Bat-Blind Open

The great hall was annoyingly daunting, which is why Elena was stalling by walking around corridors about two levels above it. She had to get lunch eventually, like Griffith told her to, but for now she was content to procrastinate up around here, not having to do anything.

Or previously not having to do anything, as when she rounded a corner she found the transfiguration professor and a student. Elena was overall unsure what was going on but Lian looked a little lost and the student who was staring at the woman’s cane. Very strange, either way the professor looked to be in urgent need of a rescue.

Elena pulled back the hood of the cloak to see, although didn’t take it off entirely, decorum didn’t matter as much in this instance, and a security blanket, however small, helped. Bouncy dark blue hair that was finally at the right length to hide behind peeked out from the edges as she moved furtively towards the two.

“Professor Lian, do you need any help?” Elena glanced at the other girl, and didn’t regret keeping the hood up, it felt and smelled like safety. Something Elena didn’t feel she would need for something as simple as this. Although fear of Imani kept her unconfident in her steps.

𝒢oodness gracious, Amadea thought to herself as she hurried through the corridors after class. The teachers were relentless with the amount of work being given and Amadea felt as though she was slowly sinking under the weight of it all. Even though they had only just come back from winter break, there was no break. Amadea found herself wishing that it was summer again, when she didn't have to worry about staying up until midnight trying to get all of her work done and balancing her prefect duties along with it. However, Amadea knew she wouldn't trade being with all of her friends constantly to being stuck at home all summer. Not that she didn't like being home of course. She loved seeing her family, but after spending a year at a school of magic going back to the Muggle world was a bit boring. 

Thankfully, Amadea was finished with her morning classes and could catch a slight break now to go eat lunch. Amadea rushed down the stairs, lost in thought about her schedule for the rest of the day. She had recently decided to try to be more organized than she used to be in hopes that it would improve her study habits and the amount of time she spent each night completing her homework. She would eat lunch while attempting to get some of her homework done. Then she would attend her afternoon classes, take a little break, eat dinner, and then really dig into all of the work. Hopefully this would prove to work out well. 

As Amadea turned the corner, ready to head down the stairs toward the Great Hall when something caught her attention. It was Professor Lian, professor of Transfiguration. Amadea had only had Professor Lian for second year and didn't know the professor very well, but from what Amadea could tell, she was quite nice. It seemed as though the professor could use some assistance, as she was blind. Was she lost, Amadea wondered. 

Abandoning her schedule of lunch, Amadea headed down the corridor to where the professor and a few other students were. "Professor Lian," she said. "I'm Amadea. Campbell. Do you need help with anything?" Amadea felt as though she was a little late to the situation, as two other students were already there. Amadea didn't recognize either of them but she greeted them with a slight smile. Anyway, one more helping hand couldn't be a bad thing, right?

Alexx was minding her own business, as she usually was, when she came to see the woman who was grasping at the walls. The Slytherin vaguely knew this professor from her lessons, but had never exactly directly address her in such a manner that would make an impression. And even still, she almost was tempted to continue on her path to lunch, where she would seat herself near a friend or two and chatter on about whatever it was they found interesting that day. However, Alexx went out on a whim today and approached the professor, who already had been approached by three other students. She could recognize two out of the three, and so with time to kill, she gave in to the temptation to indulge herself.

She was in no hurry to be anywhere, so she took her time approaching them. She could hear Amadea introducing herself, as she sure the others had as well in the moments before she fully arrived. So, clearing her throat, she smiled and announced her presence to the blind professor. "Eh... Je m'appelle Alexx Helm." She started, coming to a complete stop near where Amadea was. "Is everything alright?" She asked, but the question was up in the air for anyone to grab, as someone might be more knowledgable of the situation than herself. Clearly, Professor Lian was lost, but that was all she could put together. Who let a blind woman wander about without any assistance, anyway? How had no one stumbled upon her yet?

