Chance Encounters PV Finished

The Great Lake. On days like this with a nice gentle breeze and all was in order, the landscpae around it seemed to radiate a sort of calmness and ease to all who took the time to venture out here. It was a good way to release pent-up stress or take a break from those piles of homework assignments that were expected to help you retain knowledge. All she was retaining from that was the days until she didn't have to take Transfiguration anymore. Gods, the professor was so...nitpicky, perhaps too much for her tastes. The wind picked up slightly harder and she shrugged off her scarlet and gold scarf to enjoy the breeze tussling through her hair. It was a nice feeling after a long day inside that stuffy castle. It felt nice to breathe in the tunes of Mother Nature every now and then.

As she ventured forth looking for a place where she could isolate herself from the crowds of nosy students, she settled on a grassy patch a few feet away from another female student who seemed quite content with her blanket and her book."Hope you don't mind me butting in here, I'll be quiet as a mouse."She remarked to the hijab-clad student noting the garb with interest and a sort of curiosity. She hadn't seen much diversity in the student population let alone those who practiced customs slightly different. Not that it mattered to her, as long as everyone was getting along with each other, all was right in the world.

She unfolded a piece of parchment giving it a quick skim. It was half-finished and a few edits here and there. Her quill kept brushing against her cheek as she pondered deep into her thoughts. She hadn't sent an owl in quite some time to Darren but she had quite a lot to say. Yet, at the same time, she didn't want to overwhelm him, she knew he would throw a fit and probably march down to the school if she surrndered all the P's she had been getting in Transfiguration.

As she dwelled deep making edits here and there, her attention soon fell to the book that the girl was reading noting the title with interest. The Astrology of You and Me..huh..Well, it sure didn't sound like she was dwelling deep into the solar system or anything like that by the sound of it."That seems to be an interesting book you got there."She commented nodding over at it."Sorry, couldn't help myself but it got my attention and from the sound of it, it doesn't look like that thing is educating you much on the many moons of Jupiter or why Neptune is 17 times the mass of Earth."Well, at least you didn't stutter this time.She stuck out a hand to shake."Name's Elena, Elena Jangleton of Gryffindor.And you started the talking this time, this has to be a dream.Sometimes, she felt the urge to just..act and it usaually worked. Usually.

"Hope you don't mind me butting in here, I'll be quiet as a mouse." Adlai heard from above her. Looking up she saw a young girl who looked to be around her age. “No, not at all.” She said as the girl took a seat beside her.

She watched from the corner from her eye as the girl took out a small piece of parchment to began to make markings here and there on it. A letter perhaps?- she thought before turning back to her book.
Recently whenever she received a good mark on her tests or projects her parents would send a book instead of their occasional magazine clippings that gave her the news on Gabby Douglas and NASA project’s. She rather enjoyed it as it made her strive to work harder in order to be rewarded.

”That seems to be an interesting book you got there." She hears the girl beside her say which causes her to look back up to her once again.
"Sorry, couldn't help myself but it got my attention and from the sound of it, it doesn't look like that thing is educating you much on the many moons of Jupiter or why Neptune is 17 times the mass of Earth." The stranger comments. Adlai smiles revealing her metal lined teeth. “Well, it isn’t exactly about astrology but it’s just as complex as it I suppose.”
"Name's Elena, Elena Jangleton of Gryffindor.” the now identified stranger states as they stuck out their hand to Adlai.

How peculiar...-She thinks, as she is usually the one to introduce herself first. Nonetheless she takes Elena’s hand and returns the interaction.
“I’m Adlai Rod of Hufflepuff.” She proclaims rather proudly. Her annunciation a bit odd but understandable.

Well, that went good.She shook the girl's hands feeling a bit more at ease now. She went over the name a few times in her hands nodding."Adlai...sounds..exotic..I like it..unlike my boring old self."She said grinning slightly. Well, it was true in an almost sad sense, in the almost 2 years she had spent at Hogwarts, the young Gryffindor still had to fully immerse herself into the student population, those she had called friends had just left without a word and she hadn't seen them since or the other option being people were too busy to concern themselves with trivial matters. Whatever it was, Elena just wanted to enjoy her time here as best she could and as far as she was concerned, what she was doing right now proved to her not all things that occured at Hogwarts were out to put her down in some way.

"The Astrology of You and Me..huh..is it explaining to you how our zodiac signs are intertwined into how people interact or some stuff like that?"She could never get into those philsophical books talking about their different theories and worldy opinions but if you could absorb the content well enough, it sure gave you an interesting viewpoint how you saw things around you. "I think I'm a Libra, gentle, nice, all that peaceful stuff but here I am in Gryffindor so either I'm more reckless than I am sweet or vice versa."She chucked a bit at the sentiment. Honestly, she had not respected the Sorting Hat's decscion when she had been placed in Gryffindor for a variety of reasons. Coming from a family of mostly all Slytherins and Elena was probably the least bravest or confident, at least in her opinion person to ever roam these halls so why she was in this House was still a confusing matter to her.

