Sitting alone (Cleo and anyone)

[Maryn Livley]

Maryn was sitting at a table in the Three Broomsticks waiting for her lunch to arrive. "Thanks." She told the waiter when he brought out her salad. Maryn sat eating her lunch quietly she didn't know anyone in the pub to talk to. She had finally been allowed out of the house after being grounded when she left the house twice without permission. So, when they allowed her to leave she didn't have time to ask her friends to come with her. She just left as fast as she could.

Maryn wasn't a rules girl, but she wasn't some rebel either. She was just a kind girl that says what she thinks. So she just sat their alone. Which was unusual for her.

[cleo]

Cleo shifted through racks of evening gowns with boredom. For some reason her grand-mohter had decided that she needed a proper evening gown and wihtout giving her time to argue had dragged Cleo over to Hogsmeade. Cleo didn’t have a clue why. She never made an appearance at the formal evenings her grand-parents hosted. She never liked them and, well, quite frankly her grand-parents were grateful that she didn’t come and embarresed them. But her grandparents hadn’t given her a chance. So now she was here, shifting through the numerous gowns to see if she would find something that would catch her eye so it would be resewn to fit her perfectly.
Finally coming to a dress that bared her back Cleo examine it closer. It had thin strips of clitch crisscrossing around the neck and arms, but the back was bare. It didn’t have anything more fancy – a simple upper piece and a straight falling skirt. Cleo however liked the colour of the dress. It was bronze – a strong colour that would bring out her vibrantly red hair. A feature Cleo was proud of. Her mother had had the same hair-colour.

„This one,“ Cleo said calmly and a moment later she was already being fitted for the dress. It passed surprisingly painlessly however and in less than 5 minutes Cleo was told that she would receive the finished dress in 3 days.
„I’m going to go get lunch,“ Cleo told her grand-mother rather coldly slipping into her blue off-shoulders blouse and white jeans once again.
„Of course. Do go somewhere fitting for you. I hear a new restaurant was opened here,“ her gran-dmother answered with a sneer. Not paying any attention to her Cleo just turned and left the tailor’s parlor. Both she and her grand-mother would be a lot more happier the rest of the day when they didn’t have to see each other.

Turning on purpose Cleo moved quickly through the streets entering the Three Broomsticks in a matter of moments. „ Butterbeer and... ah, cheese-sandwich and fruit salad,“ Cleo said after stopping at the counter and looking at the menu. Looking around the relatively full pub Cleo stayed at the counter tapping her foot impatiently as her order was fulfilled.
„Um, we are rather full right now, so could you perhaps go to table 9? You’ll fruit salad will be brought over in a few,“ the young girl behind the counter told Cleo. Taking her bottle of butterbeer nad her salad Cleo frowned. She wasn’t particularly in mood for company, but the pub was full. Turning Cleo moved through the people finally finding table 9. A girl was sitting there. Apperantly younger than Cleo.
„I was told to come here as well, so if you have any problems with sharing your table, take it up with the workers,“ Cleo told the girl as she slid onto a chair opposite her. Uncorking her butterbeer bottle Cleo took a sip of the drink inside before starting to munch of her sandwich happily.

[Maryn Livley]

A girl suddenly sat down next to Maryn. "On a regular day I would mind, but not today. Today is a happy day." Maryn responded to the girls comment. Maryn continued to peck at her salad, but she decided to talk to the girl. "I'm Maryn by the way. How is your sandwhich?" Maryn hated small talk, but she would rather talk to the girl then just sit their feeling ackward. Maryn looked at her with a scowl. She didn't like meeting new people either. She would rather be hanging out with her friends, but they were not their so she decided to make due with this girl.

[cleo]

Cleo concentrated on her sandwich wholly. She had started to feel her stomach screaming for food at the tailor parlor already. It most certainly hadn’t made her more co-operative or improved her mood, so now Cleo enjoyed nurturing her absolutely empty stomach. Not that it was actually completely empty – naturally there were her entrails in it. Most likely a peppermint candy she had eaten previously too. But this real food was much better.
However she didn’t get to allow her sandwich in peace for very long. The girl commented about not minding to share the table. Not that she had actually had much choice due to all the people in the pub right now. Cleo pondered with only half a mind what made this day so happy, but merely made a non-commitable sound in her throat for answer and took a new bite.

