Year/Job
Sixth Year
I love it when you call me señorita I wish I could pretend I didn't need ya |
|
stargazing
Jan 26, 2024 12:24:02 GMT -8
via mobile
Post by Isabella Clarke on Jan 26, 2024 12:24:02 GMT -8
Today was a special day for Isabella, though you might not realize it by just looking at her. The dark haired witch went throughout her day like usual, sticking by Laurie’s side as they walked from class to class. She was cheerful, often seen laughing with her friends or smiling at the very least. But if you were paying close enough attention, you’d see the way her smiles didn’t reach her eyes, the way her face fell when she thought no one was looking. You’d see how she zoned out during her classes, gazing out the windows instead of jotting down notes. Bella was careful to keep up appearances today, but her heart felt heavy.
In the common room later that night, Bella was up studying with Laurie for the Defense Against the Dark Arts exam that was coming up. The witch was distracted, her gaze kept pulling to the window. It’s been cloudy and snowy for days now, but she was hopeful they’d part for a little while tonight so she could sneak away to the observatory and gaze up at the stars. Eventually, the clouds did part and Bella quickly made an excuse to her friend and grabbed her bag, her mother’s unique telescope tucked away inside. She snuck out of the common room and made her way to the Astronomy tower.
The observatory was empty when she arrived and Bella walked to the railing, looking up at the night sky. It appeared the clouds had disappeared, leaving a clear sky for her to observe. A pang ran through her heart, tears prickling at the corners of her eyes. She felt like her mother was ensuring she could look tonight. Reaching into her bag, Isabella pulled out her mother’s old blanket and laid it out on the ground before taking her telescope and setting it up. Once everything was in order, she leaned over to peer inside the lens, adjusting the focus as she swept over the sky looking for Andromeda. It was her mother’s favorite and, consequently, her own. When she found it, her breath hitched in her lungs, both sorrow and joy flooding her. Bella stood back up after a moment of gazing and stared up at the sky. “Happy birthday, Mama,” she said softly, unaware someone had joined her.
Liam Sagewater
|
|
Year/Job
SIXTH YEAR
BLAKE
|
Post by Liam Sagewater on Jan 27, 2024 7:35:22 GMT -8
The last few weeks had been a rollercoaster. Friends with relationship problems. Friends with unspoken problems. Friends with aggressive attacker problems. Everyone seemed to come back from the break with a problem. It was mentally and physically exhausting. Liam had barely been able to wrap his head around it. He thought the holiday break would help mellowed out some of the drama that plagued his peers. He had been horribly mistaken. Liam preferred calm waters over raging storms. The recent events had just about put him at his wit's end. As if Merlin himself knew he needed to catch a break, things started to right themselves. It started with a change in the weather.
It had been far too cloudy to enjoy the stars, and even if the clouds parted, the snow was a deterrent on its own. Liam didn't fancy spendy several days with the sniffles for a mere glimpse. Today was different. The snow had stopped, and the clouds gave way to open sky. He had a few things to do before he could head to the Astronomy Tower, but there was no rush. The first was finishing up the tutoring lesson he'd offered to a few underclassmen. Then it was down to the kitchens to grab a snack. It was secretly one of his favorite places in the castle, next to the observatory, and as cliche as it sounded, the library. Next, he trekked back to the Ravenclaw Tower to drop off his things. He was getting his steps in today.
