It Doesn't Have To Be This Lonely

[Ava Prince]

It was Brightstone Weekend and so the majority of students fled the castle for a few hours, where they could shop, dine or simply get away from the prospect of looming exams. Ava however, in recent times, didn't feel the need to go out to Brightstone. What was it only but a waste of her time? It wasn't like she was going to go shopping, the closest thing to a clothes shop in that place was Madam Malkins and Ava wouldn't step a foot in there if her life depended on it, well, that or if she had to update her Slytherin robes. With everyone out of the castle this afternoon however, Ava did what she usually did and headed up to the North Tower.

What usually was a place associated with Ravenclaws, the Slytherin fell right into place with not a single one of them around. She generally avoided the North Tower during a regular week mainly because it was Ravenclaw terroritory and she knew if she happened to spot a bunch of Ravenclaws in the dungeons, she would have a few questions about it. Although it didn't really seem fair that the dungeons semi-belonged with the Slytherins, because for a girl like Ava to be seen relaxing in the dungeons would be as common as seeing a Ravenclaw relaxing in the dungeons. It was just so damp and dark and it once scared her a little bit. Obviously not now, in her sixth year, but it still was a gross place to be. Yet the Ravenclaws got this beautiful tower? What was the reasoning for that? All they did was study could they not have gotten the library? Her views on the Hogwarts houses were still rather stereotypical, and similar to her thoughts in her firsrt year, but, you can't teach an old dog new tricks.

Her slender elbows were perched on the stone windowsill casually, her forehead pressed against the window pane as her gaze followed the few remaining stragglers who were heading out to Brightstone. Another reason she didn't go to Brightstone and one she didn't tell anyone was, who was she going to go with? She didn't have much friends now that most of the Glam Squad had graduated? She had no one to go shopping with, no one to dine with. She would feel just as alone as she did right now, in the empty tower, if not more. But Ava Prince had spent most of her childhood days and her Hogwarts days, alone. She had grown rather accustomed to it so she really didn't know why she was feeling sorry for herself on this particular day. It wasn't much different from the rest, she was just being overdramatic. As the two giggling girls disappeared out of sight, Ava pulled her head back off the glass of the window. Maybe she should just leave? Go back to her dorm and wallow in her lonliness. She straightened out her elbows, leaving only her palms flat down on the windowsill. Her eyes traced the Hogwarts scenary absent mindly, as her thoughts considered leaving the tower and heading down to her dorm, and maybe picking up some chocolate ice-cream in the kitchens on her way.

 

[Charlie Linus]

Charlie stared at the familiar walls of the Dungeon as he dragged his feet through the hallway. He had been here six years. It felt weird when it was said like that. It felt like the longest time in the world, but had also gone so quickly. He had begun Hogwarts hating it. Hating the people, the magic, the classes, the appearance. Time, however, had changed the Slytherin's opinion. Charlie had gotten used to it, he had even learned to like it. At least he could say it was better than home. His parents probably agreed, as they had sent him very few letters letters over the years, signifying that they were having a splendid time with him being away. As Charlie progressed down the hall, conjuring an image of that particular dent in the wall up ahead before he reached it, Charlie realised that he could probably map out the school blindfolded by now. He knew the place so well. It was hours and hours spent wandering the floors aimlessly. He hadn't really had a friend to go see and he would avoid the Common Room since his incident with Kaleb and Carmen at all costs. It seemed ridiculous to hold a grudge for that long, but he would rather not risk a confrontation, because he was positive there would be one if he ran into those two.

Charlie's legs dragged him away from the Dungeons and up the steps, admiring the paintings that scattered the walls, a few waved at him, but most recognised him and knew not to bother trying to get his attention anymore. He turned away and kept his eyes on the floor as he made it up the steps to the North Tower. He liked it up there when he knew nobody would be around. He would sometimes sneak up there when everyone was asleep to admire the moons reflection on the lake. Charlie might have been a sarcastic, distant and grouchy person at the best of times, but he really did appreciate the simple things in life, like music or good food, or the view that he caught sight of through a window as he climbed the steps of the tower.

As most of the students were in Brightstone, Charlie felt confident that the tower would be abandoned, but as he reached the top he caught sight of another person. He flinched and debated stalking back down the steps, he probably wouldn't be noticed, right? But a double take identified the person as Ava. Charlie smiled. That girl was the only one capable of bringing such a thing to Charlie's face. She was the only person Charlie put up with at the school. His only friend. The only one he wanted. He allowed himself to walk forward and prop his elbows next to Ava's. He didn't say hi, but he didn't feel he needed to. They understood each other. They knew that the other was lonely even though they pretended that they liked the solitude. Charlie turned to Ava and gave her a small nod with a small smile. He took in her appearance and thought that she got more pretty every time he saw her, but that was just him caring about his friend. At least that's what he said it was to himself. "No Brightstone for you then?" Charlie said softly to kick start the conversation. He knew the answer, but in a way he liked to hear it, for confirmation that she felt the same way as he did. That they had that connection through their reasons for their actions. Every time Charlie discovered something he had in common with Ava, he felt that little bit more accepted. It was a pleasant feeling after so many years of being alone.