The girl didn’t seem bothered however as she continued speaking. Hearing the introduction Cleo felt a small surge of irritation. She had escaped her grand-mother just so she wouldn’t have to stand a conversation. Cleo had just bitten back her surge of irritation – the girl didn’t obviously have any blame about Cleo’s not too brilliant mood – when she saw the girl scowl at her. Cleo’s irritation flashed again and this time Cleo didn’t bother to hide it, as she swallowed and took a sip of her butterbeer. “Cleo and the sandwich is good. Looking at your… facial expression… however I won’t even ask about your salad,” Cleo snapped. She had spent the whole morning with her absolutely infuriating grandmother. And now this girl scowled at her for absolutely no reason!

[Maryn Livley]

Cleo snapped a rude comment. "My sandwich is fine. I just don't like meeting new people because sometimes we get along fine, but most of the time they are rude little twits." Maryn snapped. Maryn was rather moody for a Gryffindor. She knew when the border of rudeness was crossed she had to say something. Thats who she was. "I'm guessing you didn't have a good day. Well, don't ruin everyones happiness just beause you're day stunk. If you had just gotten ungrounded like me, you would want your day to be happy too." Maryn said now angry. She wasn't in a good mood anymore.

[cleo]

”Rude little twits.” Cleo sent an amused glance at the girl. She was a good 2 or 3 years younger than Cleo was. Even if Cleo had sounded rude – Maryn had no base to call her that. Already the age difference forbid it. Wondering if the girl herself understood it as well Cleo refrained from comment. Her entertained look could usually speak volumes. So many people looked pass it and always tried to pour their feelings and thoughts into words. But one look, one sneer or smile, one simply touch of hand could tell me volumes and mean more than any word. Cleo’s train of thought was interrupted as a waitress approached the table with her fruit salad. Cleo silently appreciated the timing – she only had one last bite of her sandwich still. Giving the waitress a small restrained smile and a curt nod Cleo watched the woman slip away once again.

Throwing the last piece of her sandwich into her mouth Cleo had to bit back a sigh. So the girl had thought she was rude. Cleo swallowed before looking at the girl: “I would like to point out that YOU were the one who started the conversation. If you don’t like meeting people, then perhaps you should rethink before you repeat it in future reference?” Cleo answered calmly before finishing up her butterbeer as well. Brushing a bread-crumb off her finger Cleo raised her eye-brows in mock innocence towards the girl: “And I don’t get grounded. Mainly because I’m too good to get caught and also because I actually know the limits I can go too.”
Cleo’s fingers brushed the small scar high on her left cheekbone. Oh yes, with her sharp tongue and the obviously inability to keep her mouth shut in front of her grand-parents ‘important’ visitors she had had her fair share of detention. Had gotten caught, had tried to run. Even the scar was a memory of one of her punishments. She had fell very ungraceful as storming away from her grand-parents, stumbled on a carpet and fell at the edge of a small coffee-table. The not-glorious days when she had tried shoplifting. She had failed most miserably.

Pushing the memory she was not proud of back into her mouth Cleo picked up her fork. The fruit salad looked tasty. Fresh, as the fruits in it, had obviously been just now cut into pieces with a generous scoop of whipped cream crowning the dessert. Picking up a piece of pineapple with whipped cream Cleo started enjoying the salad and savouring the juicy taste.

[Maryn Livley]

"Look, I started the conversation because I didn't know what to say and it's hard for me to say nothing. I'm probally more rude than you so forget I called you that. For a second I thought you were a Slytherin and I get moody around them, but your not. Ravenclaw, right. I'm Maryn." Maryn thought she was a Slytherin, but could now tell she was much nicer and more complex than any Slytherin than she had ever met. "And I didn't actually get caught in the act. See, I left the house without permission twice and they found my room empty." She was trting to tell Cleo that she was rather goog at sneaking out. It was the coming back soon part she didn't get.

[cleo]

The girl said that she has just striken up a conversation because she didn’t like the silence. Cleo had to admit that she understood it to one point. This was also one of the reasons why Cleo wasn’t very social. She never could do much small-talk. She didn’t have the patience for it and completely honestly taken – her comments were sometimes a bit too harsh for politeness. But there were only very few people who could make silence feel comfortable.
Cleo sighed and eyed the girl. It must have been hard to start a conversation with someone older than you, especially if that someone wasn’t too enthusiastic about it.
“Cleo,” Cleo replied deciding to at least try and help the girl along a little, “And yes, I’m Ravenclaw. Starting 5th year.”

