No More Shopping! (Alarice)

[Maryn Livley]

Maryn skipped along to Hogsmeade. She had finally gotten over her sad mood. She figured that she couldn't change her fate. She knew she was a good person and no stupid prophecy could change that! Of course no one knew about it. Well, at least none of her friends. No, it was too dangerous to tell them. Maryn of course didn't want anything to happen to them so it was best not to say a word. It was Christmas break and Maryn was feeling so much happier she decided to venture into Hosgsmeade. She had a few presents to buy and couldn't wait to hand them out to all her friends. It was cold outside so Maryn held onto her mint green sweater as she walked. Maryn was also wearing her jeans and her ugg boots. She then went into the nearest store to buy her friends' presents.

Finally, Maryn had finished all her shopping! It had taken her a few weeks, but now it was all done. Maryn was so happy that she didn't have to go Christmas shopping for the rest of the year. She carried her bags of presents as she walked through the village. Maryn was tired by this point and extremely thirsty. She ventured into the Three Broomsticks to grab a drink and maybe a bite to eat. Maryn found one of the only empty tables and threw her many bags on it smiling. The bags weighed a ton! She then sat down and ordered Butterbeer and a plain croissant. While waiting for her drink, Maryn looked around. Not one familiar face! She wished one of her many friends would show up as she was pretty bored. Maryn stared at the floor waiting for her food.

[ashley]

Alarice walked slowly through the village of Hogsmeade, trudging through the snow in her worn out brown boots, carrying with her a bag full of presents she had made for all of her friends. She hadnt been able to buy any, but she had spent a lot of time making them all presents, so she hoped it would be enough. She had decided to walk through Hogsmeade to see if anyone was around so she could just give away all of the presents so her owl wouldnt have to fly all over in the freezing cold! She decided to check in the Three Broomsticks, and was in luck. She spotted her friend Maryn sitting alone at a table, which was very rare for her, for she was usually surrounded by all of her other friends. Alarice took this as a perfect opportunity to talk with just Maryn and to of course give her her present!
"Hey Maryn!!Great to see you!" Said Alarice cheerfully as she made her way over to the table. "Do you mind if I join you? I have a little something to give you."

[Maryn Livley]

Maryn smiled as Alarice came over. "Yay! I'm not alone anymore!" She laughed. Maryn was very glad she wasn't the only Gryffindor third year in the pub. There were many nice people, but none Maryn knew at the moment. She laughed at herself for no reason at all and then looked back at Alarice. Maryn as greatful Alarice came over because the place was filling up fast and it would be long before a mean Slytherin had to sit with her. Slytherins didn't like Maryn at all. She was of course a Gryffindor, but also way too giving and cheerful for their taste. Maryn had always thought that they would have much more fun in life it they just try to, but it seemed they never would. Maryn flicked her light brown hair out of the way while looking at her friend.

"Of course you can join me!" She laughed. "Um, I mean no you can't." Maryn joked pretending to push Alarice away from the table. She laughed at her own fake hurting and then tried to get out of crazy mode for a moment. After having the horrible experience with Cougar that day, Maryn had become very sad. But, now that all that was over, she was back to her normal cheerful self. Well, maybe she was more cheerful than usual. Maryn looked at Alarice curiously. "Why would you have something for me?" She asked. Maryn then realized that it must be a Christmas present and reached into her bag to pull out Alarice's. "I have something for you too." She said holding out hte package for her.

[ashley]

Alarice giggled as Maryn pretended to push Alarice away from the table. She scooted into the seat across from her friend and threw her bags down next to her. "Well it's a Christmas present," She began, as she took off her red hat, gloves, and gryffindor style scarf, "And it's not much, but I hope you like it anyway." She said reaching into her bag, as Maryn told her that she had something for her as well. "Oh really? That's so nice of you!" Alarice beamed. She loved Christmas time!
"Okay, heres the first part-" Said Alarice cheerfully, pulling out from her bag the pink and blue knitted scarf she had made last week up in her dormitory for Maryn. Then she took out a matching hat and set it down on the table beside the scarf. She paused before taking out the last part of the gift. This would be the first time she would be showing someone one of her peices, let alone give one away. She hoped Maryn would like it, she was afraid it would stir up a bad memory.
Finally, Alarice pulled out of her bag a painting she had made and handed it over to Maryn nervously.
It was a veiw of the lake outside of Hogwarts on a misty, rainy morning about a month after they had returned to school. There were two girls sitting side by side, facing the lake. One with long blonde hair, the other light brown. It was the first time Alarice had met Maryn, and even though it hadnt been a beautiful sunny day, Alarice couldnt help but feel the morning had a sort of peacful sereneness to it, with the sky swirled pewter grey, the grass springy, damp, and glistening with dew.. It was dangerously beautiful and calm, right before the storm that hit later on that day. Right after Alarice had finished talking to Maryn that morning, she had run up to her dormitory and sketched. She sketched untill the thunder and lightning came. She searched Maryn's face, waiting for a response.

[Maryn Livley]

Maryn's eyes lit up when Alarice told her that she had a Christmas Present for her. Maryn hadn't expected anyone to give her anything. Even though, she planed to give all her friends presents. She loved giving presents, it made her feel good and she loved to watch her friends' faces light up. "Oh you really didn't need to." She said politely. Then, Alarice pulled out a blue and pink hat and scarf. Maryn smiled gratefully at it. "Wow, you made that? That's fantastic!" She said picking up the creation. Maryn was certain she could never make anything like that. She usually just bought her presents. Maryn was a dancer, not an artist. That's what she loved to do, like Alarice loved her crafty work. It was her thing and she was quite good at it.

