Gwyneth

April 21, 2007 7:35 AM

Gwyneth

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Lost in Thought by Gwyneth

Gwyneth curled up in one of the comfortable chairs tucked away in an inconspicuous corner of the Common Room. 'So much had changed over break,' she thought. 'I thought I knew who I was. Then this year my whole life turns upside down.' She reread the letter her Grams had sent to her.

Dearest Gwynie,

I am so sorry that I can't be home for holiday with you. Something has come up and I must attend to it. Your mother will fill you in and answer any questions you may have.

'And after reading the rest of the letter and hearing what her mother had to say, boy, did I have questions,' Gwyneth thought with a small grimace.

I am so proud of you. We, your mother and I, weren't sure if either of my lovely granddaughters would inherit the magic. You certainly surprised us with your growth spurt! But then you always were such a precocious child. And your sister seems to be following in your footsteps! She may be joining you at Sonora in a couple of years. I am proud of both of you.

But, now that you are at Sonora, it is time that you learn about your mother's side of the family. You've no doubt heard in school about purebloods, half-bloods, and Muggles. You are a half-blood, not a Muggle as you may have supposed. I am from the pureblood Lee family of Virginia. When I was younger I was a bit of a rebel, just like you are sometimes! I fell in love with a handsome young man who was a Muggle and married him. Oh, it caused quite a stir in our social circle! But, who cares what others think as long as you are true to your heart. Here Gwyneth had to smile 'cause that was one of Grams favorite sayings. Shortly after I married your grandfather (what a pity you never knew him, he would have spoiled you so!) I was offered a position as an Auror. When I found out that I was expecting your mother, I left the field work to others.

But apparently I didn't leave soon enough. I had made some powerful enemies. Shortly after your mother was born, there was an accident at our house. No one could ever quite explain what happened. But that day your grandfather died in the accident. Some of my colleagues at work feared that it was the Dark Arts, although they couldn't prove anything, and advised me to hide for a while. I had just lost your grandfather and wanted to protect my young daughter. To make a long story short, I took your mother and left. We went to live in the Muggle world where I felt we would be safe. Obviously, we were safe because your mother grew up, eventually married your dad and had you and your sister. There was never any sign of the Dark Arts and I really began to feel a bit foolish with my "precautions."

I wondered if we were being too careful, really. Time passes and life moves on. Enemies die and grudges are forgotten. I have been in touch lately with some friends from the old days. Nothing was ever proven about the accident that killed your grandfather. So it probably was just that, an accident.

So, there's the story in a nutshell, Peanut. I wish I could have told you in person, the story gets better and better everytime I tell it! But I wanted you to know about my side of the family. I hope you aren't angry that we kept the truth from you all this time. We were just waiting for you to grow up enough.

Can't wait to see you this summer. I'll send you something fun from my trip.

Love,
Grams

Gwyneth gently shook her head for the hundredth time after rereading the letter. Grams' story was like a fairy tale. It didn't seem to be real. Yet her mother had filled in some details and been notably vague about others. But in the end her mother had told her, "It's all ancient history, and who should know better than me, a history teacher!" with a light laugh.

Gwyneth had been reassured by her mother's lighthearted treatment of their family history. But she was her mother's daughter and had learned one history lesson early on, those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. Gwyneth wasn't sure how else history might repeat itself, but suddenly she wanted to know more about her Grams' work.
0 Gwyneth Lost in Thought 0 Gwyneth 1 5


Camren Christianson

May 05, 2007 5:08 PM

Camren Christianson

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Sorry to interrupt... by Camren Christianson

Camren had done the jig just like Kaylie had shown her how to do it. At first she didn't think she had done it right, but it turned out that it must have been right...

She was able to get into the Common Room after all. Kaylie was a good teacher. Camren would have to remember to thank her later...

Camren went up to the dorm that Kaylie had told her was hers and unpacked her trunk. It was different to her, she didn't know anybody in Teppenpaw... At least in her old school she had Kat and even Anna... Camren sighed, and finished her unpacking. Camren touched the locket that her sister and cousin had given her with a sigh. She wished that her mother waited till next term to put her into school, that way at least she would have Caden and Kasey... There was nobody in her dorm, so Camren decided to go back down to the Common Room. 'Maybe I will find someone to make friends with there...?' Camren thought to herself.

When Camren got there she saw a girl curled up in one of the chairs in the corner, she felt bad interrupting her, but she looked like she could be a really good friend...

"I'm sorry to bother you... but I'm new here... and... and... I'm sorry... I shouldn't have bothered you... you're busy..." Camren said as she bit her bottom lip and looked down at her feet. She shuffled her legs around and her feet rubbed together like a grasshopper's did to make its clicking noise. Her feet though, did not make the noise like the small green insect.

