[Rhiannon Heathcote]

That morning over breakfast Rhiannon had received a parcel and letter via owl from her parents. Reading the letter she learned to her delight that the package contained rebound and charmed Muggle novels; both states a result of her parents’ not unreasonable abundance of caution in times like these. Although Rhian kept mostly to herself in the common room and spent the majority of her time away from it, there was no sense in drawing attention to herself with Muggle materials in Slytherin these days. To the casual observer they were books on Herbology and Herbalism. Even leafing through them would lead one to such an assumption without the right charms to see through the very specific spells suffusing the books. No one was surprised to see a nobody like Rhian get excited over Herbology and generally seemed to be paid no mind. She, however, was doubly excited. Not only did she have new novels to read but she had new novels to share. Of course the list of people to be shared with was awfully short, but that didn’t dampen her joy a whit.

Later that afternoon, after classes were out for the day, Rhia went to meet Andrea. She had the books tucked into a satchel as she headed out of doors to their usual courtyard. She’d even stopped by the Kitchens to ask the House Elves for a sweet, afternoon snack to share. Today it was fresh biscuits and a small, closed pot of jam to enjoy with them.

Upon her arrival she didn’t immediately see her friend so Rhiannon settled herself and her belongings at an out of the way table only really big enough for two. Sweets went on the table but all but one book stayed in her bag. She was almost halfway through the first book she’d started so she settled back in her seat to read, looking up every so often to see if Andrea had arrived. When she saw her approaching she smiled up at her and gave a wave.

Andrea Travers

[Andrea Travers]

Unlike Rhiannon, Andrea doesn’t get pleasant gifts from her parents when the Owl Post comes along in the mornings. In fact, much to her dismay, the package that came in the post is worse than any girl like her could imagine. She unwraps the paper, takes one look at it and cringes before covering it up again. She never wants to lay eyes on that abomination again. She knows she has no choice. In the end, her mother will send a howler asking about it and demand pictures. Andrea will have no choice but to put on the dress and get one of her dorm mates to take a few polaraids for her mother. Across the great hall, she can see that her friend, Rhiannon has gotten something as well. There’s a new sense of excitement in the air that allows Andrea to ignore her own impending doom a little bit longer. When her friend gets a package from home, it’s almost always something wonderful the two of them can share. It’s never something embarrassing. The dress is likely not to fit over her newly acquired rolls beneath her armpits anyway and her mother will have to send it to the seamstress. Or...perhaps it could accidentally get stained with pumpkin juice... There are already thoughts forming in her mind on ways to ruin the dress and force her mother to get her something more suitable. It takes all Andrea’s concentration to focus on classes while watching the clock count down until she can meet her friend. She’s practically bursting when she reaches the courtyard. "Tell me your day was a hundred times better than mine started out as..." Rhiannon Heathcote

[Rhiannon Heathcote]

It was a shame all these blood purists had their heads up their arses and had a kink for killing anyone who had a whiff of Muggle to them. A good book did wonders for a person; gave them an escape, a different point of view, and a whole new world to explore in the mind. For some reason there were less fiction and fantasy in Wizarding bookshops, which was a real shame. Most purebloods didn't even know what they were missing. Rhian would have been happy to share her book hauls from home with more people but it was so dangerous to even suggest that Muggles might have something the Wizarding world didn't that she didn't dare. There was a reason she had so few friends. But Andie was truly a gift to have as a friend and Rhia wouldn't trade her for all the gold in Gringotts.

Not having an abundance of friends, Rhiannon treasured those she did have. She wanted to kidnap Andie for a holiday break but to date there had yet to be a way to pull that off. Pureblooded she may be, but Rhian wasn't wealthy and had grown up in a Muggle village and that's where her parents still lived. A family like Andrea's wasn't likely to look at that favorably. They were well out of the hustle and bustle of normal Wizarding life and that's just how they liked it. Maybe after graduation they could dare a visit to Aylsham or something. In the mean time she would share her secret Muggle gifts with her friend and enjoy every moment of joy they could squeeze out of it.

"My day went pretty well all things considered," she told Andrea. "Had some trouble in Transfiguration but it's all small stuff." She gave her friend a sympathetic look as she said, "Guess you got a crappy start to the day. Need to talk about it?"  As she spoke she pulled another 5 books out of her bag and set them on the table next to the biscuits and jam. They looked boring as hell to the average person but her parents had taught her a wordless, wandless charm that she had, in turn, taught Andie. It let them see through the glamour on the pages and past the spell that made them seem unobtrusive and forgettable from the outside. Admittedly though, the covers looked like nondescript reference books through the purely mundane processes of rebinding.

