The Screeching Letter: A Howler PV

Thoughts: ✕ | Dialogue: ✕

Irina has finally arrived to the Great Hall. She’d been at the charms class with professor Zoë Fresnel. After it, she'd passed all morning working at her assignment. She was exhausted. She do love books and parchments, but she is coming to the conclusion that she could live happily without homework. There’s magic everywhere, how’s possible not to learn things well…magically? She was on a sour mood, she’s always like that when she’s hungry. Hungry and sleepy, mornings are specially a terrible time for any sorts of life to interact with her, and at that moment she was feeling like that. She'd pass all night reading so she had little time to sleep.

When she got to the Slytherin table it was crowded with her fellow snakes, all eating and chatting loudly. Her head was hurting for the lack of sleeping and for have been so many hours concentrated on her homework. She choose to sit in the first place she got, not minded who she was siting next with, she don't even looked at anyone. Putting her school bag aside, like she was throwing a piece of garbage, she sit down leading her hands to her forehead closing her eyes for a minute, she needed to rest. When she was about to give herself some food the sound of flapping wings came to her. Soon the Great Hall was flooded with owls and the sight of dropping boxes and letters from their correspondents. Irina looked up trying to see her family Owl, Luna was her name, a lovely and friendly barn owl. When she saw Luna coming closer, that finally brought a smile to her face. She brought her the Daily Prophet and a muggle newspaper The Guardian, every time her dad sent her both sources of information, in his opinion she must be aware of what's happening in the world if she wants to become someone in her life. This time she got a letter too. She was on her way to pick it up when she heard someone screaming next to her. Looking at where the sound came from she realized it was an howler...

"THYMUS GENUS SYRINGA QUERCUS TIMEREY! HOW DARE YOU! I AM ABSOULUTELY disssssGUSTED! HOW DARE YOU YOU TRY TO GO TO THAT FALL BALL! I FORBID YOU TOO! YOU BETTER TELL JANEY WHAT'S HER FACE THAT YOU AREN'T GOING!!!!!! THIS IS ONLY A STUPID DISTRACTION AND UNESSCARY DRAWBACK FROM YOUR STUDIES! WHAT HAVE I TAUGHT YOU!?? FRIENDSHIP AND LOVE ONLY END in HURT AND MORE MORE PAIN! YOU INSOLENT FOOL! WHEN YOU GET BACK YOU WILL HAVE TWO YEARS OF CLEANING THE SEWERS! Because just like the sewers... YOU DISGUST ME!"

She was shocked, and stared at that howler astonished with what she was hearing...Who the hell is that women? she thought, the women in that letter was horrible, who would say such despicable things to an eleven year's old child? She felt outraged, with her mood at that moment if the women was there she would jinxed her if she could, even if she had no idea who she was. At the time, when all stopped, the black letter dropped into the plate under it, right on top of a watermelon slice. Irina looked then at the howler's receiver, it was that strange boy, the one who always keep his distance from everyone. She always thought him interesting though, even if for others he would seem weird. She was a weirdo herself...so maybe because of that she couldn't see him that way, interesting, is a more fitting description. The boy was looking down at the ripped letter, his face a deep red blush...she heard laughing and people making silly comments about it, she thought she had to say something at the boy, "I'm sorry for your watermelon..." she said in a quite voice leaning closer to him, so he could hear her over all the noise around them, "it definitely didn't received much love from that letter did it?" after saying this words she realized how could he interpret them, she didn't intended to judge the love from the person who wrote it for that boy. But...let's face it, she didn't intended, but it was true wasn't it? A person who says that must be detestable. Although she didn't wanted to hurt that boy, more then what he must be already, A charm class, and out of nothing, you think you are "Oh so charming" now? She bit her bottom lip trying to figure something else to say to make it sound better, that she wanted to make him feel less embarrassed..."here, you can have my plate" she said, putting another piece of watermelon on it "I'm not hungry you can have it!"She looked hopefully at the quite boy next to her. Please don't think I'm a weirdo she thought a little scared of what could be the dark haired boy reaction to her words, if he understood that she was just trying to be nice...

