The Quiet Girl PV Ruby Cazares Closed

Ruby was already seated on the chair that happened to be nearest to Min-seo. She was a girl of roughly average height with brown hair in a plait down her back, pretty blue eyes, and a skin tone that was a variation of white. She sat straight-backed and carried herself with a natural air of sharp intelligence, confidence, sophistication, and something else – something strong. Maybe it was passion, maybe power, maybe ambition or determination, or maybe even all four, but it would be hard to tell with a single look. Ruby wasn't very aware of the way she appeared to others, although people had made comments on her "air" before. To her, it wasn't something she had practiced, but instead something that came to her naturally and felt normal. It had been this way for most of Ruby's life, and it didn't tell other people anything in particular that she wouldn't want them to know, so she kept it.

Ruby loved books and libraries. The library was one of her favorite places, and she had many different purposes in coming here that varied with the specific visit. By nature, she was analytical, observant, and calculating, and so she would instantly analyze anyone that came in and then remember that information for later. When she spotted the Slytherin crest on the robes of a girl who walked in and started looking for a book near Ruby, she watched that girl carefully. The other Slytherin seemed to be a fellow first year, judging by her looks and mannerisms, and she didn't seem to notice Ruby either when she chose a seat and sat down.

Ruby saw that the girl was reading Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them – a book that Ruby also liked. She didn't want to disturb the girl's reading, particularly, but she did want to talk to her. Eventually, she decided that she would wait for a moment, and so she looked back down at her own book. She had a book open that she was reading – it was one a friend recommended – but she also had her sketchbook with her and open too. This was full of many of her drawings, all the ones she had done since 2018 started. Next to her was a small bundle of pencils held together with a rubber band – simple, but effective. She was working on a drawing that she hadn't quite finished. It was of a snake, but it wasn't simple at all. In fact, it was quite complex and very detailed, and there were lots of scales and shading.

Ruby quickly masked her surprise at the girl seeing her drawing. She had only shown a few of them to a couple of people, and that was it. She had nothing really to compare her drawing skill to, and she didn't know or realize how good she was. She looked at the girl carefully. “Thank you. I... don't really have anything to compare my drawings to, and I'm not sure what people's standard of "good" is, but I appreciate it.” Ruby decided to say that because it was the truth and she wanted to see how the girl reacted. “What's your name?”

The girl seemed nice enough, with her smiles and giggles and her book, but Ruby hoped that she wasn't one of those silly, ditzy girls. However, Ruby seriously doubted that that was the case. The girl's soft tone and her words seemed to prove that she wasn't. Ruby wanted to ask the girl many more questions than just "what's your name", but she didn't want to overwhelm her, and a name was a good thing to start off with. A name could give a lot of information about a person – or, rather, their family, specifically their parents. Ruby looked at the girl and waited for a response.

Nope. Definitely not ditzy. This girl – Min-seo, she said her name was – was kind in a quiet, soft way. Ruby wondered if the other Slytherin could be a potential ally or friend. She thought that she could surely get Min-seo to be her ally and maybe trick her into being a friend if she had to. Then again, Ruby could just be genuine…

“I'm glad you understand, thank you for clarifying for me. How long have you been singing and dancing for? My name's Ruby Cazares, and I'm also a first year,” she replied with a smile. She had included her last name – something she hadn't been doing much of recently for… various reasons.

Ruby thought of the compliments Min-seo had given her drawing. They made her feel a bit happier and warmer inside, like she was doing something right among all these wrongs. Did Min-seo like art in general then…? She must have had some artistic experience in order to give Ruby the feedback. Ruby looked back down at the snake on her page. She knew she had improved a lot since she started drawing more frequently over the years. Was Min-seo being genuine or just kind? Part of Ruby wanted to offer the other girl her drawing. She decided that she would do it. That way, Min-seo would have something to remind her of Ruby when their conversation ended, and so they would be likely to meet again. Besides, if the other Slytherin didn't actually like the drawing, then it could be easily disposed of.

