The Nostalgia of Simple Times

[Marguerite Gauthier]

 

Note: Open to all Ravenclaw members

Fall - 17th October, 1887

After bathing herself, Marguerite pick the books her father had gifted during summer, a few contemporary studies of the Human anathomy, as well, intriguing compilations of research which had been done by Muggles and Wizardry members of nowadays society, all delightful in their own way, yet, she could not help to pick the black rosebud she always carry with her and gaze through out the stainglass window of her dorm and wonder how much Totó would love to be in Hogwarts...

It may had been hours, or just a fraction of time, but nothing seem to make fade that gloomy look that she had always carry since day one. She tries her best to keep in touch with all other ladies of her age and elevated status (even though she would never deny her aid to the less fortune ones, at least the ladies, since the idea of speaking with another man was unthinkable, her father and mother would not approve such actions... And yet, she could not inquire to herself why she had to act like Unspeakable a majority of her time? Not that she mind, in fact, she was grateful that she could not socialize with others, it ment more time for her to focus on her studies) ; although, it was not an easy task, when all you seek was to be by yourself, drowing in the memories of a stolen childhood.

However, her melancholic line of thought were interrupted when Faust, her cat, took her lap as his personal napping place "Well... Are we quite comfortable? You know is quite rude to give to such intimacy with a lady without the proper concent, you should be ashamed..." she reprimend her cat, although her tone was soft and her hidden smiles dismiss her words. The cat only yawn back at her "Oh Faust... If life was so simple like that..." she confessed seeing how relax her cat was.

  

[Augusta Selwyn]

Augusta was still not in her right mind, not with her mother just having died at the beginning of the month. She was now staying with her Aunt Katherina, who wasn't really her aunt at all. She was her paternal uncle's wife and the sister of the Lestrange patriarch, a family that could only come with more drama than her quiet lifestyle desired. To make matters worse, her aunt was insistent that she was going to be Augusta's new "mother figure" — something the third year didn't really desire at all. She just wanted to be left alone.

Augusta had wandered into the Ravenclaw common room with the intention of heading up to bed before everyone else arrived for the evening. She glanced over to see the French girl talking to her cat — something that quickly brought an amused smirk to her lips.

"What are you up to?" she asked quietly, taking a seat somewhere near the slightly-older girl. She recognized the woman as another pureblood, but it was also quite obvious that she wasn't an English pureblood. She'd never had an issue with the French, but did find their accents when speaking English irritating.

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   Marguerite Gauthier

[Marguerite Gauthier]

By now it was common knowledge in the society about the poor mademoiselle unfortane, dragon pox, such tragic ending and yet she would not blame the girl for not wanting to dwell amoung other members of society, Marguerite might not be as found of her mother as she was of her father, yet she could not imagine losing her... After all, ever since Totó had pass away the Gauthier household had never been the same, the years pass by, and yet the mourning for her brother soul still linger in her family minds. Although she was not sure what could be worst for the young mademoiselle, her mother lost or the news of the Lestrange wanting to arbour the young maiden in her household.

Yet, when the girl approach her she was unsure what to say "Ah Mademoiselle Selwyn, I had not noticed your presence. Do not mind me, I had this terrible habit of speaking out loud my thoughts, my Mèr..." she was about to mention how her mother used to often reprimend her about her speaking aloud her own thoughts, but she refrain to proceed with her words as she realize the mention of her own mother might be unpleasent to the girl "Pardon, I should avoid this terrible habit of mine... Would you like a cup of tea?" she offer in hopes the case slip by without the young mademoiselle notice what she was about to tell, hopefully her knowledge of french was not as good as her own... But then again, in an age of industry, where the french literature bring to the table a new vision of the world,it would be hard not to know at least the common knowledge of french.

  

[Augusta Selwyn]

Augusta took the invitation to sit with a smile, remembering the advice that her Charms professor had given her: "Don't isolate yourself during a time like this. You need your friends, and the truest of friends will remain by your side during this tragedy."