The letter tore itself up, the gust of wind coming from it gone leaving his hair messed-up. Everyone laughed and snickered. For once in his life, Thymus was embarrassed red crept to his face as he looked down at the ripped paper over all his watermelon. My watermelon, he thought. It's only a dance... I go to your fancy parties to dance all the time... Why is this anything different? This couldn't get any worse. He stood in the middle of haunting laughing faces... Until he wasn't.
"I'm sorry for your watermelon..." The girl next to him said in a quiet voice leaning closer to him, so Thymus could hear her, she had long, dark, curly hair. "It definitely didn't received much love from that letter did it?"
He laughed quietly looking at the watermelon.
"No... Not really," he replied quietly.
There was a silence between them admits the laughter around.
"Here, you can have my plate," she said, putting another piece of watermelon down. "I'm not hungry you can have it!"She looked at Thymus.
He laughed quietly, "No it's fine... I'm not very hungry any more either..."
There was another silence between them.
"But thank you..." He continued. "Aye, that's my aunt for ya... Umm... Thank you... For not laughing at me... Anyways... Im Thymus Genus Syringa Quercus Timerey... You can call me Quercy...Umm... Ever get a howler ? If you don't mind my asking... I think I've seen you around before, but you're usually reading or studying... And finally... why are you being nice to me?"
He looked to face the girl with a questioningly look on his faced, puzzled to say the least.
@Irina Sousa

Thoughts: ✕ | Dialogue: ✕

She couldn’t stop herself from feeling some relief after hearing him laughing a bit, at least her words did that…if it actually amused him or not she still had her doubts. He refused her plate with the watermelon slice on it. He said he wasn’t hungry neither and she thought that in his place she wouldn’t too. So she put her plate quietly dawn at the table, just turning towards him again when she heard him continue to speak to her. For her surprise he was asking questions about her…well, that’s something new, she couldn’t remember the last time someone had shown such interest. "Aye, that's my aunt for ya..." Did he said it was his...aunt? what a delightful women... what about his parents? haven't they nothing to say about the ways she talks to him? Then a frightful thought came to her mind...He doesn't have parents? That brought some sadness to her...what kind of fate leaves you alone with a aunt like that? She felt even more sympathetic towards the thin pale young boy next to her. Was this the reason he kept himself so reserved from others? She wouldn't be surprised if so.

He had thanking her for not laughing too...Well I can be a weirdo but I don't purposefully act like an idiot! she thought harshly, not sparing a sternly look at the students who were laughing close to them. She bit the inside of her cheek preventing those words to came out of her mouth.

"Im Thymus Genus Syringa Quercus Timerey... You can call me Quercy..." the boy had continued. Thym...what? Ok, ill keep to the next one, Quercy...yup definitely! She made a half smile when she thought of it. "Ever get a howler ? If you don't mind my asking... I think I've seen you around before, but you're usually reading or studying... And finally... why are you being nice to me?" When he finished he looked at her, she felt a little shy then...she still felt a little embarrassed when it comes to talk with new people. She felt her cheeks getting a little warm, a pinkish blush appeared down her dark hazel eyes. The outrage she felt at hearing that women's voice and the need for helping Quercy feel better, dissipated a little when her insecurities spoke louder again. It took a lot of willpower to keep her eyes on him while she was answering him, "Well that's quite a name isn't it? You not a common "Jonh Smith"...You're name seems of someone who will be in history books someday! Don't mind if I just stay with Quercy, would you?" she gave him a timid smile. "And no, I've never received an howler, to be franc never saw one until today." And why am I being nice to him? wasn't that obvious? She bit her bottom lip not sure what to answer to that last question..."And...and I'm being nice to you because..." She had to look away then, her pink cheeks were for sure getting into a deep red right now. She picked up her fork and started picking up some watermelon off her plate to keep her hands busy, to help her focus on what to say and also to give her an excuse and some time to think. Not leaving her gaze from her plate she quietly said, "Well I was being nice to you because it's the right way to be isn't it? I heard that howler and I thought I should try to make you feel better...I'm not a bad person you see?" Then she quickly glanced at him turning her gaze immediately towards her plate again. She felt the need to hide herself down the table...

"But thank you..." He continued. "Aye, that's my aunt for ya... Umm... Thank you... For not laughing at me... Anyways... Im Thymus Genus Syringa Quercus Timerey... You can call me Quercy...Umm... Ever get a howler ? If you don't mind my asking... I think I've seen you around before, but you're usually reading or studying... And finally... why are you being nice to me?"
He looked to face the girl with a questioningly look on his faced, puzzled to say the least.
Pink crept onto the girl's face obviously embarrassed. Oops.
"Well that's quite a name isn't it? You not a common "John Smith"...You're name seems of someone who will be in history books someday! Don't mind if I just stay with Quercy, would you?" she gave Thymus a shy smile. "And no, I've never received an howler, to be franc never saw one until today."
She complimented his name? Thats the first. He understood it was definitely as mouthful.
"And...and I'm being nice to you because..."
She ate a piece of watermelon, and there was a bit of silence between them as she ate. She stared at the plate as if it was going to fly away.
"Well I was being nice to you because it's the right way to be isn't it? I heard that howler and I thought I should try to make you feel better...I'm not a bad person you see?"
She took a quick glance at him before looking at her plate. So it was out of pity, I was just the loser, a charity case, makes sense though, everyone thinks Im a poor boy with a horrid aunt now. Thymus sighed, there was a silence between them, but at least she did it from the kindness of her heart.... Maybe she was only trying to comfort him, he would do the same for his cousin Alice, without a doubt.
"Well... Thank you, ummm... I appreciate your kindness..." He realised he didn't know her name. "Umm... Miss?..."
@Irina Sousa

