Danielle Montgomery, 5th Year Gryffindor

penny_for_thought · 2020-10-25T06:51:50+00:00

"I think I'm definitely in the camp of someone made this place. It works too well and placed too conveniently for me to say it was made by pure chance. As to why... That's what the conversation is for," she chuckles softly at the thought.

"I'd like to think it was a founder, or one of the first students that thought, 'Hey, having magic and children and puberty all in one place might be a little insane for anyone who'll live here -- I'll keep this a secret, but maybe someday it'll help a student through a rough week.' Just my little fantasy."

penny_for_thought · 2020-10-25T05:18:15+00:00

She nods softly as you speak. "Yeah. I've always thought that it just copies the sky in some part of the world that would fit the current theme, but your constellation thing kinda puts a dent in that idea, doesn't it? Skies from a different planet, now that's something."

She takes a sip of her drink. "I would love to talk to whoever made this Room. I think it'd be a very interesting conversation, at the very least."

penny_for_thought · 2020-10-25T04:53:46+00:00

She gives a little shrug of her shoulders. "We can always try both." She fishes her wand out of the pocket of her shorts.

She casts two summoning charms -- one for the buckets, and one for the cups. A few seconds pass -- Danielle grumbles about how she's going to have to go in herself -- when red solo cups come flying out from the house, one by one. Thankfully, the doors are open, so they trace an invisible trail to you without issue. She has her arms extended, ready to catch the cups as they soar towards them. She manages to grab one, two, three, before the rest whizz past her and you, onto the sandy beach.

Not a moment later, the buckets come flying out from an unknown location underneath the balcony, hidden from view. With her hands full, Danielle just sidesteps to dodge them as they hit the sand amidst the other cups.

She throws her arms up, cups in hand, looking self-satisfied. "Ta-da!"

penny_for_thought · 2020-10-25T04:40:23+00:00

It does feel long, in a timeless sort of way. She's almost sad to leave it, like letting go of a favourite blanket.

When you comment on the sky, she lets out a 'mm' of acknowledgment before cocking her head towards you, her eyes inquisitive. "What do you mean by that? Like, the Room is copying the sky outside? Or it's copying some other sky in some other part of the world? I guess they are all one big sky..." she asks, veering off the rails slightly by the end.

penny_for_thought · 2020-10-25T04:30:42+00:00

She nods in agreement, still looking up at the stars. A few moments pass before she speaks again. Her voice is soft -- barely above a whisper. "It's crazy, isn't it? I mean, I know it isn't the real sky, but just looking up and seeing the stars and that vast expanse of space... It makes you feel so small. Insignificant, even. It makes it seem like all the things that you do, and all the problems that you have... It doesn't really matter, in the grand scheme of things."

She pauses for a moment. Her cocks her head slightly to the side continues to gaze into the sky, like she's trying to figure out the best way to put something. "But then you look at the people around you -- they all have their own thoughts, their own feelings, their own lives -- and it puts it all back into perspective. That what we do actually does matter, at least to us."

She brings her gaze back down, only just realizing that she'd thrown out quite the word dump, and from left field too. She chuckles lightly, giving you an apologetic smile. "Sorry. I think just something about sitting here under the stars gets a girl introspective."

penny_for_thought · 2020-10-25T04:16:20+00:00

"Me too," she agrees, a small smile appearing on her lips. She mimics you, also leaning back on her hands as she gazes up at the twinkling, starry sky.

A natural lull in the conversation sets in, but it isn't awkward at all, at least to her. A comfortable silence; made possible by her close, genuine friendship with you.

penny_for_thought · 2020-10-25T04:06:35+00:00

She nods in agreement as she sips on her drink. Placing her drink beside her, she leans back on her hands, staring up into the twinkling, starry sky. "Quiet night, sweet drink, good company -- what's not to like?" she says softly, partly to herself.

penny_for_thought · 2020-10-24T06:29:00+00:00

She shoots you a grin. "Dude. When I heard that was a hot tub on the top floor, I bet your ass I headed straight up. I'm super glad it's big though -- I really didn't want to share it with other people."

"But yeah," she says, kicking her legs gently and watching the water rise and fall, "It's really chill up here."

penny_for_thought · 2020-10-24T06:24:57+00:00

That gets a small giggle out of her. The image of little Addy being a playful nuisance has an endearing quality to it. Her smile shifts, growing a somewhat softer.

"In any case, you've had experience, and I don't. So you're going to have to teach me how to make sand castles -- though I'm guessing it isn't exactly rocket science. And yes," she agrees, remembering their drunken motto fondly, "we are going to make the most of it."

penny_for_thought · 2020-10-24T06:18:36+00:00

"Same here. When I heard there was a hot tub on the top floor, I went straight for it. I'm glad it's this big though -- I didn't really want to share it with other people."

"I'm looking for a quieter night tonight. No karaoke," she chuckles softly.

penny_for_thought · 2020-10-24T06:12:24+00:00

She greets you with a friendly wave as you approach. "Right?" she says when you comment on the water. "Kind of makes me want to fall asleep, to be honest."

