The world seemingly most indifferent Errand PV

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Lark hummed to herself as she made her way down to the Great Hall. She had been asked to help out Ruthie for some holiday decorating. Trying to adjust herself to all of the newness... post-ball... Lark felt it was a good chance to not only get to hang out with her fellow Ravenclaw mates but also absorb herself in something outside of the Common Room or school work. She still wasnt sure if she was going home for the break or not... although she had chosen to wait to open a letter from home that had arrived that morning. Instead she left it tucked under her pillow. If it was bad news honestly Lark didn't want to deal with it before seeing her friends.. especially Ruthie. She didnt want to be another source of worry for her new friend.

Walking through the doorway she caught sight of Ruthie right off, sitting close to the doors at their house table. Lark was about to wave when she realized Ruthie looked deep in thought bent over her project. Lark straightened out her blue wool sweater and hopped her way excitedly over to the table, plopping herself down across from Ruthie-was that glitter! Lark's eyes dazzled from a green color to a golden hue as she inspected the crafts set on the table.

"Hey! Is this for the choir!?" Lark tried to contain herself. She was far too anxious to stand up in front of people and sing but had been all too ready to cheer on her friend and the others in the frog choir.

"May I?" Lark pointed towards some brilliant looking holly red thread with bits of gold in it. Her mother had shown her how to sew and Gran was a wonder at embroidery.

The holidays weren't as jolly as they once were, not during the aftermath of the masquerade ball. While she didn't remember much about it, she would live with the reminder of it for the rest of her life - a scar where the makeshift spear had stabbed her. Her beauty wasn't something she boasted or bragged about, and she liked to think that it didn't matter. She was only lying to herself by saying that she was okay with it. If her cousins Hjørdis and Elaine didn't work at Hogwarts, her parents told her that she wouldn't have returned to school. Thankfully, she was able to convince them that she wouldn't go looking for trouble (as if she had in the first place) and would stick with her cousins during events, if she attended any at all.

Events didn't have an appeal anymore, especially not ones that took place in the ballroom. While Dymphna had not pulled away from her friends but rather grown closer to them since the disaster, she spent more time on the pitch than in her own common room. She wasn't avoiding anyone, especially not Ruthie or Lark, who she mainly saw on the pitch, during meals and on her way up to bed. If she were to be honest with herself, which she was trying to do now as she saw the girls in the Great Hall, was that she was keeping herself busy so she wouldn't have to talk about the ball or face this new body that came with it. So dramatic, she thought, it's not like I've lost a leg. A scar wouldn't actually alter her life and she supposed she should be glad that she was still here at all, but as a thirteen year old, it wasn't easy to look passed.

Her newest project to stay busy was Frog Choir. As Dymphna made her way over to the table, she remembered how Ruthie had invited her to join after hearing her singing in the common room one night. She was reluctant at first but after exchanging letters with her mother, she decided to give it a try. The worst that could happen already had - almost losing her life - so it was worth joining a club that she would enjoy being a part of, whether she was Veela or not. She would just have to keep her eyes peeled in case she enchanted anyone on accident.

Unlike her friends, the blonde wasn't very creative and terrible at embroidery. Despite being a decent duelist, she wasn't so great at working with her hands. Perhaps that was why she never got the hang of Potions or Herbology. Still, she thought she would give it another try. Sitting down at the table, she mumbled her greetings as she pulled the items she would need towards her. There was an idea brewing but she didn't know if she could pull it off. It didn't stop her from trying but she was quiet while she concentrated and didn't add much to the conversation at first.

Finally, she'd done a few decent stitches. Her grandma would be proud. With a sigh, she asked, "Do you two have any holiday plans?"

WC: 551 | Errand for Deck The Halls

Squinting, she just about had it: that tricky, illusive little devil of a needle. It was just as the thread swung through the needle hole, that she heard a familiar voice, enthusiastic but slightly nervous. She looked up to see her favorite formerly blue-haired housemate. "Yes, it yes!" she chirped at Lark, "I'm guessing there are some people who probably won't want to hold their frog directly. This way, people can hold the pillow the frog is sitting on." It wasn't exactly a novel idea. In the old photographs of frog choirs gone by the frogs were always on pillows. But they weren't all glitzed out for the holidays like these ones would be!

