The Blush of Early Morn

[Odette Smith]

Sunday morning's first light pierces the earth with gentle precautions. The green masses are beautifully uncovered, one moment at a time. Sky fills with unnaturally spectacular colors, the sky turns a rotting orange to mock the dark blue just across the valley. The wildlife stirs, owls spreading their wings and letting out their morning yawn. Students roll over in their beds as they remember it is time for them to finish homework, study for much anticipated tests, and stuff as much weekend fun as is possible. Closest to the mood deranged sky, Ravenclaw's can see the bits of lit piecing through to their bedrooms. Odette turns under her sheets so she can face the window and see the rising sun. It's brightness causes her to blink and as much as she'd like to go back to sleep, she gets up.

In a flowered skirt and playful light pink top, Odette sits by the lake an hour later. The sun has cooled the sky into a shade of blue. A book sits in Odette's lap and her eyes trace the pages she needs to look over a thousand times more than any half-blood or pure-blood would. A light fog has settled over the lake that cause her to keep looking out at it and wonder if this was the official end of summer months. She was back in school and only one thought was on her mind. What was going to become of her? Her time at Hogwarts was almost over and a Muggleborn couldn't make much of herself. The safeness she felt here would be disrupted by a society who didn't care much for her.

Her mind speeding between thought and studying, she did not notice as the time sped and students began to wonder from their warm common rooms. None daring to make more than a shuffle and disturb the eerie peacefulness of morning. It was unlikely they would approach the Muggleborn studying alone anyway. She was not a threat or a thought in anyone's head, and like many others only wanted to be left alone by them.

[Cailyn Maiya Talaith]

((Hey Hun~! Just wanted to let you know that we RP in third person past tense, rather than present tense here. ^.^))

Cailyn skipped merrily down the front steps of Hogwarts Castle, giving a little leap over the last couple to land lightly in the lush green grass of the grounds. There was something precious about weekends that never failed to put a bright smile on her face after a hard week at school. The sun had woken her early, streaming in from high above through one of the many magical tunnels that funneled the light into the burrow light Hufflepuff Common Room. Enticed by its warm glow, she had risen early to enjoy the day. Dressed in a pale blue summer dress with silver accents, Cailyn had slipped on her favorite pair of silver sandals and escaped into the castle.

She wore her hair down around her shoulders, the brown locks falling in gentle waves about her features. Upon her chest, her silver locket glinted in the morning light. Though Julian had been gone visiting his family for some time, she still wore the purple butterfly ring he had given her on her hand. Carding her fingers through her hair, Cailyn headed off across the grounds toward the lake. She always loved seeing the sunlight gleam across the water's surface despite the black dangers it housed in its depths. It did not take her long to come upon the lake, there were few people out at such an early hour so she was a bit surprised to see a familiar figure sitting by the water.

"Odette!" Cailyn called out softly as she approached the studying figure, pleased to see the other girl. Though they had classes together, she felt saddened to know that they did not know each other as well as they could. As muggleborns, life was difficult in this world and they needed to stick together. Moving to join the Ravenclaw girl, Cailyn quietly sat down at the water's edge. A soft sigh of contentment escaped her lips as she gazed out over the glimmering liquid. Turning her gaze to the other girl, she gave her a bright grin. "What are you doing studying? It's such a beautiful day, isn't it?" She queried, unsurprised to find Odette studying but at the same time shocked that anyone could bury their nose in a book in the face of such a gorgeous display of light and color.

[Odette Smith]

Her heart skipped a beat as the shadow of her classmate blocked the sun, and in mid-thought she could only tell there was sudden darkness. Her eyes flashed upwards and just as the Hufflepuff greeted her did she relax her body, and relax her book into her lap. She completely released her textbook to give the girl her full attention, and responded with a, "Good morning Cailyn." She smiled and motioned for her to sit down. She liked the girl and was more comfortable around her than she was with a lot of other people. "It is beautiful today, I guess I compromised with studying outside." At the mention of the outdoor beauty, Odette looked toward the lake and the shimmering water smiled back at her. "But Ancient Runes is really giving me a hard time." Actually, the Ancient Runes' Professor had really gave her a hard time. He just refused to right the word, outstanding on her papers.

"Are you taking it this year?" Odette wrapped a piece of her light blond hair around her finger, and adjusted the textbook onto of her legs, she was sitting Indian Style and it had been trying to slip forward onto the summer burnt grass.

