Fix You Closed

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@Meredith Ready

Claudia was shuffling through the near-empty corridor with a book in her hands; her face was turned downward and she was completely engrossed in her book. Most other Ravenclaws were already in the common room, staring at the dreary rainfall outside but not Claudia. Normally, the common room had the best view. But that night the sky was dark and blurry from the rainfall. The only reason Claudia went to the common room was to sleep, attempt to read, or to enjoy the view - sometimes all three at once (though the sleep part usually got shortened). With the view obstructed, a book in her hands, and no tiredness whatsoever Claudia was stuck roaming about the corridors of Hogwarts.

As it was only October, Claudia had not explored much of Hogwarts. She still didn’t know where the other houses lived and she always got stuck on the rotating stairways when headed for class. Usually, she would follow someone who was going the same direction as her, but today was not a usual day.

So Claudia assumed that maybe wandering the school was the best way to find where you wanted to go. There was - hopefully - always someone to ask for help in case one got lost, but as everyone was holed up somewhere or other that day there was no one to help. Claudia was tracing her usual steps when she misjudged a turn. She was supposed to have turned right, not left, but she was too engrossed in her book to notice. That was why, on that day, when Claudia looked up, she found herself in an unexplored part of the castle - well, unexplored for her.

I should’ve known this was a terrible idea! I should’ve stayed in the library and now I’m lost! Claudia shut her book and turned in a small circle. She truly had no idea where she was. I wonder that if I sit here long enough, It’ll be curfew and a prefect or other will have to discipline me. I’m curious to find out, though I don’t want to get in trouble. Claudia reopened her book a crack to note her page number: page 341. The book was short, only 600 pages or so, and Claudia knew she would dissolve the rest in no time.

Looks like I got to keep walking, she thought, this book definitely won’t last until curfew. Claudia shut the book once more and hugged it to her chest. She peeked around the corners to see if anyone was there, but nobody was. At last Claudia seemed to find a slightly familiar corridor and turned that way. Still, nobody was there. Claudia sighed and stared out a window where the rain was letting up a bit.

“Hello...” A voice echoed slightly. Claudia turned to find a Hufflepuff girl standing there, looking at her.

Clearing her throat, Claudia said, “Erm... h-hi? I seem to be... lost. Hogwarts is very big, you know. I... wonder if...” Claudia’s voice trailed off, she seemed to be doing well and didn’t want to jinx her conversation by asking a weird question. “I wonder if someone ever got l-lost like me and turned about, looking for ways out... but never could find one. Do you think that one of the ghosts had to finally come to help but-” Claudia swallowed. “But all they found was a-a body.” Claudia knew that was a weird and confusing question to ask - she didn’t know what she was asking herself - but she was curious to know.

Did anyone ever die of starvation, I wonder? If they were lost Andy couldn’t find the great hall and nobody’s came to help... Claudia shook her head. “You know what, d-don’t answer that. Hello. I’m like a mechanic with a wrench. Twisting and turning until I get the right f-fit... umm... weird, I know. Weird simile. You can ignore th...at. That was because of my last name. Trying to... I don’t know... make a... joke.” she coughed out that last word: “joke.” Claudia couldn’t make a joke if she tried and honestly... she never should.

“Erm... I kinda got lost here, just roaming about. You? Probably not lost, I suspect. Maybe you’re here for poor souls like... like me. Lost souls.”Claudia almost slapped herself. What was with the ghost and spirit talk? Seriously, it was becoming weird.

Claudia stared back at the girl. If she could understand Claudia’s words, she would figure out that Claudia was lost and needed some assistance. If she couldn’t... she probably thought that Claudia was some sort of psycho.

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Lindsey walked to the girl, and found that she’s lost.
“Erm... I kinda got lost here, just roaming about. You? Probably not lost, I suspect. Maybe you’re here for poor souls like... like me. Lost souls.”
Hmm…? Poor souls? Lost souls? Are you sure I’m not in a cathedral or something? Lindsey thought in her mind.
This girl, probably a Ravenclaw, was sitting there, alone, with a book. She loves book too…Lindsey smiled.
Maybe the best way to make this weird girl came back to normal is to chat the book with her.
“Hey…” Lindsey said. “Mind telling me which book are you reading?” She smiled.
“Um, forget to say, I’m Lindsey, Hufflepuff.” she pointed the badger on her robe. “You’re in Ravenclaw?” She asked.
She suddenly remembered that the girl’s lost.
“If you are lost…” Lindsey said. “Then you shall go that way.” she pointed the end of this corridor. “And you have to go downstairs to the Great Hall. That’s the easiest way to go up to your common room——I mean, no matter which house you are in.” She added.
However, Lindsey somehow really wanted to help this poor girl.
“Any other difficulties?” she asked. “I may help you with my best.” she winked, and smiled.