Andrea Travers

[Andrea Travers]

It’s like an unconscious motion where reaches for the biscuits and the jar of jam on the table that Rhiannon has brought along for their meeting. She does not need the snack, nor is she hungry, but it’s like her hands have a mind of their own and she’s ready to dig into something sweet. She can’t seem to help herself and there’s a sudden wave of shame and guilt because she knows what her mother will. That wave of guilt is gone as soon as the biscuit reaches her lips and the taste of sweet jam hits her tongue. She’s in much better spirits immediately and makes a noise. “Uck! No. It was awful. Mother sent me a dress.” And it’s not just any dress. It’s the dress she is expected to wear for the silly tradition of coming out to society when she turns sixteen. Andrea has no desire to do that. Nor does she want to be paraded around for men to bid on like she’s some prized cattle. She realizes how awful it is to think that way, especially because she looks like a prized cattle but Andrea does not need the reminders that women in pureblood society have one purpose. She has bigger plans. “What do you have over there?” She knows a good book when she sees one, even an enchanted one. Rhiannon Heathcote

[Rhiannon Heathcote]

As soon as Andie made a reach for the sweets, Rhian joined her. The biscuits weren't warm still but they were still mouthwateringly delicious especially with the jam.  She was glad Andie was enjoying the treat as well.  If she was lucky her mother would have figured out the spell for the portable tea set she'd been working on and then they could have a proper afternoon tea. Rhiannon loved tea and loved sharing tea time with a friend even more. In the mean time treats from the kitchens alone would do. The House Elves had offered a magical tea set but it was a fribbly looking thing and she was honestly too embarrassed to be seen using it so thank you but no.

"Oh that's awful," she commiserated. "For the whole presentation nonsense?" she guessed. It was a stupid tradition that even she had been cajoled into participating in even though she wasn't from a wealthy enough family to have any prospects there. It had been a singularly miserable experience for her. She was conventionally pretty enough to get some cursory interest but was rather fleeting once her family was a known quantity. It wasn't as if she was interested in boys in that way in the first place, though, so it was no skin off her back. That was considerably under wraps, though. Even her parents didn't know and Rhiannon was pretty sure they'd still accept her if they did. It was just... a hard topic to broach. At least they weren't well connected enough for a lot of the more well to do pureblood traditions. Saved her a lot of headaches she presumed.

"All that aside, look at these!" she said with quiet excitement, handing Andie one of the books. "Apparently these recently came out and Mother got a little carried away." Usually she got a book or three at a time but her mother was so sure that Rhia would enjoy all of them so she'd gone ahead and gotten them all set up to send all at once. It wasn't as if Rhian couldn't speed through a good book in record time if she put her mind to it. She'd taught Andie the right charm to see the books' true contents a good while back, so she just happily made her stack of books accessible to her. 

Then she helped herself to another biscuit and jam.

Andrea Travers

[Andrea Travers]

She closes her eyes as the biscuit enters her mouth and sighs in delight. She does not need these extra calories but perhaps she will take the longer route back to the Ravenclaw Tower later just to make herself feel better. “Mhm.” She responds and then grins. “I’m coming out so you be get this party started.” Her parents would be furious to know Andrea had just sung the lyrics to a futuristic muggle song that would hit the top of the charts. She has no idea herself. Then she frowns. “As if I need to be paraded around to be ridiculed more than I am.” And she shoves the rest of the biscuit into her mouth without a care. Being from a family like hers, the Travers being one of the sacred twenty eight pureblood families with the deepest roots and pockets, Andrea is always forced into the limelight and it’s always miserable. She had a few friends she could try to hide behind – Regulus, for example – but she is constantly pushed towards pureblood dweebs who take one look at her and even the most pimply of the dweebs scoff and turn the other cheek. It’s a rough affair she has to endure year after year but this is her year. “Yes, let’s!” Andrea fills the void of despair with another biscuit and takes out her wand to cast the charm on the stack of herbology covered books. When the spell is cast, she sees beneath the covers and gasps. “Oh! Look at these indeed!” Andrea picks up the top one and admires it. “I love the writing on the front, how do you think they do that?” It’s not like the muggles have magic. Rhiannon Heathcote

[Rhiannon Heathcote]

Rhiannnon was glad her friend was enjoying the treat she had brought. She tended to second guess herself fairly often so it was good that her selection today was a good one. Although she was unaware of the futuristic song lyric, she couldn't help but crack a lopsided grin. Then, knowing what she knew about Andie's mother's track record with selecting clothing for Andie, had a sudden idea. With a glint in her eye she asked, "Andie, what would your mother do if you got the dress tailored to flatter you? Mother's best friend does magical wardrobe alterations and I bet she could fit you in before the whole hullabaloo has to happen." Andrea deserved better than to be paraded around in an ill fitting dress and the nice thing about magical tailoring is that you could basically add fabric so it wasn't limited the like the non-magical way.

