2 Aug 2018, 18:24
Reflections of a Cataclysm
Charlie was a Wizard.
Well... should have been a wizard, more accurately. Sitting in the empty compartment, Maisy stared out the window, watching students scurry to the train as time pressed closer and closer to Eleven O'Clock. Soon enough, the Hogwarts Express would pull free from Platform 9 3/4s and Maisy would leave the Muggle world behind until Christmas. And for the first time in entire life - and certainly since discovering last year that she was a witch - she was glad for it.
Her parents had lied. Lied to them all, and Charlie... poor Charlie had to find out the hard way. She'd thought at first his attitude change had something to do with his new girlfriend or maybe fear of finishing school and starting life as a responsible grown up, but when the tension had come to a cataclysmic end shortly after Maisy returned from her stay at Constantine's, no one had expected to hear what the six-monnth fury had actually been about.
Maisy wasn't the first magical being in their house... Not even close. And they had kept it from him. Kept it from all of them. And he had never learned, never understood the strange things he felt and the weird circumstances that would happen around him. Never got to experience the majesty of Hogwarts, of owning a wand, and of Owls and magical appearing food and House Elves and talking portraits. He'd had to watch Maisy all summer, sputtering on about Crups and the Whomping Willow and trying to find a magical way to make electronics work. And it must have broken his heart...
It broke Maisy's... for sure.
Fear, that was what they claimed it was. Fear of what people might think. Fear of something bad happening to Charlie. They'd hid his letter... written back to say Charlie wouldn't be going to Hogwarts... and he never, ever knew. And she had to wonder, of course, what would have happened if she hadn't been the one to find her own letter in the mail. Would they have hidden it from her, too? She'd asked, and of course, they had no satisfying answer. Adults rarely ever did. But it didn't matter. The truth came out and everything... absolutely everything was a mess.
Drying her eyes with the back of her hands, Maisy pushed away from the window and sighed. In a few hours, she'd be back at Hogwarts, back with her friends... with Constantine and Eevee and John. And maybe, just maybe, she could get through the year without falling apart, entirely.
Well... should have been a wizard, more accurately. Sitting in the empty compartment, Maisy stared out the window, watching students scurry to the train as time pressed closer and closer to Eleven O'Clock. Soon enough, the Hogwarts Express would pull free from Platform 9 3/4s and Maisy would leave the Muggle world behind until Christmas. And for the first time in entire life - and certainly since discovering last year that she was a witch - she was glad for it.
Her parents had lied. Lied to them all, and Charlie... poor Charlie had to find out the hard way. She'd thought at first his attitude change had something to do with his new girlfriend or maybe fear of finishing school and starting life as a responsible grown up, but when the tension had come to a cataclysmic end shortly after Maisy returned from her stay at Constantine's, no one had expected to hear what the six-monnth fury had actually been about.
Maisy wasn't the first magical being in their house... Not even close. And they had kept it from him. Kept it from all of them. And he had never learned, never understood the strange things he felt and the weird circumstances that would happen around him. Never got to experience the majesty of Hogwarts, of owning a wand, and of Owls and magical appearing food and House Elves and talking portraits. He'd had to watch Maisy all summer, sputtering on about Crups and the Whomping Willow and trying to find a magical way to make electronics work. And it must have broken his heart...
It broke Maisy's... for sure.
Fear, that was what they claimed it was. Fear of what people might think. Fear of something bad happening to Charlie. They'd hid his letter... written back to say Charlie wouldn't be going to Hogwarts... and he never, ever knew. And she had to wonder, of course, what would have happened if she hadn't been the one to find her own letter in the mail. Would they have hidden it from her, too? She'd asked, and of course, they had no satisfying answer. Adults rarely ever did. But it didn't matter. The truth came out and everything... absolutely everything was a mess.
Drying her eyes with the back of her hands, Maisy pushed away from the window and sighed. In a few hours, she'd be back at Hogwarts, back with her friends... with Constantine and Eevee and John. And maybe, just maybe, she could get through the year without falling apart, entirely.
3 Aug 2018, 22:00
Reflections of a Cataclysm
Clarisse, having dropped off her trunks and bags and multitude of things, had expected the walk through the Hogwarts Express to be less overwhelming. After all, there was so much happening last year. She was starting a new school. Heading to learn magic. In a train full of wizards and witches she would be living with. Her emotions had been high, not only with excitement but worry - worry if she would miss home, like it there, do well, find friends. Her entire body had been racing with adrenaline so surely the second time around, she'd have this under control.
