Tea and Old Books PV Euphrasia + Ruby Closed

"My name is Euphrasia, but you can call me Millie."

Senna blinked, staring at her copy of A History of Magic for a moment before blinking once more and slowly turning to see the face that the small, cheerful voice belonged to. She was a raven-haired girl, cloaked in Gryffindor red and gold, and judging by her energetic expression, a first-year. Senna observed quietly with curious eyes for a few moments, unsure of how to react, silently trying to analyze the situation.

I need to think this through... Senna thought, she had to say something, anything. Ignoring the girl would be extremely impolite. However, if she did say something, what would she say? Would she simply introduce herself? Introducing herself could easily lead into conversation, though... and she was in the midst of her study session. Maybe she could just let her down politely, tell her that she preferred working alone. But how did she know she preferred working alone? She'd never once studied with anyone else's help before. The thought of not being in total control of her work made her head spin.

She'd been thinking too much that she didn't notice how much time had elapsed, but when she came back to her senses, the girl's expression had dimmed. It had grown into one that was more self-conscious, as if she was judging herself silently, something Senna easily recognized from simply looking in the mirror.

"Hello... My name is Senna," the sound of her soft, timid voice seemed to draw the light back into the girl's face, "You may sit here if you'd like, I'm just preparing a little bit for when classes begin... I've only been here a week." Seeing the light flow back into the young Gryffindor's dark eyes caused Senna's shoulders to relax once more, and a small smile to grow on her lips.

Ruby had entered the Library not long ago. She loved libraries – they made her feel at home. The library here had impressed her, as it seemed to cover a wide variety of subjects and had lots and lots of books. It was a room full of information, and the young Slytherin loved knowledge. She had a deep desire for it, a thirst that would never be quenched. That was partially why she kept returning day after day, borrowing book after book. She made sure that she always had something to read, and while that wasn't even a slight problem now, she wondered if she'd end up reading all the books in here by the time she left Hogwarts after her seventh year. Initially, it sounded a little ridiculous to a lot of people, but considering how fast she read and how many books she had already completed, perhaps it was a task that she could accomplish.

Shrugging, she made her way through the shelves, her fingertips trailing across some of the books' spines. What to read now? After looking for several minutes, she emerged carrying three decently large books. She considered going back to her common room or dormitory to start on them, or perhaps even outside since the day was fairly nice. Maybe I'll just stay here for now, she thought, as she realized that she didn't particularly feel like leaving yet. She scanned the room for an empty table but was disappointed when she found that they were now all occupied. With a small sigh, she realized she would have to approach someone. Every table had at least two people on it, and most were engaged in conversation.

She located one that had two first years (she vaguely recognized them and assumed that they were in her year) that seemed to be decently productive and quiet, even if they were talking. Ruby walked over and sat down quietly and smoothly, carefully settling herself in a spot where it shouldn't disturb them, and it was far enough away that they could all have their own space. She placed her books on the table and selected one of them, opening it to the first page. If the girls didn't want her here, they could deal with it. She needed somewhere to sit and this had seemed like the best spot. Besides, the Library and its space belonged to all of them. But, hey, perhaps if she got engaged in conversation, she could make a couple of friends.

She also happened to be positioned in a place where she could easily see them, and she gave them each a very subtle, swift once-over. Looking down at her book again, she started analyzing what she had just observed. The quick glance was all she had needed. They belonged to the houses of Ravenclaw and Gryffindor. The Ravenclaw seemed quiet and possibly shy. Ruby hadn't missed the telltale gleam in the eyes that showed intelligence and an analytical nature. Had she found someone like her – someone who calculated and analyzed and observed? Although, perhaps it had merely been an attempt at analysis. There was more curiosity in there than anything, and the body language had said that the girl was reserved but not unfriendly. As for the Gryffindor, she seemed eager, outgoing, friendly, and possibly embarrassed (for whatever reason, Ruby didn't know what had caused it), yet seemed to actually be considerate of others' feelings. How nice, apparently Ruby had chosen the right table…

Now that that was out of the way, she could finally get to reading, her eyes darting across the page, her attention carefully focused.

"You may sit here if you'd like, I'm just preparing a little bit for when classes begin... I've only been here a week."

The sudden unwarranted company made Senna slightly uneasy. This wasn't something that'd ever happened before, she'd only ever studied in the company of one of her parents, who also doubled as her teachers. The Gryffindor girl seemed friendly enough, though, and so the two sat quietly for a few moments, the scratching of quill and pencil filling the silence between them. Millie was the first to break it.

