The First Night ((Elina))

[sammy]

The Sorting was one of the best things to see before Hogwarts started. The little kids lining up, waiting nervously for whatever task awaited them. Cathy remembered that day so well, although it hadn't been very happy. Gisselle had been right behind her and had been ruffling her hair to make it look horrible and insulting her in whispers. That day hadn't been the best of them all. She wished that Gisselle had her mouth taped shut but all she could do was flounder around in that big Entrance Hall. Cathy enjoyed watching others go through the frightening experience; just to see how well they handled it. Plus, it was a very important thing. A House is like a family and you had them all the years you went to Hogwarts. Cathy loved Gryffindor dearly and wouldn't trade for any other house. As for Gisselle, she always found something unsatisfactory about it.

After this years sorting, Cathy hadn't been as hungry as usual. Her stomach hadn't growled, anticipating the wonderful foods made by the house elves. She hadn't longed for the desserts made especially for this special occasion. She had just sat there, dull as a rock, not eating anything in sight. Why she was acting like this? When something happened that was traumatic or terrifying. Like the attack on the train. It had scared her. She wasn't afraid for herself or Gisselle, but for others who were completely innocent. Why did the Death Eaters take lives so willingly without a second-thought? They destroyed foundations set up by so many loving parents and devoted friends. They destroyed a whole child that could have been a super-star in the future. They destroyed the parents too. With just one sickening blow of the wand. She shook her head sadly and no matter what anyone said, had no appetite for the delicious food and drinks.

Now, the feast was over. Students were wondering off to their Common Rooms filled with ease and sleepiness. Even Gisselle looked tired and remotely exhausted. Cathy only caught a glimpse of her before she vanished in the crowd of Slytherins. She picked herself up from the table and wondered down the big halls of the castle. It was her favorite place, better then the House of Dumas. But it wasn't better then that distant land she had grown up in. She remembered it, but not as vividly as she should. She tried to think of it as a wonderful place, but there had been death there. She knew that now. After looking around, she slipped through a separate corridor. It was vast but completely empty. Cathy's heels clicked heavily through the stone walls, resounding through the thick air surrounding her. Her golden hair laid gracefully on her shoulders as she turned and looked down it before continuing on. Where she was going, she wasn't sure. She just had to get away for a little and think. She went to the end of the hall, right where there was a huge window waiting for him. It looked out on the lake, which shimmered in the moonlight. The cold night air was starting to creep through the cracks and Cathy shivered slightly. It was so good to be back. She positioned herself on the sill, sitting there and looking out, she didn't hear the sound of feet coming nearer.

[elina]

Watching the ceremony for the sixth time, Elina wasn't very interested in it. Some people watched with so much anitcipation of who would go where- that they were about to burst, while as other people would watch politely and clap for their house when someone was sorted into it. Elina was amongst the second group. Of course, she didn't think the school year officially started until classes did- and even then it wasn't until the first month of classes were over did it truly begin. Elina always saw it sort of like a fairytale, if that made any sense. Then again, Elina patterned her life after novels and things like that- to make it easier to live and much easier to understand. Which she wasn't sure was the healthiest thing to do, but she did it none-the-less.

Soon enough the ceremony was over, and the food had appeared. Elina wasn't hungry. She was repeating Dumbledore's speech in her mind. His words of wisdom reeling over and over again. Dumbledore was a wise man, wise beyond her years- and she followed suit in just about everything he said. The school would more likely than not be lost without him. And finally, he had said- what many had been thinking. The houses which were usually seperated by their beliefes, needed to merge. They needed to become strong- to be able to fight against the problems that were coming. The house which would be the hardest to break, however, would be Slytherin. Half of those members- knew about the attacks, or had parents who participated in them. Elina was sure, and she knew they wouldn't like the idea of helping their schoolmates any more than the Gryffindors would like the idea of helping them.

