Odd Acquiantances PV: Evelyn Moore Finished

Evelyn tore a corner off another pastry to eat it while they talked. At least Lilith was responding more now. She was oblivious to the girl's discomfort. Instead she processed the girls questions. They weren't hard to answer.

"No to quidditch, though I do fly. I dunno about school stuff. I am going to Hogwarts so yes to that. Really looking forward to potions and transfiguration. Do you have any preference to your classes at Hogwarts?" She hummed.

It was easy to assume that because she brought up Hogwarts that she plans to go or at least has some sort of family member that had gone. Evelyn wondered silently if she'd be able to all the supplies to go, she wasn't oblivious to the state of the girl. But she knew offering to help would only be met with hostility so she decided not to bring it up. It would be a shame if she didn't get to see her at hogwarts but it would be worse to ruin a potential friendship before it happens. Because of that she decided to just make conversation with her and hope everything turns out okay. She tried what she thought was a reassuring smile.

Evelyn's smile made Lilith's shoulders relax slightly, but not all the way. The voice in the back of her mind screamed a trap, but Lilith ignored it for more stable thoughts. She forced herself to swallow some of the pumpkin pasty and tried to ignore the delicious tingling it left on her tongue.

"I haven't really thought about it," Lilith said nonchalantly. In reality, Lilith thought about it a lot in all her Hogwarts daydreams and she found herself loving every class and getting top marks in everything. She didn't want to come off as a complete nerd, so she just said, "Maybe Defense Against the Dark Arts and Potions? In third year you can take Divination and that sounds unique."

Lilith looked at her two drinks and decided to drink some more water. She didn't want to be rolling on her feet when she walked out of her. She still needs to go back to the Ring to win some more cash. She had yet to get a few of her Hogwarts supplies.

Out of the corner of her eye, Lilith watched as Evelyn seemed to scan her. Her jeans and flannel suddenly didn't feel so comfortable, but more grungy and worn, unlike the clean clothes that Evelyn wore. Lilith swallowed up any of the self-doubt and meet Evelyn's eyes with a hard look.

Lilith turned back to the counter. "You could just ask, you know. I'm not hungry enough to bite."

Her smile worked! Lilith seemed to relax slightly. The pastries were a success as well. She was happy with her two for two. Evelyn listened to Lilith as she talked about Defense Against the Dark Arts and potions. Divination was interesting, she might take it in the third year as well now that she knows it's one of the offered classes.

Her streak took a tumble when Lilith caught the glance at her clothing. She flushed with embarrassment and ducked behind her mug.

"I'm sorry, that was rude. I was going to ask if you'd like to hang out more but I realized you might take It the wrong way so I shut myself up before I end up making another bad first impression."

Evelyn took another sip from what was left of her drink to hide the shame creeping up her neck. Her first impressions on people tend to range from terrible to spectacular but she had been teetering on absolutely disaster recently so it wouldn't be any stretch to fail again at trying to make a friend her own age. Apparently her hanging out with adults were her being friendly and not being friends. Which she wanted to dispute but didn't have the energy for it.

Lilith watched the girl who hid behind her mug. Friends? Lilith didn’t have friends. Acquaintances maybe, but never friends. Especially with someone so . . . joly. Like Muggle Santa Claus.

She didn’t know how to respond to that. Instead, she shut her mouth and placed a galleon on the table as payment, leaving only one in her pocket.

“I should get going,” Lilith said curtly. She began to pack up her things as she slid off the stool.

Lilith chastised herself for being so rude. Evelyn was being nothing but kind and didn’t seem to have any alterior motives. Despite the logic, Lilith continued to move away from he girl. What kind of eleven year old could be so antisocial? Whenever she did talk, all she ever said was mean things. What did that say about her?

Lilith shook her head. Who cares? Honesty is the best policy, right?

Venom began to rise on Lilith’s lips. “Maybe you should go back to your duchess and give her some milk.”

Lilith knew it was rude and mean and everything she was trying not to be this whole interaction, but it was the only way. Over he years, she has been alone. She has learned to like being alone. That last thing Lilith thought she needed was friends.

Evelyn picked up the gallon but didn't pocket it because she was planning to give it back. She frowned. Not because of the caustic reject to her friendship, well that did sting it wasn't new, she frowned because she used duchess wrong. Evelyn couldn't help but feel the need to correct that.

"A duchess is a women who holds a position of power equal to a duke. Like married to one or otherwise. A governess is a teacher who works for a private household. Also, Ms. Jones doesn't accept my drink offers unless we're having tea time. She thinks it's unprofessional." She pouted at the aforementioned problem before shrugging, it wasn't something that concerned Lilith anyway.

Evelyn hugged her from behind and pushed the gallon into her hand. Before she let go she commented "You should come over some time for drinks, you're a great conversation partner. I do have another trivia piece for you before you go. Did you know Lilith is also a greeken name meaning Divine?"

She smiled though Lilith wouldn't be able to see it from behind and released her so she could leave. It wasn't her plan to make the girl even more uncomfortable by her lingering presence. There was only so much she could impose on a person without crossing the line after all.

Lilith's mind rolled with new information, yet her patience swayed. Who cares about royalty? There were much more important things on Lilith's mind. Like the galleon left in her pocket and how the Ring was only going to get busier as the day went on and she'd have to play against those with much more money than she.

Her body tightened into a feeling similar to a stake of wood as she felt arms wrap around her. She couldn't even remember the last time she was hugged. Maybe as a small child and even then her parents weren't exactly the cuddly type. Neither was Lilith.

The invitation shocked her. After all the mean things she said? Evelyn must either be a saint or completely ignorant to offer such things when Lilith could be so vexing and mean. Plus, her being good at conversation? The thought alone nearly made her laugh. Ah yes, the keen conversations are with the rude and uncooperative.

The smooth and cool feeling of the galleon was back before the presence disappeared. Lilith stuffed it deep into her pockets before moving off through the throngs of people. For some reason, she knew that Evelyn was probably smiling her gentle and caring smile. That girl was going to be a Hufflepuff is Lilith ever saw one. Or maybe a Gryffindor for daring to talk to one such as Lilith Westlocke.

Lilith exited the Leaky Cauldron without a bid goodbye, but a small part of her hoped Evelyn wouldn't mind.