Disclaimer: I don't own anyone from the Harry Potter universe. I wish I did. I picked a random name for Jacob's sibling.
Spoilers for Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery up to year 5.
Written for Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry (Challenges and Assignments)
~ Wandlore: Wand Cores ~
Task #1: Unicorn Hair - It produces the most consistent magic, and is least subject to fluctuations and blockages. They are the most faithful of all wands, and usually remain strongly attached to their first owner, irrespective of whether he or she was an accomplished witch or wizard.
Prompt: Write about a long relationship between two or more characters.
Rowan Khana didn't have many friends growing up on the tree farm. She would neglect her job of raking bugs off the leaves in favor of reading books up on one of the many branches. Who needs friends when you can read along with the characters in books?
Then, she met Jade, who became her first real friend, best friend even. She didn't care about Jade's infamous brother, Jacob; she was her own person and Rowan wanted to get to know her. She adored the quiet Irish girl straight away, particularly her green eyes to match her name.
"What do you think?" Rowan asked her new friend, holding up three different items. "Which should I get?"
Jade looked long and hard, tilting her head slightly. "Hm, scarf," she decided. "Who doesn't like scarfs?"
Rowan smiled before looping the scarf around her neck. "You're absolutely right!" She smiled.
To her delight, she and Jade were both sorted into Slytherin. To her dismay though, that meant she was in the same house as Merula Snyde, who hated her for no reason Rowan can think of.
"Just admit that I'm the most powerful witch at Hogwarts," Merula snarled.
"That's subjective," Rowan replied. "It's based on experience and-"
"You're just jealous."
"Hey, Merula." Jade piped up without looking away from her potions book. "Just quit while you're ahead; no one's about to agree to anything, especially to the likes of you." She put her book down to tie her red hair up for the upcoming lesson.
Merula sputtered before letting out a huff. "Whatever." She pouted.
HPHPHPHPHPHP
"She's allowed to have other friends," Rowan muttered to herself as a mantra. "She's allowed to have other friends. I don't be clingy."
The Indian girl watched Andre Egwu flirt with Jade across the library, jealousy stewing inside. She tried to squish that feeling but it was hard; she seemed to have trouble making friends while Jade had no problem.
"Did you see, Ro?" Jade squealed as she plopped down next to her. Very unlike the quiet girl Rowan knew.
"Yes." Rowan replied flatly. "Saw it all."
"He wants to take me to Hogsmeade."
"Fun."
Jade stopped and looked at Rowan in concern. "What's wrong?" She inquired.
"Um, nothing," Rowan lied.
"Ro, you can't lie to me."
Rowan put her book down. "I'm jealous, okay?" She admitted. "You and Ben are really my only friends. You? You have so many." She sighed. "You might even have a boyfriend soon and forget about me."
"Hey, I could never forget you." The Irish girl assured her. She placed a hand on her friend's shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze. "You're my oldest and closest friend. After all, we've caused a lot of mischief, haven't we?"
"I suppose we have," Rowan agreed. She smiled as she remembered. "You, me and Ben."
"You're the smartest person I know," Jade went on. "Who else could decipher those notebooks like you can? You've been able to figure out every clue we've come across. With your help, we'll find Jacob soon!"
"I'm sorry for being jealous," Rowan apologized. "I'm afraid of you leaving me."
"I could never leave you."
"Promise?"
"Promise." Jade even held out her pinky, a Muggle thing she liked to do, something that always made Rowan smile. "Friends forever."
However, Rowan felt her jealousy rear its ugly head again a few years later when it seemed like Jade was always too busy to hang out with her, instead going on all these quests with others.
"Jade, you've even been doing things with Merula!" Rowan shouted bitterly, not caring she was attracting attention.
"Not by choice," Jade muttered. She looked around at their friends, who were watching intently. "Ro, can we talk about this in private?" She asked quietly.
"Oh, now you want to do something with me?" The Indian girl snapped.
"It's not like that," Jade protested, her voice starting to break. "Ro."
"Right," Rowan drawled. "I need space, see you later." Her long hair whipping over her shoulder, she stalked off.
