@Cassius Eden

Lindsey bit her lips when hearing Cassius mentioning his father’s death. Oh. She thought, feeling regretted that she had accidentally stumbled upon the point. How it would hurt, to even think of such things. “I…” She started, trying to deliberate on her wording. But finally it was just the most normal words, though with genuine sympathy. “Cassius, I’m really sorry.” She said carefully. Lindsey sighed alongside with him, supporting his opinions on some of the extended relatives. She couldn’t help but remembering Miss Imogen who was a great annoyance to her back at that time - how was she and Lilian doing recently? Lindsey didn’t know, but perhaps they’d already embarked on a brand new life. “But it’s always good to hear that things are getting better.” She concluded. “Everything will pass eventually.”

Lindsey chuckled upon hearing the adjectives he used to describe her. Intrepid? Maybe, though she seldom heard people describing her like that. Bravery was more like a Gryffindor patent, but maybe it was kind of attitude to life. It’s always great to know that someone esteemed your efforts. As for delightful…Lindsey’s smiled widened and eyes sparkled. If she was a delightful person, then Cassius was delightful with the conversation they’ve had so far. To have someone that could understand you around was a fantastic feeling, and Lindsey couldn’t help but feeling the cheerfulness emerging from the bottom of her heart.

“Hmm, nothing special…I’m gonna study harder and try to get more Os?” Lindsey thought for a while and answered. Academics was a common goal that most students would have, be it to have straight Os or get A in every subject. Yes, and Duelling. “And win my stage 3 duel. Hopefully I will have better luck when drawing the lots.” She made a face and laughed. “No more Ravenclaw opponents, please. I’ve never tasted victory from you birds so far.” Lindsey paused and turned to admire the Scottish scenery outside the windows. Despite the winter season, she could still see the vitality of the beautiful, beautiful nature. “Sleep well, eat well…make friends and be happy, if that count?”

“And you? How about our witty and spirited Cassius Eden?” She imitated his tone and rested her chin on her palm, looking at him with a cheerful light in her eyes.

January 5, 2023
Hogwarts Express

Interactions: @Lindsey Springhall Mentions: n/a

Closed PV

Cassius was grateful for the kind words. She was the first person he had told about his father. While some people knew he had missed the year due to family problems, nobody knew the specifics and he preferred to keep it that way. Not all knowledge needed to be shared, especially knowledge that could put him at a disadvantage. A potential weak point for somebody to exploit. It could be he was still learning how to judge character, but to his mind Lindsey did not seem the type to exploit this information. At least he hoped not.

He inclined his head in an appreciative nod.

Listening to her plans for the year, he could not help but find common ground in her words. Of course, there were the standard goals all students had. Grades, studies, friends, and all. He had no doubt she would be able to achieve them all though. Except maybe besting the Ravenclaw duelling team. No doubt she could, he just hoped she would not.

“Not bad goals at all to have,” he confirmed with a thoughtful look. Witty and spirited, eh? The witty he could understand – Ravenclaw and all; but, spirited? That was a new one for him. He rather liked it. “I would say much the same for myself. Though…” He paused, considering his next words and debating whether to say them at all. “I hope I can learn more about my father’s death,” he finally admitted. “I doubt I could learn much as a student, especially when it happened halfway across the world; but, I do not believe what the Ministry told us about it. They told us it was an accident but I know him. He was not clumsy and prepared for every situation. Over-prepared. Maybe I can petition the Ministry to tell me more. I don’t know.”

He allowed a sigh to escape his lips as he leaned back into the cushioned seat with a look of half-defeat. “It is worth trying, right? To do nothing feels like I would be doing him a disservice.”

@Cassius Eden

When Cassius said that he would want to learn more about his father’s death, Lindsey felt her heart knotted with apprehension. Mysteries were always like that - sometimes you feared so much of touching the truth in the depths, and yet you neither wanted to be ostracised nor protected from everything on the way of discovering what had really happened. Especially when this involved your loved ones. Lindsey could understand the Ravenclaw boy very well, herself being a mystery discoverer two years ago, and the result was gory. But, she knew that if she hadn’t went for the truth, she would feel even worse, and so many loved ones of hers might experience terrible things. She wasn’t very sure what to say now, and all she did was to quietly listen to him.

Father, Ministry…the words made her feel the boy’s pain, even if Lindsey didn’t know what had exactly happened to Cassius’ father. The boy sitting across her seemed calm and thoughtful when pouring everything to her, but Lindsey could sense the tense when bringing the topic up under his show of calmness. She was beginning to doubt if it was really a wise choice for her to bring the new school year resolution thing up, and yet she was aware that sometimes expression was the exact opposite of depression. If speaking things out would make him feel better, she would happily accompany him and just be a good listener.

“It is. Everything, everything is.” This was all she could do, to stand by his side and give him all support she could. And so she said softly, slowly pouring strength into her voice. “The result’s unpredictable, but we can always hope for the best.” Napoleon meowed correspondently, as if showing his approval on the subject. Lindsey smiled, and similarly leaned back to the soft and cozy seat. “Like the French say, ‘En avant!’ I think they mean by ‘go forward’, and I find it somehow, you know, inspiring, even if it’s in a foreign language.”