"I've been here a little over a week, but Hogwarts is so enchanting, it feels like I've been here minutes. There's just so much to learn, and to find." The girl didn't take her deep violet eyes off the page while she spoke, until yet another girl had taken her seat their table.

This second character gave off a bit more of a mysterious aura, but it could have just been her green Slytherin attire doing the talking. The longer Senna looked at her, the more she felt she was quite similar to the young brunette in nature. Millie's expression, however, shone brighter than both of theirs combined, as she excitedly greeted the new arrival. "Hi! I'm Euphrasia, but you can call me Millie." Senna immediately perked up at the repeated phrase, curious as to why she'd used the same greeting twice, but quickly shrugged it off.

The new girl glanced up from her reading at the sound of her voice, eyes darting back and forth between Senna and Millie. The Slytherin was clearly observing the two, something Senna recognized from her observing the Muggle kids who played around in the street outside her bedroom window. But there was something about the way the strange girl's eyes just barely lingered on her that was intriguing, despite the fact that she hadn't even said a word, yet.

Millie, out of nowhere, suddenly had focused her eyes back onto the paper in front of her. Senna flashed the Slytherin a small smile, and in a quiet voice she quickly introduced herself with, "Senna," and thus returned her focus to her studying.

As she settled back into the rhythm of the words, her thoughts continued to buzz around distractedly in her head. This entire experience was very out of her comfort zone. Socializing was something that Senna was trying her best to avoid since her arrival, anxious it would interfere with her studies. She almost felt as if it was her who was responsible for the strange feeling floating in the air between the three girls.

With every second that passed, more of the book was devoured by Ruby. She wasn't going to waste time or focus – if the girls wanted to include her in their conversation, she'd happily start speaking to them, but otherwise, she was going to read at least a good chunk of this. She didn't allow her thoughts to wander, and any time she felt her attention slowly drifting away, she pulled it back to the reading at hand. Before long, she was lost in the book, not to be pulled back into reality quickly.

After a pause in the conversation and silence, Ruby knew that the girls were both looking at her. Whatever. She wondered if she had disrupted their conversation, and although they seemed like they didn't know each other, perhaps they were friends that had been talking about private matters. She doubted it, though. Their tones and body language had shown something far from close friendship and sharing secrets. When someone spoke – she assumed it was the Gryffindor – she finally managed to break the concentration she had had on her book. Tilting her head back up again, Ruby watched the Gryffindor as she spoke. In conversation, what could be observed was often just as important as the information acquired from the speech itself.

Euphrasia, the Gryffindor said her name was. She preferred to be called Millie, though. What was the link between Millie and Euphrasia? Perhaps Millie was a middle name, a family name, or one of Euphrasia's favorite names. It didn't particularly matter, but of course it sparked several questions. When she spoke, her voice had been quiet yet positive. Looking at the girl, Ruby's brain provided her with lists of things. Eager, happy, friendly, willing to socialize, wants to make friends, it fired off. However, a blush bloomed on her cheeks and Ruby recognized the shame and doubt on her face as her head bowed down to focus on the letter again. Embarrassed. Actually shy. Overthinks things, self-conscious, hard on herself, easily worried, nervous, doubtful, probably not entirely optimistic. Genuine. Some of the analyses from before were repeated, but new observations were added too.

Perhaps Ruby could help Euphrasia with some of this, if they became friends and would see each other again. The Gryffindor needed some more confidence and possibly to be able to hide her feelings a little better – although maybe it was just Ruby that picked up on these things. Nevertheless, learning how to hide a blush could probably be beneficial to the girl. Ruby had also noticed the way she had been looked at and how Euphrasia's eyes had lingered a little longer on the Slytherin crest. It was a normal reaction for many. Ruby had learned to ignore it – if the person had a huge problem with Slytherins, they generally brought it up and they weren't worth her time. To be in Slytherin was something to be proud of, and she didn't understand why, exactly, people scorned Slytherins – either that or they feared them, distrusted them, thought they were all evil and fickle, or went out of their way to avoid them and so on. Ruby's own parents despised Slytherins and had told her for years that it was the worst house, but they had only been unknowingly fuelling her determination to learn the truth about the house and what it was really like, not this false version her parents had told her that omitted any bit of good about it and its history.

