[HC.Room] Vanity

[Hallie Hestand]

The wind was chilly and the air was crisp. The outside looked like a wintery wonderland. Snow lay all over the ground, trees, and buildings, plus people, so not a speck of green, blue, or brown could be noticed. Hallie was headed straight up to the castle. She had just gotten finished with Care of Magical Creatures. The class bored her to death. Hal would probably die a thousand times over and over than attend that class, but it seems she doesn't have a choice. Glancing around her at all the hustle and bustle of other students trying to get to the castle she barley saw any faces, just colorful scarves, striped hats, fuzzy gloves, polka-doted ear-muffs, and furry jackets. She smiled for she too probably couldn't be recognized for being so bundled up.

Pushing her way through the crowd and relaxing once she reach reached the castle Hallie praised God that there was heat. Once she was all thawed out she breathed a sigh of relief. Only one class left for the day and that wasn't for another few hours. Hal started untieing her scarf as she waited in line on the staircase to get inside the Hufflepuff Common Room. Hallie raced up the steps to her dorm and it was vacant inside. She slid out of her jacket and pulled her hat off. Her lips were badly chapped so chapstick was first on her list. She grabbed a mirror, brush, few pieces of parchment, and some Muggle Studies books and ran down stairs.

The Common Room wasn't too full, but there were people in every direction. Mainly in front of the fire though. Hallie was already pretty toasty, so she didn't plan on fighting for a spot in front of the flames. Claiming a seat in the far right corner. She set her books and paper on the table next to it and her mirror and brush on the arms of the chair. Grabbing a blanket from a nearby couch she cuddled up in the chair ready for her homework, but realized she'd forgotten ink and a quill. Cursing to herself, Hallie uncovered and looked around. Most of the other students were younger than herself. Perfect! Hopping up from the chair Hal walked over to a little red haired second year and saw she had an extra quill and ink cup. "Excuse me..." Hallie asked the girl,"You mind if I borrow your extra quill and ink cup? I forgot mine? Promise i'll return it!" The second year smiled and agreed, so Hallie snatched the stuff and covered herself back up.

Sighing, Hallie wasn't ready to do work, so she closed her eyes and began making lists. Who she envied, jealous of, prettiest, rudest, smartest, hottest... and so on, but then she realized that none of those people were her friends, much less any of the people not on these lists. The one question kept popping up in Hallie's mind: Why didn't she have friends? She never thought of herself as mean, rude, insufferable, vain, but maybe she was. Who knew. Laughing, Hallie thought about the one person that made her sick to look at, but jumpy inside 'cause all she wanted to do was be her friend so bad. Alicia Kennedy... gorgeous, smart, and very friendly. It always seemed like a competition between the two girls. Who was smartest, prettiest, got all the attention. Hallie didn't want it always to be like that, but it seemed that it would never change in a million years.

[Alicia Kennedy]

Being January it was obviously meant to be cold, but this was ridiculous. It felt like she had frostbite on every finger, on every toe, on every limb and if possible even in her eyes. Why she had actually agreed to actually go and get Brooke's chocolate from Honeydukes was beyond her, she was sometimes just too nice for her own good, and who in the right mind would tell Brooke Kennedy 'no'? You would either be very brave or very stupid to say that to her.

Trudging back, the normal path from Hogsmeade had been covered with new snow and only a set of a couple of footprints led to and from the castle. Alicia wondered why anyone else was as mad as her to actually put the effort in to go all the way to Hogsmeade, but then she remembered that Butterbeer was a great way to heat yourself up. Either that or Brooke had sent more minions to do her dirty work for her.

Pushing open the main doors, the main hall was not as warm as Ali had hoped. She wanted to get all this wintery coat, boots, scarf, hat and mittens off so she could actually breathe and not feel like she was carrying round another person. Still, it seemed stripping them off would have to wait until she reached the common room and warmed up.
'Surly Hogwarts could have some sort of automatic heating system without electronics?' she thought to herself as she headed down into the den and mumbled the password through frozen lips before pushing open the door with covered hands.

Instantly the heat hit her in the face and Ali moaned slightly, enjoying the warmth of the fire that seemed like was warming the entire population of Hufflepuff in front of it. Unwrapping her scarf she hung it on the coatrack before unzipping her coat and placing it on top of the scarf, shoving the mittens and the beanie hat into the pockets of it. Rubbing her hands together, she neared the fire, manoeving between a few of the younger students and she neared her hands nearer to the roaring fire for a minute or two, not even bothing to look around the room at the other students.

Brooke would have to wait just a little while longer before she got her chocolate fix. Alicia was simply too cold and exhausted from the walk to even think about going anywhere near the stairs to the the Gryffindor common room.
It was times like this that Ali was happy to have a common room below ground as it retained more heat. She thought of how the poor Ravenclaws would be freezing up in the towers and she giggled slightly at their misfortune of common room placements. 'God bless badgers'.