"Of course!" Ruthie addressed her friend, passing her the red and gold thread she'd had her eye on, "And help yourself to anything else you might want to use. We have to ensure the frogs look festive for the Christmas concert." As she took her own first few stitches, she asked, "So you've sewn before?" Ruthie would have guessed so, considering how quickly Lark had taken to a thread. Someone with no experience would have hesitated more. If she did, that'd be lucky--the pillows had to look gorgeous for the upcoming concert.

She was about to ask Lark if she was faring any better adjusting to her newfound Metamorphagus abilities when Dymph arrived quietly at their table. "Hey Dymph. Thanks for making it," she greeted the older girl, who still remained in Ruthie's mind as a mentor/older sister figure. No spear through the chest could have changed that respect. Dymph seemed to struggle with the stitches she was pulling through. Unlike Lark, it seemed she probably didn't have sewing experience. It probably didn't help that the pillow fabric was on the thicker side. At least she'd threaded the needle faster than Ruthie.

But Ru couldn't help wondering if Dymph's silence was the result of more than just steady concentration. She'd been through a lot at the ball--they all had. So Ruthie was happy when Dymph broke the silence, even if it was a simple question. "Home," Ruthie said, "Mum will probably pick me up in Hogsmeade. It's a little redundant to hop on the train down south when we're already in the Highlands. You?" She couldn't help but smile when thinking of home. Hogwarts was wonderful--truly, it was--but recent events made the simplicity of home seem increasingly appealing.

Looking across the table, she felt she may as well address the elephant in the room, even though she didn't particularly want to. Biting her lip slightly, she began, "Since it's nearly Christmas and at Christmas you tell the truth, I just want you two to know I appreciate you both, especially after, well, after the ball." It took a few extra seconds to get that last part out. She was still reeling emotionally from that autumn event, but she was getting better slowly but surely, and these two girls were a strong part of that process.

Tag: @Lark Flaer & @Dymphna Teague

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Her fingers welcoming the familiar task, Lark threaded the needle and reached towards one of the pillows. "Ye-" Lark gave a grin at the thought of some being too squeamish to let the frog sit directly on their hand. She was comfortable around all sorts of different creatures but the thought of holding a frog directly still made her instantly feel the need to scrub her hands. "At least the frogs will look amazin' all fancied up!"

Lark began to plunge the needle into the puffy pillow in front of her, running the thread along the edges before adding a couple knot stitches to look like berries. Tying off the red thread, she peered at the other colors searching for the perfect green to do leaves next.

"It's great of you ta set this up. The choir is going to look great for sure." Settling on a nice shade of green that complimented the color of the pillow itself, Lark threaded another needle. A small part of Lark wanted to ask how Ruthie was doing but thought it best not to bring up. All of the wounds the ball had inflicted on the students whether physical or otherwise still were so fresh.

"So you've sewn before?"

Giving an eager nod, Lark smiled as she worked her way around the pillow adding the spiky holly leaves here and there on the sides. "My Ma actually taught me. Plus my Gran does ah'lotta embroiderin'. The two of em usually get together Sundays an' do this sorta thing." She looked to Ruthie, her greenish eyes settling into a warmer golden hue as she watched her friend. 'I hope she's okay...' Lark thought wistfully. She didn't like her friends being in pain... if only there was something she could do.. more she could say to help. For now this project would have to do as some cheering up. Perhaps the break would also help give them all a break from things.

"Do we 'ave any beads to sew onta these too?" Lark eyed the other materials as their fellow teammate took a seat at the table. "Hey!" Lark greeted Dymph with a warm smile. She hadn't known the girl before or during the ball... and hadn't known about what she had gone through until later on hearing it from those talking about the ball a couple days afterwards. It didn't feel right to pry so for the most part Lark just kept to herself. She had only been knocked out... being harmed like Dymph had, she just couldn't imagine how that must be effecting the girl. The thought of it made Lark look up to Dymph even more.

"Do you two have any holiday plans?"

Biting the corner of her lip, Lark concentrated on finishing up a couple more green stitches. She listened to Ruthie's response. Even with what had happened at the ball and everything else, Lark almost felt homesick for Hogwarts. As strange as that felt.. she enjoyed being around others and not confined to the house. Although now maybe that she knew about her powers, her parents would have to give her a bit more leeway. There was always a tree lighting in town.. maybe they could go this year.. Pulling herself out of her daydreaming, Lark blinked as she waited for Dymph to answer Ruthie before piping in her own reply. "Oh ah.. I think I might just go home." She thought back to the letter on her bed. "Maybe I can owl you guys some sweets my Gran makes.." Her voice trailed off as a lonely feeling crept deep into her bones.

