sunlit meadows, waning brooks

chapter six, part one // the scythe

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December 25th, 1994

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          The soft glow of enchanted candles cast warm, dancing shadows across the walls of the girl's dorm. The frigid wind howled outside the Ravenclaw Tower. She was seated in front of her vanity, applying the last touches of shimmering brown eyeshadow and pinning her medium-length, wavy hair in a half-up, half-down fashion.

          Her calico cat purred softly as it lounged on the bed, watching her intently. The girl reached for her jewelry box, selecting a pair of gold drop earrings studded with deep crimson stones, red glass bangles, and a gold chain with a single garnet pendant.

          She carefully fastened the earrings to her ears and slid the bangles on her wrists. Then, she paused. Her eyes lingered on the reflection of the silver chain around her neck, the ring dangling from it glinting softly in the candlelight. The stark contrast between the silver and blue of the ring and the gold and red of her outfit was jarring. She knew she should remove it, but her fingers hesitated at the clasp. With a sigh, she let her hands fall into her lap.

          The cooling silver always relaxed the girl when she ran her finger over the delicate metal vines cradling the lozenge-cut blue sandstone at its center. The ring was her only source of comfort. Despite her best efforts, she could never recall how she had gotten the ring, only that she had gained it before her life was thrown into chaos. Before her parents murdered each other.

          She carried it with her through all her foster homes, clutching it tightly each night as she cried herself to sleep. It was the only constant in her tumultuous childhood, her only link to the blurry memories of her past.

          Shaking slightly, she reached up, unclasped the necklace, and set it gently in the bottom compartment of her jewelry box. She took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves as she closed the lid with a soft click.

          The girl reached for the garnet necklace lying on the table. Holding it up, she watched the pendant swing like a pendulum. Unlike the ring, she was well aware of the origins of this necklace. It was a gift from her dear cousins.

          In first year, when the girls discovered that they were related, they spent every day trying to get to know each other, starting from the basics. When asked, the girl said that her favorite color was dark red, and her cousins went out of their way to buy her a necklace. It was only a minuscule garnet encased in gold-colored metal, but she was so shocked by their kindness that she cried like a baby when they presented it to her. She wasn't used to receiving gifts; it wasn't like her foster "parents" would buy her anything, let alone care about her at all.

          The girl slipped the chain around her neck. Although it didn't have the same calming effects as the ring, she would make do with the garnet, a reminder that she had finally found her real family.

          A quick glance at the clock told the girl it was time to meet her cousins downstairs to take pictures. She tucked the jewelry box, with the ring safely stored inside, beneath her bed. After giving her cat a gentle kiss on the head, she whispered, "Keep it safe," before hurrying out the door.

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          Charlotte, Vienna, Evangeline, and Sitra were only ten minutes late when they strolled into the Great Hall full of chattering, dancing, and glitter. Their place of dining and conversation had turned into a winter wonderland. The pine trees were covered in holly berries and real golden owls, the walls were blanketed in a glistening frost, and the starry ceiling was adorned with garlands of mistletoe and ivy. White lights danced across the room, reflecting off girls' sparkling dresses as they danced to the Weird Sisters. Charlotte was mesmerized by the change of the Hall and gazed around the room; her breath taken away. As her vision moved around the room, she accidentally locked eyes with Draco. He smirked at her dress as if she wore it for him. Spoiler alert: she hadn't.