BET YOU'LL BELIEVE ME.

sure, he listened. he hadn’t exactly expected pandora to delve straight into a long, thought out lecture on the subject, but he listened nevertheless, and uncharacteristically, he took most of it in. however, as he listened, his gaze dropped, his posture shifted and his cheeks began to tint, and he bit his lip, ruminating. 

pandora’s little lecture seemed motherly to him somehow, and yet it didn’t sit quite right, probably because it seemed the exact opposite of something his own mother would say. 

‘ uh… yeah, ’ he agreed hesitantly, as he tried to formulate an intelligent response quickly. quite taken aback by the whole thing, he found himself at a loss, and instead stammered through what he hoped would end up a convincing retort. 

‘ it’s just… they expect us to evolve and evolve all the time, and accept all this new shit, and i just don’t get it, cause in my eyes, there’s good evolutions, like when we all got here and realised these half-bloods aren’t as bad as any of our parents say they are, and like, i think most of those lot are pretty decent now, and pretty good in class and stuff, and some muggle borns too. and that’s cool to me because they didn’t know any of this shit for like, what ? ten years of their life ? i mean, that’s crazy. and i get all that, like, i get that we’re not better than everyone else even though our families tried to shove our heads up our own arses when we were younger, and i think that’s evolution, and its good evolution. but all i’m saying is hearing an intelligent pure-blooded witch wondering if there’s gonna be muggle ‘wi-fi’ in hogsmeade of all places, well, i’m still saying that sounds like some fucked up evolution to me. ’ 

he held his hands up with an expression of equal pride and relief, glad to have got all the way to the end of his rant without having faltered too badly. as pandora mentioned his father, however, his brow furrowed again. ‘ actually, ’ he countered, attempting to take her comparison to his dad as light-heartedly as he possibly could, despite it stinging as it always did, ‘ i sound nothing like him, cause he wouldn’t have bothered to explain himself, he just would’ve like, scoffed, and then gone right back to reading his paper. ’

      “I do hope you don’t think that’s the only thing on my mind,” she teased, though her face was more serious as she considered what he said. All of which, unfortunately to her, made sense. It made her wonder about her own conditioning – was prejudice that ingrained that she couldn’t understand and even BELIEVE what he was saying? Was it so part of her biological make up that he’d actually convinced her, he’d actually made sense of the ignorance they’d been taught? The carefully constructed facade, the face she painted was something that held even more weight than usual as right then and there, if she could, she would’ve put her head in her hands. Pandora would’ve ran her hands through her hair, she would’ve just sat and thought, quietly, silently, but she was having a conversation. In public. Then was not the time to break apart with doubt, even if Augustus was allowed to hear hers.

     One of the privileged few allowed to know her questions and even allowed to give her answers. She actually listened to him, respected him, would she lose him once she left it all behind? If she ever ended up having the courage to do so?

     “Fine, I take it back, you’re right, I couldn’t imagine having this discussion with either of our parents,” upon realizing that it may have been a sore spot, she gently placed a hand on his shoulder, “I apologize. I’d hate being compared to my parents,” and it was true. No matter how much she loved her father, rest his soul, she’d never want to be compared to either of her parents, not really. 

     Removing her hand, Pandora went back to thinking, to having a dicussion, to using her MIND. “Anyways, you’ve actually made an excellent point -- I’m very wrapped up in the innovation of it all that I don’t think I’m extremely aware of it’s effect on the Wizarding Community but I think it’s important to note that the alternative is delaying progress. You could argue that progress and decay are two sides of the same coin, but, it’s inevitable -- we’re going to have to mingle even more than we already have with muggles so we don’t have to marry our cousins,” she shrugged. “Muggles will bring their inventions and things no matter what but I do agree, maybe we need more COLLABORATION. Though, we know why that can’t be achieved at the present moment with certain ... extremist groups popping up.” 

Quiet feet shuffled against the vacant corridors, most, if not all the house out in a slumber, Emma found herself at a rare yet peaceful moment, something that came very seldom for her or anyone in the castle for that matter. It hadn’t always been so bad for her, in fact, there was a time she was on friendly terms with the vast majority of those that crossed her path, that was until that dreadful December night that she lost her mother, something that would haunt her forever. Thoughts of a disappointed mother and vicious uncle occupied her mind leading to tossing and turning in the sheets and eventually giving in to being permanently awake. 

The brunette found a solace in the elves readiness to brew coffee at any hour of the night and always having a thermos for her when she came. It meant, nights weren’t wasted, and often became the most productive of nights. 

That evening, Emma found themselves sat up in the stands of the quidditch pitch, notepad and pencil in hand with the coffee, an apple and a small bag of almonds to the side, in case hunger struck, going over the season’s roster and mapping out plays. She was in a frenzied state, rapidly writing and sketching against the paper as the ideas flowed, hardly considering the idea that anyone else might be out and about at such an hour. 

