A Moment To Catch My Breath PV Charlie Finished

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T oday had been an alright day. Classes were alright and the weather was good. A perfect day to get outside before the cold weather of winter. I grabbed the first backpack I saw which was happened to be a small grey one. I grabbed three unopened chocolate frogs, and a tin of bernies bot’s along with the current book my friend Ava had told me to read. I fit everything in the backpack, and went down stairs.

It was hard for me to make it down the stairs, as it took a really long time.

When I finally made it all the way downstairs, I went right for the doors and out on to the lawn. I began walking down the path, and on the grass that was slowly dying. It was pretty nice out as I headed down to the lake. I kept my eyes open for anyone I knew but, I didn’t see anyone. I began walking to the rock I usually sat on when I spotted a girl with familiar dirty blond hair laying on a checkerboard blanket.

I made my way over and plopped down on the corner of my friends blanket. “Hey Ava! Nice to see you. What are you up to? I was planning to read the book you gave me.”

10/17/22 • ava speaking • others speaking • mood: good

The average person would shy away from the thick books that are Keeper of the Lost Cities, but not Charlie. When I had earlier that year convinced her to start reading them, she had agreed, looking more excited than scared. I was thrilled that I would have another person to share my newfound love with. The series was just so great. I had seen a flyer earlier that week and was determined to finish all the books before the first meeting. Just because the meeting was in a few months didn’t mean it was to early to start reading. Before I opened my book a familiar girl waved to me.

“Charlie!” I stood up, my book flying off my lap, loosing my page. In my excitement I didn’t notice. She said something, but I’m my excitement I spoke over her. “How are you?” I asked as she sat down on the blanket. I blushed. “Sorry, you go first.” I moved the snacks toward her discreetly, not wanting to be the only one with my mouth full of snacks. When they were near enough to her to be noticed I stopped and took a chocolate frog for myself. When I opened it I was surprised to find a silver card, my first. “Solomon Lear,” I read, frowning in concentration. “Isn’t he the headmaster?” I asked Charlie, showing her the card that held an old man deep in thought. He had a silver beard and wore a silver chestplate. An odd choice of clothes, but I wouldn’t say that aloud.

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I couldn’t believe that Ava was here. Well, I could, we were at the same school and all. We both spoke at the same time, and before I could tell her to go first, she told me to go first. “I’m good! Classes have been pretty good, and so far the book you gave me is good. I’m only on the second chapter though.” I said. While I was talking Ava had been snacking and slowly pushing a pile of snacks to me.

I grabbed some of the Bernie’s Botts and began munching on them. Ava was ripping open a chocolate frog, and I thought back to about a month ago, when I met her on the train. She was clueless about the wizarding world, but I helped her. I was her friend, and she was mine.

The card was apparently Solomon Lear, our current headmaster. He was an older man, who always wore armor. “Hey Ava, do you know why he always wears armor?” I asked my friend. “It’s not like we are fighting in a war everyday,” I added. “Like Dumbledore wore nice robes, and such,” I concluded.

Looking back at the snacks, I noticed some american muggle things. “Ava, are those muggle snacks? If so can I have one? It feels like it’s been ten years since I’ve had one.”
I asked quietly.

10/17/22 • ava speaking • others speaking • mood: good

Charlie seemed as shocked to see me as I was to see her. I grinned happily, glad that she seemed to have missed me.

“I’m good! Classes have been pretty good, and so far the book you gave me is good. I’m only on the second chapter though.” She said, accepting the snacks I had pushed to her. She took some Every Flavour Beans I had been to chicken to try for the most part. “What classes are you liking?” I asked, grabbing a chocolate frog.

“Hey Ava, do you know why he always wears armor?” She asked, examining the card. “To protect him from the students!” I joked, making a face. I tossed it aside and worked on wrestling the chocolate frog towards my mouth, finally managing to take a bit of the head before it kept from my hands. I shook my head and let out a hearty laugh. It felt great to laugh out in the open autumn air.

“Ava, are those muggle snacks? If so can I have one? It feels like it’s been ten years since I’ve had one.” Charlie eyed the Goldfish and Cheez-Its hungrily. I grinned. These were some old the last of my snacks from home that hadn’t gone stale. “Yup, muggle snacks.” not home snacks. Muggle snacks. I glanced away for a moment but quickly put a smile back on my face. These were the things I needed to start adjusting to. Everyday came with its own challenges. “Take as many as you’d like!”

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Ava was asking me what classes I was liking. That was tricky. I didn’t like any of the ones that involved textbooks or writing long essays, so that eliminated a little over half of the subjects. I actually enjoyed Defense Against the Dark Arts, because, well, we learned some nice spells in there. “Hmmm I don’t really know. Defense Against the Dart Arts is pretty fun to me, and Flying. Potions is hard, as you know.” I told Ava, even though we are in the same potions and made a big mess at the beginning of the year.

