Post by Ariane Chan on Sept 5, 2009 22:36:09 GMT
A month into change, and all was well. It was the weekend, so Ariane had Apparated to Hogsmeade, hoping to meet up with Harmony briefly; check on her health and well-being, ask her about her classes. Stake out her status with Rex Carter, Ariane's conscience whispered from the abyss at the back of her mind. The scowl such a thought evoked quickly faded, and her usual apathetic expression returned, schooled into still perfection. Ariane didn't want to contemplate her sister dating Rex Carter. The situation Aurora had buried herself in despite Kael Collins' oblivious nature had rocked Ariane's world; she didn't want her sister to follow a similarly destructive route. It seemed inevitable, though, that Harmony and Rex were to be an item eventually. Just not yet. I'm not ready yet. Ariane wrapped her robes around her tighter as a gust of October wind shot through the street, rustling her clothes as well as sweeping her dark hair into the breeze.
Ariane waited for the black strands obscuring her vision to fall back, before continuing through through Hogsmeade, past the various shops and cafes. The weather wasn't cold and the sun shone fair, but the wind had a slight chill to it that implied the near-arrival of winter. Ariane would see Harmony at Christmas, when she returned to Manchester with Leo, but this would be her only chance to see her sister before the holidays. Her Auror training, although proceeding well, was time-consuming and demanding. Even though she lived with Jez, Ariane rarely saw him; both of them were entangled with work and other responsibilities. Ariane didn't mind much; she had always disliked socialising, and she felt no need to make or retain new friends. Aurora may have left the country, but there were still letters, several every week, and both girls wrote in detail their experiences and escapades. Aurora's letters were lengthier, but Ariane had more to describe; they had a good balance. Ariane needed no one else; just a flatmate and her best mate, and that only left her little sister.
There was a bench five minutes' walk from The Three Broomsticks. Ariane sat down, alone, and waited for Harmony there. She was early, as usual, but this time exceptionally so; her sister was not due for another half an hour. Ariane was patient in these cases, though, and sat back, staring up at the grey-blue sky and pondering the last few weeks. Living with Jez had been less nightmarish than she had imagined. He wasn't as easy to tolerate as Aurora (then again, Aurora was extremely tolerable, whilst Jez was the exact opposite, especially considering their history), but Ariane was gradually growing accustomed to his ways; his habits and his flairs. Jez wasn't a bad person - Ariane knew this, otherwise she wouldn't have become hesitant friends with him despite their past - but he was rather annoying, like a brother or cousin was. Someday, Ariane may even come to see him as a part of her family; her loved ones always became a large chink of her soul. Every person she had ever cared about mattered...
Ariane felt her mind wandering to something - or someone - she didn't want it wander to, and hastily pulled it back. A frown deepened over her features; she didn't have the time or energy for this. The fall of footsteps against autumn leaves caused Ariane to look up, all disturbing thought forgotten, expecting a bunch of Hogwarts students - hopefully Harmony - but when the figure came into view, with that handsomely familiar face, Ariane's heart shuddered to a breaking halt. The world went silent and still around her as her wide eyes stared at the man, in the flesh, and if she had been anyone else, she would've gaped. If she had been anyone else, she may have stood up and run. But Ariane had done that before, and now she was stronger, and she understood her feelings, and she would not do that. Instead, she merely continued to stare dumbly, silently, at the man - at his golden-blonde hair falling across sky-blue eyes - and blinked back tears. Ariane would not cry. Not for him. Never again for him. She had vowed to forget him; failed, she knew that, but she could at least remain steadfast in her decision to cut the love of her life out of her heart forever. The thousands of questions lay forgotten to the side as the two stared at each other across the gulf; a gulf that would take time and time to heal.
Ariane waited for the black strands obscuring her vision to fall back, before continuing through through Hogsmeade, past the various shops and cafes. The weather wasn't cold and the sun shone fair, but the wind had a slight chill to it that implied the near-arrival of winter. Ariane would see Harmony at Christmas, when she returned to Manchester with Leo, but this would be her only chance to see her sister before the holidays. Her Auror training, although proceeding well, was time-consuming and demanding. Even though she lived with Jez, Ariane rarely saw him; both of them were entangled with work and other responsibilities. Ariane didn't mind much; she had always disliked socialising, and she felt no need to make or retain new friends. Aurora may have left the country, but there were still letters, several every week, and both girls wrote in detail their experiences and escapades. Aurora's letters were lengthier, but Ariane had more to describe; they had a good balance. Ariane needed no one else; just a flatmate and her best mate, and that only left her little sister.
There was a bench five minutes' walk from The Three Broomsticks. Ariane sat down, alone, and waited for Harmony there. She was early, as usual, but this time exceptionally so; her sister was not due for another half an hour. Ariane was patient in these cases, though, and sat back, staring up at the grey-blue sky and pondering the last few weeks. Living with Jez had been less nightmarish than she had imagined. He wasn't as easy to tolerate as Aurora (then again, Aurora was extremely tolerable, whilst Jez was the exact opposite, especially considering their history), but Ariane was gradually growing accustomed to his ways; his habits and his flairs. Jez wasn't a bad person - Ariane knew this, otherwise she wouldn't have become hesitant friends with him despite their past - but he was rather annoying, like a brother or cousin was. Someday, Ariane may even come to see him as a part of her family; her loved ones always became a large chink of her soul. Every person she had ever cared about mattered...
Ariane felt her mind wandering to something - or someone - she didn't want it wander to, and hastily pulled it back. A frown deepened over her features; she didn't have the time or energy for this. The fall of footsteps against autumn leaves caused Ariane to look up, all disturbing thought forgotten, expecting a bunch of Hogwarts students - hopefully Harmony - but when the figure came into view, with that handsomely familiar face, Ariane's heart shuddered to a breaking halt. The world went silent and still around her as her wide eyes stared at the man, in the flesh, and if she had been anyone else, she would've gaped. If she had been anyone else, she may have stood up and run. But Ariane had done that before, and now she was stronger, and she understood her feelings, and she would not do that. Instead, she merely continued to stare dumbly, silently, at the man - at his golden-blonde hair falling across sky-blue eyes - and blinked back tears. Ariane would not cry. Not for him. Never again for him. She had vowed to forget him; failed, she knew that, but she could at least remain steadfast in her decision to cut the love of her life out of her heart forever. The thousands of questions lay forgotten to the side as the two stared at each other across the gulf; a gulf that would take time and time to heal.
