Treeview ((Ezzie))

[Septimus Uldor G1]

((Yippee! finally up!))

Sep strolled down the halls of Hogwarts, her current home and came to a stop before the huge doors that lead outside.She paused there for a while, nobody staring at her because there was no one to stare. Suddenly in one Karate-like move she swung her arm up and her funny bone hit the wooden doors at lightning speed. They swung open.

Her view was now one of the grounds once she had stepped out and the doors had swung inward to close behind her with a loud thump that made some surrounding people look around at her before sharing a small piece of gossip and going back to their activities.Septimus Uldor looked around for something to occupy herself with. She noticed a big tree a little way off to the right, away from the crowds that crowded her present area. She strolled off once again in that direction taking no notice of everyone around her, her mind focused on that one tree in front of her. It's leaves were falling for it was Autumn now, soon to be Winter as Sep reminded herself, pulling her cloak around her tighter. There was chill in the air that spoke of Winter and she could already picture snowflakes falling from the sky and landing on the ground, making soft piles where the younger students such as herself would make snow angels and where everyone would throw snowballs. This was the custom of snowy areas, at least of England and America. Septimus pondered Australia. It didn't snow there, although maybe a little in the highest mountains on the east coast.

Her mind was brought back to reality as the figure of a huge tree, slightly silhouetted against the sun that was getting ready to set. Sep wasn't filled with silly thoughts of doing something under it though. Of course not, that would be most uncharacteristic for one such as Sep. Oh no, Sep was going to climb this huge silhouette. She sized up the tree, standing there and looking at it. Then she began to climb. Starting at the base, she worked her way up, putting one foot or hand before the other and making good progress but that was Sep. She was an expert at climbing trees, it was natural to her. Finally, she swung herself up to a long and rather horizontal branch, lazing there while looking into the sunset. She turned around on the branch soon though and examined the Hogwarts Grounds. No one was straying towards her thankfully. For the moment at least, the usual was happening down there so Sep started to reflect.

Much had happened in the past, what, three years? What with her sisters disappearing one after the other, than her mother dying then finding another mother, then her dying when a man tried to kill Sep and killed the woman in the process than coming to Hogwarts how couldn't it have been?

Then Sep noticed a figure coming towards her. Sep swung several levels higher until she was confident this other person couldn't see her. She would watch than see what to do.

It seemed her solitary was broken.

[Esmeralda Mendez]

Ezzie walked about the grounds with her infamous red and orange marble notebook grasped tightly in her hand. She had one song done, but it was Thursday already, and she needed three more by Saturday morning. Ezzie was a perfectionist, which was her problem. Back at the hotel a few years ago, Ezzie would never leave a room until it was spotless (in fear of getting fired if she messed up). When she was at school, she worked to be perfect. She spent extra time on her homework, she concentrated more than most Ravenclaws in class, and she did everything she could to remain perfect. Ezzie’s perfectionist habits definitely came in handy when it came to her music. It took her extra long to finish a song, but that song would always be a hit. Take Bluebird for example, Ezzie’s first song. It took her at least a week to write, but it became top on the charts the second it was released. It was a little awkward that Ezzie and her best friend Casey (who was known as Eden Sweden to the public) had to compete for fans. Eden’s music tended to be a bit more popular than Ezzie’s because she had so much more experience, and had chosen a style of music that appealed to most people. Ezzie personally liked to take on a completely different personality in her singing. She was normally a very sweet and bubbly person. Her music was deep though. Ezzie’s sweet and kind nature was only the outer shell. Deep inside her soul, there laid a troubled girl who had a passion for rock and grunge, much like the music she sang. Her music tended to make Ezzie dig deeper into her soul than she had ever done before. Singing her songs gave a small connection to that small bit of Ezzie that could never be reached anywhere else. This was why she loved performing so much.

Out of the corner of her eye, Ezzie noticed a small girl in her house (probably around first year) walking bitterly throughout the smooth grass. Upon closer inspection, Ezzie realized this girl was no ordinary first year. That was Septimus Uldor!