Looking between the other three students, the second who she recalled as being Elena Jones, the two had briefly met before, though Alexx could hardly recall where, and then the third being the mystery of the lot, who Alexx assumed to be a first year. Cocking her head, she thought about why she even bothered, as three seemed enough to suffice for Professor Lian. Surely, one would have done the trick, but Alexx was a spontaneous girl and was making herself famous in her own terms for jumping in at random times. It made her proud, almost, because she was finally cracking the hard shell that she sheltered herself within her first year. Now was the time to make lasting impressions, so it was better late than never.

Though Alexx had been stalking about a classroom before this, she had made good timing, and almost wanted to reward herself for being in the right place at the right time, though it was sheer luck. Or... On her part, but maybe not on Professor Lian's. The impending situation was almost dreadful to watch, as she couldn't imagine the woman ever possibly finding her way to wherever it was that she was headed without assistance. But Alexx knew the castle, and she was sure the other girls did as well, so perhaps she would contribute to this after all.

Well, at least she had been right. Technically.

Not only had help arrived, no fewer than four students had spoken up to ask if she needed assistance with the rising flood of hungry children that came with impending lunch. Their voices were relatively familiar - two of them, both Second Years, introduced themselves first, the proper greeting to the blind, although she didn't condemn the other two, simply applauded the Hufflepuff and the Slytherin for the etiquette shown. Either children had gotten a hundred times more polite than when she was in Hogwarts attendance, or holding the rank of Professor definitely had its perks. Perhaps both.

One of the very first things that Cy had learned after going blind, sometimes by unfortunate trial and error, was how to ask for help. And she'd thought that she would grow more comfortable with doing so with practice, but no. Despite her skill at the action increasing, her desire and willingness to do so had yet to emerge, a fact that had cost her time and patience. She preferred to wait until someone else approached to ask, usually Aoi, unless she really was in a rush.

Thankfully, that situation had been taken care of.

"On most days, being blind sucks," the woman stated bluntly, turning to face the students, hand falling gracefully off of the wall. As gracefully as one could make such an action seem, of course. The light mauve color of her silken scarf, veined through with delicate prints of dragonflies and dandelions, bled into the light from the window behind her. "Would you be so kind as to show me where the stairs are? I'm on my way to Professor Risa's classroom." Cy offered a sheepish smile. Too late, the words were out before she thought of another possibility - that she would be lost once again in the darkness of the First Floor as well. Would it be strange to ask for help once she got there? Would it be stranger still to ask for further help after her previous assertion? "I'm really not quite sure where I am right now," she confessed instead.

Further, who were the other two students - the first ones, actually, to approach? "Thank you, Miss Campbell, Miss Helm, and...?" Cy paused, waiting for them to fill in. Indeed, voices were like faces to her, but it was difficult to remember them all. She vaguely recalled the first two in a First Year class, but not enough to remember a name or number or homework or whatever. Aoi she could recognize without a second thought; Evangeline as well. But the others were a little more tricky. Perhaps she would not even be able to recognize the voice of her biological mother, given a vocalization. How intriguing, that she'd never seen Aoi's face, or her own, beyond a decade of age. She’d never even tried.

Two more arrived, recognisable prefects, although Elena still didn't take off her hood. She barely recognised Amadea from the great hall, Alexx was easier to recognise from the party and the band. The girl that was already here left rather quickly, Elena on the other hand decided to stick around, it would be interesting at least.

"Elena, Elena Jones, it's nice to meet you properly Professor Lian, and I would be happy to show you where the stairs are." Elena thought for a moment, considering if it'd be rude to suggest, then added, "And I'm in no hurry to get to lunch if you'd like any help getting to the classroom too. I only just learned my way around, even with a map this castle is a damn maze."

Elena said the last bit in a slightly joking manner, trying to make it clear that the offer was said with kindness and not being rude. Also joking was her way of not nervously laughing or running away, mostly the latter. Talking to people she knew was easy, but talking to new people, especially a professor and two prefects, was a lot more daunting. Elena smiled and waved at Amadea and Alexx, and wished the confidence she'd had when she started school hadn't evaporated away.