But somehow, it was even worse. She had had her first taste of it and it was beckoning her back like a large slice of chocolate cake. The familiarity was what did it for her this time. She was elated.
The girl peered from compartment to compartment, searching for people to join. There were people she wanted to see, particularly, but she was in the sort of mood where she could really join anyone if they looked friendly enough.
Or looked like they needed someone to join them.
The girl in the compartment was crying. Clarisse paused outside to let her dry her eyes. Once she sensed that she wouldn't walk into a too fragile moment, she slid the door open, slipping in.
Clarisse wasn't the type to comfort. She wasn't good at it, that was why. She wanted to help, but she didn't know how to, so normally, she ran the other direction when someone was in tears. Hogwarts was really bringing out a different side to her.
"Hey," she smiled, rummaging in her pocket to pull out a bag of chocolate raisins. They weren't exactly magical, but it didn't mean they weren't tasty. "Want one?" Starting with food was always good. Extending the packet towards her, Clarisse took the seat opposite. "These aren't taken, are they? I can leave if you want. I thought... Is everything alright?"
But somehow, it was even worse. She had had her first taste of it and it was beckoning her back like a large slice of chocolate cake. The familiarity was what did it for her this time. She was elated.
The girl peered from compartment to compartment, searching for people to join. There were people she wanted to see, particularly, but she was in the sort of mood where she could really join anyone if they looked friendly enough.
Or looked like they needed someone to join them.
The girl in the compartment was crying. Clarisse paused outside to let her dry her eyes. Once she sensed that she wouldn't walk into a too fragile moment, she slid the door open, slipping in.
Clarisse wasn't the type to comfort. She wasn't good at it, that was why. She wanted to help, but she didn't know how to, so normally, she ran the other direction when someone was in tears. Hogwarts was really bringing out a different side to her.
"Hey," she smiled, rummaging in her pocket to pull out a bag of chocolate raisins. They weren't exactly magical, but it didn't mean they weren't tasty. "Want one?" Starting with food was always good. Extending the packet towards her, Clarisse took the seat opposite. "These aren't taken, are they? I can leave if you want. I thought... Is everything alright?"
Character Page Sta1, Agi5, Str1, Con10, Arc7, Acc6
5 Aug 2018, 18:27
Reflections of a Cataclysm
Maisy didn't expect she would be alone for long, as most of the compartments filled up fairly quickly once the train got ready to depart. But she had expected a few more seconds of privacy, to pull herself together and compose herself before she was interrupted. Yet the door slid opened and Maisy was met by a vaguely uncomfortable looking girl who, after a moment, dug into her pocket and pulled out a snack.
Sniffing, her cheeks colored pink from embarrasment, Maisy shook her head, "Thanks, but I'm alright." They had gone to eat before coming to the station... A breakfast rife with uncomfortable silence and tension.
"Please..." She answered, and politely, she gestured to the bench across from her with a nod, "Guess there's no real point pretending I'm alright..." She said with a watery laugh, "It was just a long summer, and I never thought I'd be so glad to be going back to school."
She would miss her family, of course. For all her parents had done, they'd meant well, and wounds would heal, but it was still an odd feeling, compared to her hesitancy last year, to be anxiously awaiting the lurch of the train, pulling away from her complicated life back home.
"I'm Maisy..." She added, extending a hand, "Maisy Dane."
Sniffing, her cheeks colored pink from embarrasment, Maisy shook her head, "Thanks, but I'm alright." They had gone to eat before coming to the station... A breakfast rife with uncomfortable silence and tension.
"Please..." She answered, and politely, she gestured to the bench across from her with a nod, "Guess there's no real point pretending I'm alright..." She said with a watery laugh, "It was just a long summer, and I never thought I'd be so glad to be going back to school."
She would miss her family, of course. For all her parents had done, they'd meant well, and wounds would heal, but it was still an odd feeling, compared to her hesitancy last year, to be anxiously awaiting the lurch of the train, pulling away from her complicated life back home.
"I'm Maisy..." She added, extending a hand, "Maisy Dane."
6 Aug 2018, 07:34
Reflections of a Cataclysm
The girl was polite but her face was tinged with embarrassment that made Clarisse wonder if she had made the right decision. Perhaps she should have waited some more before entering. Perhaps she shouldn't have entered at all.
But it was too late now to not do anything but take the seat. Trying to make herself as comfortable as possible, she leant back, plastering a smile on her face.
Maybe she shouldn't be smiling? Clarisse tried to tone it back down.
