...oh hey guys...how have you been..? (hides behind a brick wall)
I could make up a million and one excuses as to why you haven't heard from me, but I know none will suffice that it's been over a year (holy shit) since I've posted. Basically, it all comes down to college and the anxieties it has come with. The adjustment took away a lot of my creative flow and this story was at a standstill for a while. I think I like thinking about what's to come in this story more than what has to happen in order for me to get there, which is partly why writing Kelsey's younger years is difficult.
But at least I got this up...right..? (I just finished this about five minutes ago and knew I had to post it). After this, I have finals to worry about and possibly a winter class, and then spring semester. But the good news is that I do my best writing during class..! lol
So, I'm sorry for the long wait. I'm making it up to you by re-introducing one of my favorite characters into this story. I hope you like him as much as I do c:
Also, I've taken away the chapter The Curious Potion's Master. I meant to use that as a reference to a later chapter, but I've decided to take the story in a different direction, so the chapter being there didn't make sense anymore. yeah.
Anyway, enjoy! c:
"If everyone could just quiet down for one minute, please!"
Kelsey Scott had never seen the Ravenclaw common room quite so crowded. Nearly everyone, from first year to seventh year, somehow found somewhere to be in the common room for their house meeting. She knew some people were missing, as she passed rooms of gossiping sixth years on her way down, but she wouldn't voice out. For Kelsey was no tattle tale and, after all, she wasn't the one missing the meeting.
The six Ravenclaw prefects stood at the front of the crowd trying to get everyone to quiet down. Kara Nigel, the female seventh year prefect, was standing in front of all the other prefects, the most energetic of all of them. Slowly, but not as slow as it would've taken other houses, the room quieted to a lull of murmuring then the silence of only a few whispers.
"Thank you," Kara sighed, pushing her auburn hair behind her ear. "Now, this house meeting is about the upcoming holiday the week after the next. Yes, yes, it's all very exciting…"
She waited as the murmur of voices got louder and then died down again before continuing to speak.
"Professor McGonagall asked us to remind you all about a few factors prior to your holiday plans. Firstly, the train to King's Cross Station will be leaving Saturday, December 23rd, at 11AM sharp, as always. Furthermore, the train back to Hogwarts will be leaving Saturday, January 6th, at 11AM as well. Those of you who are staying at Hogwarts should be reminded that the normal rules are still intact even though classes are not in session. The teachers will still be here, and let us not return only to see that Ravenclaw house has lost points over the holiday." She gave a stern look over all the faces in the room.
"Umm, let's see…is that it?" Kara looked round to Gregory Wilson, the male seventh year prefect.
Gregory pushed his glasses up and took a step forward to join his partner. "For those of you who haven't stayed at Hogwarts for the holiday before, all meals will be served the same time they usually are on the weekends. For those in their 3rd year and higher, Hogsmeade will be available to go to on the Tuesday and Wednesday after Christmas. Hogsmeade will also be available on the evening of December 31st for 7th years only." He gave the fifth and sixth years in front of him a stern look before turning around to give his fellow prefects the same look over.
Even though he wasn't looking her way, Kelsey still felt a bit uneasy under his glare. She could only imagine what the fifth and sixth years felt.
"Thank you, Greg, I think that's all." Kara took over again, and Greg's glare ceased. He instead looked upon everyone with a neutral expression.
"Well, thank you all for your cooperation. Best of luck on your exams and have a great holiday!"
All of the students started to get up and move around. Most headed towards the entrance, as it was close to dinner and were heading down to the Great Hall. After the prefects left, the few who skipped out on the meeting slipped out of their rooms and followed everyone else out of the common room as well.
Kelsey decided to grab a book from the bookcase and have a seat by the fireplace in a loveseat. She opened the book, glanced down at a page, but didn't read it. Instead she just started thinking.
She still wasn't sure if she was going home for the holidays. Had you asked her a couple of months before, she wouldn't have to think twice about it. Of course she would go home. It had been months since she had seen her godparents, and she missed them more than she could ever put into her letters.
