Autumn Bloom

[Chante Harvelle-Ateara]

In her attempts to feel better again, Chante decided to get back to the things she used to love. Like cooking or roaming around in the garden. Since she wasn't home, Chante settled with visiting the Hogwarts Garden a bit more than last year. She always loved visiting the garden, and observing the flowers blossom over time. And if she not mistaken, her and Ivori Smith still foster a cat that both found one day on a random trip down to the garden. Since neither could take the cat home, the cat stayed around Hogwarts with the house elves helping care for the cat when the girls were away from Hogwarts. Chante missed the cute tabby cat lurking, she wonder if she'll see it today as she made her way casually to the garden. It wasn't cold yet outside, so there a chance she'll see him padding around the garden as usual. Chante adventure down a stone path that lead her to the high hedges and entrance of the garden. Chante went to sit down on a stone bench to take in the view of the autumn bloom coming in nicely. No sign of the cat, but at least she get to appreciate and admire the groundskeepers work today.

 

[Charlie Madison]

Growing up was a strange thing to think about, and Charlie found herself a bit preoccupied with it as the year was coming to an end. She was fifteen now, soon to move into her OWL year. Her family life finally felt settled after the change in their routine that had come with Odette moving in, her relationship with Phoebe felt better than ever, and as much as she knew the hard work was yet to come, Charlie felt like she knew where she wanted life to take her as an adult. She felt so much more mature than even a year ago, her whole life changed for the better. It felt strange though, the change had been so gradual it was like it had happened while Charlie wasn't even really looking. It was kind of a relief to find a moment to herself to just think about things, put it all into perspective as she wandered the gardens. It wasn't a place Charlie had spent much time, but she supposed it was as good a place as any to get some space, and some perspective. With her mind preoccupied, it took Charlie a long time to realise she wasn't actually alone, a girl she recognised from classes sitting on a bench ahead of her in the direction she was walking. Charlie lowered her head quickly, pretending she hadn't seen the other girl, walking slower. It would be weird to turn around now, and she didn't actually have anything against her, but Charlie had never been any good at awkward small talk, and her last few encounters with classmates she didn't know had been outright disasters. So Charlie just hoped she could slip past the girl without saying anything, head down, keeping as quiet as she could.

 

[Chante Harvelle-Ateara]

In the mist of admiring all the flowers blooming in this Autumn season, Chante felt a presents move at the corner of her eyes. They would've gotten away roaming past her, however, Chante caught sight of them as they were fleeing. "Hello," the friendly, Hufflepuff girl greeted the other, someone Chante may find to know she already knew their name. Feeling her old self start to see light, Chante smiled and wave in case she was wondering who Chante was addressing. "You're Charlie, Charlie Madison?" Chante asked kindly just to confirm her suspicious. They had classes together, that much she can rightfully confirm, but Chante never really shared a word with the girl. Time to change that, Chante thought in silence. No more feeling weird about her height, it was to be expected considering who her parents were. "I'm Chante, Professor Ateara's daughter," Chante informed the girl without her being questions. It sort of just came out of her mouth and Chante knew they had Care of Magical Creatures lessons together. That was more than enough excuse to share that fact about herself.

 

[Charlie Madison]

Charlie couldn't help flinching when she heard the girl talking to her. Her efforts to sneak by unnoticed had clearly been in vain, so she did what she hoped was the next best thing, turning to face her classmate with folded arms, giving the girl a wary look. Charlie didn't trust people she didn't know at the best of times, and someone tall enough to tower over Charlie's respectable height wasn't someone she really wanted hassling her. The girl seemed just to be making conversation though, so Charlie listened, nodding once when she asked if she had the right name. "What about it?" She asked, still wary. When the girl introduced herself, her height made sense all at once. Professor Ateara was unsettlingly tall, and the family resemblance was clear. "Cool." She said gruffly, arms still folded.

 

[Chante Harvelle-Ateara]

Chante stood up with a warm smile on her face. She won't be discourage by the girl's put offish response. In fact, her grumpiness came across funny to the Hufflepuff teen. "I was just curious, we do have classes together," Chante pointed out. She stood still next to the bench, Chante's obvious tall nature might be a little bit too much for some people. It's not like they didn't stand in class near each other, Chante positive she had done so at some point in their lessons. "Yeah, it is cool, except when your mom starts sneaking around, trying to see what you do. She hasn't yet, but, I feel like that's something she will do. Also, she won't be able to sneak, she as tall as the trees around here ," Chante laughs, poking fun of her own mother. Jokes like that is what she was afraid of before, in the moment she can learn to laugh at herself sometimes.

 

[Charlie Madison]

If Charlie hadn't built up a stone face over the years she would have recoiled when Chante stood up, the instinctive fear of a bigger kid than her burned in in her youth. She knew showing weakness had been the wrong thing to do in the past and, more importantly, she knew that so far, very few people at Hogwarts had actually been horrible to her, and Chante wasn't one of them. Although Charlie questioned her motives behind this conversation, she didn't actually think the Hufflepuff was likely to attack her. So she did her best to keep calm, nodding a little when Chante talked about having her mum at school. It was an area Charlie could empathise with, and she nodded slightly, wondering why Chante had brought it up. Had she been seeing Charlie's mum? "I get that." Charlie said slowly, keeping her eyes on the taller girl. "My mum works here too." It was as much information as she was willing to give unprompted, but it was something at least.

 

[Chante Harvelle-Ateara]

Chante remains rooted calmly to the spot, she becoming more aware how much her height may affect people in different ways. This wasn't a problem, it's not a problem. One can't help a part of them that's physical, she could search far and wide for a spell somewhere around the globe to make her smaller, but Chante wouldn't feel right taking it. It would go against the things she said to Len when they first met. Chante wouldn't change a thing about her height, even if she was offered all the galleons in the world, Chante would decline the offer. It took time and patience for others to get used to her, lucky she has all the patience and only wish to get the same in return. "I figured, both of you have the same last names," Chante pointed out. Chante been to the Hospital Wing for checkups and those rare occasions she fell ill. Besides the usual small chat, Chante really hadn't spoken much to the witch. "It's good there are a few of us who parents are in school, it would be weird if we were the only ones..."