Ezzie normally didn’t have much knowledge of the names of first year children, but she had come to know this one very well. Ezzie had never met Septimus before, but knew her well by her mother’s descriptions. Ever since last weekend, when Ezzie and Ethan had visited Hogsmeade together for the first time as friends, Ezzie had been keeping in close contact with her mother, who was currently staying with Ezzie’s manager, Alyssa in Hogsmeade. Elena told Ezzie all about Septimus. Elena had asked her to find Septimus and bring her to Hogsmeade so she could see her again. Elena described the little girl as her second daughter. When Elena started feeling remorse for what she had done to Ezzie, she turned to Septimus, as if hoping that she could do one thing right. Ezzie had been hurt at first, thinking of Septimus as a replacement for Ezzie, but had come to understand that Elena needed Septimus around. Ezzie decided to follow the little girl as she walked over to a large tree. She started to climb it, and it astonished Ezzie how fast she could climb. Ezzie had always considered herself a good climber, but she wasn’t sure if she could climb such a large tree quite that skillfully. She shrugged as she placed the small notebook in her robe pocket, and began to climb up the tree. Septimus is very antisocial, isn’t she? Ezzie thought as she climbed further and further up to the tallest branches of the tree. Ezzie decided to have some fun and climb even further. Finally, she was at eye level with Septimus, and not very far away.

“I’m sorry if I startled you, Marisol,” Ezzie said, calling her by the name Elena had used to rename her. “But I have some news concerning Elena Mendez that you may want to hear. I think hearing this news will brighten up your day a considerable amount. I’m Ezzie Mendez by the way. Elena’s other daughter.” She called out to her with a smile.

[Septimus Uldor G1]

Sep could see the other girl coming up the tree but stayed where she was for the moment. Then the other girl said the name Elena and Sep fell out off the tree. Or nearly anyway. She fell backwards but caught the branch and swung back up again with amazing agility and grace, perhaps reminding others of an acrobat.

Sep leapt up and stood, balancing on the branch staring at Ezzie for that was who Sep now realised it was. She spoke, her voice arkward,
"Elena? Elena? Elena?," Sep nearly shook Ezzie but then remembered others weren't as steady as her on trees."What is it?" She spat, not really meaning to spak so vehemently but so anxious to hear of this news about the woman Sep had lost.

"What is it? what's your news? I must know I must!"

Sep looked at Ezzie hopefully, starving for news of her second mother.

[Esmeralda Mendez]

Ezzie smiled a bit as Septimus swayed in her branch a bit. She shook the tree and Ezzie almost fell over. She gripped tight to the textured bark of the branch and looked up at Septimus. This was the exact reaction Ezzie had been expecting from her. Elena told Ezzie all about Sep. She spoke so fondly of the little girl, but didn’t hesitate to warn Ezzie. Septimus, or rather Marisol was generally a sweet young lady. She cared for Elena and she did what she could to support her new family. However, around strangers like Ezzie, Septimus could be quite cold hearted and sour, especially when she was cranky. The supposed ‘death’ of Elena was sure to have changed Septimus, and the change was unfortunately for the worst. She remembered when she was in her first year. She was so excited about everything, despite what had happened to her the previous summer. She smiled and laughed often, and she didn’t hesitate to make new friends. But that was only Ezzie. Ezzie had a habit of making the best out of things, and looking at the bright side of her life, instead of standing in the shadows where she could be angry and depressed. From what Elena had told her along with some rumours from other students, Ezzie had concluded that this little girl was nothing like Ezzie. People often said that she hated coming here. They said such awful things about her that it tended to make Ezzie feel very sorry for the poor little Gryffindor. She was grieving over the death of a loved one, so of course she wouldn’t be the happiest person in the world. It was only normal, especially in a girl of her age. She raised her arm to try to climb a bit higher. She liked to look people in the eyes while talking to them.

“I think you might want to come down from that tree, Marisol. This is some pretty big news you are about to hear. I don’t want you to fall off and get hurt. Trust me; the last thing I want right now is a chance to visit the hospital wing where Madame Pomfrey is waiting to shove nasty potions down my throat.” She said humorously, trying to lighten up the atmosphere by telling light hearted jokes. It wasn’t working. Septimus’s bitter voice echoed throughout the area. Ezzie started to climb down the tree. She reached the bottom and landed right next to a young first year student who was reading the Daily Prophet. At the sight of some older student falling seemingly from the sky, the student screamed and ran away, leaving their issue of the Prophet near the tree where he was first sitting. Ezzie glanced down at the newspaper. She read the headline on the front page.