@Claudia Gears

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@Lindsey Springhall

Claudia breathed a sigh of relief when the girl started talking again. “Hey... Mind telling me which book are you reading?” she said smiling. Claudia checked her book title - just to make sure she had it right; Murder and Despair* it wrote. The book was set on a blood-red background and the words were written in black ink. The font was etched into the book so deep that Claudia believed that the hard-cover was slightly dented. She was about to open her mouth when the Hufflepuff’s voice stroke again.

“Um, forgot to say, i’m Lindsey, Hufflepuff.” The girl stopped to point at her badger crest, “You’re in Ravenclaw?” Claudia nodded, slightly irritated. The girl was starting to remind her more and more of her aunt. She was talkative - probably like all Hufflepuffs - but didn’t give Claudia a chance to talk.

“If you are lost... Then you should go that way.” The - Lindsey - pointed to the end of the corridor. “And you have to go downstairs to the Great Hall. That’s the easiest way to go up to your common rom - I mean, no matter which house you are in.” She added.

Claudia relaxed. Finally the girl had given her directions. Claudia wasn’t sure if she’d keep on talking forever or not! “Tha-” she started, but the Hufflepuff got there first.

“Any other difficulties? I may help you with my best.” Lindsey said, winking and smiling. Well, at least the girl was helpful. But did she ever stop?

“First of all, Th-thank you. I now need who to ask when’s I ever need help - that’s assuming you’re there - and your information is greatly appreciated.” Claudia said smoothly. Great! She wasn’t messing this up ...yet. “Second of all, if you ever feel... feel the need to, um, murder s-someone I guess.” she continued, and then added at the girl’s horrified expression, “Or - you know - I meant, like, in the mood for a... detective novel. Erm, you could read th-this. Murder and Despair.” Claudia wiggled the book as if to show that it was real (OOC Note: it’s not).

“It’s about a wife whose husband dies f-from a heart attack. Everyone assumed it was of natural causes but... well, then more and more people keep dying.** The police think that maybe someone is causing the heart attacks with some sort of supernatural device. The only thing is, the deaths are completely random. Or are they...? The investigation continues with investigators... investigating and the detectives... well, detecting. S-suddenly, everything stops. The investigation, the murders, everything. Then the murders start back up, but with no one trying to solve the case. One boy then steps up - his dream is to become a detective - and tries to solve it. But it’s dangerous and he could die at any second. Is it really a serial killer? Or is it just a gruesome coincidence?”

“Oh - and no I don’t think I need anything else.” Claudia added on weakly. It was like a spirit had possessed her while talking about the book and then immediately left her when she was finished. Claudia then adjusted her book to try to avoid the awkward silence. “Erm... actually, do you have any book suggestions? I’m about to be done with this one so...” Claudia said, clearing her throat, “S-so yeah.”

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“Tha-” The girl seemed wanting to say something. But Lindsey somehow didn’t notice.
She continued, and offered her help.
The girl thanked her for this.
“If you ever feel... feel the need to, um, murder s-someone I guess…”
Lindsey raised her eyebrow slightly that could hardly be seen.
I? Murder someone? She thought, really confused. This girl was quite weird, but seemed pretty smart. She must be that type of weird Ravenclaws, whom Lindsey hadn’t met yet.
“Or - you know - I meant, like, in the mood for a... detective novel. Erm, you could read th-this. Murder and Despair.” the girl continued.
Ah! She means a book! Lindsey suddenly understood.
“So it’s a muggle novel?” Lindsey asked with great curiosity. “I haven’t read much about detectives and murders before——mostly historical and fantasies.” She added.
So this must be a good book.
The girl went further on the details. Pretty interesting. Lindsey said to herself.
“Erm... actually, do you have any book suggestions? I’m about to be done with this one so...” The Ravenclaw said.
“Um I think you’ve probably read the books I have read. You know being a wizard born I don’t get much success to various muggle fictions——I like Les Miserables, Narnia and The Three Musketeers best.” Lindsey smiled to the girl. “And you please?”