They should be very close to their destination now. As the views faded back from the window and Lindsey watched the beautiful skyline of the Scottish Highlands, her mind still lingered on the conversation they had just shared a couple of minutes ago. She hadn’t been this emotional for long, but all of a sudden the feelings overwhelmed her, making her memories of her own family drama become clearer in her mind at the same moment. Family. Parents. She sat up and softly muttered. “He’ll be so proud of you.”

Reducio

I’m soooooo sorry for how long this took but hopefully, better late than never!

January 5, 2023
Hogwarts Express

Interactions: @Lindsey Springhall Mentions: n/a

Closed PV

En avant.

Moving forward. Step by step. A simple phrase for a simple concept but one that was necessary to embrace. There was no going backward. Backward meant a return to that personal darkness where anger and despair held dominion over reality. He refused to return to that place where emotion overruled reason and logic. Where he had no control.

“En avant,” he repeated with an accent that betrayed a potential fluency in the language. “One of my relatives was rather fond of saying that. For all the pain that I endured she experienced it twice over and yet still found a way to move forward. It is rather inspiring, now that I think on it."

The boy smiled warmly, momentarily lost in somber thought as he glanced out the window at the Scottish Highlands rolling across his vision. Her words were kind. Certainly kinder than he expected from an acquaintance and it took a good measure of control not to allow tears to begin falling. He took a deep breath and focused on a happy memory, returning himself somewhat contradictorily to the present as he continued listening to the Hufflepuff.

“He’ll be so proud of you.”

“Yours will be too.” He replied solemnly.

Cassius was not sure why he said that but it felt the right thing to say in that moment. His piercing blueish gray eyes full of a just barely repressed sadness met her gaze and lingered there for a time. It could very well have been the worst thing he could have said but nobody ever claimed he was particularly good with reading emotions. “I could have perhaps chosen a more upbeat topic to begin the school year on,” he mused, managing a weak chuckle.

The tender moment was broken by the sound of a conductor in the hallway of the train car announcing they would soon arrive at their destination.

“Well,” the young Ravenclaw began to say, a brightness returning to his demeanor. He straightened his posture and stretched, both arms reaching behind his head until a satisfying crack provided some immediate relief to his body after sitting intermittently for multiple hours. “Time travels quickly when one is in good company.”

He stood up and grabbed hold of one of the railings above their head for support. “I will go retrieve one of my bags from a nearby cabin. Until we meet again, Miss Lindsey Springhall. Keep in contact, hm?”

Cassius inclined his head politely to the Hufflepuff and offered an even more dramatic inclination of his head to Napoleon before carefully making his way out of the cabin and closing the door behind him.

En avant.

Reducio

It's all good! Great replies are worth the wait.

@Cassius Eden

“Yours will be too.”

Lindsey lowered her eyes hearing Cassius solemnly pronounced these words, feeling the gravitas air surrounding them, before finally making its way right into very depth of her heart. Even if she still had her father around her and caring for the littlest details for her life, she knew that Cassius wasn’t only talking about fathers. It’s family. Indeed, family should not be the only thing that pushed you towards your goals, but it did feel good to make those who truly loved you proud, to foster happiness in the harbour of your heart. Lindsey made no verbal reply to this, and instead nodded slowly and solemnly, letting the aftertaste of this charming conversation quietly lingering over the compartment. They will definitely be so proud of us. She thought, half to herself and half to Cassius. I know it. For sure.

“No, it’s been very reassuring talking with you.” She said genuinely. Upbeat conversations might seem super appropriate for the start of a new term, but it’s also fairly important to dismiss all the distractions and negative feelings before the beginning of a new journey. Lindsey was glad to have someone who could share her deep feelings with, and especially with such a nice and understanding companion like Cassius. And, after their talk throughout the trip, Lindsey somehow felt that confidence and decisiveness were refilled in her body, pushing her to work harder and achieve better.

Despite everything, parting was always disappointing. She nodded correspondingly, watching Cassius standing up and stretching himself. To keep contact? “Of course.” Lindsey smiled brightly at him, standing up politely. She waved Cassius goodbye, and watched as the boy stepped out of the compartment, embarking on a brand new term.

As the door closed she turned and started to pack her own luggage, skilfully waving her wand and sending instructions to the numerous boxes, bags and suitcases, until they were finally packed in a whole and ready to be delivered to the castle. After everything was done, she heard the whistle of the train signalling the pull-up, and slowly, the train stopped.

Lindsey stepped out and onto the station. She didn’t know if Cassius had already successfully retrieved his luggage or not, or if he had joined his housemates and other friends on the short journey to the castle. But hey -

“We will surely meet again in the near future, don’t you think so, Napp?”

Napoleon purred.

Thread Fin.
thank you so much for this great experience!