An Hour of Freedom

[Matilda Undersee]

The welcoming shade of an old birch tree loomed over the Undersee's holiday home garden. For a second home, it was indeed very spacious, though the garden was not quite as satisfactory as in Italy. It was important that their homes had large, interesting gardens, as this was the place that young Matilda tended to spend most of her time. When she was not painting (as her paintings were most always done inside), Matilda was out in the confines of the garden. Similar to their Italy garden, the garden walls were white, tall and intimidating. Here however, there were small gaps in the wall, where missing bricks created a pattern in it's structure. Matilda sighed, tracing along the cement of the white bricks with a tiny finger. Her Mother was typing away in her study, oblivious to her Daughter as she often was. However, every hour or so, she would peer out of the window to make sure Matilda was behaving herself. Matilda's frown would quickly morph into a smile at these times, and then disappear as quickly as they had arrived when her Mother disappeared again. Then, Matilda would retreat back to her real self, shy and alone, tracing the wall in the hope that she might find a hidden door.

The Summer heat blazed down upon the garden, and high as the walls were, they could not fully shade the large garden from the sun's rays. Matilda had retired to the shade of the old Birch, where she continue to sit for the next half an hour. It seemed innocent, though the young part goblin had her reasons for sitting here so patiently. A few minutes later, her Mother peered out of the window once more, and Matilda returned her fake smile from the shade below. However, this time, the moment her Mother disappeared, she quickly stood up, brushed herself off and headed for the wall. Her pretty white dress now fashioned several grass stains, however Matilda could not care in the slightest. She slipped off her annoying white pumps and hoisted herself up onto the wall. The gaps allowed just enough room for the child's little bare feet to fit into, giving her a slightly impractical but nevertheless appreciated climbing wall. It was a long way down for such a short girl, however Matilda refused to give in. She had a full hour in which her Mother would not be watching her, and she was going to make the most of it. Reaching the top of the wall, Matilda double checked that her Mother was not watching before carefully making her way down the other side. Two feet from the floor, she decided she was close enough to let go. Being so light, Matilda barely felt the impact when her feet hit the ground below. However, though her left foot had made contact with the boiling hot concrete, which was now starting to scald her feet, her right foot had landed on the foot of somebody else. Her initial reaction was fear, since she had been so afraid that her Mother would catch her she somehow thought that this person was her Mother. Luckily, that fear subsided a little when she came to realize that it was not. In fact, she blushed a little for even mistaking this person for her Mother. Matilda quickly forgot every word that meant 'sorry' and contemplated dashing off in the other direction before they had a chance to speak. However, her feet seemed stuck to the boiling ground.

 

[Graeme Fergusson]

The heat blazed down upon the young boy. As he sat on the door step of his grandparent's house. He didn't have a set of keys, and while he'd gone out to buy food for the next week, his parents had forgotten, so they'd locked the door, and refused to let him in. Thinking he was someone attempting to sell them something. Which he wasn't. But, Graeme was now lost at what to do. He didn't like this kind of heat. it was warm and stuffy. Too warm and stuffy, he much preferred the cold of winter. The rain, and the light heat. He could already feel his skin burning, despite the factor 50 sun cream that he was wearing. He was just sitting, staring blankly ahead, covering his eyes from the sunlight that blared down on him. This was not fun. This was not how he wanted to spend his day. Sitting helplessly outside. Nothing to do, waiting. Graeme wasn't the type who complained all too often, but he had begged with his mother that sending him to New Zealand was silly. He could go to school in Scotland, stay with her. Stay where he belonged in his eyes. This was too far from the home he loved. The home he wanted. Grae ventured into the shopping he'd bought, pulling out a bottle of lemonade, because New Zealand didn't have any irn bru, and taking a long drink. Leaning back slightly, hoping to get out the way of the sun. But, it helped little. His glasses were unhelpfully inside, as was any better clothing he could find. The young boy had chosen loose clothing, but he needed something better. He wore a dark blue shirt, with the top buttons undone, and rolled up sleeves. Light faded brown knee length shorts, and blue espadrilles, which his grandmother had bought him. it was as he looked for food, that he decided he'd had enough. He had to find somewhere better. Some shade or something. Anything really. He picked himself off the ground, and grabbed his bag, putting the bottle of lemonade in it. As well, as a few bits of fruit and a bar of already pretty melted chocolate. He knocked on the door, calling to his grandparents, telling them that he was leaving. That he'd be back later. To no worry, that he had his phone. He'd be ok on his own for a couple of hours. Without waiting for a reply, the boy grabbed his bike, and took off.

Having spent the most of the month of December in New Zealand, in the hot stuffy summer that was much more rare in his side of the earth, the boy was getting ready to go home. Which he was very much looking for. He missed his ma, and he missed his friends. The whole of his island off the mainland. He missed Neist point, he missed the hills, the cliffs, the wind. Everything. The fairy pools. He missed his home. These thoughts, pushed the young boy on, Graeme forced himself to cycled harder. Willed himself to think of something else. because it was pointless, since that come the start of the new term in September he'd be stuck. He'd be in New Zealand until the day of graduation, he just had to get used to the idea that he wasn't going to be going home, and that he'd have to learn to love New Zealand. Graeme didn't dislike New Zealand in anyway, he just missed his home. He liked New Zealand. But, it lacked in his eyes. The boy shook his head and just kept going. Enjoying the breeze that cycling brought him. Enjoying the way it felt good to him. Still too hot, but at least there felt like there was a breath of fresh air. Looking down at his hands, Grae pushed on. Looking up every so often. It was as he made a sharp turn too sharply, which caused him to be launched off his bike. hitting the ground with a firm smack. Graeme swore loudly, as he pushed himself up. Getting up off the ground and limping slightly over to where the bike had stopped. He had scraped the side of face, his right arm, and both legs from the landing. Both his hands were filled with gravel, as was part of his leg. He was now warm, and the fall had shaken him. He fell off his bike often, so it never kept him off it for long, But he just wanted to get his breath back. However, as he stood close to a large wall, a weight landed on his foot. A small weight, but, something, he glanced down, and say a small girl looking up at him. He looked up at the wall, and wondered if she'd come over the wall, or simply fallen from the sky. "I'm gonnae assume you climbed the wall, and didnae fall fae the skye" He said, the usual strong accent rolling off his tongue. "You awright? You've nae shoes? Ground must be pretty roasting" He thought this girl was much younger than him. Though he got the impression that she was maybe the same age as him. "I'm Graeme Fergusson, I'm no gonnae bite you." He held out a hand to her, a proper greeting.
​

