I open the window to hear the sounds of people ¦ Amy

[Alora Veda Astor]

Approximately one week after this thread

A week had passed before Alora reached out with an olive branch of sorts and requested a meeting with Amy. The week had been slightly tumultuous with regard to Alora's emotions. A roller coaster that Amy had begun; almost every hour brought a new thought and with it a new emotion to go with it. Anxiety. Loneliness. Excitedness. Right along until an overwhelming urge to find out more about the whole situation. That feeling had started about two days ago and hadn't been able to be ignored or brushed off as she had so easily with everything else. The owl message had been brief, delivered to Amy's dorm room with not many details. Old fashioned but it wasn't like she had caught her phone number or anything. The note itself was scant; just saying Alora had the day off the next day and would be spending the day in her favorite café with stacks of corrections and her preferred coffee if Amy wanted to meet up.

Honestly, Alora still hadn't worked out what she might actually say to the girl.

Part of her was still roiled with guilt over her initial rejection of her supposed younger sister. Another small part was all sorts of angry for being ambushed as she had been. But still, her curiosity was still winning out and she supposed that's why she was going through with it.

Taking another sip from her mocha, she was careful to set it down on the empty table in front of her. Her stack of corrections were still tidily packed away and untouched in her bag on the chair beside her. She had been unable to concentrate so far, it was much easier to find herself zoning out and getting lost in the sounds of the coffee shop.

AMY ESMA ASTOR-SHAW

[AMY ESMA ASTOR-SHAW]

To say that Alora's invitation had come as a surprise would be an understatement. Amy had basically given up hope for the time being, and was planning her counter attack to get Alora to understand her position better. But a week after their disastrous introduction, Alora had reached out and asked if Amy would want to meet in a neutral location. Amy had sniffed with disdain at the thought of stepping foot into Spellbucks - she would tell Toby about the ill-fated encounter immediately - but Amy wasn't familiar enough with the surrounding area to offer a counter arrangement.

Amy made sure to dress nicely for the occasion, in a nice cream sweater and a light pair of jeans. She made sure also to pack Alora's birth certificate, as well as her own passport as if that would help prove their connection. Alora's message had been brief and open ended, but Amy found herself unable to refuse. She tied her hair back, and set off towards Hogsmeade, ignoring the nervous rolling of her belly.

The bell tinkled as Amy entered, and she spotted her sister immediately. She sipped from a coffee cup, and she looked so much like her mother that Amy felt immediately homesick. But she remembered that her mom had kept Alora from her for nearly twenty years. Amy strengthened her resolve, and strode with purpose towards her table. "Hi, Alora," she greeted, offering Alora a tentative smile. "Mind if I sit?"

Alora Veda Astor

[Alora Veda Astor]

As she watched Amy enter, Alora was still somewhat tongue-tied. She had put some effort in for the meeting. Even if she had played down the meeting she had put the effort in; wearing a perfectly tailored dress by one of her favourite high-end muggle inspired wizarding designers. A blue dress that set her red hair off nicely, and a dress inspired by an old-fashioned set of robes. Simple heels by one of her favorite muggle brands, and the equally expensive bag that sat on the chair next to her. Dressing up and making sure she looked the best she could always made her feel better, even if her self-confidence was in the trash.

The younger girl, her sister approached her table and Alora tried to offer a smile as she watched her. As Amy actually asked to sit, Alora raised an eyebrow at the manners, pleasantly surprised. "Of course, I invited you didn't I?" Her smile grew to be slightly more genuine. As if she couldn't help it.

She fiddled slightly with her sleeves before she reached for her oversized cup and sipped her drink, Giving Amy time to settle herself without staring her down. Once she had settled she focused back on the girl sitting across from her.

"So..." she began cautiously. "Who are you?" starting with an open-ended question, she raised an eyebrow letting Amy answer however she wanted. Alora was unsure of where to go really, and leaving it up to Amy seemed better in the short term. Opening things up would be good for now, right?

AMY ESMA ASTOR-SHAW

[AMY ESMA ASTOR-SHAW]

Amy hadn't expected Alora to reach out to her - she thought she would have to press her sister harder to get to know her better. But the fact that Alora seemed open to a relationship, however small, was promising. Alora smiled at her, though Amy thought that perhaps grimace would describe the facial expression a bit better. "Thanks," Amy replied, pulling out the chair and settling herself down. She thought she ought to have ordered herself a coffee, but she wanted to talk to Alora even more desperately.