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@Lindsey Springhall

“So it’s a muggle novel?” Lindsey asked. She seemed as if the very thought of a witch or wizard reading a muggle book was preposterous. [color=#BF800] “I haven’t read much about detectives and murders before - mostly historical and fantasies.”[/color] So that explained it. Maybe her parents didn’t like her reading about peril and death!

Claudia explained the book to the girl and then asked if she had any suggestions. Claudia was interested to find out what books the Hufflepuff had read. Hopefully ones Claudia knew, but if not she needed a new book anyways. Maybe Lindsey wasn’t so bad after all. She liked books at least...

“Um I think you’ve probably read the books I have read. You know being a wizard born I don’t get much success to various muggle fictions - I like Les Miserables, Narnia, and The Three Musketeers best.” She said with a smile. And you please?”

Claudia took a deep breath. This was going to take a while. She cleared her throat and then started, “I’ve read Narnia - it’s a classic - but I haven’t read the others. I should check them out because, once again, they’re classics, but I always find some other book first and get sidetracked. As for my favorite books... I absolutely love the Scythe series by Neal Shushterman. It is honestly the best series ever! Though the second wasn’t that good because they added a, erm, random character in there that only made sense to add when you read the third book. It’s a Sci-Fi novel about, well, grim reapers. Kind of. You also have to admire any book by Marissa Meyer. I love all h-her books like the Renegades and Lunar Chronicles series.*” Claudia’s mind briefly questioned why all of the books she had listed were Sci-Fi and Dystopian. Claudia loved Science Fiction but it was so hard to find a good one, but when you did it turned out amazing. But her favorite genre had to be Dystopian. All of the greats were in that genre: The Hunger Games, The Maze Runner, etc.

Claudia Love day talking about books and always had an endless list of the ones she wanted to read. Or re-read. Her goal for the end of her seven years at Hogwarts was to read all the books they had supplied. She knew that they added tons of new books all the time and that the library was bigger than her whole house in London, but she couldn’t help to dream.

“A-as for wizarding books. I’d have to say Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is quite interesting.”

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*OOC Note: All of these are real books and I recommend them!

Lindsey tried to remember all the books the girl mentioned.
“Wait a second okay?” she said merrily, taking out a small piece of paper and a pencil (yes, not a quill).
“Scythe series…books by Marissa Meyer…K thanks for these recommendations! I’m pretty confident that all my family members would like it.” She smiled. “Oh, forgot to ask, what’s your name please?” Lindsey asked.
What her names is. That’s the point. Lindsey finally noticed that the Ravenclaw was always referred as “the girl” in her heart. It’s not polite, as Lindsey’s parents had taught her.
However the girl’s probably the most interesting person in the world. Lizzie, outgoing and lively, certainly not; Lilith, rather shy, nope; Alina, really creative, no…this Ravenclaw seemed pretty weird.
But she’s nice, though, recommended so many books to her.
I’ll be book-friends with her anyway. Like Noah. Lindsey said to herself.
The second year Slytherin had met her in the library. They talked about…Narnia. Noah, a wizard born seemed pretty interested in muggle books, and Lindsey, although growing up in a wizard family too, had introduced the Narnia series to Noah. They had a good time talking, but hadn’t had many encounters after. So this time, Lindsey hoped to interact with this girl more.
Who knows? Maybe they could even become friends rather than just acquaintances?

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@Lindsey Springhall

Claudia had rattled off a few book series from the top of her head and was about to say more when she stopped. She doubted but the girl would remember every single book that Claudia would recommend - after all, she had about one hundred books that she could list right then and there and thousands of others just waiting to be mentioned - and if she listed them all, Lindsey would grow bored and cease to listen.

“Wait a second okay?” Lindsey said, taking out a small piece of paper and a... pencil? Internally, Claudia was surprised. She had never seen anyone inside of Hogwarts use a pencil from the muggle world to her, and it was as strange and foreign to her there as a quill was strange and foreign in the muggle world. She must’ve come from a muggle family,she thought, or maybe she’s a half blood.*Either way, it was strange for Claudia to see a different writing instrument is Hogwarts.

