Bad memories Pv Sarah Lightwood Cl

Unlike many her age, Sarah happened to love the morning. She’d often rise alongside the sun, enjoying the way it rose and peaked through the hills surrounding the castle. It was why she could so often be found down by the Great Lake in the mornings - the early hours affording her both the silence she so craved and the crisp air which reminded her so much of her mother.

Today was such a morning, the young Slytherin having woken just past sunrise. As much as she loved her dorm room, fascinated by the water which surrounded them filled with creatures and untold stories she so desperately wanted to learn, it sometimes made her miss the sky. So, she grabbed her clothes and changed quickly so as not to disturb her dorm mates, cast a fond look at Nova who was still sleeping peacefully at the foot of her bed, and left for the day.

Walking through the empty corridors of Hogwarts was always a surreal experience, when compared to the hustle which usually filled them throughout the day. Sarah loved it. It gave her the chance to relax and drop the usual air of confidence which she so desperately kept herself shrouded in. Perhaps it was unhealthy to only really be yourself when you were alone, but she’d long since accepted that she’d never allow herself to feel pain like she’d done five years ago, never allow herself to love someone as much just to lose them. She found comfort in herself, and the painful loneliness which came with it was just something she’d have to deal with.

She didn’t see another person until she’d made a round of the castle grounds where her eyes landed on an older girl who seemed to be exercising. Sarah allowed herself a brief moment to admire the way the girl moved, obviously practised, and a strange mix of elegant and strong. It reminded her of how she felt when she danced - precise and controlled. Had she not been so intently staring, she might not have noticed the edge fo anger and upset to the girl’s moves, but she could see the apparent pain in each movement, each kick and spin. She eventually caught herself staring, and went to turn away, affording the girl some privacy, when she saw her tumble and fall.

“Crap,” she muttered under her breath, unsure whether it was prudent of her to approach a stranger who was likely embarrassed after having fallen. But the upset she could see the girl was in, and the slight tremor which seemed to wrack her body, made that decision for her, feet moving before she even realised.

“Hey, are you alright?” She asked hesitantly when she was close enough, knowing that if it she herself was in that position, she’d likely not want anyone to be approaching her. She took another few steps so she was just in front of the girl, close enough to see the faraway look in her eyes. “Hey,” she repeated, crouching down and reaching a hand which hovered in the air for a few seconds, not knowing whether it was okay to touch her or not. The girl looked mildly panicked, as if she'd climbed inside her head, something Sarah was prone to doing herself. “You're okay. You're at Hogwarts, you just tripped over, that's all,” She said, hand still hovering just above the girl’s shoulder, hoping that she hadn't awfully misread the situation.

The signs of a panic attack, or at the very least, close to one, were obvious to the Slytherin, from the ragged breath to the few tears which slipped from the girl’s glazed over eyes. Sarah herself had memories she liked to keep locked away, unthought of for as long as possible, and had a suspicion that the girl in front of her was the same. When she saw recognition in the girl’s face, she slowly let her arm fall back to her side, aware that touching someone who had clearly just be caught remembering something - vicious if her reaction was anything to go by - was not the best idea.

As she spoke, Sarah immediately shook her head, determined to let the girl know that no apology was necessary. “No need to apologise,” She said softly, offering the girl a comforting smile which took the edge off her sharp features. She hesitated for only a moment before sinking down to the ground the girl before her was sat on, registering and ignoring the slight morning dew which moistened her trouser leg as she did so. “I’m the one who approached you, anyway, I should be the one apologising for intruding,” She said, aiming for a joke to lighten the mood, though not quite hitting the mark. She sighed, meeting the still slightly teary eyes in front of her.

“Did you want to talk about it?” She asked softly, as though she was worried she might startle the girl like you might a wild animal. If she did want to talk about whatever it was that had clearly haunted her, then Sarah was determined to be the best listener one could be. If she did not, then she’d change the topic quickly, perhaps ask about the moves the girl had been making just before she’d fallen. Either way, she’d sit with the girl until she’d calmed down, knowing that being alone like this wasn’t the best idea.