Dash of Moonlight

“They’re always proud of us. It’s one of their key personality points. It’s actually surprising how often they’re proud of us when we do any little thing.” Vi offered with a small smile, wistfully remembering her parents excitement the first time Dom had said a curse word or when Louis had used the potty; parents had weird milestones and celebrations for their kids.

She tactfully avoided pushing further on the subject of sight and knowing the future; she was with Bella in that regard. She sort of never had wanted to know or see, but she’d gotten stuck with it somehow anyway. A fork was stabbed into a potato, more playing with her food than eating it now, “What are you hoping to learn here, anyway? Just curious.”

“Oh, a lot of things!” Bella told her with an excited little grin. There were so many things she wanted to learn, the list was quite long. “It would be so great to learn to care of some of the creatures that provide materials for the wands I want to make some day.” Phoenixes were kind of awesome in her book even if they weren’t a common pet to come across. “I mean you hardly get to see unicorns. Just to see one in the wild...” Okay, maybe she was a bit of a nerd.

“I also want to collect and test out new materials. Trees and whatnot aren’t the same from place to place.” Isabella was curious to see how the properties varied and what that meant for wand making success and failure. “It’s silly too but I am hoping being around new people will make me a little more outgoing.” It was her biggest struggle. “I want to learn something about everything, is that silly?”

    “Well you could walk away and safely assume that in ten minutes I’ll be where I’m suppose to be…” he paused, “keeps you guilt free and me out of trouble.” he muster a smirk that pulled into his cheeks. Orion wasn’t trying to break the rules, this time, he just lost track of time at the library and one too many espresso shots kept his mind off his watch. “

Isabella looked at him a moment. “Well, you do technically have ten minutes...” It was reasonable to think you could get almost anywhere on campus in that allotted time frame. “If you promise me I won’t find you wandering the halls in ten minutes, I’ll say this is just a friendly reminder.” She hated getting people in trouble and it wasn’t past curfew, yet. “Because I already had to remind students of the rules earlier and my conscious does like to be guilt free.”

despite knowing about being a wizard since the age of eight, considering that she went to mahoutokoro’s wizarding school for her early education, bomi still felt so new to the wizarding world, and a lot of people knew that due to her curious questions and excitement that she showed whenever she learned something new. 

however, she didn’t look so excited once she had left her charms class in a hurry. 

like always, she was one of the top students, always raising her hand to answer, and immediately getting the spells right after a try or two. however, some other students didn’t seem to find that so great. someone put a spell on the blonde to have jelly legs as she was walking out of the classroom into the hallway. that’s when she fell to the ground, in complete embarrassment, as she heard laughter. bomi managed to quickly pull out her wand and put herself back to normal as the tears started to fall. she was so embarrassed, that when she ran out of the class into a secluded hallway to hide, she didn’t realize she left her backpack on the ground. 

Isabella looked down at the student sitting in the hallway. Truth was she was just taking a short cut but her compassion wouldn’t let her wander by without checking on the girl. Even if she wasn’t a prefect, she would have stopped. It broke her heart to see someone in such shape.

“Are you alright?” She asked bending down so she could be on eye level with the girl. “I’m Isabella,” she told the girl because she hoped the familiarity would help make things a little easier on her. “And you are...?”

“It’s one of the lesser loved subjects because most people who try it want to see the future and that’s actually… not something that’s all that easy. There are some notoriously good diviners who are actually frauds, it’s pretty unsettling.” Vi offered, reaching for her own drink to take a gulp and swallow down some for her parched throat; any time she got on the subject of the sight she got a bit anxious.

“Exactly, we can sort of control our own destiny instead of being forced into a singular path set out by our choice of future – which let’s be honest most of us, including myself, don’t know what we want tomorrow, let alone in the future – and also the whole mixed living situation where we’re not just buddying up with our own study partners is kind of amazing, right?” She was rambling, but it was a subject she was pretty passionate about, which made it easier.

She gave a pause, thinking about how her parents had reacted when all three of her siblings had signed up. There was some open weeping at the distance from family, but in the end they’d been encouraged to follow their dreams, because it’s what they’d done, “I mean weepy but surprisingly supportive? Dom, Louis and I are pretty blessed to have parents as understanding as ours. Mom was the weepiest one but even my dad got misty.”