[Cailyn Maiya Talaith]

She smiled gently, shaking her head at bit at her friend's compromise. Odette's devotion to studying was admirable to say the least, though sometimes Cailyn wondered if it was a bit too much at times. "No, I considered it but decided to focus on Herbology and Care of Magical Creatures more. Ancient Runes is like History for me, I can't seem to remember anything about it." There was a faint blush upon her cheeks, mildly ashamed at her inability to recall simple facts when information about Herbology seemed to come so naturally.

"I have been thinking about maybe looking at studying healing, if I can ever pass potions. I can cook like a chef but potions oddly enough seem determined to thwart me." She giggled lightly at the idea. "Have you figured out what you are going to do after Hogwarts?" The question was posed gently, a touch of sympathy at the difficult future her friend faced. As muggleborns, they had a distinct disadvantage in a world that was determined to keep them from succeeding. Toying with the grass by her feet, she spied a small flower trying to creep toward the light and gave it a gentle pet with her finger. Soft green sparkles sank into the tiny bud, making it stretch past the tall grass and into the bright sunlight.

[Odette Smith]

Odette decided to officially put aside her studying and talk to Cailyn for as long as she stayed. If there was one thing she had learned being a Muggleborn, it was that friends were very important. With friends she could feel safe and with friends she could survive whatever the world threw at her. "Herbology is my favorite subject, I wish I could devout more attention to it, but I'm taking too many classes that require memorization." She smiled weakly thinking about the heavy Ancient Runes book in her lap and how 100 percent of it required memorization. Like a second language, Ancient Runes was one class that she wished she had dropped many years ago. But getting as far as she had, with the diligently good grades she had, she kept it.

"I don't know what career I'm looking at, I would love to get a job at the ministry." Odette sighed longingly and thought to herself, it is more likely I'd get a job as a waitress. She played with a piece of her blond hair, all she thought about was school. The life after that seemed too stressful, so she was taking it one step at a time. "I really don't know yet." And she didn't, she turned her head toward the lake and watched the tide. It helped the stress that came with life after Hogwarts wash away and caused her heart to unclench itself.

[Cailyn Maiya Talaith]

Cailyn nodded in understanding. It wasn't fair that such a simple thing as their bloodline could prevent them from jobs that would suit them best. She hoped her friend found a way to make her dream come true. "You certainly have the grades for Ministry work." She offered softly, knowing that even excellent grades did not amount to much once purebloods saw the word muggleborn. "Do you have a particular field within the ministry? It would be nice to get a voice for the underprivileged there. Perhaps the Minister of Magic would take you on as an intern." She leaned toward Odette to whisper so that no one else could possibly overhear them.

"I have heard rumors that he may be sympathetic to our plight." While she couldn't outright admit that the Minister was part of the rebellious organization dedicated to fighting for justice and equality, Cailyn hoped pointing her muggleborn friend in his direction would not bring either harm. Perhaps Odette would be interested in joining their cause. A slight frown tugged at her lips as she toyed with the delicate bud of a flower she had grown. How could see bring up the subject without revealing too much? "Wouldn't it be wonderful to be part of bringing about a different future for others like us?" She finally asked, smiling innocently as if she had no idea the radical rebellion within her statement.

[Odette Smith]

Odette thought lightheartedly on the question although she already knew the answer, she was continually distracted by the suggestive comment her Hufflepuff friend had made. Although it was not near mutiny for the Minister to be sympathetic, it still made her stomach clench with a guilty feeling. "I'd like to work in the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes", she said. Raising an eyebrow she wondered how a seventh year would ever hear that rumor about a man much more powerful then any student at Hogwarts. A little cog in her brain turned a bigger one and she knew the two weren't even in the same social circle. But then she looked at her friend again and she didn't care what the Hufflepuff was leaving unsaid because the results were a friendly picture. "An internship would be wonderful. Do you know someone who works with the minister?"

Harmlessly, she pried while staying on topic. After all, no rumor like that was worth repeating without some backup. And as Cailyn's new delicately beautiful question circled Odette's brain she couldn't help but smiling. A nervous hunch came about her back as she leaned in and said, "It is a pretty thought, but I wouldn't say it aloud. I'm sure someone father knows a snatcher and is just dying to come after girls like you and me." She grabbed Cailyn's wrist to stop her from pulling apart a flower and a moment of absolute seriousness crossed her face. "We must be careful."

