9 Sep 2023, 04:23
Long Time, No See
Today was going to be the day Astra actually ate breakfast.IC date: September 5th
time: 9:00 a.m., breakfast
@Renelle Dalton
It wasn't because she thought she was heavy that she skipped. In fact, she knew she was underweight and that her mother would be very mad if she found out Astra had been skipping meals. She'd simply been too busy forgetting everything she was supposed to remember. And sleepwalking into the dungeons, apparently.
So yes, today she set a goal: breakfast was going to be had. It wasn't a very hard goal to meet, seeing as breakfast was Astra's favorite meal of the day.
She woke up early and read for about an hour before making her way up to the Great Hall, more awake than she had been for days.
And more hungry, her stomach decided, letting it's displeasure be known in a growl.
As Astra loaded up a plate with toast, bacon, eggs, and watermelon cubes, she thought about all the people she had met so far. It was really crazy, seeing as they were all very accidental meetings and Astra actually liked all the people pretty well. Back at Muggle school, she had only met two people she actually liked, the rest she actively hated or barely tolerated. Then again, they had asked for it, her brain justified as she poured herself a glass of orange juice.
There was just one person that Astra had been hoping to see. One person who she would be devastated to miss. That one person was Renelle Dalton, Astra's childhood best friend.
They were both half-bloods with strong magic in them, since neither parent was a Muggle. They simply had Muggle ancestry. Astra would be very surprised and very disappointed if Renelle hadn't gotten her letter. After all, Renelle had told Astra about her first instance of magic the day after it happened, three years before Astra's own.
The girl munched on the watermelon, looking around the Great Hall absent-mindedly. Then... Ren? Her gaze landed upon a girl with long brown hair and a very familiar smile, even from a distance. She wore Ravenclaw robes. Astra felt a smile creep onto her face. Of course she got Ravenclaw.
Astra jumped up, almost knocking over her juice, before hopping over the table and almost sprinting toward the Ravenclaw table. "Ren!" she called out.
Last edited by Astra Norrick on 13 Sep 2023, 02:30, edited 1 time in total.
9 Sep 2023, 05:52
Long Time, No See
To any curious onlookers right now, Renelle might have looked a bit tuned out- not all there. Her cheek was rested on one hand, the other holding a peanut butter waffle, which she was eating at the speed of a glacier, occasionally taking small bites. She might also have been smiling, which might anyone who had seen her around to suspect she was possessed.
Yes, it was rather out of character for the Ravenclaw girl to be sitting dreamily at the crowded table, in the middle of the Great Hall, but who could blame her? It was finally Saturday, which meant no lessons for two. Whole. Days.
As she sat there, she wondered what she was going to do after this. Probably go back back to the dorm room to sleep. she thought sarcastically.
Just then, a loud shout pulled her back to reality. “Ren!”
Of course, Renelle did not immediately make the connection between the name and herself. No one called her ‘Ren’ in this school that she knew of, or anyone ever, really. People have tried, only to be shut down immediately by her. Sorry, but her name was not Ren, and it never would be.
Nevertheless, she still reacted to the name, maybe as a force of habit from all those previous interactions. Looking around, she searched for the person who had shouted earlier.
Suddenly, she froze. There was one person who insistently called her by that nickname, despite all her objections. And it wouldn’t be far-fetched to believe that that person had received her Hogwarts acceptance letter as well…
She was right— a girl with long bronze hair, regal features and an ecstatic expression was making her way toward the Ravenclaw table. Or sprint her way, would perhaps be a more accurate description. Renelle almost dropped her waffle.
“Astra?” The dark-haired girl blinked in surprise. “Wait- you’re here too?”Interacting with @Astra Norrick
From sprinkler splashes to fireplace ashes
9 Sep 2023, 17:57
Long Time, No See
Astra grinned at Renelle's expression of surprise. The girl was eating a peanut butter waffle. The sight caused memories of sleepovers and days spent at the Dalton house to come to mind, and Astra smiled even wider. She slid into the bench beside Renelle. "Course!" she said in response to her friend's question. "It was a sure thing, you know."
She had almost forgotten how much taller Renelle was compared to her. Even sitting, Astra had to look up. Well, I'll be having a growth spurt soon, Mum predicts, she thought with a mental shrug.
"I can't believe I didn't see you on the train," Astra exclaimed, drumming her fingers on the tabletop. "I wish I had, though." She shuddered as she remembered the awkward hour spent on the Hogwarts Express just a few days ago.
