Year/Job
Sixth Year
I love it when you call me señorita I wish I could pretend I didn't need ya |
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Post by Isabella Clarke on Jan 26, 2024 13:10:08 GMT -8
Bella had just left to go to the bathroom after lunch, telling Laurie she’d meet her at their next class. After washing her hands, she shouldered her bag and headed for the grand staircase. When she turned the corner, she saw a large crowd had formed around the foot of the stairs. Confused, but with a feeling of dread stirring up inside her, Bells pushed through the crowd to find that Gryffindor fourth year and Laurie. Bella had heard stories of Poppy Carmichael and she did her very best to avoid her at all costs. Her eyes bug out as the younger girl kicked and then punched her best mate. Bella stood frozen in her spot, feeling too frightened to move despite wanting to go defend her friend.
The raven quickly moved out of the way as Poppy plowed through, her gaze watching the redhead for a moment before she looked back at Laurie. Now that Poppy was gone, Bella rushed over to her friend and put her arm around her. “Show’s over!” came the voice of Nathaniel James, the boy stepping into the circle and waving his arms at the onlookers. “Scram!” Bella was grateful he stepped in and provided enough distraction for her to get Laurie away. She took her to the nearest girls bathroom and looked her over. “Oh my gods, Laurie! Are you okay?” Bella felt guilty she hadn’t stepped in to help.
Laurie Greer
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Year/Job
6th Year
Tried to drift dear but don't know how... |
Sol
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Post by Laurie Greer on Jan 26, 2024 13:22:53 GMT -8
Sorting through her emotions in that moment were difficult. Her sister disappeared with Poppy to properly reprimand her but part of her wished she knew what when wrong. What did she say that upset Poppy? How could she have changed it? Merlin did her knee her. And ouch did her ribs hurt. Did Poppy break her ribs? Laurie stood in shock, one hand covering her wounded ribs as Nathaniel's voice resonated in the crowd. It caused her to snap out of it, eyes lifting to find Nathaniel and then Bella heading her way. It all happened too fast and now here she was standing, in the lime light of something she never would've willingly been involved in.
"Bells." Laurie said weakly, eyebrows furrowing as the emotion overwhelmed her. Laurie Greer wasn't a sensitive person. Laurie Greer wasn't the kind of person to cry. But after her sister left her to take care of a student instead of taking her to the infirmary on her own, she was feeling a bit... well, everywhere. Laurie could've cried in that moment, holding the tears that filled her eyes back for a moment. "I'm okay." She smiled softly. "Poppy's the one that really needs to be checked on..." Laurie told Bella, looking off into the direction Elsie and Poppy had gone. "I can't believe she attacked me like that... She was making a fuss about my sister and then just--" Laurie tried to laugh but flinched instead, her face contorting in pain. "I guess maybe myself sister was right about the infirmary..."
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Year/Job
Sixth Year
I love it when you call me señorita I wish I could pretend I didn't need ya |
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Post by Isabella Clarke on Jan 26, 2024 13:38:08 GMT -8
She was just as shocked as Laurie was. The two of them weren’t the type of witches who got into trouble, they weren’t the kind of witches who stood out. This sort of stuff didn’t happen to them, but it happened to Laurie… and Bella just stood there while it happened. She swallowed the shame and focused her attention on her friend. Her brows were furrowed with concern as she listened to Laur explain. What kind of monster was this Poppy? “The infirmary! We should get you to the hospital wing and get you checked out. She hit you hard, Laur.” Bella didn’t wait for her to respond before she ushered her on, her arm around her and her hand tucked firmly under her armpit as she helped her climb the stairs.
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Year/Job
6th Year
Tried to drift dear but don't know how... |
Sol
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Post by Laurie Greer on Jan 26, 2024 13:48:09 GMT -8
"She did hit me hard," Laurie laughed again, reeling from the pain in her rib. Damn did that stupid little Gryffindor know how to punch. Maybe she needed to go to Poppy and ask her to teach her to fight. "For a fourth year, she's got a bite to match her bark..." She said simply, grateful her friend was taking care of her. She leaned on the girl slightly, hoping that the trip to the infirmary wouldn't take to long and the healer would just say she was fine and all. "You don't think Professor Walker's gonna be mad at us for missing class? After the duel the other day... I'm kinda in hot water with her."
