All I Need For Warmth PV: Jam Chong Closed

Jam rubbed her two gloved hands together and blew out a shaky, frozen breath. The girl pulled her coffee-coloured coat closer to her in an attempt to trap any warmth spared by the chilly weather. Her brows were furrowed and her lips were pressed into a straight line as she walked along the lake.

The rosy-cheeked girl glanced over at the lake as she walked along its banks, shaking her curtain bangs away from her face to get a better view. It was an understatement to say that the view was gorgeous. The serene iced-over lake stretched out beneath the crisp winter sky. The sun was peeking out from the thick white clouds, but it cast a soft glow on the frozen surface.

Tearing her eyes away from the picturesque landscape, the girl spotted a familiar silhouette perched under a snow-covered tree. Jam’s face lit up as she crafted a meticulous plan in her head to surprise the brown-haired girl reading. Jam picked up the pace and shuffled towards her friend.

“Elly!” She yelled excitedly and tackled the unsuspecting girl into a tight hug. The attack would have been way more impactful if it wasn’t for their thick coats. Jam released the other Ravenclaw girl from her embrace and peered over at the red-covered book in her hands. “Rereading your favourite book, huh? Long day?” Jam asked, not tearing her eyes away from the words on the book.

─────Elodie blinked, nodding slowly as she held it."Yeah.." She murmured with a soft smile. "Classes were hard today. I got an E on my Transfiguration homework 'cause I missed a whole question" The girl sighed, tugging at her hair.

"Honestly, the snow isn't helping either. Reminds me of home." Elodie shrugged calmly, carefully closing the book after marking her place. "It's not too bad, though. How about you? What're you doing here? Not that I mind or anything, just wondering."

Elodie tucked a strand of brown hair behind her ear, red from embarrassment and the cold air. She hadn't been embraced like that for a long, long time, the last time being from her excitable sister.

The girl let out a puff of breath, sending a cloud of fog billowing out in front of her as her fingers twitched, resisting the urge to reach out and try to touch the quickly fading cloud. Instead, she tucked her fingers into the pockets of her baby blue overcoat, the insides of which were lined with faux fur that was as soft as feathers on her fingertips, and she couldn't help but smile softly at the feeling and the reminder that she had a friend here.

─────Elodie giggled, brushing the white flakes from her coat. "Well, as you know, I live in Wales, near Monmouthshire. My house was in a pretty modest village, which was pretty old-fashioned. There were all these beautiful rolling fields and hills there, and whenever winter came, the entire place would be coated with this fluffy white snow that my sister and I loved to use to make snowmen and stuff."

She sighed, blowing a puff of warm air onto her hands and rubbing them together in an attempt to warm them up.

"I loved it, growing up. I'd spend all day outside, waiting until my fingers felt like they were going to fall off to go in. My mum has this incredible hot chocolate recipe that she'd make for me, it's incredible."

Elodie leaned back, running her thumb over the words written on the cover of her book. "I miss it, too be completely honest. I don't regret coming here, though. I love Hogwarts. It just... feels more like home than my actual home, you know?"

The girl sighed, pushing her glasses up her nose and biting her lip quietly.

─────Elodie gave Jam a soft smile, drawing small shapes in the snow and recognizing the heavy silence in the air, quickly going with the change of subject. "Yup. Her name's Minnow, she's a cat. I was actually planning to stay inside today and play with her, but she preferred to stay on the rug in front of the fireplace."

She huffed out a laugh. "She's like a little princess, always demanding food and affection." Elodie tossed her hair over her shoulder, crossing her ankles. "Do you want to get a pet while you're here?" The girl tilted her head, biting her bottom lip curiously.

As she pondered this, it occurred to Elodie how little she really knew about her friend, and she felt a pang of guilt. She'd been distracted with taking care of her cat and trying to maintain perfect grades, hardly speaking to Jam other than their weekly chess matches.

What kind of friend was she?

Jam deserves better. She's sweet and friendly and so so clever, and Elodie never felt self-conscious or shy around her. What she didn't say was that Jam felt more like home than anywhere or anyone else. When she was with her, she could just.... relax, which wasn't something Elodie was used to.

She sighed, rubbing her hands together before pressing them to her pink cheeks, suddenly regretting forgetting to bring the gloves her mother had knitted for her. At this, she felt memories flash behind her eyelids every time she blinked as she awaited Jam's answer. Her mother knitting by the hearth while six-year-old Elodie played with the family beagle, a white knitted sweater-dress 8-year-old Elodie had adored. Memories of her childhood, of her life. What was Jam's life like? Who are her friends? What are her parents like? Does she have siblings? Those were questions Elodie yearned to know the answer to, but wasn't sure how to approach it.

─────Elodie blinked, her eyes going wide as a huge smile spread across her face after she was handed the gloves. "Thanks!" She said, tugging them on and beaming at Jam, listening curiously.

She giggled as the snow hit her, collapsing into the fluffy snow dramatically. "She'll never love you more than me, even if you commit murder by snow!" Elodie said, draping her arm over her forehead. "You're so cruel!" She groaned.

Elodie rolled over, sitting up once again, flakes of snow clinging to her hair and clothes. "In all seriousness, no matter what you do, she'll never love you more than she loves herself and tuna." She said bluntly, seconds away from breaking out into giggles again.

It was undeniably true, for Minnow spent her days grooming until her pelt was completely beautiful and begging Elodie for tuna with those huge hazel eyes of hers that Elodie always fell for.

She smiled at that thought, recalling those pleading eyes Minnow gave her, always reminding her of her beagle at home. "Ginger cats are really cute, though. I like them." Elodie said thoughtfully, twirling a strand of her hair on her pointer finger.

She sighed, biting her lip and doodling a cat in the snow as she gazed at Jam, taking in her porcelain skin and lovely hair, subconsciously tugging on her own hair. She'd never feel envious of her friend, but at that moment, she couldn't help but feel a pang of self-consciousness deep in her gut.

She knew it was stupid. She loved her friend, felt so incredibly comfortable with her. But, she couldn't help it. Instead, Elodie resolved to ignore it, burying it deep into the most secret part of her mind that she'd never revisit ever again.