"Since it's nearly Christmas and at Christmas you tell the truth, I just want you two to know I appreciate you both, especially after, well, after the ball."

Almost instantly the coldness creeping in was melted away by Ruthie's words. Lark's hands rested on the table as she stared at her friend. She wasn't one to just cry but for some reason it still made her vision blur slightly. Blinking the threatening tears away, Lark couldn't help but smile. The warmth she felt made her hair turn a warmer shade of auburn. "Aw Ru.." Lark wasn't sure what to say. After they had met on the pitch and Ruthie had helped out Lark practice.. but also opened up to her, the Ravenclaw felt a kindred sort of connection with her. She didn't know Dymph well enough to be truly mushy in front of her, but tis the season.

"You mean a great deal to me as well." She turned to face Dymph. "Both of ye." The Quidditch team had given something to Lark that hiding away in the Library or cloistering herself up in the dorms drawing.. just... didn't. Couldn't. Would never give her. She really did not know the right words to express how she felt.. it was just an intense warmth deep inside her chest that soothed her nerves. Feeling a blush flood her cheeks, Lark gave a nervous laugh and rubbed the back of her head, pulling her hair to one side and over her shoulder.

While the blonde did not mind holding her frog (she had handled Scully already), the pillows would add some flair to their performances. If only her stitching didn’t look awful. What was supposed to be a frog in a Father Christmas hat was turning out to look more like a blob wearing something festive. Oh well, she would keep trying, to have something to do with her hands as they chatted about their holiday plans.

“I’m going home too.” Dymphna wasn’t going to mention the ball but it seemed inevitable. When Ruthie made the first move, her body tensed. Fortunately, she didn’t remember much about it. Even so, the matron in the hospital had given her a drink to help her sleep through the many nights that she stayed there. Since she was released, she tried not to focus on it but news of the ball had spread quickly around Hogwarts. A few people even came to see how she was doing over breakfast, being shooed away by Phaedra.

The pitying looks were bad enough. Dymphna focused on getting back into shape for Quidditch and catching up on what she missed in classes. It wasn’t too much since her friends brought her class work and shared their notes. Though she was spending time with her other friends, she didn’t want Ruthie to feel ignored and saw her around school and in the common room. They hadn’t had a proper conversation about it all but now was a good a time as any, she supposed.

“I’d like that, Lark,” Dymphna replied with a tearful smile. Allowing herself to relax, reminding herself that they were her friends and cared about her as much as she did them (even if she didn’t know Lark that well yet). There words even confirmed it if her belief in their friendship wasn’t enough already. Saying it out loud would make it too real but the words formed and were out of her mouth before she could even think. “They said I almost didn’t make it.”

It was quiet, almost too quiet with a bit of hustle and bustle around them. Her sewing was forgotten now. She wished that she could take the words back somehow. Should she act like she hadn’t said it? Perhaps it was obvious to them. From what others told her, there was a lot of blood. Still, it was strange to say it aloud and if it weren’t for the scar and lingering pain, she might not have believed it.

WC: 480 | TOTAL: 1031 | Errand for Deck The Halls

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Lark looked over to what Dymphna had been stitching and gave her a smile. The young Ravenclaw could sense the tension radiating from the topic of the ball... and how uneasy it had made Dymph. She knew she definitely had to write to the girl now over break... it would be nice to get closer to another Ravenclaw and fellow teammate. Plus, judging by the look on her face it might do some good to have a kind letter now and again.

“They said I almost didn’t make it.”

Lark's fingers slowed as Dymph spoke... What could she say to the girl? She felt awful.. none of them should have gone through any of that. The entire night seemed to have just been ruined in so many ways for everyone, and in a big way. Tying off another strand of thread and snipping the end as close to the pillow as she could, Lark sat back.

"But you're here. With us." Lark wanted to reach out and hug the girl, but wasn't sure how she would react. A lot of people seemed fragile still and Lark didn't want to touch Dymph and make it worse. She knew if anyone hugged her while she was upset it normally lead to more tears... although... it did tend to make things feel a bit less crummy. Giving Dymph another warm smile she placed a hand gently on the girl's hand closest to her, squeezing gently as she locked her golden eyes on Dymph's.

"We do!" Ruthie said as her fingers traced along the inside of the bag before pulling out several boxes containing various sizes and colors worth of beads. Whatever Lark's creative mind had in store for her pillow, surely some of these beads would be able to make it a reality. In truth, she was glad Lark was so proficient; it was lucky. Although, anything the three of them put together would be made with love.