 

[Matilda Undersee]

As Matilda peered up at the boy who's foot she had landed on with frightful, wide blue eyes, she had a hard time understanding everything he was saying. She recognized immediately that he was Scottish, as though she had never heard the accent before, she had read enough about it and his pronunciation of the words matched perfectly. This information, however, did not help when it came to deciphering what he had said. Matilda had only ever been around Italian accents, though her own had a hint of French mixed in with it from her Father. Matilda's eyes ventured to the boy's height. She always had a hard time predicting the age of other people, but since she was only a little taller than his waist, she assumed Graeme was around her age. Matilda's immediate reaction to his friendliness was to be cautious. Why would anyone be kind to a half breed such as herself? She flinched involuntarily at his comment about biting her. Was he being sarcastic? Or was it an attempt to appear friendly? Many thoughts raced through the young girl's mind as her eyes flickered between his. It was at that moment that Graeme held out his hand. Matilda backed away quickly, bumping into the wall in the process but not once peeling her eyes from his gaze. Her tiny feet did indeed burn against the roasting pavement, however Matilda thought this was nothing compared to how awkward she felt. Beads of sweat began to break out on her forehead, though she was unsure if this was because of the blazing sun or because of how nervous she was. The sun was glaring down, though she was used to the sun and it did not generally bother her. Even so, it was an oddly hot day, even by her standards.

Matilda was about to turn on her heel and run, preferably to some grass so that her feet could cool down. She had no idea whether Graeme was trying to poke fun at her, hurt her, or both. She had not experienced kindness from someone her age before and assumed that it was extremely rare to come by. For her, it often was, since her height made her the laughing stock of anyone who could have been a good candidate for a friend. As her weight shifted from her right foot to her left in preparation to run, a squeaking noise distracted her. The window of her Mother's study had opened. She had been disturbed by the noise created by Graeme falling off his bike and had been checking that Matilda was OK. She had a split second to decide what to do. She would already be in trouble for climbing over the wall, so going back inside was pointless and scary. However, she suddenly did not want to be alone. Glancing at Graeme, she helplessly weighed up her options. There was fear evident in her eyes, and she knew that he would be a little confused as to the cause. "Do you know anywhere around here we can hide?" She asked, her voice a loud whisper. Even so, her Italian accent was very prominent. Her Mother would of course find her eventually, but Matilda needed to escape for a little while. There was no way she was going back in that house just yet. If she could even call it that. It felt more like a prison.

 

[Graeme Fergusson]

There was one seriously disadvantage that Graeme had compared to most others. While most lived in large towns surrounded by lots of people he had lived pretty far from anything resembling a town. Everything was small. Everything was just normal. So this small girl, who was still standing on his foot, to him was just super young. A lot young than him, and therefore he was sure that she had just gotten a little lost. He suddenly realized that she wasn't saying anything. Not a word, just staring at him as if she barely understood what he had been saying. Mentally the young scot cursed himself. Remembering that while back home people would understand him, people in New Zealand might not. He wondered if he should repeat what he was saying, only more clearly, when at his extended hand to her. She jumped away, hitting the back wall. Graeme took a step back and raised his hands in the air. Most of the scraps had already stopped bleeding. The ones on his face had stop, as had his legs. Just a few with specks of blood. But the scraps on his arm, were still bleeding slowly. Looking as though they might take longer to stop. He kept his hands in the air, to show her that he meant no harm. Though he wasn't sure if she understood even that. An odd noise was heard. He didn't know what it was but it seemed to have startled the girl into action. He wondered what the hell he had stumbled on to. Graeme wasn't used to people. The people he knew he had grown up with. He knew those people and they were nothing like this girl. For one none were this small. His friends were all normal compared to this girl. None of them were this odd.

She spoke to him, asking him if he knew a place to hide. He wasn't sure what she was hiding from or who, but his made had always said to wary of people who asked such things. He thought this girl seemed pretty harmless and there was mistaking the fear in her eyes. "Oddly enough I do" he said, but as he glanced at her, from her face to her feet, he wonder how they'd get there. It was hot. The ground was roasting he imagined, and he doubted this girl would get on his bike, or his back. "It's no far, but you've got nae shoes." he wasn't sure what to do. He glanced to his bike. "You could ride on the back on my bike" he said motioning to the bike behind him. He gave the girl a shrug. He knew it would be up to her. He didn't know how to deal with this. He didn't even know her name. "It's no far, following this road to the end, is a massive grassy bit, and at the corner there are enough bushes and trees tae let you hide" he explained to her. In the event that she didn't want him to go too. He stopped. Took another step away, as if to let her go, before his eyes glanced back at her feet. He then slipped off his own shoes, ran a hand nervously through his air. Always be kind the words his mother always said to him rang in his mind. Be kind, even if you don't know. Always. Though she always said that the exception was people who might try to kidnap him, but Graeme honestly didn't know what these people looked like. The light grey eyes of the boy watched as his feet touched the incredibly hot ground. It wasn't as bad as he thought, but god it was still hit. Everything was just too hot. Then without a word he held them out to her. Leaving a the decisions to this small girl, he didn't even know the name of.
​

 

[Matilda Undersee]

Despite the fact Matilda's Mother was frantically calling her name from the window, despite how afraid she was that Graeme would do her harm, despite everything, a rare giggle escaped her lips. She had recognized his actions of raising his hands in the air. It was what people did when the police were arresting villains in books. It comforted her, though it was not that which had made her laugh. It was the way Graeme slipped off his own shoes and offered them out to her. Clearly, the ground was scorching and the boy already seemed to be in a bad way. In her haste to leave the garden, she had been unaware of anyone in the street below as she had been climbing the wall, and so was momentarily clueless as to how he gained his injuries. However, it was not hard for Matilda to put two and two together and realize that people who rode bikes were bound to get scrapes and bruises every so often. Matilda stifled her giggle quickly, though she knew she could not keep it at bay for long when she spoke. "They wouldn'teh fit me, 'ye great lump," As predicted, her face broke out into a smile again. Her accent was stronger than ever, and she tended to sound as though she was adding an extra 'eh' to the ends of some words. Matilda did not know how to act around people to not appear rude, though she could tell the difference between nice and nasty people in her books, and she was aware that someone may take offence from her last statement. "But thank 'ye," She added ruefully, hoping she had correctly righted her wrong. Matilda often accidentally used phrases that she heard her parents say, and her parents were often bickering. It was not her intention to appear rude, but since the only kindness she had ever experienced was in books and not aimed at herself, she found it hard to show kindness to other people.

