Jolie had always been a peculiar person. Weird, but at the same time sophisticated. She was always in the inbetween. Half the people at Beauxbatons thought she was an annoying pest who they either avoided or mistreated, while the other half loved her and sought to be with her.
The second half loved her for one reason: Her writing. She kept this in mind as her quill scratched on parchment in the dark of night. The only light was of her wand, illuminating the paper as she wrote. The sound echoing throughout the Papillonlisse dormitory. It was well past her curfew, but she was willing to take a small risk.
Little did she know that little Lila, a first-year at Beauxbatons, was watching her through wide eyes. She simply adored Jolie, and waited willingly to hear her stories every night.
"Are you finished yet?" Lila asked, making Jolie jump in her chair.
"Lila! You're still awake?" Jolie asked. Lila blushed and twirled her long, dark braid.
"We all are!" Lila giggled. Then, one by one, all the other Papillonlisse girls sat up in bed. "Why am I not surprised?" All of them longed for her nightly stories, each one as good as the last. "Where's Natalie?"
"She's in the common room practicing magic," Said Lila. The other girls murmured. Natalie was a very gifted witch. She could learn every spell with ease, but was mysterious and quiet. Along with that, she was also Jolie's best friend.
"Well answer the little squirt," Said Maggie, a seventh-year, "Are you finished or not?"
"I might have just finished this story…" All the girls scrambled from there beds to the floor next to her desk and sat down, backs straight and eager to listen. Then, silence. Not one dared to move. Then, Jolie cleared her throat, and began.
Once there was a family of ducks, living in a pond deep in the forest. The same pond in which all the other ducks abide. In the family there were four brothers.
The oldest brother was strong and mighty, with the strength of three ducks.
The second brother, thrived on his appearance and was very handsome. He was very popular with all.
The third brother was valued for his knowledge. Many sought him for his wisdom
But the fourth brother was very different from the others. He wasn't strong, or or handsome, or wise. The fourth duck, had no talent. But instead was bright green all over.
The others would jeer at him and say, "Surely he is a shame to us!" And the Green Duck would hang his head in shame. He would often hide away in the forest, where he couldn't be seen because he blended in with the green of the trees.
One day, a group of hunters came across the pond looking for game. Seeing the ducks, they took out their rifles.
The oldest brother tried to attack the hunters by using his strength. But he was no match for the powerful rifles of the men.
The second brother cowered in fear, for his looks could not help him, and the hunters took his life as well.
The third brother tried to use strategy to bring the other ducks to safety, but failed miserably as well. The hunters killed him, and al the other ducks.
Finally, the fourth brother was left. The Green Duck flew into the forest, fleeing from the hunters and their rifles. The hunters tried to follow him, but could not because he blended in with the trees around him. The hunters could not see him, so the Green Duck lived.
Because he was green, because he was different, he was the only duck that survived.
The room was silent. All the girls looking up at Jolie with awe.
"That was your best one yet!" Lila said, breaking the silence. Everyone in the room giggled.
"Lila, you say that every time," said Violette, Lila's older sister. It was true.
"Girls? Are you awake?" Said a voice from behind the door. Everyone gasped, then scrambled to their feet in complete chaos, bumping into each other while rushing to their bunks.
"Knox," Jolie said, and the room went dark with her wand, as she was the last one to get in bed. Or she thought she was. Little Lila was just getting up from the floor, where she fell during the pandemonium. She started for her bed, the footsteps outside the door getting faster louder. Then slowly, the door creaked open. Lila froze. Everyone else was "sleeping" in bed.
"Up past our curfew are we?" Prof. Barbeau said. Poor, trembling Lila nodded. "Then you will also have to come with us Ms. Allard." Jolie noticed Natilie in the doorway, who must've gotten caught in the common room. . Barbeau took Lila by the hand, and led her out of the room.
The second the door clicked shut, all the girls sat up.
"Poor Lila…" Jolie said sadly.
"The little squirt had it coming." Maggie said, flipping her hair, even though it was in a short bob.
"It also looked like they got Natalie," All the others rolled their eyes and shook their head.
"I don't mean this in a bad way…but why are you even friends with her?" Said a third-year named Hallie. "I tried to talk to her, but she was so rude!" Jolie and Natalie's friendship was a mystery to all, and Natalie understood why, but Jolie was to NaÏve.
"Well, I just gave her a chance-"
"You mean chances with an s right?" Maggie said. The others snickered.
"Well…I mean…yes…" Jolie stuttered. Even though she would do anything for Natalie, this particular conversation made her uneasy. "You see…"
The door swung open and the girls all laid back down.
"See? They're asleep." Madame Olympe Maxime said from the door.
"I could have sworn…never mind" Prof. Barbeau said with a huff of exasperation in her voice.
Jolie sighed in her bed with a rush of relief. Then squeezed her eyes shut, her head slowly coming up with a story for tomorrow.