But then she would start thinking. It started with a memory; Uncle Moony would get home after Kelsey fell asleep at night and leave again sooner than she'd wake up the next day, and sometimes Kelsey wasn't aware if he had even come home at all. He worked all the time and always made sure she ate before he did if it was a bad week. He did everything for her. So wouldn't he be living a little better now that she as here at Hogwarts, and not living with him? Surely he must be. He still probably works as often as he can, but he can probably now focus on feeding himself and not have to worry about feeding her, because she was at Hogwarts. So wouldn't it be better if she just stayed here for the holiday? But she did miss her godparents…
Kelsey sighed quietly before closing the book. She glanced up at the dancing flames in the fireplace.
What would she do?
"Oi, you know it's dinner time, right?"
She whipped her head around to see Joseph Galloway, who had stopped in his tracks on the way to the common room entrance. His school uniform was a bit taken apart, his tie was draped around his neck like a scarf. There was, as always, a navy blue beanie on his head. She wondered if he ever took it off.
"Umm, yes," she looked back down, feeling self-conscious. "I'm not really hungry." she said quietly.
Galloway blinked. "Fair enough." he shrugged.
He walked over and sat in the couch next to the loveseat she sat in, but took the seat farthest from Kelsey.
"But, you know, you won't get to eat again until morning. That's a long time. You should get something in your system, right?"
Kelsey glanced up at him. If he thought dinner was so important, what was he doing in the common room wasting his time with her? Why wasn't he already down there himself?
"Guess I'm one to talk, I suppose I could be in the Great Hall me'self right now. I just like to have some alone time, is all. Can't get outside as much now since it's cold and snowy, so I have to settle for when my dorm mates leave the room."
Kelsey blinked at him once. Twice. She didn't know what to make of what he said, or, more importantly, how to respond. She focused her attention back to the fireplace.
From the corner of her eye, she saw the boy look towards the fire as well.
"Going home for the holiday?"
She knew he was just trying to make conversation, but still, she didn't know what to make of it. She hadn't spoken to him much since she had met him at the welcoming feast months ago. Why would he waste his time talking to her?
Unless he didn't have anyone else to talk to…
When Kelsey didn't answer, he continued talking. "I'm not sure me'self. I'd like to see my aunt though, she always gives the best gift for the holiday." he smiled at the flames.
Kelsey looked over at him. "Your aunt?"
His aunt? Was she not the only one who didn't live with her parents?
Galloway turned towards her when he heard her voice. He smirked slightly with satisfaction. "Yeah, me Aunt Emma. Great woman, she is. Never judged me, always supported me…"
He trailed off, smiling into the flames. Kelsey looked at him curiously.
"Still, not sure if it's worth the hassle of going home. Mum and dad are busy enough with me baby sister. And they still get lost trying to find platform 9 ¾." he chuckled.
'Oh, so he does live with his parents…' Kelsey thought.
But…lost getting to platform 9 ¾…?
"Are you a muggleborn?" Kelsey asked before she thought about it. As soon as she realized the words had escaped, she closed her mouth to a tight line and looked down.
"Yeah. It's complicated sometimes, being a muggleborn." he glanced her way. "You're not part of one of those blood prejudiced families, are you?"
Kelsey swallowed hard. She knew that the Black family was known for their blood status, but she also knew her father was different. He married a half-blood after all. What should it matter how magical your family was?
"I'm not." she said. "It's silly, families who put their blood status on a pedestal."
He nodded. "Yeah, why should their blood make them better than anyone else?"
Suddenly, there was a strange sound. A sort of low, gurgling noise. Kelsey looked around the room cautiously.
Galloway chuckled. "Guess that's what I get for being late for dinner. I should get down there while I still can."
He got up and made his way towards the entrance to the common room before turning in her direction slightly.
"Sure you don't want to grab a bite to eat, Scott?"
She looked over at him with the most bemused look on her face. He was odd and different. She had been feeling lonely about her family and he made her forget for a moment. She was curious about him and a bit intrigued. She wanted to figure him out and see why he seemed almost as lonely as she did.
No one should feel that lonely.
Kelsey got up and put the book back in the bookcase. She walked over to him and smiled slightly.
He smiled down at her. "Let's go then."
