Green Namesakes PV Willow Anderson finished

Interacting with @Ivy Bellamy
Color Code: #259986

It wasn't abnormal for Willow to find herself in the courtyard as it was one of her favorite places to be. Especially with the warmer weather we would often take an afternoon stroll to let the sun shine on her face and let the cool breeze lift her spirits from any of the day's hardship. As she walked the courtyard, it was filled with people laughing and spending time with friends. It made her heart fill with joy as other's were enjoying the warm weather just as she was. After everyone being cooped up due to the cold weather for so long, it was a nice change. She had already had a picnic with a friend of hers, a bonfire with her best friend in the beginning of the month, it was an exciting time for bonding in the outdoors which was her favorite place to be.

Across the courtyard she spotted a familiar Gryffindor sitting by herself and seemingly letting her gaze wander. Maybe she would want some company? She bounded up to the girl, a bright smile on her face. "Ivy right? Can I join you?" She paused, trying to suss out what she was reading, but couldn't tell. "What cha reading?" She always double checked people's names after they met for a second time just to stick it in her mind forever. There were a lot of people to meet at Hogwarts and sometimes it was hard to keep everyone straight.

@Willow Anderson

Ivy's startled grey eyes flickered up to the newcomer. It was Willow Anderson, a girl she had the chance to speak to in the library the other day. Ivy liked Willow well enough - she was so nice, it was rather hard not to like the Hufflepuff, but she had a slight inkling that the girl thought of her rather negatively because of the way Ivy had lost her temper with Toni in the library.

"Ivy, right? Can I join you?"

Ivy slid in her bookmark and shut the book. "Yes, if you want," the Gryffindor replied, trying to hide her surprise. To be frank, she was rather surprised by Willow's offer. The Hufflepuff had a lot of friends - why would she choose to sit with her, of all people?

"What cha reading?"

Ivy ran a hand over the book's tatty cover. "Romeo and Juliet. Found this is the library a few weeks ago." It was not her favourite Shakespeare play, but the others had been checked out when she returned to the library two days prior. In her opinion, Juliet was a bit of a ninny. Who fell in love with the first male she met at a ball?

She looked back up sharply, as if only just remembering that Willow was there. "Oh. Have a seat." She shifted over on the bench to make room.

"What brings you to the courtyard today?" Ivy asked, a little stiffly. The pureblood had never been very good at social interactions, despite the many lessons her mother tried to drill into her.

Interacting with @Ivy Bellamy

Willow stood awkwardly for a moment before Ivy shifted over and made room for her. The last time that they had spoken there seemed to be something going on, or just something off in general. She didn't want to pry at the time but maybe she could be a nice listening ear for Ivy if she needed one. "I've actually never read any Shakespeare. I spent a lot of time reading fantasy novels myself, I was never really into plays like that. Would you recommend Romeo and Juliet? I know it's a popular one."

She let her legs swing off the bench, her feet never hit the ground on like anything because of how small she was. Her eyes continued to wander over the courtyard, having an especially good view from this bench of what everyone was doing during their time outside. "Now that it's warm out I try to spend a lot more time outside. I mean, I normally spend a lot of time outside anyway because I really like being outdoors, but now is the best time. Especially with every sharing their outdoors time together, there's really nothing like being outside with a friend." She looked over at Ivy with a warm smile, she learned that she shouldn't call people friends right off the bat after only meeting them a couple time so she restrained herself.

Interacting with @Willow Anderson

"I've actually never read any Shakespeare," the Hufflepuff admitted as she sat down.

"Neither had I, until this book decided to fall on top of me," Ivy said with a soft laugh. It was true - the book had hit her on the head while she was studying, and ever since then she'd been obsessed with Shakespeare's work.

"I spent a lot of time reading fantasy novels myself. I was never really into plays like that. Would you recommend Romeo and Juliet? I know it's a popular one."

Ivy hesitated. Her views on Romeo and Juliet were quite different to the average person - she didn't like it very much. She thought Juliet was a bit stupid, and Romeo a creepy idiot, but would Willow find her strange if she told her this? Ivy silently debated whether to lie or tell the truth before saying, "To tell you the truth... it's not the best one, although it is popular. I think Othello is a much better play."

"Now that it's warm out I try to spend a lot more time outside. I mean, I normally spend a lot of time outside anyway because I really like being outdoors, but now is the best time."

