”What motivates you, Nessa?”
“Love. I think. Or the want of it.”
“The lack of it?”
“Something like that.”
"What, then?"
"Maybe I'm just tired of people covering up who they really are. If you threw away your kid because they were a squib, wouldn't you feel guilty?"
"Of course."
"My folks don't..... And they should. They will."
Rolling her eyes, Nessarose lit the letter on fire at one corner and watched the parchment burn away as she furrowed her brow at where it dissipated into the air. Tucking her wand into her right boot, Nessa straightened, wrapped her scarf around her neck, and pulled a light sweater on. It wasn’t too very cold out, but it wasn’t quite warm yet, either. Leaving the Slytherin dormitories, Nessa ignored the second year that greeted her and let the door close behind her.
Whatever this kid wanted, it had better be worth it. Nessa wasn’t going to be pleased if she walked all the way out into the forest and came back empty handed or entirely the same as when she went. Huffing, she tossed her dark hair over her shoulder and bounded down the steps onto the grounds. While she would admit to not having been busy as of late, she wouldn’t complain if she had a bit more to do with her time. Whatever Moira wanted, perhaps it would give her a way to get what she wanted.
The Bridgewood daughter needed to be found.
And possibly avenged.
Nessarose nearly stopped at the edge of the woods, trying to recall exactly when she had decided to make that goal her life’s mission. For the past few years, it was all she thought about when she wasn’t working on school assignments. There was no way to guarantee that her goals could be met if she didn’t find her way to the top, though. That had to be done, and soon. Otherwise her adoptive parents would just continue to get away with what they had done. It wasn’t like they would see it coming; they didn’t know that she knew. Overhearing people, though often the best way to hear negative things about oneself, could also provide insight and create determination. Nessa knew this better than anyone.
Shaking her head, Nessa closed her eyes briefly before steeling herself and taking the first of many steps into the forest. As she came upon the clearing, Nessa wondered again if she had ever met the guy she was supposed to meet. He apparently wasn’t at Hogwarts anymore – otherwise, couldn’t she have just met him somewhere secret besides the forest? If they were caught, it wouldn’t look good (though she hardly had reason to care, did she? What did she care if her folks got mad?).
She cleared the line of trees as she caught sight of the boy standing in the middle of the opening, lifting an eyebrow in slight surprise. At the very least, he was cute – though, really, he was more on the attractive side. Nessa stood a little taller, determined to show whoever he was that she wasn’t going to back down if the right offer were made.
“I got your letter…” She started vaguely, hands stuffed into her back pockets as she waited at the edge of the trees. She was waiting for him to catch sight of her so she could see if she could place him. Nessa half wanted to see if he recognized her, even if she didn’t remember him.
“What does Moira want from me?” She added belatedly, realizing how vague she sounded. At the very least, she had to address the situation. Prove she was the right person, provided he wasn’t sure.
As he turned to see who had approached, Nessa’s eyebrows both raised fully in surprise. No, she definitely didn’t know him, but she found herself stepping towards him and eying him cautiously. What could this boy offer her? Her subconscious commented lightly that his being attractive could be helpful, but Nessa swatted it away with a mental glare. Her eyes flicked over his face and gave him a quick once over in an almost silent question. Her stance was nearly like that of a scolded animal sidling up to its owner and wondering if the human could be trusted again. One shoulder forward, she stopped when she had nearly reached him and blinked a few times as she awaited the explanation for the meeting.