But they were really here for the books right now so Rhian's slightly conspiratorial grin transformed into an eager smile as her friend admired the covers. "Honestly I don't really know," she replied to the question. "I know they have all sorts of printing technology nowadays but don't know much of anything about it. But," she went on, eyes glittering gleefully, "The best parts are between the covers, of course." She, for one, was looking forward to losing herself in the different worlds that lived between those covers. There were few things in life as satisfying as curling up with a good book and some tea.

Andrea Travers

[Andrea Travers]

Andrea enjoys all sorts of treats. It’s a comfort to her. She enjoys eating. And when there’s a book with the snacks its even better. Rhiannon really knows her well. Books, snacks, their own little isolated corner where other purebloods can’t snoop and use their secret book club as ammunition to attack them with later. While she is fiddling with the biscuits and listening, Andrea finds herself perking up immediately. “You...you mean that?” Her mother would be furious to think Andrea would even dare but if the dress looked good and she suddenly got the attention her parents sought for her. Andrea isn’t sure what to say. No one has really, ever been so kind to her as to suggest helping her with parental troubles. “I could hug you!” Andrea exclaims, but she refrains from doing that. It wouldn’t be proper. Her head bobs up and down as she acknowledges what Rhiannon is saying. She can’t help but still adore the beauty in the cover. “Have you read any of them yet?” Rhiannon Heathcote

[Rhiannon Heathcote]

Rhiannon too enjoyed treats. There was something very comforting about sharing treats with another and personally, Rhian did so whenever she could manage it. She didn’t have the pleasure of being able to do so in her own common room for the most part but with friends like Andie who needed that? Their friendship honestly kept her sane most days. It was something to hold onto when time in her House made her feel uncomfortable or hopeless; something that had been happening more often as of late.

“Of course I mean it!” Rhian reached across the table to clasp one of Andie’s hands in lieu of the mentioned hug. “I’ll owl Mother and ask her if Miss Amy can meet us at Hogsmeade this weekend to get measurements and collect the dress from you.” she said with some excitement. She wanted to make her friend happy; wanted her to feel comfortable in her own clothes, her own skin. It was utter bollocks that her mother was such a damnably toxic harpy.

When asked about the books she lifted the book closest to her and said, “I’m about halfway through this one. It’s really fun so far!” A blue and silver bookmark protruded from the top of the pages slightly, sunlight catching on the silver gilding as she placed it back on the table.

Andrea Travers

[Andrea Travers]

There is something so surreal as having a friend actually come up with a solution to help her in her current predicament. Most of her so called friends are fake. They don't actually like her. They tolerate her because of her blood status. It's disheartening for a girl who just wants to be liked, and even stand a chance at one day being loved. She knows her fate is dull in that regard. Most boys don't look at her like she's anything special. And boys are the only proper option. "I would be eternally in your debt if Miss Amy could help me look half as decent as you do on a daily basis in this dress!" Andrea means this. She think Rhiannon is beautiful and has heard the boys talk about her friend's beauty - though not always in the nicer terms. Andrea knows she will never be thought of like that but to even turn a few heads would be nice. If she could garner some interest, her parents might back off. "What's it all about?" She asks, focusing on the purpose of their meeting instead of her own doom and gloom. Rhiannon Heathcote

[Rhiannon Heathcote]

It didn’t occur to Rhiannon to act any other way with Andrea. She cherished the other girl dearly and wanted to show that any way she could. She didn’t have many friends and those she did have were very dear to her. And she felt bad for Andie; for having such an uncaring family. Rhian knew she was lucky to have two loving and supportive parents and wished she could just kidnap Andie so she could have some well deserved love and support in between bouts of school.

“Nonsense!” she said to Andie owing her. “What’s a nice act between friends? Besides,” she added. “All I’m doing is sending an owl.” Rhian was completely sure that Miss Amy, who was practically like an aunt to her, would be happy to help out. She’d done almost all of Rhian’s own tailoring after all, hence her non-robe clothing fitting her so flatteringly. “Once Miss Amy works her magic on whatever hideousness your mother sent you’ll be amazed I promise.”

Oh right, the initial point of this was the books. Bringing her mind back to the subject at hand she said, “It’s kinda silly,” she admitted. “The author pretends that he’s abridging the book or something and he has all these asides in the text as footnotes. It gets a little annoying in places but the story itself is fun.” She paused to snag a biscuit before continuing. “There’s this girl named Buttercup and she’s kinda a jerk to the farm boy, Westley, but then they fall in love so he goes off to make his fortune or something so he can marry her and then all sorts of things happen. It’s got some very fun characters so far. She opened the book to the title page to show the title as “The Princess Bride”.

