Locket

[Noelle Seung]

Noelle had looked forward to the winter break for the entire year as she knew she would spend all of her time with her mother in France, soaking up the warm, summer sun. New Zealand was a lovely, beautiful place but it was all too cold for Noelle's liking so she wanted to make the most of the sun in France while she had the opportunity. That involved sitting outside on the streets of Paris, playing her music to anyone and everyone that wanted to listen. It was a fun way to spend her time in the sun and in addition to that she was able to practice all she wanted. Street performers weren't foreign in the European country after all and Noelle received less unusual looks in France than she did while playing her music in the grounds of Hogwarts New Zealand as well as the Ravenclaw common room.

It was a welcome and refreshing change for Noelle and that day her escapades brought her to Pont des Arts where she sat on a bench with her guitar strap around her shoulders and the body of the instrument in her hands while she played as many familiar tunes as she could remember. It calmed her down and brought a small smile to her face as she hummed quietly to the tune of her guitar. No one was paying her any mind but she was happy to play regardless if she received any attention. She was having fun, sitting outside and playing music as she watched people walk by and that was all that mattered to her in that moment.

 

[December Daniels]

December had enjoyed her time in France so far and had been pleasantly surprised by her new school environment but she was still glad for the holidays when they came around, mainly because it meant two things. She could now spend most of her time alone, which she generally preferred, and she could explore the streets of Paris, something she loved to do. When she was in the city she could blend into the background, she wasn't a student who someone might befriend, she was just another stranger on the street who no one would look twice at, and that was how she liked it.

There was a cool breeze in the air and it was perfect for a walk. A few streets away December could hear the faint sound of music, liking what she was hearing she decided to head towards it. Street music was one of the things she loved about the streets of Paris and she would often sit herself down on a nearby bench and enjoy the sounds produced by the various musicians that lined the streets. As she made her way towards to wonderful sound she made a plan to do the same. When she arrived and locked eyes with the musician she couldn't believe how young she was. December took a seat on the bench on the other side of the street from her and closed her eyes as she listened to the girl play the guitar.

 

[Noelle Seung]

Noelle continued to play, her fingers plucking the strings in time as she continued to people watch, smiling whenever she made eye contact with a stranger. It was so peaceful and a fun way to spend her warm summer day. Eventually she saw a girl who seemed not to much older than herself sit down on a bench across the street and close her eyes. It seemed as if she was listening to Noelle's music but the Ravenclaw didn't want to let it get to her head as she wasn't playing anything special nor performing for tips. Merely performing for the sake of performing and playing anything that came to her mind as she hummed quietly along, losing herself in the music. She began to play another slow riff, repeating it in different octaves and frets. Her brown eyes were glued to the brunette across the street but she didn't notice how much of her attention was on the other girl until their eyes met and she blushed at the surprise of it, blinking away though not letting her slight embarrassment have an affect on her playing.

 

[December Daniels]

Music had always had a calming affect on December. She had always had a rather nervous disposition. It had improved since she started school at Beauxbatons, this had come as a surprise to her as she had expected being in a school to increase her social anxiety. December felt more relaxed than she had in a long time listening to the girl play. When she made eye contact with the girl, the girl seemed to blush which made her blush too and she looked away from her swiftly, but she continued to listen intently to the girls music. It was the most beautiful sound she had ever heard. The longer she sat listening to the girl play the more she found herself wondering if the girl was a witch, or if she was a muggle, but there was no way of asking her.

 

[Noelle Seung]

Once Noelle recovered from her embarrassment and felt her pinkened cheeks return to their normal shade, she sped up her playing and looked up again towards the girl across the street. She seemed kind and was clearly interested in the music, regardless if it was Noelle's playing or one of the many other and more talented street performers nearby. Eventually Noelle finished the song she had immersed herself in and stood from the bench, adjusting her guitar strap so the instrument was safely situated on her hip and picking up her guitar case before she walked to the bench where the girl was sitting. Noelle ran her free hand through her long hair as she looked down at the girl, smiling. "Can I sit with you?" She asked politely, very much wanting to take up the remaining space on the bench and talk to her. The Ravenclaw never wanted to miss an opportunity to speak to a fellow music lover so she hoped dearly the girl would say yes.​