Isabella sat there a moment just listening and taking in the blonde’s words. “Oh, trust me when I say I have no desire to know the future.” It was just something that had never struck her fancy. “Nor am I jealous of people that can.” Somethings were better left unknown in her book. “It would drive me crazy because I don’t want to know and there’s so many ways that it can change or whatever.” Didn’t they say every little choice effected something?

Isabella nodded. “I guess my parents are just used to it because Ilvermorny isn’t all that close to us either.” The distance thing had never really come up. “I think they’d rather I not go but they weren’t going to tell me no.” Not that it would matter considering she was technically of age. “I can’t imagine how it was for your parents though with all three of their kids signing up. I bet part of them were proud you all got in. Supposedly, it’s not all that easy to do.”

“Wandlore? That’s actually really cool. The making wands part, not the memorizing different types of wood part.” Roxie grinned playfully. “Wow, an only child? Must be nice having your own space and your parents’ undivided attention and all.”

“It’s certainly different from Hogwarts. Not sure which I prefer just yet, to be honest.” She said with a slight frown.

“Thanks!” Isabella told her with a smile. “I feel like it’s something most people over look most of the time. You know until you try to do magic without a wand.” Sure there were some things that could be done but most things required a wand. Wands usually were people’s most prized possession in a lot of ways. “I guess sometimes it is. That is until you’re constantly under the microscope and there’s no one to take their attention away for even five minutes.”

Isabella nodded. “Yeah, it’s a lot different than Ilvermorny too.” Good or bad, Isabella wasn’t sure either but she liked to focus on the good parts. “I like meeting new people too so this is nice. “I am also secretly hoping someone kidnaps me for the summer or at least lets me come visit. Canada is great, but it’d be so nice to get to see new places too a little more than I normally get to.”

“I think honestly everyone misunderstands their parents then grow into that ‘now I get it role’. Should I ever marry and have kids I imagine it’ll be much the same.” She smiles and looks thoughtful a moment, spearing a sausage with a fork and biting into it to chew thoughtfully and let her mind percolate a moment.

The question, while catching her off-guard, was not brushed off in any measure; Vi just wasn’t used to people asking, “Oh? Mentis. I figured it could help with some of the things I have to deal with every day and I seem to have shown adeptness at Divination so…”

She scrunches her nose but smiles, not at all ashamed, but honestly she didn’t know how useful her own studies would be in the long run, “I think we’re all lucky to be here, and I already feel like I’m more in control, you know?”

Isabella nodded as she reached for her water goblet. “Then I’d say it’s a good fit for you.” There certainly were things she enjoyed and didn’t and not all of them were necessarily good for her studies, but they were there to learn all kinds of things. “I can’t say I ever tried Divination. Just never had time in my schedule to try everything.” If she had time, Isabella certainly would like to try it.

“Oh, I definitely feel like we have more control here.” There were so many options and the programs were unlike anything they had at Ilvermorny. “More options too. I’m literally taking a little bit of everything and I love it. I’m kind of a nerd though,” she admitted with a sheepish grin. “It is probably the only reason they took me.” Isabella joked with a laugh. “My parents were a little unsure about me coming though, with it being new and all. I think they still are. How about your parents.”

“Pugna. How about you?” Roxanne asked with a small smile. She snorted softly when the other girl said she was jealous. “Believe me, if you knew my family you wouldn’t be jealous. There are loads of us and when we all get together I can’t even hear myself think! I’m definitely glad to be back, although most of my cousins are here too. At least we’ve got more space here, we’re not packed in like sardines.”

“Corporis. Though wand lore is really kind of my thing. Be so amazing to make my own wand some day.” It was the one thing she really wanted to be able to do not only for herself, but for other people too. “I can see that but I’m an only child so it’s a lot for the opposite reason sometimes. I mean I only have one cousin and she’s a baby, so that doesn’t really count.” Isabella had always wondered what it was like to be part of a big family. “It sure is a big school, bigger than what I’m used to. Lots of hiding places for your sanity.”

“I’m really enjoying it so far. The classes are more challenging, which I like. At least, I like the challenge in my stronger subjects.” Roxanne replied. “My break certainly wasn’t boring. Exhausting is probably the best way to describe it.”

“Oh, what are you studying here?” Isabella inquired because she was absolute rubbish when it came to keep track of people and their studies. “Now I’m jealous because I felt like I was going crazy at home. You’re probably glad to be back then. To get a break from all that excitement and exhaustion.”