“What Has Our Dear Ezzie Been Hiding?” Ezzie rolled her eyes. That Rita Skeeter really did get on Ezzie’s nerves. She had no right to say such things about Ezzie or the Jacobs family. The article had really got her worried though. Her fame did happen rather quickly, but what was Ezzie supposed to do about it? It wasn’t her fault she met Ethan. It wasn’t her fault she only barely escaped that crazy kidnaper last summer and had to move in with the Jacobs. Ezzie had a tougher life than most people like Rita Skeeter could ever imagine. All Rita had to do to get what she wanted was hold out a heavy sack of gold. Meanwhile, Ezzie had to work very hard at her job and she barely got any time to rest. Life just wasn’t fair. Nowadays, Ezzie felt like she couldn’t trust anyone. Even her professors had fallen victim to Rita’s tactics for getting a story. There was someone that sat just near Ezzie that had told the public about her eating habits. They were the ones who were making her do this in the first place. Everyone was always watching her, always trying to find some kind of flaw. They expected Ezzie to be perfect, and as of now, Ezzie was nowhere near perfect. She needed to fix such problems, and if that meant staving herself, then so be it. Ezzie looked up at the tree. Where did Septimus go?

[Septimus Uldor G1]

Sep was anxious for the news.
"Marisol?" She hissed, "how?"
Then the other girl said that she'd fall out of the tree and Sep snorted, she'd never fall out of a tree in a million years but she leapt down anyway neatly landing on her feet even though she'd fallen from so high up. She seemed to have landed on the opposite side of the tree from Ezzie. She walked around the tree and stared at Ezzie with a hard expression on her face.
"how do you know so much about me? It's unnerving." That was true, it was disturbing Sep. How could this other girl call her Marisol? that was Elena's right to call her that, no one else's. But aside from that reason, how would Ezzie have known that in the first place? It didn't make sense, not at all. How, was the question on Sep's mind and she spoke it.
"How?"

It was too strange, Sep didn't understand it. What was she to do? She needed to know more.
"Tell, me, please."
Just then a first year boy came screeching round the corner and stared for a moment then pointed at Ezzie, his jaw dropped and he said,
"look, look, it's Esmerelda Mendez!"
A group of people came running and all looked at her, then one said,
"hey guys, have you heard? She's distraught over Ethan! You know, the really hot one she was dating, she's not really good at all, just pretending you know."

((hope i haven't stirred up too much trouble, i can edit it if you think it'll sway things off track.))

[Esmeralda Mendez]

((nope, this just makes things all the more interesting ))

Ezzie smiled at Septimus. “Well I know so much about you because Elena told-“ Ezzie stopped midsentence, for out of nowhere, the little boy who had ran away screaming had returned and his jaw dropped and he pointed his finger. His shout echoed throughout the Grounds and Ezzie grimaced as more young children ran to crowd around her. She had been having experiences like this ever since that blasted article was published. The drama of Ezzie’s fame at school was finally starting to go down until her fellow peers heard that story. It sickened Ezzie how so many people got so much joy and excitement over seeing Ezzie’s life fall apart before their eyes. No. Ezzie corrected herself. She wasn’t going to prove Rita Skeeter right. Ezzie’s life was not falling apart. Ezzie had everything under control and she was not distraught over her breakup with Ethan. She was friends with him and Amber now, but did Skeeter even bother to report that key detail? Ezzie may still bitterly regret the day of that fight, but she didn’t hold any hate or bitter feelings toward Ethan or his girlfriend Amber. “Not again…” Ezzie said to herself with an exasperated groan.

“Elena is alive. She told me everything. Wait here. There is much to explain and this will only take a second.” Ezzie whispered in Septimus’s ear as she rolled her eyes in the direction of the crowd. She then walked their way.