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Year/Job
Sixth Year
I love it when you call me señorita I wish I could pretend I didn't need ya |
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Post by Isabella Clarke on Jan 26, 2024 14:10:45 GMT -8
Poppy Carmichael was just as volatile as everyone said she was, Bella thought anxiously as she helped Laurie up the stairs to the first floor. She did not like that her best mate was in her sights and she was kind of worried she’d come back for more. Bella didn’t think she’d leave Laurie alone at all after this. “I can’t believe she did that. I mean, that’s crazy! Who is this girl?” Professor Greer said something about taking her to the Headmistress. “I wonder how she hasn’t been expelled already.” Bella was not one to wish for bad things to happen to others, but this girl was a danger to them all.
Bella couldn’t help but laugh a little as Laurie asked about Professor Walker. “I’m positive if she doesn’t already know what happened, she’s going to soon enough. It’ll be fine, I’m sure.” Professor Walker was a reasonable witch. They made it to the hospital wing and Bella assisted her friend inside, helping her sit on the edge of a bed. “Can I help you girls?” Came a voice from the back of the room. “Oh, Isabella! I’m afraid I don’t have much for you to help with today.” Bella shook her head at the witch. “That’s not why we’re here. My friend was hurt.” Stepping back to allow her to get looked over, Bella stood by and anxiously chewed her bottom lip.
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Year/Job
6th Year
Tried to drift dear but don't know how... |
Sol
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Post by Laurie Greer on Jan 26, 2024 14:19:25 GMT -8
"I don't know who she is... All I know is she's got a serious bone to pick with my sister." Part of her wanted to understand what made Poppy tick-- why the hell she was so aggressive, to the point that she would attack someone else. And the other part, probably the part of her that valued her safety and wellbeing, said to stay as far away from Poppy as she could. But Ella and Sophia were Gryffindors and if Poppy's eyes weren't set on Laurie, then they would probably be targeted at the twins. She wasn't a brave person, she wasn't a fighter at all... But she needed to keep her sisters safe from whatever chaos Poppy wanted to bring into their lives. If she could do that, then the last few months at Hogwarts could be lovely for her sisters.
"That's good..." She groaned as they walked up the stairs, hoping the healer could make all this pain go away just as quickly as it had come. "Thanks for taking me here... I think I would've had to crawl, had it not been for you. Or maybe bribed someone from our house to carry me." She joked, shooting a small grin at her best friend. The infirmary was a sight for sore eyes-- it meant relief was in her future. She stayed by Bella's side, using the girl to support herself without becoming too much of a burden. "I got punched in the ribs pretty hard..." Laurie explained. "And the knee."
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Year/Job
Sixth Year
I love it when you call me señorita I wish I could pretend I didn't need ya |
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Post by Isabella Clarke on Jan 27, 2024 8:28:41 GMT -8
A soft smile touched her lips as she thanked her, her head shaking a little. “I wasn’t about to leave you there all alone,” she said. “I was surprised that Nathaniel stepped in. I didn’t think you two got along.” There was a silent question in there, but Bella wouldn’t pry. It was up to Laurie to tell her what her relationship with their housemate was like.
Madam Lenora turned her attention to Laurie as soon as Bells had stepped back, looking her over with her eyebrows furrowed and a serious look on her face. “Oh, dear,” she said after Laurie told her what happened. Bella watched as the Healer gently used her fingers to feel for the injuries, wincing sympathetically as she reached her friend’s ribs. “Nothing is broken,” she said reassuringly and Bella breathed out a sigh of relief. “Your ribs and knee are bruised. I’d like you to rest for a while before walking again.” She helped Laurie lay down on the bed. “Let me get you something for the pain.” Madam Lenora left to go to the cabinet, looking for a potion. Bella took the opportunity to go to Laurie’s side and hold her hand. “That’s not so bad, yeah?”