"What about you? Has that book opened your eyes to what zodiac sign you might be expressing?"She was getting a pretty positive vibe off this girl and in a sense, she felt a sort of relief. It hadn't turned out to be like Lamik, her housemate whom she had met by getting blasted by a faceful of smoke, she had not been entertained by that thought at all. She brushed a few locks of hair behind her ear as a breeze blew past. Nice day to be having a philsophical converstation about zodiac signs and astrology with a Hufflepuff..who would have thought.

”The Astrology of You and Me..huh..is it explaining to you how our zodiac signs are intertwined into how people interact or some stuff like that?"
Elena asked and Adlai nodded. “Pretty much, it’s actually pretty fascinating how accurate it can be. Sometimes I wonder if the book could be spying on me.” She said laughing a bit at the end.

“I think I'm a Libra, gentle, nice, all that peaceful stuff but here I am in Gryffindor so either I'm more reckless than I am sweet or vice versa."
“I Understand that. The people I met on the train here had said that I’d make a good Ravenclaw, at the time I didn’t know what that meant, but surprisingly I was put in Hufflepuff. I’m not complaining though, I understood why when I moved into my dorm and met all the amazingly kind people there.”
Adlai looked down and pulled at a few blades of grass. They were cold and damp as the snow had melted not long ago.

"What about you? Has that book opened your eyes to what zodiac sign you might be expressing?" Elena asked. Again Adlai nodded. “I’m a Virgo and in every book I’ve read that mentions Virgo’s it says that those who are have reserved and sensitive personalities.
I am sensitive but as for reserved...I’m not to sure. Maybe I’ll express those traits more as I grow.” She says before looking back up to Elena.

“Did you know that Leo’s are extroverted, dominant, and charismatic, and often have a short fuse. While Virgo’s are studious and withdrawn, possessed of more versatility than Leo. Although there are differences, they make a wonderful match’s when they both warm up to the each other’s unfamiliar style?” Adlai asked curious to see Elena’s reaction and hear what she had to say. As she had never had anyone engage with in her rants on astrology before.

"Yeah, sometimes the smartest people aren't exactly the most pleasant."She had learned that lesson not too long ago."Had a very unpleasnat experience with a group of Ravenclaws a few days ago, they were anything but nice, it was quite funny honestly because the entire quarrel was over them getting antsy I kept scoring higher marks than them, you would think it would be the other way around."The world worked in mysterious ways but thankfully, she had wiggled her way out of that predicament save for a few bruises and scratches. A Virgo..huh"I would have dubbed you like a Gemini or Cancer maybe."You just met the girl, calm down.

"Well, some would say it's good to be reserved in certain cases but you don't want to give everyone the cold shoulder. You lose certain good people that way but I guess in a sense, you weed out the bad from the good."Elena carried a sense of reservedness about her now that she mentioned especially if anyone inquired into her background, so she wasn't truly innocent here."Depends on what the person is being so reserved or protective about, I guess but you seem pretty ok to me."She said giving a thumbs-up.

She raised an eyebrow more in curosity listening to Adlai's explanation of Leo's."Maybe if I was a Leo, that would explain why I'm in Gryffindor, only makes sense though I woul add reckless in there."Elena didn't exactly have the most innocent viewpoint of her house though it stemmed from what she had seen which accounted to mostly pranks, doing foolish things, nothing courages or heroic though the only heroic thing she had partaked in was with a group of Slytherins, imagine that."So one's an introvert and the other an opposite, well. it's like finding the key to the treasure chest, you couldn't ask for anyone better, takes a outgoing person to connect to someone like that.""They say that Libra and Virgo aren't exactly meant to work but I think we are setting a different tone here."She said gesturing to the both of them. This converstation was actually getting pretty fun as she found herself opening up and getting more relaxed. She couldn't remember the last time she had a interaction this in depth. "You do this stuff on a daily basis or something, huh, it sure seems like it?"You could tell when someone was passionate about a subject from the way they talked or the way their face lit up. She scanned Adlai's expressions and it was all riveted on her, maybe from the fact they had found some common ground. Elena felt the same way, it felt nice in a way.

“You do this stuff on a daily basis or something, huh, it sure seems like it?" Elena said as she looked rather intensely over Adlai’s face.
“Talk about astrology? Yes. Has anyone ever listened to me before? Not at all.”
Again she bowed her head and played with the blades of grass between her fingers. Being muggle born deemed it a challenge for her to find people with similar interests as her since many were pure blood, wizard born, or half bloods who grew up in a more magical home.

