Andrew Vance
The Birds and the B.
Sunday: September 2, 2018
Arrival at Owlery – 10:43 am
Writing a letter to his family took way longer than he thought it would, but he had to crank something out, when the details of yesterday’s events were still fresh in his mind. If anything, just a couple of words to let his family know that he had made it safely to Hogwarts, as he had promised them that he would, before he left London. Andrew didn’t want to withhold his reply from his family any longer. After breakfast, he had made a beeline to his dorm, sat at a desk, and hastily scribbled a letter, cramming in as many details as his overloaded brain could recall. The transfer of scenes onto paper was mostly out of order, as Andrew’s memories overlapped and bounced back and forth, his quill struggling to capture them all before his train of thought fleeted away. He figured his family would forgive the sloppiness of his output, ignore the splatters of black ink all over the parchment, and be thrilled to read it all the same. Not like Andrew wanted to waste any more valuable time rewriting his product and making it look neat. Writing with quills was a new challenge for him. Andrew had never worked with such a medieval contraption before. Pausing every few seconds to dip the quill tip in an inkwell really interfered with his flow of writing, making the whole letter process agonizingly slow. Oh well… He’d have to practice some more and get used to it soon, in preparation for his tidal wave of homework. No such thing as ballpoint pens at Hogwarts (as tempting as it was for him to try and smuggle a pack of them from London).
Traditionally, classes would start the day after the Welcoming Feast, but fortunately for Andrew, today was Sunday, which meant he had an extra day to get accustomed to his new surroundings and familiarize himself with the layout of the school in the daytime, compared to when he had first arrived at the castle last night. Along with his letter, Andrew had wrapped up a small care package for his family as well. He had saved two licorice wands from the Express ride and wanted his Muggle siblings to get a taste of whatever wizarding treats he had sampled on his way over to Hogwarts. Whether it was legal for him to be sending wizard candy to his Muggle family (it’s not like licorice wands were particularly “magical” anyway), Andrew didn’t know, but being extremely cautious and paranoid as he was, he didn’t want to risk the possibility of having his package confiscated, should anyone inspect him about its contents and what he intended to do with it. Putting on a gray-and-black camouflage pullover sweater, Andrew stuffed the small parcel inside his big center pocket, concealing it from prying eyes.
He was about to leave his dorm when a blaring mental reminder halted Andrew in his tracks. Oh, right! He nearly facepalmed himself. The Remembrall! Backtracking towards his bed, he lifted open the lid of the storage trunk, where the gleam of a gold band around a small, glass orb sat atop his pile of schoolbooks, strategically placed there so he wouldn’t forget about it amongst the clutter of other items. Reaching for the Remembrall, which turned red upon being grasped by his hand, Andrew brought the orb closer to his puzzled gaze, studying the engraved letters on the shiny gold band.
Aurelia B.
How he came to acquire this Remembrall was a whole other story in itself, one that largely faded from Andrew’s memory over time, as he himself was quite confused over the hazy course of events that led to this object ending up in his possession. It was only recently that Andrew had uncovered the Remembrall from his family’s basement, the morning after he had received his Hogwarts acceptance letter from Emma Hill and her parents. If it weren’t for Emma to identify what it was, and who it belonged to, Andrew wouldn’t have bothered bringing the wizarding item with him to Hogwarts. Knowing that Aurelia B. was somewhere within the vicinity of this school, Andrew was determined to return the long-lost Remembrall to its rightful owner.
Only one small problem. The glaring “B” part. How did Emma try to pronounce it again? Burden-?...Bursho-?...Birdhoot?...Burdenhoot?...Burshoot? Ugh! Andrew wanted to pound his head against the trunk. Stupid name. Why couldn’t it have been reversed? At least a complete surname plus first name initial would be more traceable. How could he possibly send this to Aurelia without knowing how to spell her last name? Was there a Student Directory somewhere in Hogwarts? Sighing in frustration, Andrew tucked the Remembrall inside the large front pocket of his trousers.
