A strange encounter Finished

"Maybe in seven years, if we haven't been brought there already for our magical creatures class, you and I will have learned enough defensive spells to venture in their together." Alyssa raised her eyebrows at the idea of actually venturing into the forest at some point during their schooling, what an amazing idea. She smiled, not only for the sake of her love of knowledge but also for the curiosity, she would study extra hard in Defence against the dark arts class. It seemed like a great goal to work towards.

She tilted her head to the side wondering whether they would ever reach that level. She shook away the doubt. Her family was knowledgable but she never knew if they were ever any good at casting spells and defending themselves. Her grandparents had been part of the second wizarding war but they refused to talk about it. She shuddered at the idea that her family might have been on the wrong side of the war. She sighed.

"So, what do you think is in there? Or, at least, what do you think keeps them from coming out here?" These questions brought her back to reality.

"Hmm, there are creatures that I have read about, for instance, I know that the Thestrals that Hogwarts use for the transportation of students live there. And of course, there should be pixies. My brothers have also told me that there are herds of Centaurs. I have to speculate that the forest is also home to werewolves and the less friendly creatures." She paused for a moment to think whether she had read anything about what kept the creatures inside the forbidden forest. She shook her head turning herself back to Tatiana. "I honestly do not know how they are kept inside. Perhaps the headmaster has some spell that keeps them inside."

Thestrals, centaurs, and pixies- oh my! It sounded like the plot of a muggle fiction novel. She listened closely as Alyssa talked about who, and what, she thought may or may not be lurking within the confines of the mystifying trees. Though terrified, she would be lying if she said it didn't interest her. She seemed very interested in, or at the very least informed about, all the magical mysteries the grounds of Hogwarts had to offer. Tatiana vaguely remembered some rumors about the lake she'd overheard on the train her first night there. Some bizarre story about a giant squid that dwelled beneath the surface of the lake, and an even more absurd account of students tickling its tentacles. Maybe she'd work up the courage to take a dip some day and find out for herself once and for all.

Tatiana had spaced out for a moment but came back to as she realized Alyssa was answering her question from earlier. "I honestly do not know how they are kept inside. Perhaps the headmaster has some spell that keeps them inside." Perhaps, she thought. But if he had gone through the trouble to place magic around the perimeter to keep the creatures in, why hadn't he placed a similar spell around the forest to keep the students out? It was a curious thought, nonetheless, one she hoped to be able to answer one day.

Remembering something Alyssa briefly mentioned when she had been discussing magical creatures previously, Tatiana asked, "So, you said you had brothers? Did they go to school here as well?"

"So, you said you had brothers? Did they go to school here as well?"
Alyssa looked at Tatiana thoughtfully, her lips curled into a soft smile.

" I have four older brothers, the last one left school last year." she thought back to her brothers. Two of them were working for the Ministry. One is furthering his studies and the other has yet to decide what he wants to do. She was fond of the youngest. He seemed a lot more laid back than the others.

"All of them were at Hogwarts, just like my parents. And all of them were sorted into your house. I am still waiting for the letter of disapproval from my mother." she said chuckling to herself. She was not the sort of person who liked change. A frown formed on her forehead. She tilted her head to the side. "I have read in one of the history books that your choice for a house gets taken into account when you get placed. I am still confused as to how I got placed in Gryffindor. Have you got any response to this?" she asked, truly interested in what her thoughts were on this subject.

Tatiana watched Alyssa intently as she talked about her brothers. She noticed her shoulders tighten and the look of disapproval that washed over her face as she described how they all were placed into Ravenclaw, her very own house- all except Alyssa, that is. "I am still waiting for the letter of disapproval from my mother," the girl chuckled, though obviously she was very serious and probably not all that amused by the fact. After a moment, Tatiana noticed she frowned and tilted her head to the side before continuing. "I have read in one of the history books that your choice for a house gets taken into account when you get placed. I am still confused as to how I got placed in Gryffindor. Have you got any response to this?"

"Hmm," Tatiana started. Truth be told, she hadn't really thought about it much before. She was an only child, and her mother, the only magical one of her parents, had attended Beauxbatons- so she had very little to compare or compete with. "Well, at least in my opinion, each house has their own characteristics, all of which could make a great witch or wizard." Personally, she would have been happy in any of the four houses, but Ravenclaw seemed to suit her well so far.

She stopped and thought for a while before continuing her answer. Having come from a family of wizards, all of whom had attended the same school as her, Tatiana could understand why being the only one placed in a different house could upset Alyssa. And it made her sad to think that her family might consider Gryffindor to be a disappointment. Because, at least from what she'd read in her magical history books so far, the house had a history of producing not only great wizards, but some of the best.

"I think," she smiled, turning to the girl. "Perhaps the hat saw something in you that you've yet to see yourself. And you should remember that different isn't always a bad thing." She playfully nudged the girl on the shoulder. "Besides, one of us is going to need a little courage if we're going to survive that forest! It's not like I could bloody well throw my books at a werewolf or a herd of centaurs!" She laughed, hoping her making light of the situation would help in easing Alyssa's conflict about being sorted somewhere she felt like maybe she didn't belong. "Just think of it this way. If you're truly the first in you're family to be placed outside of Ravenclaw, it just makes you unique."

Alyssa listened to the response that Tatiana gave. "Well, at least in my opinion, each house has its own characteristics, all of which could make a great witch or wizard." A thoughtful expression formed on her face. She is right, in Hogwarts a History they spoke about a lot of different wizards and witches who came from all four houses. She bit her lip, this was not how her mother saw it, her father was not that petty, but her mother was a strange one. She prided herself on having a family full of intellectuals. She saw courage as a weak value.

"I think," she smiled, turning to the girl. "Perhaps the hat saw something in you that you've yet to see yourself. And you should remember that different isn't always a bad thing." She leaned to the side after Tatiana nudged her.
"I suppose you have a point there. I wished I had a normal family, but my mother can be a real troll when it comes to change. I have sent her a letter 10 days ago. She has yet to respond to me, I believe a howler will come soon enough. For an intelligent lady, she does not make a lot of good decisions." She smiled, this piece of information hit a little close to home, she was not used to sharing this kind of information with someone. She felt comforted by her words. She was wise beyond her years.

"Besides, one of us is going to need a little courage if we're going to survive that forest! It's not like I could bloody well throw my books at a werewolf or a herd of centaurs!" A grin formed on her lips. " I think we all have that trait somewhere in our bodies. It's possible to grow, maybe you can share some of your wisdom with me and if I have extra courage I will give that to you." She chuckled, she did not think she was extremely courageous, she spends most of her time in the safety of the library, she hid behind the words of her favorite authors.

"Just think of it this way. If you're truly the first in you're family to be placed outside of Ravenclaw, it just makes you unique." A thought sprung to her mind as she listened to Tatiana comfort her. This was not the first instance, she had read the memoirs of Professor Slughorn. There was a family whom he taught, all of them were placed in Slytherin, all except one. She accepted this.

"I think you are right. I believe I have been hard on myself for no reason at all, after all, I was placed in Gryffindor for a reason. It was not done by accident, I will carry the house name high." she was grateful for meeting this particular girl, she was able to melt away the self-doubt that she had been carrying around with her for the last few days.