“ HELLO ? ” she called out, a screeching noise drawing her out of the momentary trance, alerting her that someone else or something was out there. “ Who’s there?” This time, her voice harsher as she set down her pen, slowly burying a hand in her pocket in search of her wand. 

     “Just me,” Pandora’s voice rang out between them, cutting through the silence that hung in the air. It was a nice fall night, Pandora was happy doing rounds at this hour as sleep would’ve eluded her anyways. This last and final year was crucial, she couldn’t let time go by without planning every minute of it, because before she knew it she’d be out into the Wizarding World as an adult -- a scary possibility if she didn’t do something to alter the potentially TREACHEROUS future ahead of her. Emma was sat, looking like a vision in the moonlight, a picture of concentration and poise. It was something Pandora found herself admiring about Emma, grace under fire, she was the epitome of it. 

penelope’s face lit up at the mention of her favourite place to visit. the students had only been back at school a few days and yet the gryffindor couldn’t deny that she’d dreamed of an impromptu hogsmeade trip every day so far. ‘ oh, wouldn’t it be wonderful ? ’ she grinned, picturing everyone in fall attire, watching orange leaves dance around on the cobbled paths. ‘ personally, i can’t wait to go back to madam puddifoots. tea and a little scone. that would be such a beautiful picture to upload, don’t you think ? ’

     “oh? guess i’ll keep doing it, then. you know, so you can live your dream. you can thank me later for being a great friend.” the younger girl laughed — actually laughed; not something fake, or cruel as usual — as she placed melpomene back into the glass jar. at least, until they were back up in her dorm, that is. “they’re just lucky i’m not allowed to have a baby acromantula running around.”

❝I think it’s possible the shop owners in Hogsmeade may all go in together on a way to make these things work down there,❞ Emmeline mused. ❝But I’m not sure how long that would take. I’m not sure many of them even know about Dumbledore’s decision.❞ Had the Headmaster thought to inform them? Or did he assume a student would try to explain after being seen with a mobile phone? She realized rather quickly how little thought she’d given the whole ordeal - not that her thoughts on it mattered one way or the other. ❝If only they scheduled the first visit within the first month of classes. It would make things a touch more enjoyable for some, wouldn’t it?❞

     ❝Hmm, I hadn’t thought of that, that they’d not know about Dumbledore’s decision, I feel like that’d have spread quickly,❞ she mused, looking over at Emmeline, thinking. She did enjoy her presence, though she felt a strain, an impossible wall there that was see through. Pandora saw Emmeline and saw who she wanted to be, a person who knew her too well for her liking that was on the OTHER side and a very very old friend. The feelings were all too conflicting so she welcomed a conversation like this, a meeting of minds and simply that. ❝It really would, especially as we all know how nippy the weather gets after September. I think it’s interesting how modernized we’ve made Hogwarts, and yet, so many of the rules are the same as always. It couldn’t be hard to poke the administration a bit and ask to see if we can get to Hogsmeade sooner rather than later.❞

“huh…” septima replied, a furrow in her brow as she considered the girl’s words. it was probably just a matter of time before both hogsmeade and diagon alley followed in the footsteps of hogwarts. “i don’t know, to be honest,” she admitted, “if they haven’t i’m sure they will soon enough, can you imagine being able to just order a new cloak online and have it shipped? so much easier.”

‘ airplane mode. ’ he scoffed, refusing to admit that he hadn’t yet come across that term. still, he was good at thinking on the spot. ‘ remember when no-one cared about those, either? ’ 

nailed it. 

augustus then smiled slightly in appreciation of pandora’s teasing, he could always count on her to bring him back to reality. there he was acting like the world was over because muggle inventions were becoming more commonplace in the wizarding world, and pandora was treating him like a veteran. he shook his head, amused. 

‘ no, no, don’t remember any of that. and i don’t want to sound like my father here, ’ he leaned closer and lowered his voice, ‘ but are you sure they weren’t the good old days? everyone walking around with their phone in their face, i haven’t seen a single person take their wand out in — well, i don’t remember the last time. don’t you think that’s absurd? we are wizards, after all. ’

    Pandora laughed, rolling her eyes as the smile stayed on her face, “it’s pun and prejudice time for Augustus Rookwood on this lovely day, I see. But oi, if you need a wand demonstration so badly I’ll show you one.”

    Of course, with Augustus it was easy -- the prejudice he did carry held no contempt but just ignorance, even when the conversation took this turn, Pandora felt comfortable with correcting him. With discussing it all with him. And that? That was INVALUABLE. 

    “You know what they say about predators, Augustus? They’re the most vulnerable. The most sensitive to change. I think about our families very similarly, Pureblood society at it’s most prejudiced, of course we were raised a certain way. To believe change is bad. That we are the predators, the top, that anyone who is not pure who is not us is the enemy -- prey, if you will. This one change happened and whoosh the amount of freaking out I have seen some people do? A testament to what I said,” she paused, lowering her voice, “ if we don’t evolve, if we don’t learn and adapt -- we’ll be extinct. Think of it that way. If we don’t change with our culture we’ll be so vulnerable, so weak, like you’ve already been today, and if there’s any hope in keeping us as the apex predators -- WE HAVE TO CHANGE.”

