Willow Wibley

“Alright!!” Margo huffed lightly, sinking in to a seat in the Dining Hall. She sat near some students, smiling at them with ease. Her white colored teeshirt was tucked in messily to her blue pleated skirt, and her hair was frizzed out and splayed over her shoulders. The only bit about her that wasn’t a mess was her tie- tied perfectly and snuggly at her neck, despite her dislike of things constricting her neck’s movement. “How many of you wonderful, lucky students would like to help decorate for the Welcoming Picnic!? It’ll be an absolute blast.”

“No. No, no, no, no, no.” Once Willow heard Margo’s request, she hastily began gathering her things. “I already have Poppy trying to convince me to help out and I do not need another person added to the list of people trying to convince me to help out. No, thank you.”

“Oh.” Finn was turning back to his Muggle Studies work when he heard the next question. Why did he care? Was he not suppose to care? Was that something else the school here didn’t do? “You don’t look good ‘nd I just wanted to make sure you’re okay.”

“Oh, that’s so sweet. Try not to let anybody take advantage of that caring quality you possess.” Willow found his tone of concern both annoying yet naive. “You’ll learn soon enough, transfer. I can take care of myself so you don’t need to worry about me.”

Helena nodded. “Yeah, potions lab. I always get lost around here, so I figured if I get a head start, maybe Professor Hamilton won’t crucify me next time I’m too late.” Professor Hamilton certainly looked nice, but the woman loved her punctuality; and Helena, as the queen of getting lost, was not particularly good at being punctual. “Hmhm. Which is pretty much ridiculous, ‘cause they only burned muggles. Real witches were smart enough to hex themselves outta there, obviously– sad thing.”

Hearing Helena mention Professor Hamilton made Willow feel slightly uncomfortable. “That’s weird...” A transfer student, speaking as if the Eulesea professors were her own. Willow had never thought of the possibility and now having witnessed it, she felt her eyes narrow slightly, feeling the smallest bit threatened by this girl she had just met. “Pity. Burning their own people. What an odd history.”

Persephone pouted after hearing her friends reply; Sure, she was already used to that answer, but she always hoped that her friends would eventually change their minds. After all, it was obvious that they liked the events, so why not helping plan them? “I know, but we’re in desperate need of new members”, the blonde sighed, a pleading look still on her face. “Sure, if Margo’s telling the truth some exchange stude –” Poppy quickly turned silent before finishing her sentence. She knew that her friend was just as wary and quite hostile towards the exchange students like most of the society members; mentioning those outsiders in a conversation wasn’t a good idea then. “How about you just join until we’ve got more members? I’m sure I can persuade the first years – if I actually manage to get a hold of them. Those kids are fast.”

Willow eyed Poppy with a look that lacked amusement. She was pretty sure it was unfair of Poppy to have such a talent in getting others to see her way. Whether it was the innocent twang in her voice or the puppy dog eyes, Willow had to pull her gaze away every so often just to be able to hold her ground. Unwilling to see her friend mope any longer, she offered a compromise. With a sigh, Willow proposed her deal. “Sweet, little Poppy. I’m not saying I’m going to sign up for your committee or anything. But, if you’re able to get Knox to join in, I’ll stick around to help only until the new, permanent members arrive. I will only join in temporarily and I will only join in if I know that there will be at least two people that I can tolerate present.”

Knox gave a over dramatic pained look, grabbing his arm. “Fine - you are part of this genius ways.” In most cases Willow and Poppy were the ones who actually kept the plans on track and not go crazy, because Knox would. He’d be stupid and do stupid things, the two girls kept him far more normal. He flashed her a grin, “I know - I’m amazing.” He nudged her, “so you heard the announcement right? Who do you think anyone will try out for the Clownfish?”

“Oh, suck it up, princess.” She chuckled at his reaction to her punch. “Thank you for admitting that, because it’s true.” With a nod, Willow couldn’t help but nudge Knox back. “Again with the modesty.” On the topic shift to Aquaball, she almost burst into laughter. “Well I certainly know I will not be trying out for the Clownfishes - or any team for that matter. No matter how much Dean insists, I’m not quite sure I can fully take his word for that team being cool. Unless you or Poppy are on the team. Then I might consider it's level of coolness.”

“Are you alright?” Finn asked, peering over at the girl. Even he knew it wasn’t right to lay on the floor mumbling about something. Whatever was going on, it didn’t seem that she was alright. “You don’t look alright.”

“Oh yeah... I’m fine. Just tired...” Using her bag as a pillow, Willow turned her head to fully face Finn, surprised by his question of possible concern. What did he care about anything that pertained to her, she honestly didn’t care about what he was doing or anything. “Why do you care?”

