 |
~~Writing
Workshop Anthology~~ |
Fall
Term 2005 Writing Workshop - Characters Hermione
McGonagall, he846 - "Façade for a Foe" |
Façade for a Foe by Hermione McGonagall He
brought the cool goblet to his parched lips. A trickle of sweat rolled
down his face, unhindered by the light summer breeze blowing in from
the window. Inside the goblet, the muddy mixture frothed and bubbled.
Glancing sideways at the crumbled figure on the ground beside him, he
muttered a vague apology to the motionless body. Reassuring himself
that he would explain everything upon his return, he finally sipped
from the silver goblet. At once, his body convulsed as the goblet fell
onto the ground with a clatter. Great Expectations by Jenna Hathaway Marissa Evans stood in front of her new dorm in the Hufflepuff common room, her hand held above the doorknob hesitantly. She was afraid of what might happen when she entered; the same thing that had been happening all day almost every time someone spotted her for the first time. And she was seriously tired of having to face it. She was supposed to be sharing this dorm with four other girls, so that meant four more people she’d have to deal with for the next few minutes. Here's hoping they're all Muggleborns and have never heard of Hailey. Would that be too much to ask? Taking a deep breath, she turned the knob and stepped inside, hoping luck was on her side. Unexpectedly, only a pair of eyes stared up at her when she came in. The pale blue eyes of another blonde girl that seemed to be another first year. And Marissa couldn’t help but notice that the eyes held a mix of curiosity and warmth, the emotions that were absent from the other pairs of eyes she’d seen looking at her all day. “Hello,” the girl greeted her. “You must be another one of my dorm mates. I’m Sophia Carson,” she added, smiling and extending her hand toward Marissa. Relief washed over Marissa so strongly that she felt faint for a second. “Oh, hi! I'm Marissa Evans. Nice to meet you.” Sophia smiled and looked at her curiously. “Why do you look so tense?” she asked quizzically. “Oh. Nothing,” Marissa hastily said. “It’s just… a lot of people already know me and I'm getting a bit tired with all the spotlight.” She blushed, knowing that might sounded arrogant. “Really?” Sophia seemed intrigued. “So why does everyone know you? Are you famous or something?” “Well… not me, exactly,” Marissa answered reluctantly. “It’s my sister. Maybe you’ve heard of her. Hailey Evans?” “The name doesn’t ring a bell,” Sophia admitted. “Well. She was like… queen of the school the whole time she was here. Very popular among both boys and girls. Very smart. Graduated with Outstanding grades for all her subjects. Got offer to join the exclusive Auror squad in the Ministry of Magic before she even left the school. Most Valuable Player for the Gryffindor Quidditch Team for five consecutive years. The biggest phenomenon ever since Harry Potter, practically.” “Wow,” Sophia’s eyes widened. “She sounds so… perfect.” “Yeah, and thanks to her, lots of kids have been shrieking ‘It’s the famous Hailey’s sister!’ whenever they saw me. The whole Hufflepuff table pretty much went into a hysterical party when they knew I got sorted there. Everyone’s expecting I’ll be just as great as my sister was. It’s like… I don’t even have my own identity,” Marissa sighed and sat down on an unoccupied bed. “That’s a lot of expectation to live up to,” said Sophia softly, her tone genuinely sympathetic. “You shouldn’t listen to them, though.” Marissa looked up at her new friend, curious. “Why?” “Well, obviously, because you’re not her. I have no doubt you can impress everyone with your own way. I mean, I already like you and I don’t even know your sister. I think you’ve got your own charm.” “How do you not know her, anyway? She’s a living legend here.” “I’m Muggle-born. I never knew about Hogwarts before I received my letter. And your sister, the living legend? Well, I never read about her in Hogwarts: A History, so she must not be that great,” Sophia winked, indicating that she meant that in a joking way. Marissa laughed, loving the girl already. Somehow she suspected they might just get along nicely. *** It was a cool autumn day when the Quidditch tryout for the Hufflepuff team was held. Marissa was not sure how she ended up there, but Sophia, who had seen her fly, told her she definitely had talent. And so, reluctantly she had signed up and did the tryout. She realized she loved the feeling of flying indeed, but she wasn’t sure she was good enough. She was originally trying out for Keeper, but when the results were announced a few days later, she was shocked to find her name listed as the team’s new Seeker. “There has to be a mistake!” she said in panic to