Cleo raised her eye-brows when Maryn said that her parents had just found an empty room. You should leave pillows into your bed, to make it seem like you were sleeping. Or tell something so your parents wouldn’t come to bother you. At least that’s what Cleo would have done she guessed. She had never encountered that problem as her grand-parents were glad when she retreated to her room and never checked on her. She could go out as she wished as long as she didn’t ‘shame’ the family-name. Cleo snorted at the thought. She was an illegal child – meaning no one knew her father. That was enough to make her grand-parents think that her whole existence was shameful for the bloodline.

“What was worth sneaking out twice then?” Cleo asked after a bit of silence just to say something. Lowering her eyes back to her salad Cleo started to eat it quickly, while moving her head a bit sideways, so she could still see Maryn form the corner of her eye and hear her answer.

[Maryn Livley]

"I'm going into my third year Gryffindor." Maryn replied. Cleo asked her what was worth sneaking out twice. Maryn took a bite of salad and then answered Cleo's question.
"Life." Maryn said. Maryn was going to tell Cleo something she had never told anyone. Just because she asked. No one had ever asked Maryn why she did the things she did. They just understood it and never let Maryn forget it. "My parents have tried to hide me all my life. They have always wanted me to be safe. I mean they moved us to the muggle world when I was two. When I got my Hogwarts letter, they wanted me to be in Hufflepuff becuase they think Hufflepuffs are scared of everything, but when I got in Gryffindor they changed. Gryffindor, is a sign to them. It means I can do scary and great things." Maryn paused. "Everytime I come home they make me stay inside. They want me to be afraid of the world. They want me to stay inside to show everyone I'm afraid. I'm not. Thats why I leave, to show them I'm not who they want me to be. I'm trying to show them that I take risks and live." Maryn sighed. She didn't think Cleo expected to hear such a story. "It might sound stupid but thats why I leave." Maryn stated suddenly. She then continued to munch at her salad.

[cleo]

Cleo blinked. Her fork stopped for a moment half-way towards her mouth for a moment while Cleo blinked. Nothing more, just one blink. And then the piece of kiwi was in Cleo’s mouth. Swallowing the piece of fruit Cleo looked at Mary as she leaned back in her chair, while processing her words.
„Has the thought as to why your parents try to protect you ever crossed your mind? I think they are rather afraid you might get hurt than trying to cut you off from the rest of the world,“ Cleo asked in a casual tone. What wouldn’t she give to have parents - well, her father walked out on her before she was even born, so just mother actually – what wouldn’t Cleo give to have an over-protective mother? Sure a lot of people complained baout it. But those people had never had to live without parents. Cleo looked at the small silver circle around her left index finger. Hermother had died at birth so all Cleo had of her were small trinkets – that her grandparents hadn’t been able to sell – her mothers diaries and a few pictures.

Cleo blinked again and picked up her fork: „If you aren’t afraid, then you’re a fool. Look around you for once – the Diagon Attack, the people who had died because of Death Eaters... does that seem like a joke to you? Something you shouldn’t fear? I am scared of the world. I just hope that I’m young and unimportant enough for anyone to bother dealing with me. Do you think the muggle world is better? Guns, crime, drugs, violence... anyone who isn’t vary of life is a fool.“ Cleo’s eyes bruned with an inner passion as she stared at Maryn, „Life isn’t something to taken as easy. It’s not fair, it doesn’t end as a fairy-tale, it hurts. I’m scared of life from time to time and I’m not afraid to admit it. Adults, aurors are afraid of what the Death Eaters can do. And so am I. I’m only 16 – what more could I do than what’s being already done?“

Cleo notiched that she was clenching the fork in her arm so strongly that it was almost painful. Cleo released her grip on the fork and looked at the piece of metal. She was scared. Maybe it was vain, but she had been secretly happy she hadn’t been at Diagon when it was attacked. She was glad she hadn’t been hurt. She was still young and Cleo was glad she still had a chance to live. But it didn’t mean that she would face everything in life with laughter. She didn’t shy away from every hardship either. She just chose her way carefully, hoped that Lady Luck would smile upon her and picked her battles.
„Maybe I understand you correctly, but... If you sneak out just so you could have some fun while there are so many threats... You just don’t think and worry your parents for no reason what-so-ever,“ Cleo said with her voice lowering once again as she stared at her plate. Hoping the girl hadn’t been hurt, but not planning on taking back her words either Cleo picked a new piece of fruit and started to chew on it.

