The moon and back ( fate)
"She's taking her time making up the reasons
To justify all the hurt inside, guess she knows
From the smiles and the look in their eyes
Everyone's got a theory about the bitter one.."
-Savage Garden
*Thwack*
Blue cushioned mats lined the floor of the stark white room. The light, shone like mid-day sun but no lamps could be seen. It was as if the light came from everywhere and nowhere at once. A massive dark blue punching bag the color of the ocean filled the center of the mats, and its weight gave slightly with every strike laid upon it. A lean figure dressed in shorts and a drenched t-shirt bounced slightly on the balls of her feet, suddenly with cat like grace she sprang forward fist raised with precise accuracy.
*Thwack*
A sheen of sweat glistened on her forehead, and a few salty beads slowly crept their way down her temples. Well defined muscles peaked out and strained with every punch and kick thrown at the blue punching bag. Dark wavy hair pulled back into a messy bun framed a heart shaped face which pointed unwaveringly at the large blue target.
*Thwack*
Bright green eyes, usually lit with intelligence and humor were steely and focused. Usually only dueling opponents saw her eyes like this, namely one Merula Snyde. But today, the target was different. Today was about ensuring the brunette stayed strong, stayed fast, and stayed ready to defend herself.
*Thwack*
From the moment she found the room of requirements during her first year at Hogwarts it was Joycelyn Macmillan's safe place. Now in her 7th year at Hogwarts Joycelyn came weekly to the room for various types of training or just to think of her brother, life, and how muggles could possibly not know of their existence. The room kept her sane, the stress relief helped her kept an armor of outward calm even when internally she was screaming or crying.
*Thwack*
First year had been tough, her parents had told her it would be difficult due to what happened with her brother. They tried to make her ready, but nothing could have prepared her for what she experienced. For the younger MacMillan it was just another lesson in how life wasn't always fair.
*Thwack*
Her sorting unintentionally made ways at Hogwarts. According to the whispers they were all so sure she would be sorted into Ravenclaw or even Slytherin. Even at eleven any passerby could see that this young witch was driven and intelligent, But the Sorting Hat saw more to her. It saw a scared young girl with a gentle but hurting heart. Joycelyn could even still remembered its gravely, ancient voice as it spoke to her. Like a wind flowing into her ears and mind it told her of her ambitions which were perfect for Slytherin. She was brave and there was a hint of daring in there, and so could do well in Gryffindor. It predicted if she were a Ravenclaw her incredible intellect would ne nourished and she would have few equals in the wizarding world. But the voice paused, made a sound as if pondering the decision, and after what felt like an eternity it said," no".
*Thwack*
If the Sorting Hat had not been covering Jocelyn's eyes others would have seen the surprise light those green orbs. The Sorting Hat murmured almost too low for the young witch to hear, and it spoke of the bitterness slowly growing in her heart. This bitterness was slowly choking the kindness out. Then it surprised the young brunette, gave her a choice, and she chose to be close to her brother. Another pause, the Sorting Hat hummed in approval, "Yes Hufflepuff, I see how loyal you are to your brother. It's a good house to trim back the ivy of bitterness." So, after a short eternity," HUFFLEPUFF" echoed into the great hall to a brief pause before claps filled the cavernous expanse. She was sorted into her brother Jacob's house, and the young Scottish witch became a badger.
*Thwack*
But Joycelyn didn't expect the whispers, the fear, the amount of distrust thrown her way. It hurt. It was isolating, it was lonely, and if not for her friends Rowan, Ben, and Penny she wouldn't have made it this far. If it weren't for them and others she met along the way, she would not have been able to repeatedly find and close the vaults. If it weren't for her friends, the professors along the way, even Merula as insufferable as she was Joycelyn would not be standing here today.
*Thwack*
But one name wandered back into the brunette's mind, Penny. A name Joycelyn often came back to in her thoughts. The name which was as familiar to the brunette as her own.
*Thwack*
Golden blonde hair, bright kind blue eyes, she was and still is the most popular girl in their year. In the whole school if Joycelyn was being honest with herself. Penny was amazing, everyone wanted to be near her, be like her, and be with her. Lines of admirers left her notes, sent her hordes of owls, and offered to walk her to and from classes. Half the school was in love with her. Even the dark haired Hufflepuff.
*Thwack*
Especially the dark haired Hufflepuff.
*Thwack*
Penny could have anyone she wanted. She was brilliant and gorgeous. But for as long as the dark-haired witch could remember the blonde had never once talked about her interest in anyone. She talked plenty about her love of potions, in knowing all the latest gossip, and of her love of going on adventures. It was those things that brought the two young witches together, it was the foundation their friendship was built upon. While Joycelyn knew a great many things about her friend, love and romance was one area she was in the dark over. And in the stillness of the night, when everything was quiet it ate at her.
*Thwack*
Her heart ached, almost like sore over used muscles after a long training session. It settled in her chest, restricting breathing at times, but most often felt more like a weight pressing on her. This ache in Joycelyn's heart was a familiar one.
