Parker sighed a little bit, reaching up to ruffle her hair. She’d done her best not to make a big deal out of the change, despite the fact that it was… drastic to say the least. Besides that, Millie just make Parker nervous in general. She forced herself to turn and give the girl a small smile, “Yesterday. My dads were in Hogsmeade and surprised me for my birthday.” She shrugged a little, trying to play it off. It wasn’t that big of a deal, after all. “How are you, Millie? How’s Grant.” She had her own personal feelings for the self proclaimed power couple, her feelings for a different Hensley nonwithstanding, but staying on the so called queen’s good side would never be a bad thing.
Millie smiled. It was almost like she was abashed of her new hairstyle, it did seem to fit her quirky personality... but she quickly noted how she turned it right back on her. Sure, Millie loved talking about herself, but she loved talking about other people even more so. Even to their face it was entertaining. “For your birthday?” She smiled brightly, almost feeling bad for missing it. Almost. “I’m sorry! Happy belated birthday, dearie, I’m sorry I missed it! I’m doing just fine, but your birthday! How exciting! Did you do anything else entertaining with your dads?”
Parker’s dads, both of them, had always celebrated birthdays differently than other families, at least, as far as she knew. She didn’t have many other families to compare to. Instead of a single day, or even a week, Parker’s dads spent the entire month sending her little treats and trinkets. She was surprised with their first big surprise of the month. They’d shown up, out of nowhere, during a Hogsmeade trip, and told her that it was time for a change. She had been confused, but she trusted them with her life, so she didn’t question it when they took her to a salon to get a new hairdo. They knew her preferences, after all, nothing crazy, nothing short, no dark colors. She’d been shocked when she looked in the mirror and seen the transformation. The red was shocking, but it wasn’t bad.
When she’d gotten back to Hogwarts, she’d felt the eyes and heard the murmurs, but she didn’t think much of it. She already had a target on her back, this just made it a little bigger. Maybe it would take the target off the people around her. She’d decided on a walk, happy that the rain had let up, and was a little startled when she heard a voice behind her. Especially when she recognized that voice. “Hello, Millie. I was just going for a stroll.” She replied, hoping to keep the conversation with the girl short. Somehow, though, she knew better.
Millie’s first thought was that a Weasley had taken interest in talking to her, which was a different change of pace. The red hair had told it all, plus there were enough of them sometimes it felt like they were springing out of the ground. She could only imagine what family time was like. But the moment the redhead had spoken, it was a different voice than she ever had expected. “Parker! Oh,” She smiled, remembering Lysander’s comment about her. Parker didn’t know she knew, and it’d stay that way. “Your hair! It’s so different, when did you redo it?” Millie didn’t hate it, but it was a change.
It was March now, which meant a few things for Millie Hensley, queen of the school. The snow on the ground was nearing gone, the days were warmer, but spring in the UK meant one thing: rain. But there was something different about this year for Millie, it only meant in two or so months’ time she’d be handed a certificate and she’d be out of Hogwarts... forever. That was a weird concept to her, but she sort of enjoyed thinking about it. No more spending days listening in on over dramatic fourth years, Millie Hensley was starting to have bigger plans for her life than just Hogwarts.
Today was a rare day; it was only merely overcast. It had felt like forever since it wasn’t rainy, and although the ground was soaked and there were puddles everywhere, Millie decided to take a walk to the grounds to enjoy the day. It’d the only a few until the weather got truly warmer, but rain was a decent trade off than any temperature below 5 degrees.
Millie didn’t recongize the person she spotted next, then again she wasn’t really looking all that hard. “Hello? What are you doing down here?”
Anneliese turned around to smile at Millie. She knew this girl as the popular “queen” of Hogwarts, and, despite of Anneliese’s little pureblood popularity and kindness, she felt a little embarrassed. After all, she didn’t paint that good, and Millie will probably hate her work. She smiled gladly at her comment. “Thank you. I know Hogwarts is particularly difficult to reproduce, but I’m just trying.” she said modestly. She carefully listened to Millie’s question. She was always willing to hear people’s advice, she thought it was precious. She nodded “You are right. I should paint it a little greyer… But, turquoise is my favorite color, I simply love bright sky”, she shrugged, a big smile on her face.
Millie nodded with a smile. Painting was an artistic expression, but maybe it was Millie’s mildly cynical side that wanted the skies greyer. She knew the fifth year probably at least was more innocent than she was, not to mention Millie had a quite a few outside things to deal with (such as her brother). Painting wasn’t about being correct or incorrect, it was about showing the world what you truly thought, and even your deepest emotions would go into painting. “Hogwarts does need a bit of cheery bright-sky days,” She commented as she walked over to pick out a few brushes. “But hopefully spring will bring some of them.”
As social queen, quidditch coordinator, florist, gossip girl and so much more, I’ve never really had time for this whole ‘romance’ thing. It’s just always sort of gotten in the way, and I’ve seen emotion destroy so many decent people’s lives. I’ve always been one to watch people destroy their romantic lives from the outside, and it’s sad and entertaining all at once.