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Year/Job
6th Year
Tried to drift dear but don't know how... |
Sol
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Post by Laurie Greer on Jan 27, 2024 9:13:44 GMT -8
Bella was a good friend, truly. Laurie didn't know what she'd do if she had to have gone 6 years at Hogwarts without her. She'd probably be dead or something. Or at least very, very lonely. "Oh Nathaniel?" She questioned, thinking back to him dispersing the cloud. Honestly, Laurie didn't think too much about it. She just thought that was kind of the person he was-- She didn't take Nate for the kind of guy to encourage fighting. Or maybe once she did. "Oh, well. We're kind of friends now? Oddly." Laurie said simply, wincing as Madam Lenora poked around on her ribs. "They're tender..." She said apologetically for her reaction. But not broken-- that was a plus. Quidditch practice waited for no broken bones, she knew that. Plus, when other chance did she have to hang out with her quidditch friends like Claire and Nathaniel?
She settled in the bed, hand hovering over the bruised ribs as her other took her best friends hand in hers. "It's been kind of strange. He's not at all the person I thought he would be. He's actually really nice." Laurie said with an absentminded smile-- Wait, would this be a good time to bring up Liam? She glanced up between Bella and the bedsheets, feeling a little bit nervous to ask. Oh, but wouldn't it seem like out of left field.. She just needed to go for it and NOT be terrible. "Is there anyone you've been hanging around in my absence hm?"
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Year/Job
Sixth Year
I love it when you call me señorita I wish I could pretend I didn't need ya |
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Post by Isabella Clarke on Jan 27, 2024 10:42:22 GMT -8
She couldn't help the surprised look on her face when Laurie said they were friends. Her brown eyes widened and her eyebrows nearly shot off her face. Maybe once she was done getting looked over she'd find out more about it. Bella just hoped that Nathaniel wasn't trying to get in Laurie's pants or something. She didn't know what went on in that guy's mind. Her thoughts on it faded as she watched the pained wince as Madam Lenora touched her ribs. Bella was reminded of the punch and it angered her to know that this Poppy had targeted her friend. For something as silly as a class.
It seemed that Laurie was keen on sharing her experience with Nate and Bella patted her hand absentmindedly as she listened. If she had been surprised before, she was absolutely baffled by this news. Nathaniel James was actually nice? Bella felt ashamed for ever passing judgment on him. Normally, she saw the best in others but with him she had been blinded by prejudice. The weight of her guilt sat heavily on her heart. "I feel like I need to apologize to him," she said softly. "I had no idea."
"Is there anyone you've been hanging around in my absence hm?"
Bella felt the heat rush to her cheeks and she looked away sheepishly. "Just Liam," she said quietly, focusing on their joined hands instead of her face. Last night was the perfect night to gaze at the stars and he had happened upon her, though she really didn't mind. Bella enjoyed spending time with him very much. "Why do you ask?" she lifted her gaze to look at her friend.
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Year/Job
6th Year
Tried to drift dear but don't know how... |
Sol
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Post by Laurie Greer on Jan 27, 2024 11:36:46 GMT -8
"I mean, don't get me wrong... He can be a arse sometimes. But.. I don't know. There's something different about him this year." Laurie genuinely couldn't place her finger on what had changed between their fifth and sixth year. But with all of them, things had changed. Bella was having crushes, Laurie was lying over a snitch, and getting beat up. She supposed being a sixth year was being changed as a person. That was scary, in a way, especially considering the speed of change... But it was comforting in an odd way. As if the sands of time were gently guiding them along as they went through this rapid transformation. "You should seriously try talking to him. You two might get along better than you think." She offered with a slight smile as Madam Lenora offered her a potion for the pain which she quickly downed without another word, placing the empty vial on the table beside the bed.
Her response confirmed everything she need to know-- She thanked Merlin for it too because Laurie didn't want to pry and accidentally give away the mission. She didn't know if Nate had made any progress with Liam, but if he had, she didn't need to ruin it with her terrible lying.
The girl shrugged, trying to conceal her smile at her friends reaction. She was seriously blushing over just his name?! Merlin, Bella had it bad for Liam! "I dunno." She hummed softly, pulling her knees up to her chest and concealing her smile behind them. "I was just wondering. I've gotta make sure no ones trying to steal you away from me." She lightly swayed, lifting her head up. "Is he nice? I mean, do you like him-- Like hanging out with him!?" She quickly corrected, clearing her throat with a sheepish smile.