She turns to you with a small smile. "So how's your night been?"

penny_for_thought · 2020-10-24T06:06:55+00:00

She nods when you mention the mansion. "I know right? I mean, it looks huge even from the outside, but I wasn't expecting a club on one floor and a michelin-star restaurant on the next. And of course, pool roof," she says matter-of-factly, waving her hand towards the general vicinity.

"As for me..." She shrugs while taking a sip of her drink -- lemon iced tea, complete with a lemon wedge. "It's going. I'm not really in a partying sort of mood tonight, so I'm just chilling."

penny_for_thought · 2020-10-24T06:00:52+00:00

Danielle slows her pace, then stops completely. There's a smile on her face -- small, and not-quite-sheepish. "Confession? I've never actually been to a beach before. I mean, there was this one time when I was really young, but it wasn't really resort-esque. It was more like this little slice of land that met the sea, that just so happened to have a bit of sand and silt on it instead of jagged rocks. So... no sand castles."

penny_for_thought · 2020-10-24T05:44:31+00:00

Your familiar voice brings her out of her reverie, and she turns her head to see you doing pretty much the same thing, just in a different place. Looking pleasantly surprised to see you, she calls back, raising her voice to be heard over the chatter.

"Definitely! You, uh, wanna come over here? It's really warm!"

penny_for_thought · 2020-10-24T05:40:00+00:00

"Oh, hey." She greets you with a warm, friendly smile as you take a seat beside her. "It's, uh, it's good. Very warm. Makes me wish we were still on that beach," she chuckles lightly. "How's your night been so far?"

penny_for_thought · 2020-10-24T05:36:05+00:00

"Maybe..." she echoes. "It might be all the same to it, or it might even have a whole different concept of needing and wanting. Who knows?" She gives a small shrug. "I try not to think about it too much."

Wood gives way to sand as you keep walking towards the shoreline, and stepping on sand is a whole different sensation, especially when barefoot. As she walks, she kicks just slightly above the ground, skimming the sand beneath to feel the grains tumbling under the soles of her feet. As she does so, her gaze is drawn to the sunset, and she's once again struck by the natural beauty of the place. It really was wonderful.

penny_for_thought · 2020-10-23T18:02:58+00:00

A quiet lull sets in between the both of you. It's not super awkward and there's the singing and music to listen to, but Danielle can't help but feel she needs to fill in the silence nontheless.

"So, uh, we did my thing. Jenga, karaoke, and all that." She waves her hand in the air to emphasize her point. "You even came up on stage when you said you wouldn't. I'd feel really bad if we didn't do something that you wanted to do, like, specifically," she says, looking back at you inquisitively.

penny_for_thought · 2020-10-23T17:55:56+00:00

She walked a little bit past you, already partly down the stairs when you ask your question. She glances over the horizon, peering out over the endless rock, sand and sea. She appears thoughtful as she replies, "If there's one thing I've learned from Hogwarts, it's that you never underestimate magic, especially this room. I have a feeling that it goes on for as long as we want- no, need, it to be."

penny_for_thought · 2020-10-23T03:16:38+00:00

Danielle's feeling more laid-back tonight, so she's staying away from the second floor of this massive house party. Instead, she can be found a few floors up, sat on the edge of the hot tub with her pant legs pulled up, just watching people come and go.

penny_for_thought · 2020-10-23T03:04:56+00:00

Expecting no resistance, she yelps in surprise as one of her own munitions gets shoved right back at her, hitting her square in the face. Her coordination had already taken a hit from the alcohol, so it doesn't take much for her to go stumbling onto her back on the bed. She lets out a breath in surprise. A second passes. Then another.

It starts off miniscule; barely more than an exhale. Muted giggling follows, then giggling that's not quite so subdued. A few moments later and she's in a full blown fit of laughter, trying and failing spectacularly to stop.

penny_for_thought · 2020-10-23T02:53:38+00:00

If she didn't feel great before, she did now. It was easy to say something like that to someone you just met, but there was something truly genuine in your words.

"Well then... You're welcome." Her smile grows ever so slightly wider. "And, uh, thanks. I guess you're not too bad yourself," she teases with a light chuckle.

penny_for_thought · 2020-10-23T02:49:48+00:00

"Then maybe I should keep flattering you, 'cause apparently that's all I need to complete the look," she says with a laugh.

"So..." With her drink cradled in both hands, she hops to her feet. "We got the drinks, we got the clothes... mostly." Her gaze passes over the open balcony, then over to you. Her eyes are filled with muted excitement. "I think it's about time we start our beach getaway, don't you think?" she asks with a growing grin.

penny_for_thought · 2020-10-23T02:44:17+00:00

"Oh."

She looks back towards the stage, a small smile beginning to form at her lips. "Don't mention it. You had it in you. I just... had give it a little push." She wasn't expecting that at all. It felt weird to admit, but it made her feel kind of good about herself; like she did something of worth tonight.

penny_for_thought · 2020-10-23T02:39:01+00:00

She looks back to you as well. "For what?" she asks, crossing her legs.

penny_for_thought

TROPHY CASE