A Furthered Conversation PV Muriel Carroll Clo

"Have you ever encountered the Gryffindor ghost?"
Bella nodded her head enthusiastically at the question. She found it really interesting how the ghosts came to be here and had spoken to the Gryffindor ghost on a few occasions.
"Nearly-Headless Nick, yeah. He's quite funny and he's got hilarious stories to tell. I mean the head is a bit grim, and he loves the disgust when he shows it off, but he's funny," Bella smiled at the thought of her house's ghost. He would often spend time with them at dinner. She thought about the other ghosts too and let out a small laugh when she thought of the Bloody Barron.

"The Bloody Barron, he's the Slytherin ghost, once chased my sister Iyla down a hallway when she went here. He recognised me the other day and tried to do the same. But I wasn't scared, I actually think he's rather likeable if you can get over the whole antisocial demeanor. Honestly though, who could blame him? If I had been dead for that many years and had to listen to the students in a school all day I would probably be a little grumpy too,"

Bella couldn't imagine watching so many people eating delicious food and not being able to get any herself either, that would definitely be the worst part for her.

Muriel nodded her head at Bella's opinion of Nearly-Headless Nick, recalling how she herself had watched from her table the ghost show off his nearly decapitated head after the Sorting Ceremony. Based off everything Bella said, it seemed that he was a bit ostentatious, but good-natured nevertheless. When it came to The Bloody Barron however, Muriel had mixed feelings.

At first, Bella's story about her sister, along with the fact that he'd killed the Grey Lady, put the Slytherin ghost in a negative light in her view. However, what Bella said next caused her to rethink everything. Perhaps the Bloody Barron was just lonely and miserable; after all, he did where the chains as an act of penitence, and all his friends and family must be dead after all these centuries. Thinking about it even more just made Muriel even more depressed.

"I guess he is just grumpy, and perhaps just really lonely. That's what I think both him and the Grey Lady have in common. Since my talk with her, I've sometimes seen her all by herself in some empty classrooms or hallways. It must be hard being a ghost... I feel bad for them all." She concluded, feeling a bit down now, but continued to carry on. "I wonder what the Hufflepuff ghost is like. I've haven't got the chance to see him/her yet, have you?"

Bella gave a hum of saddened agreement to what Muriel had said about the Bloody Barron. It really must be difficult having so many limitations even after death. Her thoughts changed as Muriel enquired as to whether she had met the Hufflepuff ghost. She had seen him for the first time while wandering a corridor and had spoken to him on a few occasions near the library. He seemed nice enough.

"Yes I've met him a few times. his name is the Fat Friar and apparently he used to be super religious. He still kind of is. Whenever I spoke to him he would bring up God a lot so I guess he still believes some of that. He's nice enough, though. If you ever really want to meet him then hang around outside here just after breakfast, that's where I normally see him." Bella gave her friend a warm smile. The ghosts of this castle were all very interesting, each of them holding their own story, and Bella wanted to meet as many of them as she could. Perhaps now They could seek them out together.

"Have you met any of the other ghosts yet? I think it would be really cool to meet and speak to all of them, they're all so interesting."

Muriel nodded, happy to know that her friend was so knowledgeable about the other house ghosts. I wouldn't mind making a few more friends... even if they are dead. The Fat Friar also seemed like the most positive ghost of the four, which made her wonder how he stayed so optimistic for all this time. When asked if she met any other ghosts, Muriel nodded again, eager to tell Bella about her own experiences.

"Yes, and it was a very ambivalent meeting indeed. It happened on my way out from Charms. I'd accidentally gotten butter in my hair after practicing the Levitation Charm - please don't ask though," she quickly added before continuing, not wanting to relive the humiliation. "So I headed for the nearest bathroom I saw, which was downstairs. And as I was scrubbing it out, I ran into this ghost named Myrtle. She was... sensitive... and very gloomy. I felt sorry for her when she told me the story of how she died, but yet I couldn't help but feel she was a bit desperate for attention... not to sound mean or anything. But ya... she was a Ravenclaw that died from that Basilisk about 75 years ago." She finished, wondering how Bella would react.

She hoped that what she said didn't sound sordid; she really did feel bad for Myrtle, especially since the girl was bullied and teased a lot when she was living. But yet the ghost was very touchy, even to Muriel who was also known to be sensitive at times. 

Bella was intrigued to hear more when Muriel had said that she had in fact met another of the ghosts. She mentioned that the ghosts name was Myrtle and that name seemed to ring a bell, though Bella couldn't quite pin point why at first. The ghost sounded depressing and lonely and, although she still felt like she had a right to be, being dead and all, Bella wasn't overly convinced that she was one of the ghosts she wanted to spend to much time with. But still, she at least wanted to be able to say she had met them all.

"Wow she sounds ..." Bella didn't quite know how to phrase it, not wanting to offend Muriel in case she had actually quite liked the ghost. "A little depressing if I'm honest, not that I could blame her. I've read about Basilisks and they certainly don't sound too pleasant..." She trailed off. She had read about the one that had been in the school all those years ago and the thought that a creature like that could even exist was quite frightening.

Bella peered out of the window that was located a little over from their table and realized it was becoming very dark outside. There was now only a few students left in the library and the librarian was beginning to put books back on shelves. It was approaching the time where they would have to return to their dorms, but Bella didn't want to leave yet. She suddenly had an idea. It was a very stupid idea and she was sure that Muriel would say no, but she decided she would ask anyway.
"So that ghost you were talking about, she's normally in the toilets right? How would you like to go and give her a visit?" Her enthusiastic, mischievous grin was almost contagious and she could hardly contain her excitement as she waited for Muriel's reply.

