, this was silly. They must have lawyers here. They probably just call them something different. But how was he supposed to guess what word to use?

As he felt his face begin to flush, Dale tried to force the red out of his cheeks with sheer willpower. "Um, you know. Lawyers, they-" He realized he's never had to explain what a lawyer was before. "When someone is accused of doing something bad, um, illegal? They help defend them in case they didn't actually do it. In a courtroom."

Dale looked down, unable to face Fiona and see her reaction. It wasn't even a lie, after all that was what lawyers did. But for some reason it felt like he was lying, which made Dale feel inexplicably ashamed. He felt Fiona was a friend, even if they had just met, and he never lied to his friends.

"They're both really good at it too," he said halfheartedly. "But, um- They're both always really busy, I've never left England because of it. Well, until now of course."

"oh! they work in the court!" Fiona grinned, trying to hide her lingering embarrassment "That's actually pretty cool, they must be rather fearless to stand up to the Wizengamot. I remember, when I was younger, my dad had to be on the jury one time. I have no idea what the trial was about, but I just remember him saying how cold hearted the chief warlock was."

Fiona noticed that Dale seemed a bit down. She knew that ministry jobs required a lot of time commitment, her parents were always busy too, but at least because of the field they were in a majority of their work was done at home. Even when they were busy though, she at least had her younger brother to play with, and her cousins lived close by.

Fiona felt bad, because of her stupid question, he was now remembering something sad. She paused by a window and faced her new friend. "You know ... I understand having parents that are too busy to take you places ... but we have our whole life ahead of us. We're only eleven, once you graduate you can go and do whatever you want!" Fiona assured him. She continued to give him a warm smile as she confided "I had never been out of Scotland until our move to St. Ives . . . and honestly, as much as I miss our cottage and dislike the ocean . . . I kind of appreciate that tourist town."

Fiona turned to look out the window, up at the clouds passing by as she continued "I saw so many different types of people, both wizards and muggles passing through. I would hear their stories about their travels or about their homes ... and it really filled me with a desire to see the world."

She chuckled as she joked "I think your parents will appreciate you 'defending your case' to go on a family vacation".

Dale breathed a sigh of relief as his explanation held up, grateful he hadn't used any other muggle words to describe what they do as he heard Fiona reference the Wizengamot and a chief warlock. He wondered if the library had any books on magical law. That would be something to write home to his parents about.

Dale realized Fiona was trying to cheer him up, and didn't realize why she felt the need to do so until he realized she thought he was upset about his parents and not the sort of lie. He berated himself for making his new friend feel that was her responsibility. Nevertheless, he couldn't help but smile as she spoke, glad that he now had a friend in Slytherin who was kind and understanding.

He really did have his whole life ahead of him, just like Fiona said. In fact, coming to Hogwarts had practically given him a new lease on life, getting him away from his parents and their demands for perfection and giving him the opportunity to explore whole new paths in life that were suddenly available to him. Hands in his pockets, he turned back out to the window as Fiona did the same.

"You're right," he said, laughing at her joke. "Maybe I'll talk to them in the summer about it!" He grinned again as he turned back to her. "I'm, um- I'm glad we're friends, Fiona," he said, feeling more than a little ridiculous.

Feeling the need to change the subject away from families and parents, he remembered something Fiona mentioned offhand. "So you don't like the ocean? I've always really liked it, especially the animals. Oh!" His eyes lit up. "Did you know there's a giant squid in the Great Lake?I heard you can see it sometimes through the windows in the common room!"

Fiona beamed "aww Dale, I'm really glad we're friends too!" She was so happy to finally have someone to talk and hang out with. Actually now that she thinks about it, Dale is the first actual friend that she's ever had "It's actually pretty nice having someone my own age around".'Before it was always just older cousins and a much younger brother she had to spend time with. A few months before coming to Hogwarts, she had finally started chatting with a few locals in her new town. It was all polite talk, nothing said to really bond over.

"So you don't like the ocean? I've always really liked it, especially the animals. Oh!" His eyes lit up. "Did you know there's a giant squid in the Great Lake?I heard you can see it sometimes through the windows in the common room!"

Fiona let out an amused sigh "well ... I mean, the ocean and the creatures are beautiful . . ." She contemplated for a moment "I guess it's mostly the smell . . . I don't really like smelling fish all the time. I'm use to . . . well the smells here at Hogwarts, Scotland. The air just smells clear, and the smallest scent of flowers and plants can easily be recognized.

