pure

“ Do you need some help with that?” Dirk rushed up to the other person, grabbing hold of the books that were threatening to topple over in their arms. “Careful now, it’d be pretty painful if these were to fall on you.”

andromeda couldn’t see who was offering to help her, but with how precariously balanced her books were, she couldn’t move a muscle to look. “no, no, i’ve got it-” but the books were suddenly moving, and she let out a gasp thinking that they were falling, only to realize that she was receiving the aforementioned help. she chuckled at herself, “thank you. i really did have it, but i suppose help doesn’t quite hurt.”

“comme c'est drôle!” lucréce remarked with an amused look on her face as she watched this mess unfold in front of her eyes. there was something about people embarrassing themselves that brought her joy – perhaps the reminder that it wasn’t her in their place. “some people just can’t help making a fool out of themselves, can they?”

“i suppose not. is it really their fault if they can’t help it, though?” andromeda raised an eyebrow, half at the scene in front of them and half at lucréce’s teasing comment. “at that point it just becomes a bit sad, doesn’t it?”

            “  andy !  it’s  been  ages  since  we’ve  spoken  properly  ”  she  declared ,  wrapping  her  sister  in  a  hug  “  how’s  life  been  treating  you ?  ”

@dromedaxblck

He ‘hmmm’ softly, nodding his head. “Or so my mum always tells me” he agreed, shrugging his shoulders and feeling the tension in them. He didn’t know what was wrong with him, only that he hadn’t been sleeping or feeling particularly like himself. “I honestly don’t know how to answer that question” he said, though his half smiled, “but that’s nothing for you to worry about. How are you doing?”

“that’s alright - and it’s basically an answer.” andromeda let out a tiny laugh, “i’m literally always worried, so just consider yourself added to my list.” she tapped the side of her head. she wasn’t lying, either - she mentally noted to check in again with rufus the next time she saw him. “me? i’m doing just fine, as always. actually, i just aced a surprise exam in history of magic, despite being awful at history of magic, so i think that means things are going pretty well over here.”

Aisling always appreciated being around Andromeda. She wasn’t exactly sure why, but she saw something akin to a kindred spirit in the other witch and it calmed her. The smile on her face broadened when the girl agreed, though her eyebrows raised in surprise. “I didn’t expect you to say yes, but I’m so glad you did!” Aisling exclaimed gleefully. “What would you like to know?” 

“anything’s better than this book, if i’m being perfectly honest with you. did you know that there are twenty-three different types of fern with magical properties, and seven of them do the exact same thing?” she chuckled. her eyes scanned the spread of cards in front of her, “well, what can you tell me? can i ask specifics, or do the cards need a vague question?”

“If you don’t believe in it, then draw a card.” Baz smiled, though it was more of a sharp-edged thing than something from humor. He put his tarot deck facedown on the table in front of him, clearing away the spread he’d placed down earlier. He’d heard this all before, so he might as well make it interesting. “If all they are is paper, then surely there’s nothing to fear.”

“it’s not because i’m afraid, baz.” though there obviously must have been some basis behind divination magic, with all the witches and wizards who truly believed in it, andromeda always found herself among the skeptics. still, she pulled a card from the deck, placing it on the table in front of her. “the tower?” she was hoping at least for something that seemed interesting, and failed at hiding the disappointment in her voice.

“I’m sorry. I know you were talking and I swear, I saw your lips move and heard the words but my mind just didn’t…” he cringed, clicking his fingers at the side of his head, to indicate that his mind had completely failed to register the words that had been spoken to him. “I have no idea what you just said, again, I apologise. Could you repeat that?”

andromeda froze, the words she had been speaking suddenly lost in her own mind as well. she knew she had been saying something, but his profession of not paying attention seemed to erase her own memory. “to be perfectly honest, i’ve just forgotten. it must not have been that important, then, hmm?” she gave the prefect a small smile, “are you alright?”

“It’s a character on a children’s television show. My niece isn’t a fan.” Katya shrugged, playing it off as if she wasn’t reluctant to mention the muggle parts of her life in front of people with the last name Black. “I’ll be sure to tell her next time I write. My aunt’s already convinced I’m a bad influence, what could it hurt?” The lack of an angry reaction wasn’t particularly what Katya had intended, but she wasn’t going to continue trying to start a fight with someone who didn’t seem to want one. Not when there were so many people who did. “I’d appreciate it– do you know whose inkwell it was that broke? All my stuff’s such a mess, I can’t even tell.”

“ah, of course.” andromeda nodded as if that had actually answered her question, as she didn’t want to seem absolutely daft. the word ‘muppet’ still did seem ridiculous. she smiled softly, swiping her wand toward katya to clean her off as well. “i think it might’ve been yours, unfortunately enough for you. if you just want to take mine, go ahead. i shouldn’t be leaving my bag where people could trip on it, anyway.”

Katya had to replay her words in her mind– yes, she had just called Andromeda Black a muppet. “I– Um, yeah, I guess I did. My niece has been calling everyone she doesn’t like a muppet lately, so it seems to have caught on.”

