Edith sat, staring at the closed window. Whenever she went outside, she wanted to be inside, and vice versa. She wished that she could be anywhere else; the Leakey Cauldron was loud and busy. Edith needed a distraction; something to do, someone to talk to. She had gone to The Leakey Cauldron for a few days in a row, in the hope of finding someone she knows to chat with. So far she had found no one.

Last week, she had made daily (and secretive) trips to Hogsmeade with a Fake Permission Slip, and spent hours in the Three Broomsticks or Honeydukes, or if the weather was a bit better she would roam around all the stores. And yet, she was waiting for no one except Time to pass by. She had a lot of time recently, because homework was low, and especially on the chilly weekends, everyone was in the noisy Ravenclaw Common Room, so for those who wanted to play Chess, or sit quietly and read a book, it was almost impossible.

So now Edith started trying out the Leakey Cauldron. She had met no one who she could have chatted with yet, but perhaps soon that would change. Perhaps she would even take back her wish to be anywhere else.

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I wobbled into the leaky cauldron, head spinning and throbbing and pounding all at once.

It was too much.

Too much talking and yelling. It was too cold but too hot. Someone had bumped into me and my stomach lurched so hard I was sure I was going to barf. I probably looked stupid but my head throbbed- I just needed a way out. So I'd stumbled into the leaky cauldron and was greeted by a much smaller crowd, to my relief.

The air smelt like ale and stew. Warm. Like My gran's hugs. God I missed her. I missed my mum and dad.. I should Owl them later.

I looked around nervously, trying to find a place where I could sit when I saw her. She was a Hogwarts student, probably a year or two older than me and was sitting alone, looking out of the window.

She had long brown hair that fell in waves- 'It looks so soft...'. Big, brown eyes sparkled like someone had buried gold in them. My brain went fuzzy and my heart hammered harder in my chest, if possible.

'She's really pretty' I think to myself. 'Wait no shoot- don't stare at people Lou! What would Mum think...'

But I couldn't bring myself to look away.

Before I can even register what I'm doing, I start walking over to where she's sitting. What am I doing?! I probably look like a wreck, eyes red and puffy and cheeks blotchy from both crying and the cold.

Too soon I'm standing at her table.

"Um.. C-Can I sit here?" I stammer, my tongue clashing against my teeth.

My face blushed red. Abort! Abort!!

I quickly turn to leave only for her to speak up.

Edith smiled as a boy sat down at her seat. At least someone to talk to! she thought.
"Hiya! I'm Edith. I'm in Ravenclaw. Of course you can sit there!" she said, and they started chatting. Edith was shy at first, but the boy seemed kind and she slowly began to notice how his hair shone when he turned around, how his eyes glistened. She wasn't listening to what he was saying, rather looking at him. His voice seemed warm, kind, the kind... the kind Edith's mother's voice used to be like. Caring. Comforting.

Memories of her mother rushed into her head, and she felt sad, only for a while. She had never known her mother, or father, so had never loved them. She had only lived with them for one year before they both died, and Edith was sent from place to place, orphanage, foster family, school, until she no longer knew where she belonged.

"Yes," she replied, without knowing to what.

The bustling air of the Leakey Cauldron hummed around them, glasses clattering against each other. It was hot this day; Edith felt odd, as if someone had been meddling in her brain. She heard someone shouting, and someone crying, and laughing, at the same time. Edith felt tired, but she was unable to take her eyes off the boy in front of her. His golden-brown hair, smooth skin, perfect eyes... Despite everything, she felt she was in love for the first time.