Thoughts: ✕ | Dialogue: ✕

"Well... Thank you, ummm... I appreciate your kindness..." He told her "Umm... Miss?..." Of course! She almost hit her forehead with the palm of her hand... She forgot to tell him her name. "Where are you're manners?" She almost heard her mother's reproachful voice in her head. She turned again to the boy then "I'm sorry, I didn't meant to be rude...my name is Irina Meyer Sousa, not so fancy as yours I know!" She told him with an apologetic smile. "So... you live with your aunt? Is she always like that to you?" She looked at her plate again...was she being to nosy about it now? "I'm sorry if I did or said something wrong. It wasn't my intention!"

She was feeling her mouth getting dry with all the nervousness that she was feeling. She decided it was better to have a sip from her beverage. Pumpkin juice was her favorite drink. Honestly everything with pumpkin was delicious in her opinion. She cleared her throat and kept talking to him, hopefully to lightening the mood, "Where are you from? I was born and raised in London, like my father. But my mother is German and my father's family is from Portugal." She looked at him, at his dark eyes noticing now the circles beneath them. What could be the cause for his exhausted appearance? Was he feeling alright? She thought that she should ask...perhaps he's in need of help? Or just someone to talk too and feel better? "I really don't want to be nosy...but are you feeling alright? I mean..." She lost her words. It would be rude to state that she saw that he didn't looked okay, right?

"Well I was being nice to you because it's the right way to be isn't it? I heard that howler and I thought I should try to make you feel better...I'm not a bad person you see?"
She took a quick glance at him before looking at her plate. So it was out of pity, I was just the loser, a charity case, makes sense though, everyone thinks Im a poor boy with a horrid aunt now. Thymus sighed, there was a silence between them, but at least she did it from the kindness of her heart.... Maybe she was only trying to comfort him, he would do the same for his cousin Alice, without a doubt.
"Well... Thank you, ummm... I appreciate your kindness..." He realised he didn't know her name. "Umm... Miss?..."
The girl seemed to panic for a moment before turning to Thymus.
"I'm sorry, I didn't meant to be rude...my name is Irina Meyer Sousa, not so fancy as yours I know!" She said an apologetic smile. "So... you live with your aunt? Is she always like that to you?" Irina looked down at her plate. "I'm sorry if I did or said something wrong. It wasn't my intention!"
Did his aunt really seem that horrid?
"Nice to meet you Miss Sousa, My name is..." he realized he already said that. "Sorry, yes I live with my aunt, her name is Meredith... Well, she's only like that when she's mad... So no worries, you didn't say anything wrong... But yeah, she's uh... Just very strict, but she cares for me..."
He smiled a friendly smile whilst she took a sip of pumpkin juice, there was another awkward silence. Irina cleared her throat.
"Where are you from? I was born and raised in London, like my father. But my mother is German and my father's family is from Portugal."
"Aye, that's cool. My father was english, and my mum scottish... I live in dunure, scotland Aye it haes th' best beaches in th' world. Hee haw kin beat th' ocean... In mah opinion." he cleared his throat hoping to control his accent. "In short, I love Scotland. And I hear germany has great christmas, is that true?"
Irina looked at Thymus, obviously thinking about something. Another awkward silence.
"I really don't want to be nosy...but are you feeling alright? I mean..." she stopped mid-sentence trailing off embarrassed.
The silence this time was a little tense, are you feeling alright? what does that mean? People don't usually ask me that, not at all... His heart started to feel heavy, are you feeling alright. Thymus stood frozen his expression blank as he thought. Did... did he not look alright?... He looked down at the watermelon on his plate, the paper shredded up on top of it. Are you feeling alright? He suddenly laughed awkwardly fiddling with his hands, looking up at the ceiling.
"Ah uh- ah uh.... Sorry.... Umm..." He looked to face Irina, nervousness and stress laced in his voice. "Ah uh- ah uh.... Dinnae ken(understand) whit that means... Um... Ah uh... Kin ye expand oan that quaistion? ah uh.... Dinnae, haw, ken(understand)..."
@Irina Sousa

