Getting Back Into the Swing of Things

After stopping off at her dorm, Morgan went to the library. She needed a new book for reading when she had nothing better to do. Maybe a book on the stars would be good... She made her way to the reference section and began looking through all the books related to astronomy, trying to find just the right one.

Morana was sitting at the table, reading quite interresting book about astronomy. She would never expect this subject to be so interresting. Marvolo was into this, but Morana not. She always believed that answers aren't written in stars. We make them. Because that was only acceptable explanation to the question, why is their life so messed up. In the corner of her eye, she noticed girl from Ravenclaw she talked to last year. "Hello Morgan," she said quietly without looking at her.

Morgan jumped at the voice that greeted her. When she looked, she spotted Morana, the Slytherin she happened to meet last year in this very same place. She smiled at her and said lightly, "Hi, Morana. Fancy meeting you here again." Morgan went back to looking at the selection of books before her, "How was your holiday?" When she found one that looked promising, she took it from the shelf and walked over to the table where the Slytherin was sitting. "Mind if I join you?" she asked.

"I would say quite calm. Some family reunions, but nothing else. What abou yours?" Morana asked and also nodded at Morgan's next question. "I don't mind at all," she smiled. "So, stars caught your attention I presume?" she asked curiously.

Morgan took a seat at the table and set the book she picked down. "Mine was alright. Family kind of went a little crazy towards the end. Thankfully, my father took me to the 3 Broomsticks until term started to keep me away from all that..." Morgan said, smile fading. When Morana asked about her topic selection, her eyes lit up. "I love the stars! There is just something about them, you know. They don't judge. They keep watch. Each one is unique to itself... Any chance I have to learn more about them, I take. Do you like them, too?" she asked, noticing Morana's book was also on astronomy.

Morana only smiled for herself as she heard Morgan's question. "I actually do. When the night falls and I can lie on the meadow and watch them quietly. But I am not really in studying them. Let's just say I like holding things in my hands. Stars are too far from my reach," she answered as she looked outside of window. It was early fall, maybe more like end of summer out there and days were still long, which meant night was still far away. It made Morana a bit sad. She was child of the night and winter. That's when she felt safest. At night. Cold snowy night. But right now, any night would do.

Morgan nodded and smiled at Moana's comment. She understood about wanting to hold them in her hands, but as she studied them, she started to enjoy that they were so far away. It meant that she could keep watch over many, many more stars at once. "Are you excited for the tournament this year?" she asked shyly.

"I don't know really," replied Morana almost dreamily. "I was never into getting more attention than necessary, so I guess this event will just pass around me," she explained her reasons. Truth was, she would be much more glad if tournament took its place at Wolfclaw. That was something what would get her excited. She always wanted to see the place. But this way, it was just another school year for her. After all, she concentrated on much bigger goals after meeting with her uncle this summer.

"Well, I hope you will cheer at least, Morana. Even if you don't enter, I bet it will be enjoyable to watch. That's what I plan to do since I..... I promised I wouldn't enter," Morgan said. She was both happy for that, but worried at the same time. 

"Promises are important to keep. I know that well," smiled Morana. She knew this very well, that's why say word promise really rarely. Because people than expected her to keep it. And Morana wasn't this type of person. She was like a wind. Too unstable to keep her words.

Morgan nodded. She, too, believed that once you promise something, then you should do everything in your power to stick to it. She wasn't saddened by not entering herself, but by the thought that her love plans to and might get selected. Morgan would be happy for him, but worried just the same that something horrid might happen to him. "Morana, why don't I ever see you much around the castle? Just here?" Morgan asked. She didn't know where her questions came from, but they sounded good. She really was curious.

Morana chuckled a bit when she heard the question. "I rather keep myself out of people sights. Being Gaunt is not exactly easy position. Specialy not in times like this," she explained. She didn't really know how much Morgan knew about Voldemort and war he was planning, but truth was, everyone was starting to be aware of this situation. "Library is the only place, where I can be without getting judged by others," Morana smiled.

"I understand..." Morgan said quietly. "I used to try to stay away from people becuase they would judge me, too. But then I started to meet new people who didn't care and didn't judge me. I still seek alone time sometimes, as you can see by me being here often," she added. Morgan looked out the window and then at Morana, "I don't judge you. You're nice, I think. Name or not."

Morana smiled at Morgan. "I have no reason to be different, havent I?" she said. Truth was, as usually, that this girl sitting in front of Morana, had no idea who she is really talking to. Morana was highly dangerous. And the worst about her was the fact, how she was capable to mess with someone's head. "But don't worry, I am just a normal girl. With really selfconfident and arrogant ancestors," she laughed.