Andrea Travers

[Andrea Travers]

Andrea fixes her friend with a look. One that leaves her blinking in disbelief. "It's more than that. It's an owl that could change everything." Andrea can't imagine what it might be like to step into something that makes her look beautiful for once in her life. She can't imagine eyes turning in her direction. The only time this happens is when she's the brunt of a poor joke and the aim is to hurt her feelings - because someone like her obviously has none! She gives her hefty shoulders a shrug. "I know it's completely silly to feel this way but I just want someone to look at me like I'm more than...this..." She gestures to herself. It's not entirely her fault. Her mother tells her all the time she just got unlucky and inherited all the unseeming genes within the family. Her grandfather's bone structure, to be precise, which already makes her huskier than other girls. Her eyes widen. "Buttercup? Her name is Buttercup? Poor girl..." And suddenly, Andrea giggles, she's feeling a little less self pity now except that Buttercup could easily change her name just as easily as anyone could. It's not so easy to change one's genetic make up. "That sounds sweet though...wouldn't that be a nice kind of love to experience?" Rhiannon Heathcote

[Rhiannon Heathcote]

Rhiannon put down the book and reached across the table to brush her fingers against Andie’s hand, tentatively, as if she wanted to grasp it but didn’t want to come off wrong. “Andie,” she said fervently. “If I can help even a little bit to make you feel better in your own skin I’ll do it. Just you wait, I’ll commission Miss Amy to make you a whole new wardrobe once she gets your measurements so you never have to wear your mother’s horrible taste again.” Her voice was soft but impassioned and spots of color rose on her cheeks.

Buttercup’s unfortunate name was completely dismissed as she went on. “You’re not ‘just’ anything, Andie. You’re you and I think you’re beautiful. You’ve just been kicked while you're down and shoved into unflattering clothes your whole life and if I can do one thing to stand in the way of all that, by the Morrigan I will,” she swore with utter sincerity.

“I believe that you will find someone who will love and appreciate you for every wonderful thing you are,” Rhia went on, referencing her friend’s sentiments about the brief book summary so far. “Because you’re worth so much more than you think; than you’ve been allowed to think.” She could feel her cheeks and ears burning with a flush she couldn’t control as she spoke but knew in her gut that Andie needed to hear good things about herself.

Andrea Travers

[Andrea Travers]

Her friend has no idea what this means to her. Andie turns away because there is a sting of tears hurting her eyes. She blinks it away and decides she needs a handkerchief. Luckily, there is one tucked into the pocket of her oversized jacket that Andie produces and dabs her eyes. "Allergies," she lies. It's foolish of her. Her friend knowns Andrea is sentimental about all kinds of acts of kindness when her world is full of such cruelty. Andrea believes Rhiannon is only speaking out of the affection they share as friends. A friend would say all those nice things she is telling her. It's like, in the friendship code. They have to boast each other up, though, Andrea needs more boasting than Rhiannon ever needs. The girl is gorgeous. Andie has seen the jaws drop whenever they walk through the halls together and she knows it's not because of her, unless she's wearing an unfortunate sign on her back or there's toilet paper stuck in her shoe. Both things have happened to her in the past. "You're such a good friend to me. I am lucky to have you." It's all she can find to say. She does not agree with everything Rhiannon has said but there are some aspects to it that are true. Perhaps she is worth more to some people. "Now, let's talk about Buttercup! How far have you gotten? Does Westley come back?" Rhiannon Heathcote

[Rhiannon Heathcote]

Rhiannon’s own eyes were stinging a little as she finished her impassioned little speech but she blinked the slight blurring of her vision away. She smiled at Andie’s patently false excuse but wasn’t about to naysay her. She understood the feeling and had no desire to embarrass her friend. Instead she patted her hand gently before leaning back to bring her hands back to her book.

She wasn’t entirely sure why her heart was in her throat throughout that little outburst but she swallowed it and looked down, willing her cheeks to cool the sudden flush that had suffused them. Her ears felt almost numb, presumably from the swell of emotion she had just expressed, but it wasn’t a common feeling for her so she just endeavored to ignore it for the time being. All she really knew was that Andie was a very important person to her and deserved only the best of the best things ever.

With a shake of her head and a smile Rhian replied, “Nonsense! I say I’m the lucky one. So we might have to agree to compromise and admit that we’re both lucky here.” She didn’t have an abundance of friends and treasured those she had dearly. Andie probably qualified as her best friend, Houses be damned.

Belatedly she got back to the book, a wry smile pulling at her lips. “Well that might ruin some twists don’t you think?” she asked. “I will say that poor Buttercup gets betrothed to the truly horrendous prince of the kingdom. His name is Humperdink and he’s the absolute worst!”

Andrea Travers