Thoughts: ✕ | Dialogue: ✕

She asked him if he was feeling alright and he just laughed looking at the Great Hall's ceiling...even if apparently looked like she had said something funny she knew she probably made the most difficult question to answer. She knew he was avoiding an honest reply to her. He looked nervous, a little to anxious to answer a simple question, or wasn't it that simple for him? The atmosphere among them was know more tense, he was clearly uncomfortable...God job Irina! she though ironically. "Ah uh- ah uh.... Sorry.... Umm...Ah uh- ah uh.... Dinnae ken(understand) whit that means... Um... Ah uh... Kin ye expand oan that quaistion? ah uh.... Dinnae, haw, ken(understand)..." He said looking at her. Honestly she felt lost there...she was trying to help and was not out of pity but she was actually concerned with him. What should I say? Everything that came out of my mouth seams to worsen everything... She was getting anxious too, some how he was influencing her getting nervous, and what she intended, was influencing him to feel some relief, some kind of support after what happened with the howler. Honesty...be honest it's what you can do she breathed slowly trying to clean her thoughts, "I saw the circles beneath your eyes I figured you could be feeling tired. Have you been sleeping and eating well?" Now you sound like your grandmother Maria! Good Merlin! she scolded herself in her thoughts "I know this first week was stressful, I feel exhausted too! I miss home, my cousin Rita, she's my best friend! She went to Beauxbaton! And two more things...about the beaches? May I disagree with you? I prefer calm waters with warm temperatures! And about Christmas in Germany well..." Now was her time to feel a little unsure of what to say..."I've never been there for Christmas...my mother and grandma don't have a close relationship. I've only been there a couple of times. But I love write to my grandma Greta, I always learn something with her letters." She looked hopefully to Thymus, have I done this right this time?

"I really don't want to be nosy...but are you feeling alright? I mean..." she stopped mid-sentence trailing off embarrassed.
The silence this time was a little tense, are you feeling alright? what does that mean? People don't usually ask me that, not at all... His heart started to feel heavy, are you feeling alright. Thymus stood frozen his expression blank as he thought. Did... did he not look alright?... He looked down at the watermelon on his plate, the paper shredded up on top of it. Are you feeling alright? He suddenly laughed awkwardly fiddling with his hands, looking up at the ceiling.
"Ah uh- ah uh.... Sorry.... Umm..." He looked to face Irina, nervousness and stress laced in his voice. "Ah uh- ah uh.... Dinnae ken(understand) whit that means... Um... Ah uh... Kin ye expand oan that quaistion? ah uh.... Dinnae, haw, ken(understand)..."
Irina breathed slowly.
"I saw the circles beneath your eyes I figured you could be feeling tired. Have you been sleeping and eating well?" Did I really look that tired? "I know this first week was stressful, I feel exhausted too! I miss home, my cousin Rita, she's my best friend! She went to Beauxbaton! And two more things...about the beaches? May I disagree with you? I prefer calm waters with warm temperatures! And about Christmas in Germany well... I've never been there for Christmas...my mother and grandma don't have a close relationship. I've only been there a couple of times. But I love write to my grandma Greta, I always learn something with her letters."
He smiled, she was only trying to be friendly she was awkward just like Thymus.
"Aye, ah hae a cousin tae, alice her name," he took a deep breath, "A'm an insomniac, that's th' ainlie reason... Cheers fur yer concern. Ah hawp ye git guid rest, aye, fowk drama, if ye dinnae hae it than yer truly doolally(crazy).... Ah see ye lik' reading, ony recommendations?" He smiled at her.
@Irina Sousa

"I saw the circles beneath your eyes I figured you could be feeling tired. Have you been sleeping and eating well? I know this first week was stressful, I feel exhausted too! I miss home, my cousin Rita, she's my best friend! She went to Beauxbaton! And two more things...about the beaches? May I disagree with you? I prefer calm waters with warm temperatures! And about Christmas in Germany well... I've never been there for Christmas...my mother and grandma don't have a close relationship. I've only been there a couple of times. But I love write to my grandma Greta, I always learn something with her letters." He finally smiled then! She felt relief...a weight left her heart and she was able to breath lightly again. The tense moment seamed to have vanished at last.
"Aye, ah hae a cousin tae, alice her name, A'm an insomniac, that's th' ainlie reason... Cheers fur yer concern. Ah hawp ye git guid rest, aye, fowk drama, if ye dinnae hae it than yer truly doolally(crazy).... Ah see ye lik' reading, ony recommendations?" He asked keeping his smile. She was most happy to be able to talk about books! She loves books and have someone to share and talk about them was one of her favorite things. "I like reading "The Famous Five" books, by Enid Blyton... have you heard of it? It's a muggle series, but I love reading its mysteries and adventures! What kinds of books do you enjoy to read?" She asked smiling and reaching for one of the Pumpkin Pastries.