"Yes, thank you," she responded politely. Augusta's knowledge of French was as good as most upper class ladies' would be in that era; she was completely fluent, even if it was difficult to understand a French accent spoken in English. She did take it upon herself to ignore the slip up the other girl made, needing no reason to knock the smile off her face in that moment. She hoped the girl's tea would be something soothing rather than energizing; she was very much ready to head to bed after they finished their conversation.

"Have you been doing schoolwork? I don't suppose your work is far too different from my own," she commented. The other girl was an OWL-level student, meaning she was studying similar things as the third year Augusta.

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   Marguerite Gauthier

[Marguerite Gauthier]

She smiled and pull of her robes the delicate wand and with a delicate wrist movement Marguerite cast a conjuring charm "Wonderful, may I suggest a Nepeta Cataria herbal tea? Although, if that not suit your taste, I suggest something perphaps more acquaintace of mademoiselle taste, Melissa Officinalis." she said, reciting the herbs names in their latin form, unaware, since a moment ago she was focus on her books, making sure to assemble her precious tea set, painted by hand by old artisans with sublime flowery patterns and handles bathed in gold leaves. "Would you like sugar or a drop of honey in your tea? What about milk?" she inquired before serving to the young maiden, although, she honestly thought was crime to mix milk with tea, yet, she refrain from saying outloud her opnion.

As she prepare their tea, with the aid of a few elementary charms, the Ravenclaw mademoiselle inquired about her work "I think the true question is if I ever pause my studies habits." she jolt amused with her own joke of herself "But I guess it is true our works may not be as far from each other, I picked last year Arithmancy and Care of Magical Creatures just to reinforce my anatonomy researches..." and Marguerite left the words drifting in the air as the reason why she is hardworking night and day as hit her, making her gaze drift in the emptyness as her hands reasch for the dark rosebud she carries with her, making her spil her own teacup "Ah!... I am sorry... Where was I? I am humbly sorry." she said as she grab a handkerchief to whipe her evening gown.

  

[Augusta Selwyn]

The other girl seemed dull enough to be comforting to the newly-orphaned child. She rambled on about her taste in tea, about her studies, and then recollected her thoughts to turn her attention back on Augusta — the perfect sort of distraction she needed. She shook her head thoughtfully, allowing the teacup to be passed to her.

"I can drink tea of all sorts," he responded, "I've had enough family gatherings where I've been forced to drink every and any type of tea you could think of," she finished with a smile. She took a quick sip, noting the immense heat and bitterness of the brew. She was fine with that; a sweeter flavor would likely upset her stomach while still feeling so uneasy from the month's events. She hadn't even been able to touch the pudding in the Great Hall without feeling sick!

"I chose to take Ghoul Studies, Care of Magical Creatures, and Ancient Studies this year. I know it's a lot, but I couldn't help but be curious about all three. History is by far my favorite subject, hence the latter joining my schedule," she explained.

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   Marguerite Gauthier

[Marguerite Gauthier]

Marguerite could not help to let a gasp of dreadful shock escape her lips, when the young maiden retell her misfortune"Oh dear, no lady should be force to go under such circunstances, well, do fright mademoiselle, I will assure no bitter tea be fall on your teacup. So I guess Melissa Officinalis will it be." she assure to not drop any honey on her cup, since might make the lemon tea too strong for a night drink.

After cleaning her gown she let herself enjoy the warm cup of tea, or what left of it, while listening to her words. "Ghoul Studies? A peculier choice, if I may ask, what make decided to select show course?" as she inquired, she could not help to pour another cup of tea for herself "Would you like some more?" Marguerite said, not wanting to be rude to her house member "History... Well it sure has its own appeal, although, I am far more intriguided by healing branch. Have you consider what prospects you may follow after your graduation? I know, there is still a few years ahead, but time seem to move at a different for those alike us..." her expression when from a courtesy smile to a melancholic one, as if her eyes had seen something deeply profund in that single cup of tea.

