Built at the express insistence, and to the specifications, of Salazar Slytherin no less, this edfice is a funnel and magnet for Dark might, its very array of stonework and choice of materials solely designed to harness every drop of chthonic choler swirling in a miasma around this bulwark and bastion of bravery that is Hogwarts. Ostensibly, this is to drain, and harmlessly dispose of, the wrath and cloth of evil, but given Slytherin's other surprises elsewhere in the school, who knows what time spent here might do, or trigger, or…awaken?
This place has an odd, sombre vibe to it, almost like a pressure on her shoulders. It fits the way her stomach constantly ties itself in knots whenever she comes across something that reminds her of Aurelia. Which is always, because nearly everything is a reminder of Aurelia. The door's locked though, much to her disappointment, so she sits on what could be called the doorstep and sighs.
Adelaide Baudelaire- Gryffindor Fifth Year • Photographer
- "She's worth whatever chaos she brings to the table, and you know it."
She smiles when she encounters Clementine, but it's careful - wary. She's still reeling from the news that Aretha had delivered, but here, seeing Clementine, she's a little more at ease. Her worries reserved for Clementine and her not being over her twin's death. It was understandable, but Adelaide just hoped she'd let more loose every now and then, opened herself to more thrilling things - things that could ease her mind and help her heal. "Hey, you."
At the sound of Adelaide's voice she glances up and smiles - it's shaky, but it's there. "Del," she says as though it's some kind of answer, uncrossing her legs and scooting over to make room on the small stone slab. "I haven't seen you for a couple days." The worry was palpable in her words, mixed with the sounds of refreshed grief, bubbling up in her throat. "You're here now, though...and something doesn't feel right, are you okay?" She can recognise the lines formed by confusion, and doubt.
Adelaide Baudelaire- Gryffindor Fifth Year • Photographer
- "She's worth whatever chaos she brings to the table, and you know it."
Clementine can read her like a book, and Adelaide isn't sure how she feels about that, even now. She likes being a puzzle - it's nice when people haven't yet figured her out. It's like she has an advantage over them, somehow. Approaching the blonde, she wordlessly sits next to her, sitting in silence for a couple of minutes and gathering her thoughts in an organized manner. She extends a hand, gingerly taking one of Clem's and lacing their fingers. "I'm - no, not really," she admits, shaking her head. "You don't sound much better."
The silence is uncomfortable for Clementine, who does things merely to distract herself from the static created in her head when it's dead silent; so, when it's broken, she's relieved, but the graveness of the situation prevents her from smiling as she looks at their joined hands. When she looks up she still looks rather shaken. "Yeah, well, I never really am okay, am I? You're used to that. You on the other hand...you're always so put-together and you always have a handle on yourself, so this is odd. Has something happened?"
Adelaide Baudelaire- Gryffindor Fifth Year • Photographer
- "She's worth whatever chaos she brings to the table, and you know it."
She smiles, but it's strained, as she's just not feeling it but really wants to make an effort for the other girl. She's not wrong. She's always put-together and keeps her emotions lowkey, but she's still rattled and she's not sure who else she can turn to without feeling ashamed for feeling. For being sad, shaken, confused and hopeless. "I'll take it as a complement," she says weakly. "Um... the lawyers working with my family on my oncle décédé's case passed by the other day. They confirmed the rumors. He - he didn't just drown."
"You're right to take it as a compliment," she says, "because it was one." Clementine holds Adelaide's hand and looks at her with concern as her best friend details her situation. Murder, the word floated into her head unbidden. Her closest friend has lost a family member to murder, too. And there's not one thing that Clementine can say or do to make it better, she knows that, because one year later she's still reeling about losing Aurelia. "Oh my god...Del, I don't know what to...I'm so sorry." She remembers the visit from the lawyers herself. It was clear they hadn't done it, but the person who had was never caught, and she hopes there's justice for the Baudelaires whoever did it.
Adelaide Baudelaire- Gryffindor Fifth Year • Photographer
- "She's worth whatever chaos she brings to the table, and you know it."
She isn't looking at Clementine, just straight ahead, because she knows if she looks she'll break down, and that is something out of the range of things Adelaide's willing to do publicly. Among others. "It's not your fault. Not that I'm aware, anyways," she says, a weak stab at a joke that still works and has her smiling, albeit small and brief. "But, yeah, I'm... I'm shocked, still."
"Definitely not my fault," she agrees, smiling, ignoring the thoughts of things that she thinks are her fault. "I'd be more concerned if you weren't shocked. I don't think the shock ever really goes away, you always question why someone should do it. The counsellors I've seen told me it's about acceptance."
