Visiting Hours

[Holliday Fudge]

Holliday was brimming with excitement. While the resort always had guests—even if only Maureen—the Ravenclaw herself seldom did. That the Urquart twins were to visit for several days was a welcome anomaly, and the young witch had spent the morning ensuring their room (one of those used by the family, rather than one assigned to guests) was in perfect condition. She had even added a small vase of bluebells for an extra touch of home!

When Topaz had said their father had given permission, relief had flooded Holliday. She had done so little for her friend since the nonsense with Miss Lovegood erupted, largely out of a lack of knowing what she could do, and so was now determined to make up for it. She’d written—and then promptly lost—an itinerary a mile long in her efforts to make this the best holiday ever. Well, second to Holliday herself, of course.

After what seemed as though a lifetime of waiting, Holliday put down the book she had been loosely pretending to read and hastened to the entryway to great her yearmates. Without warning, she gave Topaz an overwhelming, squealing hug, offering up “I am so happy you’re here!” whilst her arms still wrapped around the other Ravenclaw.

@'Topaz Urquart'/@'Ophelia Dippet' @'Ruby Urquart'/@'Ellory Pendergast'

The following 2 users Like Holliday Fudge's post:2 users Like Holliday Fudge's post
   Ellory Pendergast, Topaz Urquart

[Topaz Urquart]

Topaz was so ready to leave. Her conversation with Delight following the Announcement might have made things slightly better, but she and Delight were by no means on excellent terms, now. Bash was a lost cause, absolutely hopeless in the war on Miss Lovegood, and Papa was--Papa was wedding planning. He was obviously taking care not to be obnoxious about it, probably in an attempt to spare their feelings, but Topaz was observant, and one could not plan a wedding--even a very small, intimate wedding like he had promised the girls it would be--without leaving some signs of it.

Every day at home was another struggle, and Azzie was emotionally exhausted from it. It took so much energy just to keep her head above water, when every day she felt like locking herself in her and Ruby's shared room and never leaving it again. The mere idea of being able to go somewhere for a few days where she didn't have to deal with Delight and Bash and Papa (worst of all Papa) had nearly set her shaking, as the twins had finished packing that morning.

She'd gotten through that, though, and now, finally, they were here.

She let out a gasp of surprise when Holliday threw her arms around her, but after one startled moment she moved to hug the other girl back. "I'm so happy that we're here!" she replied, squeezing the other girl tight. "I've missed you so much! And... and I wish school would start again," she admitted--she didn't want to tell Holliday how horrible things had gotten at home, at least not here. Maybe in a whispered conversation when she was supposed to be asleep, but family matters were not things to be strewn about and displayed lightly--not even for a friend as close and dear as Holliday. Expressing a wish to get back to school was about as much as she was willing to say about the state of the Urquart home at the moment, though she did add after a slight pause, "I wish there were summer terms. I would have stayed at Hogwarts all year and written you dozens of letters."

The following 1 user Likes Topaz Urquart's post:1 user Likes Topaz Urquart's post
   Odira Potter

[Ruby Urquart]

Envy panged in Ruby's heart when Miss Fudge tackled Topaz in a hug. The wounds from her and Dezzie's fight were still fresh. She'd been angry at Dezzie on that day and she still sort of was, but as the days passed she was also overcome with regret and bitterness over her lost friendship. It was all Miss Lovegood's fault, once again. Her appearance in their lives had ruined everything - even Ruby's closest friendship!

She also wanted a best friend to hug her like that. As the Ravenclaws hugged and gushed about missing each other, Ruby felt like she was third wheeling them. She masked that, behind a neutral expression, though her body language might have hinted to some awkwardness in the way she stood, her charmed portmanteau still in hand.

"Thank you for the invitation, Miss Fudge!" the fourteen-year-old chirped, her voice hinting to more enthusiasm than she presently felt. "We are going to have so much fun!"

The following 2 users Like Ruby Urquart's post:2 users Like Ruby Urquart's post
   Odira Potter, Topaz Urquart

[Holliday Fudge]

“But then you could not have been here!” Holliday protested as she took a step back. “Either of you! And I am so happy that you are!”

And the look on her face showed the earnestness of that fact—the Ravenclaw was grinning from ear to ear at one Miss Urquart, then the other.

“Now, what shall we do first? Oh, but you’ll want to see your room, of course,” the fourteen year old babbled a mile a minute, “and get settled in, and are you hungry? Cook can prepare just about anything for you, if you are!”

  

[Topaz Urquart]

Topaz would have eagerly traded away her brief visit to the Sandition if it meant she did not have to endure the entire rest of her summer, but she wouldn't say as much to Holliday. There was no point in wishing for what-ifs, at any rate; she was home for the summer, and it was rather miserable, but at least she was able to break it up with this trip to her friend's home. Honestly, being able to see Holliday would have been enough to lighten her spirits, but as the other girl continued Topaz was reminded that there was much to recommend this place besides just the presence of her friend.

"Just to put our bags down," she said with a slight smile. "Then you can show us anything you like. I'm not hungry--are you, Ruby?" she asked, glancing over at her twin for the first time since arriving.

  

[Ruby Urquart]

Ruby was a bit hungry, but she didn't want to say so when Topaz wasn't. Surprisingly, she didn't want to be a bother at Sanditon. Had to be with the fact that she felt in the minority there, in a sense. Holliday Fudge was Topaz's friend, nor hers, even if she was on friendly terms with the Ravenclaw.

She shook her head. "Oh, yes, Miss Fudge. Surprise us!" She said enthusiastically though, once again, she didn't really feel that way. Seeing what the resort could offer would hopefully make her feel less sorry about herself.

  

[Holliday Fudge]

Surprising was very much in the girl’s nature, and so she flashed the twins a grin before grabbing each by the hand.

“Then let’s go!” she exclaimed brightly, already dragging the Misses Urquart towards the stairwell that led to the family section of the big house.

  

[Topaz Urquart]

Topaz let out an uncharacteristically enthusiastic giggle as Holliday grabbed her hand, and it was all she could do to ensure she had a firm grasp on her bag before she was practically dragged along towards their room.

"Is the resort very busy right now?" she asked as she followed along behind her friend. She expected it would be, given that it was summer and this was a beach, but she was privately hoping it wasn't too crowded, so that they could spend some time together without the constant presence of other people. She'd felt so often recently that every time she went out of the house she was performing for an audience--first at the Queen's parade, then at the carnival, then the picnic. It was to be expected, she supposed, because of her father's position, but life in the limelight was not at all something Topaz was comfortable with--especially not when life wasn't exactly all roses at the moment.

  

[Holliday Fudge]

“Not so busy!” Holliday returned as the trio moved upstairs, turning her head to look at the twins as she climbed. “We haven’t any events going on right now, so it’s just the usual summer crowd—scarcely anyone to bother us,” she reassured.

  

[Topaz Urquart]

"Oh," Topaz said, beaming at Holliday's response. "I'm glad." Days and days with just her and her best friend--and her twin, of course, who was like a best friend but different. Topaz wouldn't have ever thought to try and compare Holliday and Ruby, because the two were like apples and oranges and she couldn't imagine a loss of either of them--and since she didn't really think of them as the same type of role in her life, she had no idea that Ruby was feeling a little left out at the moment. The suggestion that she might have a favorite between Ruby and Holliday would have left her as baffled as if someone had accused her of hating her mother because she loved her father--the two weren't mutually exclusive, and in fact it was much the opposite!

"Come on, Ruby," she urged her twin as they neared their bedroom, eager to get started. "Holliday said they've got a roller skating rink, won't that be fun?" Topaz hadn't ever been roller skating before!