Amelia nodded once in response to the woman’s answer to her question, which was thankfully unhindered by superfluous descriptors or further information. She had done what Amelia asked her to do – identified what she was doing on the train – in as few words as possible, and for that Amelia was grateful. It was not a full-felt appreciation for the woman’s succinctness, for Amelia was still in no position to feel much of anything fully, but she did have the awareness to appreciate that the blonde woman had picked up on her less-than-conversational attitude.
Her question answered, Amelia’s eyes wandered back to where the window would have been. Because there was no glass there, Amelia had a perfectly clear view of the landscape surrounding the train, which was beginning to change from toiled fields to the hilly topography that hid Hogwarts from view until one was fully upon it.
The wind which whipped in through the deserted window frame tugged at the corners of Amelia’s blanket and threatened to take it from her, so the lithe Ravenclaw pulled it tighter around herself as if to shield herself from both the wind and the concerned look of the woman sitting next to her. Amelia hated to be looked at with the kind of pity and disquiet that her unexpected companion was showing her because it meant that the strong, independent persona that she worked so hard to adopt and uphold had crumbled in the wake of her previous encounter. It made Amelia want to disappear beneath the blanket and stay there until she could run to the solitude of her dormitory and just sleep all this away.
When the woman spoke again, her words were blunt once more. Amelia was surprised not so much by what the woman said, but with the matter-of-fact tone she had used. This woman was someone she had never met, had no preconceived notions of, and could say very little about. To offer up that kind of information to a complete stranger as the first defining facet of your personality was a rarity; although the Death Eaters were much more open now about their existence and political leanings, it wasn’t often that someone introduced themselves as one.
Amelia nodded to indicate that she had heard the words, not bothering to analyze this information beyond the fact that the woman was out of the social norm in saying it at all. Amelia had never been particularly political as far as Death Eaters versus Order went. She knew both factions existed and she had likely rubbed elbows with both at her parents’ parties – they were more concerned with current social status than how it was achieved – but beyond that, her feelings were rather unimportant. She did not necessarily approve of what the Death Eaters did, mostly because she could not see the logic behind it, but never having experienced a person loss at their hands, Amelia was not filled with the fire of dissent that many felt toward Voldemort’s followers.
“I’m not,” Amelia replied simply, not compelled to add any more because clearly this woman understood the idea of getting to the point. Amelia could think of nothing more to say, as usual, and thus continued to stare out the window as the whistle sounded to signal that they had arrived at their destination, the towers of the castle just visible through the darkness of the night that had come without her noticing. Amelia did not move to get off the train, but rather stayed seated, hoping the cars would empty some before she had to venture out again, no doubt to prying eyes and questions she was in no mood to answer.
by Caelani Bittel Thu Sep 02, 2010 4:43 am