Ivy nodded. She could relate to this. As a result of being cooped up in the overly-warm rooms of Bellamy Manor, she was particularly prone to the cold and relished the warmer days of summer and spring. "The Great Lake's particularly lovely these days." The waters were blue, and the grass was green and soft. The only downside was that many students liked to go down there now, meaning the peace and quiet that usually settled over the grounds was disrupted.

"Especially with every sharing their outdoors time together, there's really nothing like being outside with a friend."

Wait. Friend?

Ivy's smile faded as she stared at Willow's friendly face in surprise. She was yet to make any friends, as her blunt nature was rather unappealing to others, and even if they managed to have a civil conversation multiple times, Ivy was still rather unsure when she could call someone a friend. "Yes," she said cautiously. She watched Willow's face carefully. "It's best to appreciate these things while they last, right?"

Ivy wondered if Willow was thinking of the incident in the library. She had caused a scene by picking on Toni. "Willow-" she turned to the Hufflepuff. "About what happened in the library. I - well- everything ticks me off now and I don't know why." She shrugged a little helplessly and swallowed the lump in her throat, hiding her pain under a wobbly smile. "I guess you could say I've been having a rough time." An understatement, but Ivy wasn't saying anything more until Willow responded. In her experience, you had to be wary of even the nicest people.

Interacting with @Ivy Bellamy

When Ivy said the book fell on her, Willow's head quickly turned to see if she was being serious. "Just like the wand picked us, I suppose Romeo and Juliet picked you?" She laughed at her own bad joke before asking Ivy, "Seriously though, it fell on you? How'd that happen?" Talking to Ivy felt easy so far, unlike last time where there was a fight almost immediately after they had been introduced. It was just another point for her theory that first impressions aren't everything. Ivy seemed to be a lovely Gryffindor.

A small hum of consideration came with Ivy mentioned that she preferred Othello, she appreciated the honest sharing of opinion. If she was going to read a play she wanted to read one that was good. "I'll trust you on that, maybe I'll start with Othello then and someday read Romeo and Juliet, I know it's one of the classics. But sometimes the classics can be stuffy and boring." She shrugged off her opinion, not feeling like it was one that mattered a ton.

She leaned back on the bench to let the sun wash over her face as Ivy talked for a moment about the nice weather, but then she switched to the first time they had met. Her gaze slowly met Ivy's, there had been something off she was right. She moved her body to be facing Ivy directly, wanting her to know that Willow would be there for her if need be. "I know you may not want to, but do you want to talk about maybe what could be bothering you? Maybe if we find the problem we can find the solution together." Her expression was soft and open, she didn't realize it would be this easy to get Ivy to crack open but maybe she just had that effect on people.

@Willow Anderson

Ivy's lips stretched into a grimace-cross-smile as she recalled the event. "Yeah, I guess you could say that. I was in the library, studying, and it kind of just... fell from a higher shelf." She laughed softly. "Rather amusing, now that I think of it." The Gryffindor shook her head and looked down.

Ivy was glad that Willow didn't think her strange or ridicule her for not liking Romeo and Juliet. Although it was Willow, the girl who was friendly to everyone and anyone. What did she expect?

Ivy stiffened at the suggestion of talking about "what could be bothering her". Had she really been that open about her feelings? Stupid stupid stupid! she wanted to say, but not to or about Willow. She had taken such care to hide from everyone what had been boiling up inside of her for so long, and now it would all come apart. An icy look settled over the Gryffindor's face, a great contrast to the red-hot anger she was hiding and when she spoke, her tone was harsh, her grey eyes were narrowed at the Hufflepuff's smiling face. "I don't understand what you're talking about. There's no problem to solve - mind your own business, will you?"

Lies, lies, lies. The letters between her and her older sister, who had eloped five years ago, had been going back and forth for the past few months - until last week, they had just stopped. As much as Ivy was angry with Lillian for eloping, she was concerned. What had happened to her? Had Ivy's cutting words and accusing tone been too much?

Frantically, Ivy had tried to remember her words she'd written in her last letter, and sent many more after that, only this time they were full of apologies. As she thought over it for what seemed like the hundredth time again, worry and confusion ran through her again. It was unfair to speak to Willow like that when she was only trying to help. But what could Willow do? They were both only eleven, both stuck at Hogwarts.

"I'm sorry," Ivy said, after a lengthy pause. "I shouldn't have spoken to you like that."

