HAUNTED | QUINN

[Deleted]

Tamara was tasked with visiting Hogwarts and talking to some of the students, as well as some of the locals that dwelled within Hogsmeade, to get their thoughts on the Triwizard Tournament outcome. That had happened earlier within the day and had ended quite abruptly within the castle the moment she had run into Ethan. She wanted to die the moment she saw him as if she were seeing him in a dream, but in reality – she just saw his ghost. Tamara had always hoped and prayed that he had moved on, found peace somewhere in the great beyond. Instead, he was bound as a ghost to Hogwarts for however knows how long. She wanted to cry and throw herself at him, but she couldn’t. A ghost was untouchable, and she hated it. Many ghosts dwelled within Hogwarts, the only other student that died during the school year still lived within the female bathroom, Moaning Myrtle. And now Ethan was another one; it just felt horrible.

After that little emotional run in, she had made her way outside of the school and quickly whipped her face of any tears that had probably escaped her watering eyes. “God, you sap,” she breathed to herself as she quickly composed herself. She wanted to get away from Hogwarts and continue on her task, and that was getting some information and thoughts from those of Hogsmeade.

The trek there wasn’t that long, and soon she arrived just outside of the little bustling town. Because it was the weekend, many of the students too had decided to spend their time here. She stopped, breathing in the air and the surrounding with a smile. She missed this place.

---

282 words ;; @mnm
hope this works!

✪

[Deleted]

Quinn was still realing over what had been happening lately. It seemed as though with the year coming to a close shortly - everything just decided to happen all around the same time. But Ethan.. seeing Ethan wasn't really a bad thing, or a scary one like some of the other things going on. Having one of her friends back, even in a ghostly form - while a little sad he hadn't gone on to something 'better' - he was here, and he was adjusting to his new life as a ghost. It was still a little shakening though and with her mind still trying to process things she felt a need to get outside, fresh air always helped her process and think through things. 

She had been shattered when she found out it had been Ethan that had been killed, from her first year the older boy had taken her under his wing and helped her adjust to Hogwarts, he had become one of her best friends and - honestly, Quinn had sort of seen him as a brother. Something she had never had before meeting him. He was important, and he had been taken and was gone. She couldn't even remember the last thing she had said to him before he died...

Quietly she shook her head, blinking slowly as she realized how far she had walked - the bustling of other students in the small town was a familiar sight. She had walked herself to Hogsmeade while lost in her thoughts. Quickly she rubs at her face, feeling the light dampness on her cheeks before wiping it away. Green eyes dart around, deciding a familiar face might be a better distraction for her, surely someone she knows must be hanging out around here today. Just as she was about to give up and maybe go grab some sweets or a drink while she was here - she caught sight of a familiar figure. One she hadn't seen in awhile, and one that made her think of Ethan yet again.

"Tamara?" The name escapes before she can stop it, already her feet are leading her over to the older girl. 

@tamara

[Deleted]

What had brought Ethan back from the unknown and made him trapped to Hogwarts as a ghost? She knew it happened to a few people, from the idea of those ghosts that haunted the halls of certain houses, and then there was Moaning Myrtle, but what had brought Ethan back just like that? Was it some trick, something that was supposed to freak her out? It was nowhere close to Halloween, so it couldn’t be a joke of ghost done by someone that followed Elaine, could it? She felt the guilt eating away at her as if it were trying to suffocate her and force her into submission. Was this karma that had brought its way back into her life? She was so lost in thought that she hadn’t realized someone was following her, or rather, walking towards Hogsmeade that happened to be where she was going.

‘Tamara?’

A familiar voice spoke from somewhere behind her, breaking Tamara from her thoughts. Her head snapped towards the sound of the voice, and she was quick to take in the features. Blonde hair, pretty face, what could be gray or blue-ish green yes. A smile graced her face, she had met the girl a few times, had been friends with her. Though she was younger, she had been part of the Phoenix Rising when she was there. She had been friends with Ethan as well; her heart sank instantly. “Quinn, hey,” she said with a smile on her face, “Long time no see, huh?” she asked with a small awkward laugh. “You heading to Hogsmeade as well?” she questioned as she nodded her head in the direction of the beautiful little village that laid a few miles from the school.

