Open Treading Water

[Indira Khatri]

Indi was getting used to the fact that her sister was also at school. She wasn't happy about it by any means but she was slowly finding her way towards acceptance. Yet she still found herself on guard when she was in the great hall and was ready to flee the moment she heard the familiar voice of her sister or her cousin for that matter. Knowing those two, if Raafe was around Anisha wasn't far off. But they really were the least of her worries today. She may not have any life changing exams this year but the course work was still as heavy as ever and she was finding herself buried in readings already. It felt like she had to constantly have a textbook in her hand if she wanted to make it through the semester. She had aspirations of being a healer one day and she needed the grades if she wanted any shot at that. Not to mention she would rather vomit slugs than let her grades slip. Indi took a sip of her tea in the hopes it would keep her more alert as she poured over her potions book. She knew she should eat too but that was harder to do and read at the same time.

 

[Natalia Novak]

Natalia couldn't help glancing over at the Gryffindor table as she ate her breakfast, trying to find her sister. She was a little worried about her, though she wouldn't admit that to Isadora. She finally gave up on trying to find her, moving her head to scan the Slytherin table for her weird little friend. Maybe she was sitting with him? But instead she spotted Indi nearby, seeming so wrapped up in her studies that she hadn't noticed Natalia. She frowned as she watched the other girl for a moment. They'd had a mutual dislike for ages now, though Natalia couldn't even remember what had started it. She knew that speaking to the other girl would just be the start to a new argument, but she felt the urge to speak to her anyway. "You're forgetting to eat." She said quietly.

 

[Indira Khatri]

Indi paused her reading only long enough to scribble a note in the margin. She probably wouldn't have noticed Natalia if she hadn't caught her in a down moment. She shot the other girl a sharp look and was going to say something rude. Or she would have if she could think of anything at all. Her mind was so wrapped up in her work it was taking her a moment to come back to earth. In the end she sighed. "I can eat when I graduate." she muttered. But Indi spared a glance at the food piled high on the table and her stomach growled.

 

[Natalia Novak]

Natalia snorted in amusement at Indi’s words, surprising herself. She raised her eyebrow. “But then you have to make the food yourself. You might as well take advantage of Hogwarts food while you can.” She said, aware that this was probably the most she had said to Indi in years. It was definitely the nicest she had been to her. She cleared her throat and focused on her own plate, sure Indi would now snap at her and finish the conversation.

 

[Indira Khatri]

Indi immediately rolled her eyes. It was such a Natalia thing to say and was rich coming form someone who had probably never raised a finger for anything in her life. She was about to say just that but sighed. It was like she had ever really needed to provide for herself. No matter how busy her parents were they still found time to cook and clean for her, or in her case hire someone for the cleaning part. Graduation and the real world would would be a rough adjustment for her. But at least she was aware of it and apparently Natalia was too, which surprised her. "Oh what do you know about cooking for yourself." she said sarcastically and with none of the venom that usually accompanied her comebacks to her roommate. But she did put her book down and serve herself some food. "There are you happy."

 

[Natalia Novak]

Natalia almost smiled at Indira’s response, it was so predictable. Natalia shrugged her shoulders slightly. “Nothing, which is why I’m taking advantage.” She said, gesturing to her plate with her fork. The usual anger lacked from Indira’s voice, which Natalia decided to take as encouragement. She raised her eyebrows slightly. “Have you ever seen me happy?” She asked, though her mouth twitched up in a slight smile.

 

[Indira Khatri]

Indi almost cracked a smile as Natalia responded. She barely kept it together as she took her first bite. "Smart." she said as she partially covering her mouth to chew. But the other girl's next comment did the trick and before she knew it she let out a snorting laugh. Had Natalia really made her laugh? She was convinced that the other girl didn't have a funny bone in her body for years. Maybe hanging out with Salem had knocked some of the pureblood nonsense out of her brain. "I don't think I have." Indi said thoughtfully. "Did they forget to flip that switch in the factory you grew up in?" she teased lightly.