“The time for autographs is far past gone. If I catch you with a camera, I will sue. But I don’t think I’m going to have to go as far as to do that. I want you all to know that I am a living, breathing HUMAN BEING! NOT an animal in a zoo! You can't just point and stare and talk about me all you want like I can't hear. I know you wouldn't like it very much if I started talking about you when you're right there. It's not fair to me, and it's not right. And just a word to the wise before you will all scatter and leave me be. Rita Skeeter is a liar. Those ‘excellent sources’ she keeps telling you all about are lies. I am not distraught over anything, much less Ethan Jacobs and my breakup. In case you didn’t know, which you didn’t I’m sure, Ethan, his new girlfriend and I are good friends. I harbor no hate toward them and wish them the best of luck in their relationship. Hmm, Skeeter forgot to mention that, didn’t she? It just goes to show how much of that story she twisted and how much was left unsaid. Now, you have until the count of three to scatter and get lost.” Ezzie’s angry speech ended with a loud angered voice. She didn’t even need to start her countdown before the children’s shocked faces turned into frightened ones and they ran. Ezzie made a mental note to herself about the speach she had just given. She had specifically left out the spot about her eating 'disorder'. Unlike Rita Skeeter, Ezzie was not a liar. She was not going to tell this crowd she didn't particularly like the thought of eating, but she was not going to lie flat out. No, Ezzie was not a liar. She just concealed the truth by not telling everyone the full story. Hopefully she wouldn't have the issue of Rita Skeeter or some other sleezy reporter sneaking around and trying to tell the full story for her.

“As I was saying, Elena is alive. I don’t know the full story as to how she escaped or what happened to her husband, but I know that much. She requested that I come look for you, as she misses you very much. She invited me to Hogsmeade this Saturday, and requested that you come along with me. God knows we all have a lot of catching up to do.” Ezzie said in a much kinder tone. She was glad that both she and Septimus would have the chance to reunite with their mother. After all, Elena had made it clear. Septimus was as good as Ezzie’s sister now.

[Septimus Uldor G1]

Sep watched as Ezzie gave an angry speech, she really had it, thought Sep, not that she would know much about that sort of thing. Sep had heard about Ezzie of course, everyone had. Sep didn't gossip really though, she'd just overheard people. Really, sometimes it was hard to not hear things the volume of some real gossipers. Honestly, didn't they realise that spilling all the beans in the jar wasn't a good idea? It was pathetic how some people went on.
Oh, did you that so and so and so and so went to the movies on a date? Did you see what they were doing?
Oh, did you hear about that girl? She was arrested.
Did you hear about so and so? Oh my god, they're such losers.
How pathetic and stupid. Sep didn't waste time spreading stories about people she'd never met.

But then Ezzie spoke again and Sep focused on her.
"Alive?" Sep gasped," how? I I, I saw her die."
Well come to think of it Sep hadn't actually seen Elena die. No, she'd just assumed it from the way Esteban had carried on. He'd been crazy, that man. Sep shuddered. She remembered that last time before She received her Hogwarts letter and run away. She still had the scars from when he'd beaten her with a red hot poker. All the ghastly details were coming back to her now. First he'd yelled and screamed like a madman. Then came the poker. Then he'd screamed again, gloating at her. Then he'd forced her to clean the entire house, abusing her all the way. He'd then revealed that he had a whip. Sep could feel the harsh strikes, she hadn't stood it at the time, it had been to reminiscent of times with her sisters when a street guard or property owner had caught them and beaten and whipped them. When Sep ran out Esteban drunkenly threatened her and he threw out a little metal ball that had hit her on the head. Then she'd been unconscious when Elena found her and Esteban had pretended that she'd been coming inside when a stone had come whistling out of no where. What a big fat lie.

Then Sep realised she'd been spacing out and sharply reprimanded herself mentally.
Not good strategy Septimus.
"Where is Elena now?" She asked, "I'd like to see her."

