My heart tells me that Courtney should go next, " said Lily warmly, "The time feels right, and I know how much it meant to Courtney to be able to draw her entry."
Courtney nodded but went about showing her entry slowly. Very slowly.
There was a very meaningful look on her face. A look that combined pride with pure emotion.
Time seemed to suspend itself in midair for the two minutes and two nanoseconds Courtney took to flip her drawing over and show them what she'd done.
When Courtney's drawing was finally revealed, it was crystal clear why it meant so much to Courtney and why she was so quietly emotional about it.
It was a drawing of a solar eclipse. Not just any solar eclipse. It was the solar eclipse from August 21st, 2017, from the perspective of Nashville.
"T-This, " said Courtney with tears of emotion streaming down her cheeks, "Is a moment of redemption for me. I did a painting as well."
Next nanosecond, Courtney bent down and picked up a second picture frame from her under chair. Turning it over, they saw that this was a painting of the same solar eclipse from August 21st, 2017 from the Nashville perspective.
"You all know the story of how I once made this painting before, but it didn't last long, " said Courtney clearly, "When the Hogwarts Drawing Competition was announced and when I knew I could partake in it despite not starting at Hogwarts until next year, I immediately saw it as an opportunity to do again what I had once done before: recreate that awesome solar eclipse that Stephanie and I were lucky enough to see in person through art. I'm still so grateful that mom and dad took us on that trip."
"So am I, " said Stephanie quietly, "You were spot on when you said TV and the internet can't do it justice."
"Art can't either, " said Courtney firmly, "I just tried to do the best job I could. "
""You all know that I wrecked Courtney's original painting of that solar eclipse, " said Stephanie honestly.
"Remember that was a blessing in disguise because it was my anger at you that caused me to be outside at the time of fire that robbed us of our parents and our home. Being outside at that time is what allowed me to survive, " said Courtney clearly.
"That is undeniable, " said Stephanie briskly, "But all the same, "I really glad that you took the time and effort to recreate it. You prefer painting over drawing, unlike me, and you really wanted a painting of that solar eclipse for yourself , but you also knew that a drawing of that solar eclipse done right would be a serious medal contender for the Hogwarts Drawing Competition. "
"You know, " said Samantha thoughtfully, "That drawing Courtney made is as just as much quality as the painting she made. You'd never know looking at her drawing and painting side by side that she prefers painting over drawing."
"I want to medal, I wanted to do that solar eclipse justice in my entry, and I wanted to put 100% effort into my work, " said Courtney proudly.
""I find your drawing and painting of that solar eclipse to be inspirational, " said Lily in a warm hearted voice, "It seems as though your entry has many meanings to you."
"Yes, it does, " said Courtney emotionally, "While I do want to medal, that is the least important reason this entry means so much to me. On a personal level, it is a bit of redemption for me on recreating work of mine that was ruined. "
"Bear in mind, " piped up Ainsley, "That even if you don't medal, if your entry is deemed to be of a certain level of quality, it will still be put on display for the rest of the academic year."
Courtney mimicked a bell ringing.
"I c-can't begin to t-tell y-you all how m-much it means to me to potentially have my work put on display for the whole school to see," said Courtney chokily."
"Drop the word potential, you work is getting put on display. Just as surely as the sun rising in the east and setting in the west, " said Devon fiercely.
"Honestly, I can tell already your work has a serious chance of medaling, " Hugo told Courtney firmly.
""It's just an awesome depiction of a real life event, " said James glowingly, "I'm jealous of you getting to see that eclipse in person."
"That leads me into the next reason that this drawing is so meaningful to me, " said Courtney with a bit more of a melancholic tone to her voice, "Is that to me it honors my late parents. Seeing that solar eclipse in person was one of the best days the Baylacs ever had together as a family. I like to think of making a drawing and a painting of what we saw in person that day as a tribute to mom and dad for giving us the wonderful opportunity to see it live."
"Mom and dad would be enormously proud of your drawing and painting of that solar eclipse, Courtney, " said Stephanie proudly, "They'd admire the quality, accuracy, and attention to detail that you put into those beautiful pieces of art. "
"Courtney?" asked Lily cautiously, "Was the loss of your parents more emotional for you than for Stephanie?"
"This isn't about the loss of mom and dad, " said Courtney emotionally, "It's about paying tribute to who they were and what they did."
"If you ask me, " said Rachel kindly, "Courtney's drawing and picture are also an inspiring tribute to the solar eclipse itself."
"That's the other reason why making this drawing and painting meant so much to me, " said Courtney warmly, "I wanted to honor one of the great pleasures of real life. I also like to think of it as a thank you to the fates for allowing me to have seen such a beautiful occurrence in person with my own two eyes."
"That's absolutely wonderful, Courtney, " said Lily with a genuine smile, "That's beauty and the purity of the Hogwarts Drawing Competition is the opportunity for each and every one of us to express ourselves in own ways."
