all children grow up

[plays with the loose strands of her scarf again] We should have done a lot of things. [looks at him and listens closely] I… [bites her lip, looking at the ground. Then looks back at him] Dear William, I’m having the worst time in my training. I’ve forgotten what it’s like to talk to people I don’t already know. I really wish you were here. [clears her throats] I would have crossed all that too and told you that I’m glad to hear you’re doing what you love and said that I’m in the same place. I would have agreed with pleasanteries and told you that Aneel thinks you’re still a twit. [laughs, even though she looks like she is about to cry] I think that part is still true.

-smiles sadly, watching her play with her scarf as he listens to her talking- You’re right, that part is still true. -pauses for a few minutes, looking out across the park, watching a figure in the distance, speaks quietly- I really missed you Arhya. I want to ask if we can start over but I wouldn’t give up what we had, even the bad times. I wouldn’t give it up for anything. Are you.. Are you doing anything later?

[Shrugs] When the relationship means something, no break up would be not messy.

-watches the boat, smiling warmly- You’re right. We should have taken that into account, actually faced reality a bit more. I’d have put that into my letter. -looks up at her- Dear Arhya, I miss you please come home, I don’t know how to act now that my head girl isn’t helping me. I miss you so much. Naturally I’d have crossed all that out, started again and told you about my internship instead. I’d have asked you about your studies and we’d have done ‘do you remember’ and ‘Albus sends his love’ and ‘I’m glad that we’re still friends’.

He had heart blockages. Thankfully, my mother forced him into going for a check up. If she hadn’t, then he would be in a lot of trouble. We detected them early so it was easier for the Healers to remove them. [nods slowly] I guess. He did teach me a lot though and we didn’t break it off with bitter feelings. So I guess I might still be writing to him about work and if I need help.

That is lucky, I’m really glad that he’s okay, Arhya. -nods- That is good. Messy breakups are awful. 

Aneel is… well, he doesn’t talk about his work much. He visits a lot of Muggle towns though, and he brings back things for me from all of them. My parents are over-worked, as always. Papa actually almost had a surgery in October, but he’s alright now. [she looks away, hiding the subtle redness on her cheeks] Stop it, William. [looks back at him] No, same as you. I did go out with a guy in our camp. It lasted for a month. He was older, so he thankfully won’t be joining us next year.

That sounds like Aneel. -frowns in concern- I’m sorry about your dad, what happened? -notices the slight blush on her cheeks, but doesn’t comment on it- That’s good. Well, not good per say, but fortunate that you won’t have to deal with him. You wouldn’t want something like that getting in the way of your work.

hey, now, that’s not true. You write beautifully. And I don’t say to a lot of writers. You know how overprotective brothers can get, you know, since you are one. [smirks] Dom was definitely a fighter. She’s training to be an auror actually!Hey, you two were really cute.[supresses her laugh, pressing her lips together] So are you seeing anyone else?

-smiles, looking around the park as he follows her lead- Thank you, that means a lot. What is Aneel doing now? And your parents, are they well? -shrugs- We weren’t really that cute. -smirks- At least not compared to us. -shakes his head- No, not really, there was a muggle girl for a few weeks but it didn’t last. What about you, anyone special in your life?

You do have a beautiful handwriting! [raises and eyebrow] Really? What else do you do? [shrugs] I keep in touch with Allison, although we haven’t met in a really long time, we write back and forth often. I meet Aneel and Skylar during the holidays. I was actually planning on staying with her for a while. I meet Dominique whenever I’m in town. But all the travelling just makes it really hard. [plays with the end of her scarf, avoiding eye contact.] Yeah, I remember Heather. Dawn’s sister, how can i forget. I write to her sometimes. So, um, are you both…involved?

-laughs- My handwriting was often more impressive then what I actually wrote, I swear. -smiles- I always liked Allison, she was lovely. And Aneel was great although he scared me when we started dating, I was definitely more frightened of Dominique though, she was fierce. Heather? Oh God no, we are not involved. Remember when I dated Dawn for that disastrous month and a half? Yeah, dating Heather would be weird, she’s like my sister who looks like someone I used to have a crush on. 

William…how are you making rent? It sounds really nice. Can I visit sometime? [chuckles] Everything was so different in the castle. We were different too. [bites her lip] Anyway, are you in touch with anyone from school? [nods] Yes, I’m trying my best to be careful, it is an adventerous job. I don’t know they even picked me, I didn’t perform that well for my physical. Hey, if you’re done, do you want to take a walk? There’s a really nice garden down the block.

-nods, standing up and pulling on his jacket, walking towards the door of the coffee shop- I have a job, don’t worry. I work as a waiter most evenings and in the ministry most days. It’s nothing fancy, I just copy papers and answer owls, they exploit my beautiful handwriting for formal documents. -smiles, nodding and holding the door open for her- You can visit any time you want, although I might not always be in, I like to keep busy. Well, Scarlet still visits me weekly, if only to pester me into writing so I don’t forget how to and sometimes I meet up with Al. Actually, I live with Heather Nott, do you remember her? She caught up with me a few months ago and moved herself in, she was finding it difficult getting a job. It’s nice, we get on well. What about you? Are you still in contact with anyone?

I can’t believe he would do that. Actually, no, I can. Where are you living now? [smiles as he talks about his siter] She’s going to go to Hogwarts next year. Do you think she’ll be in Ravenclaw too? [plays with the spoon on the table, turning it around in her fingers] It is everything I’ve ever dreamed of. But oh god it’s so tiring. At the end of some days I collapsed. One time we had to go without eating for almost two days because our supplies were over, and we luckily ran into some muggle campers who took us to a, um, [scratches the back of her neck] Right! A supermarket. It was all very conveniant honestly.

Just this little flat in London, near Camden Market. It’s a bit too expensive but it is worth it, I really love it there. Plus, it’s near the ministry meaning the location is very convenient. -shakes his head- She’ll be a Gryffindor for sure. I’m really happy for her, sometimes I wish I could go back to Hogwarts. It was dramatic, but the people were amazing, she’s really going to love it there. -looks over at her as she speaks, smiling warmly- That sounds brilliant, I’m really, really happy for you, Arhya. You are staying safe, though? 

Wait, when you left Hogwarts, didn’t you have an internship? How old is she now? I haven’t seen her in so long. I just finished my first year of training and will get into my second in a couple of months. Until then I’m just studying on my own, grabbing my hands on whatever papers I can find. And that’s a lot of papers. [takes another sip and places the mug,now empty, on the table]

Yeah, I did but it sort of fell through after a few months. I didn’t realise that it was unpaid and my dad wasn’t too keen with me rooming with him so I had to drop it. Kate’s ten now and I don’t see her nearly as often as I should but whenever I do she seems happy enough. -smiles, sipping his drink- Is it everything you ever dreamed? I hope it was, you were so proud when you got that letter. 

I wasn’t trying to. Let’s just forget it. [huffs, taking a sip of her coffee.] What have you been doing? How’s Kate?

Yeah, lets. -smiles softly, leaning forwards and wrapping his hands around his mug- I’ve been okay, trying to get work is proving much more difficult then I thought it would be. Kate’s okay, she’s much the same as she always is. How have you been?

It’s so good to see you too, William. Couldn’t even write me a letter, Mr Writer?

Oh, I’m sorry, have you forgotten how we ended last year? It was hardly a “keep in contact” farewell. 

reconcilations

Arhya.. Wow, uh, it’s good to see you.