Travel Is A Friend PV Airlia Winter Finished

[Font= Times new roman]Paris was gorgeous. Airlia knew this already from simply being inside the houses of Parisian noble pureblooded families. They loved to boast their money through architecture, fine dining, fashion, and entertainment. From having elephants on huge backyards to pools inside with marble pillars Airlia had seen it all... except the true Paris outside those glamorous homes.

Most of the time while visiting France the Winters would simply go straight to the houses of pureblood nobles, go through their business of whatever deal they were making, and then leave and go straight home. This time was different. Airlia had talked her father into taking the scenic route to the house of the Moreau family so they could pass by the Eiffel tower. Over the years of quick visits, Airlia had gotten only small glimpses of it and now she was seeing it in all of its glory.

The Eiffel tower was a beautiful landmark that towered over everything with its symmetric structure. But unluckily for them -or more precisely to Airlia's father and mother- the surrounding area was swarming with muggles and tourists.

It took Airlia's mother one look towards the landmark to know she was going to loathe this day. It really only took one bad thing to ruin Elora Winter's whole day. And this was it.

"We are going to smell like muggles by the time we reach the Moreau residence." Elora said, her face a cold, white mask of disdain. She looked royal and graceful as she glided through the crowds of tourists that would duck and run out of her way after getting one good look at her.

"Anna sen olla. He osaavat Englantia ja ymmärtävät sanasi." "Let it be. They know English and can understand your words." Airlia's father Aeson said as he watched his wife's antics of evading the muggles and leading their family through as quickly as possible despite promising to allow Airlia to get a good look at the tower.

"I don't care if they understand or not. If even one of them gets their hands on me I will curse them to next year." Airlia's mother seethed through her teeth.

And then it happened: a flash. All it took was one muggle tourists taking out their phone and snapping a quick picture of the Winters to get the rest of them to do the same.

Now if Parisians knew fashion then the Winters knew couture. The silk in their clothing came half a world away. They only pearls on their garments would be the ones so beautiful that they could be described as anger tears and the silk was endlessly worked on by hand for months before anyone would dare try to sell it to them. Elora expected excellence and settled for no less.

Even now Airlia was wearing silk that hugged her body and stayed sleek no matter what. Her dress was long with a tied braiding pattern at the bottom, running up the slit by her leg. She looked like a boho bride about to get married in Hawaii. Her mother and father were also wearing white.

This is why when the three of them walked past with their slender bodies, long white hair and pale skin like chalk people thought they were either models or famous. Their polished exteriors, graceful movement, and utter reverence just made them even a more of a sight to behold. Altogether the family looked ethereal and that is why Elora had put hundreds of hours into teaching etiquette to her children.

"Mr. Springhall." Aeson Winter suddenly said as he seized and smiled invitingly. He spoke to an elderly man that looked rather young for his supposed age. The man was with a crowd of his own and as Airlia looked at the people one by one she could identify some of them from her pureblood lineage lessons. "What brings you and your lovely family to Paris?"[/font]

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The four children were talking merrily, when a Englishman (he spoke English), with his family, suddenly appeared and turned to their grandfather.
“Mr. Springhall. What brings you and your lovely family to Paris?” He asked.
“Who’s this?” Lindsey asked Enjolras in a very low voice.
“Granddad’s old friend.” Combeferre said, in a low voice too but with a mischievous smile. (God knows why he heard!)
“Ah Mr. Winter! Such a pleasure to see you here!” her grandfather seized the man’s hand.
(-Winter? I guess I’ve heard the name somewhere)
“But I actually live in Paris with my eldest son. Moved here when he got married.” Herbert Springhall continued. “My younger son lives in Kensington now. Maybe you know him?” he asked.
“So a pureblood wizard too.” Lindsey whispered to Edmund. She now somehow understood.
Suddenly Enjolras took a step forward. “Mr. and Mrs. Winter, a pleasure to meet you.” he bowed. Ferre kept laughing secretly behind him. “And…Miss Winter.” The handsome boy said when he noticed the girl.
Ah!
Lindsey suddenly remembered. She had seen this girl somewhere in Hogwarts before. She’s probably a Hufflepuff as Lindsey was sure that there was this face in their common room.
Edmund seized her hand and took a step forward too. “My pleasure, too.” he bowed as well.
It should be Combeferre’s turn now, then Lindsey's. Quite weird isn’t it? But she guessed that it’s somehow a tradition and manner to speak by the order of age.
Combeferre grabbed her hand. “Nice to meet you all.” He simply said. “Mind telling me your name?” he nodded to the girl.
Oh dear Ferre! It’s terrible to ask other’s name especially when you’re unacquainted! Although knew that Combeferre just wanted to do something different, Lindsey still roared in her heart. She sighed.
“Pleasure too Mr. and Mrs. Winter! And hello Miss Winter! Would you please tell me your house? I’m pretty sure you’re in Hogwarts too.” She said, with her sweetest smile on her face.

@Airlia Winter

[Font= Times new roman]Airlia stood, her eyes on the Eiffel tower still while trying to shy away from the crowds around her by pressing towards her father until she was like glued to his side. While they might not have the most open relationship as father and daughter they were doing a lot better and he gave her comfort when she felt out of place.

