curl [up] and [die]

[Gwendolyn Xiang]

<sup>The owlery is a vast ceilingless building off the side of Hogwarts castle. There are big perches and small perches for every kind of owl imaginable, some owls were students' others were the school owls, for the general use of students and teachers alike that did not own their own owl. It was to the owlery that Gwendolyn directed her steps. As soon as she was out of the castle Gwen took a deep breath of the fresh fall air and smiled, there was a serene peacefulness in her solitary footsteps, and the soft hoots of owls from the building just up the stairs from her.

As she mounted the stairs the young witch heard more footsteps and laughter, she turned and saw a group of Slytherin fifth years heading toward her. Clutching her letter to her chest Gwen hurried up the stairs hoping they wouldn't see her, or if they did that they wouldn't take the time to torment her...she was wrong.
"Hey, what's the hurry mudblood?" called one of the boys.
"Probably off to find someone to fix her hair!" shrieked a girl gleefully.
Oh, just leave me alone. she begged them silently.

They had caught up to her and one of the boys had pushed her into the stone side of the Owlery her arm scraped against it and began bleeding a little. One of them grabbed her letter and began reading it in a mocking high pitched tone, stopping every few lines to comment to his friends.
"Dear Mum, The classes here are great-oh a little bookworm-but sometimes I wish I could just be homeschooled. -can't do that can you mudblood, taught magic my a muggle- I have failed ot find one decent person in this whole school, and my old friends left me once they found out-" at this point Gwendolyn hurled herself bodily at the Syltherin and tore her letter from his hands. He hit her upside the head and two of his friends dragged Gwen off of him. Before they had time to hit her again she fled back into the castle and sat down with her back to the wall, her forearm was grazed and bleeding, her jaw was sore from where the Slytherin had hit her and a bruise was begining to bloom. Sighing she crumpled up the letter and buried her face in her hands.



<<this makes me feel bad for all the things I put my charries through...poor Gwen.</sup>

[Holly Walker]

Holly felt bolder. Not much, but alittle. She had a few closer friends now. Adam and Della to be exact, plus Teddy.. but she hoped he would become more of a friend. Thats right, Holly had her first serious crush. True, she was now sixteen.. and yes it was sad it took that long.. but she was quiet and shy. Walking up the steps, she heard abit of s scuffle.. shrinking against the wall she closed her eyes and waited until a few Slytherins came down the stairs. Holly was suprised that she did not get the usual "hey mudblood". Oh well, maybe when Adam stood up for her it scared them. She doubted it, but whatever. Rounding the stairs she walked into the owlery. Suprised to find a younger girl sitting on the flood sobbing, and bruising. Holly sank tot eh floor beside her are you okay? what happened? she asked softly. Who was this girl? she didn't know. But it didn't matter. She looked like she needed help! Holly set down her letter and knelt down fully. Now nobody coming up the stairs would be able to see up her skirt!

[Gwendolyn Xiang]

<sup>Gwen would never forgive herself for crying, for admitting weakness, but it had been such a close call, if the Slytherins had finished that letter it would have been all over the school in half an hour that she was a monster. Fear, pain, and shame had moved the girl to tears. Gwendolyn was calming down when she heard someone coming up the stairs, panicking she vainly tried to stop hiccuping in case it was another Slytherin: never let the enemy sense weakness. If there was one thing Gwen wouldn't do, it was go quietly, but she was bottom of the pack, a thirteen year old in the midst of carniverous older students. Thankfully it wasn't a Slytherin, it was a Ravenclaw, from her blue striped tie.

I'm ok. Gwen whispered wiping her eyes, her blue eyeliner had run a little bit, but it didn't look too bad. Brushing stray turquoise and black hairs from her face she looked up at the girl who had been so worried about her: she had darkish hair and bright eyes, her skin was pale, soemone who didn't go outside that much(as a quidditch player Gwen never really understood this), and she looked about fifteen or sixteen eyars old. I'm ok. the witch repeated a little louder as she smoothed out her crimson and gold skirt.</sup>

[Holly Walker]

Holly smiled, leaning up against the wall beside the girl. She noticed the colors on her skirt... A Gryffindor. Holly bit her lip I don't think you are.. I know what yo go through.. they tease me too. I'm a muggle-born as well she said putting a hand on the girls shoulder. Hoping she was not freaking her out all that much. I'm Holly by the way.. I'm in Ravenclaw she said brightly. The girls hair was amazing. So.. different! Holly's was just boring old brown. She had no bold appearence like the other girls... I have a friend in Gryffindor, Adam Weasley, do you know him? she asked softly. The girl looked like abit of a loner, Holly was a loner too, but she had come out of her shell slightly since her date with Teddy.. they had ended up in the same booth with her head on his shoulder and his arm around her. Until her hand slipped onto his upper leg. Holly would never live that down. How embarrassing.

