Reuniting a Ghostly Friendship (Ethan)

[Deleted]

It had been a normal day really, a lazy day for Quinn. While several of her class mates were busy studying or doing homework, Quinn had decided to just relax in the common room - working on a little studying while taking a break or two, working on a new sketch she was determined to finish - portraits were something she was working hard on. Something she wanted to be better at - but these darn eyes just weren't looking right and as a result she let out another annoyed huff before scrunching the whole thing up and tossing it off to the side in a ball. Grumbling to herself as she decides that maybe she needs a break from it, she could run down to the kitchens. Maybe she could convince one of the Elves to slip her a slice of pie or something.

With a small grin, her mind made up she gathers her things and stands up, books and art supplies gathered against her chest. But as her eyes flick around the room her body freezes. No - she had to be seeing things. Maybe her sleep hadn't been the best over the past few months - but she hadn't truly thought she was losing her mind. But... if she was seeing things...

"Ethan..."

The name tumbled from her lips as she dropped her things, books thumping on the floor - one of her drawing pencils snapping as a book landed ontop of it. But she didn't care as green eyes remained locked on the figure - it was him. Different now - she could... see through him. Literally. But.. it was him.

Her eyes blink quickly, feeling the burn of tears as she closed them for a moment, shaking her head hard before opening her eyes again. No... he was there. He really was. But he had... died. 

"You're not real. You're not." She mumbled the words to herself, trying to convince herself that he wasn't there. Sure magic was real and the School had a bunch of ghosts - hell, Moaning Murtle had been a student once too. But.. this was her friend. Her friend who had been killed just last year.

@ghostethan

[Deleted]

Ethan had just gotten comfortable showing himself. The last two days being back he had been hiding out, talking to professors only, scared out of his wits. They told him he needed to adjust, try going to places he nory frequented as a living soul, maybe even find some friends.

He appeared in the Common Room and slowly formulated into a visual state. Just when he was able to take a breath, Quinn was there, saying his name and... Obviously freaking out. His mind flashed back to all the times he led this sweet muggleborn through the world of magic... He'd just have to do that again. "Hey, it's okay. Ghosts appear all the time in the Wizarding World, Quinn. Don't panic," he tried to speak confidently, but his voice sounded weak and hoarse after days of crying and screaming. He wasn't sure how that would matter considering he technically couldn't get sore muscles... Being a ghost was confusing.

@mnm

[Deleted]

Of course Quinn had heard of it happening before, quite a lot really. It was one of those things she found herself reading about - just because. Allowing her inner Ravenclaw to emerge, it was something she did mostly when she had to relax but didn't have the time - or supplies - to go and sketch until she felt better. She would find herself studying things about the Magical world, like she had back when she was still a first year with way too many questions. There were still a lot of things even five years later that she didn't understand or know - but these days, she didn't really ask - she would just stay quiet and find a book to answer those questions.

Now she found herself filled with those questions again as her green eyes blinked back tears - her mind and heart overwhelmed. She remembered being a tiny little thing of a first year, a Muggleborn Witch - her first time seeing all these wonderful things and having so many questions. Ethan had answered anything she asked - much to her facination as no one had done such a thing for her before. But even the next year - a second year - he still did the same, guiding and helping her to understand the world around her. He had become one of her closest friends - someone she cared about. And then.... he had been gone. When Quinn had been told what had happened.. she had denied it - convinced at first it was a cruel kind of joke. But she had learnt it had happened - and Ethan had been killed - he was dead. She had broken - and she had fled - running off to cry - to scream - she had just wanted to be on her own. She hadn't really dealt with that before - losing someone she cared about through death . Not until Ethan had died.

But.. here he was right there, right infront of her. A ghost? She shook her head, her hand reaching up to rub at her eyes - surely she must be imagining this.

Then.. he spoke. She knew his voice. She'd know that anywhere. That same calming tone he had used when she had rushed back into the common room in first year, freaking out after a statue had spoken to her for the first time. It had freaked her out so badly, but he had been so calm and allowed her to calm down before explaining everything to her. And just like back then, she took a deep breath, focusing on calming herself down before looking back at him, "You're... real. You're really here - I'm not imagining it.. right?" Her voice shook slightly as she spoke - wanting desperately to reach out - to hug him. But ... he was a ghost, and she knew that would be impossible, "You're here.. " What else could she say? She had so much she wanted to say before. Things she hadn't told him, that she wished she had - but now she had a chance to do so - she found her mind.. blank.