Whatever. He’d ask around. First things first…
With his brown envelope in one hand, Andrew set out to inquire about how one would send a letter to their relatives back home. Apparently, mailboxes weren’t a thing at Hogwarts. Then again, neither were cellphones or computers or other Muggle electronics, so Andrew wasn’t entirely surprised upon being informed about yet another, more archaic means of communication that he would be forced to use, along with the rest of the student population. Sending an owl for the first time sounded… thrilling? Terrifying?... Andrew wasn’t sure what to think of it. He’d find out once he got there. After receiving a few general directions from a fellow Slytherin, Andrew briskly made his way towards the West Tower, checking his whereabouts with other students along his path as he picked up his stride. He didn’t want to waste all day fumbling with how to send his letter off. There were still plenty more sights within Hogwarts to be seen!
After climbing what felt like endless flights of stairs (“to the highest room of the tallest tower”, as the Dragon's Keep from Shrek popped into his head), Andrew finally reached the Owlery, entering the room and stepping onto the first landing. He didn’t pay much attention to the smell or littered state of the floor (being mindful to watch where he stepped, as he picked his way forward). He was more fascinated by all the owls, having never seen a flock of so many gathered together.
With an urge to see what was at the very top, Andrew climbed the tower as far as he could go, all the way up to the platform above the fourth landing, where he could take in the full view of the Hogwarts grounds below. It was even more breathtaking by daylight. Shivering slightly from a chilled gust of wind that blew against him, Andrew was glad he had a sweater on.
Right. Step one complete. He made it to the Owlery and had his looksie. Now onto step two: Sending his letter. Easier said than done, in his mind.
Peeling his eyes away from the picturesque view, Andrew retraced his steps into the tower, descending the staircase onto the fourth platform, where the owls were most concentrated and numerous around him. Standing idly and meandering in circles, Andrew found himself at a loss of what to do next. How did one send an owl? Was he just supposed to grab one? Call it over? Say its name? Was there a secret password that they responded to or something? Not that Andrew was afraid of getting close to an owl, but he wanted to make sure that he was doing it right and didn’t upset the flock, for whatever odd reason. Something about the enchanted "sentience" imbued onto ordinary creatures familiarized around wizards made him feel uneasy and self-conscious, being stared at by hundreds of postal owls. They could probably sense that he was a clueless Muggle-born.
With the hopes of finding someone for assistance (whether it be verbal or hands-on instruction), Andrew approached a taller brunette girl, whom he suspected was a Hogwarts student, hopefully with experience in sending owls.
“Excuse me?” Not wanting to be obtrusive, Andrew spoke up meekly, “Do you know how to send an owl? It’s kinda my first time. I'm not quite sure how to do it.” He held up his letter, indicating the item that he wished to send.
Last edited by Andrew Vance on 8 Jul 2022, 00:49, edited 2 times in total.
The Birds and the B.
Aurelia was disappointed when she had realised her old dorm mates were no where to be found. They were of course muggleborn and with the many disastrous events that happened last year, it was no surprise that they were reluctant to come back. Her new roommates were fine, for now at least but she did not talk to them much yesterday. After the sorting ceremony of the first years and the feast, she headed straight up to the dorms, unpacked her stuff, took a shower and went to bed.
Aurelia had dragged herself out of bed that morning. With 2 months of sleeping in for the summer, Aurelia had not yet gotten used to the early waking timings. Classes had not yet started yet for her but the food in the great hall was limited and if she waited a little later, all the good ones would be gone. She of course, knew that my experience that many first years did not have.
After she had her fill, Aurelia went back to her dormitory, took her parchment, quill and inkwell and proceeded to the owlery. Her parents were always expecting letters from her every month to keep them updated. So much so that it became a routine. She made her way up the many steps of the owlery. Unsurprisingly, there weren’t many students up there with her as she sat and began working on the letter.
