there'll be a better view from here (amy)

[JOSCELINE AVALON NOTT]

Thunder and lightning raged outside the castle with pouring rain drenching the stone walls and the grass below. Water streamed down the window in rivulets and every once in a while, the flash of lightning lit up the corridor. One might even say that the display was beautiful; while others cringe and hide from it. Josceline was of the opinion that lightning was glorious in all its beauty, especially when she was in the dark mood as she was now.

Although it was not yet nighttime, the impending darkness hinted that the days were getting shorter, and the nights were getting longer. There was still some time before curfew, so there was plenty of time to simply walk around, a pastime that Josceline often participated in. In fact, this time of day was her favourite since most people had already settled in a particular place for the rest of the day, and there was few people lingering around in the corridors, particularly on this floor. So as she strolled down the corridors, Josceline allowed her thoughts to roam free, paying little heed to her surroundings.

Lately, she had been thinking about her current family situation. It had been over six years since she had been sorted into Hufflepuff, and her family was no closer to accepting her as she was. She craved her father to spoil her with the same fervor as before. Why couldn't they understand why she just didn't think Muggleborns as inferior? Well, actually, she could understand why, but in her mind, that didn't make it much better. Couldn't they just make an exception for her? She was the firstborn, the best of them all. As the firstborn of the Nott family, she did not deserve to be treated like so; the very thought rose her hackles, yet, there was so very little that she could do to appease her family without throwing her own thoughts and opinions out the window, and that was something that she was simply not willing to do. Damn that governess. If only she hadn't revealed a world outside of her own family, a view broader and more exciting than her family's. However, even as the thoughts entered her mind, she was instantly remorseful.

Pausing, she looked over the the window just as a flash of lightning split the sky. Josceline had always found the display of lightning and thunder to be cathartic, as if they took her frustration and anger and used it constructively to create this beautiful light show. Unable to resist, Josceline stepped forward and leaned against the wall next to the window, watching as the wet window was pelted with more angry raindrops. Somewhere off in the distance, she could hear footsteps, but she paid it no mind, since plenty of people still ventured the halls.

[amy]

Amy thought the thunder and lightening was pretty. It was beautiful but some people found it scary afterall in the right place at the right time, it could kill you. Exactly what she wanted to be like when she was older. Beautiful and deadly, especially to all of the muggleborns and blood traitors, like those Weasleys and Potters. She couldn't honestly see why people with pure wizarding blood chose to associate with people who were obviously benneth them. Then again, she supposed, muggleborns could be difficult to deal with at times like that Hermione Granger, she'd heard about.

Then again everyone seemed to look down on her and thought that she couldn't be any use and she needed to prove those people wrong but she didn't exactly know how...

Suddenly seeing a figure up ahead she almost screamed, her mnd immeadiatly jumping to tales of vampires that she'd heard. Then she relised it was only a person and breathed a sigh of relief. Walking towards the person she noticed dark hair and hufflepuff colours and guessed that it was Josceline

She stopped a moment, thinking slyly, maybe if she was really nice to Josceline the other girl would relise that blood purists weren't that bad and then she wouldn't be (distantly) related to a bloodtraitor. Walking up to were Josceline was standing by the window she leant against the other side of the window and looked out the window, "Hi Josceline!" She said looking at her, "the lightening's pretty isn't it?"

[JOSCELINE AVALON NOTT]

It was one thing for someone to be walking by down this corridor, it was a whole other thing for someone to just pop out and start talking to you. So naturally, she jumped a bit. Looking over to the opposite side of the window, where she thought the voice originated from, she was mildly confused for half a second before she realized that the origin of the voice came from a much lower location. Looking down further, she saw that it was her surprisingly cheery cousin, Amy.

“Hello Amy,” she responded mildly with a smile. There was always something about her younger cousin's smile and cheery attitude that unnerved her. It was so... eerie. Or perhaps she was just being crazy. It was most likely the case that she was simply far too used to suspicion and sullen attitudes towards her, particularly after she was sorted into Hufflepuff. Even prior to Hogwarts, it was commonplace that her siblings were never simply nice to her without a good reason, at least. There was always motives behind it. It generally signaled that they wanted something from her, and besides that, the nice behaviour indicated that they knew that whatever they wanted, Josceline was reluctant to give. As a result, such behaviour shot up warning flags. Now what her cousin wanted, she had no idea.

“It is beautiful.” Josceline looked out the window, waiting for the next flash of lightning to occur. “You're not scared of it?” A mild tinge of surprise coloured her voice since many children were terrified of thunder and/or lightning. To be honest, Josceline was never too close to Amy, primarily due to the age gap, so knowledge of what she was and wasn't scared of was very lacking. It was only a bit later that Josceline realized the implications of the statement. A young child would not enjoy the implication that they were scared of anything, particularly a Slytherin Nott. “I know that when I was a younger, I didn't like it,” she said in a wistful kind of tone, 'back when days were simpler' kind of tone. “I didn't really start appreciating it until later...”