"Are.. Are you okay?" It was probably a stupid question, she almost regretted it as soon as the words left her mouth - at the same time though. It fit, kind of .. she wanted to know how he was - he was a ghost for crying out loud. A ghost who until fairly recently had still been a living human.

@ghostethan

[Deleted]

He waited as she rubbed her eyes, feeling terrible about the fact that her eyes were getting misty. She took a deep breath and he took it with her, waiting for her to speak. He nodded as she tried to confirm that she wasn't imagining him. Her voice was shaking, and that made him feel even worst. 'You're here', she said, and he nodded again, even if he didn't really feel like he was here... She then asked if he was okay and he found himself breaking in a chuckle through his raspy voice. "Quinn..." he muttered her name affectionately, shaking his head a little. "I'm... I'll get along," he admitted. He wasn't doing that well, no, but he knew that he could move forward if he really tried and... he was going to start trying, at some point.

He could imagine how hard this was for her. Being a muggleborn in this world was hard enough but having one of your friends die BECAUSE they were muggleborn... that was scary stuff, and seeing that friend come back as a ghost... well, a part of him thought he should have just left his friends alone. He was the newest Hogwarts Ghost since Myrtle... what had people she went to school with gone through when they saw their classmate as a ghost? It must have been horrifying, seeing someone you once knew all transparent and... unable to comfort in a physical way. He hated that.

He sighed, "I'm not sure why I'm a ghost, really... I guess I just need to hang out a little longer," he suggested softly. "Maybe to get kids like you through school," he attempted a joke, smirking a little.

@mnm

[Deleted]

The sound of him chuckling, laughing - it made her eyes tear up all over again - and then he said her name, that same way he had before being a ghost - it made her smile. It was familiar. Comforting. Ethan had been a comfort for her - every year since she started, he had always been happy to see her - as if she was being welcomed home each time she came back to Hogwarts. This year he hadn't been there though - and it had broken her heart. He had been her friend - he had been the closest thing she ever had to something like a...like a brother. It had broken her heart to hear he hadn't just died - but been killed. And for what? Just because his blood wasn't pure? He was like her... muggleborn. They never asked for it, they were just born this way - and he had been killed because of it. It was sickening. 

Quinn sighed softly, nodding her head as he answered her question. She couldn't imagine what it must be like - being a ghost, and remembering being alive. Merlin... what about his family? His little sister. He had spoken about his family before, they were all muggles. Her eyes widened at the thought but she shook her head, no.. she couldn't ask him about that. It'd break his heart. Her eyes watched him, still feeling that urge that just wanted to hug him. But she couldn't - it was impossible. "Well... I don't mind." She started speaking, shooting him a slight smile, "I don't mind if you hang around - I could use your advice still, I've missed it this year you know." She still felt like crying a bit, but instead she was smiling - how could she not be a little happy at least? She had thought that she'd never see him ever again, and here he was - still around, a little different but still that same Ethan she had known since she was a scared little first year.

@ghostethan

[Deleted]

She smiled, which he was glad for. Then she nodded, sighed, and said that she didn't mind. She clarified further, saying she didn't mind him being around. That she could use his advice, that she missed him. Ethan smiled, too, his smile quite genuine. "It's been hard to get used to but... the conversation makes it worth it," he explained. "How was this last year? School wise, family wise, romance wise?" he was teasing on that last part. He didn't know anything about Quinns romantic life and she was a fourth year the last time he saw her so he wasn't sure if she was really getting involved in that stuff. For the most part, he just hope that she was happy in any capacity. "You look well," he added. And she did. She looked strong, smart and bright as ever. Even if she wasn't aware of it, Quinn was one of his favorite people. She was just so naturally beaming.

@ghostethan

[Deleted]

It was almost shocking how easily things fell back into place, despite him now being... ghostly - it was still Ethan and as he spoke she felt instantly calmer and at ease. Just like she used to in his presence, it was almost as if nothing else had changed and of course - Ethan quickly asked those same certain questions. How was school? Family? And of course.. romance. The last one instantly made her face turn a bright red - which on her light skin was extremely obvious. But - perhaps it was best to answer the easier one first. "I.. schools fine. Fifth year was harder than last year in some ways - but others, it was easier.. the work was harder but things were calmer which was good - except OWL's has had me going slightly crazy." she smiles back at him, moving to tuck her legs under herself after picking up her books and things - pulling a face as she notices her pencil had broken after she dropped them.