---

288 words ;; @mnm

✪

[Deleted]

Ethan had been on Quinn's mind. Since he had shown up before her in the common room, how she felt about it all was a bit of a mess though. She was heart broken to see him that way, a ghost - trapped in the castle for the rest of... who knew how long. But at the same time, she had actually been kind of.. happy. Seeing him again, after thinking it'd never be possible. Was she a horrible person to be glad to be able to see him again? She felt like she might be. Quinn shook her head, blonde strands of hair flying around her as she tucks her hands into her pockets, her lips pressing together. Why was he back though? Ghosts had reasons - didn't they? They always did in books she read, and movies she had seen - but was that true to real ghosts? Or just ones in stories? She hadn't ever felt it was right to ask the Hogwarts ghosts why they were still hanging around the school. It felt rude to do such a thing, so she really wasn't sure.

It seemed almost fitting that the person she saw also was connected to Ethan. She hadn't seen Tamara in.. well - quite awhile really. But now Ethan was back - although in a ghostly form, and he was stuck in her thoughts. Of course she saw Tamara now as well. She still smiled, even as her own heart sank a little, "Hey Tamara. How have you been?" she chuckled and nodded her head, "It has been awhile.. and..apparently I am." She glanced up, looking around before shrugging slightly, "Honestly, I hadn't planned on it today - I was walking around to clear my head - and my feet led me here - so.. here I am." The village had always been a bit of a happy place, the mere fact that she had been granted permission despite not actually having a firm legal guardian had been such a joy the first time she had been allowed to visit, even now - she still felt that spark of that same joy burn in her chest. 

With a quick shake of her head she glances back up at the older girl, a small smile on her face, "What about you? I'd have thought you'd be busy with a job or something now you're not a student." It was a little strange, seeing Tamara and not having Ethan around - for awhile they had rarely been seen without the other.

@tamara

[Deleted]

The last time she had seen Quinn, was around the time of Tamara’s graduation. After you graduate from Hogwarts, you very rarely return. Though returning to Hogsmeade was always a must, it was rare to run into someone that you knew from back then. Though with Tamara’s busy schedule at the Daily Prophet, her trips to Hogsmeade or anywhere fun was cut rather short. She wasn’t here for pleasure today; she was here for business. She was interviewing people about the Triwizard Tournament, something that she was quite jealous that she didn’t get to participate in nor watch as a student. But no matter, she smiled as Quinn asked her how she was doing, she shrugged her shoulders lightly, “I’ve been better. Um—what about you?” she questioned with a small smile on her face.

It was then that she learned that Quinn hadn’t been planning to head towards Hogsmeade, instead had been clearing her head and it leads her to this destination, Tamara smiled lightly. It just meant that the young girl had gone on autopilot, something that happened to Tamara quite a lot when she was lost in thought. The question was changed her, saying that she thought she was busy with a job or something and she nodded her head. “I’m here for my job, I worked at the Daily Prophet and was sent to get everyone’s feelings about the Tournament and the winner,” she said with a smile on her face. “Though I’ve been a little distracted from it, I was at the school doing it and ran into—I ran into Ethan,” she breathed out as if the words stung. She quickly swallowed, took a deep breath and plastered on a smile, “I—maybe I could interview you? We could go get some lunch and catch up, talk about the tournament so I don’t look like a full-blown failure,” she said with a small forced laugh that sounded somewhat awkward coming from her lips.

---

329 words ;; @mnm

✪

[Deleted]

Quinn couldn't quite remember the last time she had seen Tamara, well seen and spoken to her. She had seen the older girl when she had graduated - her graduation had been such a bitter sweet thing in Quinn's eyes. But ... she couldn't remember when she had spoken to Tamara last, had it been before what happened to Ethan? Or.. had they spoken after? Ethan's death had hit Quinn hard, he had been one of the closest to any form of family that the young blonde had for a long time, he was almost like a brother to her in many ways. Now though - she was clearing her mind and there was Tamara right in front of her, and Quinn found a smile forming on her face, "I've been.. doing pretty well actually. School, friends - the usual really." she gave a quick little shrug, tucking her hands into her pockets as she speaks, her own smile on her face.

It was a bit of an inpromptu trip to Hogsmeade but, Quinn had always loved the little town nearby the school. It was small but comfortable and there was always something going on or a friendly face nearby, it was much of what she imagined a future home being like. So it hadn't been planned but she was pleased with suddenly being there, plus it was actually nice to see the older girl again. Quinn looked up curiously as she found out Tamara was there for work, "Oh wow.. well that sounds like fun, the Tournament was pretty amazing." her eyes lit up as she spoke, it had been a ton of fun this year, watching the Tournament had been just one fun aspect of it. The mention of Ethan brought her back to the now, quickly finding herself biting at her lip, "I..I saw him too."