She took a moment to enjoy an owl flying low over the treetops, as it headed towards the Owlery tower. Fiona then looked back at Dale as she admitted "Honestly, I went into the ocean once and nearly drowned. I know how to swim, at least in the lakes and rivers . . . but I went walking on the beach with my family one day. I started walking in the water, it was fun. Though before I realized it I was already waist deep. She knowingly raised her eyebrows at Dale, sure he could see where with was going "As I started to head back, a huge wave knocked me down. I stood back up, but before I could breathe another wave was already over me and the undertow pulled be farther out so I couldn't stand."

Fiona gave a nervous chuckled as she quickly added "I mean, my parents saw and started running for me as soon as the first wave knocked me down. I'm sure I was under for only a few seconds before my dad got me, but still ... it felt like a lifetime".

She then plastered on a huge smile as she tried to dispel the dark mood her story had set. Fiona then remembered Dale mentioning the Giant Squid. "Oh yeah! I've heard about the Giant Squid, supposedly he's rather gentle. . . Have you been able to see him from the common room?! I'll have to watch out for him next time I'm in there." She then asked "oh by the way, do you swim?"

Dale grinned as Fiona confirmed that they were, in fact, friends, sparing him any embarrassment he thought might be coming his way. Dale was an only child and while he knew he had cousins around his age, they live further away and he only saw them when they came to visit. He had had very few friends at school, though the ones he did have he had been very close to. He found himself missing them badly, and while this wasn't the first time he felt this way, it was the first time he knew that leaving them wouldn't suddenly mean constant loneliness.


Fiona's story about her brush with death quickly wiped the smile from his face. "That's so scary," he said, shivering as felt another draft of cold air waft through the corridor. "I can't imagine what that must have been like. I'm glad your parents were there when it happened."

Dale realized he was relieved somewhat as Fiona steered the conversation away from drowning, just now noticing how uncomfortable the thought of sinking underwater had made him. "No, I haven't seen him yet," he admitted shaking his head. "I keep looking too, I hope it's not just a rumor the older kids like to spread. And yes, I do swim, though not very strongly," he added, looking downward at his feet.

Fiona couldn't help but laugh "I'm sure it's not just a rumor . . . though his actual size might be exaggerated. We'll just have to be vigilant, and find out the truth!" Smiling, she started down the corridor again.

Even though Fiona was rather athletic, from always climbing trees, going on long hikes, and playing in the rivers and lakes, she reluctantly admitted "I'm not the strongest swimmer either . . . and with all the creatures in the Great Lake, I wouldn't be comfortable practicing out there" She paused by a door, quickly peeking inside "Just a closet" she muttered, before continuing "I've been told that some of the bathrooms here have massive baths! ... like, swimming pool size! It would be great to practice swimming in one of those."

She tried to remember exactly what her cousins told her about those baths, where they might be. 'Was it the seventh floor? By the Gryffindor common room? . . . no, that doesn't seem right. Though they did tease her about the entrance being hidden or something, similar to the house common rooms' Fiona sighed, she was hoping to impress Dale with all her knowledge about the school. She was lucky that her older cousins Lachlan and Lewis told her so many stories, but she began to wonder how many of those stories were actually true. 'I'm probably better off just mentioning the things mom and dad told me' She thought disappointingly.

Dale hoped Fiona was right. All of a sudden he wanted to seek out the giant squid more than anything, but they still needed to finish the task in front of them: Finding their classrooms before classes started. Dale followed quickly behind as Fiona started moving along, keeping an eye out for any interesting rooms they passed.

"There are baths that large here?" Dale knew that had to be a prank. From what he understood, it was common practice even in muggle schools to trick the younger kids in thinking there was a large swimming pool somewhere on the property. Dale had almost been convinced that one existed on the rooftop of his own school. He had been caught trying to find a way up there to see for himself, and never managed to find proof one way or another. He was certain though that it had been a lie. Nonetheless, he still found himself wanting to believe the ones at Hogwarts did exist.

"That would be really incredible to see! And probably safer too," he agreed.

He sighed, disappointed, as the room Fiona opened turned out to be a closet. "Maybe there aren't any classes on this floor," he wondered. "It does seem pretty empty." Dale shrugged as he pressed on down the corridor. He tried the next door down, only for it to be locked. "I wonder what's back there."