Finally, all the boxes were checked and he could view the stars. One hand tucked away in his robe pocket for warmth, the other holding a small plate of sliced apples, an assortment of cheese, grapes, and biscuits. The observatory was empty, save Bella. He wasn't surprised to see her up here. She'd been gazing out the windows during classes all day. Not that he'd been paying attention or anything. He'd just caught her in the act once or twice. Now, how to get her attention without startling her. "Evening," he greeted. "See any good constellations tonight?" Had he known she was having a private moment, he'd have disappeared without a trace.
|
|
Year/Job
Sixth Year
I love it when you call me señorita I wish I could pretend I didn't need ya |
|
Post by Isabella Clarke on Jan 27, 2024 8:17:53 GMT -8
Bella jumped a little at the voice that came out of seemingly nowhere, recognizing it immediately. “Liam!” Heat rushed to her cheeks as she turned to face him. Despite her racing heartbeat, she felt herself smile when she saw him, the color on her face deepening. For a few years now, Bella has held quite the flame for him, though she was far too shy to do anything about it. The two of them spent a bit of time together, often up here in the observatory talking and watching the sky. The more time they spent together, the deeper her crush became. “Hi. I was just looking at Andromeda,” she said, glancing back up at the sky. “Care to join me?”
Her chocolate gaze flickered down to the snacks he carried, her smile widening. Bella moved from the telescope and settled herself on the blanket, patting the spot beside her as an invitation to sit down. “Feel free to look yourself,” she offered softly. “It’s a beautiful night.” The air was warmer than it had been these last several days, Bella feeling quite comfortable in her robes.
Liam Sagewater
|
|
Year/Job
SIXTH YEAR
BLAKE
|
Post by Liam Sagewater on Jan 27, 2024 9:04:06 GMT -8
Mission failed. "Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you," he apologized when he saw her jump. He gave a half wave and returned her smile once she'd faced him. He perked up a bit when she mentioned Andromeda. He knew that one! Thank Merlin for constellations being listed in alphabetical order. He was well past the A's. Studious as ever, he'd done his research for the sake of having something to talk about when they crossed paths. "If you don't mind," was his response to her asking him to join her. He closed the distance between the two of them, taking a seat beside her. He placed the plate down as well. "I just got this from the kitchens. The cheese is a variety. There's some Asiago with rosemary, Gouda, Cheddar, Brie, and Swiss." He'd skipped out on the meats on account of being vegetarian. Had he known Bella was up here, he'd have brought some. "Dig in if you'd like." He wasn't opposed to sharing.
"Thank you." He looked at the telescope, taking in the design before he peered through it. "Lucky break for us," he commented. "I was starting to think we'd never see a clear sky." He glanced back at her. "Andromeda's the one who was chained to the stone by her parents, right."
|
|
Year/Job
Sixth Year
I love it when you call me señorita I wish I could pretend I didn't need ya |
|
Post by Isabella Clarke on Jan 27, 2024 10:17:25 GMT -8
She was sure she would have heard him approach had she not been so focused, but his interruption was most certainly not unwelcomed. Laurie was her best friend, but she enjoyed her conversations with Liam. He was a sounding board for her to bounce off of and his advice was some of the best. And she felt a strange sense of peace whenever he was around. "Not at all," she told him with a soft smile before she moved to the blanket. He came to sit beside her, her heart fluttering a little in her chest, and laid the spread he picked out down. She watched him as he listed the variety of cheeses, her stomach grumbling a little. "They sound lovely." Plucking a piece of gouda from the plate, she popped it in her mouth and started to chew. The smoky flavor burst along her tongue and she sighed out of her nose, her gaze flicking back to the sky as she leaned back on her hands.
The telescope was her mother's when she was an Astronomer. Bella took prodigious care of it, the brass shining brightly in the moonlight, outlining the intricate carvings of constellations on each side. She watched as he peered through it, feeling a little tingly. "Me, too," she replied with a soft sigh. Silently, she thanked her mother for it. It was like she knew how badly she wanted to feel connected with her today. Bella hummed in response. "Yes. She was chained by her mother to appease Poseidon who was angered by Cassiopiea's claims that she was more beautiful than the Nereids," she recalled, her lips turning upward into a small smile. "Perseus found her and freed her before taking her back to Greece to marry her. They're the only ones who got a happy ending." Her gaze flickered back to him. "It was my mother's favorite, she used to tell me the story all the time."