Nonetheless, at the same time her interests weren’t similar to her old school mates either. Gymnastics, maybe. But tennis, knitting, and astrology? Never.
She’s tried so hard to become invested in the common likes of her new surroundings. She’s tried and tried but everything here seems so complicated.

But when she does meet a new person and they seem to click right away, all of her worries melt away. As if nothing were different. As if she was home in Wales where her parents waited for her and her younger sisters after school. Where her scowling great aunt waited to taunt her, and where her rabbit also sat waiting in his little cubby for her. Even so, she knew, they were still waiting for her and that they wouldn’t go anywhere until she got back, right?
“How about you, do you do this often?” She asked.

"Hm? Me..well, not talking about it, no, never really found anyone who was willing to pursue the topic or partake in a discussion until now."Though, she guessed that was partly her fault. Elena hadn't been exactly the most social when she had come into Hogwarts at first, you could thank her parents for that but that was a story for another. She fiddled around with her scarlet and gold scarf folding it as she dabbed at the piece of parchment in front of her."Well, I guess I'm not entirely innocent, I suppose. I'm not much of a social butterfly, but if I find something to rant about and people stop to listen, well, I guess I just don't know where to stop.She replied signing her name at the bottom of the letter in neat cursive."It's weird really, I'm not that much of a talkative person at times but at other moments, that can change. I don't really know how to explain it."

She glanced over the letter one last time scanning for any errors. It was good enough for her, now just to let the ink dry a bit. Still though, around people like this, there was a sense of ease you got, a certain peace that no harm would come to you, you just knew. "Though the way I look it is like this, it's not lend an ear to a topic someone's passionate about even if you aren't, who knows, you might learn something new but most people are too busy this day, it seems. Astrology has always struck me as something interesting, you know, helps you get a clearer picture of why people do certain things."

"Although, you seem like a pretty decent person. After all, you spared some time from your book to listen to a loner like me ramble on."She said smiling a bit."Maybe our zodiac signs aren't that compatiable but we sure are, nothing is impossible but everything is possible."It was a saying she liked and one she took on when faced with obstacles. Sure, it sometimes led to her doing stupid stuff but it usually worked out in the end."Friends?"She inquired holding her hand out for a fist bump.

As Elena spoke Adlai nodded. She understood what she meant. However she was a bit surprised at the single word question that followed. “Friends?”
Adlai looked down at the fist Elena held out to her.
“Absolutely, but I hope you know what you’re signing up for.” She said and then bumped her own fist into Elena’s.
“I’ve never made a friend so quickly, especially over talking about Zodiac signs.” She chuckled putting her book to the side of her. “It’s crazy how people interact, isn’t it? How in an instant we can pin point whether or not someone could build us up or tear us down. How culture divides us even though we aren’t much different. On top of that people also have the ability to change, to become who they want to be, to grow...I think that’s the most spectacular magic of all, setting aside all of the potions and spells we learn in class.”

Adlai looked out to the Great Lake. Yes...- she thought. This is going to be a good day, and hopefully a good rest of the year.-
A new friend for the first time in forever, a new season around the corner, new books, new pens, new paper, new music...New everything. She herself would be new, as she also had the special magic to grow.

She grinned pleased at the fact that she hadn't made a total blunder of herself."I think I have a fair idea of what I'm getting into and I don't regret it all, we have to grow out of our shells at some point."Well, that was that and she was secretly happy with herself. She had gone out and made an friend, an actual friend, now that was something new for her. Maybe her time at Hogwarts was beginning to change her, who knew. Things were beginning to look up a bit, she had this short burst of positive energy and it showed from her wide smile and bright pupils. Most people would probably be take aback if they heard but people change and she decided to adpat to the change, it would not be an easy road of course but it was one she was willing to take.

"People can bond over the strangest of things. It's funny, you know? In all my time here, all of th people I know or am close with are from different Houses, I don't think there's a single Gryffindor I could call a close friend except maybe one but that's about it."See, that wasn't so bad, was it. See what happens when you talk to people?She glanced back towards the castle and it's soaring towers in all it's might. Adlai's thing about the most powerful magic was one that rung true with her and one that she defnitely agreed with over all things."For sure, it's not just about you but the people you meet. The people who'll help you up, guide you and boost you towards your goal. As for the others who seek to hinder you, I just see them as challenges in life you have to overcome in order to reach your goal."

When she put it that way, she had a lot of challenges in her life but the way things were going at Hogwarts, she felt like with a little bit of courage and dedication, she'd be alright. "Maybe that book was giving you a sign, talking about bonds and such and here we are."Darren would be proud, maybe she could add in that little detail before sending off that letter. She had made an actual friend."I think we'll get along just fine, my Virgo friend as long as you can tolerate my knack of collecting every single Choclate Frog in sight."She said laughing. Seriously, those things were good. Who wouldn't want one and the little wizard cards that came with them. She was just missing a few but she had all the important, rare ones save a few.