Dylan Thompson, the team captain, as she burst into the team’s changing room right after she read the list. Dylan looked up at her, surprised but didn’t seem disturbed at all. Clearly he was expecting this. “Marissa, I’ve seen you fly. Your agility is way too good to be wasted in the Keeper position. Seeker would do you more justice.” “But I don’t want to be a Seeker!” “You do. You’re just afraid you can’t. I’ve seen the way you looked at that Golden Snitch and the people who tried out for Seeker with envy.” Marissa blushed, suddenly feeling so self-conscious. How could Dylan read her like an open book? “Look, just give it a try. One practice. See if you like it. That’s all I ask. Okay?” He smiled reassuringly at her, and Marissa had no choice but to nod uncertainly and leave. *** “You have to do this, Marissa,” Sophia said with such determination. “You're our house's only hope!” They were sitting in their dorm room that night, after Marissa’s first practice as Seeker. Dylan asked her to give him the confirmation the next day; whether she was going to accept the position or not. “But I can't! Being a Seeker is a tough job and it's... it's just too big of a responsibility for me!” Marissa shook her head, looking a bit pale. “It's not a responsibility! It's a privilege! And anyway, you want it, don't you? Otherwise you would've never bothered going to that one practice Dylan asked you of. You have talent. That's why they pick you. Now come on, go and tell our captain you're in.” “Sophia...” “Look, I'm tired of seeing Gryffindor beat us, alright? You've got to do this. Step up for once. Didn’t you say you wanted to make your family proud in your own way? Well, this is it.” Marissa stared at her friend, indecision clear on her face. But at last she sighed and nodded. “Fine, I'll do it.” *** “Sometimes I wish I didn't have a sister,” Marissa stated matter-of-factly, looking straight into Sophia's eyes. They were sitting on the Hufflepuff table that morning, having breakfast before class. Sophia gasped. “You don’t mean it.” “I do too,” Marissa nodded solemnly. “My life would be so much easier if Hailey weren’t around. Or if she weren’t the big sister. If only I was born first…” “Oh come on! You love your sister and she loves you. Stop thinking about the things you can’t change. Focus instead on the things you can. Stop being so hard on yourself. You’re no different than your parents if you keep using Hailey as your parameter on how good you are.” “But what have I done so far, really? Other than landing the Hufflepuff Seeker position?” Marissa sighed, getting frustrated with herself. Sophia rolled her eyes. “And it’s not a big achievement? Hello? Seekers are special.” Marissa smiled grimly. “I suck, don’t I?” Sophia’s eyes widened, and she put down her fork impatiently. “Marissa, I swear, I will knock your head if you don’t stop insulting yourself…” “Well, that’s just what I mean,” Marissa cut her. “I can’t stop torturing myself. Hence I suck. I should have more self confidence. And be more grateful for my talents. I can’t believe you still want to be my friend, having to listen to all this crap.” Sophia’s expression softened, and she extended her arms to hug her friend. “You don’t suck. And I’ll happily smack you every time you start this rant again. Someone has to be there for you to convince you otherwise, after all.” *** At last, winter holiday had arrived. The first ever Quidditch match between Hufflepuff and Gryffindor had taken place, and it had been one big event that everyone would always remember. Marissa had caught the Snitch in the most appropriate time and made Hufflepuff win for the first time in seven years against Gryffindor, causing the whole house to be enveloped in such uproar. She had practically become a hero. Impatient to tell this wonderful news to her parents, she wasted no time telling them all about it on the way home from the train station. Her parents seemed proud, but they were eager to know more about her achievements. And their questions were starting to bother Marissa. “So, what else did you do, honey?” Mrs. Evans asked expectantly. “Other than winning this wonderful match?” Marissa bit her lip uncertainly. “Well… I do well in my classes, I suppose.” “Any awards? Career offers? Do you have lots of friends?” Mr. Evans prompted. “What? Career offers? Dad, this is only my first year!” “Well, Hailey did get her first offer on her first year…” Mrs. Evans began, but it was at this moment that Marissa realized she couldn’t take it anymore. And this time, she actually decided to do something about it. “That is enough! Okay, Mom, Dad, look. I'm sorry... I just can't do this anymore. You've got to stop having these irrational expectations about me,” she snapped at her