The girl gave a half answer that the Ravenclaw didn't like. It offered suggestions but avoided the main subject, which only made her more curious. A long summer wasn't reason to start crying. Something had happened. Clarisse's curiosity urged her to ask - but thankfully her uncomfortableness held her back from prying too far into a stranger's private life.
Instead, she focused on Hogwarts. "I don't think I know anyone who isn't glad to be going back. Myself including. After all, it's... Well, it's Hogwarts!" She pushed out a smile, this time actually feeling it. Thinking of the castle made her feel good, she realised. Because it had become another home to her.
And to Maisey too. Clarisse took her hand (having pocketed the chocolate raisins before hand) and gave her own name. "Clarisse. Mosse. Clarisse Mosse, nice to meet you." Clarisse lingered for a moment, not sure what she was meant to follow with. "You're a second year, right? Like me?"
But it was too late now to not do anything but take the seat. Trying to make herself as comfortable as possible, she leant back, plastering a smile on her face.
Maybe she shouldn't be smiling? Clarisse tried to tone it back down.
The girl gave a half answer that the Ravenclaw didn't like. It offered suggestions but avoided the main subject, which only made her more curious. A long summer wasn't reason to start crying. Something had happened. Clarisse's curiosity urged her to ask - but thankfully her uncomfortableness held her back from prying too far into a stranger's private life.
Instead, she focused on Hogwarts. "I don't think I know anyone who isn't glad to be going back. Myself including. After all, it's... Well, it's Hogwarts!" She pushed out a smile, this time actually feeling it. Thinking of the castle made her feel good, she realised. Because it had become another home to her.
And to Maisey too. Clarisse took her hand (having pocketed the chocolate raisins before hand) and gave her own name. "Clarisse. Mosse. Clarisse Mosse, nice to meet you." Clarisse lingered for a moment, not sure what she was meant to follow with. "You're a second year, right? Like me?"
Character Page Sta1, Agi5, Str1, Con10, Arc7, Acc6
8 Aug 2018, 00:46
Reflections of a Cataclysm
In truth, Maisy would have been glad to go back, even without her family's issues... But there was something more solemn about her urgency this time round, and it hurt to think on. Would they heal? Or would it be like Constantine's sister... Would Charlie pull away until she never heard from him again? Until it was like she'd never known him at all.
Biting hard on her cheek, she shifted in her seat, eyes moving to the window for an excuse to hide the tears that reformed. With a lurch, the train began to move and she was glad for the momentary distraction, to compose herself.
At Clarisse's question, Maisy looked back, and managed a small, uneasy smile, "I am, yeah. Wild to think how fast last year went. Feels like I just got my owl and already, second year. What house are you in? I'm in Slytherin, myself. It's not as bad as I expected, though... It can be a bit rough for a Muggleborn like me. Still... I was really scared when I first got sorted. Though if I'm honest, I'd much rather be a Hufflepuff. My best friend is one. And my other is Ravenclaw. I'm not smart enough for all that, though... Oof. Sorry." With a brighter smile, she sat back, "Mum says I could talk the ears off a stalk of corn."
Biting hard on her cheek, she shifted in her seat, eyes moving to the window for an excuse to hide the tears that reformed. With a lurch, the train began to move and she was glad for the momentary distraction, to compose herself.
At Clarisse's question, Maisy looked back, and managed a small, uneasy smile, "I am, yeah. Wild to think how fast last year went. Feels like I just got my owl and already, second year. What house are you in? I'm in Slytherin, myself. It's not as bad as I expected, though... It can be a bit rough for a Muggleborn like me. Still... I was really scared when I first got sorted. Though if I'm honest, I'd much rather be a Hufflepuff. My best friend is one. And my other is Ravenclaw. I'm not smart enough for all that, though... Oof. Sorry." With a brighter smile, she sat back, "Mum says I could talk the ears off a stalk of corn."
15 Aug 2018, 08:04
Reflections of a Cataclysm
Another second year. It was crazy to think how big this school was, how there was students her age she had never even met before. Already she could think up handfuls whose names she didn't know. There must have been so many unknown faces too. Coming from a small muggle primary school, where she had known everyone her age and the year below and probably below that too, this was crazy. She just hadn't realised it until now.
"Yeah, it's crazy that we're already here," she mumbled in reply, fixated more on her thoughts. Was it her who didn't know people? Perhaps everyone else knew everyone?
