Love Among All Open Finished

The day was finally coming to an end, and Margaret watched the clock as class slowly came to an end. As students gathered everything into their bags a lively chatter made its way around the room, the feeling of excitement and the rush to get out as fast as they could. Usually, she would be amongst the first to leave and head back to the dormitories, get done with her homework to make time to paint. Only this time, any sort of energy to get things done had seemingly been left behind. She felt relatively empty. Margaret wasn't used to that, she wasn't one to let her heart dictate her life, yet here she was, unable to get her mind controlling her feelings. Slowly she got up, gathered her books, ink and pen into her leather bag before heading out.

The corridor was nearly empty by now, all the students had rushed back to the common rooms or had left to spend the afternoon outside. Glancing out a window she pondered getting some fresh air too. Listening to her footsteps echoing she realized that for the first time, she missed her family. She'd rather have her sister bother her, or even bore her to death about her dolls than be here, kilometers away from anyone she knew.

What were they up to in this very moment? Was Mom coming home from work, her heels already in her hand? Was Dad on the phone with a client, whispering as loud as he could to avoid Mom, gesturing for him to take this call outside? Was Agnes sat in the middle of the living room, a make-shift house for her dolls made out of living-room pillows and napkins? She missed her home, the familiar smell of the wooden walls, the beautiful tiles in the kitchen, her favorite tea in her favorite cup. All this seemed so distant, and she wished she hadn't taken for granted all those moments. She couldn't just call her parents if homework seemed to complicated, phones didn't work, and most importantly, how could they ever give her a hand with potions, or magical creatures? She truly felt alone, and the most saddening part was that she would never share any of that with them.

She was now outside, the fresh breeze stinging her face. With nowhere to go in particular, she let her feet lead her to wherever they desired. She'd write them a letter once she'd find a nice spot, although the grass seemed still a little wet from the nightly rain. All she wished for was to go home, forget about all this magic and just be her normal self, when she never knew any of this ever existed. She remembered Agnes' face when she told her mermaids were real, followed by a disappointed look when she showed her their true form.

Without realizing it, she now was making her way to a tree hiding the silhouette of a girl. She wouldn't stop now and go back on her tracks. Margaret approached the girl, maybe company wouldn't be so bad after all.

She let down her bag on the driest patch of grass she could find. The girl seemed... happy. Good for her, she thought. I wish I could just suppress this anger tainted sadness, but the heart had its ways.

'Don't you...' she started, surprised she'd initiate a conversation with a stranger. 'Don't you ever miss your family?'

She sighed, how silly was it to ask a girl her age this question, of course she missed them.

'I feels so strange being so far away. And stranger to imagine them in London, knowing they're just living the life I lived right before getting my letter. I-' she stopped, this was truly unlike her. Talking like this, opening up? 'I guess sometimes I wished I had been a Muggle too, lived a life devoid of magic. At least I'd still be in London, with my family and friends'

She looked at the girl, instantly regretting talking this much. 'Forget it, I'm sorry.' she said as she sat down, staring blankly in front of her.

Words: 688

Soft Talk with @Margaret Adamson

Emily snuck partially behind the tree once her ears picked up and realised she wasn't alone. Curiously she peered round the side to see a Slytherin girl, most definitely in her year, in the most dejected mood she had ever seen. Not so much one of anger or frustration but definitely one that alluded to any sense of hollowness that one might feel. It was written on her face. A longing for something... or probably more specifically, someone. A feeling that Emily was very familiar with.

The second they locked eyes with each other Emily had the urge to listen to the heartfelt spilling of words the girl just threw out at her. Given how quick she was to talk Emily could only assume that she was in need of someone to just sit and listen to her. It took her aback a little bit but Emily was quick enough to return a soft expression in return. If there was anything this girl could do with right now, it's a pleasant face but more so a shoulder to lean on.

She watched her sit down, looking out into the nothingness ahead of her. Emily gently departed from the tree and paced around carefully whilst grinding up a piece of bread.

"I know it's probably not much consolation, but I think I know what you're feeling deep down," she began softly. "To be so used to what you know only to find yourself thrown into something new... and as something as big as this... as Hogwarts... as the Wizarding World... It's almost fictional, isn't it?"

Emily chuckled a little, tossing another few crumbs out into the open. She weaved between a set of trees as she waited patiently for more wildlife to accept her offering, still talking wistfully.

"I mean, I'm Muggle-born and I had no concept of magic before coming here... I can't even guess how far back my magical talent is traced since it feels so left-field for me. So to suddenly wander into a world I didn't know existed certainly freaked me out at first."