“Excuse me,” Aurelia lifted her head up from the letter only to see a smaller boy approaching in her direction. First years. Aurelia had a handful of first years asking her for directions along the confusing corridors that day, no doubt he was looking for help as well. That was exactly the case.
Aurelia listened as he stated his situation Saying he had never sent an owl before. A muggleborn most likely. It didn’t hurt to show him how, after all, she hadn’t classes until the afternoon. “It quite simple, I’ll show you.” she said as she approach one of the snowy white owls.
“These are magical creatures. They know exactly who to send to only if you addressed your letters or parcel right. Just give it the letter and it’ll take off. They’re trained somehow.” Aurelia continued. She waved her letter under its beak and like she stated, it took it and flew out of one of the windows.
Aurelia had dragged herself out of bed that morning. With 2 months of sleeping in for the summer, Aurelia had not yet gotten used to the early waking timings. Classes had not yet started yet for her but the food in the great hall was limited and if she waited a little later, all the good ones would be gone. She of course, knew that my experience that many first years did not have.
After she had her fill, Aurelia went back to her dormitory, took her parchment, quill and inkwell and proceeded to the owlery. Her parents were always expecting letters from her every month to keep them updated. So much so that it became a routine. She made her way up the many steps of the owlery. Unsurprisingly, there weren’t many students up there with her as she sat and began working on the letter.
“Excuse me,” Aurelia lifted her head up from the letter only to see a smaller boy approaching in her direction. First years. Aurelia had a handful of first years asking her for directions along the confusing corridors that day, no doubt he was looking for help as well. That was exactly the case.
Aurelia listened as he stated his situation Saying he had never sent an owl before. A muggleborn most likely. It didn’t hurt to show him how, after all, she hadn’t classes until the afternoon. “It quite simple, I’ll show you.” she said as she approach one of the snowy white owls.
“These are magical creatures. They know exactly who to send to only if you addressed your letters or parcel right. Just give it the letter and it’ll take off. They’re trained somehow.” Aurelia continued. She waved her letter under its beak and like she stated, it took it and flew out of one of the windows.
|
“One can never be too careful,” STM — 5 | EVA — 19 | STR — 5 | WSD — 12 | ARC — 5 | ACC — 9 |
Lovely Creature — Evasive Manoeuvres — Monster Hunter — Terrible Presence
Andrew Vance
The Birds and the B.
Andrew wanted to facepalm himself in stupidity. Of course it was that simple. Why did he always feel the need to overcomplicate things?
Mesmerized by the process, Andrew watched as the snowy owl took his letter and flew away. “I wonder how they do it,” he mused aloud, staring out the window for a few seconds before turning his attention to the girl. “Well, now I know. Thanks for that.” He beamed a sheepish smile in gratitude. Andrew still hadn’t fully wrapped his head around the concept of magic. There seemed to be no definitive “science” behind it, making it a slow process for him to understand. At least learning how to send an owl was one thing he could check off his list of wizarding to-dos.
He still had one more thing left to send. Trying it himself, Andrew spotted a nearby tawny owl and approached it. Withdrawing the long, thin parcel from his pocket, he held it out for the owl to take, which gave a little leap in his direction, swiping the bundle in its talons and speeding out one of the windows of the Owlery. Andrew grinned with success, knowing that the licorice wands were now on their way to his family.
In his haste, having been mostly concerned about reaching the Owlery to prioritize sending off his own items to his family, Andrew had lost track of the Remembrall that rested inside his front trouser pocket. Sensing that something was amiss, he then remembered his leftover task in finding the Remembrall’s owner, and decided to pop the question.
Turning to the girl again, Andrew piped up, “Oh, and by the way… Do you know anyone named Aurelia Beshowdenoot?” Knowing that he was failing miserably at pronouncing the name correctly, Andrew gave an embarrassed shrug. “Aurelia ‘B’? Her last name starts with a B.”