“Scythe series... books by Marissa Meyer....”Lindsey muttered as she jotted down notes with her, erm, pencil. “K thanks for these recommendations! I’m pretty confident that all my family members would like it.” Linsey smiled at her, “Oh, forgot to ask, what’s your name please?”

Claudia was shocked. Of all things to tell the Hufflepuff, of all the chances, Claudia hadn’t told her her name?! Claudia was internally reprimanding herself. Was she saying that she didn’t consider Lindsey “worthy” to know her name? Usually Claudia told it first, but it seemed that she had forgotten.

“Oh! Er, um, so sorry about that! I forgot I guess. Name’s Claudia. C-Claudia Gears. Y’know, like a mechanic. No one’s a mechanic in my family, though that would be... funny. W-welcome to Bolts and Gears! With the Bolts family. And the Gears family! Well, we don’t... actually know.... any, erm Bolts family. Kinda want to now...” Claudia said, her mind flashing back to her terrible joke about her last name.

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*OOC Note: I’m well aware that Lindsey is a pure blood, but Claudia doesn’t know that.

“Name’s Claudia. C-Claudia Gears. Y’know, like a mechanic. No one’s a mechanic in my family, though that would be... funny. W-welcome to Bolts and Gears! With the Bolts family. And the Gears family!” the girl, nope Claudia said loads of things.
Lindsey felt confused. So who are the Bolts? Her mother’s maiden name?
She knew that the Gears were probably another quite famous pure blood family in the wizarding world like her own family Springhall. And the Bolts——Lindsey had probably heard the name too. Maybe she’d got to ask Ed for more detailed information next time.
Hmm…so Claudia’s born as a witch too? She wondered. But why did she know so much about the muggle things?
Well, to be frank, Lindsey had never met some wizard born children to be as experienced as herself on muggle things. Like Noah. He simply knew nothing about those fantastic stories and novels.
“Hmm, then you are welcome to the Springhall and Linfield family! Yeah, with the Linfields. Springhall plus Linfield equals me, Lindsey Springhall.” she smirked, trying to say her name like Claudia.
A new way of introducing yourself——although it seemed weird, it’s pretty, hmm, fun for Lindsey. She eventually decided to use this when meeting the next person——or victim.
It’s pretty interesting with this weird girl. Lindsey had decided that her day was very good because she got acquainted with Claudia.
She hadn’t got many eagle friends really. Maybe Claudia would be the first and the closest?

@Claudia Gears Really sorry for this very late reply

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@Lindsey Springhall

Claudia’s cheeks started to turn red after her rather late introduction to the girl. “Hmm, then you are welcome to the Springhall and Linfield family! Yeah, with the Linfields. Springhall plus Linfield equals me, Lindsey Springhall.” Lindsey mocked her with a smirk. Claudia raised an eyebrow at the girl’s second introduction. There were multiple reason the girl had said that, but Claudia couldn’t figure out which one it was.

One, that the Hufflepuff had thought Claudia hadn’t heard her or forgotten that she had already introduced herself. Only, less awkwardly. She felt that this was the least likely, as most people wouldn’t forget their introduction. Then again, Claudia had forgotten that she hadn’t introduced herself. So wasn’t that the same thing?

Two, that the girl knew how embarrassed Claudia was and wanted to cheer her up. What better way to say that someone isn’t alone or whatnot than to copy them and poke fun at themselves? Wait. Hold up, that seemed kind of rude to Claudia now that she thought of it. Like a left handed compliment... but as an introduction. Well, to Claudia it still seemed like the more stereotypical option - at least for a Hyfflepuff.

Three, judging by the smirk at the end, the girl was making fun of her. Probably the most likely, though Claudia a) didn’t care, and b) couldn’t fathom the thought that a Hufflepuff would do that. Again with the stereotypes and biases.

Claudia shrugged at the “insult” and said nothing, not sure of how to resume the conversation. She wasn’t very good at that. Maybe there was a book on how to start a conversation? Claudia doubted it, but if it was actually a thing the book would likely be titled something cringe like “How to Make Friends” or “Five Steps to Becoming a Great... Socializer?” Claudia wouldn’t be caught dead with those lame book titled. Plus, it’d send out the message that’s Claudia was looking for friends. Which she wasn’t.

At least, not really.

“Um... so, uh. How you l-liking... Hogwarts... so far?” Claudia asked awkwardly.

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