  

[Augusta Selwyn]

A smile was tugged to her lips at the other girl's tone; she seemed very friendly, and a friendly face was exactly what she needed at this point. She took the tea graciously and enjoyed a sip of the sweetness, being jogged back to memories of her pre-Hogwarts days when the housemaid would always bring something especially sweet to the young Augusta. She'd never been a fan of overly strong and bitter tea, but neither did she enjoy something that could've been purely liquidized sugar! Miss Gauthier's tea was a good medium.

"Ghoul Studies was just that: an interesting choice. I didn't have a strong interest in the likes of Arithmancy nor Ancient Runes, and Divination is rumored to be a silly, nonsensical subject for those wishing to get by without much work," she explained. "I thought Ghoul Studies complimented Care of Magical Creatures and would introduce me to a subject I had little existing knowledge about."

The other girl proceeded to go on about her own wishes, and while she listened she nodded her head and held out her teacup. Augusta definitely had no desire to become a healer; that was not something she imagined Aunt Katherina would approve of.

"I'll likely attend finishing school, as do most of the young ladies in my extended family." And by extended family, she meant Aunt Katherina's family — the Lestrange family. Olivia Pendergast, Aunt Katherina's sister, was the founder of the school after all! "After that, I'll likely enter society as a debutante and hope to secure a husband before too long. I've never been one with career ambitions."

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   Marguerite Gauthier

[Marguerite Gauthier]

It warm her heart for a moment to see her acquaintece enjoying her humble brewed tea, she was sure her work was not as good as her servants, still a young lady like herself would never be stopped by that, otherwise how could she become more indipendent? Perphaps her father realize that sending her to Hogwarts would be an elegant way of bestowing Marguerite's wishes of be less dependable on others. Yet, being in such a lovely atmosphere made her miss her dear beloved brother... Oh poor soul, how young he was when the dark angel took his soul, even nowadays that moment still had a great weight in her life.

"I had not thought of that prespective, perphaps I should had expand my academic horizons, although, what is done is done, and there is no turning back. I must confess I neither see great potential in seeking such courses as Divination or Ancient Runes, not only is elementary the kind of knowledge you are request but a branch very subjective, and personally, I prefer study and analyse precise facts, they are far more intersting." Marguerite comment with quite passion "Although the same reasons that lead you on that route are what made me expand my studies beyond the veil of our world, I believe both wizards and muggles have a good amount of knowledge to learn and share with each other." she paused, affraid she had spoken to much, without even knowing if the girl in front of her was in favour or against Muggles, the Dark Ages were far gone, yet, she knew there were still wizard families who dislike the acceptence of non-wizardry members of society to enter in Hogwarts, or even being accept as one of their own after their graduation.

"I apologzies I perphaps spoke to much than I should..." she said and listen Augusta words carefully, however, she could not help to feel slightly sad that another bright young maiden still thought that women should relay on a good marriege, instead of emmacipating and be dependable of themselves. "That is a quite interesting path, I think is quite lovely that you want to honour your family traditions." Even thought her personal opnion about marriege, she always like to honour her parents wishes, well, most of them, since she was trying to avoid her debut in society as farther as she could be allowed, and for that she treasure her father with great admiration and regard.

  

[Augusta Selwyn]

Despite being in Ravenclaw, Augusta had never considered herself a terribly academic-minded person. Young ladies were not meant to be the world's next greatest potioneers or doctors — they were meant to be star socialites and loving mothers. Her mother would've been horrified at the prospect of young Augusta having career aspirations, and she imagined her Aunt Katherina would feel the similarly.

"I think only harm can come from interacting with muggles," she said honestly. "I mean - they just so different from us! Magic and muggle technology are not meant to be in the same room together," she explained, regurgitating exactly what she was taught as a child.