She went to another tree and brushed the back of her hand against the bark carefully. Smiling, she turned to face the girl.

"But no matter who you are or where you've come from, you're not alone. And I don't just mean this in the whole "we're in this together" cliché..."

She slowed down so she was sitting beside her, though not too close in case she was invading her space.

"The sun and the moon... Our eyes in the sky. The flowers and critters on the ground. The trees that surround us, watching us grow up and grow old before watching others come and take our place... Nature has your back too. It'll always be there no matter what. Big or small, happy or sad, alone or together... It's never going to leave your side."

Emily beamed when the robin came back and took more of the bread she left out.

"Just like how nature has never left mine."

_{Word Count: 533}

The girl's soft words seemed to calm her down, perhaps the reigning humidity and the chirping sounds of the birds had something to do with it. She watched as she fed the birds, and looked in awe as one of them flew right in front of them both.

'It does seem fictional. Unreal. When I tell my family all about it, I feel like I'm living a lie, as if it were all too good to be true. I would have never believed a word out of my sister's mouth if she ever came back home with such stories to tell. Honestly. Sometimes I feel like this is all a dream, I'm gonna wake up disappointed but a little relieved.'

She sighed again. Margaret felt small amongst the trees, but at least it was a familiar feeling. Nature had always been there, will always be. The girl was right. Nothing mattered here, she still stared at the same old sky, touched the same green grass.

'Don't tell anyone about this. I don't usually - I don't usually talk this much. But thanks.' she added, as it caught up to her. She'd hate for anyone to ever see her like this, but the harm was done.

'It does feel comforting not to be alone, that you and so many students here are Muggle-born. I guess it does make it easier to know we are all lost in this, it feels like we're sharing this weight.'

She stared blankly in front of her once again.

'I'm Margaret by the way. Margaret Adamson.'

Word count: 260 (Had to rush sorry)

Getting Friendly with @Margaret Adamson

Emily felt pleased the girl was starting to feel more calm and comfortable now. She continued to gently walk about the terrain while a soft breeze danced among them, cleaning up the humidity and replacing the mustiness with a fresh breath of clean air. Emily thought it metaphorical with the slowly but surely evolving mood ebbing and flowing between this girl and herself.

"I feel the same," Emily answered at the girl's words. "My parents no doubt believe that this is all fake. I know my Father does. He even said to me to "stop living in a childish fantasy" which is a testament to how surreal it is. Mother was a little more open-minded but no doubt does she believe that it's a lot to take in."

In retrospect it was a little sad that her parents were quite unsupportive of her time spent at Hogwarts. As fantastical as it sounded, surely her parents would've been ecstatic that their only daughter was extraordinary - quite literally! And yet their time was spent working rather than letting the fact that she was learning magic at a school for magic set in a world of magic sink in.

"You say your name's Margaret?" Emily repeated, realising the girl had introduced herself. With another warm smile she responded. "I'm Emily. Emily Shephard. A pleasure to meet you. And please, don't worry about it. Friend or stranger, it pleases me to be able to lend an ear to someone in need of company."

_{Word Count: 281 (Don't worry about it!)}

Stats: Stamina: 6|Evasion: 5|Strength: 6|Wisdom: 7|Arcane Power: 5|Accuracy: 6
Abilities: Non-Human Enthusiast

@Emily Shephard

As the girl introduced herself, Margaret realized she might just have made her first friend here. And they shared the same experience.

'My parents believed me, I can't even begin to imagine what it would feel like to know that I was a liar in their eyes. I'm sorry.' she said. 'I promise I'll believe you' she jokingly added.

Her parents had believed her, and had tried to accommodate themselves as best they could. 'Mom and Dad were a little bit too into it for my part. They organized this little party before I left, magic-themed of course. I remember those stupid fake wands they bought that lit up. When they heard about the fact we could only write letters to correspond they bought us each a nice pen, a set of paper and envelopes, and specially printed stamps. My sister had Barbie stamps, I have black cats.'

The light breeze that brushed past the two girls had felt like the first true breath of air Margaret had been able to take. She felt her lungs expanding, filling with oxygen, grounding herself deeper into the soft earth. She felt aware of everything around her. For the first time this year she was truly present, not rushing to some class, writing a scroll for a convoluted homework, getting lost in this maze of a castle. She wasn't rushing through, the day didn't seem to bleed numbingly into the next.

'Wasn't it hard for you to have to let go of listening to music here?' she asked the girl. 'I used to listen to it all the time, and now I just have to sit with my thoughts. It feels - wrong.' she sighed. 'I'll have so much to listen to when I get back home.'

