#houseofopen

Delta’s heart was still beating like a hummingbird’s, but she had managed to calm her breathing from the long trek up to the owlery. She had been waiting for this news. She could barely sleep, let alone wait for breakfast time for the school’s screech owl to drop off the news. But her flittering heart was not due to the stairs any longer rather than the bad news the letter held. He dad was right--apparation lessons were too risky, it’d be dangerous if someone splinched and bled right in front of her. Plus, think of the bright side! All the money saved meant new school robes, or maybe a father daughter trip to Diagon Alley! Still, Delta’s stomach had sunk to the floor and she was blinking back tears. She had just wanted to learn how to apparate with the rest of her class. Delta didn’t hear anyone climbing the steps to the owlery, but she wiped her eyes quickly when the owls around her flapped as warning of a new visitor.

"Hello! Do you have a date for the valentine's day bonfire? Only I'm handing out a survey for people to fill in, and I'm going to match people up based on their answers! It's just a bit of fun, like a blind date, except you probably know them! Are you interested?"

Maeko trudged into the Trophy Room just after dinner and scanned the vicinity with her eyes; it was empty, save for the myriad of bright metal trophies and plaques adorning the walls and glass display cases. Well, this ought to be dull, she thought as she made her way inside, only to stumble backwards again when she encountered an invisible barrier, as if she'd been physically shoved. "Wand in the box please, Ms. Burke," came a haughty voice from the wall facing her. Maeko looked up to find the portrait of Brutus Scrimgeour regarding her with disdain. "You'll be scrubbing and polishing without magic. You know the rules."

"With pleasure," she replied, rolling her eyes and gingerly rubbing her bruised backside. Staring pointedly at the portrait, Maeko dropped her wand into a small wooden box atop a rusty old side table bearing the telling label "wands." She glanced down, noticing for the first time the faint iridescent blue of a line that cut across the floor and, now wandless, she stepped over it with ease. She picked up a crusty looking sponge and was making her way to a series of plaques on the far wall when she heard someone else enter the room. Maeko turned, greeting the familiar face with a wry smirk. "What are you in for?" she asked with eyebrows raised, before adding casually, "Watch out for the Detection Line."

Anyway, quill? Ink? I have a feeling her favorite color would be red.”