parents, something she'd never done before. “I am not Hailey. I am different. I am me. I do things my own way. I'm sorry if that doesn't make me perfect, but this is me! Accept me for who I am. I have flaws, and I have my own strengths. I'm trying my best to be a great student here. So stop expecting me to be the same as my sister, because... because I'll never be. I'm sorry, but I just never will be.” Her parents were silent for a moment, clearly shocked by her outburst. They exchanged a look that was ridden with guilt. “Marissa… I’m so sorry. You’re right, of course. I’m just… hoping you’ll be as great as your sister,” Mr. Evans said. “Well, I can be great in my own way, Dad. And maybe I’ll never be as great as her, because if you didn’t realize it, that’s a pretty high expectation. Not everyone can do what Hailey did. Not even me. It doesn’t mean that just because we’re related, than I automatically get everything she has. It doesn’t work that way. Please stop comparing us; that is all I ask for. Because I feel very worthless around her enough as it is.” “Oh, honey, of course you aren’t worthless!” Mrs. Evans squeezed her arm warmly. “I’m sorry. We’ve been… pressuring you. I promise that’ll never happen again. I wish you’d told us sooner though, because we didn’t realize you felt that way.” “Well, I guess I never had the guts to. But now I do.” “You’re free to shine in your own way, Marissa. We won’t be disappointed, I promise,” Mr. Evans added with a smile. “Thank you,” Marissa said, suddenly feeling a heavy burden had been lifted off her shoulder. Maybe now she could actually enjoy her live without the shadows of her sister. Maybe there was still hope after all. Maybe this was what she should’ve done in the first place. Sophia would be so happy for her. At the thought of that, she smiled happily. “Thank you.” It had been years since they had last seen each other. Six years, since they had parted, as lovers and friends, on two separate missions that drove them apart. He had traveled the world, seen placed and things he had hardly been able to imagine before… but all he thought of, all he dreamed about was her. Her beauty, the way her skin felt under his fingers… And now she was standing here. She was even more beautiful than he remembered. They way she looked at him. The way she smiled… he could tell. She’d missed him too. She had been waiting for him, she had been dreaming about him like he had dreamed of her. All his fears, his terrified thoughts that he had been away too long, that she might not even remember him, that she had changed, that she had surely found another.. all those fears where gone. Forgotten the moment he saw that smile. He opened his arms to embrace her, to make everything right again. To forget the lonely years and continue right where they had left of. Friends, lovers… But the moment of intense joy lasted but a second. Then… there was a sound, tiny feet just outside the room. A child, barefooted, wearing nightwear stepped into the room, and reached his arms out to Ronja. Liam
stared and he paled. Suddenly all joy at seeing her again had disappeared
from his eyes. “ a son…” He whispered, his throat hoarse and painful as she picked up the child and held him in her arms. “ You have a son..” He could feel his heart breaking. The hope the precious hope he had held onto for the last six years was crushed. A son. That meant… the boy had a father… and… that meant… she wasn’t his. Not anymore. He’d lost everything… She didn’t seem to realize how badly it would hurt him. As if she had already forgotten he had loved her too. Oh! She looked so proudly at the child. “ His name is Will.” She said, with so much love his broken heart filled itself with jealousy. He was lost, he was beaten..“ So that’s it then.” He whispered, summarizing what had happened. “You left me and found another.” She frowned, and shook her head. “ No Liam…” That hurt him even more. She would deny it? With evidence that was so obvious? That was starting him in the face with his little thumb in his little mouth? “
What’s his age.. Four?” Four.. that meant he was conceived
five years ago.. he had barely left back then. It had not taken her
long to forget him at all. Five. He had never meant anything to her. ”
You…You… I thought.. I really thought… “ He
could not but his thought into words. He was so hurt. So.. betrayed. “
Don’t, Lee…” Ronja whispered. He could see the pain
him her eyes. It hurt to see her like this, it broke his heart…
again. And that made him furious. *She* had betrayed *him* “ A SON, RONJA!” his fury was overwhelming now. “
That’s right.” She said, with an infuriating calm. As if
she could not understand his anger. “Merlin,
for a person so intelligent you can be extremely stupid, Liam Cullen.
