8 Thursday

Noelle laid in bed after another long day of classes. Around her classmates were giggling and talking about boys and about their classes. But Noelle was thinking of the day before when they'd all played Dungeons and Dragons. It'd been so different and fun. It reminded her of everything she'd originally loved about Hogwarts. Magic that was all-consuming and encompassing. She sighed happily and pulled her pillow closer.

The party had gone to Frosthaven, a small mining town in the North, and sure enough, there'd been kobolds, small creatures with clawed feet and pointed ears and faces, a reddish hue in color. They'd been terrorizing the villagers, NPCs Kade told her, and the party had fought them and put a stop to it.

Everything had felt so real within the illusion, straight down to the bone-chilling winds that swept down over them from the mountains. Their session had been cut off as the great hall was readied for dinner that night though. She hadn't even had a chance to thank Azraeyn.

That days classes had done nothing to distract her from getting excited about the next week's session. Transfiguration and divination, while fun normally, were rather dull on day one as the professors mostly talked over what they'd be covering for the term and nothing more. Even Brooke, who normally loved everything involving or pertaining to school, had gotten bored with the droning on of the teachers. They'd both had to nudge each other to keep the other awake.

Tomorrow's classes would be more interesting she hoped. They would have Apparition, which taught them to disappear and reappear in a desired location, and the Care of Magical Creatures. Not only did Noelle love animals, but Hagrid had always been a kind and fun half-giant. Noelle loved his classes and just going to visit him from time to time at his cottage on the grounds.

Thoth flew in the window and landed on her bed, leaning forwards to drop a couple letters, tied together with twine. Noelle sat up and untied it, the room going quiet as the others saw that she'd gotten mail.

The first letter was a reply from her father which she opened in a hurry. He congratulated her on her test results and asked when she'd first be able to come back and visit. He also included a picture, clearly edited, which showed him skiing, with the caption, "Wish you were here!" She chuckled and set them aside, turning to the other letter.

This letter was from Robert. She groaned and tossed it aside, falling back on her bed. The other girls muttered to themselves and then came over, picking it up and turning it over in their hands.

"Who is Robert?" One asked.

"And why is he the cause for such throwing yourself about?"

Noelle peeked at them over her arm and then sat up, taking it back and opening it. "He's my boyfriend."

One squealed. "You have a boyfriend?!"

"Yeah, how come this is the first we're hearing of this?" They sat on her bed, watching her.

She skimmed the letter and then pushed it aside once more. "Well, even when I'm back home it's a long-distance thing. And well, the feelings were strong at first but… Now? We just fight all the time and it feels like we're trying so hard to make it work that, we're not really enjoying it. You know?"

Another girl nodded. "I had a long-distance relationship once. And let me tell you, it did NOT work at all."

"That's so sad… You're like star-crossed lovers."

Noelle rolled her eyes. "At least star-crossed lovers are sure they WANT to be together. I'm just not even sure what I want at this point."

"If it's meant to be, it'll work out." The first girl smiled and patted her shoulder and the rest nodded in confirmation before getting up and returning to their beds.

Noelle pulled back the sheets and got into bed, closing her eyes. What she hadn't said out loud was just how unhappy she was and that she was trying to work out whether to keep trying or give up completely. Now, as she fell asleep, she dreamt of rolling hills, and a group of certain ragtag adventurers.