A chat in the snow PV Persephone Barret Closed

When Persephone finally arrived outside, the sky burned with a gradient of red, pink, and every shade in between. For a fleeting moment, she admired it, allowing the cold air to chill her exposed face. Winter had never been Persy’s favorite season, as swimming was something she seemed to do less and less during this time, but even she couldn’t deny the benefits. The cozy nights by a fire, the beautiful environment that surrounded her, the warm hugs from those that mattered. Of course, she didn’t get many of those these days. Nor, did she think, she wanted one anymore.

Persy had not been awake long, but wanted to admire the Great Lake and the general scenery before something could ruin it. She was unsure of what exactly that would be, but engraved in her heart was the idea that beauty never lasted, in any shape or form. No matter the efforts you made to conserve that which is ethereal, everything faded away into something new, better or worse. Persephone wanted to admire this weather and view before the inevitable work of time carried it away.

Without a second thought, she began to trudge through the snow once again, thoroughly feeling the crunch of it underneath her shoes. It was satisfying, she thought, the feeling it gave her to walk through nature as though nothing could stop her. Looking up from the snow that swallowed the ground, her forest-green eyes gazed around with a look of pure fascination. The Great Lake had not frozen over, as she’d expect, but only had a few bits of ice floating around.

As her eyes continued to scan the area, they settled grudgingly upon another figure, standing beside the beautiful lake. In contrast to it, the person was small, insignificant in a world of importance. Persephone could only imagine that she must look the same when compared to the perfection of the universe around her, a creation no one could have had anything to do with because who could create such beauty?

The difference was, however, that Persephone was far superior. At least in her own mind.

Without hesitation, she spoke up, her voice strong and confident as she edged closer to the figure. “Um, hello?” She meant not to sound polite, but demeaning. Reminding this person that they were not supposed to be here. By that logic, neither was she, but it was useless to sit and debate with herself. Her arrogance far surpassed that of her logic and reason.

Opeila had watched the snowball until it had melted completely.
She was really enjoying her time with the squid, far more than she thought she would. He wasn't talking or pushing her off or anything like that. Sure, he would probably kill her if she fell in but she could live with that. But he wasn't asking any questions about her well-being or making assumptions about what she was feeling and that was what made her somehow feel better. This squid was far better company than most other people she had met.

She had seen the other Slytherin coming closer before she said something. A small girl with long blond hair. Pretty, at least on the outside, Opeila thought, not quite sure if she should be annoyed or try to get to know her housemate.

“Um, hello?”

Opeila rose her brows at the tone the girl spoke with. "Hello!" She had decided to be friendly for now. If the girl happened to be a rude one, she could still throw her into the lake. But for now her attention turned back to the squid. She could see it's great silhouette move through the water. "He's a lot less dangerous than he looks.", she said to the other girl.

Persephone’s gaze lingered with distaste on the girl who stood before her, whom she could now see clearly enough to make out the small details of her appearance: the reddish tint to her hair (what is with all these gingers?) and her small frame, which, when combined with her pale skin, made the young witch look rather frail. The most important thing, however, was that this young girl was a Slytherin, bound to be one who didn’t truly belong according to Persy’s standards. Without speaking, she wondered how many of her fellow serpents were really true at heart.

When the small brunette spoke at last, tearing Persy away from her thoughts, she was surprised by her enthusiasm. Unless Persy was somehow detached from her own voice, she was sure that she had greeted this girl with a spiteful attitude. Regardless, her victim had responded cheerfully, so much so that she was immediately regarded as ignorant.

Perhaps Persephone simply wasn’t a deeply empathetic or understanding person. People, most certainly, seemed to surprise her more often than not in terms of character. Never had she failed to deduce simple facts based on little information, one of her many personal attributes that contributed to her always rising self-esteem, but it always seemed that people didn’t think clearly. Well, to be more specific, they didn’t think like her. And, of course, her way was the only way.

Before she got a chance to respond, the girl spoke again, seemingly referring to the rather large squid in the water before them, now reduced to an elegant shadow beneath the waves.

How did I not notice that a minute ago?

Of course, she wasn’t afraid. Persephone Barret was never afraid. And if she was, she would never admit it.

“I’m not stupid, I know it isn’t dangerous. What are you even doing out here?” Her voice, at least in her own mind, rang strong. She knew the girl could easily flip the question back at her, but Persy had the right to ask and the right to an answer, as a superior. Just, not an official one. Well, official enough in her own mind. 

Of course Opeila had noticed her tone, she was ignoring it on purpose. She wasn't a friend of arrogance and she sensed a great amount of it in the other Slytherin.
But instead commenting on the girl's tone, she decided to talk about the squid instead.
The answer of the girl, that the animal of course wasn't dangerous, made her laugh in disbelief. "What a stupid thing to say. And untrue as well. The first time I was here, my friend here tried to knock me out."
When the girl asked, quite demandingly, why Opeila was outside here, the brunette couldn't help but shake her head. "Well, dear housemate, who's name I don't know yet, since you are asking me so kindly, of course I will answer.", she said with a sarcastic tone, smiling at the other Slytherin. "I like the atmosphere of the lake. It takes my mind of things. Normally, the company of this guy down there, is almost more pleasant than human company. Especially those holier-than-thou people, mostly Slytherins, who don't find any other topics for conversations, than how pure their blood is, and how amazing they are in general... Oof. I can't stand this wannabe-superior talk, like they have achieved more than everyone else in this place."
Opeils wanted to know, if she was right with her theory, that was, why she provoked her. She was curious if the Slytherin would agree or not.