Ruby made up her mind and carefully ripped the page out after she added the final touches to the drawing. “I'd like you to have this,” Ruby said fairly softly, holding it out for Min-seo to take.

“I'm glad you understand, thank you for clarifying for me. How long have you been singing and dancing for? My name's Ruby Cazares, and I'm also a first year.”

“I'd like you to have this,” Ruby said fairly softly, holding it out for Min-seo to take.

Ruby grinned. “Pleasure to meet you too,” she said, sticking her hand out for Min-seo to shake. “I took some dance classes too when I was little, but I got a bit bored with them, which was a mistake, because now I quite fancy the idea of dancing again. The arts are pretty nice, I agree.”

She was pleased when Min-seo took the drawing – of course, it would be a bit rude not to take it when she offered it like that. “No problem, and you don't need to give me anything, I just had this with me.”

Ruby decided that she liked this girl, at least a little. She was so soft and quiet and sweet, and it was certainly a change from the loud people she had met lots of so far. It was nice to have someone so genuine and open – at least, that's what it seemed like – to talk to, and Ruby didn't feel like she was being judged constantly or had to be careful with every word she said. Ruby wondered if she could consider this girl a friend yet and decided to just say it outright, being direct and to the point. “Would you say we're friends now?” she asked with a small smile.

Ruby thought it was possible for them to become closer but she didn't really know if they would. She would settle with making a friend out of this girl, though. That was certainly good enough. Besides, was she really ready to commit to anything more? Having lots of friends was nice, but having many good friends put some pressure on a person.

“Would you say we're friends now?”

Ruby released Min-seo's hand after they shook. “Well, thanks, I think. Also, thank you for offering to do that. I'd like to think about it first, if you don't mind, but I'll get back to you about that. I'm sure I'll see you again, considering we're both Slytherin first years and I'm pretty sure I've seen you in class or in the common room from time to time. Even if I don't see you there, I could always just give a note to an owl…”

Ruby was glad that Min-seo liked her drawing so much. She still didn't have anything to compare it to, and so she still didn't know if Min-seo absolutely meant it. Ruby figured that the other girl wasn't the type to lie to her, but she also didn't think that she would be anything but polite. Either way, Ruby appreciated the compliments as anyone should, but didn't particularly want to keep lingering on the subject.

Ruby laughed a little wryly. “"Very nice" are not the best two words to describe me, as they're pretty inaccurate. I am not nice, really. That's not something to be dwelled on, though. There's plenty of time left to change if I want to, and plenty of time to figure myself out. You're a lot better than me.”

Ruby watched Min-seo look out the window, and so she followed the other girl's gaze. When she saw the snow, she smiled slightly. It was such a peaceful scene, with the two Slytherins chatting amicably in the library while snow fell gently outside. The small smile that had been on Ruby's face faded as she realized it was nearing the Christmas break. That was problematic because she would have to decide if she was going home – if she could even call that place home now – or staying here. She hadn't received a letter from her parents ever since she was forced to tell them her house. Of course her parents didn't approve, but Ruby had no way to tell the extent of their displeasure if they wouldn't even send her an owl. Before that, they had owled daily, even though they never received a reply from their daughter, and they eventually started threatening her with various things if she wouldn't tell them her house.

Why did it matter so much? Before she went to Hogwarts, they had barely paid attention to her and neglected her. It wasn't even like this was her first time away from home for a while – she had been to a Muggle boarding school for a year earlier in her life. Thinking about this was causing Ruby unnecessary stress and displeasure, so she forced herself to stop. You'll be fine, no matter what, she told herself, and that's that.

Min-seo had just asked about her favorite season, and Ruby almost hadn't heard the question. “My favorite season?” She paused to consider the question and realized that she either didn't know or she didn't have one. Autumn, maybe? She couldn't say for sure. “I'm… not sure, sorry. How about you? Also, do you have a favorite color? If so, what is it?”