Roxanne took a sip of her “pumpkin juice”, which she’d spiked with a healthy dose of Firewhiskey. Getting around the rules had always come easily to Roxie–how could it not, being George Weasley’s daughter? Silvestris felt somewhat like Hogwarts to Roxanne, in that she had to search pretty hard to find a student she wasn’t related to. As much as she loved her cousins, she’d spent much of her break visiting with them and was eager to speak with someone new. When she finally locked eyes with someone she didn’t know, a relieved grin broke out on Roxie’s face and she approached them.

“Thank Merlin, I was starting to think I’d never find someone new to talk to! Happy to be back from break, then?” She asked, immediately drawing the other student into a conversation without giving them a chance to slip away.

“There are a lot of people around here...” Isabella offered up as she looked up from her book after realizing the girl was talking to her. Talking wasn’t something she excelled and mostly she rambled which she was sure no one wanted to hear. “Actually I am. It was just dad and I for the week and it was...” Quiet and rather uneventful. Even shopping for new books and clothes hadn’t kept her busy for long. “Boring and I like school. I like studying and just being here. You?”

“I think everyone has their moments of brilliance, but I can also understand the want to not harp upon it.” Shyness wasn’t really Victoire’s problem, she knew how to be social, and truthfully until she’d realised she was a Seer she’d had a much more active social life… but now it felt somewhat isolating to see bits and pieces of futures that weren’t even hers.

The biggest issue was, most Seers were right old frauds, but Victoire had a gift and in that was a rarity; as much as a girl loves being unique, she would have chosen any other way if she could, “I don’t think anyone understands their parents, at least not at first. My mother swears she understands now that she’s a mother herself, but I think it is all posturing, non?”

Another surprise for her was how easy it was becoming to talk to Isabella, especially considering her own penchant for avoiding connections, but she didn’t seem to mind it much.

Isabella nodded in agreement. “I think understanding can never be a complete thing.” At least not in her experiences. “I mean parents and kids grow up in different times...” She certainly didn’t know what it was like to grow up in a time of war and uncertainty. Her biggest concern in the last few months was if she would get into this new school she applied to and how she would felt if she didn’t. It didn’t really stack up in her book. “Maybe I’ll think differently if I get to have a family of my own.”

“I feel kind of foolish for having to ask,” Isabella started with a sheepish smile, “But what do you study here?” It wasn’t a huge school, so she figured she should know, but they were still getting familiar with each other. “I admit I only picked Corporis because I wasn’t sure what I wanted. Nothing was perfectly fitted for my interests. I don’t regret my choice though. It has to be good just being here, right?”

Lena, being the overly excited girl that she was destined to be, had rocketed from her spot the moment she saw ( or at least thought she saw ) someone she knew. “ HOLY MERLIN, ” the girl had squealed, unable to hold back her excitement as she practically catapulted herself with arms wide open towards the other. “ I missed you so much over break ! How have you been ? What did you do ? ” She knew her exclaims were over the top but she couldn’t help it, it was just her nature. Face lit by the glow of the raging fire, the smile on her face had never seemed so warm as it was in the moment.

Isabella looked at the girl slightly horrified and slightly amused by her reaction. She was pretty sure she didn’t know who this girl was. “Hm, I think you have me mistaken for someone else.” Isabella told her unable to keep a smile from her face. It was contagious. “I’m Isabella though and it’s nice to meet you!” She told the girl happily. “I mostly just visited with family and what not. It is still quite cold in Canada this time of year. How about you?”

A hand came up to run through her hair and shake it out a bit, before Vi turned to regard Isabella with a smile, “You know what? That might be the smartest thing anyone has said to me in a while.”

She didn’t, however, go on to explain that being partial Veela and also a Seer made her somewhat weirder among the already weird, but it didn’t seem like it would be THAT important anyway.

“I’m Victoire, Victoire Weasley, may I have your name?” Polite as ever, Victoire was raise with manners, at least by her mother’s influence, and sometimes it was more evident in the accent she held; Beauxbatons had had a lot of things done in French for the sake of it and it had rubbed off on her more where her other siblings had not had such in their time at Hogwarts, “If it’s not impolite to ask, anyway. I really hope I’m not making a fool out of myself and we’ve already met.”

She had the good sense and good manners to look sheepish, eyes down-turned for a moment.

