Little Miss Sunshine

[Lea Mauven]

Now in her fourth year at Hogwarts, it seemed as though Lea Pleasance was finally getting into the swing of classes and clubs, and perhaps even friendships. The Hufflepuff girl was on her way through the fourth floor corridor having just left her drom room with a handful of books, hoping to get a spot in the library to study. Exams were coming up quickly and she really wanted to get good marks, the fourteen year old was becoming more and more aware of the fact that she was going to have to grow up in a few years and decide on a job, yet she still had almost no idea. Real Estate seemed like something she would be interested in, and Lea was sure she didn't mind working with muggles, afterall the orphaned girl wasn't even aware of her blood status, and she hardly thought her deceased parents would have been the muggle hating type, especially since they had owned a supermarket before their untimely demise. With a slight skip in her step, the Tahitian girl made her way along the corridor humming to herself as she went, all the while wondering why she hadn't seen Aimee or Elspeth lately, they probably had their heads as far in the study books as she did.

With the handful of books, Lea continued to hum along to a muggle song as she went, I've got a pocket got a pocketful of sunshine... she sang to herself as she began to stumble in the hall, she obviously had been paying more attention to her voice than her footing. Tightening her grip on them, only to drop her quill and as she leant down to pick it up, a very familiar girl bumped straight into her. With an almighty crash her stack of books fell to the ground and landed upon the quill before she could pick it up. Just as the fourteen year old was about to apologise profusely, she smiled, recognising the brunette she had just foolishly bumped into. Taking off her reading glasses and placing them in her satchel, Lea gathered up the books, blushing a little at her own clumsiness. "Elspeth!" she exclaimed, going in for a hug, but thinking the better of it when she remembered she was still holding all of the books. "I'm so sorry." she added, hoping her friend would understand.​

 

[Elspeth Brookes]

Elspeth idly ran her finger along the grimy wall of the fourth floor corridor, feeling the rough texture of the stone and watching the dirt accumulate on her fingertip. Snapping out of her trance like state, she wiped the digit on her robes and quickened her pace. She had found herself more and more recently meandering dazedly through the ancient halls, sometimes not even sure where she was when she came to. She had done the same immediately after her mother's death, and Emily's, but she wasn't sure what had caused her to do so now. She took a moment to take in her surroundings, and breathed an inward sigh of relief. She knew where she was, and would not spend hours trying to retrace her steps or follow other students back to the safety of the familiar.

Thinking of the homework that lay heaped on her bed, she ruefully decided to try and get that over with. For a girl who went only the classes she needed to scrape an acceptable, the homework sure did pile up. As she turned the corner. however, her motivation crumbled. She could distract herself by tormenting whoever had had the nerve to barge into her! Then she recognised Lea's voice. She wasn't sure how to react to Lea; She had considered herself friends with the pretty blonde, and she was one of the few who understood Elspeth, but she doubted the Hufflepuff would appreciate the changes grief and betrayal had wrought in Elspeth. Trying not to offend her, Elspeth replied as politely as she could. "It's alright. I've done worse." Her voice was soft, but her tone playful, as she tried to make light of the situation.