But, I’m married, so I had to fall in love eventually, right?
First of all, I’ve never really been one for sappy, emotional things. They’re cute in moderation, and when I mean moderation, I mean hardly at all. I’m not one for meaningless emotion.
But since I’m subjected to these assignments by the social hierarchies of our school system, I guess I’ll explain my ‘first love’.
I was 14, a fourth year, a bright, upcoming Ravenclaw who had just landed her first gig as quidditch coordinator since the one last year had just left. Equipped with my best friend, Grant Hensley, a hell of a social reputation and a charming smile, I was determined to one day rule Hogwarts.
Now, just because I don’t show my feelings doesn’t mean I’m oblivious to them. I just prefer to hear other peoples’ feelings before my own. Anyways, fourth year was about the year my classmates got interesting. We all started really growing up- well, at least physically. Biology was an interesting thing, and probably the only boy taller than me besides my own brother was constantly by my side. A Slytherin and a Ravenclaw, we were the perfect duo, and anyone who dared cross us was doomed socially.
Anyways, my sort of gangly, socially intelligent and incredibly loyal best friend came back from winter break our fourth year rather attractive. It wasn’t like he changed a whole lot, his smirk and snarky remarks were just the same as when he left. I assumed it’d pass like the rest of my feelings, but it was like a dull roar in the back of my brain.
But any queen bee of the school knows how to mask her true emotions, and I even faked people into dating Noah my sixth year. The dull roar gradually got harder and harder to mask, and then finally as a seventh year I gave up. Besides, it’s not like I’d be back in the school soon after this year.
Anneliese has always loved painting. She was really creative, and nothing pleased her more than the feeling of dirty hands (they were always dirty). She just remembered all the paintings she left at her home, that she truly regretted. Art was not a big thing at Hogwarts. However she truly appreciated the few artist friend’s she got here, that accepted to borrow her some easel. She took a while deciding what she was going to paint, and chose to paint… Well, Hogwarts, itself. She’s seen plenty of portraits inside of Hogwarts, and knew the story of most of them, but never saw a portrait of Hogwarts. The weather was a bit sunny outside, so she decided it was the perfect time to start painting. She difficultly installed her equipment in front of a few surprised students and sat comfortably on a stool. She then started to draw, she would add colors later. The sun was slowly setting but Anneliese did not even realize, absorbed in her painting. She suddenly heard footsteps. She decided not to look away from her work in progress as she calmly said: “I hope you appreciate art.”
“More than appreciate,” Millie started, as she recognized Anneliese painting. A personal fan of painting landscapes herself, Millie loved it when she saw others appreciate the art that she loved herself so very much. The size of the painting gave Millie a sight into what her fellow housemate was painting, it was nothing other than Hogwarts itself. “Nice detail in there,” She noted, usually not one for particular compliments unless she meant them until every last dying breath. “Although the sky isn’t that bright, are you going to paint it a bit greyer?”
Lysander smirked as they looked up, setting the magazine to the side. “Well, why shouldn’t I be? I’ve got such an interesting meeting planned today” They teased, grinning. Settling back in their chair, Lysander took another sip of their latte, motioning towards the other chair. They waited for her to sit, before tilting their head. “Well, I have something especially juicy, but if you want to tell me something you’ve heard, go right ahead” Lysander joked, knowing that Millie would want to hear what Lysander had first. “ It has to do with your new brother in law, as a matter of fact.”
Millie gasped, she never heard anything about her brother-in-law, it was like he was a loner or something. Except for the one thing with Ben, that was interesting. At least he didn’t sleep with Ben. “Oooh,” She giggled, putting aside her negative emotions that resurfaced from that one particular chaser, “And I have some news about my roommate. Big news. But don’t keep me waiting, I want to hear yours first.”
By the time Noah next looked at his arm, he was back in his room, surrounded by books, when he reached forward and saw more ink in the corner of his eye. Setting the book down, he ran his finger tips over the designs, astounded by how realistic they seemed. Noah had never been the most artistic, and the best he could do was star charts and some anatomical diagrams. The landscape on his arm, however, was stunning. That’s amazingly done He wrote below the words carefully.
A few hours later, Millie was back in the common room, lounging on the couch. She decided to take a look at her previous work, seeing if this ‘soulmate’ had replied back. And surely he did. Millie smiled, glad that whoever this person was, they had a real appreciation for art, maybe this soulmate thing wasn’t so wrong after all? She whipped out a pen and replied back to this mysterious stranger: Thank you, I’m more of a painter however.
Hello, and what an actually sunny day for a Quidditch match! Today's match is between Ravenclaw versus Hufflepuff, and it's gonna be interesting. The Badgers has had one win and no loses to Ravenclaw, who has one win and one loss. This should be a fun game, but personally I'm rooting for Ravenclaw, house pride after all, and besides last time Ravenclaw won, the afterparty was fascinating. And as our teams are walking onto the field, let's hear it for our players!