She couldn't eat. Her mouth was dry and pastey and she was certain the mixture of that and the food wouldn't be the best. Elina shoved aside her plate and crossed her arms, placing them on the empty space in front of her. She lowered her head onto her arms and breathed in and out slowly. The attacks were getting to her, and even though she had no part in it- and she hadn't been harmed, she was frightened. What if she had gotten hurt, or Ashley had gotten hurt even worse? Sure, her sister had just been stunned in Defense Against the Dark Arts, but what if she had suffered a worse fate? All the what-ifs and those such things...they made Elina uneasy.

There was a noise of people getting up, and Elina lifted her head in time to see everyone following their prefects. She sighed and stood as well, straightening her hair, and biting her bottom lip. Instead of following Dana, however, Elina turned into an empty corridor. Or she thought it would be empty. Elina sighed and walked down the corridor steadily, her heels clicking gently on the stone. There at the end of the hallway- was someone sitting in a windowsill looking out the window. Elina cleared her throat, "Are you ok....?" She asked after a moment of silence.

[sammy]

Moonlight was a beautiful thing. It was mystical and made Cathy think about her life. Really think. Was she making the right choices? She was in the years that would be the foundation of her life and she was excited and yet afraid that she would make the wrong decisions. She felt like one with the darkness. There she could be alone and think about things that she couldn't in the daylight. There weren't people to bother her or things to keep her busy. She was just alone and merged with the mysterious night. She loved to go look out a window and stare at the stars for hours. They would twinkle back at her and fill her with hope, but already her life was filled with trouble and difficult surprises. She sometimes felt so alone in the darkness but in the daylight, she was with a group of friends that respected her. Gisselle had friends too, but did they really respect her? No, if anything, they feared her. Cathy should be glad she wasn't like her twin but at times she felt like she was the stupid one. Gisselle sure made her feel like this.

She looked up, startled, when she heard someone clear their throat. It was a girl about two years older then herself. Maybe two. Cathy smiled hesitantly at her, clutching her shoulders in a protective way. What the girl asked, though, was slightly strange. Was she okay? Cathy blinked a few times in mere surprise. "I guess I'm okay. I suppose you could say I'm surprised the new year is here already." she said softly, making sure to let her voice waft through the air just loud enough for the girl to hear. She seemed to be nice enough; Cathy had never talked to her but she glimpsed her a few times in the corridors. There were so many people in Hogwarts, though, she could mistake this girl for another. Besides, she didn't think this girl was in her house. Although she mustn't have been in Slytherin, she wasn't in Gyffindor either.

"Um...Who are you again? I'm Cathy Dumas but I'm not really sure what your name is...." she said when the silence between them became thick and heavy. She didn't mean to sound rude but if she did, she didn't apologize. She hoped she hadn't but....she couldn't help it. She had no idea who she was and, since she hadn't introduced herself.....Cathy wanted to know who she was talking to. She smiled in a more friendly way. "I'm in Gryffindor too, if you want to know. A fifth year." She pulled back her long blond hair, which had fallen over her eyes. How she wanted to cut it at times like this! But she couldn't - it was too good to cut. She didn't think she could grow it back the same way it was now if she cut it. Hence, it had grown long and rich but still, she refused to raise the clippers to it. She smiled at the girl before shifting her feet, trying to make herself more comfortable on the window sill.

[elina]

Elina nodded with a smile, she understood exactly what the girl meant. The school year ended and began again so quickly. It almost made her head spin. She ran her fingers through her brown hair and listened to the girl introduce herself as Cathy Dumas. Elina smiled; "I'm Elina Hill, Ravenclaw seventh year." She walked forward, closing the gap between her and Cathy so she could see her better. Elina leaned against the wall, her brown eyes sparkling. She sighed and looked out the window.

"I know what you mean. It's hard to believe, that it's already here. I mean, you would think time would go by slower because of the attacks- but it didn't. It sped by as if nothing happened." She spoke, her eyes not leaving the glow of the moon. Elina bit her lip and thought about the past events. Why had they happened? Was he-who-must-not-be-named really that powerful? And what was his next move going to be? It scared Elina to think of such things, but she never would try to forget something like that. Like she could. Elina subconsciously ran her fingers through her hair again and smiled warmly.

