Quiet, Peace, and Relaxation

[serasera]

Beneath a rather small tree, Esmerelda sat. The outside weather was rather soothing, though it was a bit cool. She was not used to the temperatures where she was, but she would soon get used to them - she hoped so anyway. The grounds were amazing, and she felt a light breeze blowing as she leaned against the tree. It tossed her hair this way and that as she allowed her dark, brown eyes to settle upon the glistening water. The sun was shining somewhat brightly against the water, making it appear as if there were diamonds floating atop the water. A small smile passed across the professor's face as she thought about the water back in Colombia doing the same. The only difference was that it was blue back at home, and this lake was black.

Sighing lightly, she pulled her jacket around her. Of course, it was obvious that she was wearing muggle clothing. She was used to it though, since she used to live in a muggle inhabited area. Looking around the grounds and down the area of the lake, she shifted her position on the ground. She was previously sitting with her legs straight out, but now they were crossed in a rather uncomfortable-looking yoga position. However, she did not feel any pain. But then again, she was extremely flexible.

Her gaze fell upon a small group of students that were just talking and having a good time. That made her remember her times at school where she and her friends would sit on the beach and have nice conversations with each other. She smiled at this memory and then stretched somewhat, yawning and sighed all in one.

"Ahy, ahy, ahy..." She said lightly, her voice somewhat tired. "Dios mío." She said lightly in Spanish as she yawned heavily. "Oh, my God. Why am I so tired?" Her light accent trailed in her voice, though she pronounced the words perfectly. Her voice was somewhat low and girlish as she spoke aloud, not thinking about anything or anyone around her. She was just tired and not used to having people around her, so she never paid any attention to anything around her.

[Natalie St. Clare]

Natalie sat up in the tree and stared down at the teacher who sat below it. She observed her for a long time, and even without getting close she could read the woman's personality. She could tell she was feeling out of place and a little sorry about what she had left behind. When the woman spoke in another language, Natalie understood instinctively what was being said.

Natalie felt a strange similarity to this woman. They both were out of place and unsure where they belonged. Natalie sometimes wasn't sure she belonged anywhere.

She watched silently for a long time, until suddenly a bug landed on her nose. She sneezed loudly.

[serasera]

A sneeze could be heard loudly from above Esme in the tree. As she was completely unaware of what was going on around her, she jumped as she heard the noise. She had been startled, of course. However, when she looked up, she saw a girl sitting in the tree that she was using as support to lay back on. Her long hair fell over her shoulders and to her back and from her face. Smiling kindly, Esme spoke loudly so that she would hopefully be able to hear her.

"Are you alright?" she asked her kindly, making sure that she was okay. She did not want anything to happen to any of the students at Hogwarts, though she knew none of them. It had sounded like the girl was coming down with a cold, though Esme could not be for sure. It may have been left over pollen from the summer and the girl's allergies acting up. She sat there, saying nothing else as she waited for a response.

[Natalie St. Clare]

Natalie nodded her head. "I'm fine. Just a bug that landed on my nose. It tickled. I'm sorry if I scared you." She swung down from the branch and climbed out of the tree. "I like to sit in trees a lot. I seem to surprise a lot of people that way, but I don't mean to." She tucked her hair behind her ears and looked up at the professor with her large blue-green eyes. "You come from far away, don't you?"

[serasera]

Esme looked at the young girl and shook her head lightly. "No, it's fine, really. I just had no idea that you were up there. I was not scared, more surprised." She said with a smile and then shrugged somewhat. "Don't worry. I won't die."

The girl mentioned that she liked to sit in trees a lot. It reminded Esme of herself as a child and even now as an adult. She loved nature and animals, so she spent a lot of her time outside in trees or swimming in the sea water. She then looked at the girl and spoke.

"I used to sit in trees all the time. I don't do it so much now since I am an adult. I am sure that you can understand that."

The girl then asked whether or not she had come from far away. Of course, Esme's obvious answer for this would be a long, descriptive one. Instead of giving her usual, adult-like answer, she gave a simple nod and then spoke, giving a few words. "Yes, I come from rather far away." She let out a somewhat humored laugh. The girl was somewhat funny. Funnier than Esme anyway.

[Natalie St. Clare]

Natalie sat down, pulling her knees up to her chest and looking straight out at the water. "I don't know why I like to sit in trees. I just always have. I feel like I belong there." She looked at the woman carefully, trying to figure her out. "Are you a teacher here? My uncle teaches here, and I live with him now. I don't actually go here yet, I'm still a year away. But I stay here during the day because I have nowhere else to go."

[serasera]

Esme looked at the girl, studying her and then listened to what she said. Esme could understand the feeling of feeling as if she belonged in trees. To her, it showed a sense of love for nature. Though, some people that climb trees hate nature and just sit there for no reason. It was just weird sometimes.

"Yes, I am a professor here. I teach Care of Magical Creatures." She said in response to the girl's question. "I am new."

