1 Complementary Colours
1.1 Chapter the Fifth – Abnormality
Valerian's POV
The hall is packed, I don't remember there being so many students when I was here! I suppose there must have been, but I never saw them from the top of the hall before, did I? I sat next to Mara, like I promised I would, and she's being really nice to me. I can't quite put my finger on it, but there's something about her demeanour……is she attracted to me? Don't be so silly, Ella! Just because you have these strange feelings doesn't mean anyone else does. OK, so I expect someone somewhere does, but the odds of one of those people sitting next to you are fairly slim, wouldn't you say?
I'll never forget the first time I realised I wasn't "normal". I was in my 3rd year here at Hogwarts, and I had a very close friend, Helena Saimers. I know she didn't feel the same, but I adored her. At first I though I just wanted to be her friend, but what I was feeling couldn't be mistaken for anything else – it was love. I was crushed when she left in the 7th year, her family moved to Norway when her father got a job working for the MOM out there. But life goes on. Since that day, I've known for sure. I'm gay. I've never been able to admit it to anyone except myself – my parents brought me up to be "normal" and very traditional. I think they'd disown me if they found out. I couldn't tell any of my friends, either. It was always a huge joke, if someone didn't like you, they'd write "Hazell's gay" on all the desks, and insult you by saying "oh, you're so gay". It hurt me a lot more than the other girls, of course. And that's the sort of culture that developed. Gay was an insult. It was what you said about people you hated, and it was something to be denied at all costs. Coming out would have been like sticking my head on a toasting fork and waving it in front of a dragon. Not smart.
So I knew right away that I couldn't say anything to Mara. I could make friends with her, and get to spend time with her that way, but anything else and she's think I was a disgusting dyke, like everyone else would. She'd never be able to speak to me again. I couldn't stand that. As I sit here and watch her eat, I can't help marvelling at the strong beauty of her face, with those amazing golden eyes blinking up at me occasionally. Her hair is fantastic, the sort of hair that makes you have to sit on your hands to keep yourself from running your fingers through it. She's changed into a long, blue robe now. As you would expect from a sports teacher, her figure is lean and muscular. Thinking about it makes me want to tear that robe off her. How can I think things like that?! Goddess, if they could read my mind I'd be fired from Hogwarts for sure. Before I'd even taught one lesson!
Once the feast is over, the students head up to their dorms and common rooms. The Professors file off in different directions, and I watch feeling slightly wounded as Mara tucks her chair under the table and leaves without looking back at me. I guess I must have been wrong about her feelings for me. I traipse sadly up the stairs to my room in the staff wing, not bothering to bid anyone good night. I collapse on my bed, exhausted and not looking forward to spending the next few years in the company of a gorgeous witch that I can't have.
After lying there feeling sorry for myself for a few minutes, I head through to the bathroom and fill the tub with hot water and vanilla scented bubbles. I'm not in the mood to struggle with corset laces, so I use my wand to strip my clothes off in under a minute, and they fold themselves up neatly in the chest of drawers. Twisting my hair up into a knot on top of my head, I slide under the warm embrace of the water, the steam making the few strands of loose hair go curly. I don't know why my hair does that, but whenever I take a really hot bath it seems to make it go all wispy and wavy. As the water laps over my skin, I close my eyes and relax. Mara. All that comes into my head when I close my eyes is her. Those amazing hawk- like eyes smiling at me. I can almost picture her lying next to me in this ridiculously out-sized bathtub. Lost in my fantasies, my fingers begin to explore my body, imagining every touch to be hers. Except her nails are far shorter than mine, so I …..OUCH……wouldn't end up with deep scratch marks on the inside of my thighs…… *sigh*
~*~*~*~
It's no use, I've been lying in bed for almost two hours now and the whole castle is silent. I doubt if I'm going to get any sleep. It's always like that for the first night in a new place, isn't it? Resigning myself to the fact that I'm going to be dog-tired tomorrow, I slip out from under the sheets and rummage around in the drawer for a night-gown – I've been sleeping nude because of the decent weather. I can't believe it was so cold first thing this morning. Slipping a long, white silk night-dress over my head, I grab my bathrobe from the back of the bedroom door. It's also made of silk, but dark green this time. Very expensive, from one of the finest designers in the magical world. One of the benefits of having a rich family.
Closing the door to my rooms silently behind me, I tip-toe down the hallway to the lounge. It's empty, just as I expected. The thin, blueish light of the moon falls in shafts through the leaded windows, casting patches of lights and dark around the room. I perch myself on the window seat, which is littered with cushions. From here I can watch the grounds, and there's enough light to read by if I want to pick up one of the books from the coffee table. Despite the moonlight, it's actually quite dark in here. In a flash of inspiration, I summon a tall white candle in a silver candlestick from the mantle-piece and light it with a wave of my hand – I've left my wand back in my rooms. I could be quite comfortable here for hours, sitting in the window and watching the candle flame dance.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
There's another chapter for you folks, had a spurt of creativity today. I think this story is coming along nicely, I can't wait to write more of it! Again, PLEASE write me a review! After all, I sat here for hours writing this for your amusement, the least you could do is spend two minutes telling me what you thought.