Matilda was uncertain about hopping straight on the back of a bike that belonged to someone a lot taller and stronger than her. She knew that, if it had been Graeme's intention, she would never be able to fight him off. But something about the boy seemed comforting. As though all the hatred and loneliness that Matilda knew had evaporated upon his kind actions. In response to his offer of riding on the back of his bike, Matilda nodded enthusiastically. It was that or go back inside, and at this moment she believed she would in fact rather be kidnapped than go back. At least it would be exciting. At that moment, her Mother disappeared from the window. It could only mean she was about to come out and take Matilda back inside. "OK. It soundsa perfect. Please let's hurry," She felt awfully rude, but she did not have any choice but to be abrupt. There was a hint of desperation in her slightly high pitched voice. After all, she had a voice box the size of a six year old's. If they didn't hurry, her Mother would come round the corner and they would be unable to hide. Once they were at the end of the road, she could stop and introduce herself. She only hoped that he would not suddenly turn on her like most people did when they showed random kindness. Perhaps, she thought, he had been dared to be kind to Matilda so that he could really hurt her feelings when he showed his true self.

 

[Graeme Fergusson]

The girl laughed and this took Graeme by surprise. It was a high pitch laugh. It made him smile despite this odd situation he found himself in. He felt warmed slightly by it. That maybe this girl wasn't so afraid of him. Or perhaps just less afraid of him as she was of whatever she was running from. With his feet now on the roasting ground he could almost feel it burning. He shifted his feet putting his weight more on one foot than the other. Shifting every so often to even things out. Hopefully. The girl rejected his offer of shoes, talking in a much higher pitch than he was those. Even though his voice was unbroken and had not yet dropped. And even wouldn't for a few more years. He had offered them to her knowing full well that they were more than a couple of sizes too big. Well more than a couple. He gave a small laugh when she spoke. "No, I know that." Graeme said with a light chuckle. "It was just tae get yer feet off the ground." pronouncing ground like groond. Graeme shrugged his shoulders at her. "If you don't want 'em, I'll wear them" he said as he slipped back on his shoes. Then as he went over to grab his bike, he began to wonder if he would even be able to get her to stand at the back while Graeme was not particularly tall, he was not short. He was the average height for his age. Which suited him fine but for the first time her this seemed to be a problem. He looked from the girl to the bike. With a small apologetic smile. He had no idea how he was going to manage it. Then it occurred to him. The way to get them both moving.

Swinging his bag off his back he put it round his front. When the girl spoke again. Clearly in a hurry to get away from whatever it was she was running from. He gave her a smile. "Listen, I don't mean anything by it, but your a wee bit tae small. Your no gonnae fit." he shrugged at her. Pausing slightly, "We can either gee it a shot, or you could hop on ma back?" he shrugged at her again, before letting her decide what she wanted to do. Once she had decided, Grae got on his bike and pushed off. He knew that it sort of looked like he was stealing a child. Not much young than himself. But he would just say it was his sister. He arrived the bike in no time at all and let her get down before he pushed it slightly into the hidden part. Under a free beside a large group of bushes that hide them well. He put down his bag and gave her a smile. "Right, now I've helped you, your gonnae have tae answer some questions." he stretched out his limbs, keeping his eyes on the girl. "First, yer name? And second who on earth you're running fae." he said this with a definite nod. As if no longer going to help her unless he got some answers. Graeme was all about kindness to strangers. Helping folks out, but he needed to know why this girl was running, and who she was. Graeme didn't want to do anything wrong, but if she needed his help he was more than happy to give it to her. He just needed a couple of answers first. ​

 

[Matilda Undersee]

Matilda was inwardly glad that Graeme had not taken offence to her comment. She supposed it was fairly hard to be offended by someone half your height anyway, no matter what they said. This was probably the reason why she had such a hard time standing up for herself - it was pointless. She would appear like a kitten pretending to be a lion. It would only cause more humiliation if she attempted to fight back. Matilda returned his small smile, though when he spoke again she was slightly offended. She could not help it, it was simply out of habit. Whenever somebody commented on her height, it was usually a sign that they were about to make fun of her. She frowned a little, but quickly realised this was not the time to be taking offence to comments, especially since Graeme had stated he didn't mean anything by it. It was clear that he did not yet know she was his age, and he had no reason to assume so, either. Her Mother had made sure Matilda grew her hair to cover her little pointed goblin ears, as though she was embarrassed by her daughter's appearance.

With little time to spare or worry about whether Graeme meant well or not, Matilda decided that climbing his back would be the best option. However, she had not anticipated how she would feel upon contact with another human being. She climbed a little inelegantly onto Graeme's back, and immediately was overcome with a strange sense of fear. Her Mother did not appreciate physical contact, and therefore never hugged Matilda. Neither did her Father, since he was usually away at work and was too busy complaining about his term when he returned home to say hello to his only daughter. The last time she had received a hug was when she was a very young baby and could not get around by herself. Therefore, the feeling of being so close to this stranger made Matilda very uncomfortable indeed. By the time they reached the grassy corner, she was so eager to get off his back that she jumped down before he had even come to a stop. As she brushed herself off, it was taking every ounce of willpower that she had to stop herself from hyperventilating. She backed away from Graeme again, into a small dead end created by shrubs and bushes. It strongly reminded her of the place at school that Tilly enjoyed cornering her into when she felt like releasing some anger on somebody. It was too much for Matilda. She suddenly felt as though Graeme was about to hurt her, and there was nothing she could do about it. "Please.." She started, though she didn't even know how she was going to finish her sentence. There was no point in lying to him, though. She knew that right now, if he chose to turn on her, not a soul would see. "Matilda.." She paused for a moment. "I can'ta tell you! You willa be just like the others. You will call me a freak or a vampire, or maybe a dwarf because I am so small! Why don't you justa get it over with so I can stop pretending that you mighta care!" Everything burst out of Matilda's mouth before she could stop it. She had become so worked up that her tiny fists were clenched and she was on the verge of crying. She had every right to assume that Graeme would do what she had just stated, since nobody had ever tried to make friends with her. Matilda slumped down onto her knees on the grass in defeat.