Interacting with @Ivy Bellamy

An eyebrow raised with the idea that a book could just fall off the shelf, no doubt magical workings. Willow had to quickly become used to things just flying around sometimes, she had gotten especially good at dodging flying objects. At her muggle school she would've dominated dodgeball with her training at Hogwarts. "Maybe the book's are enchanted to just fly off the shelves when they get lonely and want to be read. Who knows. A lot about Hogwarts is still a huge mystery to me." She felt like even in seventh year there would be new things to find.

Something changed again, she really was confused by Ivy. She had no clue whether or not she wanted to talk, or even had company. A look came over her that was ice cold, sending a chill down Willow's spine. Whatever was going on with Ivy must've been a lot to deal with, Willow knew the anger wasn't really directed at her, merely a byproduct of whatever emotions were coursing in Ivy's veins. That wouldn't stop Willow from trying to help. She stayed silent, watching Ivy seemingly go through a lot of emotions after her outburst.

Willow decided to take a risk after Ivy's apology, reaching out to take her hand gently in both of hers trying to warm up the ice that seemed to place itself within Ivy. "It's okay. You must be going through a lot right now Ivy. Again, I understand not wanting to talk about it especially since we barely know each other. But, if you don't want to talk about it! I could always tell you a story, or we could just talk about literally anything else to help at least distract your mind for a bit to let it rest. Sometimes a distraction can help be able to think through the issue later, since you've given your brain and heart a break to try and look at the problem with fresh eyes. Sometimes I have to do that with a painting that I'm getting frustrated with. I go and have a snack, and when I come back it doesn't look as bad as I thought." She paused and let out a sigh, "Or it looks awful, but then I come up with an idea to fix it." Willow felt bad for talking so much, but she wanted to give Ivy a chance to breathe without feeling like she had to fill up the silence. She was used to silence, but knew it could be uncomfortable for others.

Willow said nothing to defend herself, to Ivy's surprise. The Hufflepuff seemed to be waiting for her to calm down, and indeed, after Ivy's apology, she spoke again, this time reassuring her that it was alright and suggesting ways to fix it. Something about Willow's voice was comforting, and when she reached over to take her hand, Ivy's hand jerked backwards involuntarily - just a little bit, but let it rest.

She nodded at Willow, grateful for the long speech that had given her some time to breathe and calm down. "Thanks, Willow. I really appreciate it." Not many people could take her rant as well as Willow had.

After a moment's hesitation, Ivy began to talk again, although this time in a softer tone. She normally didn't tell anyone about her private life, but she felt like Willow could be trusted. Besides, the Hufflepuff almost deserved to know, after sitting through two of her angry episodes. "It's my sister. She, um," here she looked around to see if anyone was listening, "she eloped a few years ago, and I didn't hear anything from her until last September. We've been exchanging letters."

Ivy decided not to mention the fact that the contents of the letters were aggressive and cold, not at all cordial and polite as she usually was. "But they just stopped. I've sent letter after letter and there's been no reply. What if something's happened to her?" It was a relief to say it, and it felt like a huge weight had been lifted off her shoulders. But now she looked at Willow, worried what her reaction would be.

Interacting with @Ivy Bellamy

Ivy's reaction to Willow attempting to physically comfort her wasn't something all to unfamiliar to Willow. That was a response she herself had to people she didn't know attempting to touch her, and it made her heart hurt for Ivy. Whether that was just an automatic response from her not wanting to be comforted physically, or a triggered response that was learned. Either way, Ivy seemed to ease into the touch any way, but Willow tried to be more gentle and slow with her movements just in case it was a learned trauma response.

A nod was all Willow gave as a response to the thank you. People just needed a chance sometimes. When going through issues there was usually a lot of feelings that people didn't take time to sort out. Willow knew that from personal experience. Her continued silence had the goal of letting Ivy have the space and time she needed to talk about things. To give her time without feeling like she had to rush through her story. She noticed Ivy take a second to make sure there was no one around eavesdropping, and as she spoke her story Willow took up the role so she could protect Ivy's story that she obviously didn't want anyone else listening in on.

It was a hard thing she was going through, something that Willow had no experience in. Willow's family was just her, her mom, and her dad and that was it. They exchanged letters weekly, she would definitely be worried if they stopped writing but she could only imagine the worry that was consuming Ivy. "Before the letters stopped, did anything seem different or off in the writing? Or were they completely normal up until she just stopped writing?" Willow took on a detective role for the moment, maybe there were clues within the letters about what happened.