1.1 Chapter the Fifth – Abnormality
Valerian's POV
The hall is packed, I don't remember there being so many students when I was here! I suppose there must have been, but I never saw them from the top of the hall before, did I? I sat next to Mara, like I promised I would, and she's being really nice to me. I can't quite put my finger on it, but there's something about her demeanour……is she attracted to me? Don't be so silly, Ella! Just because you have these strange feelings doesn't mean anyone else does. OK, so I expect someone somewhere does, but the odds of one of those people sitting next to you are fairly slim, wouldn't you say?
I'll never forget the first time I realised I wasn't "normal". I was in my 3rd year here at Hogwarts, and I had a very close friend, Helena Saimers. I know she didn't feel the same, but I adored her. At first I though I just wanted to be her friend, but what I was feeling couldn't be mistaken for anything else – it was love. I was crushed when she left in the 7th year, her family moved to Norway when her father got a job working for the MOM out there. But life goes on. Since that day, I've known for sure. I'm gay. I've never been able to admit it to anyone except myself – my parents brought me up to be "normal" and very traditional. I think they'd disown me if they found out. I couldn't tell any of my friends, either. It was always a huge joke, if someone didn't like you, they'd write "Hazell's gay" on all the desks, and insult you by saying "oh, you're so gay". It hurt me a lot more than the other girls, of course. And that's the sort of culture that developed. Gay was an insult. It was what you said about people you hated, and it was something to be denied at all costs. Coming out would have been like sticking my head on a toasting fork and waving it in front of a dragon. Not smart.
So I knew right away that I couldn't say anything to Mara. I could make friends with her, and get to spend time with her that way, but anything else and she's think I was a disgusting dyke, like everyone else would. She'd never be able to speak to me again. I couldn't stand that. As I sit here and watch her eat, I can't help marvelling at the strong beauty of her face, with those amazing golden eyes blinking up at me occasionally. Her hair is fantastic, the sort of hair that makes you have to sit on your hands to keep yourself from running your fingers through it. She's changed into a long, blue robe now. As you would expect from a sports teacher, her figure is lean and muscular. Thinking about it makes me want to tear that robe off her. How can I think things like that?! Goddess, if they could read my mind I'd be fired from Hogwarts for sure. Before I'd even taught one lesson!
Once the feast is over, the students head up to their dorms and common rooms. The Professors file off in different directions, and I watch feeling slightly wounded as Mara tucks her chair under the table and leaves without looking back at me. I guess I must have been wrong about her feelings for me. I traipse sadly up the stairs to my room in the staff wing, not bothering to bid anyone good night. I collapse on my bed, exhausted and not looking forward to spending the next few years in the company of a gorgeous witch that I can't have.
After lying there feeling sorry for myself for a few minutes, I head through to the bathroom and fill the tub with hot water and vanilla scented bubbles. I'm not in the mood to struggle with corset laces, so I use my wand to strip my clothes off in under a minute, and they fold themselves up neatly in the chest of drawers. Twisting my hair up into a knot on top of my head, I slide under the warm embrace of the water, the steam making the few strands of loose hair go curly. I don't know why my hair does that, but whenever I take a really hot bath it seems to make it go all wispy and wavy. As the water laps over my skin, I close my eyes and relax. Mara. All that comes into my head when I close my eyes is her. Those amazing hawk- like eyes smiling at me. I can almost picture her lying next to me in this ridiculously out-sized bathtub. Lost in my fantasies, my fingers begin to explore my body, imagining every touch to be hers. Except her nails are far shorter than mine, so I …..OUCH……wouldn't end up with deep scratch marks on the inside of my thighs…… *sigh*
~*~*~*~
It's no use, I've been lying in bed for almost two hours now and the whole castle is silent. I doubt if I'm going to get any sleep. It's always like that for the first night in a new place, isn't it? Resigning myself to the fact that I'm going to be dog-tired tomorrow, I slip out from under the sheets and rummage around in the drawer for a night-gown – I've been sleeping nude because of the decent weather. I can't believe it was so cold first thing this morning. Slipping a long, white silk night-dress over my head, I grab my bathrobe from the back of the bedroom door. It's also made of silk, but dark green this time. Very expensive, from one of the finest designers in the magical world. One of the benefits of having a rich family.
Closing the door to my rooms silently behind me, I tip-toe down the hallway to the lounge. It's empty, just as I expected. The thin, blueish light of the moon falls in shafts through the leaded windows, casting patches of lights and dark around the room. I perch myself on the window seat, which is littered with cushions. From here I can watch the grounds, and there's enough light to read by if I want to pick up one of the books from the coffee table. Despite the moonlight, it's actually quite dark in here. In a flash of inspiration, I summon a tall white candle in a silver candlestick from the mantle-piece and light it with a wave of my hand – I've left my wand back in my rooms. I could be quite comfortable here for hours, sitting in the window and watching the candle flame dance.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
There's another chapter for you folks, had a spurt of creativity today. I think this story is coming along nicely, I can't wait to write more of it! Again, PLEASE write me a review! After all, I sat here for hours writing this for your amusement, the least you could do is spend two minutes telling me what you thought.