[Cailyn Maiya Talaith]

"That sounds like a very interesting field. Goodness knows we have plenty of magical accidents with children alone." Cailyn giggled at the memories of her own childhood discoveries of her abilities. Fortunately, nothing she did needed anyone from the Ministry to come and set right again. Niamh, on the other hand, had always been causing trouble even before Hogwarts. Batting her eyes innocently at her friend, Cailyn shrugged one shoulder and leaned closer to Odette. "I know someone who works for WWN who is an acquaintance of the Minister. I can ask her to inquire about a possible internship for you, she got me one with her at WWN. She understands how difficult it is for someone from our background to get any sort decent job in the wizarding world."

Her eyes widened as Odette grasped her wrist, tugging her hand away from the flower. Twisting her wrist within the other girl's grip, Cailyn gently squeezed her friend's hand. "I know." Her hushed response was tinged by the pain of her past. Cailyn had already been kidnapped once in her life, she did not desire to repeat the experience with captors capable of magic. Lowering to a mere whisper, she hugged Odette while murmuring softly in her ear. "That is precisely why something must be done to change things. And if we do not stand up for ourselves, how can we expect anyone else to?" Pulling back with bright grin as if she had not spoken, Cailyn swept a wisp off her forehead.

[Odette Smith]

Flowers grew like weeds in between summer's fresh slate of grass, just like hope sprouted in every teenage girls eyes when they thought just maybe they could make a difference. And with enough fight the weeded flowers would be looked down on in admiration instead of with disgust. Until inevitably they were plucked and order was restored. Odette smiled when Cailyn giggled although she didn't understand what she thought was particularly funny. Odette's smile became wider when Cailyn told her about the inside she had on the ministry. She was glad that her friend was sharing this information with her, as it could change her entire future. Maybe this changed the seriousness of her mindset because she wouldn't have been one to grab another usually and when she saw Cailyn's eyes widen she wondered what the girl was thinking and was sorry for being so aggressive.

Cailyn's twist of her hand made Odette stop her worrying with the obvious thought that she seems to know what she is doing and how to take care of herself. Odette thought she would have probably jumped if someone grabbed her wrist as well. Jumpy Muggleborns were not uncommon in that day and age. Logic leaped out of her mouth, but how could she say that? How could she be so brave? "You're right, of course. But aren't you scared Cailyn?" But she had pulled away now and what Odette was whispering was half caught in the wind. "I mean we have family, friends, and they can hurt us. They can hurt us so easily."

[Cailyn Maiya Talaith]

"Terrified actually." She confessed softly, her lashes brushing her cheeks as she glanced down at the small flower amongst the grass. It was a constant struggle for the young Hufflepuff to know that she was placing her family in danger by standing up for what she believed in. But her parents had taught her to never give in to her fear. "A long time ago, something very bad happened to my brother and I. My parents showed me that it was ok to be afraid, that doing what was right was more important than anything. Danger has never been far from my family in the muggle world." Cailyn shuddered slightly, hugging herself at the icy chill of fear that raced down her spine at the horrible memories.

Cailyn rarely talked about what had happened when she was barely past a toddler, but it haunted her at every turn. Still, her experiences had made her stronger. She had been forced at a very young age to learn just how dangerous doing the right thing could be. "I believe my family would support me, no matter the danger to them or me. Nothing ventured, nothing gained right?" The old saying left a soft smile on her young features. Cailyn would not blame anyone for protecting their family first and foremost. The day her family paid for her choices would be her death, for she knew it would destroy her.

[Odette Smith]

Odette would never admit this later but she was entirely glad that Cailyn was scared. At least she wasn't alone with that feeling. The fear inside of her could be accompanied by another. Oh the relief. She could imagine her poor mother all alone, she didn't expect Odette home for the holidays anymore. Maybe she had a new boyfriend, or maybe she was still chasing her own dreams. It didn't matter though because the best way Odette could help her was to keep away, even occasional letters were risky nowadays. Odette listened while Cailyn told her that her parents had taught her to be brave, and Odette respected Cailyn for following that simple virtue. Looking back she could only remember her mother telling her to be brave a handful of times. Maybe that lesson didn't stick.