'I shouldn't have gone up to this girl, I should have just stayed with Caden and the rest of the family at Aunt Catharine and Uncle Corban's house...' Camren couldn't help but think of what her father had done to her, to Caden, to her mother, now pregnant... Camren gingerly touched her wrist through her clothes and wondered if he would find them...
0 Camren Christianson Sorry to interrupt... 0 Camren Christianson 0 5


Gwyneth

May 06, 2007 8:33 AM

Gwyneth

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Not an interruption but an introduction! by Gwyneth

Gwyneth was about to put the letter from her Grams back in the book she was also holding when a new student came over to where she was sitting in the Common Room. She hadn't noticed the girl until she had said, I'm sorry to bother you... but I'm new here... and... and... I'm sorry... I shouldn't have bothered you... you're busy...

Looking up with a slight smile that turned into a quizzical look, Gwyneth was surprised that she didn't at least recognize the girl. She didn't know all of the Tepps to talk to, but she thought she at least knew everyone's faces by now and knew all of the first years from classes together. "Hey, not a problem. I was just finished reading a letter from my Grams." Gwyneth pushed her glasses back up into place as she looked the girl over. 'Nope, no one that I recognize,' she thought. 'But she looks about my age, not likely to be more than a second year, maybe.'

"I'm sorry for staring. That was rude of me. I thought I knew everyone in the house, at least by face. But I don't recognize you. I'm sorry if we've met before and I've just forgotten. I guess I don't have a good memory for names and faces," she said with a rueful laugh. "So, just in case we've never met, Hi! I'm Gwyneth Aquillon, first year."
0 Gwyneth Not an interruption but an introduction! 0 Gwyneth 0 5


Camren

May 06, 2007 11:56 AM

Camren

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Yea, an introduction! by Camren

Camren looked at the girl after she had said she was sorry to have bothered her. Camren felt AWFUL...

The girl looked up at Cam quizzically and she spoke to Cam. "Hey, not a problem. I was just finished reading a letter from my Grams."

"Really?" Camren asked. She still felt awful about interrupting the girl, but she knew that the girl wasn't mad. This mad Camren smile a small smile in the girl's direction. The girl pushed her glasses up and looked at Cam.

"I'm sorry for staring. That was rude of me. I thought I knew everyone in the house, at least by face. But I don't recognize you.

"Oh, its alright..." Camren started to say, but the girl went on.

"I'm sorry if we've met before and I've just forgotten. I guess I don't have a good memory for names and faces. So just in case we've never met, Hi! I'm Gwyneth Aquillon, first year."

"I'm Camren Kateri Christianson, it's nice to meet you. And you're right, we haven't met. This is my first day..." Camren looked at Gwyneth and smiled shyly, and then switched to her feet. They seemed to be moving around nervously as well. Camren tried to stop her feet from clicking like the grasshopper, but she had no luck at first. "I'm sorry... I'm a little nervous..." Camren added quietly, chewing on her brown curly hair (just like she always did when she was scared or nervous). What if Gwyneth thought she was weird? Or what if she didn't want to be friends with her? Where were Kat and Anna right now? What were they doing? What about Caden? Momma? Kasey?

The faraway look clouded Camren's eyes as she thought about the people she missed, and what had happened in the last few months to change her life completely... Her hair gently grazed her shoulder that was still a little bruised, and the short stabbing pain brought Camren back into the Teppenpaw Common Room. She was safe, they all were... As long as her father couldn't find them...

"Sorry..." Camren said to Gwyneth. "I was just thinking..."
0 Camren Yea, an introduction! 0 Camren 0 5


Gwyneth

May 06, 2007 12:22 PM

Gwyneth

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To New Beginnings by Gwyneth

Gwyneth immediately noticed how nervous the girl was and suddenly understood when Camren said it was her first day here. 'First day??? But term started ages ago,' thought Gwyneth with a slightly puzzled look on her face. Something about Camren reminded her of her friend Brooke back home. Yes, the nervous movement and the hair chewing. That was it. Gwyneth's smile returned. Perhaps Camren, like Brooke, would settle down a bit once she got to know you. Still, except for the nervousness and the hair chewing, Camren seemed like a nice girl. Something about her also reminded Gwyneth of Hyana, whom she had met in Potions class before Midterm. She thought she should introduce the two girls.

Noting the daydreamer look in Camren's eyes, Gwyneth wondered what she was thinking about. 'Probably home, family and friends. Like I did at first,' she wistfully thought. Hoping to chase some of Camren's homesickness away, Gwyneth said brightly, "I hope you will like it here. This is my first year at Sonora. I felt kinda out of place at first. But I settled in and am really starting to feel like this is my second home now."

Gwyneth remembered that there were a few transfer students who arrived after Midterm and presumed that Camren might be one of them. "So, I don't mean to be nosy or anything. I heard there were a few new transfer students. Are you one of them? Where did you go to school before this?"
0 Gwyneth To New Beginnings 0 Gwyneth 0 5


Camren

May 06, 2007 12:46 PM

Camren

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New Beginnings... Sounds good... by Camren

Camren had completely forgotten that she was standing in front of Gwyneth as her thoughts brought her closer to the pain in her wrist and shoulder. Camren knew that he wouldn't bother them anymore, at least as long as he didn't find Momma and Caden... But who knew? What if he did? Camren's thoughts were broken by a change in the way that Gwyneth was looking at her. She looked at her, seemingly confused how this could be her first day. Camren sighed, hoping that he wouldn't find them after all. Though she still loved him, she knew it was because he was her father, not because of the things he had done to them...