 

[Graeme Fergusson]

If someone had told Graeme when he woke up about what this day would entail he would have as sure as hell not believed them. He had done one thing after another that hadn't exactly been all too normal. Cycling away from a house with a young, small girl in tow was not exactly the best thing to be doing. But he had done it any. Something about the girl made her seem less like the age she looked. The girl jumped off his back, and off his bike before he could even stop. He realized this and skidded to his stop. Almost falling over the bike himself in the small amount of panic this girl caused him. In saying that he very carefully then pushed his bike in towards where the girl had run. Now that he looked at her. He couldn't but get the impression that she was terrified. He didn't think it was of him. Surely not. But even this fear in her eyes didn't stop him from asking what he wanted. Graeme thought about how that wasn't he most polite thing to do. But he also had to think about himself. If this girl was just using him to achieve or do something else, he wasn't exactly going to be pleased. Sure, the boy had nothing to do with his day, but he wasn't exactly keen to get arrested or end up in any sort of trouble. Though now he thought about it, it could get him banned from the country, and then his mother would have no choice but to let him go to Hogwarts Scotland. Where he more than thought he belonged. This girl, back away from him as soon as he had asked the questions. He couldn't however understand why. His questions, in his mind had been completely harmless.

Once again raising his hands to the girl, Matilda. God that was a horrid name he thought. Might never say that, but he sure would never call his kid something of that sort. The way she spoke was odd to. Clearly not from New Zealand. An odd accent that made him think of those incredibly old godfather movies that he had watched. The Italian, clear against the English. Easy to distinguish. Though he had no intention of saying anything about it. His own accent he knew was pretty bad. Easy to hear but difficult to understand. However what he might just talk about was how she seemed to assume that he would laugh at her, that he would hurt her. It was silly, why would he do such a thing? Graeme was a kind boy, he had brains galore, but his kind heart was the stronger force in him. He raised his hands in the air, and just shrugged. He moved a few tentative steps forward. "I'm no gonnae hurt you, Matty" he said sitting down, a few feet away from the girl. Slipping off his shoes and letting the cool grass touch his feet. He took his bag and from within pulled out several bits of tissue paper, clearing her various biking injuries with the paper, then as he did this, he also took out the food he had been carrying. He leaned over and put it midway between him and her. "I ran off wance tae." he stopped himself, realizing that she probably understood little what he was saying. "I'm fae Skye, a little Island off the coast of Scotland, took my bike, my stuff and just rode off." He smiled at the thought. "My ma went ballistic, when I came home the next day, soaked to the skin, mud all over." he had just been a few miles away. Pitched a tent, but the rain had hammered down during the night. Flooding the tent. He'd spent a great time, but there was nothing like a roasting fire in the depths of winter in Skye.

Graeme pulled out the lemonade, and once again, like the food placed it in the middle between them. "Right so, my ma, she said to me, when I ran off, that I should always be kind to people. Always help them out. Never to harm. Cause other folks might be running away because their home life ain't too great." he took a bit of the bread that he had and tore off a bit. Biting into it. "So nae matter wit it is you think will make me laugh, I can assure you I willnae." he shrugged. "If you don't want tae tell me that's fine. Just, I'm no scary, I'm no gonnae hurt you. I'm no gonnae tell anyone."
​

 

[Matilda Undersee]

Since Matilda had already given up hope of getting out of this situation unharmed, she had begun to relax slightly. It was as though she had let out all the stress inside her and was now back to the defenceless, weak little girl that she really was. Except for the first time in her life, she didn't mind. Graeme had taken all the fear inside her away, just for a moment. She sat tentatively on the grass, listening to his story. She imagined just how scared she would be if she ran away for good, and suddenly looked up to him. He was very brave. Her lips formed a brief smile, returning his as he told her about his experience. All at once, her stomach filled with guilt at the way she had accused him of being just like the others. Her cheeks turned a rosy shade of pink, and she stared down at the grass to hide it. It had been very unkind of her to speak to him like that, but she couldn't find the words inside her to apologize. This was strange, since she was always apologizing to people, even when she hadn't actually done anything wrong. Yet now, when it was appropriate to say sorry, her lips felt like they were clamped shut. Her face burned in embarrassment, and she muttered something which sounded vaguely like "I'm sorry," Before biting her lip and returning to her awkward silence. Matilda, despite feeling guilty and weak, was filled with a feeling she had never felt before. It was the feeling of somebody caring about her. Not judging her for her height or the way she acted. It was almost like in the books, where the characters would find companionship in strange places. Matilda's own fairytale was unfolding before her eyes.

Some doubt remained about whether to tell Graeme the truth or not, but Matilda was a lot less suspicious of him now. The way he placed the food in between them made her wonder if he was subtly offering her some, and despite the soft growls in her stomach, she resisted taking any. It was late afternoon, and though Matilda was not deprived of food, she was fed three simple meals per day, no more, no less. Often, by around four pm, Matilda felt pangs of hunger, and secretly wished she could just make herself something to eat. If her Mother could eat when she pleased, why couldn't she? Yet when she had questioned her Mother's actions one day, she had replied with a simple "I wouldn't want you getting overfed. Too many children these days are allowed to overeat." Matilda had nothing against what people chose to eat. If they wanted chips for breakfast, lunch and dinner, then why shouldn't they have that? They were children, after all. Still, she didn't dare stand up to her Mother. It simply wasn't worth the effort, and it would get her no where, anyway. Matilda diverted her attention back to Graeme to take her mind off the food. "That sounds scary," She whispered, her eyes fixated on his. "I hate the rain. I don'ta think I would have survived, even one night," Matilda paused to giggle. "I bet it was nice to be independent for a day, though," She mused aloud, looking down at the grass again. As she did so, her dark brown waves slid down, momentarily revealing her little pointed ears. The moment she realised, she sat up straight, letting her hair fall over them again. "I was running from my Mother. She only cares about me, at least that'sa what she says. Maybe she justa has a funny way of caring. Anyway, she doesn't really let me go out. Only to school, but.." Matilda could not finish her sentence, since her eyes were filling with tears. He had already heard enough, anyway.

