Reading and Rowing PV Avis Greymond

Avis glanced up in surprise at the unsolicited interruption to her pre dinner study session. She’d headed straight to the library after her dreaded Herbology class had concluded and had hoped to get some homework done before Quidditch practice later that night but it seemed the essay would have to wait as an unfortunately familiar face came into view. Avis narrowed her eyes. The thief.

She scoffed at the girl’s fair but lacking apology. The Ravenclaw shook her head and set her quill down beside the stack of unopened textbooks on the table.

“Oi look who it is. Come to rifle through my bag too?” she replied cooly, her response coming off a bit stronger than she’d intended. “And you’re right. You shouldn’t have. But I’m not the one to apologize to. Whoever owned that bracelet better have gotten it back… unless you still can’t admit that you stole it,” she hissed, her sharp whisper echoing through the shelves, despite her attempt to remain quiet.

To be completely honest, Avis, just like the thief in front of her, had been unable to forget the experience no matter how hard she’d tried to stifle her curiosity about the Hufflepuff’s strange actions, not to mention the grudge from the girl’s venomous response to her queries.

To add onto the steaming water threatening to boil over in her brain, Avis had had 4 terrible practices within the past week and just earlier, she’d been pulled aside by the Herbology professor to discuss her rapidly dropping grade, despite the tutoring. All this combined with her already uncontrollable temper made this a horrible time for the Hufflepuff to approach with an apology, no matter how sincere. Avis glowered at her, cheeks flushed and expecting an answer, which in her mind, had better be good.

Interacting with @Avis Greymond

Matilde was a little shocked that her apology wasn’t as well-received as she had hoped. The girl clearly hadn’t forgiven her, and not just for the yelling. Matilde had hoped she wouldn’t have to explain the stealing issue, but of course that had been silly as it was what had started this whole thing.

Her face reddened, and she took a step closer so only the girl could hear her.“Okay, okay.” Matilde took a deep breath. “I stole it. But it’s not what it looks like.”

One last time, Matilde tried to think of something to say so the whole potion subject could be avoided. However, she came up with nothing, and decided further lying wasn’t the best course of action, anyway.

“Just hear me out. I drank a potion I found in my common room. A whole stack of them were there, just lying around. I know it was stupid, I didn’t know where it came from, or what it was, even. But I was just so curious… I mean, it’s not like the staff would let anything dangerous in here…

At first it seemed okay, more than okay. It made me happy. Life seemed grand, my worries had vanished. Then all of the sudden, it was the opposite. That day in the study room, I felt miserable. There was a letter… it told us to complete a task. I know it wasn’t right, but that’s why I stole it.”

Matilde hadn’t liked the judgement in the girl’s voice. She didn’t know her, this mistake wasn’t who she was. Even though Matilde regretted what she said next as soon as the words left her mouth, she would be lying to herself if she said she didn’t believe it a bit. “But it wasn’t me.”

Avis blinked in disbelief. Was the girl still denying her blatant thievery? The Ravenclaw didn’t know whether to be impressed or appalled at how fast she’d come up with the far-fetched story she was spouting about potions seemingly lying around the Hufflepuff common room for unsuspecting students. There was no way in the wizarding world that a prefect would let that fly, unless they weren’t as diligent as the Ravenclaw squad. Avis furrowed her eyebrows and crossed her arms, the schoolwork in front of her completely forgotten.

“These potions were just lying around?” she questioned, disbelief icily coating her words. “And you drank one? What in Merlin’s Beard would possess you to drink a random potion?” the girl continued, eyeing the Hufflepuff in front of her.

“I don’t care why you took the bracelet. I just want to know if you gave it back. And rest assured it won’t happen again. Not when I tell everyone you’re a thief… and a surprisingly fantastic story teller,” she retorted.

This girl was absolutely thick in the head if she thought a Ravenclaw would believe such a tale. Avis wasn’t usually one to flaunt her so-called wisdom, considering her most dominant Ravenclaw trait was definitely curiosity (which had gotten her into this mess in the first place) but she wasn’t one to be taken as a fool, especially not today.

“Unless you can provide some proof of this mysterious potion, there’s no way I’m going to believe someone managed to get something of that sort into Hogwarts,” she finished with a haughty sniff, trying to ignore the desperation in the Hufflepuff’s voice. It was almost as if the girl was telling the truth, but there was no way… right?

Interacting with @Avis Greymond

Matilde felt she was quickly losing control of her emotions as the girl continued to look at her with that icy expression, completely distrusting. She couldn’t remember anyone ever looking at her like that before. “I know how that sounds,” Matilde said defensively. Of course it was stupid, and of course the girl wouldn’t believe her. Matilde honestly had a hard time believing it all herself sometimes. She was quickly beginning to regret her decision to tell her the truth.

But all thoughts of guilt quickly left her at the girl’s next accusations.

“Of course I gave it back,” Matilde retorted, her voice raising certainly louder than was appropriate for the library. She didn’t like the way the girl was talking to her. “A… thief?” Matilde repeated in disbelief. This was ridiculous. She hadn’t taken the bracelet with any maliciousness. This girl had it all wrong.

“I don’t need to prove anything to you.” Matilde said ferociously. “You don’t have any proof either. You were the only other person who saw. And I’ve given the bracelet back, so where’s your evidence, eh?” Matilde couldn’t really believe what was coming out of her mouth. She tried to take a deep breath, but she couldn’t staunch the flow of anger.

Note:

Reducio

I’m so sorry I took so extremely long to reply!

Avis huffed in response but a quiet nag of curiosity was pulling at her thoughts. There honestly was some plausibility to the girl's story, despite the Ravenclaw's logical mind taking over. She'd heard stories of older students pranking younger ones with silly potions and other magical tricks, but nothing so dangerous as this. Her defenses began to lower when the Hufflepuff informed her that she'd given the bracelet back. Seemingly nothing was wrong... so why had she taken it in the first place? Avis just couldn't think of an answer and it was bothering her greatly that she might have to believe this ridiculous tale.

She sighed as the Hufflepuff fiercely defended herself, her voice rising in frustration. An eyebrow raised at her point that Avis herself didn't have any proof. The Ravenclaw scoffed.

"What? That's ridiculous. The person who was stolen from would obviously back me up. And besides you know I saw you," she replied, her voice also rising. A passing student glanced at them in quiet confusion and Avis shot them a glare. They scurried into the next row, cheeks flaming.

She swallowed slowly, realizing her curiosity once again had gotten the better of her and her willingness to hear someone out.

"Say your tale did happen and you were forced to steal the bracelet, not that I believe that one bit. Anyways did you tell someone? A prefect... or even your head of house? That sounds a bit dangerous... almost on the side of dark magic..." she trailed off, mind wandering off to things Da had told her about dark artifacts and the like during his time as an Auror. She shuddered and gave the girl a suspicious look, one of many she'd sent her way during their... altercation.