Pondering Closed

date | October 29th, 2021

Lindsey had to admit, it now seemed rather useless to waste her time here. It had been already twenty minutes or even longer, and still, no one passed through. She was getting to the point of regretting leaving the cozy common room some time earlier, and to - Merlin knew why would someone as strategic as her came up with the idea of trying to get some useful information by waiting for a passerby in the small hall. It was confusing, really.

If it wasn’t her dear mother Carolyn who insisted that she should return to Hogwarts as soon as possible, she would still have been stayed in Naples. Even though Lindsey herself believed that she even did better on academics while living with her mother, Carolyn told her to return. Her mother had a far far better health condition than what she had when the truths of the three families were told in summer. It was simply horrifying. Maybe too horrifying for anyone to bear, especially when her mother was the biological daughter of one family, the adoptive daughter of another, and the daughter-in-law of the third one. It wouldn’t feel good if you were adopted almost as soon as you were born by your parents’ friends according to your parents’ wish to protect you, and you didn’t realize that until you had gone through halftime of your life already. She knew that. And that’s why Lindsey eagerly wished to stay by her mother’s side, when her father and brother had to remain in England for certain reasons.

Although sighing deeply, she obeyed. By the time she set off for Hogwarts, it was only nearly two months after the term had started - and approximately one after she sent a goodbye letter to her friends. Would they feel surprised when she showed up? Or would they welcome her warmly? Lindsey wasn’t very sure about that. She had told them that she might be back for Christmas, but - ah, but she’s back in October. What would they think of it? She did not notify them of her return, even Lucia, who had been good enough to keep in touch with her. She just returned. Secretly, quietly, and nobody would notice.

Shaking her head and patting her cat Napoleon who was meowing in her arms impatiently, her chocolate brown eyes gazed at the entrance of the small hall. When she managed to pull all her luggage into the badgers’ dormitory, it was to her surprise when she found that people were in a weird excitement. She could see gorgeous dresses and careful make-ups, not to mention all those giggles and gossips spreading around. Confused yet curious, Lindsey made her way to the common room, only to find more gowns and suits. Clearly some event was happening, most likely a ball. Remembering last year this time - oh, how happy she was with Wyatt at the ball! - Lindsey guessed that it could be the clue. The annual ball. And possibly, the foreigners were visiting.

It was of her curious nature that she made her way up. Napoleon clung to her and followed. A bit hesitate on where to go - really, she didn’t know where the dance was, and there was no way that she’s going to join it. Granted, Lindsey was not the best dancing partner that you could find - or you may even say that she’s rather terrible at it and would prefer to avoid dancing. Music was nice, but not waltz, apparently.

Napoleon was getting more and more impatient overtime. Calmly settling herself down beside a random portrait (as HoM wasn’t a strength of Lindsey’s, she didn’t know who’s the honorable figure in the painting), she tried to calm Napoleon down as well. It was no doubt that Lindsey had changed during the past months. She had grown more tenacious, more analytical, maybe even calmer than before. And she started to trust less. These changes were unavoidable. But whether they were good or not, she wasn’t sure.

Having grown much taller than her second year, Lindsey secretly hoped that everything would be turning out as good as her physical growth. Though…could it be so? At least, it seemed that she was like a outcast here now, and it certainly wasn’t something that she was hoping for. But back to the original topic - would anyone pass by?

Reducio

NOTE | this took place at the same time as the fall ball, so please make sure that it fits your timeline before joining - to join it, you may be someone who simply haven’t joined it or left the ball scene. otherwise this is an open thread for anyone to join, and I feel very excited to be back!