Despite her best efforts, Matilda still could not take her attention away from the food before her. She blinked back the tears, grateful that she had held them off. Matilda rarely cried, and especially not in front of others. They would have another name to call her if she did - a crybaby. Finally giving into the hunger, she reached out a hand to take a crust of bread, though quickly remembered her manners and pulled back her hand quickly. Her Mother would have been ashamed to see her almost take the food without asking, and once again the feeling of guilt swept through her. "Please could I..?" She asked, gesturing towards the food before them with a nervous smile on her face. She hoped that she hadn't mistaken his offer, since she would have appeared very rude if he had not meant that she could take some.

 

[Graeme Fergusson]

The last thing Graeme expected was for the girl to apologise. If anything this surprised him more than what she had been like seconds before. He cared little for apologies, didn't mind not getting them. Generally he knew who he was, and if he was in the right or wrong. This young girl saying sorry was just something else. "Nae need tae be sorry. I wasnae annoyed or offended" he gave a shrug. Graeme was a smart boy despite how he sounded. He picked things up easily and also liked to work hard. He was however turning into quite the rebellious type, as his ma said. Grae looked up to his mother to no end. She was the person he spent the most time with. But all this recent stuff with him becoming of age to study magic had torn a small rift between them. That and his ma worked so much more than before that he rarely saw her, which also annoyed him. He didn't like that. The boy loved spending time with his ma. So both of those had lead to many an agrument and often to feelings of annoyance, that his ma had titled the start of the terrible teens. Graeme knew who he was. He didn't think he'd be a terrible teen. He didn't care for meaningless violence, and distruption. He listened, and did as he was told. He tried his best to make things better. But not everything he did work. Not everything he could do would help. He noticed as he tucked into the food that the girl didn't reach for any. He didn't exactly say that she could take it, but he'd never had to say it before. People he knew back home, understood the jester. Placing food in the middle in reach of everyone instead of by the one person. Graeme just took this as another of the girl's little habits. She was younger than him, he could forgive that. When she spoke, it was so quiet he had to stop chewing to hear. He looked at her, noting that her eyes were fixed on his. The boy held them for a moment, then glanced away as she began to speak again. Hating the rain, well that was pointless. He loved rain. He truly did. Even when it rained for days on end, he loved it. Then again, he had grown up in an incredibly rainy country and from his small knowledge of her, he assumed that she had not.

"Well, Matty, I'd suggest you avoid ma home at all costs." he stretched out his legs in front of him, and then leaned back on to his elbows. Not exactly the most comfortable, but for a short period of time it was fine. He looked up at the treetops which surrounded them. Noticing small pockets of light breaking up bits of the shade. It was so much nicer there in the shade. He was thinking over what she said. graeme was an independent guy. He wasn't the type to rely on people. He did things for himself as much as possible, his ma's job had given him that gift. He wasn't always sure if it was a good gift or a bad one. He glanced at her again, when she continued. Talking about who she had been running from. As she spoke he noticed that she was getting upset. He wondered why. "Ma schools no far fae where I stay. But ma ma, works odd shifts, so she wasnae ever able tae take me. I had tae be independent or I wouldnae've been able tae go tae school." he shrugged. It was normal for him, to wake up to his ma leaving and be home long before she. Or for her to be just in as he headed out. They had different times. No way of coordinating. "I might just sound a little stupid here, but have you ever tried asking your ma if she'll let you oot?" he shrugged again, knowing she probably had but maybe because she was so young she hadn't thought of that. Though this conversation made him think that maybe she was older than she looked. Graeme smiled at her. As he leaned down and lay down on the grass, letting his grey eyes stare up at the green of the trees. He would've sold his soul for a drop of rain in that moment. Glancing over at Matilda he noticed that her hand was moving away from the food, he watched her carefully as she then asked. This made him laugh he didn't mean to, it just slipped out. "Nae need tae ask. You've got tae be the politest person I've ever had the fortune of meetin'." he smiled at her, "Take as much as you want." he looked at the food and then back at her, sitting up and reaching over to his bag, rummaging around until with a joyful, aha! He pulled out a bottle of lemonade. "I have water in here if you'd prefer, but fae now have some lemonade. No as good as irn bru, but we're tae far fae Scotland tae find any." he gave the girl a smile as he handed the bottle over to her. Grinning as he did so. "So, Hogwarts? When will you be goin'" he asked, this was the quickest and easiest way to find out her age. Then he'd know more about who this girl was.
​

 

[Matilda Undersee]

It was a rare occurrence for anyone to tell Matilda not to be sorry. In fact, it was the first time this had ever happened. She shrugged awkwardly, shifting around on the grass so that she could sit more comfortably. Her fingers played with the soft grass, savouring the feeling against her skin. The grass in her garden was always kept extremely short, whereas here it was long and a luscious shade of deep green. Whenever Graeme spoke, she almost drifted off into a daydream. Her whole life had been spent listening to people arguing or being bitter and unkind. His voice was soothing, and it was lovely to have found someone who actually wanted to talk to her. It felt like a dream, and Matilda feared waking up and finding herself back in the garden under the shade of the birch tree. She resisted blinking to make sure she was awake, since it was clear she had already come across as a little bit odd. As Graeme stated she should avoid his home, her eyebrows formed a slight frown. She considered the idea that he, too, was not allowed out. It seemed unlikely though, since he did not seem to be worried about anyone finding him. Matilda, on the other hand, was glancing over Graeme's shoulder every few moments in fear that she would see her Mother coming to take her home. She kept quiet as she listened, fearing that she may say something silly. She didn't know how other people's lives worked. To her, anything other than her own lifestyle was completely new territory.

Matilda paused for a moment to think about Graeme's question. Of course she had asked her Mother to let her out, and she would not have any of it. To her, outside was a dangerous place where her precious daughter could get hurt. The truth was, her Mother barely even cared whether her daughter actually hurt herself. She just did not want to feel guilty that she'd let something happen to Matilda. It would have made her look bad, which simply wouldn't do considering she had a successful job and a reputation to keep. She had to be the perfect Mother. And if that meant preventing Matilda from coming to any danger, then she would do her best to keep her safe, even if it meant ruining her childhood. Matilda was oblivious to this, since her Mother had always stated that it was just to keep her safe. She assumed that her Mother cared so much she couldn't bear to let anything happen to her. After all, she was a 'miracle baby'. "Yes, I've tried. Trouble is, she cares abouta me too much. That'sa what she tells me," She sighed defencelessly. She had no power against her Mother. Her punishment for running off like this would most likely be that her books or paint set got taken away for a while, but ultimately it was worth it. "I'ma from Italy. But my parents have a house here too.." She trailed off, cringing as what she had just said slowly sunk in. "I'm not'a proud of it," She added quickly, scanning Graeme's face for any sign that he might think she was a snob for having rich parents.