There was a brief moment where she didn't say anything - her mind going over his other questions, "I ended up going back to my foster home last Summer - it.. was worse. But.. some stuff happened this year - that, might get me out of the system.. I.. might not have to go to another home again." she doesn't look up from her books as she says this, it was Ethan - so, she felt it was okay to talk about it - at the same time though, she didn't want him to see how bad things had been for her in that respect. Her home life was something few people knew much about. She did wonder though if he would notice if she didn't answer the last question of his - regarding her romance life. "You look.. good, for a ghost." Her lips twitch into a little grin as she glances back at where Ethan was - it was a little weird still but, the fact that it was still him - was a huge comfort for her. He was important to her, he was one of the people she considered like family - and the fact that he was still here after she thought she had lost him for good... it was more than she could have ever hoped to expect.


@ghostethan

[Deleted]

Ethan heard the hesitation, but let her speak as she chose. She said school was fine, which was good. Fifth year is hard with O.W.L.S. and all, so that made sense. He chuckled. "Understandable," he said, waiting in silence for her to continue speaking. She said she went back to her foster home and his brow furrowed as she spoke about it being worse. But there was an upside to her being out of the system. He wasn't sure why she didn't just go to the orphanage... but, being a muggleborn, it did kind of make sense. "Well, I hope that does work out... what changed?" he asked, but she would know that she didn't have to answer if she didn't want to. He didn't want to get super involved in her personal affairs and overstep his bounds as a friend. 

Then she said he looked good for a ghost, smiling at him and he chuckled, shaking his head. "I guess that's true. Basically just have to accept that everything is a bit grey," and that the scar of the words Elaine had carved into his chest were still there, underneath his ghostly shirt. He could unbutton it to reveal the words, but he didn't. He was glad that the fabric covered it up in his ghostly form, even if there was a little bit of a dark stain on the school shirt. "Better than being nearly headless," he joked, glancing around for Nicholas for a laugh.

@mnm

[Deleted]

It was reasons like this that Quinn adored Ethan, he was patient but he cared - he cared about her and allowed her to speak as she wanted. He didn't push her to say more than she wanted and - honestly that made her want to talk more than she usually would about certain things. Talking about school was the easiest part - OWL's had been a stressful thing, everything else for the most part had been pretty good though through the past year. It was everything else though that seemed to be causing more issues for her but... this was Ethan. She could talk to him more than she could talk to others, "Well.. quite a bit changed.." her hand rubbed at her opposite arm lightly, her lips pressing together. "A friend of mine - Max, she saw me in one of the girls bathrooms one day when I was washing Coal off my hands."

She started to talk about it, trusting she could talk to Ethan about this - only a small group of people knew already, "She saw my scars .. on my arms." Her eyes were looking away from his ghostly form as she spoke about this, feeling her eyes burn slightly as she pushed the words out slowly, "My last foster home.. wasn't good Ethan.. I've had.. some real bad ones before." Quinn took a deep breath, even talking a little about it wasn't easy - it was still so strange, to talk about it - after keeping it to herself for so long. Still she gave a small smile for him, "Well its good you're not missing any body parts - that would be so strange.." she giggled slightly, "I'm glad you still have your head even being so ghostly now.. I'm glad to see you."

@ghostethan

[Deleted]

Ethan listened as she said quite a bit changed and spoke of Max. He wasn't sure if he knew that many girls named Max, so he assumed she meant Jamies little sister. His brow furrowed as she went on about the scars and how her last home wasn't good. He shook his head, reaching forward as if he could touch her shoulder but it didn't work, obviously. He hovered over her for a second and pulled his transparent hand back. "I'm sorry about that, Quinn. Things will be better," he encouraged. He didn't want to try and 'fix' it, he couldn't do that. He could just be supportive.

He was glad she could smile and giggle a little at his joke. "That would be very strange. And yeah," he smiled softly, "I'm glad to see you too," he nodded, "is there anything else I can do for you today, Quinn? I mean, anything else you need to talk about?"

@mnm

[Deleted]

She hated talking about this subject, but she also knew that she could trust Ethan and that he wouldn't go and spread any of this - plus, there was a small part of her that longed to be able to tell him, to open up and let him know about things that she had been through. Of course - she didn't tell him everything, but just enough so he understood and read between the lines of what she hadn't said outloud. As she saw his hand reached out, she almost reached back out towards him, wanting to grab his hand, "Yeah.. Yeah they will get better." she gave a small smile at his encouragement, "McGonagall has a few ideas and.. well, there aren't many more people who have the power to really change it than her right?"

