A Peculiar Meeting

[Eliza Beth Stewart]

Eliza Beth waved goodbye to her younger sister as she clambered out of the Ravenclaw common room into the quiet corridor. The noise in there had been intensifying the headache that had been irritating her for some time now and she needed some peace. Taking a deep breath of the cool air Eliza Beth turned and began to stroll down the deserted corridor scuffing her shoes quietly as she went. She had no clue as to where she was going to go but as long as it was quiet it didn't bother her. The pain that had been throbbing in her forehead and temples had lessened greatly due to the silence of the corridor but it was still there enough to annoy her. Sighing in clear frustration she turned into another corridor and suddenly found herself heading towards the North Tower. Shrugging she decided that, that was fine with her. She hadn't been up there in a long time due to her ever-so slight fear of heights but there was no time like the present to venture back up there.

The young witch mounted the stairs that lead up to North Tower and began to make her way up at a leisurely pace, letting her hand slide along the railing. Seeing as she had no reason to hurry Eliza Beth began to truly dawdle, making sure she had both feet firmly on the stair before proceeding on to the next one. Nearing the top she began to hum, it wasn't a particular tune rather a quiet noise in the almost deafening silence. She was grateful that her headache didn't hate her for humming and without even realising it she was suddenly at the top. Quickly glancing around she established that she was alone; sighing with relief she shuffled over to the edge and gripped the railing, her knuckles turning white as she looked out over the whole of Hogwarts New Zealand. A small smile began to spread slowly across her face as her eyes swept the beautiful sight before her. She loved being back here at Hogwarts it was, in her mind, the closest thing she knew to a home. After living in an orphanage since she was 8 she could hardly remember what a true family home was like. The little she did remember she clung to like a life line hoping that she would once again experience the joys of family life.

Pushing these thoughts to the back of her mind she turned her back on the sight, and leant on the railing with her ankles crossed. Tipping her head back she closed her eyes the pallid sunlight illuminating her face. Sighing with almost contentment she let her mind empty and instead focussed on relaxing. Breathing deeply her mind began to wander before she froze. She heard footsteps approaching up the stairs. Eliza Beth attempted to look as nonchalant as possible as she continued to lean against the railing even though she was sure that her cheeks had turned red. As the footsteps neared her heart beat began to quicken, she hoped with everything she had that it wasn't a teacher. Peeking through her eyelashes she was faced instead with a young Ravenclaw that she had seen in class. A third year clearly, she was sure that her name was Elspeth. Biting her lip she was suddenly unsure as to what to do. Her cheeks burning she managed to stutter "H-hi..." Her extreme shyness suddenly making an unconvieniant come back. Having nothing further to say the girl turned away from the new arrival and began to stare unfocused at the lake in the distance, day dreaming of when she met Sia, and found out they were related. Smiling in spite of herself she was shaken from her day dream as Elspeth lent on the rail next to her. Giving her a quick sideways glance Eliza Beth not knowing what to do smiled. "I"m Eliza Beth..." she whispered quietly her voice wavering slightly. Pushing her messy over grown hair out of her eyes she waited for a very quiet Elspeth to speak.

 

[Elspeth Brookes]

Elspeth tiredly exited the Ravenclaw common room, glad her homework was over with. After a moments consideration, standing stock still in the hall, she turned and walked purposefully down the corridor to the nearest set of stairs. She had been feeling better since the adoption - Aurore seemed nice, and it meant she wouldn't have to stay in the Halfway House - but she was still torn apart with guilt over Emily's death. It was Elspeth's fault her aunt had died, and now Peter was after her for what she had seen. Sometimes the young witch wished that life were as simple as it was when she was a little girl, when her mother was nice and her family was still alive and lived near her. She knew it was foolish, because she could never have that simple, trusting, innocent existence back, and her memories of those times were getting fainter and fainter, but she still wished she could turn back the clock.

She woke from her reminiscing when she realised that the stairs went to the complete wrong area of the castle. She rolled her eyes at the absurdity of stairs that pointed to a different place every second Thursday, before turning and trying to figure out another way to the North Tower. Her thoughts began wandering again almost immediately. What did Aurore's house look like? Was her husband nice, or more like Peter? Finally, Elspeth reached the right stairs and began climbing. Her legs began aching after only a few steps, and she ruefully reflected that she spent too much time sulking in her dorm room. She finally reached the top, muscles burning, and stepped into the cool outside air. At first she thought she was alone, but then she saw another Ravenclaw standing near the railing, a third year like Elspeth.

She smiled at the girl, remembering her name suddenly; Eliza Beth. "Hey," she said quietly, stepping forward and leaning on the rail. She hoped the other girl would overcome her shyness and talk, but if she didn't, Elspeth was fine to stand in silence. "I know, we're in a lot of classes together." she said in response to Eliza's introduction. "But if you've forgotten, I'm Elspeth." She smiled quickly, before turning to stare out at the castle grounds. "It's funny how we've gone to school together for three years and never spoken," Elspeth said, still not looking at Eliza Beth. She usually wouldn't have made the first move to strike up a conversation, but the memories of her childhood had brightened her mood considerably.