This was her biggest regret. Jade would coexist with Rowan, much to Merula and Ismelda's confusion. All while Rowan wished she could just bring herself to go over and apologize.
"Ben, I think I messed up," she cried to the Gryffindor boy one day.
"Yeah, you kind of did," Ben agreed. He noticed the glare he was getting. "Sorry, but you were kind of harsh." He considered his next words carefully. "It's not that she doesn't want you around, we go with whoever has the biggest strength in whatever she's going through."
"And what does Merula have?" Rowan snapped waspishly.
"I hate to admit it but she is a pretty good at duels." The blond sighed. "She feels guilty."
Rowan pondered this. She didn't mean to hurt Jade, she just wanted to make her feeling known. "You're right, I should go talk to her."
"Glad I could help." The Gryffindor stood up. "See you later, Ro."
That night, Rowan noticed Jade meeting up with Ben and Merula. She decided to follow and talk to Jade after whatever they were doing.
To her confusion, they went into the forest grove.
"What are they doing?" She asked herself. Despite her better judgement, she followed. "Ugh, so many spiders."
"Don't touch that necklace, Jade," Merula warned. "It's one of Rakepick's dark artifacts."
"You sure?" Ben asked.
"If you don't believe me, you can go ahead and grab it," Merula taunted.
Rowan could practically see Jade rolling her eyes and listened to Ben and Merula bicker.
"Why did it suddenly get cold?" Jade interrupted.
"There's so many of them," Merula stated nervously.
Jade produced her patronus, a small spotted rabbit, sending one away. Merula conjured up a blackbird patronus. To Rowan's dismay, the dementors just kept coming. She wanted to help but figured it'd be best she stay hidden in case help was needed.
All of a sudden, a lioness came bounding through the trees. Its caster, Patricia Rakepick, emerged from the darkness.
"Oh no,: Rowan breathed.
Jade got knocked back after taunting from Rakepick. Rowan observed as Ben tried his best to protect Jade and Merula, shouting he wouldn't let Rakepick hurt anyone he cared about.
"Copper, run!" Merula screamed.
"No!" Ben stubbornly barked.
"Ben, what ar you doing?" Rowan whispered.
"Avada Kadavra!" Rakepick shrieked.
Unable to stand around anymore, Rowan sprinted out and jumped in front of Ben, taking her final breath as she got hit. It was as fast as falling asleep.
However, just because she was dead didn't mean she couldn't still watch over her friends. She watched Jade, Ben and Merula mourn over her dead body, Jade visibly shaking and in shock.
I never got to talk to her. Rowan thought to herself.
She decided to let Jade have some time before revealing herself. She watched everyone's reactions, but without s doubt Ben, Merula and Jade were taking it the hardest. She knew Jade would, withdrawing from everyone and staying in the library.
To Rowan's delight, Andre ended up being the one to comfort Jade, staying in the library with the Irish girl, though the void was still there. If only she were alive to be happy with Jade.
HPHPHPHPHPHPHP
The Indian girl watched Jade sit in the courtyard, looking distraught.
"Ro, I miss you," Jade whispered. She pulled something out of her robe pocket.
"My scarf!" Rowan exclaimed, clapping her hands together. "She kept it."
She decided now was the best time to turn visible; she sat down at the fountain next to her friend. "Hey, Jade." she greeted.
"Rowan?" Jade perked up. "Is it really you?" She held up her wand. "Lumos!"
"First spell we learned in charms," The Indian girl smiled. "You remember."
"Of course." Jade held the wand in between the two. "I miss you, it's not the same without you."
"I miss you too," Rowan replied. "I've been watching." She leaned back. "I'm sorry, I wanted to talk to you... I should've tried sooner. I'm sorry I got jealous."
"You're okay, I didn't know you were going to follow us."
"If I hadn't, Ben would have died."
"You're very brave, not many people would have done that." A tear started to roll down Jade's cheek.
"Just remember, I'm always going to be with you," Rowan told her. "You should be getting to bed, later Jade."
"Bye Rowan," Jade sniffled.
As Rowan started to disappear, she remembered one thing: she and Jade were friends to the end. And that was how it was going to remain.
A/N: Thanks for reading, hope you enjoyed.