“ A smile was hidden in the corner of her mouth. “
You still haven’t figured it out? His name is Will, Liam. After
his father…” She looked at him, searching his face, waiting
for him to understand. “
William...” He mumbled, and then his eyes grew wide as he finally
understood. He looked at the boy again. He looked at her. And at the
boy… he hardly dared believe it. “ But….” “
A son…” he breathed. “
Call me Lee.” He said softly, looking up at her, searching her
eyes, asking for forgiveness. She smiled. “ My Lee.” She said, and kissed him. It seemed a broken heart could mend in a heartbeat. “I wouldn’t drink that if I were you.” Elphaba turned and narrowed her eyes, the cup of punch still close to her mouth in challenge. “And why not?” Fiyero shrugged. “Well, I guess I would drink it, but I didn’t think you’d want to. At least, not if you’re wanting to stay coherent tonight.” “Oh.” Her eyes widened for a split second in understanding and surprise as she lowered the cup, but Fiyero hardly registered the change before her face was once again defiant. Without another word she sat the cup down on the table and returned her gaze to the dance floor, her fingers rapidly tapping some rhythm that only she knew. “What, no ‘thank you’?” Fiyero asked in a good-humored tone, taking a seat next to Elphaba. “For what do you believe you deserve a thank you?” she asked dryly, tilting her head slightly to look at him from the corner of her eye. “Nearly running me over with your cart this morning, then making a jibe at my verdigris? Organizing this party, which I now have to painfully endure? Remaining here next to me when I obviously am not in want of company?” He frowned, taking a moment to attempt to regain his footing. “Verdigris?” he finally asked, confusion clear on his face. “My skin is green, Master Fiyero,” she said, as if explaining to a child that the sky was blue. “Well, yes, but what does that have to do with - ” he cut himself off at her smirk, and decided to change tactics. “I may have organized the party, but I didn’t force you to be here. Why did you come?” “Galinda invited me.” “That doesn’t answer my question,” Fiyero countered, “Why did you choose to come?” Her eyes darted to her hat, sitting on the table next to her cup of punch. Fiyero waited patiently, giving her time to form an answer, but before she could speak Galinda bounced up and broke the silence. “Ooo, good, you two have met! I was going to introduce you two myself, but I was distractified, Misses Shen Shen and Pfannee insisted that I speak to them- ” “We actually ran into each other this morning,” Fiyero supplied, smiling at his date. “Literally,” Elphaba added under her breath. Galinda didn’t notice, as she was too busy grinning back at Fiyero, but Fiyero did, and he gave Elphaba a slightly apologetic look. “Look, about that - ” “Oh, Elphaba, you’ll never guess what Madame Morrible told me tonight!” Galinda interrupted, too excited by her train of thought to let Fiyero finish. “Well, actually I suppose you would guess, as you were the one who initiated it. But she’s letting me join her sorcery tutorial!” She waved her new training wand enthusiastically, causing Elphaba to flinch slightly. “Isn’t that great!” “Wonderful,” Elphaba replied, a wary smile on her face. Fiyero had the feeling she was wondering what she’d gotten herself into; he’d hardly known Galinda for one day, and already he knew he’d rather not be around her while she attempted sorcery. “Are you going to dance anymore?” Galinda asked Elphaba, practically bouncing on her toes as the band struck up a new song. “I was actually planning on heading out soon,” Elphaba said quickly. “It’s been… interesting, but I was hoping to get a head start on Dr. Dillamond’s essay tonight, and I’ve already stayed much longer than I’d originally planned.” “But the party’s hardly started!” Galinda pouted. “I really think I’ve had enough for tonight,” Elphaba said, casually returning the pointed hat to her head, hoping Galinda would get the subtle reminder of what she’d been through. Thankfully the blonde appeared to have brains after all. “Oh! Of course, yes, it was been quite an…eventful night. Just let me grab my things and we can head back to our room.” “No! I didn’t mean - you can stay - ” Elphaba tried to clarify she hadn’t meant for Galinda to leave as well, but the shorter girl had already hurried off to find her purse. Fiyero tried to stifle his laughter. “Does she ever listen?” “When it suits her needs,” Elphaba said simply, standing at last, her eyes following Galinda across the room. She suddenly turned back towards Fiyero. “Possibility.” “Come again?” “Possibility. You asked why I came tonight. I came for the possibility, the potential in what could happen.” “And what did you want to happen?” Fiyero asked carefully, surprised she was willingly giving him an answer. “It makes no difference what I wanted,” she said matter-of-factly. “All that ultimately matters is what actually comes to pass.” “Well then, are you glad you came?” Elphaba turned again to find Galinda, who was now making her way back through the crowded ballroom, her purse clutched tightly in her hands. “I’m satisfied with the direction things appear to be heading in,” she said at last. Fiyero knew that once again she’d avoided directly answering this question, but this time he didn’t care. Upon Galinda’s return he bid the two of them goodnight, gave Galinda a quick kiss, and promised to meet her the next day. A not-so-small part of him hoped he’d be seeing Elphaba soon as well. Only
two people were allowed to enter the castle, and the travelers had elected
Adalie and Alexander to go. So, the two stood uncertainly at the castle
gates. After a few minutes had passed, Adalie finally spoke her mind.
"What if we are not supposed to go here?" |