|
|
Year/Job
SIXTH YEAR
BLAKE
|
Post by Liam Sagewater on Jan 27, 2024 11:09:12 GMT -8
Liam's face brightened a bit. He really would have felt bad had she turned down the cheese. Usually, he brought apple slices and other fruit. Everyone liked fruit. What if she had been lactose or something? He probably would have asked her what she wanted and gone down to get it. He was a gentleman like that. His mother would be proud. "Taste good too," he added. He swiped up a few grapes and some Swiss. Liam enjoyed food as much as the next person. He could go on an endless ramble about the types of cheese and their pairings, but he checked himself before he bored her with random facts. She was up here to look at the stars, not talk about cheese.
Once he was done noting the constellation, he sat back and paid attention to the details she offered up. This was why he liked running into her. She was well versed in astronomy and the stories that came of them. He could sit here and listen to her talk for hours. Liam could appreciate knowledge, and Bella was full of it. He took note of the word 'was' and not 'is' when she talked about her mother. Liam found himself painfully aware of the fact that a lot of the people he considered friends had lost a parent. He was still lucky enough to have both of his. Even his own brother had not come out unscathed.
"Greek Gods are pretty easy to anger," he spoke. "But the stories are well worth it." He didn't know how sensitive a topic her mother would be, so he was going to play it safe and steer clear of that subject altogether. Saying sorry for your loss felt like the default answer and an insult. He would make sure to be mindful from here on out. Little did he know his next comment would be in direct correlation. "Your telescope is well kept," he said, hoping to steer the conversation in a different direction. "Whoever designed it was a true artist. The constellations are accurate down to the smallest detail." He was clearly in awe.
|
|
Year/Job
Sixth Year
I love it when you call me señorita I wish I could pretend I didn't need ya |
|
Post by Isabella Clarke on Jan 27, 2024 19:28:39 GMT -8
Bella could never get bored of hearing Liam speak, but that's not something she'd be willing to admit out loud. She kind of liked it when he rambled about things he was passionate about. It was nice to see a different side of him. The witch smiled at him and followed his lead in picking up a grape and cheese. No one knew how much she liked these moments. It wasn't even something she talked about with Laurie because, if she talked about it, it might make it less special. These moments were for her and Liam and no one else. Or at least, she felt like it was. Perhaps it was just her crush that was fueling this, but she felt like it might be special to him, too.
She crinkled her nose at him when he said something about the Greek Gods being easy to anger. That was very true and she felt it had something to do with the power they held. When your ego was so inflated, it was quite easy to wound. Bella loved hearing the stories of all the constellations when she was younger, often asking her mum to tell them over and over again until she fell asleep in her arms. Her first year she couldn't speak about her mother without falling apart, but since then Bella has reached some peace with it. She loved to talk about her mum and keep her memory alive. Liam said something about her telescope and she smiled softly. "It was my mother’s," she told him. "She designed it when she was an Astronomer and had it made." Bella leaned forward and moved toward the telescope. "Here," she said, looking into it and searching for another constellation. The girl centered the scope on it and adjusted the focus. "There. It's Perseus, another favorite." She leaned back to let him look himself. "I always admired Perseus growing up."
Liam Sagewater
|
|
Year/Job
SIXTH YEAR
BLAKE
|
Post by Liam Sagewater on Jan 27, 2024 21:37:29 GMT -8
He didn't keep count of how many times they'd run into each other up here, but each time was well worth it. Liam couldn't recall a time when he regretted an accidental meeting in the Astronomy Tower with Bella. He'd had plenty of encounters with Laurie, Lydia, Nate, Finch, and Rose where he questioned why he'd decided to take that route or stop at that location. He loved his friends, but sometimes they could be a little much. With Bella, there was always this unspoken peace that he couldn't find anywhere else. Like Bella, he never talked about it for the same reason. If that peace ever shattered, he wasn't sure where he would escape to next. As big as Hogwarts was, there were only so many places to hide. He'd much rather be up here with her, than anywhere else. That was for sure.