"Ah, forgive me I did know your son Andre moved to France but I was not aware you followed. And for certain I remember Fitzwillam. A Ravenclaw was he not?" Aeson said, his last notion being more of a statement than an actual question.

From the calm glare, Elora sent to her husband Airlia knew her mother didn't like the fact that Aeson did not stay fully current with the outgoings of the pure-blooded witches and wizards around the world.

It was clear Elora knew exactly who everyone there was, where they lived, who they were married to, and could most likely resite the last 50 people down their lineage. She had that calm look on her face like the sea before a storm as she watched each Springhall family member from their heads to their toes sizing them up, her eyes always open for possibilities when it comes to family connections. To this day Elora Winter was trying to find Airlia a good husband and the Springhalls were certainly respectable enough.

Airlia did not like the way Elora looked at the oldest boy who had golden blonde hair and blue eyes. She had that tiny pleased smile on her face that she reserved for only those she wanted to join into their family.

The boy was certainly beautiful, but Airlia felt a sudden urge to run off to avoid her mother setting up a dinner for negotiations between family trading that would most likely turn into a talk about engagement: "I believe your eldest son married a French witch did he not?" Elora said gracefully pretending like she didn't know every intimate detail of the Springhall family: "I must congratulate you Mr. Springhall for having a son who brings such good connections to the family. Yvonne Solaci was a woman I heard many men were after if I am not mistaken? Such a lovely woman and from a great family..."

Airlia's parents and Mr. Springhall's talking turned into background noise when the other family members around Airlia's age began to introduce themselves.

Airlia's parents merely gave small and gentle nods of their heads towards the children, for the formal bow that was given to Mr. Springhall was never given back to a child from an adult. It would have been degrading.

When the handsome boy her mother had set her eyes on gave a bow to Airlia with a gentle introduction Airlia's cheeks flushed. If anything this just confirmed to her mother they would be a good match. Airlia almost hoped that the boy who she suddenly realized was Enjolras Springhall from her pureblood lineage lessons would act discourteously so her mother would bury any thoughts of a match.

She softly smiled with a courtesy before having her hand whisked away by a boy with brunette hair. She acted as politely and gracefully as she could, knowing that perfection and noble gestures were key. Her mother was the type to assert dominance as only few families could call themselves more noble, respected, or powerful than they. Airlia on the other hand enjoyed her time as a wallflower but moments like this gave her no shadows to hide in.

When the last young boy asked for her name Airlia was mildly startled. She did not expect to be so openly greeted. To ask a lady for her name so suddenly was strange because in formal moments like this the first hour or even the whole interaction would be restricted to last names and titles only.

The girl with long wavy hair, fair skin and royal bone structure Airlia did recognize and she was grateful for the girl's clever interruption of the awkward moment: "I am delighted of meeting you all." She began with a small look at all the children. "And why yes, I believe you are right about seeing me in the common room. I am under the credence that we both belong in house Hufflepuff." She smiled gently to be inviting to more conversation.

"And my name is Airlia. You may all address me as so; no matter how early it might seem. I feel we may one day be of great help to one another since we come from respected families." She spoke like a true lady and felt a warmth in her heart when she caught a proud look from her mother: "It is never too early to make connections."[/font]

[Font= times new roman]Airlia accepted the offer for a friendship gladly. She usually did not become too friendly with the children of the families her mother approved of. She didn't really care about blood status in Hogwarts and actually enjoyed hearing about the lives of all her muggle-born friends.

Pureblooded people were unreliable and unpredictable and she had to be so phony around them. Surely Airlia revered in her mother's praise when she got it but most of the politeness she showed people like the Springhalls was just for show. In these circles, everything was about appearances.

"Forgive me for being so upfront but I believe I have only seen two of you at Hogwarts." Airlia slightly nodded her head to her fellow Hufflepuff and the boy standing by her side. She then addressed the boy with dark blonde hair and overly large grey eyes that looked like two bright moons in the sunlight: "I believe I have heard you be referred to with a nickname of sorts: Ed was it?"

She smiled gently to herself knowing that she had seen this boy at the Gryffindor table with a bunch of loud students. "Would I be correct in assuming that you two gentlemen attend another wizarding school?" She asked the remaining two. "And while it may be slightly rude of me to bring this up but it is only in the name of propriety that you now owe me your names seeing as I have given you mine."

While Airlia spoke to the fellow students she half-listened to her parents conversating with Mr. Springhall: "Why you are too kind." Lady Winter said less than a heartbeat after being given a compliment. While her tone was that of a proper lady there was that constant edge of coldness that had always made Airlia's mother seem nearly unfeeling.

"I trust you will be attending our summer ball? It would be a shame for you to fall out of the social season." Aeson remarked while giving his daughter a worried look. Airlia nearly missed it since the look only visited her father's face ever so briefly before it was gone and replaced by a pleasing look as he awaited Mr. Springhall's response.