Upon being told she could take whatever she wished, Matilda grinned and reached for the bread again, taking the crust she had had her eye on since he had produced the food. She almost choked when Graeme called her polite. "Me?" She scoffed, grinning. She wanted to say something about not knowing where she got it from, but something stopped her and her smile vanished. "Thank you," Matilda nodded at the lemonade, though she could not quite understand what Graeme had just said. "Irn what, sorry?" She asked, once again feeling a bit silly. She was well educated, but when it came to fizzy drinks, she had no clue. This became even more evident when she took her first ever sip of carbonated drink and promptly hiccuped into it violently. "I think there'sa something wrong with this," she pointed to the bottle, her nose still stinging. Her Mother had never bought fizzy drinks as she believed that the sugar would cause rebellious behaviour in Matilda. She screwed the cap back on and set it on the grass. When the topic of Hogwarts came up, her tiny body stiffened and she looked down at her bare toes. Half of her wanted to lie and tell him she wasn't going for several years. The other half was urging her to tell the truth. But once he knew she was almost eleven years old, she had no idea how he would feel about her. After all, she was a 'half breed', which seemed to be frowned upon by everyone Matilda had ever met. Eventually she spoke. "I'm going this year... I turn eleven in'a march." She could not meet Graeme's eyes after she had said this. She couldn't bear to think that the first friend she had ever made would be disgusted by the way she was. With a shaky hand, she carefully tucked her dark brown waves behind her ear, fully revealing her perfectly pointed ears. Once she was sure he had seen, she quickly pulled her hair back over them. "Don'ta tell anyone, will you?" She requested fearfully, as though it was a dirty crime to be born part goblin, though in reality she knew nobody else that he could tell.

 

[Graeme Fergusson]

Noting the frown, he realized that he had not exactly been clear about what he meant about his home. His mother had stopped trying to stop him from going out from the point where he had run away. His mother tried to be strict with him, and while Graeme spent a lot of his time listening to her, he was also pretty independent. Things didn't phase his as much. But he hadn't been talking about that, though it appeared the girl might have thought as such. But instead of drawing attention to the fact he had noticed that in the girl, he stayed silent. His ma was hundreds of miles away. In what almost an entirely different planet. Things were so different back there. He missed it. New Zealand was different. It was interesting yeah, but he missed his ma, he missed his home. Everything about the world he had once known he missed. It wasn't hard for him to, despite being so completely far away, some characteristics of New Zealand made him think of his home. While it never, or very rarely got this hot in Skye, there were many similarities in the weather. He eyes drifted away from Matilda and up to the trees. He had a very serious bout of home sickness all of a sudden. He didn't want to bring attention to it. So he just let them sit in a small silence as she then said, that she had asked, and that her mother loved her too much to let her out. He scoffed slightly, sitting up, and glancing at her. It was the most obvious thing in the world. All mother's said as much. His ma had said so before he left for New Zealand. "All mas say that." he grinned at her. "Ma ma said it tae me when I left tae come here" he sat up slightly more and looked around them, graeme wasn't worried about someone finding him. His grandparents were too out their mind to even notice he wasn't there. "You should just go oot anyway. I dae that. Or I did that. Ma ma gave up trying to stop be, when I started mountain biking around the hills where I live" he didn't mention that it had been one of those first times, when she had still been a little cautious, that his bike had slipped on incredibly wet grass, and he'd rolled down part of the hill next to the fairy pools beside his house. She had decided that after a one month grounding he'd know to be more careful, he was. Though every so often, like today he fell off his bike. That kind of thing was bound to happen.

Graeme thought it was pretty weird that just after telling him that she was from Italy, and that her family had a house in both places. Then saying she wasn't proud of it. He looked at her as if it was pretty insane to not be proud of it. Graeme had never had much money, his family never had that much money. Enough to get by, and enough put aside to let him go to New Zealand for school. He shook his head at her. "I've never been tae Italy, but honestly I don't get why you wouldnae be proud of yer two homes. Be proud. Doesnae mean I'll like you less cause yer family's got money. I'm fae Skye, that makes up for it!" he laughed lightly, settling back down on the grass, looking back up at the sky. Then as he watched her take the food, he smiled. It was funny how to him she was incredibly polite but she obviously thought she wasn't. He chuckled lightly, "No problem Matty" Graeme said sitting up and taking a long sip from his own bottle of lemonade. "Irn Bru, it's Scottish. It's difficult tae describe. It's orange, fizzy, and it's got a taste you can't always describe. I'll bring you some" he promised her just as she took a sip of the drink and promptly hiccuped and stated there was something wrong. Without being able to help it, Graeme burst out laughing. He didn't mean it badly. He just thought it was funny. "Nah, it's meant tae be like that." he said as his laughter died down. "Here, water" he said as he pulled out the much larger bottle of water. Handing it to her. "fizzy juice isnae fae everyone" he sat up better, taking a bit more bread and chewing it as he noticed that she grew nervous about the subject of school. He wondered why. Maybe she was one of those squibs? He didn't know. She seemed to internally debating something. He just sat and waited for her to start talking, not pushing her just waiting. He had talked enough as it was, it was her turn. Finally she spoke, saying that she, much like him would be going to hogwarts that year. That she was turning 11 this year. He looked her over. Despite the size and voice of the girl it actually made sense. She had seemed older to him. Less like a six or seven year old. He then watched, still silent as she revealed her ears to him. He had heard about part goblins, and things like that, but he'd never met one, he'd never met anyone who had met them. He didn't feel particularly upset or annoyed about her just telling him, but more things made sense. She then asked him not to tell anyone. "Aye Matty, I willnae tell anyone if you don't want me tae." he nodded, smiling at her. She seemed nervous about it. As if he might storm off, or make fun of her. "That's cool though. Things make sense now. I like you Matty! Yer not like the usual people I meet. And it'll be good tae have a friend wance we get tae school."
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[Matilda Undersee]