"I hope you will like it here."

"Oh... I'm sorry..." Camren said, taking her hair out of her mouth and shaking her head to rid her mind of the thoughts that had entered since walking over to Gwyneth. "I was just thinking..." Camren said as thankfully Gwyneth continued speaking.

"This is my first year at Sonora. I felt kinda out of place at first. But I settled in and am really starting to feel like this is my second home now."

"Thats wonderful! I hope that happens with me too..." Camren said, remembering Kat and Anna and how she was starting to feel at home with them...

"So, I don't mean to be nosy or anything. I heard there were a few new transfer students. Are you one of them? Where did you go to school before this?"

"Yeah, I'm one of them... My Momma took me out of my old school. Its a long story... But she told me not to tell anyone where it was... She's afraid..." Camren said, but she wasn't going to say what her Momma was afraid of... She didn't think anyone would be able to understand like Kat had at her old school...

Camren wanted to explain to Kat what had happened, but she didn't know if she could... She was afraid, like Momma was, that he would find them through letters or through friends at school... Camren didn't want Kat or Anna to get hurt by him, she wanted to at least warn them...
0 Camren New Beginnings... Sounds good... 0 Camren 0 5


Gwyneth

May 06, 2007 4:32 PM

Gwyneth

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It will be by Gwyneth

As Gwyneth listened to Camren, she felt like there was more to the story but Camren was reluctant to say at this point.

My Momma took me out of my old school. Its a long story... But she told me not to tell anyone where it was... She's afraid... 'She sounds scared," Gwyneth thought. Her face clouded over a bit. It wasn't right for a kid to be scared.

'Something is wrong, really wrong. Her mom is scared, moved her out of her old school at midterm?' Gwyneth puzzled over the clues that Camren had inadvertently dropped. Her heart went out to the new student. It is hard enough to be at a new school, but to be carrying a secret, too. Too much for most people to handle. She wished she could help this new student but somehow knew it was something beyond her small abilities. All she could do was offer to be a friend and to help Camren make some new friends here at Sonora.

"Well, Sonora is a terrific school. You'll see! Some of the professor are great and some are a little, well, weird. But most of them are okay. Classes are fun and there are some extra activities like Quidditch and Charms Club if you are interested." Gwyneth felt like she was babbling but she wanted Camren to feel safe here.

She knew that whatever Camren's problems were, she should talk to an adult. She wasn't sure how to let Camren know that the adults here seemed genuinely concerned about the students. "Professor McKindy is the Charms professor. He is kinda wacky, wearing a pink bubble hat and all. But he really listens to students in class. And Professor K, she teaches CoMC. I couldn't keep my puffskein, but she said I could come down and help care for them and play with them. I haven't seen our new Head of House yet, but that another person you could talk to . . . if you needed to," she offered.
0 Gwyneth It will be 0 Gwyneth 0 5


Camren

May 06, 2007 11:31 PM

Camren

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Yea... Thanks... by Camren

Camren looked at Gwyneth as she spoke. Suddenly she felt like this school may be home... and that Gwyneth may be just like Kat, but it slightly different ways...

"Well, Sonora is a terrific school. You'll see! Some of the professor are great and some are a little, well, weird. But most of them are okay. Classes are fun and there are some extra activities like Quidditch and Charms Club if you are interested."

Camren smiled at Gwyneth. "That sounds really nice..." Camren looked at her new friend and said, "Thanks... You're making me feel comfortable already... I wish my sister and cousin were here this term and could meet you right now with me..." First Gwyneth had babbled, but now it apparently was Camren's turn... That for one thing meant that they would be great friends. Camren didn't babble to just anyone... Or for that matter talk about her sister to just about anyone... Maybe she DID know who she could trust after all...?

"Professor McKindy is the Charms professor. He is kinda wacky, wearing a pink bubble hat and all. But he really listens to students in class. And Professor K, she teaches CoMC. I couldn't keep my puffskein, but she said I could come down and help care for them and play with them. I haven't seen our new Head of House yet, but that another person you could talk to . . . if you needed to,"

"Thanks... Its good to know all of that if I needed to talk to anyone..." Camren said to her. 'Have I said things I shouldn't have?' Camren wondered to herself. 'What did I say? I need to be careful of what I say... We don't want all this leaking out... And I need to make Sonora safe for Caden...'

"I'm fine..." Camren said to Gwyneth. "So, what should we do?" Camren asked her. "Lets do something... What do you suggest?"

Camren hoped that her changing the subject would help Gwyneth forget about anything she could have said. She didn't need any problems here... And she wouldn't have any, as long as her father didn't find them...
0 Camren Yea... Thanks... 0 Camren 0 5