𝒯he other girls began introducing themselves and Amadea saw another figure approach them. She finally recognized this girl as Alexx Helm, Slytherin Prefect. Amadea felt a bit more relaxed now that she actually knew someone here. Luckily, everyone seemed to be nice enough, especially since they had all come to the rescue. 

Turning back toward Professor Lian, Amadea listened to her explain what she needed. "Of course," Amadea responded. "I'd be happy to help!" It seemed as though Elena was also offering her assistance, though the other girl who had now introduced herself as Halitreia, mentioned something about being busy and backed away before Amadea could even say anything to her.

Amadea turned back to the matter at hand: helping Professor Lian find the stairs so she could get . to Professor Risa's room. Amadea wondered what it would be like to be blind. It seemed so difficult and Amadea admired Professor Lian's fortitude. If it were Amadea herself who was blind, she wasn't sure she would ever walk anywhere without someone right beside her to help her if she needed it. Thinking about not being able to see the beautiful, vivid colors of the world, Amadea couldn't even imagine the struggles of being blind. It made her feel marginally better that she could at least assist Professor Lian get where she needed to be going.

Amadea smiled at Elena's joke. It was true; Hogwarts was huge and some days Amadea even found herself retracing her steps to figure out where she was going. Doing that blind was on an entirely different level. "Yes, I'd be happy to walk you to Professor Risa's room," Amadea added alongside Elena.  She had nowhere else to be. Who cared if her "schedule" would be messed up? Helping others was much more important.    

Stunned as she watched the first girl, now knowing her by the name of Halitreia, exit, she shook her head. The girl must have really been in a rush, so she sort of understood. Despite both Elena and Amadea volunteering to help out the blind professor, Alexx had really no place else to be, so sticking around was on the table. "Though, you have more than enough helpers by now, Je vais rester dans les parages." She decided aloud, nodding her head as she spoke. She hadn't even realized that she switched to French halfway through making her point.

Professor Risa's room. Yes, she knew where that was. Though she wasn't familiar with Professor Risa, either, she knew her way through the castle by now very well. So she nodded to herself, hummed, and then announced, "Oui, I know where that is. I'm in no hurry, I'll walk with you guys." She stuffed her hands in her pockets, slouching a little bit. She wasn't terribly tired, but she was mentally exhausted. Perhaps a walk through the castle would change that.

Eyeing Elena, then Amadea, she noted her surroundings and shrugged to herself. Elena was a first year, she could note, and so she smiled and waved back at her. She seemed nice enough, but she didn't really know her, so she just figured it would be polite. But even then, Alexx wasn't the polite sort, but she wasn't going to absolutely belittle someone either, especially not in front of a professor, blind or not. That being said, she realized the smile was certainly forced, but she doubted that Elena would mind. If she did, she would have to understand that Alexx was rather tired.

She also noted Amadea smiling at what Elena had said, so she figured that was probably a social cue to keep smiling as well. She wasn't wrong; the castle had confused her at first. She remembered very well stumbling along the corridors in search of classes such as History of Magic, or wandering outside aimlessly searching for Herbology. Alexx was not the most directionally adept child, but she learned quickly, lest she ever be late.

Popping her neck and stretching her arms out, Alexx let out a soft yawn, her eyes fluttering closed for a mere second. Boy oh boy, had this been a week. She was just glad that Professor Lian seemed kind, otherwise, she probably would have short-circuited by now, if she couldn't be considered so already. The blonde girl was damn near certain that she looked as fried as she felt. It wasn't for a lack of trying, but more so all the obstacles thrown at her recently. It felt like the world was attacking her left and right. Maybe, though, helping Professor Lian out would do her some good. Merlin knows she needed to not feel so bad about herself, all this self-pity was really dragging her.

translation: i'll stick around