Smile because it happened

[Estrella Drage]

The witch's world was quiet. The only company she had in the small cottage were two owls, their perches, and a tower of boxes. Every so often, Arithmos hooted and shook his feathered body like a good potion just to remind the others of his existence. Harper, on the other wing, did little more than sleep. When she did open her eyes, they were half-lidded, sleepy; as if she were floating through a dream. Estrella stroked the barn owl's spine with the back of her hand. While she wasn't sad (well, not in a devastated sense) to leave New Zealand, she wasn't sure if Harper would be able to make the move.

 

[Professor Cyndi Kingsley]

Stepping out of the taxi and into a small whirlwind of fallen leaves, Cyndi walked slowly towards the home of one of her very best friends. The witch had been in serious denial; part of her still was, if truth be told. But, she had also realized that keeping away from her friend and her home wouldn't stop the inevitable. Stepping up to the house, Cyndi knocked lightly. The home seemed much quieter than it should with four rambunctious residents and their mother, and the woman feared that Estrella might not even be home. You should have called, she sang to herself as she knocked again.

 

[Estrella Drage]

Estrella jumped as the doorbell bounced off the walls of the empty house. Arithmos joined in the noise, screeching and chattering as he took off from his perch. Harper simply tucked her head beneath her wing. Shaking her head, Estrella turned into the hallway after Arithmos and prayed he wouldn't decorate the cottage with any pellets. She didn't want the buyer to pull out on his offer.

Months ago, Estrella would have simply waved her wand and told the visitor to come in. Now, she opened the door by hand. This place wasn't fit to entertain guests anymore.

She gasped as she took in the woman on her doorstep. Estrella had been so busy cutting the thin strings that tied her to New Zealand that she'd forgotten there were some too thick to slice through. She smiled at her best friend, if meekly.

"Come in."

 

[Professor Cyndi Kingsley]

Just as she was getting ready to turn around and quietly head home, Cyndi heard and saw the doorknob turning. When it opened, Cyndi took in her best friend, a shy smile crossing her face. This particular witch knew her better than most, and as she stared at her best friend she knew she had made the right decision in coming to her home.

As she stepped inside, Cyndi was struck by the absence of the small touches that made a house a home. The reality of it all was staring her right in the face. "You're really leaving..." Cyndi said in disbelief. She looked around at the room beyond that was full of boxes.

Cyndi took a deep breath and forced a smile. "I brought you something...for your new place" she said, her brown eyes drifting to her enchanted purse as she opened it up and began to dig around inside.

 

[Estrella Drage]

Estrella nodded. She led her guest through the hallway, knowing that this place was unfit for entertaining anyone. But it would have to do. Cyndi was likely the last visitor to this gutted-out cottage. Now that she thought about it, Estrella couldn't help grimacing a little.

But turning to her friend, Estrella pushed away her uneasiness and fought for the smile that split her mouth. "You did? Hand it over!"

 

[Professor Cyndi Kingsley]

Cyndi continued to dig through her bag for a second and then pulled out a picture frame. "What's the magic word?" she teased before holding it out to her friend. It was a picture of the two of them from many moons ago. She'd come across it when she was unpacking some boxes that she'd moved to Cameron's place after they'd married.

As she handed it over, Cyndi saw a younger version of herself nudge the younger version of Estrella. They'd been in Australia at the time, enjoying their last vacation before they graduated, and had asked a muggle guy to take the picture. Those were the good ol' days when the two women had far fewer responsibilities. "You like?"

 

[Estrella Drage]

Breathing in like someone had jammed a bezoar down her throat, Estrella watched the picture. A ten-years-younger version of herself and Cyndi grinned like their vacation would never end. Even these girls were flirting with the cameraman. "Do you remember..." Estrella paused, trembling, "when that poor bastard asked us for our numbers?" Cyndi had to remember. Estrella teared up; but instead of bawling, she laughed, the memory bouncing through the empty rooms.

 

[Professor Cyndi Kingsley]

Cyndi was waiting for Estrella's reaction and noticed when she teared up. Before she knew it, Cyndi's own eyes were filling and she felt her cheeks heating up. She looked down and blinked back the tears, knowing that she would have a hard time stopping if she allowed herself to begin crying.

Instead, she let out a sharp laugh which echoed throughout the fairly empty room. "Of course I do. I wonder what the number we gave him was for." She caught sight of her younger version winking at the camera. "I bet it was a pizza place or something" she chuckled.

 

[Estrella Drage]

"I hope it was at least good pizza," Estrella snickered. She nearly jumped on her friend, wrapping Cyndi in a bone-crushing hug that would make any beater proud. "And to answer your question, I LOVE this. Thank you." The witch wondered where she would place the photo; wherever it ended up, she would see the Gryffindor and Ravenclaw every day. She wouldn't let the friends she loved slip away from her.

Sticking the photo in her robes so that she wouldn't leave it behind, Estrella grazed her fingertips over something lumpy. She pulled out a bag, loosening the drawstring and dropping a piece of oak into her palm. Jera, from Heimdall's Aett.

 

[Professor Cyndi Kingsley]

Cyndi patted her friend's back as she returned the hug. She was pleased that her friend liked the picture. As Estrella pulled out what looked like her rune bag, the woman couldn't help but make a remark. "Professor Heimdall would be so proud" she grinned as she reached into her purse and shook her own rune bag as she pulled it out.

Peeking at the rune that Estrella had pulled out, Cyndi nodded her understanding. "Even the runes know you're leaving" she commented.

 

[Estrella Drage]

Estrella nodded, her fingers curling into her palm and over Jera. Even though they didn't spill everything, the runes were usually always right. And they were telling her something now. Knowing what was expected of her, she looked to the woman she'd spent hours and hours with in Heimdall's classroom.

"Let's have a reading. For old time's sake."

 

[Professor Cyndi Kingsley]

Nodding, Cyndi looked around the room for a second and then realized that there was only one place to sit. Dropping her bag off of her shoulder, Cyndi plopped herself down on the ground and sat cross-legged, placing her rune bag on her lap. "C'mon old lady!" she said, her brown eyes looking up at her friend, a smirk on her face.

"I want a reading first" she said, calling dibs. Cyndi had always enjoyed Estrella's readings and wondered what the runes would have in store for her today. It had been a while since she'd had a reading done for her.