“i’m not quite sure i even know what a muppet is.” dromeda’s brows furrowed. “at least i know it’s insulting, so. thank you for that. make sure you tell your niece that her insults are very creative.” she pulled out her wand and pointed it towards her own robes, whispering a quick cleaning charm in an attempt to clear off the ink. “shall i do you too? or should the muppet not bother?”

“Watch it!” Katya scrambled to her feet, ignoring her scattered books in favor of confronting the person whose bag she’d tripped over. She was aware there was ink on the floor, her hands, and her clothes, though she didn’t know whose inkwell had broken. “You can’t just be leaving things in the middle of the floor, you fucking muppet!”

equally covered in the ink that had dropped to the floor and exploded, andromeda was fully ready to apologize for leaving her book bag in the aisle when the girl’s words took her by surprise. “i- did you just call me a muppet? what?”

“You are.” Theo smiled sadly, understanding the girl in the same way she had managed to understand him. “Of course not…” He hesitated, glancing back down at where he had been sitting. “Company is always welcome.” He looked back up at her as he decided to return to his spot in the window, pulling his knees all the way up to his chest this time so that she would have room to sit opposite him. “I don’t mind talking if… you feel like you need to.” He offered, the breeze forcing his hair back away from his face. “I’m a good listener. Maybe… I can help.” 

andromeda gave him a grateful smile as she joined him. she didn’t actually know if she did want to talk about anything, but it was nice to just sit. she curled her legs up, tucking her book bag under her knees, and looked out the window, watching the school grounds for a moment. “do you think the world might just end sometime soon?” she finally questioned, “not in a big fiery blaze or anything, but just everyone destroying one another?”

It was no secret that the majority of Hogwarts students took divination as a joke. An easy class they had no doubt about passing. Aisling, however, loved the subject. She found the endless possibilities and interpretations that the future held absolutely fascinating - and she loved to share those fascinations with others. Even if not all welcomed her enthusiasm. Cartomancy was her particular strength and Aisling enjoyed practicing on the many unsuspecting students in the library. After all, taking a break from studying was healthy. 

“Want me to read your future?” Aisling asked the person sitting across from her, a bright grin twisting at her lips as she spread the tarot neatly over the table. 

“what?” andromeda was fully invested in the book she was reading for her herbology homework - it was about the varying species of fern, and was dreadfully boring, but at least it was decently easy to focus on. “oh, um- sure, actually. let’s see what the cards say.” she smiled at aisling and closed the fern book, idle curiosity getting the best of her. 

Theo recognised the girl from the year below, she was somebody he had never spoken to before but something in him needed to know that she was okay. He opened his mouth to ask at the same time as the question left her own lips. It was no secret people came to the Astronomy Tower to be alone with their thoughts, and it created a strange atmosphere. He wondered if he was the only one who felt it. He smiled softly, cuffing at his nose with the sleeve of his sweater. “It’s a very reasonable question, all things considered.” He assured her, carefully avoiding providing her with an answer. “I was actually about to… ask you the same.” 

“oh, well, you know. i’m here, so...” she shrugged, figuring that was answer enough - especially seeing as he hadn’t answered her, himself. it was a bit awkward, wasn’t it, that they were clearly both here to sit on their thoughts. considering she didn’t know the boy too well, however, it was kind of nice that she didn’t need to make anything up. no excuses or pretend reasons. “would you mind if i just sat with you for a bit? i don’t need to talk or bother you or anything, but some quiet company might be nice up here.”

Theo knew he wasn’t the only person to hide out in the Astronomy Tower when he was feeling down. But in seven long years of school, not one person had managed to interrupt his brooding. That was, until today. He was curled up against a stone wall, worryingly close to the edge of the tower,, He always found the large open archways too beautiful to shy away from. His chin was resting on his knees and a strong breeze kept forcing his blue hair back away from his face. He didn’t mind, it offered him a breathtaking view of the castle grounds. The tears on his cheeks had yet to dry but he couldn’t bring himself to brush them away, not yet. Sometimes this was exactly what he needed. Sometimes there was no distracting himself or feeling better. All he could do was feel. He heard the footsteps before he managed to see who was approaching. The sound bringing him back to reality, dragging him out of his thoughts. He used the sleeve of his robes to scrub at his cheeks, trying to hide any evidence of emotion. “I’m leaving…” He said quietly, keeping his head bowed as he pushed away from the wall, standing up on stiff legs, his muscles protesting after so long of sitting in the same position. “It’s okay. I’m leaving now…” 

the astronomy tower was well-known as a go-to spot for those who wanted some time to think, and andromeda was no exception to that. she didn’t find herself here often, but with the common room being a bit more crowded than normal, it seemed like a good option. unfortunately, it was already occupied. she shook her head at the boy, “no, no, it’s okay! you were here first.” she was about to turn to leave, but it seemed wrong to just leave him at that. “this is probably a silly question, but are you alright?”

“Have I ever told you just how much I love you, Black?” Thalia joked. “Are you kidding? Literally anything is better than what I have. I’ve got the title, and that’s about it.”

“you could mention it more often. boost my ego a bit.” andromeda teased, “i’d say be careful to not make it look too similar, but i honestly can’t imagine flitwick - or any of the professors, really - getting mad about copying right now.”