To someone else that look may have been nothing but to Airlia, it was a mystery. More often she had been getting that exact look from her father who only cast it her way when Airlia was acting like her mother.

You see Aeson Winter did not recognize his own daughter behind her wall of poise. Surely Airlia was raised this way and had acted like this all her life on formal occasions but now as his daughter was growing she was attending more and more social events and suddenly this nearly cold and impersonal exterior of perfection and elegance was all he could see in her. Lord Aeson Winter worried his daughter would lose herself in the midst of all this pureblood tradition. That his daughter would lose that innocent spark that made her stumble and fall and she would turn into nothing more than a beautiful statue just the way Elora Winter had always wanted her to...[/font]

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OOC: No worries about taking your time I don't mind. P.s Lady Winter (Elora) made the comments about Yvonne, not Lord Winter (Aeson)

[Font= Times new roman]Airlia listened to the boys speak confirming her thoughts about both the Gryffindor students named Edmund and the other two boys going to another school.

Airlia had always wondered about Beauxbatons and knew she would have fit in there well. The graceful girls being raised poised and elegant as they grow up would have been something Elora would have adored. Airlia thanked her lucky stars that her father had wanted to send her to Hogwarts just like tradition entails.

While Finland was in the region of Durmstrang and most of the occupants of Taika sent their children there the Winters had never once entered the school notorious for dark spells. While most would assume the Winters would fit in well with the school that thaught dark magic they really would not do well in there.

While the Winters did believe that pureblooded wizards passed on stronger magic to their children, were more powerful and pure they didn't practice dark spells like the followers of Voldemort did. They also did not wish ill on muggles -well perhaps Airlia's mother did a little bit, but only to keep them away from her- simply thought they were not worthy of their time as they weren't special enough to be blessed with magic. The Winters had always been a neutral family taking no part in any wizarding wars. They had always kept the rest of the wizarding world separate from their own safe haven in Finland.

It made no sense to anyone that they wouldn't be against muggles while praising blood purity until you learned the Finnish history with wizards that was rather problematic. You see the magical population of Finland was always at a decline. The Winters were the ones tasked with looking after all wizards and muggles for hundreds of years since they had been kings and queens. They believed in blood purity for preservation, but that desperate state of mind had twisted itself to a sense of superiority.

"I thank you for your acceptance over any mispronunciations, but I do speak a bit of French. While I may not be the best at my studies in Hogwarts my language skills have always been immaculate. I already speak five languages fluently and started my French practice just last year. I am certain in a year or so we can speak with your native tongue." Airlia smiled kindly with a slight nod of her head: "As the future Lady of Taika I must be able to speak to all residents with their own language so I learned Finnish, Swedish, Saame, and English already as a child and then later I learned Italian."

"Wonderful." Airlia's mother Elora stated after Mr. Springhall confirmed he would be attending. "I do ever so hope you will be bringing some of your grandchildren with you to the celebration. Especially Enjolras here. You know how important it is for him to attend formal social events like ours if he wishes to pursue a career in politics or even just the ministry. The officials and politicians he would meet could advance him along quite nicely. And he is close to the age where he will have to start thinking about his future. It will do him no harm to meet the right kind of people to nudge him along."

Airlia knew what her mother was saying was true. Their formal balls were some of the most prestigious events in the wizarding world and could open a whole new world to anyone. Getting invited was like winning the lottery to muggles. The people there were powerful enough to change your whole life if you played your cards right.

Leaving her mother to her manipulations Airlia looked back at the children before her: "I know it is your grandfather's choice if he brings you all along or not but I would be ever so excited to see you all there." She leaned towards the Hufflepuff girl, trusting her to be friendly like all the other Hufflepuffs she had met: "I can show you the best parts of the castle and maybe we can talk a bit less formally there and actually become friends."

Airlia gave her first genuine smile and drew back to her perfect posture stealing a glance at her mother to make sure the woman didn't catch her speaking less formally.[/font]

[Font= Times new roman]Airlia smiled at the prospect of making new friends. Truth be told she rarely enjoyed the company of pureblooded children. They often only thought of themselves and were raised in such luxury they could afford to hate anyone they wanted.

Most of the time Airlia would stay on the side-lines and simply try to act right, but stay out of the way. Since her brother's mysterious disappearance she had been used as a distraction to hide his absence. This made laying low very difficult for her.

Airlia listened to her parents talking for a minute before zoning out of the conversation. She kept her head held high but cast her eyes to the ground.

"Mother, we will be late unless we part with the Springhalls." Airlia found her voice when noticing how far the shadows had grown. She looked up at her mother who looked towards the sun slowly falling along the sky.

"Right you are." Her mother spoke in surprise.

"Ah, forgive me and my family, Mr. Springhall." Aeson spoke. "My family and I mustn't be late for our dinner."

While Airlia's parents were saying goodbye Airlia looked at the younger family members: "It was lovely to meet you all. We hopefully shall see each other at the ball."

The Winters all tilted their heads in goodbye and once they had gotten their responses from the Springhalls they passed by with a ghostly flourish.

Reducio

OOC: My part of the RP is finished. Do feel free to wrap it up : ) Super nice to RP with you!

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