As the girl mentioned that she lived with her uncle, Esme nodded. She had no idea who this girl's uncle was. In fact, she knew no one. That was pretty bad, being a professor and not knowing anyone. Oh well, she had only been there for about a day. She thought that meeting one person was pretty good, but that was just her.

"I see. Well, as far as I have seen, Hogwarts is amazing. It's huge, and there is so much to do when you get bored, at least, I think there it. And I cannot wait to meet more people. Maybe I will meet your uncle as well."

[Natalie St. Clare]

"I would like your class," Natalie said. "If I was old enough, I would probably take it. I like animals better than people. Animals are innocent and pure; they don't have secrets." She shifted into lying position and stared up at the sky, watching how the leaves of the tree decorated the blue of the sky with shadowy green lace. "My uncle is Alastor Domino. He teaches Transfiguration. You probably will meet him soon enough. I also have a sister here, but I don't think she's in your class. Her name is Sabrina."

[serasera]

"I am glad that you would like my class. I really enjoy people that like animals. It gives me somethin to talk about if the other person is willing to talk about it, you know?" She then smiled as she mentioned some things about animals. Of course, animals could not keep secrets since, for the most part, they could not talk. This was oh so true.

"Of course, animals are easier to get along with than people are for the most part. Animalss might not be able to talk back, but you can talk to them, tell them whatever you want, and they cannot tell anyone."

She fell silent, touching her knees with her hands. She leaned forward somwhat, looking over at the water and watching the sun glisten upon it. As the girl spoke again, Esme's attention was back on her to show that she was listening intently. "I see. I will keep his name in mind. If and when I meet him, I can say that I met his niece." She winked at the girl lightly and then listened as she spoke about her sister.

"Well, I would not know if she is in my class. If she is not, then it's a shame. However, I will think about her name when students come to my class, of course."

[Natalie St. Clare]

"I used to have a pet cat, that I told everything to. But she ran away." Natalie looked out in the distance. "I think it probably died, but I can't be sure. Sometimes I hope she'll turn up again. But I guess now that I'm not home, she won't be able to find me."

She looked back at Esmerelda. "I think you'd like my uncle. I hope you get to meet him soon." She fell silent again and looked out at the water. "I suppose you think I'm strange, don't you? It's OK if you do. I am strange. I don't laugh and giggle like other girls my age."

[serasera]

"I think that everyone that has had a pet told their pet everything. I know that I did, since there was really no one else around me to talk to. It was amazing though. I would just sit at home with my seven siblings, me being the youngest, and there was no one to talk to. I would talk to the animals around me more than my family." She said with a mild laugh. "But I did not find anything wrong with it, and I still don't.

"If your cat ran off, it may have gotten lost. I cannot say for sure, for I know nothing of the cat. But, it also depends on how long ago it ran off. You cannot say thatit has died until you think about the facts." She explained and then looked at the girl, her eyes kind and understanding.

"I do not think that you are weird, no. Why should I? You seem like a nice little girl. You remind me a little bit of myself when I was a child to be honest. And you're not strange, just different from other people, girls, your age. It's natural. We all have various attributes that set us apart from each other. Do not think of yourself as strange because you act like no one around you." Esme's voice was understanding and honest. She would not lie to someone like this girl unless it was absolutely necessary. Sighing lightly and silently, she looked at the water again, feeling a light breeze hit her face and rustle her hair a bit.

She ran her hand through her hair, allowing the long mass of waves to fall over her shoulders and at the sides of her tanned face as she did. She was used to it though, always in the way and uncontrollable unless she used a large amount of gel. However, she hated using gel. She preferred the natural feel of her hair roaming free.

Tucking a rogue strand of hair behind her ear, Esme turned to look at the girl. She did not recall hearing her name. So, to become a little more familiar with this girl, she spoke, asking her about her name.

"I don't believe we were properly introduced. I'm Esmerelda Mirabel. You can call me Esme though. And...what might your name be?" She asked, just wondering.

[Natalie St. Clare]

"That's a cool name," she said. "I'm Natalie. Natalie St. Clare. My mum used to say I was named Natalie because I was a gift. I almost died when I was a baby. I couldn't breathe for several minutes and I turned blue and everything. I think that's why I'm different. I've always been quiet, ever since I was a baby."

[serasera]

"Nice to meet you, Natalie." She said and then listened to the girl's story. It seemed that this may be the reason why she was quiet. Esme was not some type of doctor or person that studied into genes and health, so she could not give a definate answer. Shrugged lightly, she spoke.

"Well, we are all different because we choose to be and we are made different. But, if you want to believe that you are different because of what happened during the time of birth, then you are more than welcome to. I cannot tell you that it's the reason why you are different because I don't know. I do not try to be all-knowing, nor do I act like I am."