Mesmerized by the process, Andrew watched as the snowy owl took his letter and flew away. “I wonder how they do it,” he mused aloud, staring out the window for a few seconds before turning his attention to the girl. “Well, now I know. Thanks for that.” He beamed a sheepish smile in gratitude. Andrew still hadn’t fully wrapped his head around the concept of magic. There seemed to be no definitive “science” behind it, making it a slow process for him to understand. At least learning how to send an owl was one thing he could check off his list of wizarding to-dos.
He still had one more thing left to send. Trying it himself, Andrew spotted a nearby tawny owl and approached it. Withdrawing the long, thin parcel from his pocket, he held it out for the owl to take, which gave a little leap in his direction, swiping the bundle in its talons and speeding out one of the windows of the Owlery. Andrew grinned with success, knowing that the licorice wands were now on their way to his family.
In his haste, having been mostly concerned about reaching the Owlery to prioritize sending off his own items to his family, Andrew had lost track of the Remembrall that rested inside his front trouser pocket. Sensing that something was amiss, he then remembered his leftover task in finding the Remembrall’s owner, and decided to pop the question.
Turning to the girl again, Andrew piped up, “Oh, and by the way… Do you know anyone named Aurelia Beshowdenoot?” Knowing that he was failing miserably at pronouncing the name correctly, Andrew gave an embarrassed shrug. “Aurelia ‘B’? Her last name starts with a B.”
The Birds and the B.
Aurelia shrugged at the boy’s remark. The years of sending owls, she had never really questioned how it worked, the owls just knew how to do it. Perhaps it was just the wonders of magic or the pet store had somehow taught the animals at a young age. The boy produced a parcel and stretched his hand out and as soon as the owl saw, swooped it up into its taking and took off.
Job done. Successfully teaching the boy how to send an owl brought somewhat of a satisfaction even though it was a fairly simple thing. Aurelia turned on her heels, intending to gather her stuff and head down but stopped in her tracks when the Slytherin piped up yet again when a very peculiar question. The way he had pronounced her last name so terribly had almost made her flinch. “Bezuidenhout,” She corrected upon inclination, pronouncing it perfectly with the Dutch accent that almost everyone she met could not nail.
Odd it was for the boy to be looking for somebody who he did not know and in fact, was standing right in front of him. It made her eyes narrow skeptically. Was he playing some sort of prank? The girl a examined the boy, trying to find if they was any hint of mischief. As usual, she could not meet his gaze, the problem she had with blue eyed. The boy looked very vaguely familiar but yet again, most students in Hogwarts looked familiar to her. Nevertheless, She decided to go along with it in order to figure out his intentions. “Aurelia Bezuidenhout. Yes, I do know her she is a very busy person, perhaps I could help you. She and I share a few classes.”
Job done. Successfully teaching the boy how to send an owl brought somewhat of a satisfaction even though it was a fairly simple thing. Aurelia turned on her heels, intending to gather her stuff and head down but stopped in her tracks when the Slytherin piped up yet again when a very peculiar question. The way he had pronounced her last name so terribly had almost made her flinch. “Bezuidenhout,” She corrected upon inclination, pronouncing it perfectly with the Dutch accent that almost everyone she met could not nail.
Odd it was for the boy to be looking for somebody who he did not know and in fact, was standing right in front of him. It made her eyes narrow skeptically. Was he playing some sort of prank? The girl a examined the boy, trying to find if they was any hint of mischief. As usual, she could not meet his gaze, the problem she had with blue eyed. The boy looked very vaguely familiar but yet again, most students in Hogwarts looked familiar to her. Nevertheless, She decided to go along with it in order to figure out his intentions. “Aurelia Bezuidenhout. Yes, I do know her she is a very busy person, perhaps I could help you. She and I share a few classes.”
|
“One can never be too careful,” STM — 5 | EVA — 19 | STR — 5 | WSD — 12 | ARC — 5 | ACC — 9 |
Lovely Creature — Evasive Manoeuvres — Monster Hunter — Terrible Presence
Andrew Vance
The Birds and the B.