Both women started speaking at the same time, and Amy chuckled awkwardly. "Sorry, you go ahead," she said and Alora continued on cautiously. Amy tilted her head slightly, observing Alora with a cocked eyebrow. "Well... I'm Amy..." she started slowly. Where else to start? The beginning seemed like a good enough place as any. "My parents... our parents... have three kids, of which I'm the last one. Well, four I suppose," Amy trailed off, chewing on the inside of her cheek. "We grew up in California. Dad works in film production and mom mostly looks after the house. I was always a daddy's girl. I don't do very well in school, but I love alchemy. I would say I'm not very down to earth or level headed, and I act before thinking." Amy placed a hand flat on the grain of the wood, tracing it with her fingers. "I'm really sad I didn't know you before. But I want to make up for lost time. It isn't fair to either of us that we didn't get to grow up together," said Amy, her voice hushed. "And... who are you, Alora?"

Alora Veda Astor

[Alora Veda Astor]

In a confident silence, Alora watched Amy and worked to organise her thoughts. The apprehension about being here was still bubbling away in her gut and she couldn't help it. Even if she had told herself to be logical about things and reminded herself constantly she had nothing to lose from the whole situation, only to gain; it still ate away at her. Pushing the thoughts away, she paused to concentrate on what Amy was saying.

Alora knew she didn't mean it, but the way she phrased things and paused to correct them only made Alora worse. She wanted to know details of her parent's and siblings' lives, but how Amy spoke each word cut her like a tiny dagger. Alora kept her eyes fixed on her even though she wanted to look away. To steady her hands she reached for the oversized porcelain white mug and sipped from her mocha. It was easier to silently remind herself that Amy was young, inexperienced in life, unlike she was at her age than to say anything cutting in return.

Eventually, she nodded quietly and set her cup down, taking in what her sister said and analyzing the difference between the upbringings they had experienced. Subconsciously she supposed she was even a little jealous of it. "That sounds nice" Was all she could manager for a moment. Her tone crisp and overly polite. She didn't add how different it sounded from her own childhood. She didn't have to, when she lashed out at Amy in her greenhouse she had said so then. For a moment, she paused and glanced down, unsure of what to even say about herself.

"Well..." she began quietly, forcing herself to look up to meet Amy's gaze again. "I was brought up by our Blood Purist Grandmother, in London. I went to Hogwarts and kept quiet, kept my head down and did as I was told. She died when I was seventeen and that's when....I was freed a little I guess. I didn't have any family or anything, but I had myself and my inheritence." at that she quietened slightly and gave a sniff before continuing. "I went to Muggle University and got my degree. During the Summers I Volunteered at the Antheia Herbology Institute in South America and got my research experience. I went to New York to get my Masters and I worked there as a teaching assistant. I was going to live there for, well forever, but then...things changed and I came home and took the job here. And yeah, that's it I guess..." She wasn't going to divulge all of it to Amy right now, not all the darkness she'd been through. Instead, she turned it around and focused on Amy again.

"What are are you Amy?" biting her lip she watched her curiously. She had tried to work it out before but wasn't entirely sure, other than she had to definitely be around 20, or younger. Forcing a small smile she paused before adding on "It's okay. We can get to know each other now"

AMY ESMA ASTOR-SHAW

[AMY ESMA ASTOR-SHAW]

To be fair, Alora took in Amy's information stoically. She didn't shift her gaze from Amy, and Amy didn't look away from Alora. It must be hard, hearing all of this. How they'd had a relatively happy and stable life. How everything seemed picture perfect on the outside. Amy bit back the desire to share the whole truth - how Andrew was overbearing and tightly wound, how the Hollywood parties were much less glamorous than they seemed, how both of her parents seemed to shut down at any mention of their homeland. Alora commented that it sounded nice, and Amy gave a noncommittal shrug of her shoulders. It was nice enough.