The other had gone off rambling too, only it was aloud and Clarisse should have been listening. Luckily, a few choice moments stood out T. She giggled at her last statement, then added: "A muggleborn in Slytherin? I thought only purebloods could get in." She paused for a second, trying to remember what she had read. "You must be crazily ambitious or something right?" Either that, or she was wrong, and she hoped she was wrong.
Maisey had offered a million bits of information on what she thought of all the houses and what she knew and Clarisse wasn't certain she could say anything to that. Or rather, that she wanted to. After all, a number of Slytherins that she met hadn't been friendly (at least to Oliver anyway) and it didn't seem to be a nice thing to tell a girl from that house.
Instead, she focused on her own house. "I'm from Ravenclaw, the better house," she stated, with a smile on her lips as she described it playfully, "And actually you don't have to be smart. Apparently. You can be creative or just appreciate knowledge properly. Something like that." Clarisse was smart. But there were plenty of Ravenclaws she knew that weren't, so it was best to dispel that myth now.
A question was itching at her. " So apparently, you guys sleep in the dungeons?" Clarisse gave a shudder at the thought.
"Yeah, it's crazy that we're already here," she mumbled in reply, fixated more on her thoughts. Was it her who didn't know people? Perhaps everyone else knew everyone?
The other had gone off rambling too, only it was aloud and Clarisse should have been listening. Luckily, a few choice moments stood out T. She giggled at her last statement, then added: "A muggleborn in Slytherin? I thought only purebloods could get in." She paused for a second, trying to remember what she had read. "You must be crazily ambitious or something right?" Either that, or she was wrong, and she hoped she was wrong.
Maisey had offered a million bits of information on what she thought of all the houses and what she knew and Clarisse wasn't certain she could say anything to that. Or rather, that she wanted to. After all, a number of Slytherins that she met hadn't been friendly (at least to Oliver anyway) and it didn't seem to be a nice thing to tell a girl from that house.
Instead, she focused on her own house. "I'm from Ravenclaw, the better house," she stated, with a smile on her lips as she described it playfully, "And actually you don't have to be smart. Apparently. You can be creative or just appreciate knowledge properly. Something like that." Clarisse was smart. But there were plenty of Ravenclaws she knew that weren't, so it was best to dispel that myth now.
A question was itching at her. " So apparently, you guys sleep in the dungeons?" Clarisse gave a shudder at the thought.
Character Page Sta1, Agi5, Str1, Con10, Arc7, Acc6
17 Aug 2018, 23:18
Reflections of a Cataclysm
It did seem strange how quickly time was passing... But Maisy supposed that had a lot to do with how chaotic things had been the year prior. Finding out she was a witch had been only the beginning of the insanity. Between bullies and flaming ballrooms and masked menaces prowling the hallways, it had been quite a year. And punctuated by family drama, it was amazing to think of all that had fit into the time between getting her letter and now.
"Oh, goodness!" She laughed suddenly, at the Ravenclaw girl's suggestion that only purebloods were accepted into Slytherin, shaking her head, "I'm sure some of them wish that were the case, but no. Really anyone can be in Slytherin. I wouldn't say I'm terribly ambitious, though. I dunno... Maybe in some ways. But I think sometimes the Hat chooses what we don't expect because it knows something we don't. Maybe I'm in Slytherin to prove they're not all a punch of loony evil jerks."
And to add to her point, Clarisse noted not everyone in Ravenclaw was a perfect genius, "Maybe the houses are all different than we really think..."
She laughed again when Clarisse continued, nodding, "We do, but it's not as creepy as it sounds. It's actually really kind of pretty. We're beneath the lake and you can actually sometimes see stuff swim by through the windows... It is cold though, especially in winter. Where do the Ravenclaw sleep? I bet it's really neat!"
"Oh, goodness!" She laughed suddenly, at the Ravenclaw girl's suggestion that only purebloods were accepted into Slytherin, shaking her head, "I'm sure some of them wish that were the case, but no. Really anyone can be in Slytherin. I wouldn't say I'm terribly ambitious, though. I dunno... Maybe in some ways. But I think sometimes the Hat chooses what we don't expect because it knows something we don't. Maybe I'm in Slytherin to prove they're not all a punch of loony evil jerks."
And to add to her point, Clarisse noted not everyone in Ravenclaw was a perfect genius, "Maybe the houses are all different than we really think..."
She laughed again when Clarisse continued, nodding, "We do, but it's not as creepy as it sounds. It's actually really kind of pretty. We're beneath the lake and you can actually sometimes see stuff swim by through the windows... It is cold though, especially in winter. Where do the Ravenclaw sleep? I bet it's really neat!"