Matilda couldn't help but notice Graeme's gaze slide to the trees above. Her own eyes followed, and the two children sat for a moment in silence. It was amazing to be surrounded by wildlife. She had never experienced anything like this in her life. Whilst her gardens had trees, they offered little in the way of shelter. The bright sun glowed through the leaves in the trees, creating a dappled effect on the grass below, and the bushes around them almost formed the structure of a cave. It was perfect, and Matilda appreciated the moment of silence. She became overwhelmed with the feeling that she had found her own secret garden. It wouldn't have been the same without her new friend to share it with, though. She knew that for sure. Before meeting Graeme, Matilda had never met someone who wasn't secretly judging her about her height, or her intellectual capabilities. But right here, right now, under the trees, Matilda almost felt like a normal kid. The silence didn't last long before Graeme's eyes returned to her own. She smiled involuntarily, as though it had been a natural reaction to him looking at her. All of a sudden, her big blue eyes widened. "Mountain biking?" She gasped, "Aren'ta you worried about'a getting hurt?" Her fears about getting hurt most likely stemmed from her over cautious Mother. Much of her Mother's behaviour was puzzling to Matilda, but she knew how children could inherit their parent's traits. "I wish I could'a just go out. Mother would'a stop me from'a reading or something." She hoped she didn't end up entirely like her Mother, like some characters did in books. Matilda made a mental note there and then to be stubborn enough not to turn into her. After all, if she ever had children, she couldn't put them through the same things her Mother had. There was one thing she could not stop her children inheriting, and that was her goblin blood, but she did not plan on marrying another goblin. She wanted to make sure her children went through as little humiliation as possible.

Matilda's usually pale cheeks flushed pink again when Graeme spoke about her houses. At school, it was simply another thing that her classmates could pick on her for. According to them, having a rich family immediately made you a snob and a daddy's girl. Matilda was anything but, however she knew standing up to them was pointless. It would only prove how weak she was, and besides she had read that ignoring bullies was the best way to get them to stop. Hasn't worked so far, she mused, her cheeks returning to their normal colour. She laughed back a little, though she didn't understand his joke. "Well, everyone else seems'a to think it makes me a brat or something," Matilda admitted, gazing down at the grass. "But it's not'a true. Honest!" She gabbled quickly. She was so afraid of losing the only friend she had ever made by saying something wrong. This was probably why she was appearing so polite, when usually she barely even spoke. Her fear turned to disappointment when Graeme began to laugh at her. It was all too familiar, and the jeers of her fellow school students echo'd around her head. She shut her eyes tightly until he stopped, refusing to believe he would be unkind. Matilda had yet to realise that not everyone who laughed at her wanted to do her harm. This thought was reinforced when she, too, burst out laughing. She wondered if he had any younger siblings, but already assumed the answer was no. Otherwise, he may have realised Matilda could barely lift the full bottle of water, let alone drink from it. She thanked him anyway, her giggles slowly dying down as she took a few more sips of lemonade. She was starting to get used the strange fizziness of it, and contemplated asking her Mother for some, though she quickly realised this was a bad idea. To add to her long list of emotions that she had already felt today, she added happiness to her list. Not only had Graeme not run off upon finding out Matilda had goblin blood, he also wanted to be her friend! Matilda grinned, smiling more enthusiastically then she ever had in her entire life. "That would be-" Matilda began in Italian, slipping back into her native language as she tended to when she got excited. "That would'a be wonderful! I've never had a fr... I mean'a, I've never had a Wizard friend'a before," She squeaked, her accent becoming more and more pronounced as she spoke. She hoped he hadn't picked up on her mistake, though it was fairly clear she had been about to say 'friend'.

 

[Graeme Fergusson]

Smiling at her gasp, and her then expression, Graeme gave a shrug. It was not as dangerous as people made it out to be. He always held that if you were at least just a little bit careful, then you would be fine, and there would be very little harm done, ever. Which was good fun for him. Since he didn't always pay attention, though he tried. He had fallen and gotten hurt so many times he'd lost count but, it didn't stop him from getting back on the bike. He always felt like if he didn't he was failing. That he was letting himself down, it soon became that he even got no longer scared when he fell. Only on the rare occurrences when he fell from greater heights or things like that. But it still didn't stop him from getting ready in the morning and then heading out again. Getting back on the bike. He lifted his arm to her, where he had many gashes on it from when he had fallen against the ground, pointed to it, and then to the side of his face, which was also cut. Nothing too serious, but that had just been in the city going a little too fast. "I fall all the time, but, that's never stopped me" he said with a shrug, "I didnae stop when I broke my wrist, or when I cracked a few ribs" He continued with a smile at her. "Doesnae scare me. Doesnae worry me, it'll happen, it's just about getting back up, and giving it another go" He smiled at her. He sort of imagined that she didn't do that sort of thing. he was just bored if he didn't do things. If he didn't cycle everywhere, or head up the side of a hill on an old bike that would soon be too small for him, or even just go walking in the hills. He wondered as she spoke, what it would be like to have a mother who stopped him from doing anything, and everything. It wouldn't be practical he thought, but her parents were richer than his mum was. Maybe that was what made it easier. "Readin' good fun. I dae it often enough in the winter, when it's tae baltic ootside." he really didn't read that much. He liked it, but he preferred the outdoors, sports and things like that. but, if the girl liked to read, then she like to read. "Wit other things dae ye like daeing?"

The way the girl said that others seemed to think it made her a brat, and then assured him that she wasn't, just once again made him laugh. He couldn't understand the girl. She seemed to have this impression that he was always out to laugh at her, and that he would find something to hate about her, and then make fun of her about it. Exploit it and such. But, he was not like and she didn't seem to see that yet. "I didnae think you were, Matty" He knew brats, kids from the slightly richer parts. One's whose families did not live on Skye but, had fancy homes on it. It made him laugh. They were brats, this girl was not. And he wasn't sure that if he told her that he didn't think she was a brat, that she would even believe him. Though he did anyway. Wanting to somehow make it very clear that he liked her. She was nice, if a little odd. It made things interesting for him. He liked the fact that she seemed to enjoy the lemonade more and more. It was almost for a brief moment like having a sister or something. He brushed away the thoughts, and focused more on her. Watching carefully as she spoke, Graeme figured that she was actually very happy about the answer he had given her. Which made him feel better. He got the impression that the girl didn't have many friends, or normal people to talk to. He felt that it was easy to be friends with her. Despite her odder personality traits that appeared at times, she was kind, from what he could tell, and she was a good person. He was happy to have met her. Happy to have helped her. It seemed it would actually pay off. A friend at school. "What house you hopin' fae?" He didn't know he figured he'd be good in any of the houses. He was sure he'd be okay in any of the houses. It would be good. Good fun. No matter what, he'd always be happy. "I cannae believe they sort us. Am gonnae be sweatin' bucket loads when it gets tae ma turn." He expressed with a laugh, though he meant it. He had houses at his last school. But they had been different, they had felt different. It wasn't sort, it was just placement in a specific house for class reasons. Not done by a hat, and not then splitting everyone up into the respective houses.
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[Matilda Undersee]

