It's No Use

You slip out of bed and slink out of the room careful not to rouse your dorm-mates. Fumbling around in the pre-dawn light you find your slippers and slink down into the Ravenclaw Common room. The painted stars of the ceiling cast a effervescent light throughout the room, removing the need for lanterns or torches.

When you reach the bottom of the stairs you have a chance to examine the common room in greater detail than the night before. There a a few small tables along the wall, each about the size of an end table, atop one of them is an abandoned wizard chess set. Moving over to get a look, you figure black had another move or two before being mate'd.

As you continue to roam through the common room, you come across a couple of bookshelves cleverly arranged to be partially hidden from the door. Titles such as "Fantastic Beasts: and Where To Find Them", "Quidditch Through the Ages", "Break with a Banshee", "From Egg to Inferno: A Dragon-keeper's Guide" and "Confronting the Faceless" all well worn facing out from the shelves. It seems that these books reveived a good deal of love, some even showing evidence of rebinding. You think of reading a book or two before you realize that the faux-starlight from the ceiling would make reading challenging.

At a loss for what to do, you consider heading back upstairs when you catch sight of a light from behind one of the stacks. Peering around the side of the bookshelf you see the form of a first year curled up in the corner reading a book, a strange light on the floor beside her. She is completely enraptured by the book clutched in her hands. You realize with a start that she is the young girl you met after dinner last night.

As you try to remember what her name was the first few rays of sunlight hit the east facing windows in the common room. Light streams across the far wall, and the paint of the stars seems to dim.

Looking up at the change of light the girl's eyes meet yours. Without moving her head she squeaks and buries her book, which seemed to have a young heroine staring down a monster on the cover, in the folds of her robes. Her lips move, and she seems to be trying to form some accusation or explanation. Noting how flushed she is you realize that she is more embarrassed than angry.

Seizing the opportunity you leap in, desperately trying to change the subject. "Neat light," you say pointing towards the lantern beside her. Trying out your most winning smile, you act like you didn't see anything. She accepts this as preferable and composes herself a little. "It's a Moonlamp," she says. "The Prefect said that they are for late-night study sessions. Usually they don't let first years use them." You tilt your head and move to ask a question when she seems to see where you are going. "I needed it to get acclimated with everything. I - I didn't come from a wizarding family." her voice gets ragged, "There's just so much, I've never even been away from home before, and - and- "

"Jennifer, right?" you ask gently. She looks at you with red eyes and nods "Jennifer Fairhaven. Marvolo Gaunt, right?" You nod. "If it makes you feel any better, I *do* come from a wizarding family, and I've never been away from home either." She looks at you as if unsure what you might be driving at. "Honestly, I am scared too." you say flatly, as if only just realizing it yourself. You sit down next to her. "My whole world was a small shack and the surrounding property in the country. My only real contact with the rest of the world were caregivers from the ministry who came to make sure I was alive, and keeping my nose clean."

"The school is more than I could of hoped, and its kinda scary, y'know?" you mutter, "I mean I could barely sleep." She looks at you from the corner of her eye, and some of that fire from earlier returns "I thought you pure-bloods were supposed to be mean to muggle-borns. What's your angle?" You find yourself laughing, "I guess my lineage works against me with everyone." She seems to ignore the comment "Well Marvolo, at least everyone you know, knows where you've gone. My best friend thinks I got accepted to a public school, and worse yet, I can't exactly write, because Owls don't play well with the post." she seems to be strangely amused.

"Well at least you have an owl," you snark, "They don't let snakes into the school, so my pets had to stay at home." She chuckles, not realizing how serious you were. "Oh, yeah sure, but my folks can't even write me, they don't have an owl- they can't send me any new releases! Top that!" Leaning into the strange jest "Well all my robes are green! So imagine how terrible it is to try and get fitted for new robes, not to mention the expense!" You laugh, kind of lost in the emotion, and you see Jennifer look at you cautiously. Her smile replaced with an appraising look. You hear the sounds of people in the Dorms beginning to stir.

Jennifer stands up, and offers a hand to help you up. "Well Marvolo, this was interesting, I don't think you are quite as simple as I thought you were." "Hey!" you sputter. "Don't go ruining it now," she chides "let's try to catch up later." With that she turns and bounds towards the stairs, rushing to the bathrooms before the showers filled with students eager to make it to the great hall before breakfast.

Taking a moment of reflection, you wander over to the lantern that she left carelessly on the floor, your hand trembles as you reach for it, how long had you been shaking like that?

Steadying yourself you climb the stairs and ready yourself for the week.