Ruby wasn't going to dwell on that, yet. She had more important things to think about. When the Ravenclaw spoke, Ruby's eyes shifted to her. She had smiled and said a single word – Senna – presumably her name. Another person with a quiet voice. It was interesting how Euphrasia had somehow managed to seem outgoing yet shy at the same time. Senna was just quiet. It was not an unusual thing among Ravenclaws to be quiet and more involved in their studies, but many forgot to speak, socialize, go outside, take care of themselves, take breaks, have fun (in ways beyond reading), and laugh from time to time. Ruby would have to keep an eye on Senna, and if she seemed to neglect these things, then the Slytherin would simply have to change that. As annoying as socializing could sometimes be, it was a key part of developing and growing up. Ruby knew the importance of studying and reading, but she also knew the importance of socializing and the world beyond work. She made sure to keep a relatively good, healthy balance between these things.

Senna. Ruby focused part of her attention back on analyzing the girl. Intrigued, curious, thoughtful, distracted. Not entirely comfortable, uneasy, doesn't normally do this. Ruby wondered if the Ravenclaw had made any proper friends yet. The posture gave it away – Senna was certainly not used to social situations. Time to come out of your comfort zone, Senna. As tempted as Ruby was to just leave the girl alone and let her live whatever lifestyle she wanted, she felt obliged to help her yearmate. Both of them, actually, but in different ways. Senna would have to get used to socializing and realize that books weren't the only thing in this world, and Euphrasia would have to gain more confidence and learn that not everyone was annoyed at her or harshly judging her with every word and movement. Ruby almost sighed. How did she get roped into this, again? It was fine, though. It wasn't too much trouble to do this, and since it was clear that no one else had done anything about it, Ruby would have to do it herself.

How upright should she be? That was something to consider in these next few seconds… To start with, she inclined her head slightly in acknowledgement to the girls' greetings. “Hello. I'm Ruby Cazares, and it's a pleasure to meet you both,” she began. With that out of the way, she could move on to business… “Now, as much as I would like to leave you to study and write letters in peace, I have a feeling that there are some things that both of you need to change. I apologize for being so forward, but after considering this, I have decided that being direct will be the quickest means by which to get through to you two and have the most efficient results gained in the fastest way. Tell me, how often do you socialize? Do you spend much time with others – being around them and talking to them?” Her light blue gaze bore into them as she made eye contact with each of them. It seemed to pierce the surface and stare directly into their souls, accompanied by a subtle look of understanding.

Well, this would certainly be interesting. Ruby leaned back slightly in her chair and waited for a reaction, her fingers steepled.

Millie had expected the Slytherin girl to introduce herself and stay quiet. It seemed that that was the complete opposite of how the Slytherin girl was. But it also meant that Millie had sensed something off about the girl. Something that she had thought about all Slytherins, though she had only bad interactions with one. Yet, Millie was quite ambiguous, and very confident, but doubt was normal in her family.

Doubt. The word came naturally to Millie, something that her mother said was normal. Something that her father said was normal. Something that everyone in her family said was normal. But everyone in her family never listened to Millie's grandmother. The older you get, she'd say, the less you care. But Millie's parents were young. Maybe doubt was normal when you were young.

Listening to the Ruby's voice made Millie furrow her eyebrows. What was she trying to assume? How was this girl eleven years old? This girl was brilliant, even to Millie's standards. 

"Tell me, how often do you socialize? Do you spend much time with others – being around them and talking to them?”

Millie blinked. Ruby's light blue eyes stared into her own violet eyes. Millie could feel her hand clutch tighter to the mechanical pencil in her hands. Confusion running through her mind, uncertainty slipping through her veins.

"I'm around people quite often? I enjoy talking to others? I don't know what you're hinting at, but prying into others lives isn't quite," Millie went quiet, thinking of a word.

"Polite. Not quite polite. Not to be rude, or anything."

This. This was exactly what she'd been trying so hard to avoid.

"Tell me, how often do you socialize? Do you spend much time with others – being around them and talking to them?" Senna immediately perked up at this quite personal question. This girl called Ruby was very well spoken, but also extremely intuitive. She didn't realize how intensely the Slytherin must've been analyzing her and Millie, but she suddenly felt as if she was out in the open. Her curious eyes locked onto Ruby's, but she remained quiet as Millie spoke.