As the young brunette spoke, an aching tension formed in Persephone’s neck and she instinctively reached for it, massaging it gently with her fingers. Trying to ease this tension, Persy stayed quiet for a moment as she wrestled with her uncertainty. This inane Slytherin’s words meant nothing to her, as a lion did not fret over the opinions of sheep.

So she wasn’t sure why her face got hot.

“Perhaps you’re just not likable to the poor thing.” Her usually arrogant voice had been harshly replaced with one of anxiety, a quivering diction taking over that of her vain counterpart.

Persephone brought her hand back down to her hip as the girl answered her question in a way she did not appreciate. The simple nerve of her amazed Persy, but brought the respect for her down. Respect was for people who knew their superiors, and when to keep their lips shut.

“My name is Persephone Barret. And I quite agree, considering most of them have nothing to be proud of other than blood purity. Which is not everything.” In this agreement, she was hoping it remained obvious that Persephone was full of disdain for this girl.

But it was true. Blood purity meant nothing when you didn’t have the attitude to back it up. Persephone wasn’t against half-bloods, or even muggle-borns, she was simply too self-confident to not make the occasional off-color comment, especially when she was provoked.

Opeila chuckled, when the other Slytherin said, that she probably just wasn't likeable to the squid. "Sure, that must be the reason. That, means if you're not projecting now." Clearly Opeila was somehow not likeable to the blond girl, but she didn't care. The last few minutes didn't really make Opeila like that housemate of hers either.

She was a little surprised though, that the girl, who introduced herself as Persephone Barret, agreed with her.
"Persephone. A bad season for you then, isn't it? Your parents don't happen to be interested in greek mythology? Persephone, daughter of Demeter, taken down to hell by Hades every winter... Except Persephone from the greek mythology used her time on earth to make the world prettier. No offense, but somehow I doubt that you have intensions like that." It was fun to tease the arrogant Slytherin girl a little.
"Good to hear that you agree. I didn't expect that.", Opeila said. "I mean, how could I, since you are talking down to me like some princess. Let me guess. You are a pureblood, right?" She would turn her attention to the squid again, curious how the girl would react to that. Yes, teasing wannabe superiors was fun.

The cold, something that Persephone wouldn’t usually embrace, felt undeniably night against her bare hands. Focusing on the different parts of her body and what she was physically feeling had soothed the tension that clinged to her neck. This peaceful aura she had desperately attempted to protect herself with broke when the small girl said her name.

“Ha!” Persy laughed with overwhelming exaggeration, “I am a pureblood. Nice deduction, you officially have the intelligence of one of my little cousins.” Her smile widened, her already rosy cheeks reddening a little more. “I’m named after Persephone, yes, but I think the reference is more accurate than you know. Who are you to make assumptions about my intentions?”

Persy, of course, was aware that she was not always the purest. But the similarities didn’t particularly lie in that aspect of the Greek myth. Thinking about home, about her father and the hole he had dug for them, led that tension to strengthen and show itself in her lungs. It was too often that Persy found herself not breathing, feeling as if she didn’t know how.

Shaking her head, as if to fight off the negative energy, she spoke again to the girl in front of her. “You didn’t tell me your name. If you’re so worried about being polite, might as well introduce yourself.” Her voice was snarky, as if nothing had shifted in her head in that fleeting moment. Perhaps it hadn’t.

Opeila was surprised. And a little confused about the comparison to Persephone's cousin.
Her housemate had laughed about Opeila guessing that she was a pureblood and then said that Opeila was as intelligent as her little cousin. Her brows rose when Persephone asked her who she was to make assumptions about her intentions.
Opeila shrugged and answered with a counterquestion. "Who are you to judge my intelligence? That comparison is strange. You don't even know me and already put me in some box. Well, you'll eventually end up underestimating the wrong people then.", she said, a little amused.

Then Persephone said, that Opeila hadn't introduced herself yet, even though it had been her talking about politeness before.
Opeila nodded. "True. I wasn't sure if you'd care and I was not willing to hear a I haven't asked you. That somehow seems to be a sentence that makes certain people feel a lot superior." She shook her head. "My name is Opeila Seilun. I'd say that it was nice to meet you, but I guess I'll change that into a I hope it will have been nice to meet you in the end." She started teasing the girl again. Opeila didn't really know, what was the matter with herself lately, she just went from depressed to really great within hours.

The morning was still quiet, but that made it all the better. Persephone had been hoping to have some peace, a moment to feel a little more at home than she had these past few months. Although it was difficult for her to admit, Hogwarts hadn’t been the safe haven she was hoping it would be. And now, when she was struggling, was not the time she wanted to pettily argue with her housemates.

Persephone frowned slightly, her tone slightly defensive: “You don’t have to be so philosophical with everything you say!” She ran her fingers through her hair, tangling it more than it had been before. Breaths came in harsh waves, burning her lungs that already stung from the cold of the dawn. This was a terrible morning, contrasted by the beautiful sunrise that was taking place right over her head. Persy couldn’t appreciate that beauty right now, no matter how badly she wished to.

There was no shred of doubt in anyone’s mind that Persy thought she was superior, she didn’t bother being passive about it. But this girl, she thought, thinks she’s smarter or more deep or something. Her hands shaking slightly, she ran her long fingers through her hair once more, desperate to ease her nerves.

No one liked an arrogant person, but what was worse than arrogant people was when they won’t admit their arrogance. Persy would never deny it, she was proud to be good enough to love herself, to warrant egotistical habits.