"I didn't eat. I was too busy thinking about what Dumbledore was talking about in his speech," Elina told her- she didn't know why she told Cathy what she did, but she did, "A lot of questions were running through my mind tonight. And they were very much annoying. A lot of what if's, you know? What do you think of the attacks? I mean, I'm sure you must have some thought on them- you seem like the type of person who would...correct?" Elina chuckled lightly at her rambling, but didn't make eye contact with Cathy. Elina was never good with small talk. In fact she was quite horrible at it.

[sammy]

Cathy smiled at the girl, who introduced herself as Elina Hill. She was in Ravenclaw. Cathy should have known better. It wasn't that she didn't like Ravens but they just seemed too...intent on reaching their goals. Like, they always have to have good grades and such and they seemed to be smart but Cathy never really enjoyed being the smartest person around. She preferred just medium. That was what she was, really.Right in the middle. Elina then began on how the year had gone by so fast. Cathy nodded her head enthusiastically. She was happy it had gone by so fast, really. Just the fact that she was here at Hogwarts couldn't sink in. Why? She wasn't sure. Maybe it was because she had been waiting for this to come all summer and now that it was here....she just couldn't believe it.

"I'm happy it's time now, though. Well....maybe not as enthusiastic as I should be. What with the attacks and all, it just doesn't make Hogwarts seem like....Hogwarts. I wish it could just be a normal year and a normal time but we have to make do with what we have right? It would be nicer to just lead a normal life but when you can't, you just don't give up. I guess that's what Hogwarts is doing. It has to do extra things and not be normal, for the circumstances aren't right." she sighed, wondering why she was just talking like this. She seemed to be totally out of it, almost dream-like. When she had talked about not leading a normal life....she had been talking about herself. She wasn't a normal girl, no matter what her looks told people. She may look like an extravagant rich girl but really, she was as poor as poor could get. If only Gisselle could see that. Cathy blinked a few times as Elina said she hadn't eaten either.

"Neither I. I kind of wish I did now." she said, as her stomach rumbled. "It all looked so good but I was too worried about what was in store for everyone this year, my hunger evaporated into a swirl of emotions." she shrugged. "Weird, right? That's just me though...." she smiled at Elina, wondering what the girl thought about her. Strange? Maybe. Cathy even surprised herself sometimes. Talking like some wise old lady. She smirked slightly, leaning against the stone wall. Elina then asked about the attacks. Cathy hated just thinking about it. She loathed the people who could take away lives with a swish of wood, without second thoughts. How could the think that right? "I really don't enjoy thinking about the attacks. The Death Eaters are monsters; terrible ugly brutes! I just don't understand how they can just take away a whole life with a flick of their wand. I couldn't ever imagine that being easy, but they just do it because they think it right. How could they destroy a young person that has so many things that could happen to him or her. They destroyed a life, a hope." Cathy glared down at her hands, just so she wouldn't have to look at Elina. She laughed when she said Cathy seemed the type of person to think about these things.

"Are you good at Divination? Okay, bad joke. Yeah, I do like to think about things others just take for granted. Like everything here....we're so lucky to have. Some people are being mistreated and have no schooling at all, muggle or magical. We have to be grateful for all the small things in life. The big too. We could have been one of those other people but Fate lead us to have a happy beginning and hopefully a happier ending." Cathy smiled lightly at Elina. She believed in Fate and Destiny. Everything was meant for a reason. She even had faith in Divination, although that came in small pieces. She was still taking the class though, but still with no luck. And to think that O.W.L's were coming up so soon....She shivered slightly in the empty corridor, pulling her knees up to her chest. She rocked a little bit before cocking her head slightly at Elina. "How 'bout you? What's your opinion on the attacks? Scared?"

[elina]

Elina smiled at Cathy's joke. Actually, she was pretty good at Divination. Others thought that class to be a complete joke, but Elina enjoyed it. Even if it was a bunch of made up stories. When Cathy asked Elina her opinion on the attacks, Elina sighed and tucked some hair behind her ear. In truth, she was angry and hurt and afraid for her friend. Dana. Her cousin, Kris, was in a coma. And it was tearing Dana up inside- Elina wanted to be there for her and comfort her, but she didn't know exactly how to do that. She wasn't very good at comforting...but she was willing to listen. Elina wanted to tell Cathy her opinion on it, and give reasons as to why that was her opinion- but she didn't. She didn't think it wise to spread around Dana's problems.