He mentally kicked himself when she explained that the telescope belonged to her mother. Leave it to him to crash land into the topic he'd been trying to actively avoid. Still, he couldn't help but have respect for the woman. To design such a piece showed a great deal of patience, art, and attention to detail. He could see where Bella got her smarts from. Not that he was discrediting her father. He didn't know the man. "I bet she was proud when her design was brought to life," he spoke. Bella found a second constellation and Liam took a look. "Fitting that he's so close to Andromeda." He turned and faced Bella, his brown eyes curious. "Why's that," he asked when she spoke of admiring Perseus.
|
|
Year/Job
Sixth Year
I love it when you call me señorita I wish I could pretend I didn't need ya |
|
Post by Isabella Clarke on Jan 28, 2024 8:23:10 GMT -8
If Bella knew that Liam was trying to avoid talking about her mother to spare her feelings, then she would tell him that was silly. It’s been six years since she passed and Isabella had moved on. Yes, it still hurt to know she’d never speak to her again, never feel her arms around her or lay under the stars with her and listen to her stories, but she had the memories that she held close to her heart and she had Astronomy. It was enough for her to gaze up at the stars her mother taught her to look for and feel some connection to her even though she was long gone.
The girl smiled warmly at him as he spoke, her gaze flicking from his face to the telescope. “She was very proud. Mama loved the stars.” She showed him Perseus next, leaning back to bring her knees to her chest, her arms wrapping around them. A soft hum fell out of her. It made her happy to know Perseus and Andromeda were still together in the stars. It made their love seem permanent, which was inspiring to the young witch. He asked her why she admired Perseus and her gaze flittered over to his face again. “He was different from the other heroes. He didn’t have the ego some had, like Hercules for example. He did what he thought was right and when he fell in love he didn’t waver.” Bella sighed softly. “Perseus got a happy ending that most heroes didn’t. I think he was rewarded for all the good he did.”
|
|
Year/Job
SIXTH YEAR
BLAKE
|
Post by Liam Sagewater on Jan 28, 2024 10:59:01 GMT -8
Her mother loved the stars, and Liam knew that Bella did too. It was a bond to be cherished, even if the physical aspect had been severed by whatever unfortunate event had taken Bella's mother from her far too soon. It was good that Bella held on to those memories. "Thank you for sharing," he told her with a smile. He sincerely meant it too. If he'd lost his mother, he'd never allow anyone to lay a finger on something so precious as her personal telescope. Bella was selfless. He liked her for it. She spoke on her reasoning for admiring Perseus. Had she not mentioned Hercules in her explanation, he would have asked her opinion on the well known hero. Perseus and Hercules were two sides of the same coin. "I can get on board with that. Nothing wrong with being different," he said as he collected a few pieces of cheese. "I think the world would be boring if we were all the same. An endless cycle with little to no excitement. We need more like Perseus. People who are willing to pursue the possibility of a different outcome. Willing to test the boundaries and stray off the path for the sake of what they believe in." He paused to collect an apple slice. "I bet he would have been a Ravenclaw."
|
|
Year/Job
Sixth Year
I love it when you call me señorita I wish I could pretend I didn't need ya |
|
stargazing
Jan 28, 2024 12:22:58 GMT -8
via mobile
Post by Isabella Clarke on Jan 28, 2024 12:22:58 GMT -8
It never occurred to her that she could be possessive over her mother’s belongings. Bella never put herself before others so perhaps that’s why. To her, sharing part of her mum, of herself, was something good that the world was seriously lacking. She smiled softly at his thanks, resting her cheek on her knee as she looked at him. Maybe if it wasn’t Liam here with her, she’d be more hesitant to share. In the end, however, she’d do it because that’s just who she is.
