Lived And Learned

[Imogen Day]

It was a sight to see a young fourteen year old in brightstone Village, without a group of friends beside or around them. Imogen was not the type to be surrounded by friends. Not Anymore anyway. She was walking down the street, her hands laiden with shopping bags, heading towards the train station. A little brunette following her silently. Imogen wasn't out of the ordinary. She was a young blonde, a young girl, soon to be fifteen. And yet, everything about how she was was wrong. Alone, and caring for an eight year old girl. Learning from home, and also bringing in money. Two entire worlds were resting on the shoulders of the blonde. But this did not show as she walked. She walked with purpose, she was not meant to be walking back to the castle like all the others her age. Imogen neither hated nor loved the fact she was no longer at school. She enjoyed spending all her time with her sister, but it was hard. Living without parents was hard. At least at Hogwarts she had constant safety. She would always have people around her, food on the plate, and the warmth of a dorm room. She had found that living in an apartment was a little different. But she was managing. As well as a young girl could. She blamed herself for how her family had completely imploded, so she felt it only right, that she take care of what was left. Imogen stopped and placed the bags on the ground. She had bought, some new clothes for Pixie, as well as birthday things for her. Pixie was quite content with how things were in there life. She was at a muggle primary school, because Pixie couldn't stay at the house herself. And to make sure at least one of them got a proper and full education. Imogen turned to face her sister. They'd been walking all day, so Immy couldn't blame the girl for being tired. She gave a little sigh, and from within her pocket pulled out a plain brown bobble and tied up the shoulder length blonde hair, which was previously hanging at her shoulder. She bent down slightly and held her arms open. There was a happiness which passed upon the face of the younger girl. The younger girl, ran to Immy and threw her arms around her neck and her legs around Immy's waist. Slowly Imogen stood back up, one hand holding the girl up, the other taking the bags, she had placed down on the ground.

For 8 the young girl in Imogen's arms, was still very light. It was a good, since Imogen wasn't the strongest girls on the planet. She had gotten used to her sister in her arms, and being asked to be carried. Immy was aware that it wasn't the best thing ever, since, she was probably showing Pixie, that she could get whatever she wanted. But Immy would rather a happy, and slightly selfish girl, than an unhappy, tired girl, most likely to fall into some form of depression. Not that Imogen thought to far into the future. She tried to face each day as it came to her. Imogen looked down at her sister, who's head was now leaning against Imogen's chest. She was at least very pleased, that they were together. She had lost most others in her family, and could barely bare the thought of her sister not being with her. Or her not knowing what she was doing. Imogen was a concerned sister. Imogen looked away from her sister, only to see a boy her age, about to walk into her. "Oh, I'm sorry. I almost walked into you" Imogen said, stopping abrutly. Her english accent soft, and her voice quite quiet. She looked to the male, and realised something, he looked familiar. She studied his face for a second, then realised who it was. A boy she'd known when she'd had been a first year, a close friend even, but even the time she had spent at hogwarts in Fourth year felt like a million miles away. This felt even greater than that. "Well, what do you know, Teddy Cameron. Long time no see." Imogen said smiling at her old friend. She had changed since first year, her blonde hair was less frissy, she had grown an inch or two, and developed in more ways than one. She was however genuinely pleased to see someone she had once known. Since leaving Hogwarts Imogen had not kept in much contact with her school friends. It had been hard setting up and had been at the very back of her mind. But it was nice to see someone she had once known.

 

[Teddy Cameron]

Teddy made his way around the village. Of course he wasn't with anyone, there was no one to be with. Shaylah decided he wasn't cruel enough, Skyle didn't want to go behind Angela's back and Teddy didn't want to lead Angela on. It was complicated but, he realised, they were really the only people he knew. He was wearing his usual style; ripped, baggy jean, a random t-shirt and his converses. Teddy's fashion style hadn't changed much since his first year. The only difference he could find was he no longer wore boxers with the transformers on them.

Teddy watched as the people around him laughed with their friends and hung out with their date. Sometimes he wished his life was less complicated, he then realised a lot of peoples lives were worse than his own and he immediately felt bad. At least he had his family all together and safe, that was all that mattered really, even if they weren't in New Zealand. He thought of his sister back in Salem. She had cried when he left to go back to Hogwarts New Zealand instead of the Salem school he had started.

As Teddy remembered his sister and mentally reminded himself to write to her when he reached the castle again, he forgot to look where he was going. The boy managed to snap out of it just in time so he wouldn't walk into the girl in front of him. He apologised at the same time as she did. "Hey, sorry, Wasn't looking where I was going."

Teddy was confused when she said his name. She looked familiar but it took a second to recognise her. In his mind he saw her hair get frizzier, she shrank a bit and she became less, well, developed. "Immy?" Then he couldn't believe he missed it. It was obviously Immy and the girl in her arms must be her sister. "And Pixe. Right?" He couldn't really blame himself for being confused, he had also changed. Teddy's hair was lighter and har been cut shorter, he had grown quite a bit and he was skinnier than before. Teddy remembered back to the last time he had seen her. They were just talking out in the grounds with another boy then, out of no where, he heard she had left. "What happened?"