“I do have my moments of brilliance, but lets not tell anyone.” Isabella told the other girl with a laugh. Isabella loved her little corner of the world and she really didn’t want to spend too much of it in the spotlight. “Oh, I’m Isabella Pommel and we probably haven’t. Not really the talkative type.” Books and learning were always more of her style when it came to companions. She hadn’t quite mastered the art of not being shy yet. “People kind of scare me,” she admitted with a small laugh. “I’ve seen you around though. We’re in the same year and probably one of the few that speak French around her. Though to be fair, I’m French-Canadian so...” She shrugged because proper French people sometimes didn’t think the highest of French-Canadian speakers. “My parents hated the French form of my name hence Isabella. Who understands their parents, right?”

   It had been too long left to her own devices for Victoire; time off from school always meant her mind wandering and, often enough, her getting herself into trouble for various reasons. Even though it had only been six months, she already felt she was making great strides at Silvestris in learning to both harness and control her ability as a seer.

The return to school, however, was somewhat bittersweet, as beyond her siblings she hadn’t made too much progress in getting to know people or making friends. She had some acquaintances, but she wasn’t sure they were the type to have missed her over the Holiday or even worry about what she’d been up to.

This left the pale-haired ⅛ Veela shuffling oddly in her position, waiting to find someone to sit with at the feast; she didn’t want to crowd her siblings, but it might become her only option if nothing else came up.

Softly, more or herself than anything, she mumbled, “Nothing like being an elder weirdo…”

Isabella came to a stop besides the blonde, glancing over at her a moment. She recognized the face but she wasn’t sure she had talked to her all that much, which wasn’t saying a whole lot. Typically she didn’t talk to anyone. When she had applied to Silvestris she had promised herself she would leave her shyness behind but it hadn’t exactly worked out the way she planned. Strides were being made but she wouldn’t even begin to call herself popular by any means.

“Mine as well fully embrace it,” Isabella offered up. Her father had always told her to be proud of which she was; the good and the bad. “I mean there are certainly worse things to be and I doubt anyone is really weird. Look at where we are...”

“–I’d say the Treacle Tart could be a good second option if you dare to try something new.”

Lyanna flashed the other girl a grin, mirrored with her own. Her gaze landed against the empty counter at the further edge of the room.

“–I can order one for you, if you like? The treat is on me.”

Isabella returned the smile with one of her own. It really was a nice offer. One she found she couldn’t say no to. “Alright, if you’re sure.” She told her knowing it was rather rude to turn down such a generous offer.

“However, next time, it’s on me. I mean I would hate not to try the second option too. It’s not like we’re going to be here for ever so mine as well try as much as I can, while we are here.”

Sasha listened to her try and explain, and while he was still confused, he nodded at her reasoning. “I think that makes sense. Sort of.” He wasn’t sure what it was about all this talk of wood and cores that appealed to her but he wasn’t the type to question a person’s interests if they weren’t hurting anyone.

He went a bit red at her comments about why he was champion and shook his head. “Aw, come on. You’re too kind,” he said, smiling at her. He bit back a laugh, leaning a bit closer to her to faux-whisper. “It’s a lot more than a touch. I have stupidity in spades.”

“Yeah, it’s kind of obscure.” Isabella agreed. There was a reason many people didn’t choose to study it or even have an interest in it. Partly, it was why she wanted to study wand lore and practices. There was something to be said about knowing things that other people had never figured out before you.

Isabella had to laugh, “I get told that a lot.” Her dad always told her it was both her best and worse quality all rolled up into one. “Long as you don’t do something awful stupid one of these times. Have to have some brains in that head too somewhere.”

    “I wouldn’t I either, I heard she faced a Hippogryph…so she must be tough as nails.” Since if it was him, he’d just cast a shield charm around him and huddle in it like a turtle until help came. “Hmm, well…” he thought about last year as it is a bit finnicky, “Usually mid Febuary or March, but don’t expect anything too warm. It is still windy and rainy here, but definitly bareable… Most of our green comes back by April and that’s when the pixie return to the forest. It isn’t really spring until smeone kepts pranked on by a Doxy here.” he smiled, wodnering how Canada was but mainly the magical communities there. It sounded far different than here. 

“Oh, the snow doesn’t melt until like May back home.” So that didn’t sound all that bad to her. There were some winters that were better but it was still almost mid-May before the weather started to even out towards something most would consider nice. “Some of the non-magical cities even have streets and stores underground. You know away from the cold and the snow. I have to say I find it quite amazing and awesome you can move about and shop without going outside if you really want.”