[Maryn Livley]

"If you think I'm ungreatfull of my parents protection, than you're wrong. I love my parents, but they have to understand who I am. If I decide to go out and do something the world needs and die, than I die and the world is a better place. And maybe leaving home is not the best way of showing how much I love my parents, that I get. I am scared. I am just one of those people who takes the fear and does something useful with it. But, I am scared and I know all the bad things in the world." Maryn paused. She loved her parents, but way of showing it makes her seem like a brat.

Maryn let out a slight smile and then let out a big frown. "I never have fun when I leave. I'm always miserable. I leave becuase they have to know who I am," Maryn stated soundly. "They just have to know."

[cleo]

Cleo eyed Maryn. Had she ever been that optimistic? It was a surprising change, but not a bad one.
„You certainly have a funny way showing that you aren’t a little ungrateful brat,“ Cleo commented dryly as she observed Maryn thoughtfully while contemplating her words, „Die for a better world – lovely sentiment. However I usually give much more credit to those who are left behind. I’ve always said tht death is a cowards way out. You will be free of worries and pain. What about those who are left behind? Your death would only bring heart-ache for them. Those surviving make much bigger sacrifycies. They push down their spirit, swallow insults and tolerate hadships until they are strong enough to fight back. When you’re dead, then you’re of no use anymore.“

Cleo thought out loud with her eyes looking somewhere beyond the window. Somewhere into her mind where only she could see: „Do something with fear? Don’t we all do that. Who says I’m not afraid of a comet coming and falling on my head and killing me? I do fear that. But I turn around and go and read; go study so I could perhaps save myself. If someone else benefits from my knowledge in the future, then that’s just an added bonus. I do love myself so the center of my life is ME. But I don’t mind if all the things I learn now will benefit the world as well.“

Cleo fell into silence her mind searching itself in a buzz of thoughts. Thoughts that this time didn’t come out loudly. Pushing a hand trhough her hair with spread fingers Cleo looked back at Maryn: „And what exactly is your idea of fun then?“

[Maryn Livley]

Maryn was getting arritated now. She had just come here for lunch but instead she was getting a lecture. She wanted to yell something at Cleo, but she decided to act like a grown up."My idea of fun is seeing the world change for the better and if I can help then I can have teenage fun. Well, I guess we have different opinions." Maryn had never thought that her life was fun. Sure others had been through alot more than Maryn, but she had been through her share of drama. She had now finished her salad. She stood up taking her tote bag with her, paid her bill, and headed for the door. She paused and turned back towards Cleo before she left.

"And for the people who are left, we get over it. We have to." Maryn stated. Maryn had lost both her grandparents when she was five. They understood her more than her parents ever would. They treated her like a brave girl and not a scared child. Their memories flashed into Maryn's mind. "We have to." Maryn said again now walking towards the door.

She stepped out, sat on a bench and cried. Maryn wasn't a weak person, but their memories made her a little girl. She was now muttering to herself "It's my fault they died." Suddenly she realized where she was and smoothed the tears off her face and started walking to the floo network and seconds later was home.

[cleo]

Cleo watched in silence as the girl picke dup her things leaving in a huff. She seemed bothered by Cleo’s words. Calm eyes followed Maryn to the door. Cleo had meant each and every word she had said. She beleived them to be true. Deep inside Cleo knew that those words were true for her. And that was all that matter. Cleo didn’t there was one infinited truth or lie. The world didn’t com ein shades of black and white either. A lot of times it was just gray with all the colours of the world splattered across it. If a man stole for her family then Cleo counted it to be a lesser crime than when a man stole for himself. Yet, the punishments for stealing were the same. But starving children... family in one case made all the difference. Yet the difference wasn’t taken into account. Law was law, crime was crime. This was the way the world was built. And actually it worked well enough do keep Cleo from complaining out loud.

Cleo shrugged and finished off her fruit salad cheerily, enjoying the taste. Stepping into the bathroom cleo washed her hands and refreshed her lipstick. She had always had a thing for red. She liked the colour. Red and deep, strong, emerals green. Cleo smirked at herself in the mirror. Slytherin green and fire-red. Not the bold red of Gryffindor but the red of a burning fire. The shade of red her own hair was. It wasn’t even that much red, but rather claret. Deep cherry wood red, strong wine-red. Strong colours. Cleo had never liked calm pastels. Nope, she needed strong colours.
Prushing her hair back carelessly Cleo made sure that she looked nice before leaving the Three Broomsticks to go and explore Hogsmeade.


((Figured I should rap it up from my side as well. I liked this post. You have potential Just try to write a bit longer. ))