Amy listened silently as Alora shared her own experiences. It sounded very lonely. Amy knew she would be a completely different person had she been raised as such. She was used to constant attention, infinite resources and no shortage of adoration from her parents and brothers. As Alora's tale came to a close, Amy tilted her head thoughtfully. "Why did you go to muggle university?" she asked, as it was one of the many things she couldn't fathom about Alora. "New York is pretty boring. Grey," she added with a ghost of a smile. "Things change all the time. I'm just glad I was able to find you," said Amy quietly. "Does it feel weird? To have come here for school and now to teach?" she added after another moment of thought.

"I'm eighteen. Nineteen this summer," Amy responded. She was relieved that Alora seemed more open to getting to know her. "Do you think you'll stay in Scotland? Did you like America? Why-" Amy stopped herself, biting back the silly question she already knew the answer to. Why hadn't she visited them in California? She hadn't known they existed. And the pain of that shot through Amy like a knife.

Alora Veda Astor

[Alora Veda Astor]

She couldn't help but give a small snort of a laugh at Amy's response. All the information she had given her, and she only picked apart the piece about her going to Muggle University. With her own version of the non-commital shrug and a half smile at the genuine amusement of it she pondered it for a moment before answering "I suppose I liked Muggle Literature growing up, the classics. I had grown fond of slipping into Muggle London in my late teens before she died. Spending her money in Harrods and the likes. I was fascinated by the culture, but she never let me near it. Once I was free and done with Hogwarts I wasn't sure what I wanted to do. Our mother had done it once in Edinburgh. It didn't seem such a bad idea..." trailing off she didn't know what else to say. It had been an eye opener for her indeed. There'd be a lot of firsts. For now she just dropped her gaze and sipped from her coffee again "New York was great. My life was there. Until it wasn't. Truthfully I'd probably still be there if things hadn't changed." her tone grew quieter and almost regretful that she was spilling so much to Amy all of a sudden. "But they did. So I'm here now. No it's not weird. But...I don't know, it's not like I have anything else to do I suppose..." she admitted for the first time in her life and found her cheeks blushing before she looked away from Amy again, avoiding her gaze was easier than facing up to the truth of course.

"I don't know if I'll stay. I only rent a room in Hogsmeade. My home, my residence is in London. I inherited a townhouse and everything in it after she died. But I don't spend too much time there either I suppose. Bad memories and that..." she tried to play down the last part with a false smile, but it came out as pained, and obviously so.

With a small nod she focused on other things Amy said instead. So she was only young. Such a baby. The baby of the family it seemed. She hadn't a clue.

"I'll be thirty in May." Amy hadn't asked but Alora was sure it was one of the many things she was wondering. It was easier to just let it tumble out of her mouth for now. Taking a breath, she crossed her hands in her lap. Amelia Astor had just about beaten the urge to fidget out of her at a young age, gripping her thighs was a way to cope with that. Amy had asked one of the difficult questions now. Even if she had misunderstood what she had begun to ask. A sad smile crossed her face, pained again. If it was anyone else she would have shut down this question rather quickly, and yet she had nothing to lose with Amy. She could be so raw and honest. After swallowing the lump in her throat, or attempting to, she took a breath. "I liked New York. I had begun to build a much less lonely life there. I was engaged and I was enjoying myself. Except then one of our friends got pregnant. I was so happy for her. Her and her husband had been struggling. Except then it came out it wasn't actually her husband's baby. It was Samuel's, my fiancé." Becoming more visibly uncomfortable, she dropped her gaze away from Amy's. This was one of the first times she had spoken all this out loud and as she did so her voice became quiet and more monotone "The affair had been going on right under our noses for the best part of a year. So....I came home to London and was alone again. And started all over again..." Shutting down now she reached forward to her coffee again and ignored Amy to concentrate on her breathing, silence hanging in the air. She had no reason to tell Amy all of that. It wasn't even what she had started to ask. Nobody needed to know that, and yet she felt a weight had been lifted in doing so.

AMY ESMA ASTOR-SHAW

[AMY ESMA ASTOR-SHAW]

"Harrods," Amy echoed, tasting the word on her tongue. She may have been American, but anyone with a modicum of taste knew exactly how upscale Harrods was. Amy made a mental note to head to the department store, perhaps in a few weeks time with Alora. She wondered if shopping, one of her favoured activities, could be considered bonding. In this sense, it was more than likely.