[Esmeralda Mendez]

Ezzie turned on her heal to Septimus as the crowd scattered. One of them took a picture and Ezzie resisted the urge to run after him and destroy the camera. No, she couldn’t do that right now. Poor Septimus was on edge, desperate to find out any and all information about her mother. Ezzie felt sorry for Septimus. She knew what others said about the poor little girl. Ezzie couldn’t see any of that in her now. Septimus did not seem at all like the mean, venom tongued bratty little girl people thought her to be. It was seriously upsetting how some people judged so harshly without first actually getting to know the person they’re judging. Even if Septimus was the horrible person people thought her to be, there had to be a reason. With Septimus, it was her family life. She was basically living on the streets and had already lost more mothers and family members in eleven years than most could say in a lifetime. She looked down at Septimus with a kind expression, who was only a few inches smaller than Ezzie, who was not so tall herself.

“I’m not sure how exactly. She hasn’t told me much. I only just saw her for the first time in four years last weekend. We had a quick reunion and talked for a few minutes before those blasted paparazzi busted the door down and started taking pictures. We weren’t very careful. We just walked in casually like we were normal people. I wish I could do that like I used to. Now I have to travel everywhere with a bodyguard and I have to sneak past fans and cameras. But enough about me. All that’s important is that we had limited time during our last meeting and didn’t get a chance to talk about much. Mami is staying in Hogsmeade with my band manager Alyssa. Ezzie didn’t like calling her own mother Elena. Elena was Ezzie’s mother, and deserved to be addressed as a mother, not as some long lost friend or something. Mami was a much more suitable name for Elena Mendez. A small part deep inside Ezzie’s head wondered. Saying the word Mami was a sign of respect. After so much that Ezzie’s Mami had done in the past, did she really deserve such a title? Of course she does! She’s your mother Ezzie! Don’t be stupid! Yes, no matter what Mami had done in the past, she was Ezzie’s mother. No matter what she had done, she reserved the right to all the love and respect Ezzie could offer her. She wasn’t wise back then. The important part was that Mami knew better now. As the lord always used to say, forgiveness is very important. If a person asks for forgiveness, they should be forgiven of their sins. Elena had all but begged for forgiveness, so all the sins of her past were erased.

“I have the address, and I’m going over to visit Mami this weekend. My friend Ethan is coming as well. You’re welcome to come along with me if you like. We’re all Gryffindors, so we can meet in the Common Room around noon? I’ll have to go up to the boy’s dormitories and wake Ethan up, as he doesn’t normally get his lazy butt off the bed until well past noon.” She said jokingly, rolling her eyes. Ethan was an odd kid. He was a party boy. Ethan was so used to partying well into the night (and sometimes even until early in the morning) and returning home to sleep until two in the afternoon. The kid lived a good life. Not at all like Ezzie’s, which was constantly filled with hard work and stress. Ezzie didn’t have time for parties. Nope, she was too busy recording music or writing songs or planning for performances during the Winter Holiday. Ezzie enveyed Ethan, but at the same time, she loved him too. No you don’t. Ethan is only your friend. He loves Amber and Amber loves him. There’s no Ezzie included. Ezzie thought to herself strictly. Ezzie snapped out of her daze and turned to Septimus.

“So, are you coming?”

[Septimus Uldor G1]

Mami? That was mother. Mother? Did Ezzie call Elena mother? Was it possible they were sisters by unnofficial adoption? Wow, that might cause some problems. Quite a few actually, never mind she'd get through, or they rather because Ezzie had stepped in now. Things were going to be different, Sep might have to move in to the Jacobs mansion. NEVER! Ah well, she'd protest and run away if she had to. She didn't want to, though, she rather liked the idea of getting one special gift. Just one, but that one could make all the difference in the world. What would she choose? There were so many things.....
But Sep had learnt not to think of things she wouldn't get. She didn't even want to be pampered, she certainly didn't want to be prissy, that was her ideal nightmare. Ick. People like that were so annoying, walking around with an air of "I'm so much better than you, so there, get out of my way!" and atriding round like the only thing they could be doing was looking imperious and downright bossy. Sep swore she would never be like that. Most Slytherins were and they were all a nightmare to be with. Right so, that was going to be her aim, never turn out like a pampered prissy. What about she just never lived with the Jacobs? That would solve things, was there anything else that needed to be taken care of?

Ezzie said that she was meeting Elena.
"Of course I'll come, I wouldn't miss it for the world."