Love isn't a fairytale. Nor is life. But once upon a time when a few people still believed in them: a sparrow met a swan. The Swan was elegant but kind. The sparrow was wise but had a foolish heart. They made a promise to be friends for always. But sometimes promises aren't exactly broken but then they're not technically kept either. This is the story of the friendship between the Sparrow and the Swan.
The first day of potions my brother was found with another boy in the supply closet. From my worn bench I barely could see. But it is said Professor Bonnefoy didn't think it was anything but child's play. Our fellow students' thought they were gay and the girls whispered what a shame the two hottest boys were unavailable while the boys whispered praises to a higher power. To me I knew he was probably trying to find the ingredients for fireworks so he can blow something up and stumbled on a new friend rather than making out with someone he just met. But rumors would not like truth to darken its fantastic lies.
The sparrow fell in love with the Swan on a cool spring day a year after they met. Every day they talked though they lived in different worlds they made time for the other. The Sparrow was always there for whatever the Swan needed and the Swan was there to care for the Sparrow when she had need of it. The Sparrow did not speak of her love. She made a promise she intended to keep. The Swan did not need to know that on their flights to get seeds or berries her heart whispered I'll always love you. But the Swan knew though she said nothing. She thought it was a fleeting emotion that the Sparrow's heart held.
It was like stepping into a barn for the first time. The warmth of hay and the heat of the animals contained in the wooden and stone structure welcoming you from the prying claws of winter. The sweetness of the hay overpowering your olfactory sense of the occasional dropping from the softly crooned feathered beasts. For extra credit I was assigned to look after these creatures but it was ever so lovely when the odd package that was too large for an owl to deliver came in. Soaring through the sky with a comet's tail of winged beasts not far behind. Zooming in to see lumbering country side and withdrawing to the icy dampness of clouds when muggles appeared. But I always had to return. No, I did not mind the imposing castle-school but I did not belong in ways the others did.
One day the Swan told the Sparrow about the one she longed for. She had something great to ask of the Sparrow her beloved friend. Sparrow, the Swan said softly. Will you go with me to fetch the sap of a gum tree? The Sparrow without hesitation agreed to do this favor. The Swan overjoyed made plans for the long journey ahead for the two. Wearily she collapsed into sleep. The Sparrow whispered I'll always love you to the unaware Swan. The next day they were to depart. The next day the Sparrow had to hush her heart.