She realized that in this moment, she wasn't wishing for her headphones to work. The calmness of it all was a symphony of its own. Everything seemed in place, she felt like time had stopped.

'Where are you from, Emily?' Margaret asked, facing the girl.

Word count: 339

Knowing More About @Margaret Adamson

Emily listened with great interest at Margaret's personal history. The way she spoke of them had that fondness to her tone and Emily couldn't help but smile and admire that. With how different families are - her own a very good example of the notion - it was comforting to hear that she had a loving family supporting her. As envious as she felt, Emily wasn't going to let that overpower her genuine relief.

"I'm from Belfast," Emily eagerly replied to her question. "I was born there but due to my parents' work and background I tend to divide my time spent between Belfast and London. But Belfast has always been closer to my identity so... that's where I choose to spend most of my time back home!"

With that out in the open Emily went ahead and guessed that Margaret could probably get a clearer picture if she had picked up on her accent - it had the soft British tinge in her otherwise Northern Ireland accent. Not that Emily minded. She could debate about her upbringing back and forth with others but she still held respect for her roots all the same.

"I used my headphones back home quite rarely. Usually I used Auntie's CD player. We're both big rock fans! I've heard all my favourite songs so much that I could play them in my head...!" Emily laughed fondly at the memories of her and her housemaid dancing together. "Auntie" had fantastic taste in music. "But I'm glad to see you've held onto yours. It does feel a bit weird how Muggle technology is quite rare here, isn't it? I personally don't mind it! It's kind of fun, writing letters to home and taking a timely train to travel!"

She sat down and watched the water along the Great Lake. "And don't worry too much about your thoughts. It's okay to be very aware of them but after a while they'll fizzle out and you'll be able to take what you need from them. If you're afraid of something, you'll surprise yourself by finding something to help. If you're sad, something good will make itself known to you!"

_{Word Count: 388}

Stats: Stamina: 6|Evasion: 5|Strength: 6|Wisdom: 7|Arcane Power: 5|Accuracy: 6
Abilities: Non-Human Enthusiast

The girl's soft words faded to silence, the chirping of the birds taking over. She felt at peace, the strangeness of it all making sense. This was her life now, whether she wanted it or not. Fighting it was useless, swimming against the current was vain. Soon she'd be able to balance her old life with her new one, and her family being supportive was only going to be helpful.

The sun's golden glow was soon going to disappear behind the castle, unfortunately everything was bound to come to an end. Glancing at her watch, she felt the adrenaline rushed through her veins. She still had some homework to do, and although magic was great, she still had to to it herself.

'I'd better go, I still have homework to do. The sooner it's done, the better.' she chuckled. 'Thanks again. Talking isn't a favorite of mine, but you seem to make it easy to open up. You were at the right place at the right time, I guess.'

She wished she didn't have to leave, that this could last for ever. Maybe the sun could never set, the wind would rustle the leaves again and again. She couldn't wait to come back here again, listen to the busy nature around her. And on the bright side, she just talked to a total stranger, and maybe made a friend.

'I hope I'll see you again sometime. Goodbye Emily.' she smiled.

She slung her bag back over her shoulder, waving at the girl before making her way back towards the castle. Soon the calmness of the nature would make room for the busy corridors, cacophonous chatter, swishing of the robes.

A Goodbye until Next Time to @Margaret Adamson

A peaceful wave of silence befell the girls once again as Emily finished her long-winded speech. The sounds of the birds over took her, allowing her voice to catch a breath and time for Margaret to take in all that she had said. From what Emily could see by the look on Margaret's face it seemed like she was finally feeling more like herself again. Emily couldn't help but feel giddy over it. There was no greater satisfaction than being able to lift someone's spirits.

Eventually Margaret spoke up. With lots to do and very little time to do it, it wasn't long before Emily and Margaret's time together was falling short. Emily nodded as she dusted herself off after getting up off the ground.

"Of course! Please, don't let me keep you. And I look forward to when we next bump into each other!" She smiled softly, eternally grateful for this surprise encounter.

She watched as Margaret departed with her bag over her shoulder. Emily returned a friendly wave as Margaret bid her farewell and disappeared from her line of sight. With a deep breath of relief and satisfaction, Emily turned back to the trees around her. Her hands returned to their trunks where she felt them tenderly.

"Now then, where was I?" She said, smiling, before leaning back into a tree and inhaling its oaky scent. A proud tree-hugger's work was never done.

_{Word Count: 269}

Stats: Stamina: 6|Evasion: 5|Strength: 6|Wisdom: 7|Arcane Power: 5|Accuracy: 6
Abilities: Non-Human Enthusiast

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