"I'm around people quite often? I enjoy talking to others? I don't know what you're hinting at, but prying into others lives isn't quite... Polite. Not quite polite. Not to be rude, or anything." Senna could almost feel her blood beginning to boil, and not out of anger. The discomfort she felt bubbled up inside her to the point where she couldn't look Ruby in the eyes any longer, and just stared blankly down at her book. Study was now out of the question, the tension that was now present in the air prevented that from being an escape route. However, she couldn't leave. She had no good excuse to do so.

And so, she sat, icy blue eyes glaring into the pages, trying to build a mental wall between her and the two girls who sat less than a meter away from her. She didn't answer Ruby's question verbally, but that quickly became all she could think about. She never socialized. She had practiced "socializing" with her parents, but that was not even close to socializing with real kids her age. Senna didn't go out very often back at home, either, and when she did, it was only ever to events like her father's business parties. Those overly-extravagant, busy, and way out of her comfort zone parties.

She remembered one in particular that was truly awful. Held at a very grand hotel in downtown, the Southwinds arrived in the absolute best clothing they owned. They had, in fact, bought Senna a gown just for this event. "Very important people will be here, Senna," her mother smiled lovingly at her as she watched two seamstresses tighten her corset, "and it is imperative that you look your very best." Not only was this gown inhumanely tight, Senna was also just nine years-old, and when she saw the shoes her mother held out for her to wear, she knew nothing good could possibly come from five-inch heels.

The night was normal at first. Senna and her parents took to their own reserved table up front, sandwiching her in the seat between them, her father to her left and mother to her right. Across the table were very fancy-looking officials, whose names she couldn't possibly remember each and every one of. Her mother introduced her to them all, anyway. "Senna, dear, this is Dr. Greenwald and his wife, Sharon. And next to her is another of your father's colleagues, Dr. Chabrier..." Senna quickly drowned out her mother's overenthusiastic voice, staring blankly at each woman and man as they were named. The adults gazed at her with sweet expressions, as if she was a beautiful, elaborate china doll up on the highest shelf of a toy store.

She despised the attention, and wished with every fiber of her being to escape from it. Then, her mother nudged her lightly, pointing to a young boy a few faces down. "And that's Dariel, the Ericksons' son. He's nine, just like you, Senna."

Senna glanced up quickly, meeting eyes with the young boy who grinned at her. He was missing a front tooth, and had messy blonde hair. His bowtie sat crooked atop his collar. Senna giggled at the sight of the silly looking boy, and quickly looked back to her mother. "If you'd like, when the adults go to dance, you can hang out with Dariel and practice what we've been learning," her mother winked. She had never thought of socializing with anyone her age before, because she'd been so absorbed in her books. But something in her heart thought that Dariel might understand how she feels, growing up with similar parents and circumstances as her.

Senna and Dariel talked and laughed and snuck more desserts than they were allowed, and as the night came to a close, the two had grown to be as close to friends as Senna had ever gotten with anyone her age. But it all backfired when Dariel kissed her on the cheek at the end of the night. Her parents swiftly took her away and cut off all contact with Dariel's family. It all happened as quick as that.

She'd remained quite closed off after that night to anyone close to her age. And so she continued to zone out into the words of the book to the point where she had no idea what it was about anymore.

The minute Senna went silent with a silent stare, Millie was riling up a storm. Whoever this Slytherin girl thought she was, she had no right to come about and clearly make Millie and her friend uncomfortable. Being diligent was one thing, Millie was used to that, but being an atrocious, smarty-pants was something the Gryffindor girl didn't take likely. After all, being smart had no reason to make you a jerk.

Millie took in a deep breath, pausing to let her anger cool down, almost like a lava rock. It seemed that nothing anyone did to the lava made it want to disappear, and it only made Millie get more mad. Senna seemed to be blocking herself from the Gryffindor and Slytherin. The thought of her new friend being uncomfortable in the presence of yet another Slytherin made Millie get really mad at the house. 

Though she didn't have anything personal against the house, Millie was upset at its attendees. Every Slytherin she had met, (with the absence of one) had made Millie, or one of her friends upset in some way, shape, or form. It only made the her more angry, and feeling the discomfort of her Ravenclaw friend, Millie shot the Slytherin girl an angry glare.

"Could you not be a smarty-pants jerk?" Millie whispered-snapped. It was one of the only ways she could her point across. At least Millie hoped.