InsaneJournal

IC QUESTIONS

Describe your family. Please include immediate family members' names, occupations, and a few words about your relationship with them.:
Well, that should be fairly easy. There's not really overly much interesting about my upbringing. It was standard, I feel, and good in the ways it was supposed to be. My mere is Véronique Ellis, born and raised in Versailles. Her family moved to Paris when she was around twelve, though kept a country house for them to retreat to during holidays and whenever they needed a break from the hustle and bustle. Her mother, her mother's mother, etc. were all veela, so it made things a little more difficult growing up. While France is popular for our lineage, people still have certain assumptions about veela and what they can/will do. Mother taught me from a young age not to advertise what I was outside of the obvious traits, and she was always a calm and upstanding woman while raising me. Where my father was a bit on the stricter side, with a fierce temper and protective streak where we were concerned, she was a balm during his times of anger. She was a typical society wife while we lived in Paris, though once my father relocated to London, she went to work within her own shop (which is something she'd always wanted to do) She owns a little book store, nothing special, that offers classical music lessons/performances on the side. Likely her reasoning for insisting I learn various instruments, now that I think on it.

My father, Pierre Wright, works for the Ministry in the Department of International Magical Cooperation. He was previously working in France, though they transferred him to London when I was seven or eight. It was sad leaving France, especially when I realized I would not be attending Beauxbatons as my mother's family all had, but I liked England well enough once I got used to it. Dad works quite a bit, but always makes it a point to be home for dinner (when he can help it) and support myself and my mother in whatever she needs. Since I'm the only child, I'm the fixation of his eye, and he is always urging me to "find a proper match" and create a good place for myself. I know he just wants to make sure I'm taken care of, but sometimes it makes me feel like I'm up for sale. He's a good pere, though, and I wouldn't disrespect him or go against him for anything. What he says definitely goes in our house, and he and mum raised me to be independent yet also respect my elders and the man I will eventually marry. While keeping my true heritage under strict secrecy, of course.

Where do you see yourself in a year? Five years? Ten years?:
Where does any teenager see themselves, really? I'd like to tell you that I have all these grand plans, but that would be false. My parents have a pretty linear map for what I'll be doing after I graduate, and not exactly all of it they've shared with me. I know for certain I'll graduating in a year, hopefully continuing the top marks I've been getting, and excelling in regards to my test scores. Mum says she wants to marry me off as soon as possible, so as not to lose the "connections", so I assume that's where five years will take me. What a scary thought In ten? That's trickier. I'd like to say whatever husband I find will let me do a little of what I want, namely painting, but I have a feeling I'll be a lot like mum. Staying home with the children and possibly having a small amount of my own dreams mixed in. Which is good enough I suppose.

How did you react when you received your Hogwarts letter?:
Getting my letter....well. It was a mixed feeling for me. I had grown up with the idea that I would be attending Beauxbatons like mum and grandmere, but we moved before I was old enough to receive the letter. Of course I assumed I would be getting a letter for Hogwarts, but I wasn't sure that I actually wanted one at all. Why be musical if I couldn't go where every woman in my family had gone, you know? When it came, I initially refused to open it. By the fourth one, dad opened it for me. I was pleased, but it was bittersweet.

What are your thoughts on your Sorting? Do you think you are in the right House? Did you always feel this way?:
Another question that's very hard to answer. I had always heard stories about Hogwarts, which of course included rumors and gossip about the different houses. Slytherin was one with a not so desirable reputation, so it was the last House I wanted to be in. I know it sounds silly to say, but I was distressed when the Hat shouted that dreaded word after thinking for a bit atop my head. I sat down with a heavy heart, all the nerves and fears I'd had over the summer coming to fruition with one little word. It took me awhile to realize that while some of those rumors are true, there is a good deal about it that isn't too. I learned that not everyone in our House is power-hungry and selfish, and being a Slytherin doesn't make me evil. Over time, I've grown to enjoy my House and accept my place in it. I wouldn't change it for anything.

Describe your boggart.:
This is extremely complex to explain. Most people say snakes, or spiders, or bats, or things that are tangible. Mine is something that you cannot see, so therefore the boggart is hard to describe. The easiest way is to say it would take the shape of someone I love, anyone I love mind you, and that person would be turning their backs on me in disgust and disappointment. I'm terribly afraid of letting down the people that matter most and winding up alone and a failure. So my boggart would reflect that.