Oddette supposed she had been lucky so far, nothing terribly badly had happened yet. She had been good at staying under the radar. At doing exactly what they wanted her to and more. Maybe that's why she hadn't been hurt yet but she doubted they would hesitate even with her good behavior. Her train of thought was interrupted with Cailyn saying something about her family's support. "Sometimes I just want to send my mother far away, erase her memory, and then she'd finally be safe." One less thing to worry about, right? The day she wouldn't have to worry about her mom was going to be heaven on earth. "Guess we need to be brave for them."

[Cailyn Maiya Talaith]

((I'm so sorry Hun~! Life snuck up on me and whisked me away without so much as a 'by your leave'!))

Cailyn nodded, sympathy and understanding shining within her gaze. Even though she knew her parent's life in the muggle world was far from the safe existence she wished upon them, the wizarding world held a horrifying danger against which they had no defense. That was why it was so important for her to learn as much as she could in order to aid in protecting them. What was the point of having magical powers if she could not use them to save the people she loved? "Bravery to me is being afraid but still doing the right thing. Boldness without fear is foolishness, not something to be admired."

Giving her friend a smile, Cailyn studied the other girl. "I think you are braver than you might think you are." She fell silent, feeling a bit at a loss for words. It pained her not to be able to tell her friend all about the organization she had fallen in love with that fateful day she had stumbled upon their meeting. Odette would be a perfect candidate to join, she was sure of it. The other girl was smart and had reason to want to fight for the cause. Cailyn really appreciated the kindness of all those with better blood status than herself, but at the same time she felt they needed more muggleborns to take a stand for themselves. Letting others fight their battles would not help them in the long run the way she saw it.

[Odette Smith]

Bravery bit her tongue, no words could form in the back of her head. The spare few that did were not willing to come out her throat. So instead Odette played with a piece of grass and looked anywhere but Cailyn's eyes as she said, "How can we not admire bravery? Every hero exhibits it, every great person has gotten to their place because of it." It sounded like a term paper, but that was probably because it had run through her head a thousand times before she said it. "And I am most definitely not brave, i've never been bold in my life and I know for certain i've been afraid." Odette chuckled inwardly, as if these was some inside joke between herself. The Hufflepuff seemed a lot braver than she was, perhaps it was just a feeling she gave off but Odette could tell she was trying to make a difference.

Odette starred off a little bit, trying to imagine herself making a difference. Every scene ended with the snatchers watchful eyes making their way toward her, and having to run. That's most definitely not what she wanted. She wanted, needed to get that good job. Be a role-model for muggleborns to come. That's about as brave as she could get, she wasn't that good at fighting after all.

OOC: No problem darling and welcome back

[Cailyn Maiya Talaith]

Laying a gentle hand on Odette's shoulder, Cailyn smiled brightly at her friend. She squeezed lightly before letting go, allowing the topic to drift away with the soft breeze. It was too beautiful a day to remain on such a provocative topic. "You weren't really going to spend the whole day out here studying were you?" She queried, eying the abandoned textbook as if it was going to jump up and bite her at any moment. It wasn't that Cailyn didn't enjoy learning, there were things that she simply couldn't learn enough about. Rather, it was that her flighty nature left her itching to go romp in the green grass beneath the bright rays of the golden sun.

Rising to her feet, she brushed grass off her pale blue dress. "I simply can't sit any longer, care to join me?" She asked, bouncing lightly in place on the balls of her feet. Her hair bounced with her, curling strands framing her face innocently. Closing her eyes, Cailyn tilted her head toward the sun, enjoying the feel of the warm rays upon her face. There was little she loved more than a bright sunny day, though one could argue that she had a strange affection for heavy rainfall.

[Odette Smith]

Odette watched as Cailyn took the lead in standing up and helping Odette to abandon her studies all together. It wasn't something she had been thinking about but had been mindlessly abandoning. "No, I think I have studied enough." Odette picked up her book, she didn't want to leave it alone in case it would be taken. She was of course under the extra funds of the school because she was muggleborn, and they would not be pleased if she came to them saying she had lost one of their precious books. In fact, she wasn't quite sure what they would do, but she doubted it would be very nice. They may just not give her a replacement and let her fail the class.

Odette stood up and brushed the grass off of her. She was ready to walk with Cailyn. She had had a foot fall asleep and kicked it gently against the tree they had been sitting next to. She watched as Cailyn took in the sun's rays and joined her for a moment in enjoying the heat. But only a moment, she just as quickly snapped back and put her arm out for Cailyn to link with her. "I think a walk could be refreshing. Ready?" She smiled at the Hufflepuff, and put a foot forward, testing how asleep it was.