[Gwendolyn Xiang]

^{Ok, maybe I'm not exactly ok. But I'm a little better. Gwen was still looking at her feet in their neat little black shoes that contrasted so oddly with her exhuberant hair and makeup. Feeling a hand on her shoulder the witch looked up at Holly, she was a little bit shorter than the Ravenclaw, but not by much. Gwendolyn Xiang. Gryffindor. she said with a brave attempt at the brightness this older girl's voice conveyed, she hadn't failed too miserably. Gwen saw Holly's eyes stray to her hair and blushed a little bit, self conciously she ruffled her thin asian hair. She had inherited softness from her mother and the thin black from her dad. No, she said in a response to Holly's question, I'm not a very social person, I used to have some friends but- Gwendolyn stopped, she hated her secret, that it ruined her social life, scared people, and limited normal conversation. She scowled, wishing she could just turn invisible right then and there.}

[Holly Walker]

Holly smiled, glad the girl was confessing don't worry, it's hard getting over an attack like that she said. Holly smiled nice to meet you, I love your hair by the wya. Blue is my favorite color she said happily. She nodded, she knew all about being a loner I am too... I had a few friends, but we were just too different. I'm meeting more people now though she said, failing to mention that it was because the guy she liked told all his friends about the amazing girl he took on a date. SO now, people knew her name, they knew one of the hottest guys in school took her out. but why? she asked gently. gwen seemed super nice. It couldn't be something too bad. She knew Gwen was younger, so it might be something petty that some immature students thought was major. Holly was glad she was older, only now.. problems and rumors were rougher and hurt alot more.

[Gwendolyn Xiang]

<sup>"Thanks!" Gwendolyn grinned happily, she loved getting compliments on her hair, "It took me forever to get the color right, and my mum flipped." As Holly asked the question, that dreaded question, Gwen almost teared up again and shook her head. Her long nails dug into the flesh of her palms, strangely the pain kept the tears from flowing completely. Why did she have to keep it a secret? It ate away at her in the silent hours when she read, drew or just sat in contemplation, a year ago she would be talking and playing with her friends the silence would be a happy one, not an unbearable presence that sucked at her soul. Nowadays the only time she actually felt relatively good was when she had transformed, when she was free. But when she came back to herself she always felt a deep and utter loathing in herself, that she could be so dangerous, so wild. With a jerky motion Gwen handed the crumpled up letter to Holly.

It was on parchment, and written with navy blue ink, tears and blood(from the earlier attack) dotted the paper but the word were still fairly legible, it read:
Dear Mum,
The classes here are great, but sometimes I wish I could just be homeschooled. No one likes me, because I'm different, I'm a muggle-born, and I'm smart, and I look different from everyone else. I have failed to find one decent person in this whole school, and my old friends left me once they found out my secret. Oh mum I hate this, I hate being a werewolf. I hate myself, every month I feel like I'm going to hurt someone or myself. When I transform its like I'm someone else. But enough of my troubles. Tell aunt Catherine congratulations on the baby and give Father my love.
Hugs and Kisses and Fond Thoughts,
-Gwen.
With a moan like a wounded dog Gwendolyn sank back down to the floor.</sup>

[Holly Walker]

Holly laughed no problem. I don't have the courage to do that.. my mom would have cut all my hair off right on the spot. she said laughing abit more. As Gwen tensed up Holly felt bad. I'm sorry, you don't have to tell me. she said gently. As she was passed the letter she smoothed it out and read. Her eyes widened slightly. This was not a petty issue like she thought. Holly couldn't help it. Pulling Gwen into a hug she patted her back gently it's okay.. if it helps.. I will be your friend. I don't care that your a werewolf. she said brightly. Releasing her from a hug she smiled gently your secret is safe with me. she bit her lip.. this was difficult. Alot of people were afraid of werewolves.. Holly was apprehensive but after all, who wouldnt be? from the letter, Gwen was afraid to hurt people and herself.. that was good, some positioned themselves near someone so they could hurt them.