What is something other people think or assume about you that frustrates you? Why?:
There are two parts to this answer. One, they immediately equate my House with an evil, vindictive, conniving snake. I'm also instantly cast as a villain before I even open my mouth, and it can make me even less inclined than normal to speak to new people. Two, they assume that since I'm in Slytherin and I'm not coming up to them and acting like we're all best friends, that I'm (pardon my French) a snobbish bitch. I'm shy, and not very open when meeting people for the first time. It doesn't mean I think I'm better than you. Quite the contrary, actually

If you had three wishes and could not wish for more wishes, what would you wish for?:
This is a double-edged sword of a question if ever there was one. I'm not sure there is a right or wrong answer here, or that mine would not change if you asked me again in a few months. Regardless, I would first wish that the world be a little more accurately educated on veela as a whole. Having to deal with the stereotypes and expectations when people are merely generalizing is exhausting; not to mention unfair to us as a whole. Next, I would wish that the traits and connotations of all Houses be wiped clean. Things have changed so much since the school was created, I feel the House descriptions and expectations just further the pureblood/non-pure battle and the superiority complex certain students have. Lastly, I would wish that once I graduate, I be able to tell my parents that I would like to choose my own husband and career without them feeling disappointment and anger towards me. It sounds selfish and cliche, but it's something I really want.

Who has been your biggest influence and how have they shaped who you are, positive or negative?:
As much as it might surprise you, mine would be my mother. She might not have the life I've always wished I could admit to wanting, but she is a strong woman. She's taught me a lot, about myself and the world in general, and has shown me that you can do what is right and expected while still finding your own bit of bliss. She taught me how to express my opinion and stand up for myself while not disrespecting others, and she's shown me what it means to love completely and unconditionally in the way she stands by my father and I. If nothing else, I hope I make her proud with whatever I become in life.

MEMORY

❸: "But you don't have to listen to this," he said with a wry smile. "It's not your problem."

Keira kept her pale blue-green eyes on him as he answered her question, as if studying him silently. Despite how he was trying to hide it by picking at the grass, she could tell Julien was severely bothered by what he was saying. She couldn’t imagine how hard it must be to lose your parents and have no one to talk to. Kids at school were supportive, by like he’d said, a lot of them looked at him differently after what happened. A frown turned down her pretty lips as he mentioned people thinking he should be over it by now, and it was obvious that piece of information made Keira uncharacteristically angry. “I think it’s incredibly insensitive for anyone to even hint that you should ‘be over it’ by now. How crass,” she said, the anger hardening her tone for a moment before she composed herself. She rarely got angry, but that kind of insensitivity was just plain wrong. “Nobody has any right to speak about that terrible tragedy to you, Julien. Don’t let them insult your emotions that way.”

At Keira’s indignant anger, Julien smiled softly, which was the first time since they'd sat down out here that he'd done so. She hoped he knew that he could always count on her, no matter what; that he understood pushing her away didn’t change things between them. At least she hoped, but they were both so afraid to try to fix it. She missed him terribly, and going through all this grieving process with only himself to lean on must be so hard for him. Keira didn't know how to get through to him, though. That soft smile stayed on his lips as he looked up at her after her outburst, his voice bringing her out of her own head. “I know Keira,” he said softly. “And I’m sorry that I’m such so hard to deal with sometimes.” It was the closest he had gotten to apologizing for breaking up with her. At the time he had used the words, 'I just need to deal with me and all these feelings.' Keira knew he hadn't wanted to hurt her. There was just so much anger in him now; so much sadness. He wanted to get it under control.

“I miss you, Keira,” he said softly then. “I miss you so much, and on days like this I wish...” he trailed off, looking at her, dark green eyes on her bright blue ones. “I just want to hold you and pretend it’s like it used to be.”

At his words, Keira realized it sounded a bit like he was apologizing for what had happened between them, which made her heart clench in response. She worked hard to keep that emotion from Julien, however. She didn’t want him to see how much it hurt, since Keira knew he needed time. The last thing she wanted was to make him think she couldn’t handle herself without him. He’d never open up to her if he thought she was some weak little girl. “You’re not difficult to deal with. I understand it’s hard and you can’t quite get it all figured out.” The serious stuff needed to be said, even if she didn’t know how Julien still felt about her. She thought she did, but she couldn’t be sure. Making assumptions now would be more painful than outright knowing the answer wasn’t what she wanted.

Before she could speak again, she had to swallow as a lump formed in her throat. She didn’t realize Julien thought about her as much as she thought about him. Locking her eyes on his, Keira took a breath silently so she could formulate words. “I miss you too...I wish I could comfort you. I wish I could do something. I wish it could be like before and I could make you feel better with just a hug. Or a kiss....” Trailing off as her cheeks flamed, she lowered her eyes, embarrassed by her forwardness. She was supposed to be giving Julien time and here she was saying such things.

The soft smile that had slid over his lips faded a bit as she spoke, saying things that would only complicate what was already complicated. Her words seemed to sap some of the air from his lungs, and Keira instantly regretted speaking so openly; something she normally never did. Before she could apologize, however, Julien was getting to his feet. "I'm sorry, Keira. I can't...I can't right now. You understand, right?" His words were shaky as he backed away, but Keira wasn't making a move to follow. She couldn't. The only thing she could do was nod slowly as he gave her one last sad smile before turning and walking away. Keira was left looking after him, knowing it would be the last time she'd ever see him...