Adelaide Baudelaire- Gryffindor Fifth Year • Photographer
- "She's worth whatever chaos she brings to the table, and you know it."
The possibility of attending counseling had occurred to Adelaide, but she saw it as a sign of weakness - as a way to get hit hard. And thus it was a no. Looking at Clementine, though, she knows she won't have to conceal everything. "I'll come to that in my own time. It's just a lot to get used to. It's just, there's a murderer, in my family? To serve what purpose? It's just a little too difficult to envision, but the facts are there, in our faces."
"I'm always gonna be here when you need me," she says, squeezing Del's hand. "I know it's really hard to come to terms with, even worse since someone in your family...but if you ever need to get it off your chest, I'm here to listen. I'll send owls from the basement to Gryffindor Tower at 3am if I have to." Clementine is aware that she hasn't been the best friend ever at times, and she wants to make up for that.
Adelaide Baudelaire- Gryffindor Fifth Year • Photographer
- "She's worth whatever chaos she brings to the table, and you know it."
Seemingly over her lapse in emotional strength, she beams, leaning over and swiftly kissing her best friend's cheek. It's like she hadn't even been remotely upset just seconds ago, because she's bright again, like the stars currently above them. "Would you like to come to Penbury Hall with me for Christmas? I mean, I'd love it if you did. It'd prove to be a nice distraction for us both. Unless, of course, you'd like to avoid the tensions."
The way Adelaide pulls herself together is something Clementine wishes she could ever hope to replicate; she can't even hide the way her cheek flushes underneath Adelaide's lips. "Of course!" she grins, as though the tensions between Adelaide's family weren't even a problem to her. "There's a reason why I've never invited you over, 'cause Christmas with my uncle is not exactly Christmas at all. I get money if I'm lucky and he's usually too drunk to celebrate it, so it'd be nice to...celebrate it properly for once." She bites her lip then as a sudden wave of insecurity overcomes her. "But what if your family don't like me?"
Adelaide Baudelaire- Gryffindor Fifth Year • Photographer
- "She's worth whatever chaos she brings to the table, and you know it."
Adelaide feels as though it's up to her to fix this, to make things better for Clementine. It's like it's her job as her best friend to make Christmas feel, well, like Christmas. She bites her lip. "You could have told me. You could have been spending it with me all along," pausing, she frowns. "Though, again, I'm warning you. The tensions - it's pretty bad. It might not be as glamorous."
"I don't know what I would do without you," she says earnestly, smiling close-mouthed at her. "I'll owl maman, so she isn't so surprised when you appear at the doorstep with me."
Clementine smiles back, warm and genuine. "I don't know what I'd do without you, either," she admits, "and I hope your maman likes me, but given what I've heard of her she doesn't really like anyone. So if she doesn't I won't take it personally."
Adelaide Baudelaire- Gryffindor Fifth Year • Photographer
- "She's worth whatever chaos she brings to the table, and you know it."
Adelaide rolls her eyes, but is smiling, still, her thumb rubbing Clem's hand comfortingly. "She'll adore you. And if she doesn't, then I do, and that's what matters," she says, with a small laugh.
With her camera still around her neck, Adelaide finds it easy to let go of Clementine's hand and turn it on. "Are you blushing, chéri?" she grins, trying to make the most of it by bringing her camera to her face and snapping a picture. "Now I can preserve this memory forever."
"Well, we'll see who can talk about blushing," the blonde says, smirking; and after those words she takes Adelaide's face gently in her hands and presses her lips to the other girl's - just for a moment.
Adelaide Baudelaire- Gryffindor Fifth Year • Photographer
- "She's worth whatever chaos she brings to the table, and you know it."
She's about to roll her eyes, smirk and make a joke about her heartlessness stopping her from blushing, but then there's warm, pink lips on hers and she's highkey shook. She's kissing back, though, for the briefest of moments, and it's bliss, because she actually enjoys it. And the thought is daunting. Cyril had been shamed for being homosexual. And if she'd enjoyed this kiss - well, she just couldn't. It was just impossible. Clearly spooked, Adelaide untangles herself from Clementine, standing up. "What have we done?" she asks, quietly, barely over a whisper. She shakes her head fervently, before turning, running (willingly, for once in her life) back for the castle.
Too fast, those lips are gone, and her friend looks so scared. "Del, wait, it was just -" But she's gone, and Clementine is lost, confused. The words Adelaide's lips had told her in a kiss contradicted the words that came out of her mouth and she doesn't know which to believe. Tears are brimming in her eyes as she stands, wandering in the opposite direction, destination unknown.
Salazar's standpoint
The Music of the Night - Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman (lyrics in the description)