“Because I am the genius between us, why would you ever question that?” Knox grinned, one thing he’d gotten better at was getting people out of his way. Even more so - he’d gotten good at making sure unwanted people knew they were unwanted. He’d keep them away from his friends and family at all cost, and he’d win. “Oh no, of course not. You are just the worst.” He cracked up, giving a laugh before leaning into her just to bug her. “Again, because I am the genius. Honestly, why don’t you and Poppy understand that?”

“Uh, excuse you.” Willow made a fist and gave Knox a punch in the arm. “I’m not going to let you take all the genius credit. No way.” She couldn’t help but roll her eyes at him as she attempted to make a disgusted face as he leaned into her. “Oh please, your modesty is just too much. I can’t take it. Teach me how to be as modest as you.” She teased with her well known tone of sarcasm.

That map thing– yeah, that made sense. It was clearly too early in the day for the American witch to actually react like a decent human being; her brain never really started walking before midday. Which really sucked for classes that started before that time. “Hm, well, should’ve guessed that one myself, then.”, she concluded, pushing the map into her pocket– she wasn’t really digging the idea of losing it. While Helena was sure that she’d get another one from the Headmistress if she asked, she didn’t want to risk that. “Yep, Salem. Good ‘ol american school. Less burnings at the stake nowadays, though, thankfully.”

“Mmm. Trying to find a class, I’m guessing?” Willow responded with a small head nod as she watched Helena put her map away. At first, Willow responded with a look of confusion about the mention of burnings at the stake until she remembered the entire Salem Witch Trials period. “Ah, right... Your area had that whole witch burning thing. Crazy.”

“Just threaten to hex them, they move quickly after that.” He grinned thinking back to when he did that with a bunch of third year who refused to get out of his way. Knox looked over at her, grin falling at the mention of the transfer students. “Ah, how I’ve missed your sarcasm in the morning time.” He rested his head on her shoulder for a moment before sitting back up, “I’d take more enjoyment in throwing them all into the sea then having to look at them…”

“What a genius idea. Why did I never think of that? This is why you’re one of my best friends, you have the best ideas ever.” Willow rubbed her head, shocked that she had not thought of that tactic herself. “Sarcasm? What sarcasm? I don’t know how to be sarcastic.” She couldn’t help but nudge her friend. “Again, with the genius ideas. How do you do it?”

“I do have an accent.” Finn replied cautiously as he looked at the girl. He hated that look, that sound of her voice that many others had whenever he started talking. His gaze dropped back down towards the parchment he’d been writing on. “You sound shocked.”

Laying on the ground, Willow opened one of her eyes as she glanced over at the transfer student. “Haven’t adjusted... To the accents...” She waved her hands around in the air as she mumbled her reasoning.

“Ah no need for that. No one but you and Knox are worthy to hold that title”, she replied with a wide smile. Poppy began to walk with her as she rested her head on Willow’s shoulder – now the blonde was in persuading mode. “Oh you know, just curious. I mean, of course I already have something in mind in case you’ve got nothing to do….like, I don’t know, join the event committee? A lot of our members graduated last summer, so we’re in desperate need of new ones.” She lifted her head again to look at Willow with her cutest puppy dog eyes. “You wouldn’t have much to do – just attending our meetings, as well as helping with decorating the castle. Super easy work, really.”

Willow leaned against the soft blonde hair of her companion as they walked. As she listened to Poppy explain her question, Willow now realized she was sucked into this conversation as she glanced at their hooked arms and saw she could not escape. With a sigh, Willow acknowledged the fact that she had fallen for her friend’s tactics yet again. “No, Poppy, no. Do not give me puppy dog eyes. You know I don’t do well with...committees. Or working with a large number of people.” Willow tore her gaze away from the eyes that stared her down, refusing to give in. “I will not give in to your puppy dog eyes.”

It was one of the rooms where Finn managed to find that was empty between his break and one of his electives. It was quiet enough in here, away from everyone else. However, when he saw the other come in, FInn didn’t say anything, he was going to ignore her because he’d want the same treatment. That ended quickly when the girl seemed startled. “It’s okay. You’re not bothering me.”

“You’re... You have an accent...” Willow was startled at the different dialect from the boy in front of her. Usually a little more cautious against the transfer students, her exhaustion left her in no position to really become that irritated against anybody as she relaxed and laid across the floor.

He smiled broke on his face as he saw Willow, “of course,” he moved over to allow her to sit next to him. He always welcomed Willow to join him in judging others, or at least - to sit next to him while he judged people. “Picked a bad time to try and get around. The amount of traffic going through here right now is brutal.” His eyes flicked over the group that was passing by them, still in chaos. “Teacher’s don’t got much control,” his eyes finally moved back to her, “how are you though?”

“You’re telling me... I got bumped into who knows how many times by new students with their heads buried in school maps. Don’t be surprised if I wake up with bruises everywhere.” Willow sat down next to Knox and rested chin on her knees. “Oh, I’m just elated that our school is being swarmed by transfers... And yourself?” She tilted her head to glance up at her friend as she tuned out the chattering of the nearby bustling students.