Alarice then said she had more. Of course, Maryn had been expecting only one gift, but now she had three if you counted the hat and scarf separately. Maryn looked thoughtfully at the paining. For a second, she didn't know exactly what she was looking at. She only knew it was beautiful. Then it hit her, that was the day Maryn and Alarice had met. Memories suddenly flooded into her mind. She had a mental break-down that day. It was one of many she had in the past year. That day, Maryn wanted to leave forever. She had acted crazy and rash and didn't really care about anything anymore. Maryn now looked at that girl the the painting and realized how stupid she was back then. Sure, lately wasn't her best time either, but she was better that the time that painting took place.

Maryn looked softly back at Alarice. "It's beautiful." She said in a dainty voice. Maryn stared at the floor unfortably. I like to think I've change since then." She said hoping Alarice would agree. "I was such a mess back then, but I dunno I seem pretty much the same." She said referring to her almost new break-down with Cougar.Maryn suddenly perked up like she usually did when she was uncomfortable. "Oh, I have something for you." She said smiling fakely like she had done so many times. Maryn pulled out a bag with a few gifts in in. "Well, they aren't quite as creative, but I hope you like them." Maryn first pulled out a dainty pink sweater with a small red Cursive A where the pocket usually went. She then pulled out pink gloves that matched. They were also pink with red A's on them. She then pulled out a neckless that was a glass sphere with a small fairy figurine it it. The figurine was charmed to looked like a real one. She fluttered around the little sphere in her light green dress. She often smiled and sometimes made funny faces. Maryn laughed at it and then looked back at Alarice. "So what do you think?" She asked.

[ashley]

"I'm glad you like them!" Said Alarice thankfully as Maryn accepted the scarf and hat. Then Alarice handed her the last part of her gift.
Alarice studied her friends face as she looked over the painting in front of her. At first she seemed confused. But then she understood what it was. "It's beautiful." Was all she said at first. Then she told Alarice how she was a mess that morning and how she was better now. Alarice disagreed. She believed that the way Maryn was that morning was just her reaction to all of the problems and things she was going through at the time. If it were to happen now, or something like it, she would probably react the same way. It was a hard thing she had to go through, and Alarcie knew not even close to all of it. But she did know, that if she was faced with some of things Maryn was, she would've been the same way that morning by the lake.
Maryn then pulled out the presents she had gotton for Alarice. "Oh wow! Their great!" Alarice exclaimed. "I just love them! Thank you so much! I love the fairy!" She said truthfully. It meant a lot to her that her friends cared enough to go out and pick out presents for her. There was a pause in which Alarice stared down at the painting now lying on the table.
"I couldnt help but draw it; that morning, it was just to surreal to ignore, to not put down on paper to remember." She pointed to a spot in the sky on the paper. "See how the sun through the clouds over here shines orange and pink, but the rest of the sky is so dark and veiled in clouds? In a way, in a way-- it reminded me of you that morning." She paused to catch her breath and study Maryns face to make sure it was okay to continue. "You were really happy and bright and cheerful behind a dark layer of emotion and problems. I thought the weather was quite appropriate." She smiled at her weak joke. She rambled when she was nervous. "Look, you dont have to keep it. I'm sorry if it brought back to many bad memories. It just, well it was the first time we met so I decided to give the painting to you." She explained.

[Maryn Livley]

"I'm glad you like it." She said smiling. Then, Alarice starting talking about that day and Maryn dropped her smiled and looked at her. It's not that Maryn didn't like talking about it. The talking part wasn't hard at all. The remembering, however always took a tole on Maryn. She was going to be truthful now as Alarice told her about the faded sun. She sighed and decided to say something. "Um," She said as she pulled her hair behind her ear. "I guess I've always hidden my emotions. I hide them behind my smile, I guess you can say." She paused concentrating on the floor. "I bottle them up until it's unbearable." She admitted. "It sounds weird, hurting, and sort of bad for me in the long run. But, it's always worked for me. Sometimes I'm normal and others, I seem like sad orphan." She said slowly. She wasn't an orphan, but she did come off that way sometimes.

She then thoughtfully looked up at the picture. "Your right." She said examining it. It was pretty and the sun was sort of like Maryn in a way.She gave a true smile instead of a fake one when Alarice said she didn't have to keep it. "Of course I want to keep it." She paused. "Maybe I need the memories to remind me to never let myself get that bad again." She said softly. "I really love it." Maryn paused. "So, you really like the presents?" She asked smiling.

[ashley]

Alarice could tell that talking about it was uncomfortable for Maryn, so she decided to drop the subject. The least thing she wanted to do was spoil her afternoon by putting her friend in a bad mood.
"Well I'm glad you want to keep it!" Alarice said truthfully. She had spent a lot of time on that sketch, more than almost any of her other works, and it meant a lot that Maryn liked it.
"Of course I like the presents!" Said Alarice with a wide smile. "The sweater is so cute, I'm going to wear it on Christmas eve!" She said excitedly. "Even though we dont really do much on Christmas eve anymore. It's because my mom got remarried and she's going on vacation with her new husband. So I'm stuck at home with my step sisters and step brother. What do you do over the holidays?" Alarice asked.