For the Most in a Month Competition and the Collect a Collection Challenge (Black Family, Hesper Black)
Note: For reasons unknown, Hesper is listed as Hester on this site's archivedo characters. No, I javemt made a typo.
"Tell me about Hogwarts," Hesper says quietly.
Alexia takes her hand, and Hesper smiles. Alexia has always been her favorite sister. She doesn't yell a lot like Phoebe, and she's always so kind and patient with her.
"I already told you, silly," Alexia laughs.
"Tell me again."
Alexia nods and sits on the bed. She strokes Hesper's dark hair and presses a small kiss to her forehead. "It's huge. Bigger than this house," she says.
Hesper grins weakly. She can't imagine something bigger than her home with all its rooms and doors.
"And the staircases move! Licorus and I like to sit on them and let them change."
"Staircase that move," Hesper giggles.
That's her favorite part. Moving hurts her so much, but she thinks that she wouldn't mind climbing a staircase just wait for it to shift and carry her to another corridor.
"And the lake?"
"Phoebe told me that I can't ice skate on it during the winter. But I do."
"Phoebe is no fun," Hesper says.
Alexia strokes her hair again. "I know. But we love her anyway. I want to swim in the lake, but I hear there are creatures in it. Grindylows and merpeople," Alexia says.
Hesper's eyes widen. She's read of these amazing creatures of course, but all she has are words on pages. She wishes she could actually see one.
"You're going to love Hogwarts, Hessie," Alexia insists. "Only two more years."
Hesper feels the tears sting her eyes. She would love Hogwarts. She's spent her years collecting tales of the great school.
But she isn't stupid. Two years is such a long time. And each day that passes, she can feel her body growing weaker. She isn't sure that she'll even make it to her eleventh birthday, let alone the September that follows.
Hogwarts will remain just a dream. But, for now, at least she has the stories to keep her going. It's a silly hope, but it makes her a little less scs