Andrew was impressed by the girl’s accent, the way she pronounced the name – and with such certainty! Andrew didn’t expect her to be so quick in correcting him, which made him hopeful that this girl knew who Aurelia was. Maybe he could pass the Remembrall over to her, rather than go through the process of sending an owl. As if he didn’t trust owls to be speedy at their jobs (they were probably faster than human couriers anyway). Andrew was interested by the girl's response. It seemed like she knew more about Aurelia’s whereabouts than he did.
If Aurelia’s skeptical examination of him was obvious, Andrew paid no heed, and would overlook it, caught up in his own burst of enthusiasm. “Really? Do you see her a lot? ‘Cause if you do, then… Well, if you don’t mind…”
Digging his right hand into his front trouser pocket, Andrew pulled out the Remembrall, which turned a striking shade of red upon contact, and held it out for the girl to see.
“I’d like to give this back to her, and I was thinking of doing it by owl, but I have no idea how to spell that ‘B’…‘Bezuidenhout’…” He struggled with duplicating the right accent (unsuccessfully) before giving up, “The ‘B’ name.” He went on, shyly, hoping he wasn’t wasting the girl’s time by asking, “But if you know where she is, maybe you could give it to her? If you can. Or I guess I could do it by owl, if you know how to spell the name, so I can write it. If you don’t mind.” Uncertainty was causing him to repeat his lines and ramble on unnecessarily. Fool. Just say what you have to say! Andrew berated himself silently, realizing that he shouldn't be acting so timidly. First impressions counted after all. But better to be more meek than bold, he assumed.
If Aurelia’s skeptical examination of him was obvious, Andrew paid no heed, and would overlook it, caught up in his own burst of enthusiasm. “Really? Do you see her a lot? ‘Cause if you do, then… Well, if you don’t mind…”
Digging his right hand into his front trouser pocket, Andrew pulled out the Remembrall, which turned a striking shade of red upon contact, and held it out for the girl to see.
“I’d like to give this back to her, and I was thinking of doing it by owl, but I have no idea how to spell that ‘B’…‘Bezuidenhout’…” He struggled with duplicating the right accent (unsuccessfully) before giving up, “The ‘B’ name.” He went on, shyly, hoping he wasn’t wasting the girl’s time by asking, “But if you know where she is, maybe you could give it to her? If you can. Or I guess I could do it by owl, if you know how to spell the name, so I can write it. If you don’t mind.” Uncertainty was causing him to repeat his lines and ramble on unnecessarily. Fool. Just say what you have to say! Andrew berated himself silently, realizing that he shouldn't be acting so timidly. First impressions counted after all. But better to be more meek than bold, he assumed.
The Birds and the B.
Aurelia’s eyebrows furrowed slightly when Andrew pulled out a glass orb from his pocket. The object was something she was familiar with but had gave up its use after she had started taking forgetfulness potion and never had her remembrance remaining clear after that. The Remembral was to assist in remembering while the potion was used to forget.
“You forgot something,” Aurelia muttered when the ball turned into a shade of red. Of course, he had forgotten how to spell her last name. Why was her name engraved on it, she did not know. Was the boy looking for the wrong Aurelia.B?
When the girl learned forwards to take a closer look, the remembral seemed vaguely familiar. Aurelia has seen remembrals and none of them were much different than another. But this, she had seen it before, the same font and her name on it right at the exact position. The current remembrall she owned was stored in her truck and she hadn’t took it out in months. Had she owned other remembralls in the past? Aurelia wasn’t sure.
So it could hurt to ask the boy. The question was now bugging her as well. “Where did you get that?”
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“One can never be too careful,” STM — 5 | EVA — 19 | STR — 5 | WSD — 12 | ARC — 5 | ACC — 9 |
Lovely Creature — Evasive Manoeuvres — Monster Hunter — Terrible Presence
Andrew Vance
The Birds and the B.