Muriel nodded slowly, tentatively agreeing with Bella. Myrtle was in fact depressing, but that didn't mean she was an awful ghost... she was just kind of a mood-killer if you hung out with her for too long. But of course she would never say that to her face; she didn't even like to think bad things about a person. It's not her fault that she's so gloomy anyway... I would be too if I was killed by such a monstrous creature and had such an awful time at Hogwarts.

Muriel then followed Bella's gaze to a nearby window and was shocked to see that it was already dark. Time flies when you're having fun I suppose, she thought sadly before she heard Bella speak again. What the girl said next truly surprised her. She wants to visit Myrtle? ...Even after everything I said about her? She thought totally baffled. Muriel looked at Bella with a conflicted face; she didn't want to ruin the grin plastered on the Gryffindor girl's face, but yet her head was raising many red flags, screaming against it.

"Umm... well... I'm not so sure..." She began uncertainly as she stared back down at the table and began twiddling her thumbs. "We could get in trouble if we're caught... and I really don't want that to happen... maybe we could visit her another time...?" She finished with a higher pitched voice, hoping to not upset Bella. Maybe there was something else they could do before they'd have to head back to their dorms... 

Bella could tell that Muriel wasn't too keen on the idea before she had even spoken the words. When Bella gave it some thought, however, she realized that perhaps it was a rather silly idea after all. She wasn't necessarily worried about getting into trouble but that didn't mean she particularly wanted to either. Bella accepted with a small sigh that it was getting far too late for them to do anything now.

"Maybe we should head back to our dorms, then we can do something else tomorrow after lessons have finished," Bella didn't want to sound like she didn't want to continue their conversation because she really did but now that she was paying attention to it, she found that she was actually rather tired as well.

"Maybe we could head down to the lake or something. I heard a rumor that somebody had spotted a merperson down there a few nights ago!" That sounded like it would be a pretty cool adventure too, and one that wouldn't get them into trouble.

Bella had picked up her books again off of the table as she waited to see if Muriel would agree to her offer to continue their conversation again tomorrow. She hoped that Muriel wouldn't think that she was trying to get rid of her but she also hoped that she wouldn't reject Bella.

Muriel nodded once more, relieved that Bella wouldn’t pressure her any further with the idea. Even better was that she didn’t really seem that mad about it either. The truth was that Muriel’s head spoke to her more strongly than her heart, so even if something looked really appealing, her mind would shut the option down if had too much risk or a catch. Though that always wouldn’t be the case, especially if her head itself was also in the clouds.

As Bella began packing up her stuff, Muriel did as well, not expecting the stiffness in her arms or the drag in her feet once she stood up. She was also pretty tired; today had been a long day for her with all the exploring and classes. Going back to her dorm also began to sound like a better idea than before. Ya... get a good’s night rest at my dorm, go to classes, and then talk again.

Bella’s offer to go down to the lake next time shocked Muriel out of her grogginess for a brief moment. “A merperson...?” She repeated in wonder, vaguely remembering her mother mentioning them. “Sure! I’d love to go there! I haven’t had time to see what’s over there yet, but I hope the rumor you heard is true! Plus, I’ve heard that there’s a giant squid that lives in the lake... maybe we could spot it too!” She rambled excitedly. Not only that, but the lake visit could also give her a chance to see some of the plants she’d learned about in her first Herbology lesson.

“But ya, I really like talking to you... you’re the first stranger that didn’t seem so scary to me. And now that you’re my friend, I’m sure there’s still a ton of things I still want to ask you about... but my brain is mush right now. See you... later tomorrow then?” Muriel asked just to clarify before letting out a tired yawn.

The thought of exploring the lake and seeing the Giant Squid and Merpeople for themselves gave Bella the energy she needed to do a little excited clap with another huge grin forming on her face. It dawned on her that she hadn't been this happy since she had started here at Hogwarts. Maybe this friendship could lead to others. Maybe Bella could even tell her the whole story about her parents one day.

Her smile only dimming slightly at the thought of her parents, Bella picked up her last book off the table and answered Muriel's question.
"Sure! I'll meet you down by the lake then. I have a little homework that I physically couldn't put off any longer if I wanted to but I should be down straight after that," Bella began walking towards the library door, when they got outside she turned back to Muriel. The hall was quiet and dimly lit, and a particularly grumpy looking photograph was glaring at them, presumably for making so much noise.

"It's been nice talking to you too! I still can't get over how strange it is, how we met. Gosh it can't have been longer than a couple of hours ago! Who would have ever guessed that opening a door onto someone's face could get you a best friend?" Bella was almost squealing with excitement at the thought!

“I know right!? It's a very unconventional way to make friends! And I can’t believe it’s only been a few hours; it feels like I’ve known you for a lot longer than that!” Muriel answered back as she followed her friend out of the library and up the next flight of stairs. Bella’s energy and talking was helping her stay awake as well as they headed to their respected dorms, though every once in a while she would start to feel her eyelids droop. Muriel wasn’t much of a night owl, the exact opposite actually, and staying up too late could easily cause her body’s inner clock to get scrambled.

“I really can’t wait to talk to you again, and see what the grounds are like as well! But right now I really need some shut-eye...” She said as she gave another yawn and reached the seventh floor. She looked around the hallway tiredly before spotting the smaller staircase that led up to her tower. “...I’m going to go now, but I’ll definitely be right back down at the grounds tomorrow... good luck on your homework!” Muriel ended a bit abruptly, not wanting Bella to really see how exhausted she was as she sluggishly made her way up the stairs.