Dorcas nodded in agreement, biting her lip at the thought of how absolutely gorgeous Hogsmeade looked this time of year. The entire quaint town would be covered in autumnal hues of maroons and yellows. “It must be absolutely breathtaking,” Dorcas sighed yearningly. “I wish we could sneak away now, before the first trip. It’s bound to be so crowded. I reckon the entire school ends up going the first weekend… Or at at least, it certainly feels that way.”

‘ wi-fi. what a strange word. ’ he mused aloud, not really sure who pandora had been directing her query to. augustus contemplated for a moment what a hogsmeade trip would look like that year — students attached to their phones, he supposed, no longer taking in the real magic of the place. ‘ remember when no-one cared what that was ? ’ 

     “Augustus,” Pandora greeted with a smile, in fact remembering when no one cared what it was. When no one was glued to their phones, when things were both less complicated but more ignorant -- in her opinion. Letting out a light laugh, she nodded, “I do. I’ve fallen VICTIM to the epidemic now, haven’t I? Maybe I’ll put my phone on airplane mode when we all eventually do end up going to Hogsmeade. -- Though, you do sound like one of those ... baby boomers I believe they’re called? Next, you’ll be raving about how you remember when everyone wore bell bottoms instead of crop tops. When all Slytherins were pureblood only. All that jazz. The good ole days.”

     “i’m more likely to bite than she is,” avery spoke to the other, eyes intently watching the tarantula crawling on her hand with comfortable ease. “but even if she did somehow bite you, it’s only going to feel like a bee sting. so you’ll likely live… unfortunately.”

     The familiar feeling of fear engulfed Pandora that morning, the fear of getting a scathing letter from her mother, the fear of failing, the fear of everything and anything that would ensure that her goals would not be met. Still, Pandora had never been one to mope. Even in the years after her father’s death, it was rare to see Pandora doing anything but moving in public, but smiling, performing. Having a still moment was something she did in solitary, so when the feeling of fear caught up with her that Saturday -- Pandora forced herself to move. To ENGAGE with the world & not just on social media. A bottle of Rosé that was transfigured into a bottle of sparkling non-alcoholic apple cider in hand, she made the descent from eagle to snake territory, knocking on Lucinda’s dorm room door. 

     “KNOCK KNOCK, Lucy,” she smiled as she walked into the room, flitting over to Lucinda on her tip toes, beaming. “Please tell me you have time to finish this bottle with me because I don’t drink alone and you’re the only one who I want to share it with.” 

Xenophilius needed a shower, that was definitely for certain. Thoughe he wasn’t able to smell himself, he knew that he didn’t smell like roses. Another successful adventure was in the books and the Ravenclaw was completely satisfied with himself. At least a couple pages of his brand new notebook were filled with his findings and to him, it was definitely a good day. Xenophilius missed these woods and he was glad to be exploring them once again, it was like visiting an old friend to him. Coming out from the forest, he noticed another student nearby. Xenophilius wasn’t nervous about being caught coming out of a place he clearly wasn’t allowed to be but he needed some reassuring. “How about you did not just see me come out of the forest, yeah?”

It would’ve been easy then for Pandora to exercise her Prefect-ly power, far too easy, but Xenophilius was harmless and frankly only endangering himself by going in that forest. Plus, he wasn’t doing anything shady -- he was just most likely exploring. If anything, Pandora was relieved to see him of all people wander from the woods as opposed to someone or something more menacing. Could she handle herself? Definitely. Didn’t mean she wanted to have to do so. “ONLY if you tell me what you were up to,” she countered, walking over to him as she put her phone away ( she’d been eagerly awaiting some news from one of her favorite makeup Youtubers ). “And why.”

“oh, did you need that?” her voice carried through the castle effortlessly. she beamed down at the terrified gryffindor in front of her. “maybe next time you’ll look up from that retched muggle device long enough to watch where you’re going and then i won’t throw it over the ever changing staircase.” no one heard the response but surely it didn’t sit well. “mind your tongue you insignificant oaf! i’m bellatrix bloody black! you should be elated by the mere fact that i didn’t throw you off the bleeding staircase!”

     Pandora could only raise her eyebrows and put herself in between the Gryffindor and Bellatrix. If her own parents ever saw her acting this way? The way Bellatrix did? She shuddered at the thought -- her mother would’ve been beyond livid. “Bellatrix, I’m sure it was a mistake, of course they won’t react well to you throwing their phone over the staircase,” she commented calmly, though truly she was exasperated by Bellatrix’s actions, making a mental note to check in with that particular Gryffindor later. “I see you’re NOT fond of the new change at Hogwarts.”