Ruthie perked up when she heard Lark's offer of sweets. "That would be amazing," she enthused while Dymph also accepted, though her expression seemed slightly off. Ruthie's own mother's cooking at Christmas meal was good, but Claire was not a baker or confectioner by any stretch. As for grandparents, she'd heard a certain Elladora Redwing always sent cards on her birthday, but she'd never met her.

After her extremely mushy confession, it was nice to hear it accepted and see the smiles she received in return. She tried to return the expression, but talking about this kind of stuff was hard. And that's when Dymph dropped the bomb: "They said I almost didn’t make it." And Ruthie was back in the ballroom. She could see it all: the chaos, the blood, so much blood, the boy, and before that this young light blonde girl, skilled in turning a giant into a tree only to have a spear plunged inside her body. Ruthie had tried to help, but she'd not been as effective as Thora, and then she did a terrible thing: she abandoned Dymph for Jorah. She had to--he was her best friend--but she still felt guilty about it. Needle in hand, the words came out short and low: "I'm sorry, Dymph. I tried to bandage where you were hit....I tried...I shouldn't have left. If it hadn't been for that third year boy..."

Her words trailed off. It was the first time she'd seriously discussed the matter. Even in St Mungo's with Jorah, she'd told him the facts--who did what, what his injuries were, his vitals--not her actual feelings. Now, she was fidgeting with the needle. Thankfully, Lark swooped in with the comforting reality that Dymph was, in fact, here in one piece very much alive. "Lark's right," Ruthie agreed, "You're here. We're all here. Together." And with that, she too placed a hand on top of theirs like a team all putting hands in before a match. For better or worse, they had each other and that's what mattered.

@Dymphna Teague & @Lark Flaer

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Ruthie pulling out a box of beads had started to take over Lark's attention. Shiny beads! Those would be perfect. Not wanting to brush off how Dymphna felt, Lark tried to resist temptation a little longer and focus her attention on her friends. Although.... Lark's eyes scanned a couple of other pillows. She could work on one... and still... listen. Multitasking was a thing!

Debating on whether she should remove her hand and grab another pillow to work on Lark caught site of Ruthie's face. She instantly felt a chill rush through her veins, the familiar anxious feeling crashing over her once more. It made the young Ravenclaw's silvery hair dull slightly. She felt Ruthie place her own hand atop her and Dymphna's own, instantly melting the stiff feeling that had settled into her arms from worrying over her friends.

Waiting for Dymphna's response to the friendly gesture from her two fellow Ravenclaws, Lark would afterwards grab one more of the pillows.

"I know the ball was an awful thing... an' you both went through so much..." Lark's voice trailed off as she thought... should she say it? Would they take this the wrong way? Settling her hands to rest on the plush velvety pillow she gave a half-smile towards the other two girls. "Something amazin' came from all that terrible chaos.. I got you two from it." Lark was sure that if things hadn't happened how they had at the ball she wouldn't have gotten close to Ruthie or Dymphna. At least not this year.. maybe not ever? Who knew. She had talked about fate so much with James at the start of the year that more and more she felt sure it was a real force.

Evidently, Lark was much better at multitasking. She'd done a whole pillow already! Ruthie looked down at the needle and the half embroidered pillow in her hands. Maybe spending so much time outdoors was impacting her ability to do simple things efficiently like sewing. And let's not talk about cooking.

As their hands met, Ruthie felt an ease melt into her body where there hadn't been one before at all. It was true--she needed them. That moment had proven it. The young Ravenclaw smiled at her housemates, glad that she had them here now.

Then, Lark acknowledged that they--she and Dymph--had gone through so much. Dymph, yes, obviously. There was the blood. The spear. The near dying. But Ru? She just tried. She tried and she panicked. She panicked and she cried. It was great. So great in fact that memories of the events plagued her dreams at night. She wanted to jump in and explain that she hadn't been very useful at all when Lark said something rather profound: that the ball, with all its terror and all its horror, had in fact produced the very friendships they were enjoying now. "For sure," Ruthie agreed looking over at the two of them.

She felt certain she would remain close to them for the rest of her Hogwarts career. Holding up her pillow, she hesitated to break the emotional moment, but she knew why they were here. "How does this look?" she asked. The snowflakes she'd attempted were wobbly and uneven, but at least it was an attempt to add cheer to school.

@Lark Flaer & @Dymphna Teague