Ava was actually kinda funny. “Hahaha yeah. But still, he could wear something else for once…” My thoughts wandered away, and I began imagining a baby solomon wearing little armor. “What if he started wearing it as a kid, and like never stopped wearing it?” I wondered.

Ava told me that I could have as many snacks as I like. I might have taken all of them, but I decided to be nice and only take a few. I selected a bag of cheez-its and ripped the bag open. I took a deep breath of the salty and cheesy scent that I loved. It was sooo good. I slowly began snacking on the cheez-its, savoring every bite.

10/17/22 • ava speaking • others speaking • mood: good

Charlie didn’t seem sure what class was her favorite, but I already had one in mind. When she finally answered she decided on DADA, Flying and Potions. I nodded, each one seeming plausible—except maybe the potions. On our first day of class we had been working together to create a potion and it ended up everywhere, which was mostly my fault, but still. That class definitely ranked low on my class scale.

”What else would he wear? A clown suit?” I widened my eyes in mock horror. “He must not own any other clothes, eh?” I had only seen the headmaster during dining times, but he was always wearing the silver armor. “Oh! What if it’s to ward off evil spririts?” She held up her arms and made moaning noises, making herself laugh at her own joke. When I finally recovered from my laugh I responded to Charlie’s comment about having worn it since a baby. “then one things for sure: it stinks!” She scrunched up her face and stuck her tongue out.

Charlie seemed to be enjoying the snacks, so I took a long look around to see what else we could do on this afternoon. There was the castle: no too plain. The lake, well I had other plans for it later. The grounds: eh, a walk on the grounds sounded boring. And the forbidden forest. “Hey Charlie, you see that? The forest?” My eyes got a familiar shine of mischief.

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A clown suit!?! “Of course he’ll wear a clown suit!” I said, my voice overflowing with sarcasm. I imagined Solomon in a clown suit and giggled. “A clown suit of armor,” I said with amazement. “Now it will scare off the ghosts,” I said and then made spooky ghost noises.

Just then, Ava was suggesting that we go in to the forbidden forest. Personally, I didn’t think it was a good idea, because, well it was called the forbidden forest. It was forbidden to students. “Ava! We could get detention for this! Are you sure?” I whisper grumbled. “I love some adventuring, but I’m not sure this is a good idea.” I told her. “Yes, I love the idea, but I’m not so sure.” I began thinking and wondering if I should even be doing this.

I opened my book and began reading about Sophie Foster, a freaky twelve year old girl who is already in high school. A boy shows up on her school trip and he tell’s her that they are different.

The book was actually pretty interesting, so I grabbed one of my own chocolate frogs and ripped it open. But not before I placed two others on Ava’s snack tray.

10/17/22 • ava speaking • others speaking • mood: good

She seemed cool with my joking so I continued, trying to hold in my laugh. “Think he’d look good in the clown outfit?” I pretended to ponder deeply. “All we’d need to do is dye his hair red!” I pretended to fall over with this new realization.

“Scare off the ghosts it will. And the ladies,” I added with a wink. I pretended to look horrified for a moment before opening another chocolate frog. It was a bronze card, some drummer in a wizard int band. I tossed it aside and swiftly brought the wiggling frog to my mouth. Eating it in one bite, I added a handful of goldfish to my mouthful.

She seemed cool with the idea of us sneaking into the forest. I grinned. “We only get detention if we get caught!” Chances were we would get caught… I shook the thought off and refocused on our conversation. I studied her for a moment, and caught the flash of uncertainty in her gaze. “Puh-leasee?” I begged, jutting my bottom lip out into a pout. I promised myself that even if she didn’t agree I would go by myself.

She opened a book up and began reading and I shrugged. “Meet me in the forest in an hour. You’ll need to return all this to me either way.” I stood up and left her with my stuff, silently praying she wouldn’t mind my playful method to guarantee her coming.

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We were just dinking around. “Hmmm…” I pondered. “Oh my gosh! The red hair makes it even better,” I said laughing and picturing it. Ava flopped down on the blanket, and we both just had a moment and laughed together.

I laughed even more, “Omg yes!” I said in between laughs.

Ava actually seemed serious about going in the forbidden forest. “Avaaaaa I don’t want another detentionnnn,” I groaned. “But we are gonna get caught,” I told her seriously. She began begging me with a pouty lip. I’m serious Ava… Winchect. The anwser is no.”

I don’t really know why I started to read, but when she left me with her stuff… “AVA!!” I yelled, and threw my book on the ground. I ran closer to the castle and looked for her. She was gone. Where had she gone anyway?

I returned to her stuff and threw everything in her backpack. I found a scrap paper in the front pouch, and an old muggle pen, so I scribble a note for her.

I folded the scrap in half and got up. It was time to figure out what the heck to do with this stuff.

Charlie has left this thread. | Continued here.