Graeme didn't seem to be too worried about getting hurt, and Matilda admired him for his bravery. She would never have put herself into a situation that could cause her to come to any harm. Her irrational fear of blood was strong, and even if there was a slight possibility she could get hurt, she would avoid the situation at all costs. It was silly, and Matilda knew that she would have to grow out of it eventually. Everybody got injured every now and then. However, at this moment, she had not overcome her fears, and the sight of Graeme's arms as he lifted them caused her little pale cheeks to turn even whiter, and her vision began to sway. She quickly looked away, grateful for the fact they were sitting down. Before he had pointed out the cut on his face, Matilda had been too absorbed to notice it. It was lucky that his cheek had begun to dry. It was the bright red stuff that scared her. She waited for him to lower his arms before she looked at him again. Matilda opened her mouth to talk, but quickly shut it again. She didn't want him to think he'd done something wrong by notifying him of her fear, and hoped that her reaction to his arms had been a good enough explanation for him. Deciding it was best to move on from this topic, she paused for a moment. "Well, I like'a painting, and'a drawing. And learning'a new things. There isn't much to do inside so I'm a bit limited.." Matilda trailed off, trying desperately to keep her attention on his face and not his arms. She still felt a little woozy.

Smiling, Matilda breathed an inward sigh of relief when Graeme told her he didn't think she was a brat. She wasn't getting her hopes up, though. The whole situation seemed unreal, and before this encounter Matilda had not even realised that nice people like him existed. Part of her expected to wake up from this wonderful dream. It would have been so disappointing, but that was generally how life went for the part goblin. "Thank you," She commented gratefully, nodding a little as she plucked a few blades of grass. Matilda had done quite a bit of reading on Hogwarts. That was, until her Father had taken away the books her Mother had found her in the loft. Luckily, she had only had a couple left to read, and she now knew many of the basic facts about Hogwarts. This included the four houses, and upon reading about Ravenclaw, Matilda had been sure she belonged there. It didn't feel like a house she would be placed into; it felt like a home she had always been destined to live in. The other houses were OK, but she didn't feel she would make many friends in them. "Ravenclaw, for'a sure," Matilda smiled, gazing at the ground. "I would'a hate to be anywhere else. I'll be scared'a too, because if I don't get in I will'a never make friends," She said, finding that she was becoming more confident about the way she was by the second. Twenty minutes ago, she wouldn't have dreamed of telling someone she found it hard to make friends. "But I'm sure you'll be'a fine. Where do you want'a to be sorted?" She asked, wondering if he'd even chosen a house yet. He came across as quite a brave person, but he had also been extremely kind to Matilda, despite her differences, and she had no doubt that he was clever, too.

 

[Graeme Fergusson]

Having not in the slightest noticed that the girl didn't like the sight blood, it would become a problem if they were friends for long. Graeme was not necessarily accident prone. He just got into many accidents with his bike. He fell a lot. Most of the time it wasn't serious, and then others it could be. However, the sight of blood was something that he knew well. It was familiar to him, no matter how annoyed his mother got over that fact. She got annoyed, but knew that it was part of who Graeme was, and she'd have no luck whatsoever in changing anything. He smiled at the girl, as she spoke of her own hobbies. Graeme wasn't too art, he liked it, but he hadn't seen enough of it to form any real opinion on it. Which was understandable. Having living so far from all things. On the other hand however as much as the young boy liked to learn and was looking forward to doing more with magic, but he didn't ever think he would list learning as one of his hobbies, he liked it, but he much enjoyed other things, or doing it not so often. He was an outdoors person, but unlike Matilda he wasn't stuck with the indoors. It was easy for him to be an outdoors person. He had an entire island to play with. The countryside, the island, though he never went too far away from home, and never to the mainland. He shrugged at her, "Sounds nice, but still no wit, I'd like tae dae." He didn't want to make her feel bad, because he understood that it wasn't her fault. "Well, is there anything outdoors you'd like tae dae but ye cannae?" He asked, wondered what sort of things he could show her at hogwarts that would be fun, and outdoorsy. Things she might've never done before that would be endlessly fun.

The girl thanked him, for him not thinking she was. He gave a light laugh. Knowing this was hardly the moment, but laughing anyway. "You are really the politest person I've ever met" He said looked towards her. Lying back on his arms, and letting his eyes glance back up at the school. He was glad to see it like that. The sun was still streaming in. Understandably so, there was not once hint of a cloud in the clear blue sky. Which he was very happy about. He liked the sun, but, he had experience of weather that told him that the minute the sun disappears everything gets cold again, and he had this small thought that maybe if he even managed to get back to his grandparents, they might not let him in. He didn't want to sleep outside in the cold any more here than back home. Though he might've been persuaded to the idea back home. He nodded as she said which house she wanted. Ravenclaw made sense, since she had said she liked learning. He wasn't so sure if the artsy things also counted towards Ravenclaw. He really didn't know. While he knew of the houses, and a little about what they stood for, that was about it. Nothing more than that. Although he didn't think she would have too much trouble making friends. "Don't sell yerself short, Matty, if you'll excuse the pun. Am sure you'll make plenty friends" He said with a smile at her. He wasn't sure what the people in their year would be like, but he almost felt like if anyone was to be mean to her, he'd do something about it. he knew she was self conscious about it, that much was clear, and he wouldn't let anyone make her feel bad about anything. "Plus, I got yer back Matty. Anyone gives you hassle, you tell me and I'll make sure they never dae it again" He smiled at her, keeping his eyes on hers, before sighing and shrugging. He liked Gryffindor that seemed good. That would be fun, he was sure.

"Fer me, I dunno. Possibly Gryffindor. But, I dunno" He repeated with a small sigh. He liked the idea of doing well, and being in Gryffindor. But really all the houses appealed to him. They all seemed like good fun. All of them. Even Ravenclaw, though he didn't think he was bright enough to get in. "I'm pretty average, ain't nothing too amazin' about me. I'll be happy wae whatever I get."
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