From behind the counter at the Magical Menagerie, a thin figure was
barely visible. Her straight brown hair was pulled back into a loose,
untidy braid and large glasses only seemed to show off her hazel eyes. A
storekeeper's apron covered a witch's robes as she stretched her arms over
her head. Hazel Weatherby was a quiet, casual beauty, a young witch who was
usually covered in too much dirt and animal hair for her appearance to
really shine. There was still a distinct glimmer in her eyes, the look
someone can only get from doing work she enjoys. Hazel had always loved
working with plants and animals, and being a part time assistant at the
only pet shop on Diagon Alley gave her ample time to do just that.
Hazel's best subjects at Hogwarts had always been Herbology and Care of Magical Creatures, and she had put that knowledge into practice immediately out of school. She got herself apprenticed at a muggle nursery and sought out a position at the Magical Menagerie. Someday, she was going to open up her own little greenhouse/pound at Diagon Alley. That was what she wanted in life. All she wanted in life.
Wasn't it? No, it wasn't. She didn't even try to lie anymore, to hide it from herself. She was missing something...someone.
"There you go," Hazel said sweetly, handing a little box with ventilation holes to a little wizard-to-be. He had just bought his first rat. The boy just smiled and nodded his thanks, flashing her a smile and showing off his grey eyes. He had grey eyes.
Hazel shivered uncontrollably as the boy ran away. Bittersweet grey eyes. She couldn't move, she couldn't breathe. All she could do was clutch the edge of the counter. Forlorn grey eyes. "As if he's not in my dreams enough," she whispered, much more forlornly than she had wanted to. Tragic grey eyes.
He had left her, left her to find a cure. Left her to remember him. To remember his sad, lonely grey eyes.
Memories. Haunting her day and night. Memories of when they had been together, of when they had been happy. Why couldn't he have stayed with her? She didn't mind what he was, it didn't bother her at all. Why should it? She loved Remus, loved him for HIM.
'Everyone has demons, it's just that mine are a bit more tangible than anyone else's.' He had said that to her once. How long had it been? They were still students at Hogwarts, only about their third year year. He wasn't even a teenager then, and he had demons in his soul? Remus, one of the the best people she knew?
The chime rang. A customer was entering. She was obviously a hag, and one from the marshes at that. Her unkempt hair and gnarled grey-green hands spoke of that much. "Missie, do you stock wolfbane?"
Hazel shuddered, but managed to say in a calm voice, "No, you might try the apothecary across the street."
The hag nodded, tipped her pointed hat, and left, fortunately doing so in an expedient manner, before Hazel hastily stumbled to the storage room in back, stifling her tears.
Hazel's best subjects at Hogwarts had always been Herbology and Care of Magical Creatures, and she had put that knowledge into practice immediately out of school. She got herself apprenticed at a muggle nursery and sought out a position at the Magical Menagerie. Someday, she was going to open up her own little greenhouse/pound at Diagon Alley. That was what she wanted in life. All she wanted in life.
Wasn't it? No, it wasn't. She didn't even try to lie anymore, to hide it from herself. She was missing something...someone.
"There you go," Hazel said sweetly, handing a little box with ventilation holes to a little wizard-to-be. He had just bought his first rat. The boy just smiled and nodded his thanks, flashing her a smile and showing off his grey eyes. He had grey eyes.
Hazel shivered uncontrollably as the boy ran away. Bittersweet grey eyes. She couldn't move, she couldn't breathe. All she could do was clutch the edge of the counter. Forlorn grey eyes. "As if he's not in my dreams enough," she whispered, much more forlornly than she had wanted to. Tragic grey eyes.
He had left her, left her to find a cure. Left her to remember him. To remember his sad, lonely grey eyes.
Memories. Haunting her day and night. Memories of when they had been together, of when they had been happy. Why couldn't he have stayed with her? She didn't mind what he was, it didn't bother her at all. Why should it? She loved Remus, loved him for HIM.
'Everyone has demons, it's just that mine are a bit more tangible than anyone else's.' He had said that to her once. How long had it been? They were still students at Hogwarts, only about their third year year. He wasn't even a teenager then, and he had demons in his soul? Remus, one of the the best people she knew?
The chime rang. A customer was entering. She was obviously a hag, and one from the marshes at that. Her unkempt hair and gnarled grey-green hands spoke of that much. "Missie, do you stock wolfbane?"
Hazel shuddered, but managed to say in a calm voice, "No, you might try the apothecary across the street."
The hag nodded, tipped her pointed hat, and left, fortunately doing so in an expedient manner, before Hazel hastily stumbled to the storage room in back, stifling her tears.