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Year/Job
Sixth Year
I love it when you call me señorita I wish I could pretend I didn't need ya |
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Post by Isabella Clarke on Jan 28, 2024 8:00:31 GMT -8
The witch hummed thoughtfully as Laurie went on about Nathaniel. He always seemed like such an arse all the time, a cocky one at that. And Bella didn’t like the way he went through relationships like he was changing his underwear. Deep down, she was a hopeless romantic and felt that a relationship between two people should be special. It was a commitment you were making to another person, to love and care for them. She didn’t see the point in entering one when you planned on leaving just a week or two later.
Laurie said she should talk to him and Bella smiled at her. “Perhaps I will. But only because you said I should,” she added, fighting back her laughter but failing miserably. The girl wiped the tears away as her giggling subsided. “I’ll give it some thought,” she promised. If he could win over her best friend then perhaps he wasn’t so bad after all.
She couldn’t help the color on her face when she thought of him and she was sure that her friend was noticing it. Bella chewed on the corner of her lip as she tried to fight a smile. This is why she never talked about him - she knew she couldn’t control her reaction. He was just so… so calm and collected with a brilliant mind that she admired so much. And he was thoughtful and considerate and just positively adorable. She needed to stop thinking about it because she could feel her face getting more red by the second. Bella listened to her friend’s questions, smiling and rolling her eyes playfully as she said something about making sure no one was stealing her from her. “That’s not possible,” she interjected before she asked if she liked spending time with him. She hesitated for a moment, a little afraid to answer because what if it made the time she spent with him less special? “Yes, I do. I enjoy it a lot.” She tried to hide her face. “Don’t look at me!”
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Year/Job
6th Year
Tried to drift dear but don't know how... |
Sol
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Post by Laurie Greer on Jan 28, 2024 8:12:16 GMT -8
"Don't laugh!" Laurie erupted with a grin, trying to stay serious about chastising her friend but being unable. Bella's giggles were infectious. Before long, she was giggling, her ribs dulling the aching from laughing so hard. "How dare you make me laugh so hard in my time of distress Bella!" She jested, clutching her ribs theatrically. "Are you trying to kill me? For the simple crime of being friends with Nathaniel James?!" She gasped, placing the back of her hand on her forehead. "My heart will be forever broken that my dearest, most bestest friend tried to kill me!" She snorted, covering her mouth to stop the laughter that was rolling from her chest. Merlin could she and Bella get the giggles like they were contagious.
Bella was as red as a tomato by the time she was done contemplating-- and not from laughing so hard. Her face was incriminating enough and Laurie was no idiot. Laurie sat up, eyes going wide at her realization. She was no longer being coy, this was no longer about the mission, despite it being crucial information to the mission-- this was two best friends sharing their first chat about crushes in their entire friendship. "Oh my gosh, Isabella Marie Clarke!" She exclaimed-- this was probably the most excited anyone was seeing either of the two Ravenclaw friends over anything besides Astronomy. "You like him, don't you?" She accused, unable to hold herself back from erupting in joy at her friends little crush. "You totally like Liam Sagewater--"
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Year/Job
Sixth Year
I love it when you call me señorita I wish I could pretend I didn't need ya |
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Post by Isabella Clarke on Jan 28, 2024 8:56:10 GMT -8
The more that Laurie chided her, the more she laughed. It was always this way with them, only it was typically over something silly like the wording in a book or an essay one of them wrote. They usually didn’t talk about boys. But maybe something had changed over the summer with them and all the other sixth years. Bella, for one, changed dramatically in her looks. Her hair was fuller, shinier and softer than it had been and her round face had slimmed out a bit. She was wearing makeup now because her Aunt Lily bought her a ton of it and she kind of liked the way it made her feel. And her body had developed curves that she never thought she’d have. When she looked in the mirror, she could see her mother.