"I'm angry, I suppose. You would think that the Ministry would be able to prevent things like this by now, wouldn't you? But they aren't doing much. Just cleaning up the mess afterwards. I'm also hurt. I never thought our world would come to something like this. I'm a half-blood, and my mother is appalled at how much the wizarding world has changed since her time. I don't know why he-who-must-not-be-named continues to attack. I hope he realises that, well, if he keeps doing this...pretty soon the wizarding world will cease to exist and he won't have any followers if he does come to power." Elina smirked at her last thought. It was true. But He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named didn't seem to be too bright...

"Do you have any friends or relatives that were hurt in the attack? My sister, Ashley, was petrified in the attack at school last year." Elina decided to lead the conversation on. She was becoming more comfortable with talking to this girl. Elina was usually like this. Shy around new people, and then a little bit more outgoing once she has talked to them for awhile. Her brilliance would shine through, and she would be able to speak her mind easier than if she had just met the person. This was why she was never good in debates.

[sammy]

Cathy grinned foolishly as Elina smiled. She wasn't sure if it was an amused smile or an exasperated one, but it was a smile all the same. Good enough for Cathy. She hugged her knees closer, resting her chin on her folded arms. It was comfortable here; the cold stone standing resolutely behind her, giving her something to hold onto if the need arouse. Cathy was strange in that particular way. She always needed something to lean on, something stable, something unlike herself. She sagged a little in the frame when Elina said she was angry. Cathy wasn't angry...well...maybe she was. She was upset and befuddled, but did she feel something more on the attacks? Something like a bubbling hatred? She never felt hatred, no. She didn't want to, although it was often hard to hold back while around Gisselle. She slouched down lower on the sill, her back arching into an uncomfortable position against the wall. But then it hit her - she did hate! She hated the people who could take lives away just because. She loathed them all together. It became hard for her to concentrate on Elina's words, but she forced herself to listen.

"I guess I'm terribly angry too. Sometimes, I feel like I'm drowning. You know when you feel so happy, you feel light and afloat? Well, when something ugly or mean happens, I feel like I'm drowning in my own negative feelings. And it's always hard to emerge." she smiled shiftily at Elina. She enjoyed talking with her, but she was slightly surprised at her wording. She usually said something unique but this might just top it all off. She smirked slightly and nodded at Elina's last words. That was, before another horrible thought took over. "Oh, no. He would have followers. If he didn't kill all the muggles, he could.....force them to do his bidding." Cathy felt a shiver run down her spine, leaving her cold and alone. How utterly horrible! Didn't people realize that things scar permanently? No one could erase that. Wizards couldn't take away the permanent mark of an ominous grave stone. Even if they shattered it to pieces, it would always be there in someway. She fought to bring herself back on the ground once more, for her mind couldn't continue to wonder like it has.

"Oh," Cathy said, her eyes widening slightly. Family? What was family? The people you lived with? Or was it the people who loved you and care for you? If that was true, she would only have one family member left. Daddy. Her lower lip trembled as she hugged herself so tight, it was hard to breath. She bit her lip hard. "No. No. No one." she finally managed, her voice cracking slightly. How hard it was to stick to that batch of lies Daphne and Daddy had made up about her! It was a pity that Daddy idolized the heartless woman named Daphne. If he didn't, it would make Cathy's life a whole lot easier. There she was again, being selfish. She smiled with no mirth. "My identical twin might have laughed hysterically for a few moments. She's a Slytherin, by the way." she added, in case Elina didn't know that. Gisselle would have probably been in on the secret. She always knew everything or pretended to. Nothing could surprise her in the least. Cathy shrugged at Elina, showing she didn't like the way conversation was going. Family....it was nothing she could relate to. No. Nothing at all.