 

[Imogen Day]

It was nice to see him recognize her, even if it was after she had recognized him. But, a smile creeped it's way on to her face. She wondered why he was alone, he wasn't the type to be alone, as Imogen remembered him, but like his appearance, a lot would've changed. She looked down at her sister. And while nodding gave a warm smile. "yeah, this little sleepy head Pixie. You didn't meet her before. Pixie, say hi to my friend." Imogen said to Pixie with a smile. Who refused to take her head off Immy's shoulder. "She's not normally shy, but it's been a long day, and she's tired. And she's got to rest, because she has school in the morning. Don't you?" Imogen said, addressing Teddy first then Pixie. Who just groaned and shook her head. Even before her family had imploded, she had talked about Pixie a lot more than sisters normally did. But then Imogen was really just lying when she said she was Pixie's sister. Obviously by blood she was a sister, but Imogen knew she had really been more like a mother to the young girl. Imogen would've hugged her old friend, had an obvious person, not been in the way. It did however feel a little awkward. They hadn't spoken or seen each other in so long, that Imogen wondered what they could talk about. And in the back of her mind, she remembered she had a train to catch, and food, that wouldn't last forever unless gotten to a fridge. Immy however tried to keep these thoughts at the back of her mind, as she shrugged to his question.

"A lot. It's a long story." Imogen said, not really wanting to delve into her most recent past. She didn't like telling it, because, she couldn't think about it, with out having a number of second thoughts as to what she was doing, to what she had done. And because it generally just brought her to tears. And while, Imogen knew it was okay to cry, in the middle of the street, with her sister, and a train to catch, it just didn't seem like something she could talk about. "The short of it, is I quit school, found Pixie, and am now working, to make a living for the two of us. Life happens you know. What about you? Hows school?" Imogen said with a small smile, quick to change the subject so it was not about her. She didn't like to keep the subject on her too often. Immy smiled at Teddy. She wondered if Teddy even enjoyed school. He didn't seem like the type to, and Imogen couldn't remember him liking it. But then, that had been a while ago and her memory could at times be a little fuzzy.

 

[Teddy Cameron]

Teddy grinned, Pixie was around the age of Stacey. "Nice to meet your Pixie." He kept grinning, Immy reminded him of when he was happier more often than not. Teddy really wanted to catch up with her properly but he knew that could take hours and he had to get back to the castle soon.

Teddy caught the topic change and took the hint. "I'm..." He paused, he didn't really know how he'd been. He'd been abandoned, gotten over his anger management, fallen in love, had his heart broken and was now getting over it. "It's been interesting." He smiled, not as enthusiastically before, but it was a smile. He decided to focus on the good stuff. "Oh! You remember my dad married that really young girl? Well, they had a baby girl and she's pregnant again." He grinned at this news. Olivia was gorgeous and he expected the next one would be as well.

 

[Imogen Day]

Imogen wasn't sure if her change in topic was obvious or not, but she wasn't too bothered, she didn't want to talk about her past with someone she could no longer say was a close friend. As much as she wanted to. As much as she wanted to scream about how hard it was at times, how stressful it got. How condsencding some people got towards her. But now wasn't the time. Not with Teddy, who would be wrapped up in his own world, to want to bother about Immy's. If they were still first years, she wouldn't have hesitated about telling Teddy all about what had been going on. But Imogen hadn't talked much about it at all. She had only really told Riley, and she hadn't seen this girl since the start of term. Imogen had a lot to thank Riley for. Immy had, had no idea about what she was going to do, but Riley, had helped her. Imogen hadn't spoken to her in a little while, which made her feel a little bad, but things had happened, and there was no extra time to set aside. None really for Imogen. The smile upon didn't fade though. She was glad to see Teddy. Even if, talking to him, could mean she was late. But a little longer. "I don't remember, but that's fantastic. What's the little girl's name?" Imogen said.

Her mind, was on her mum. A person she didn't think of often. But the thought of a young baby, just made her think of the little Day. The one, who she hadn't been able to meet. Had no idea where he was, only that he would be 1 and was somewhere upon the earth. Somewhere, but she did not know where. Imogen felt she had let the little guy down. Imogen had wanted to find him as badly as she had wanted to find Pixie, but since it was a closed adoption, there was no chance of Imogen ever being able to even look into it. The chances were that, she would never get to meet him. But, Imogen cast these thoughts from her mind. Not knowing one of her siblings, was something she hated thinking about. "I wish I had more time to stay and chat, but I've got a train to catch. Here" Imogen took out a bit of paper from her bag, along with a pen, and scribbled down her new address. "I really want to catch up more, I'd say give me a call, but you can't, so write to me, tell me, when you are able to visit brightstone, or the holidays. Just whenever. Okay?" Imogen asked handing Teddy the bit of paper.

 

[Teddy Cameron]

Teddy smiled, he loved Livi more than anything, the only exception being Tracey. "Olivia Kaitlyn." He thought the name was beautiful. She was the cutest one year old he knew. Then again, he didn't know that many one year olds.

Teddy took the paper and grinned. "You can count on a letter from me." He wanted to reconnect with Immy. He remembered when they went for the picnic before first year started and ended up swimming in a lake. She had laughed at the yellow transformer on his boxers and they had kissed. It was definitely one of his favourite afternoons with her.

Teddy reached round Pixie, so he wouldn't wake her as she looked asleep or almost asleep anyway, and gave Immy a sort of half hug. "Talk to you soon, kay? Hope you're not late for the train." He wanted to know how she was dealing. Maybe next time he was on break he could invite her and Pixie over. He knew his dad wanted to meet her after he had met Immy the one time Teddy had stayed at hers during the holidays.