The crowd held their breath as the quaffle soared through the air...
and the game begins!
R - 000 | H 000
Wood is first with the quaffle and, surprise surprise, Vane is right on his tail. Looks like Hufflepuff is out to prove that last game wasn't a fluke. Luca swoops in for a steal, but Wood dodges him. Vane cuts Luca off, probably getting a little jealous. Wood heads for the goal, and Godfrey seems to be off in la la land, because Wood makes the score. Ten to Hufflepuff!
R - 000 | H 010
Ravenclaw doesn't seem to be taking the early score lightly, and they come back swinging, literally. Lockhart lobs a bludger at Vane, who it just barely misses. Careful Lockhart, you're gonna piss off Wood and Colton. Wouldn't want to take on that double team, though I'm sure Vane would. What? Sorry Professor. Anyway. Debussy has the Quaffle and is heading for Warren to make a score. Luca and Bones aren't far behind, ready for a pass, but Debussy seems to be stubbornly determined to make a goal herself. She lobs the quaffle at the goals, but Warren blocks. Luca catches it before Wood can and goes for another attempt. Warren is just too short. Ten to Ravenclaw.
R - 010 | H 010
Vane is the one to get the quaffle first this time, and she, shocker, passes to Wood and heads upfield. It looks like they're trying to pull some fancy move. The Ravenclaw chasers seem to notice as well, because Bones heads to cut Vane off. Colton is ready for him, though, and the pass goes uninterrupted. Put some ice on it, Bones. Vane fakes left, passes to Wood who can't go five minutes without his girlfriend and apparently appeared out of thin air, who lobs it through the goal. Ten to Hufflepuff.
R - 010 | H 020
Hufflepuff isn't playing around this time. Temples immediately gets the quaffle and goes for a score. Godfrey manages to block, but Wood snatches it out of Debussy's grasp before she can get anywhere. A rogue bludger from Greene causes Wood to lose his grasp, but of course Vane is there to cover his slack. She passes to Temples, who passes back to Wood just as she gets knocked off course by a bludger, and Wood passes to Vane when she gets in scoring range. Godfrey looks ready for her, but he falls for a quick fake to the right and she scores left. Ten to Hufflepuff.
R - 010 | H 030
Ravenclaw isn't playing around anymore it seems. Bones has the quaffle and he's determined to score it seems. Luca and Debussy are lagging behind a bit, probably thinking about what they're gonna do at the after party, but Bones is on the warpath anyway, and doesn't seem to be paying any attention. Woah, Bones scored that one quick. Was Warren fixing her lipstick or something? Ten to Ravenclaw.
R - 020 | H 030
Harvey and Boot seem to be flying circles around each other. No sign of the snitch, but they're making me dizzy. The Badgers have the quaffle again, and they seem to be playing hot potato. Wood, to Vane, to Wood, to Temples. It'd be great if someone could hold the ball longer than five seconds. I'm getting tired just watching them. Wood passes to Vane again, and she goes for the score. Godfrey blocks, but Temples is there to catch it and score anyway. Ten to Hufflepuff.
R - 020 | H 040
Hufflepuff seems to be determined to go undefeated. They're going hard this game. Vane has the quaffle. She's heading upfield. She shoots, she... ooh, look at that. Good block from Godfrey. Luca comes in for the steal, and heads back toward their goal, ducking a bludger from Colton. Warren is ready to block, hovering between two goals. Luca sh-- or not, quick pass to Bones, who makes the score. Ten to Ravenclaw.
R - 030 | H 040
Well, our seekers are still playing ring around the rosie. We'll check back in on them later. Meanwhile, Debussy is heading for a score. A bludger from Malfoy knocks her off course, and she loses grip of the quaffle, but Bones is there to cover. He was probably staring at her arse, to be honest. He passes to Luca, who is in scoring range, and a quick fake catches Warren off guard so he can score. Ten to Ravenclaw.
R - 040 | H 040
Hufflepuff is playing hot potato again. They really seem to like their passes. Wood to Temples to Vane to Temples again to Vane again to Wood again. Is the quaffle hot or something? Hold on to it for more than five seconds, guys. Wood makes one more pass to Vane, of course, who fakes a shot at the goal, but shock surprise, she passes to Temples, who manages the score. Ten to Hufflepuff.
R - 040 | H 050
The seekers actually seem to be doing something now. Harvey is heading upfield toward the Hufflepuff goals, Boot is on her tail. Meanwhile the Hufflepuff chasers are playing hot potato yet again. That's getting old, guys. Try a new technique. A bludger from Greene sends Harvey off course and Boot pulls ahead. He's going into a dive, Harvey isn't far behind. Whats this? Oh, Boot pulls out at the last minute. The Hufflepuff chasers go for another score and its good. Ten to Hufflepuff, but whats this? Boot has something in his hand? Yep, that's the snitch. It's over folks. One fifty to Ravenclaw.