Quinn took her own quick breath, fiddling with her jacket as she nodded quickly in agreement, "Sure - we can do that. I.. I'd love to help." her words were a bit of a tumble as her mind was still focused on the fact that Tamara had also seen Ethan - when had she? Where had she seen him? Quinn hadn't seen him since that day in the Common Room.

@tamara

[Deleted]

The last time Tamara had seen or spoken to Quinn was back around the time of her graduation; it had been a time not long after Ethan’s death at the hand of Elaine. Hell, that was around the time she had lost spoken to a lot of the younger years that she was friends with through Ethan and Phoenix Rising. After she graduated and got into the groove of her adult life, she seemed to change a bit and distanced herself from many people she spoke to. Her boyfriend was the only one that she religiously talked to after graduation, but that was because they began hanging out more before finally deciding they were ready to date. When the girl formed her smile on her face, quickly answering the question with her doing well and the usual happening in her life, Tamara smiled. “Well that’s great, school and friends are important,” she said truthfully and with a nod of her head, brunette hair semi-spilling from the hair-tie. The conversation quickly went on to talk about how fun it was that she was interviewing people about the tournament before musing that it was amazing, her eyes lighting up with the excitement she surely felt. Tamara let a grin appear on her face, Quinn would be the perfect person to interview, however, that grin slowly slipped away just as Quinn bit her lip and spoke the four words that Tamara was sadly unprepared for.

‘I…I saw him too.’

While Tamara knew that seeing Ethan was true and that it wasn’t a dream, actually hearing that Quinn had seen him made her heartbreak more and more. She bit her lip, wanting to ask more but refrained from doing so, instead of changing the subject back to that of the Tournament, something that seemed to agree with Quinn herself. She agreed, telling her that she would love to help out. Tamara quickly smiled, “Great! Do you want to get some butterbeer and maybe some lunch at the Three Broomsticks while we talk?” she questioned “On me, of course,” she said with a smile on her face.

---

352 words ;; @mnm

✪

[Deleted]

It had been quite awhile since Quinn had even seen Tamara, she was sure it had been at the older girls graduation. But she couldn't remember if she had even spoken to her then, had she said anything to her that day? Honestly - she had no clue if she had or not and it was bothering her. Sure they hadn't really ever been close or even buddy-buddy. But in some ways Quinn had looked up to Tamara a bit, and she had been one of the few older students that Quinn had spoken to at Hogwarts. For the most part she stuck with her own year mates, occasionally she'd hang around a few older - or younger, but those were usually siblings of friends of hers.

It was honestly nice to see a familiar face again that wasn't someone still from school, although it was a little odd that she was now seeing Tamara again after so long, not long after finding out Ethan was back around again - as a ghost. Tamara had seen him as well, for some reason - that actually felt like a relief to the blonde. Knowing that it wasn't just her that had seen Ethan, knowing that perhaps she wasn't losing her mind.. well that part was a huge relief no doubt. But for now - they both seemed to decide to not linger on that subject, Ethan had been special in a way to both of them, so that subject would no doubt appear again at some point. Quinn was fairly sure about that. For now though, it would be a lot better to focus on this interview and if Quinn could help out, she would be more than glad to do so. Plus the offer of getting lunch and a butterbeer was certainly not something she would deny herself, "Of course!" she gave a wide smile, curling a finger around a stray strand of blonde hair, "I rarely turn down food." Her green eyes lit up as her lip curled into a half smile, "Plus if its free, thats always a bonus." 

[@tamara ]

[Deleted]

The moment Quinn agreed, Tamara’s face broke out into a huge smile, “Great!” she said with a bit of excitement in her voice. The excitement that turned into laughter as the girl said she rarely turned down food, especially free food, which was a bonus. “Believe me, I agree,” she said before nodding her head in the direction of their destination. And the two were off, walking in the direction of the Three Broomsticks, a place that Tamara had frequented a lot during her time at Hogwarts. She had come here on dates, come here with friends after Quidditch to celebrate and all the likes, but this would be the first she’d gone with Quinn – or rather the first time alone at the place with Quinn because she was sure that she had been there a few times when she had been there with a group. “So, how’s school been coming along? You’re a fifth year, right?” she questioned trying to put some conversations in place while they walked.