"So you got Ravenclaw? It suits you! Shame we're in different houses, though." Her smile falters as she looks at her friend. They had both hoped to go to Hogwarts, first of all, but by extension also be in the same house. Astra had expected to get Ravenclaw and it wasn't far-fetched to expect the same for Renelle. And though Astra wasn't displeased with her sorting into Slytherin, she was sad that she wouldn't get to spend as much time with Renelle. "How is it in the tower?"
@Renelle Dalton
She had almost forgotten how much taller Renelle was compared to her. Even sitting, Astra had to look up. Well, I'll be having a growth spurt soon, Mum predicts, she thought with a mental shrug.
"I can't believe I didn't see you on the train," Astra exclaimed, drumming her fingers on the tabletop. "I wish I had, though." She shuddered as she remembered the awkward hour spent on the Hogwarts Express just a few days ago.
"So you got Ravenclaw? It suits you! Shame we're in different houses, though." Her smile falters as she looks at her friend. They had both hoped to go to Hogwarts, first of all, but by extension also be in the same house. Astra had expected to get Ravenclaw and it wasn't far-fetched to expect the same for Renelle. And though Astra wasn't displeased with her sorting into Slytherin, she was sad that she wouldn't get to spend as much time with Renelle. "How is it in the tower?"
@Renelle Dalton
10 Sep 2023, 01:48
Long Time, No See
Before Hogwarts, Renelle never really had that many friends. She hadn’t minded either- all the potential playmates her parents introduced her to had been loud, annoying, and just generally not people she wanted to be around. Maybe this made her seem arrogant, but she didn’t care. However, there was one exception to the dark-haired girl’s distaste for social interaction— Astra Norrick.
They had met through their parents. Astra’s dad, much like Renelle’s mom, worked in the Ministry of Magic, and were on friendly terms. That had caused them to visit each other ever so often, bringing their children with them.
That was when the first meeting of Astra and Renelle occurred. Though she mostly dislikes overly bubbly and friendly people, somehow on the Norrick girl, those qualities seemed endearing. Maybe it was because there was just so much to her than that.
Now that she thought of it, Renelle wondered how they had never met up after getting their Hogwarts acceptance letters. Perhaps they were both too busy getting ready? Oh, well. At any rate, both were here now, and that was awesome.
“I know, right?” Renelle sat up straighter, discarding her waffle carelessly on the table. “I sat with this other girl who also got into Ravenclaw, but we had a complicated interaction and it was weird. It would definitely have been so much if I had sat with you, though.”
“And thanks!” she looked down at her Ravenclaw robes self-consciously. “I’m kinda skeptical if the sorting hat’s really as great as they say, though. I mean, when you say Ravenclaw, I’ll bet you ten galleons the first thing most people here think of is books. And I’m just.. not that book-y.”
Trailing off rather awkwardly, Renelle cleared her throat, and peered closely at Astra’s robes. “Oh, nice. You got Slytherin? Ambitious, huh? Very cool. Though with how happy you are all the time, I would’ve thought Hufflepuff or something. Or maybe my house.”
Interacting with @Astra Norrick
From sprinkler splashes to fireplace ashes
10 Sep 2023, 02:17
Long Time, No See
Astra grimaced as Renelle also shared her train experience. "Let's definitely sit together on the way back, then. I'd hate for either of us to relive those interactions," she said. She knew how much Renelle hated socializing.
When Renelle mentioned that the Sorting Hat may have gotten it wrong, Astra shook her head. "Ravenclaw's not all books. There's many different kinds of smart, and you've got a good mind in your head without loving books." She raised her eyebrow as she joked, "Though there have been lapses in your genius before."
"Yeah, being a snake has been great so far. I think I'm going to like it, even if it was a surprise," she admits in regards to her house.
She had a twinge of guilt when the Ravenclaw pointed out that she would've thought Hufflepuff based off Astra's happiness. Renelle was Astra's only close friend back home, and though the two were close, Astra had a strong aversion to sharing her troubles with her friend, especially the school related ones. She didn't want to seem like a burden.
And maybe she was afraid of being completely open. It hasn't gone so well in the past.
But now, looking back, wasn't that kind of like lying, putting forward a falsehood? She knew Renelle would have helped her through any trouble, even if it didn't directly affect the girl.
In response to Renelle's assessment, she answered, "I would've never thought of Hufflepuff. Am I really that happy go lucky?"
@Renelle Dalton
When Renelle mentioned that the Sorting Hat may have gotten it wrong, Astra shook her head. "Ravenclaw's not all books. There's many different kinds of smart, and you've got a good mind in your head without loving books." She raised her eyebrow as she joked, "Though there have been lapses in your genius before."