Laurie sat up, her eyes wide, and Bella knew she shouldn’t have said anything to begin with. Her own brown eyes widened and her cheeks were burning bright. She said her full name and she knew that it was over - her best friend knew about her crush. Bella’s hands went to her face and she shook her head violently, as if that would make all of this go away. Yes she liked him! But he didn’t know that and no one else did. “You totally like Liam Sagewater-” Bella’s hands immediately covered her friend’s mouth. “Shhh!! Don’t say it!” When she was certain Laurie wasn’t going to blurt her crush for the whole school to hear, she removed her hands and stood back up. “Okay, yes! I do! But don’t go telling people! He can’t find out about it because if he did then it’d make it real and it could ruin everything,” she got out, taking in a deep breath. Everything could be ruined and that was the last thing she wanted.
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Year/Job
6th Year
Tried to drift dear but don't know how... |
Sol
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Post by Laurie Greer on Jan 28, 2024 9:05:15 GMT -8
Isabella's hands over her mouth made her laugh and only confirmed her suspicions even before Bella did it verbally. Merlin, she couldn't believe Nate was right. Nate was right and she'd TOTALLY missed it. What did Nathaniel see that she didn't? Maybe if she'd snogged one hundred thousand girls she could clock a crush as quickly as he could... She doubted that would actually help and the thought of kissing that many people made her mouth feel weird. She couldn't even kiss one person-- no less one hundred thousand. Nate probably hadn't kissed that many people... He was only 16 after all. Was it even possible to kiss that many people? She shook her head, focusing back on Bella with a wide grin that refused to leave her face. "That's why you've been sneaking off to the Astronomy Tower?!" She gasped, covering her mouth as she started connecting the dots. It wasn't enough for Nate to tell her, hearing it from the horse's mouth was what it took to smack Laurie in the face. "Merlin! This is so...!" Laurie could hardly contain herself-- she let out a squeal, kicking her feet in delight for her friend.
"What?! What do you mean 'he can't find out'? What if he likes you too, Bells?" Laurie sat up, looking at her friend with wide eyes. She seriously couldn't just have an unrequited crush on him this whole time-- that would be... Well, that would be wasteful. "You have to tell him your feelings, Bella. He won't know you like him unless you do, right? Boys are complete idiots about these things!" She took Bella's hand, giving her a serious look. "Bella, you are the most beautiful, most talented, most incredible, most intelligent person I've ever known! If he doesn't like you... Well, he must be a complete moron! I think you should go for it."
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Year/Job
Sixth Year
I love it when you call me señorita I wish I could pretend I didn't need ya |
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Post by Isabella Clarke on Jan 28, 2024 10:07:17 GMT -8
"No!" she protested. It wasn't the entire reason she went to the Astronomy tower, but she'd be lying if she said she didn't hope to run into him. Sharing the constellations with him was peaceful and, with everything going on at Hogwarts, she needed that bit of peace. It was nice to share something she loved with him - it was different than sharing it with Laurie. Her friend was kicking in her excitement and Bella couldn't help but smile brightly. Okay, so it was the first time either of them admitted to a crush, but she kind of pulled it out of her. Her heart was fluttering in her chest, butterflies swarming in her belly at just the thought of him. Perhaps it felt good to tell her about her feelings, that someone else now knew. There was an anxiety, though, that Laurie wouldn't be able to hide the fact she knew. She could already imagine the girl's face whenever Bella was near Liam. Was this all a huge mistake?
Bella's eyebrows shot up at her incredulity that he couldn't find out, her mouth gaping open in surprise. How did she not get that he absolutely could not know? Her face flushed at the idea that he could like her, too. But letting her feelings be known was a risk that Bella wasn't sure she wanted to take. If she said something and he didn't feel the same, then she just ruined the one thing that made her feel so happy. Her hands came back to cover her face and she shook her head again, willing her words to go away. No, it was impossible. She couldn't tell him. "No, Laur! I can't! What if he doesn't like me back? I couldn't handle that and it would ruin something that's so good - no I can't say anything and you can't either! I've had this crush for forever and I'm perfectly content to keep it to myself. I'm not... I'm not that kind of person who does stuff like that." It was quite literally impossible. Even if she wanted to, she didn't think she'd be able to get the words out and even thinking about it was causing her insides to turn with anxiety. "Please, Laurie, I can't."
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