Common People

[Margaret O'Neill]

Well, that was just another thing she'd never do wasn't it, Margaret thought morosely. Apparition wasn't taught until one was seventeen and even then you had to pay for the test; the test wouldn't be too much trouble of course but without any lessons - and those she certainly couldn't afford away from school - she had no chance.

There seemed to be nothing but a great chasm before her, in which had fallen all the things she'd never get to do now and for the first time since she had received the letter she let her guard down. What did it matter if one girl saw her cry if she was never going to see her again?!

"I'm sorry..." she muttered out, reaching up to wipe away the tears that had started to stream down her cheek. "I'm so sorry about this."

  

[Atalanta Pendergast]

Had she made her companion cry? Face crumbling, Attie racked her brain desperately in an attempt to deduce what she had done so wrong, other than the obvious, of course, but her saviour had volunteered to help her and she didn’t seem the sort to cry over something like accidentally being thrust into a wall: she was terribly brave and dreadfully strong! Nonetheless, Atalanta felt awful and ignoring the throb of protestation in her ankle she loosened her grip on the other girl and rubbed her fingers soothingly over her arm.

“Sorry about what?” she asked gently, her brow creasing. “You saved me!”

  

[Margaret O'Neill]

Margaret sniffed back her tears as best as she could, reaching into her pocket for a handkerchief. She was being utterly childish and if Janet was here she'd ridicule her until she stopped but rather than her sister's unkindness or her brothers and dad being uncomfortable the other girl was instead trying to be kind. It was almost enough to make her cry more.

"Don't be silly, someone else would have helped you if I wasn't there. And I'm sorry for crying in front of you."

She tried to wipe away her tears as delicately as she could and sniffed again.

"I know it's not polite."

  

[Atalanta Pendergast]

“Not polite?”

Attie’s nose crinkled up in a rather unladylike manner. It was entirely inconceivable to her that this girl would apologise after everything she had done for her and even more baffling that she thought she was anything but wonderful.

Atalanta Fawley had no idea who this girl was, rich or poor, pureblood or not, but she resolved, then and there—she would have made an Unbreakable Vow even!—that she would befriend her, and do her very best to ensure she never cried again; she owed her so very much after all.

“You’re been nothing but wonderful. I think you’re the kindest person I’ve ever met.”

  

[Margaret O'Neill]

Margaret was fairly sure that she was probably the poorest person Atalanta Fawley had ever met but she wisely chose not to comment. It would only make her angry to consider how much people like the Fawley's had and what they could give their daughters when she had to leave now without even a few OWLs and be a housemaid forever. It wasn't this girl's fault after all... Still the annoyance was there and Margaret felt it bubble.

"I'm not. And please don't say 'met' as though we're friends."

Margaret squared her back, taking a deep breath to stave off the tears finally and nodded towards the Hospital Wing.

"I'm sure you can manage the rest yourself."

With that she swept away from Miss Fawley, quite safe in the knowledge that she would probably never see the other girl again for as long as she lived. It wasn't an especially pleasing thought that she would never know a girl like her, but Margaret was already astute enough to know that people like them simply didn't mix.