Take What is Yours Leave What Is Yours Also

The clicking of heels down the hall was not something that Solène could attribute to any one student or professor in particular. She hadn’t been here that long and didn’t know anyone well enough to attribute the rhythmic click-clack of heeled footfalls on stone. Even the warning could not prepare her for the assault that was the swoosh of pink tulle, powdered blue, and more ribbons than she thought she had ever seen on a person at one time. The copper hair crowning what most little girls would think of as a fairy princess come to life could be none other than the aforementioned Winnie Harper.

Gideon was the first to speak, momentarily drawing her eyes back to him as he addressed the girl he alluded she should find. Instinctively, Solène frowned back at the look the older girl gave her and retreated a step back toward Gideon when she advanced forward. A name Sol could barely catch and did not know escaped the older girl’s lips. She recognized that she had been mistaken for someone, but how a new first year could be mistaken for anyone that this girl would keep in her circle, Solène hardly knew. But before she could even think to speak, Gideon corrected Winnie and continued with an introduction.

A precursory look at the books in the girl’s hands told her that she was way out of her league here. However, another couple of steps backward in Gideon’s direction would be taken to provide some space between the two. A prickling feeling started across her skin. Something told her she had just found herself in the middle of something she was far too unprepared to understand.

“Athanatos now, technically”
The words made Solène look back at the boy. Her eyes narrowed slightly as if she were trying to calculate an extraordinarily difficult math equation. She found herself taking in everything about his appearance that she could possibly note in this moment. Did he have too many teeth? Unfortunately, she didn’t have the time to go poking around in someone else’s mouth. Grace was still somehow given to the boy; for all she knew, the nuptials he spoke of might not have been appropriate to mention outside the family. As he spoke about silver tea sets, he said something that struck her as odd. Something that would be jotted down later, because what would silver have to do with warnings?

This whole situation grew more curious with each passing second. Yet the thoughts wouldn’t linger as Gideon pulled her mind back by introducing her to Winnie. Yes, that was right. Frosted Strawberry Cupcake had something that didn’t belong to her. “Yes, very… Pink.” The obvious appraisal and disapproval started at Winnie’s feet and finished on her face. “Like a frosted strawberry shortcake.” Something about her reminded Sol of the girl she had met while shopping for school supplies, but somehow different. She supposed she could understand someone finding Winnie attractive, but was it because she was pretty or because she seemed like someone’s lost pet? Ring? Oh right, yes, she had lost a ring, and she had been led to believe that Winnie had taken it, which made her a thief.

Solène’s eyes rested on Winnie’s face, making eye contact if it was returned. While her face remained mostly passive, the look dancing behind her eyes was calculated anger. “Talk, indeed. Why would you take something that wasn’t yours? Do you think you can take advantage of people? The ring isn’t even your style, as it is far too late to branch out of whatever ice cream sundae you fell into.”

J'accuse!

A strained smile fought against the Ravenclaw's obvious distaste for the blonde Hufflepuff. It was the same forced smile she used to be polite during whatever family time she had to endure with the Athanatos clan. "Oh really?" She asked, obviously not amused, "I really wish you wouldn't." The last part was more-so mumbled beneath her breath. Gideon talking was never good, regardless of what the topic was.

She then had to endure even more of his talking as he introduced her to someone named Soul-en... No, that can't be right. Selene? Salene? Pay attention. "Gifts are unnecessary." She quickly said, tumbling over her words. The last thing she wanted was a gift from Gideon. It was probably stuffed with his hair or the rotting carcass of a mouse. Or some sort of knife he had stabbed someone with and planted her fingerprints on. "We're family now."

Dammit, what was the girl's name again?

Winnie's light blue eyes blinked in confusion. Then again. And again. Each time she opened them she was hopeful the world would start to make sense once more, but the Sanposter was still standing in front of her talking about some lost ring and desserts in the same accent her friend had once used.

"... Huh?" She finally said, her perfectly plucked eyebrows furrowing in confusion. She tilted her head to the side, resembling her animagus form despite the fact she hadn't shapeshifted. She pointed a pink painted nail towards herself. "... You think I stole your ring?!"

Just what had Gideon told her? She knew the boy seemed to favour being honest, but that didn't mean he wouldn't twist the truth. "I'm sorry if my brother-in-law misled you... He tends to be a bit..." She didn't want to straight out call him a psychopath in front of a stranger, least she take the blonde boy's side, "mischievous at times, but as someone who has recently been a victim of a ring thief myself, I have no interest in stealing other people's rings! Or property in general... It's just plain rude and not to mention kind of a dumb thing to do. I mean, wizards can use accio to recover things after all."

She bit down on her lower lip as she thought. Speaking of accio, why hadn't the girl just used it herself? Oh, of course. It was a bit of an advanced spell. Younger students were recommended not to try it before second year (as per the spell's description being a second year is a requirement or I would have gifted it to Sol). "Oh! But, I can probably help you find it by using accio. What does it look like?" She bent down to set the books she had been carrying onto the floor, then withdrew her willow wand from her sleeve in a single elegant movement.

A large orange tabby emerged from the stairs behind Winnie. He was sporting a pink collar and looked annoyed, likely because Winnie hadn't carried him up the stairs like she usually did, opting to carry her armful of books instead.