It was a huge comfort to look up, and see him there - even as a ghost and then seeing him smile, it still made her smile brighter, "Well.. I don't really think so," she leaned back a little, moving her hand over one of her books as she thought for a moment, "I'm just - happy to see you again, I didn't.. I mean.. I thought you were gone.. like forever." Her voice softened as she spoke, unable to look away from where he was, "I've lost people before but - someone I care about.. d-d-" she paused, stumbling on the word as her eyes filled with tears she refused to let fall, "I've never ... not that way at least."

@ghostethan

[Deleted]

Ethan nodded as she said that there weren't many other than McGonagall who had the power to change things and make them better. "I don't know her that well personally, but she seems incredibly wise and loving," he said. The woman was never a professor when he was a student, but he had read about her and spoken with her a once since he materialized. 

She said she didn't have anything else she NEEDED to talk about, and her smile was bright again. "I sort of wish I was, but I get it that it's nice for people to have me back," he said, his tone not judging or harsh at all. He really did understand, but it would have been nice to not come back. To move on. But then she spoke more about how she had lost people and her eyes started to moisten. His hand floated toward her, hovering just over her hand, "hey, listen. I want to tell you everything is okay now," he started firmly, "but there is a war coming, Quinn. And you need to prepare yourself for it," he hasn't met to get so serious, but he couldn't let her think the worst was over.

@mnm

[Deleted]

Quinn was feeling a little better, after speaking with McGonagall she at least wasn't as worried as she had been before making it to her office. The blonde girl had practically had a panic attack before entering the office - if it hadn't been for Max chances were she wouldn't have managed to do as much as they had. She'd probably still be dreading going back 'home' this coming break and that thought was a terrifying one. "You know.. she offered to let me stay with her this coming break..." she gave a smal lsmile as she spoke the words - while she had known a lot, from mostly reading about her - actually meeting her face to face and conversing was a whole different experience. Needless to say Quinn looked up to her quite a lot.

At Ethan's words - her smile dropped quickly - realizing what she had said and damn. "I-I'm sorry Ethan... I'm kind of being selfish. Being so happy that you're here but.. god... You really shouldn't be here at all." Her eyes were watering and her hand clutched her books tight enough that her knuckles were turning white. "You don't deserve to be stuck here.." She was annoyed with herself now but when he spoke up again, she looked up, staring at his ghostly form with a small frown. "A war? Like.. I'm pretty sure things will get worse before they get better... but... how do you know there is a war coming?"

@ghostethan

[Deleted]

Quinn said that the headmistress offered for Quinn to stay with her. " And what did you say?" he asked. The way she was acting, it seemed like maybe she had said no, even though she really liked the woman. He wasn't sure WHY she'd say no, though. That seemed like it would defeat the purpose of trying to improve her own life... but whatever she wanted to do he'd support. 

Oh dear, now she was crying because of what he said. Well, almost crying. He shook his head, "don't beat yourself up," he said firmly, almost as if that was an older brother giving an order. it was protective, not mean. She questioned his comment about a war, asking him how he knew one was coming. He chuckled, "Quinn, do you really think that someone who kills a seventeen year old and hangs him in a school stairwell isn't capable of starting a war?" he said firmly, "trust me. it's coming, and she's more ready than we are." Great, no he was scaring the kid, most likely. He sighed, "listen I just... need you to practice your defensive magic, okay? For me?"

@mnm

[Deleted]

Quinn took a deep breath, looking back up at Ethan as she gives a faint smile, "I.. I said yes." It still felt strange to think about let alone say outloud to someone else. But this year - she wouldn't be going back to another foster home - instead she'd be somewhere safe - with Headmistress McGonagall looking out for her. It was such a strange thing to think of though no matter how much she kept telling herself it was real.

She still felt bad about what she had said, but what he said next shook her more. Of course - like basically everyone else in the school - they had heard about how Ethan had been found, things get around surprisingly fast in a school as large as theirs. But hearing it from Ethan as the image hits in her mind made her feel positivily horrible right to her stomach. "I-I'm sorry.." her voice shook slightly, her hands now clutching her books she was still holding onto. Ethan had deserved so much better than what had happened to him, the wound in her heart was still a fresh one - and she desperately wished she could hug him. "I'm not scared Ethan.. I'm more.. angry than I am scared." She spoke the words as calmly as she could, looking back at him as she gave a small nod, "I'll practice - I promise you that."

@ghostethan