"Yeah, being a snake has been great so far. I think I'm going to like it, even if it was a surprise," she admits in regards to her house.
She had a twinge of guilt when the Ravenclaw pointed out that she would've thought Hufflepuff based off Astra's happiness. Renelle was Astra's only close friend back home, and though the two were close, Astra had a strong aversion to sharing her troubles with her friend, especially the school related ones. She didn't want to seem like a burden.
And maybe she was afraid of being completely open. It hasn't gone so well in the past.
But now, looking back, wasn't that kind of like lying, putting forward a falsehood? She knew Renelle would have helped her through any trouble, even if it didn't directly affect the girl.
In response to Renelle's assessment, she answered, "I would've never thought of Hufflepuff. Am I really that happy go lucky?"
@Renelle Dalton
10 Sep 2023, 02:54
Long Time, No See
If she didn’t know better, Renelle might have thought that Astra was a bit offended by her comment about Hufflepuff being a better suited house for her than Slytherin. She did say her own house as well, after all. Had the girl missed that?
“Hey,” she inched closer to her friend. “There’s nothing wrong with being a Hufflepuff. I mean, all that means is that you’re… nice. And hard working.” And a pushover and kind of boring. Shut up, brain.
“My point is,” Renelle continued, “Hufflepuffs are great. I mean, look at Cedric Diggory! He was chosen to be the Triwizard champion! I mean, he did die, but…” Oh, dear. "At any rate, you’re not in Hufflepuff, so you probably don’t have to worry about that.”
The Ravenclaw girl decided to shut up. Maybe it was a good thing she hated talking to people, because she was not good at it. Another thing Hufflepuffs excel at.
Attempting to change the subject, she quickly added," So, how has Hogwarts been for you? Classes have been kinda boring, though…” Renelle paused thoughtfully. “I am definitely surprised by the amount of people who want to help, even if they come off as a bit pushy and annoying.”
Suddenly, Renelle thought about how weird she must appear to be acting, at least to anyone who had interacted with her before, and had to bite back the urge to laugh. Talking, relaxing, reassuring… Truth be told, this was how she acted to anyone she was close to- though she definitely hadn’t reached that stage with anyone from Hogwarts yet. Funny how different she was in front of different people.Interacting with @Astra Norrick
From sprinkler splashes to fireplace ashes
10 Sep 2023, 03:12
Long Time, No See
Astra let out an embarrassed laugh as she realized what she had said had been a little rude to Hufflepuffs. "Oh, that's not what I meant. Sorry. Hufflepuff is a great house, I totally agree," the girl chuckled as her cheeks turned red. She appreciated that Renelle was stepping out of her comfort zone to comfort her, even if she wasn't doing a great job. "I just wasn't expecting that. And you're right, Hufflepuff was not for me. As evidenced here." She gestured to her uniform with a lighthearted smile. She knew Renelle was trying her best. Honestly, Astra doubted she could do any better.
She wasn't good at words like many Slytherins, but she also preferred to let her actions speak in relationships. The action of Renelle reaching out like this meant more than any of her well-intentioned words, and Astra hoped her friend knew that.
She welcomed the change in subject, preferring not to dwell on her ineptness at conversation. That's when she'd overthink and really kill her time with Renelle. "It's been good so far. I enjoy Charms a lot, just like I thought I would. Most of the other classes are kind of boring, I agree," she said. "I've been reading ahead in the textbook and trying some of the second year charms, too." She was surprised at Renelle's statement of people wanting to help. "I haven't been approached by anyone yet. And I'm glad I've not if they're pushy. I hope they leave you alone soon. I know how much you hate that."
She suddenly remembered her weird incident the other night. "Oh! Guess what?" she said, readjusting into a more upright and engaged posture. Astra dropped her voice into a whisper as she leaned in close to Renelle. "I was sleepwalking the other night. I've never sleepwalked before in my life and I somehow made it into the dungeons while basically being a zombie. How weird is that?"
@Renelle Dalton
She wasn't good at words like many Slytherins, but she also preferred to let her actions speak in relationships. The action of Renelle reaching out like this meant more than any of her well-intentioned words, and Astra hoped her friend knew that.
She welcomed the change in subject, preferring not to dwell on her ineptness at conversation. That's when she'd overthink and really kill her time with Renelle. "It's been good so far. I enjoy Charms a lot, just like I thought I would. Most of the other classes are kind of boring, I agree," she said. "I've been reading ahead in the textbook and trying some of the second year charms, too." She was surprised at Renelle's statement of people wanting to help. "I haven't been approached by anyone yet. And I'm glad I've not if they're pushy. I hope they leave you alone soon. I know how much you hate that."