She could feel her heart fluttering in her chest as he spoke, Bella lifting her head from her knee to give him her full attention. He always had the most interesting perspectives. That was only part of what she liked about him. Her lips pulled into a warm smile as she listened, nodding along with his words. “Yes, precisely. The differences between all of us is what makes life interesting. Take that away and it just becomes so bland.” Bella reached for another piece of cheese, popping it in her mouth and chewing slowly. He told her he thought Perseus would be a Ravenclaw and she heartily agreed. “Hercules would have been a Gryffindor. I think I would have found a friend in Perseus. Andromeda, too. You can’t really have one without the other,” she mused, her head tilted thoughtfully. “Like Lydia and Ophelia.”
|
|
Year/Job
SIXTH YEAR
BLAKE
|
Post by Liam Sagewater on Jan 28, 2024 17:33:25 GMT -8
It was always impressive to him how a single moment could change the perspective of the viewer. A simple action such as Bella resting her cheek against her knee caused him to mentally remind himself not to stare. In the darkness, with the night sky lit by stars, her eyes watchful, but her posture relaxed, he was captivated. Bella was camera worthy. His mother worked for Witch Weekly as an editor, but she always talked about how the Photographers always managed to catch the perfect shot when the subject was 'in the moment.' She'd shown him a few pictures comparing spontaneous shots to staged ones, but he'd never understood until now. This was one of those moments. If he'd been interested in that line of work, he would have committed the moment to memory and painted it instead.
Liam was saved from embarrassing himself as Bella agreed with his thoughts on individuality. He loved a good debate, but to actually talk and have a civil conversation with someone was a nice change of pace. Even amongst their housemates, it was hard to find someone with similar shared interests. Ravenclaw was known for its ability to produce innovative ideas, and there were plenty to be had. She placed Hercules in Gryffindor, and he nodded in agreement. "Brave to the point of recklessness. Gryffindor," he said, mimicking the Sorting Hat. He still remembered his sorting ceremony. He'd been proud of being sorted into Ravenclaw. "Very fitting for the man with the heart of a lion." The idea of charging fearlessly into battle was beyond his comprehension. There were plans to be made beforehand. He was more suited to the strategy department. Hercules could have his warmongering.
He could see her being friends with Perseus and Andromeda. She was easy to get along. He wasn't a betting man, but he was willing to bet she made friends easily. "I think they'd be happy to be your friend." As for Ophelia and Lydia. He didn't know Ophelia too well. Most of what he knew about her came from the rumor mill, and it wasn't very kind. As for Lydia. He knew she and Ophelia were inseparable. In turn, if Ophelia was good enough for Lydia, she was good enough for him. "Friendships like that keep you grounded."
|
|
Year/Job
Sixth Year
I love it when you call me señorita I wish I could pretend I didn't need ya |
|
Post by Isabella Clarke on Jan 29, 2024 1:41:26 GMT -8
Her nose crinkled and she giggled as he mimicked the Sorting Hat. When she was sorted she had been in mourning. The Hat sorted her in Ravenclaw almost immediately and her heart had felt so incredibly heavy then. Her house was one that she associated with her mother and being placed in it when she was still processing the grief of losing her was incredibly hard. Bella has learned to love her house since, feeling a sense of pride for being apart of it. There were so many amazing witches and wizards in her house with such brilliant minds and she felt honored to be amongst them.
A bright smile pulled at her lips as he said they'd be happy to be her friend. After she had processed her grief a little better, she had no trouble making friends. The first year had been difficult, there was hardly a time where she didn't cry, but after discovering Astronomy was the key to connecting with her mum she started to mellow out and interacting with others became easier. Laurie had been her first and closest friend. "They really do," she agreed. "I don't know where I'd be if it weren't for Laurie." She picked up an apple slice and nibbled on it. "It would be hard to go through Hogwarts without those kind of friendships. I feel sorry for anyone who has to." Her gaze was pulled back to the stars, a thoughtful smile on her lips. There were so many constellations in the sky and she enjoyed every single one of them. "I wonder what there is left to discover up there," she mused curiously. "I think I could spend my entire life trying to find that out."
|
|
Year/Job
SIXTH YEAR
BLAKE
|
Post by Liam Sagewater on Jan 29, 2024 15:25:24 GMT -8
The talk of inseparable friends didn't bother him, even if he didn't think he shared a bond like that with any of his current friends. Nate and Finch were the two closest friends he had, but if they were ever to go their separate ways, he wouldn't be eternally devastated.