What Amy could not understand however, was the fondness for reading. "You sound like Toby," Amy muttered, more to herself than to her sister. "The guy loves books! Me? I don't read," said Amy, twisting her hands in her lap. She paused for a moment, before glancing at the table. She looked up again, suddenly shy. "I'm dyslexic. I struggled a lot in school," said Amy in a voice barely above a whisper. Here was her sister, who was well read and college educated. And Amy had barely scraped a handful of final exams, her only proficiency being in alchemy. What a contrasting duo they were.

Alora went on to explain that she had a residence in London, but rented a room here in Hogsmeade. "I've never been to London, can I visit some time?" asked Amy before she could stop herself, keeping her chin up as she feigned confidence. It was so weird for her to feel so out of sorts. And as Alora continued to open up to her, Amy felt the discomfort grow. Especially at the story she shared about her fiance knocking up another woman. A friend of Alora's at that. Amy couldn't imagine how her life would be destroyed at that sort of news. "You're very brave," said Amy after a long, somewhat tense silence. "Were you in Gryffindor in school?" asked Amy. "I'm sorry he betrayed you like that. It can't have been love, then. At least, I don't think. Love shouldn't hurt so much..." said Amy slowly. But didn't her words go against what she'd been told growing up? Love was to be used as a weapon. But she couldn't bear to see Alora's pain.

Taking a breath, Amy reached over the table and gently patted Alora on the shoulder. She would have taken her hand, but they were folded in her lap. "You don't have to worry about being alone ever again, Alora. You have me," offered Amy with a tentative smile.

Alora Veda Astor

[Alora Veda Astor]

"Who's Toby..?" she only could narrow her eyes in suspicion for a moment, wondering, before shrugging it off to defend herself "Well, I wasn't allowed do a lot else as a child. It was a decent way to indulge my time. And then school was more of a pressure I suppose. I had to do well, I didn't have a choice. I was a Prefect and that was good, but not enough. I didn't make head girl. But no, I wasn't a Gryffindor. I'm a Slytherin.." with a small smile, she corrected herself to the present tense. Now she worked at the school she was assigned as a house Professor and she didn't hate it. She was pleasantly surprised as Amy came over slightly shier. Alora could understand though, she enjoyed practical things, being in the greenhouses and using her hands. Getting lost in things. For now, she didn't probe or dwell on the subject of Amy's difficulties in school.

Instead, her smile softened, more wistful now "I'm not brave. I just didn't have any other options." Shrugging slightly she glanced away. "It wasn't a great time. I applied for this job on a whim and now I'm just sort of here..." Quietly she nodded in acceptance of the girls points on love. "No, you're right. But regardless, it's in the past now. And yes, you can come visit. It's a big house, might help to fill it"

When Amy actually reached forward and touched her, she nearly flinched in response. She hadn't been expecting it, but it wasn't unwelcome. Taking a slightly ragged breath, she simply nodded, unsure of what else to say in response. Amy's words had touched her, and she even believed them. Perhaps going forward life wouldn't be so bad after all. Though she didn't dare say that out loud.

Eventually she just laughed quietly and shot Amy a quizzical look. "If you're not the school kind, then what are you doing here, At LIFE I mean?"

AMY ESMA ASTOR-SHAW

[AMY ESMA ASTOR-SHAW]

Amy harrumphed at Alora's comment. If only she'd been so lucky to be able to focus on a book for longer than three seconds. The letters and words swam before her, sending her brain into a meltdown. At that point, Amy usually slammed closed whatever text she was meant to be reading, and flounced off to the nearest shop for retail therapy. "Did she not let you outside? How did you manage to cultivate such impeccable style then?" Amy wondered aloud, blue eyes trailing over the delicate blouse over Alora's shoulders.

Shocked by what Amy considered to be Alora's bravery, it was even more surprising that her sister had been in Slytherin. "You don't seem mean," said Amy, but what did she know? Nobody really was what they seemed, at the end of it all. But Amy thought perhaps the sorting had happened too soon - did the hat really not see the bravery that Alora had displayed? It was so obvious to her. Even though she had said there was no other choice, there always was. Alora could have given up. Shrivelled up. But she'd risen in the face of adversity.