She suddenly remembered her weird incident the other night. "Oh! Guess what?" she said, readjusting into a more upright and engaged posture. Astra dropped her voice into a whisper as she leaned in close to Renelle. "I was sleepwalking the other night. I've never sleepwalked before in my life and I somehow made it into the dungeons while basically being a zombie. How weird is that?"
@Renelle Dalton
10 Sep 2023, 04:14
Long Time, No See
Of course Astra was reading ahead- even before arriving at Hogwarts, she had often expressed her excitement for the subject. Personally, Renelle didn’t see what the big deal was about it, but hey, if her friend liked it, what right did she have to complain?
“Nice.” she bumped Astra’s shoulder playfully. “At least now I have someone to do my homework for me. And," she shrugged. “The approaching thing is honestly fine. I mean, it was a Gryffindor, and poking their nose into other people’s business is basically, like, their thing.”
As she listened to Astra recount her sleepwalking adventure, her eyes widened. “Woah. Sleepwalking to the dungeons? That takes skill. I mean, how did you even open the doors?” Renelle paused. “I mean, you did have an unhealthy habit of doing it in our sleepovers as well, but nothing that impressive.”
Renelle suddenly remembered the poor waffle, laying forgotten on the tabletop. Quickly, she grabbed it back up, taking a bite. “My first week is seeming a bit boring now.” They fell back into silence. Honestly, the Ravenclaw had no idea what else they could talk about. Houses, classes, weird stuff that happened… What else was there?
Renelle stood up. “Hey,” she finished the last of her waffle. “Do you wanna go somewhere else?”
Interacting with @Astra Norrick
From sprinkler splashes to fireplace ashes
10 Sep 2023, 04:56
Long Time, No See
"Give me a sickle and you might have yourself a deal," Astra said in response to the homework comment. She nodded along as Renelle explained that the "helpful" person was a Gryffindor. "That makes sense. Being nosy really could be a lion career choice, couldn't it? For Roderick, at least."
Astra's eyebrows nearly disappeared into her hairline when Renelle told her that she had indeed walked in her sleep before. "Wait, really?" she asked. "Oh my gosh. Bloody hel- I mean heck." Being around Renelle seemed to magnify her mother's voice in her head. Language! "Well then. At least I always woke up in your room when I did it then." She smirks when Renelle calls it "impressive." "Why thank you, I tend to surprise myself with feats of grandeur." Her tone is a clearly joking one and one that Renelle knows well from their long history together.
A silence permeated the air since neither girl had any other exciting happenings during their first week. Astra stared off into space while Renelle finished her waffle.
The Ravenclaw stood up. "Hey. Do you want to go somewhere else?" she asked.
Astra stood too. "Absolutely," she said, cracking her back. She remembered the half-eaten plate of food she'd left on the Slytherin table. "Let me grab my orange juice." She speed walked back to her house's table. Sorry, bacon, but this is more important than you. Besides, I'm not hungry. Astra could almost hear her mother's scream of frustration following that last thought as she chugged the juice and met up with Renelle again. "So where to? I'll go wherever."
The two friends walked together out of the Great Hall, one happy to just be in the presence of the other, happy that they could share yet another chapter of their lives together.
@Renelle Dalton
Astra's eyebrows nearly disappeared into her hairline when Renelle told her that she had indeed walked in her sleep before. "Wait, really?" she asked. "Oh my gosh. Bloody hel- I mean heck." Being around Renelle seemed to magnify her mother's voice in her head. Language! "Well then. At least I always woke up in your room when I did it then." She smirks when Renelle calls it "impressive." "Why thank you, I tend to surprise myself with feats of grandeur." Her tone is a clearly joking one and one that Renelle knows well from their long history together.
A silence permeated the air since neither girl had any other exciting happenings during their first week. Astra stared off into space while Renelle finished her waffle.
The Ravenclaw stood up. "Hey. Do you want to go somewhere else?" she asked.
Astra stood too. "Absolutely," she said, cracking her back. She remembered the half-eaten plate of food she'd left on the Slytherin table. "Let me grab my orange juice." She speed walked back to her house's table. Sorry, bacon, but this is more important than you. Besides, I'm not hungry. Astra could almost hear her mother's scream of frustration following that last thought as she chugged the juice and met up with Renelle again. "So where to? I'll go wherever."
The two friends walked together out of the Great Hall, one happy to just be in the presence of the other, happy that they could share yet another chapter of their lives together.
@Renelle Dalton