“Yeah…” Andrew metaphorically scratched his head on that one, overhearing Aurelia’s mutter about what the red Remembrall signified. If only he knew what he had forgotten, but the mystery stumped him as well. “Been trying to figure out what it is, but I’ve got no idea.”
At her next question, Andrew hesitated, if only for a split second to raise a dubious eyebrow at the girl as he analyzed her expression, wondering what her intentions were. After everything he had just said, simply asking for the girl to help him out in spelling Aurelia’s last name, she hadn’t answered his queries, which stood out to him as odd. What business was it of hers, anyway, to know where he had gotten the Remembrall? He should be explaining that answer to Aurelia, not this girl.
“My old school,” Andrew replied slowly, pausing to recollect everything that his mother had told him about how the Remembrall came to be in his possession. “Well, my mum said that I got it from one of the girls at my old school, but she moved away, so I never really had the chance to hand it back to her.” He shrugged blankly. “I don’t really remember anything about it though, so I can’t really say how I got it from her… But I’m guessing ‘she’s’ Aurelia though, right?” He looked at the girl expectantly, hoping she’d have more clarification to offer about how he could get in touch with Aurelia, without evading his appeals.
At her next question, Andrew hesitated, if only for a split second to raise a dubious eyebrow at the girl as he analyzed her expression, wondering what her intentions were. After everything he had just said, simply asking for the girl to help him out in spelling Aurelia’s last name, she hadn’t answered his queries, which stood out to him as odd. What business was it of hers, anyway, to know where he had gotten the Remembrall? He should be explaining that answer to Aurelia, not this girl.
“My old school,” Andrew replied slowly, pausing to recollect everything that his mother had told him about how the Remembrall came to be in his possession. “Well, my mum said that I got it from one of the girls at my old school, but she moved away, so I never really had the chance to hand it back to her.” He shrugged blankly. “I don’t really remember anything about it though, so I can’t really say how I got it from her… But I’m guessing ‘she’s’ Aurelia though, right?” He looked at the girl expectantly, hoping she’d have more clarification to offer about how he could get in touch with Aurelia, without evading his appeals.
The Birds and the B.
The name, her name, how the tiny letters carved into the remembral was familiar yet Aurelia could not wrap her head around her head on how it happened to be in this boy’s possession. She hadn’t own many remembrals in the past, or at least not the extensiveness of the twelve year old’s memories.
It was only at the Slytherin’s boys next few words did she finally remember. His old school, her old school, Hillstone Primary school, way back then while she was still seven... eight years old. Before she had moved to the one in Cheshire, still she couldn’t remember much but the remembral she had lost that was now in the hands of the boy.
Her a smile formed on her lips, there was no point hiding her own identity now that she known that this was not any scheme of sorts. “Aurelia isn’t my classmate” the girl began before extending her hand for a shake. “ We have not officially met, I’m Aurelia Bezuidenhout. That was in Hillstone primary school wasn’t it? ” Admittedly, the situation she had gotten herself into was quite an awkward one. “I can’t remember how I lost it. I suppose you were in the same primary school as I was?”
It was only at the Slytherin’s boys next few words did she finally remember. His old school, her old school, Hillstone Primary school, way back then while she was still seven... eight years old. Before she had moved to the one in Cheshire, still she couldn’t remember much but the remembral she had lost that was now in the hands of the boy.
Her a smile formed on her lips, there was no point hiding her own identity now that she known that this was not any scheme of sorts. “Aurelia isn’t my classmate” the girl began before extending her hand for a shake. “ We have not officially met, I’m Aurelia Bezuidenhout. That was in Hillstone primary school wasn’t it? ” Admittedly, the situation she had gotten herself into was quite an awkward one. “I can’t remember how I lost it. I suppose you were in the same primary school as I was?”