Morgan giggled at Morana's comment about her family. "Join the club," she teased. "Mine are the same way..."

"True, I forgot you are Prince," smiled Morana. "How they took it anyway? Your family about you being Ravenclaw?" that was one of the things Morana was really interrested in. She never had a chance to be in other house. Gaunts were direct descendants to Salazar himself, there was no chance for her and her sister to belong somewhere else even if they wanted.

Morgan shrugged, "Guess my parents were a little surprised, but not as surprised as the rest of the family." Morgan thought back to the day when they all found out about her house. It was just one more thing to make her different from the family. "They all thought that I would be better going to WolfClaw because.... well, because I'm different. But my parents wouldn't hear of it. They don't care how different I am," she said with a small smile. Even though she didn't along too well with the rest of the family, her parents were good to her.

"No offense, but I think you are too sweet for Wolfclaw," started Morana. "My adoptive mum is deputy there and I know things. Let's just say, Wolfclaws have it far much harder than we do. Dumledore goes easy on us. Headmistress of Wolfclaw is capable of killing her own students once they don't follow her rules," she explained. Truth was, she would love to go to Wolfclaw, but since they didn't have any living family, orphanage send her and her twin to Hogwarts. Morana thought it was for two reasons. First, history of her family in more at Hogwarts than at Wolfclaw. And second, who would want to send someone like little Gaunt girls study dark magic? That person would be insane.

Morgan smiled at Moana's comment about her being too sweet for WolfClaw, "My cousin says the same thing. He doens't think I'd do well there." At the Slytherin's words about the Headmistress, Morgan's expression faded to sadness. "What you say is true. Turns out the WolfClaw Headmistress killed a student at their opening feast this year," she said looking at the girl. "I've heard they also let all sorts of dark creatures in as not just students, but teachers, too," she added, remembering what Severus told her. Then she sighed and looked at the book she had picked sitting on the table, "I'm glad they sent me here."

"Well Wolfclaw is very dark school, that's all," Morana smiled and than remembered what mother told her and Marvolo about the dead boy. "As for the boy, honestly what did he expect, provoking someone like Amelia Grindelwald is suicidal. You can see it in her eyes, Morana said as she imagined those brown eyes she saw at the feast they had with Wolfclaws. "Not much is known about her, but when you look into her eyes, you can clearly say she is very old, experienced and mainly merciless person," she added to explain Morgan what she saw. "Basicaly, she is not exactly person who would hesitate to do any kind of thing. Even the worst one. Without blink of an eye. She is a soldier."

"I agree," Morgan said, remembering how she had felt a shiver run down her spine when WolfClaw's Headmistress walked by. "She definately comes across as a no-nonscense kind of person. It's still sad that something like that could happen at a school by the head of the school nontheless. But, if that's how that school is, well.... Then I guess you're right. You tempt fate, you meet fate on his terms.... Whatever that may be..." Morgan said pulling her knees up onto her chair and resting her chin on them as she held them tight. The sorrow was unmistakable as it touched her words.

"I think somehow, Wolfclaw really prepares its students for the worst that can come into their life," said Morana suddenly after seconds of silence between two girls. Her dark and husky voice waw, as usually full of specialy kind of weirdness. Morana looked outside from window and than closed her eyes for a little while, just to listen to cold wind calling for her. She hated being at one place for too long, but she couldn't simply leave. Maybe tonight. She will slip into her raven form and at least for a few hours forget the world around.

Morgan thought about what Morana had just said about WolfClaw preparing its students for the worst that could come. "Guess being on death's doorstep all the time helps you prepare for when he comes to call. I just can't imagine watching one of your schoolmates be cut down by the one who is supposed to protect you while you are at school," she said darkly, not mean or judgemental, but just darkly. Morgan heard the wind blowing outside and peered out the window. "It's a good night for a walk," she said to no one. Walks always soothed her when she had something on her mind. Maybe Sirius would be up for one later. "Morana, do you think we get prepared for things here at Hogwarts?" she asked keeping her eyes on the moon that was rising over the horizon and a touch of hope ringing on her words.

"I think Hogwarts is school in many things just as naive as its headmaster," answered Morana as she looked back at Morgan. "I don't know if it's good or bad, I guess only time shows," she added with weak smile.

Morgan thought about what Morana said as she looked abck at her and sighed, "I suppose you're right. Only time will tell. I just hope that when, if, that time comes, we will all be able to face it." The twinkle in Morgan's eyes vanished momentarily at the thought of what that time would entail, but it wasn't something to ponder now. "Morana, your sister, Marvolo, is she going to enter the tournament?" Morgan offered.