Amy was silent for a long moment, before finally replying to Alora. "I'm glad you're here. And that I found you. I wish it had been sooner," she admitted, looking down at the table beneath her folded hands. She hesitantly patted Alora on her shoulder, in what she meant to be a comforting manner. Alora tensed, but said nothing. Amy took that as a win. She promised that Alora wouldn't have to be alone again, if she didn't want to be. She had her sister now. But when Alora asked why Amy was here, she grimaced. "Well... honestly? I wanted an excuse to find you. I was supposed to start an internship in Alchemy in Portland, but I came here to study more instead. Professor Burke is really amazing, so even though I hate studying and stuff, I'm glad I did it."

Alora Veda Astor

[Alora Veda Astor]

With a frown, she paused for a moment, mulling over how exactly to answer that question. "Well, she let me out. She just..." choosing her next words carefully, she placed her hands back on her cup. All the better to hide her discomfort on the subject of her dear Grandmama. "..kept a tight lease I guess. Thank you though. I like my clothes.." With that her cheeks did colour slightly and a small smile began to form. Even if it wasn't long before it was dashed again "Not all Slytherins are mean. Merlin, you're backward at times" She was only half teasing of course. Maybe being brought up across the Atlantic had made her culturally a little too different. All the same, she hoped not. Her scowl was more playful as she admonished her sister. "I'm one of the Professors for Slytherin now."

Carefully she listened more closely to Amy's words now, setting her cup down quietly. With a silent nod, she let her continue, unable to form words to her more emotionally open statements. Keeping her emotions totally locked away had always been a skill she was sort of pleased to have inherited from her Grandmother. Except possibly, at times like this. When people opened up, even if she felt similarly it was difficult for her to even acknowledge their admissions, least of all counter in any way.

Raising an eyebrow in surprise, she stayed quiet as her red-painted lips parted just slightly with the shock. Amy had come all the way here for her? Maybe she should give the child some more credit than she had done before that. That had taken a lot. Even if she had had a ruse to cover it all up, she still seemed extremely childish in some ways to Alora; but maybe she was more like Alora was at her age than she had previously thought. While she couldn't really comment on the Alchemy or Professor Burke, she nodded quietly anyway in acknowledgment. Internally she was still rather wrapped up in the idea she had come all this way just for her, but she kept that to herself and instead simply uttered. "Well I'm glad you're happy with it. It probably would have been a bit of a waste otherwise.."

As quiet and emotionally unsettled as she was, as always, she still put up a good show and turned the subject elsewhere. "Have you any lessons on Monday? If you don't I could take the day off, you could come down to London and see...well I guess it's our house now actually, but anyway"
AMY ESMA ASTOR-SHAW

[AMY ESMA ASTOR-SHAW]

From the very first time she saw Alora, Amy had admired her fashion sense. She had wondered what it would be like, growing up with a woman who was stuck in the early twentieth century, but Alora seemed to do just fine. She'd been surprised to learn that Alora had been a Slytherin at Hogwarts. Amy's brief stint at the school the first time around had not given her the greatest impression of the house, though Alora insisted that she was being too quick to judge. Amy wrinkled her nose. "I was in Wampus at Ilvermorny," she said after a moment. "Aren't you a professor for all houses?" asked Amy, confused.

Amy expanded on why she'd come to Scotland, which was mostly to find Alora. She was a bit hesitant on the academic side of things, but Professor Burke was incredibly interesting and engaging, so Amy pretty much idolized her. Professor Burke seemed to be the sort of person who enjoyed being idolized anyways. "Yeah, a bit," said Amy evasively, as she realised that Alora was awaiting a response. All in all, Amy didn't really need to do this. But she needed an excuse to come to Hogwarts. And here was one, ready made. There were other perks as well. Like Toby. And Balthazar and... well, that was pretty much it, it was dreary and cold.

At Alora's suggestion, Amy perked up. She did in fact have one class on Monday, but she wasn't about to pass up a trip to London. "I'd love to see it," said Amy with delight. "What neighbourhood is it in? Not that I know any but is it close to like... Oxford street or something?" It was one of the only landmarks Amy was familiar with.

Alora Veda Astor