Laurie Greer, the girl who claimed she and all her family were cursed. Had she had time to spill her guts to Bella about her series of unfortunate events? Liam had listened to her shouting at the top of her lungs in distress. It had been unnerving in the dead silence of the Common Room. His opinion of her had been sullied further when she openly admitted her paranoia. Yes, he thought it was a form of mass hysteria, but she wasn't willing to believe it. To make matters worse, he'd fed into the delusion and given her options on how to resolve the problem. She'd even gone so far as to thank him. It had been an odd conversation. One he'd rather not repeat any time soon. Before Laurie had seemingly gone off the deep end, he thought her to be cool people. She'd never caused him trouble. He could understand why she and Bella stuck together like glue.
"Laurie is quite the character," he admitted. "People come and go like seasons, but I've known Nate and Finch for so long now that it's hard to think about what will happen once we all graduate. I mean, they're probably my longest lasting friendship." At the start of his time at Hogwarts, he would have done perfectly fine without Nate or Finch. Nate had been standoffish, and Liam hadn't liked his attitude, but the other had since grown on him as the years went by. As for Finch, he'd never had a problem with him. Although if placed on a spectrum, he was sure Finch and Nate were closer. Still, he had to agree. Hogwarts wouldn't have been nearly as much fun without his two dormmates. If they were to go their separate ways, he wouldn't be eternally devastated, but he'd notice their absence. They had some good times together.
He turned his gaze up to the stars. "More than we could ever dream," he answered. He glanced at her. "Do you want to be an Astronomer too," he asked. That would be the best way to fulfill some of that desire. He smiled as a thought crossed his mind. "You can name your first constellations after yourself, and like Perseus, you'll get a happy ending."
|
|
Year/Job
Sixth Year
I love it when you call me señorita I wish I could pretend I didn't need ya |
|
Post by Isabella Clarke on Jan 30, 2024 0:08:40 GMT -8
Laurie had mentioned the curse to Bella and, being the friend that she was, she believed her. Laurie Greer was a logical witch who used her brain more than her heart, so if she thought she was cursed then Bella was going to believe her. Besides, seeing the mess the owl made for her own two eyes was enough to convince her. She knew that Liam was skeptical, but it had heartened her to hear he offered some solid advice to her friend. Isabella was ready to help Laurie get to the bottom of this curse and learn how to break it.
Bella let out a light laugh as Liam said her friend was quite the character. That was just part of what she loved about her. Laurie was funny and always made Bella laugh even when she didn’t want to. She listened to him talk of Nathaniel and Finch, offering him a warm smile. She knew Finch better than she knew Nate, but they were good people. Well, at least one of them. Bella was still unsure about Nathaniel. But if Liam was friends with him, then surely he couldn’t be that bad, right? “If I lost Laurie after graduating I’d be pretty devastated,” she mused, humming thoughtfully. She’s never had a closer friend than her.
She was looking up at the stars as she spoke to Liam, glancing over at him for a moment as he responded. She truly hoped that was the case. Bella wanted to discover new constellations and new stars. It was probably her greatest dream. He asked if she wanted to an Astronomer, too and she nodded eagerly. “Yes, I do,” she said softly. There was nothing else that interested her. Bella turned her head to look at him with an amused smile on her lips as he said she could name a constellation after herself, giggling a little at the thought. “Myself? No, I couldn’t do that.” She let out a melancholy sigh and looked back at the night sky. “I’d name it after my mother so she can live forever in the stars.”
|
|