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“One can never be too careful,” STM — 5 | EVA — 19 | STR — 5 | WSD — 12 | ARC — 5 | ACC — 9 |
Lovely Creature — Evasive Manoeuvres — Monster Hunter — Terrible Presence
Andrew Vance
The Birds and the B.
Whoa.
As one Darth Sidious (aka. Palpatine) once said… “A surprise, to be sure, but a welcome one.”
What were the odds? What were the chances? …That the very person he was looking for, he would happen to find her so quickly. Here, at this place. Unintentionally. Accidentally, as it were. But, be as it may, it was a relief that he wouldn’t have to keep searching any further. He could laugh at his miraculous stroke of luck. What a coincidence…
With a bit of a stunned expression, which lasted for only a brief second, Andrew returned the girl’s handshake with a friendly smile. A hint of embarrassment crept into his stance. “Yeah, I suppose so. Hillstone… Can’t say I really remember you though. If only Remembralls were like magic crystal balls. Too bad they can’t show you the past of what you’ve forgotten.”
Andrew glanced down at the Remembrall in his hand. No sooner did he finish speaking that the red smoke inside the orb dispersed, leaving it crystal clear as it once was.
“Huh. Odd…” Puzzled for a moment, he then remembered he hadn’t introduced himself. “I’m Andrew. Andrew Vance. But you can call me Andy if you like. Most people do.”
Amidst the awkwardness of the situation, Andrew was nearly stumped for words. He didn’t know whether this was the start of a budding friendship or just a drive-by encounter. Where would it go from here?
“So… Wow. I…guess this is yours, then.”
He handed the Remembrall to Aurelia.
Mission complete.
On his way out of the tower, Andrew would turn to Aurelia and say slowly, contemplating aloud, “I suppose the ‘thing’ I actually forgot was… you, I think.” That sounded a bit too romantic, but it was wholeheartedly the truth of what he believed, what he felt was the right answer. Maybe the Remembrall really wanted to come back to Aurelia, so it did everything it could to reach out and help him remember. How it could influence his dreams, leading him to discover the forgotten Remembrall in the basement… One could only speculate that magic was the mysterious force that guided everything.
As one Darth Sidious (aka. Palpatine) once said… “A surprise, to be sure, but a welcome one.”
What were the odds? What were the chances? …That the very person he was looking for, he would happen to find her so quickly. Here, at this place. Unintentionally. Accidentally, as it were. But, be as it may, it was a relief that he wouldn’t have to keep searching any further. He could laugh at his miraculous stroke of luck. What a coincidence…
With a bit of a stunned expression, which lasted for only a brief second, Andrew returned the girl’s handshake with a friendly smile. A hint of embarrassment crept into his stance. “Yeah, I suppose so. Hillstone… Can’t say I really remember you though. If only Remembralls were like magic crystal balls. Too bad they can’t show you the past of what you’ve forgotten.”
Andrew glanced down at the Remembrall in his hand. No sooner did he finish speaking that the red smoke inside the orb dispersed, leaving it crystal clear as it once was.
“Huh. Odd…” Puzzled for a moment, he then remembered he hadn’t introduced himself. “I’m Andrew. Andrew Vance. But you can call me Andy if you like. Most people do.”
Amidst the awkwardness of the situation, Andrew was nearly stumped for words. He didn’t know whether this was the start of a budding friendship or just a drive-by encounter. Where would it go from here?
“So… Wow. I…guess this is yours, then.”
He handed the Remembrall to Aurelia.
Mission complete.
On his way out of the tower, Andrew would turn to Aurelia and say slowly, contemplating aloud, “I suppose the ‘thing’ I actually forgot was… you, I think.” That sounded a bit too romantic, but it was wholeheartedly the truth of what he believed, what he felt was the right answer. Maybe the Remembrall really wanted to come back to Aurelia, so it did everything it could to reach out and help him remember. How it could influence his dreams, leading him to discover the forgotten Remembrall in the basement… One could only speculate that magic was the mysterious force that guided everything.
— FIN —