[Natalie St. Clare]

"I like you," Natalie said. "You speak very well, and you're very smart. But you're sensitive, too. And you don't talk to me like I'm a dumb kid. The muggle lady who used to babysit me always acted like I was a three year old. She wanted me to play with dolls and stuff." She made a face. "Most people don't understand me; they think I'm just a kid and they tell me to have fun and play and act like a kid. Even my sister wants me to be like her. But I can't do that. I have to be myself, even if other people don't understand it or like it."

[serasera]

Natalie said that she liked her. Esme laughed lightly as she felt her face go somewhat warm. She then spoke, trying to thank Natalie for saying such things about her. "Oh, thank you. You are a very sweet young lady." She paused for a moment as she listened to Natalie talk about the Muggle woman that babysat her. Esme shook her head lightly. "You don't have to worry about me treating you like a child. I treat people like they are the same age as I am, and I do not treat them as they do not want to be treated. You will always get the same amount of respect that I expect to get from others." She said with a smile. "And I hated playing with dolls, so you do not have to worry about me forcing you to."

Esme knew that this girl wanted to be herself. Who didn't? Everyone had their own personality and their own way of doing things, and it was just plain stupid to copy someone else. Esmerelda hated people that tried to act like someone else.

"You are who you are. No one can make you be like them, no matter how hard they try. Even if they don't like it or do not understand it, you have to be yourself. How else do you expect other people to get to know you and like you for who you are and not who they want you to be?

"You are a very intelligent little girl, and I feel that you speak from the heart and not your head. What you speak seems very loyal and honest. Most people cannot appreciate that. But those that do will like you for who you are. The just have to see it over time." She gave the girl a reassuring smile and fell silent.

[Natalie St. Clare]

Natalie smiled slightly. "Thanks. It's nice to hear that from a grown-up. The only other person who really takes me seriously is my uncle. I don't think he actually understands me, but he tries." She sat back up and looked at the water. "So, do you like it here? Away from your home?"

[serasera]

"I always try to get an understanding of everyone around me, whether they are ten or fifty. Understanding takes a lot of work, in some ways, but once you can understand people, you can help them when they need it. Aside from that, it gives you more people to talk to." She was being honest. Being able to understand people had always helped her communicate. However, if people could not accept her for who she was, then she did not bother trying to help them. She refused people who refused to help themselves.

"At least your uncle is trying. Some people don't even do that."

The girl then asked her whether or not she liked Hogwarts. She shrugged somewhat and made a sideways face. "It's okay here at Hogwarts. The weather is so different from my home, and so are the people. I honestly cannot say whether I would want to go home though. Hogwarts seems to have had an effect on me, you know? I don't know if I would want to go back. Maybe for visits. I suppose that I remain optional at the moment. Why do you ask?" She was just curious of the reason for Natalie's questioning.

[Natalie St. Clare]

Natalie shrugged. "No reason really. Just wondering, I guess. I can sense that you aren't quite used to things here and you're a little unsure. I feel the same way, since I'm here cause my mum and dad are dead. I didn't like leaving my home and everything I knew. I feel like I have no home anymore and no place where I belong. I suppose it might feel more like home if I were a student, but since I'm not yet, I don't really have a place to be. That's why I sit in the trees."

[serasera]

Esmerelda looked at Natalie. She listened to her small rant about her parents and why she felt as if she had no home. Of course, no one needed to feel like that, ever. This girl was intelligent, and different, that was for sure. But, she just needed someone to help raise her self-esteem, and Esme hoped that she would be that person.

"You are right. I am not used to things here, and I am unsure about it all. I have no idea what I am going to do while I am here. I just hope that I can get used to it all, because I would really love to stay here to teach."

Natalie just seemed so...alone. She also seemed somewhat upset. Of course, Esmerelda understood her for the most part. "Well, Natalie, I would first like to say that I am sorry about your parents. It must have been awful, especially at a young age. But, just because of past events, you cannot make yourself feel like you belong nowhere.

"I suppose that I understand your feeling about not being a student and such. I am going to take a rather long time to get settled in." A thought passed through her head. "Maybe I will join you in the trees sometime. I think that I should get in touch with my inner child anyway." She shrugged somewhat. "Before you came here, where did you come from, if you don't mind me asking. I am just curious..."

[Natalie St. Clare]

Natalie looked at Esmerelda for a minute, trying to decide if she should tell the woman her secret. Would she believe her? Would she understand? She seemed like a fairly practical person, and she didn't want to see the look of doubt in her eyes; or worse, the patronizing look that Sabrina sometimes gave her. She decided not to say anything. "I would like to climb trees with you sometime," she said. "I used to live in the Lake District, where there were always plenty of trees to climb and lakes to swim in. This isn't really all that different, really. It's just weird, because everyone else is in class all day and I have no where to go." She tilted her head and looked at her again. "Do you suppose I could join in your class and help out a little or something? Or just watch? Maybe it would help if I had something to do once in a while."