---

@mnm

✪

[Deleted]

As Tamara smiled, Quinn felt instantly better - it was something she had been enjoying more these days. Particularly since her run in with Ethan and his words of a war brewing. It had opened her eyes and she had been noticing more things because of it. It was worrying, but making someone smile or laugh - it made her feel better that she could do that, even if it was brief. A little light in the darkness was always something good. She offered her own wide smile and quickly fell into step with the older girl, heading into the direction of the Three Broomsticks. Quinn hadn't really had much of a chance to go to Hogsmeade in the past, for her it was still a place that was rather new and exciting - not having a guardian to sign for her permission to visit had been something that bothered her for a long time. Of course she had gotten a few visits, such as this current one - mostly with permission granted on each of those visits from the Headmaster/Headmistress at the time. This was only the second visit for her where she wasn't in a group though.

Quinn gave a small nod, "Yep - fifth year and then soon to be a sixth year - crazy really." she shook her head, just two more years at Hogwarts.. it was something she hadn't thought about too much, "School has been good though, I'm proud to say I've been doing rather well. What about you though? I mean - I know what you're working as now, but - how's it going for you? You're enjoying it right?" 

[@tamara ]

[Deleted]

Tamara used to love coming to Hogsmeade; it was a nice little place that tons of students flocked to like moths to a flame. While in the beginning it was more closely knit, keeping students in a group with a chaperone that watched over them, as long as they had parental permission. Later they allowed the children to go off on their own, including on the weekends, it had been great. It seemed like it was no different, tons of students moving around Hogsmeade and having a grand ole time. She smiled, everyone was carefree and lively within Hogsmeade, she missed it.

She agreed that it was crazy, weird to think one of her younger friends was coming into her sixth year already. It was then that the conversation was directed towards her, not about what she’s been up to, but how she was doing and if she was enjoying the adult-side of things. She shrugged “Been kind of stressful with the workload, but I like it. I miss being at school though, miss all the people I made friends with,” she said with a small laugh.

---

@mnm

✪

[Deleted]

Hogsmeade was still something that Quinn had been getting used to, only within the last year did she manage to gain special permission to actually go to the little town so close by to school. Due to her living situation, it had been a hard thing to gain that permission as she didn't have a parent to give her the permission - but since actually having it, after several conversations with Professors and the Headmistress to give her a special permission due to her living situation - Quinn had loved to come down whenever she had been allowed to do so. It was so calm and nice, almost like a comforting feeling was just built into each building. 

There was such life and innocence, it made her hand twitch a little - wanting to pull out her note book and pencils to draw what her eyes were seeing. But instead Quinn shook her head, shaking the thoughts a she focused on the older girl who had quite easily become a friend of sorts, "I can't imagine.. it must be odd, no longer focusing on school but instead of adult things. Jobs and responsibilities.." she spoke lightly, shaking her head a little as she spoke. She understood it a bit, her situation in many ways made her grow up faster than most of her peers in her own year. "Well you can still see your friends - at least some of them I'd gather, they probably miss you too, maybe you should arrange a meet up!"

@tamara

[Deleted]

Tamara gave a fake shutter – or was it that fake – when Quinn mentioned doing adult things. She let out a small laugh, and nodded her head, “Oh yeah, being an adult sucks; though it is nice, the freedom of it all. But I do miss seeing my friends around school, exploring the unknown passage ways. It’s the little things really,” she said with a small smile on her face. Tamara was forced to grow up pretty fast, especially with everything that happened in her final year at Hogwarts. With all the deaths, including Ethan’s, she had lost the innocence of her teenage years. Now she was out there, things worse the before. She just hoped that Quinn and the rest of the younger friends she had made through Ethan and the Phoenix Rising, could graduate in peace.

“That is very true, maybe I’ll write some owls and see who’s around during the summertime,” she said with a small laugh. “I do still see Liam, since him and I are still together, and I work with another friend at the Prophet. But other than that, my list is pretty small,” she said with a small smile. But the time the words left her lips, she realized that they had reached their destination, “Here we are,” she said quickly as she held the door open for the other girl.

The rest of the time they spent together was filled with small talk, questions here and there for her article, and eating while catching up. It made Tamara realize just how much she missed the little things of hanging with friends at Hogsmeade.

---

@mnm
~ le end unless you wanna post once more! ~

✪