*Thwack*
She first felt a similar one when her brother had gone missing. This longing for the sibling she lost, and for answers she could not find. It was a sadness which welled deep in her soul. But she soon found that her heart was bigger than even she knew. Another ache, quite different grew for every time she thought of Penny. It was different, and it was a pain in her ass.
*Thwack*
It was the most delicious and melancholy ache that would creep up on the brunette and snatch her breath away at the oddest times. As the years passed Joycelyn almost got used to it as it would often recede into a dull thud. This bit of longing would wiggle its way into her heart every time Penny would engulf her in a hug or brush her hands across her face, reminding Joycelyn that this was the most she could ever hope for. This ache was a wholly different type of sadness the young witch learned. This ache would at times give way to blooms of joy as radiant as a field of freshly bloomed heather.
*Thwack*
But it would soon ebb back to the familiar ache of longing in the brunette's chest. The familiar thought that she could never let the blonde know of her secret. The cold dark fear that the sunlight of Penny's smile would grow dark should she learn of Joycelyn's feelings.
*Thwack*
"God, I'm so fucking angsty", the brunette muttered aloud to herself as she turned and executed a swift kick to the blue punching bag.
*Thwack*
With a huff the dark-haired witch drew up to her full height. She had grown over the summer and now stood 5'8much to the annoyance of one blonde who was still only came up to Joycelyn's eyes. She wiped the sweat from her face with a towel she brought and pulled her black and yellow robe loosely over her shoulders. It was getting late.
It was evening. Dinner had come and gone. Student's were milling around in pockets all around the castle. No doubt Rowan, Joycelyn's best friend was excitedly studying in the library or the comfortable Hufflepuff house common room. So, when the freshly showered brunette entered the common room, she was only half surprised to not see her bespectacled friend. Instead was a familiar head of blonde hair bent over a potions book.
A slow smile spread across the Scottish girl's face as she drank in the sight of the most beautiful girl in Hogwarts. The appreciation morphed into a twinkling glimmer of mischief which so commonly lit her green eyes. Ever so slowly Joycelyn crept toward the blonde, careful measured steps across the rug covered wooden floor. She knew just where to place her feet, so the floor boards wouldn't creak, giving away her location. With her robes draped over one arm and the other arm free the brunette reached around the unsuspecting blonde holding her hands over her eyes.
"Guess who" Joycelyn whispered lowly into Penny's ear.
A quiet giggle emerged from the shorter witch as she brought her hands up to the ones covering her eyes. "Well, with that brogue it can only be the Hero of Hogwarts"
The blonde witch pulled the hands covering her eyes down, but held onto them, drawing slow circles into the taller girl's palms with her thumbs. A slow smile spread across her features as she craned her neck to look at Joycelyn taking note of the still damp hair.
"Back from training again I see" She smiled gently.
Joycelyn almost looked embarrassed as her hands instinctively wrapped around the fingers tucked in her palms and nodded her head affirmatively. "What are you studying?", the Scottish witch asked changing the subject as she gently nudged their temples together for emphasis. With their faces so close she missed the near imperceptible flutter of the blonde's eyes and how the pale cheeks bloomed with color. Joycelyn peaked at the book in the blonde's lap and noted the first word, "felix…" the brunette read aloud.
"Penny, are you reading up on how to brew a little luck?", Joycelyn teased.
"It's a very difficult potion to brew and I need my skills to be in top shape for N.E.W.T.s ." The blonde witch huffed indignantly, clutching ever tighter to the hands which were now resting comfortably next to her collar bone. The brunette made a hum of disbelief just as the door to the common room swung open. With a barely audible sigh she pulled away from her fellow Hufflepuff and stood to her full height, stretching slightly to hide her awkwardness.
A group of first years barreled through the doorway, all noise and laughter. But an all too familiar hush fell over the group as they saw the sibling of the opener of the cursed vaults leaning against one of the common room couches. Their wide eyes and the momentary silence that settled over the group like a wet blanket was nothing new to Joycelyn. It was just another reminder of the many ways in which the students of Hogwarts unintentionally isolated the her. With a brief exhale as if steeling herself, the tall brunette turned to the group with an easy smile that didn't r each her green eyes.
"What's with all the big eyes and long faces?", Joycelyn would be damned if a bunch of eleven-year old's would put a chink in her armor of calm laidbackness. But before anyone could respond, Penny turned and fixed her kind blue eyes on the group.
"It's almost curfew, off to your dormitories", her silken voice was soft but there was an underlying edge of unmistakable authority which kicked all the younger students into high gear. As the group of first-years ran off toward the staircases the brunette cocked one eyebrow down at the blonde in question.
"They were being loud", she stated matter-of-factly, as if commenting on the weather. "Now" Penny stated as she scooted over to make room for the taller brunette, "sit down, I saved you some dinner."