It was then she turned around and was about to sit on the sofa when she noticed Hallie sitting in the corner. The two girls, although Hufflepuffs didn't particularly like each others company much and Ali simple rolled her eyes as she turned around to curl up in the sofa. Sitting in silence for a minute looking anywhere but Hallie's direction, she looked at what she was writing.
"Why have you got a list of people's names on there? Is it your hitlist or something?" she queried before becoming silent for a moment and raising her eyebrows.

"You've missed my name off" she stated casually.

[Hallie Hestand]

The room was getting hotter and hotter as more and more students ages eleven to seventeen entered the Common Room. It was quite stuffy and Hallie was toasty all over, but she wasn't going anywhere. Her personal bubble was over her and as long as nobody disturbed her she would be fine. Smiling smugly, Hal pulled the blanket on over her shoulders very tight and leaned her head back so it rested on the back of the chair. She was so caught up some mezmerising dream of someone who did something, Hallie forgot to cover up her lists and was unaware of anyone that had seen them.

The door to the common room kept opening and closing as students came in and out and so a breeze blew through the cozy hole in the ground and Hal awoke to a tingle in her toes. Her lists were still on her lap, but the little girl she had borrowed the supplies from was gone. 'Whoops... looks like she won't be getting her quill and ink back'. Nobody looked super angry or too happy, so Hal guessed none of them had read what wasn't for their eyes. That made her ease just a tiny bit. The door slammed closed as a few girls made their way inside. Hallie glanced up and noted that she was aquantiences with them all. And of course the girl that Hallie was just thinking about walks in. Her worst nightmare and the prettiest on the street.

She analyzed Alicia's every move as she took off all of her wintery outside clothes. Hallie couldn't help but giggle, the girl did it like she was angel, but from Hallie's point of view and angel from Hell. It was amazing nobody has ever put her in her place. As Hal thought more about it, the reason was probably because she was a Kennedy and has a reputation and a family full of wonderful people, older tough siblings... that was one thing Hallie didn't have. Her family, well they weren't much of anything, but Hal didn't care.

Smiling to herself she relaxed and began to rub her temples before the games began. Hallie thought maybe today would be the day that Ali didn't come marching over here making herself look better. That ceased some of the pain in Hal's mind, but then she heard a shreak, a few giggles, and then a shadow appeared a few feet away. Hallie glanced up, with just her eyes, and there she was. Alicia Kennedy just as she had suspected. Hallie laughed and just couldn't stop. Now she was a bad girl that had a hitlist. It got better and better every time. She turned her head upward and grinned,"My buisness... big deal I have people's names written down..." Was it really that huge of a situation? Names are written everywhere. And then she came to the conclusion Hal had missed her name. Snickering again Hallie answered,"I have reasons for that too..." Maybe she should of said 'Wait I want to kill you last', but decided against it.

The two girls, one sitting and one hovering, just stared each other down. The funny part was that neither one of them had ever done anything to the other. It was just something that happened one day and they had gone with it ever since.

[Alicia Kennedy]

Alicia wasn't aware that she was any sort of popular within the Hufflepuffs or Hogwarts for that matter. She simply went about her day like any other person would, unaware of her popularity status as a fourth year Hufflepuff. Just those two facts alone made it hard to compete in the popularity contest that was Hogwarts social network. It would of annoyed her if her older siblings weren't in the 'popular clique' and maybe, just maybe it was because of this that Ali was as liked as she was.

Whatever the reason, Ali was simply unaware of it, nor did she care to even attempt to compete in the popularity contests, it was all a big waste of time and she really didn't want to be caught in all the high schoolesque drama. So what if Bryn and Brooke were popular and Bryn was a prefect, she was tainted with the Hufflepuff brush and that made her a total outcast compared to the twins.

Ali simply raised her eyebrow, a signature look of the Kennedy's it seemed and it was when she pulled a face like this that she looked very much like her older sister Brooke. Ali didn't know this however, but everyone else would of thought so, at least that's what many people had told her, including her brother Bryn.
"It's just a bit odd to have people's names written down isn't it? I mean, it sure isn't going to be a christmas present list" she replied sarcastically. Whoah, was that a little bit of the Kennedy gene finally kicking in?

Sitting down, she propped her head in her hand and stared at the flames in the fire from the other side of the room. She had a mind lapse and thought about leaving before she got settled to go and give Miss Brooke her damn chocolate. Ali inwardly grumbled as she imaged Brooke just snatching the candy from her and gobbling it all like some sort of monster. That girl was odd at the best of times, and darn right rude at the others. No wonder people tried not to figure her out, Brooke was a riddle wrapped within a riddle, even though the riddles were opaque.

It was then her brain moved on to more important matters, and as she gave a quick glance back to Hallie, she looked at her with a slight pout before she sighed and spoke quickly.
"I know you don't particularly like me but I've never done anything to you, so if you have a problem with me you might as well just spit it out and say it because if not i'm going to go and see my sister" she said, pushing herself up quickly from the seat and folding her arms over her chest defensively. Ali noticed from the corner of her eye that almost all the people hovering around the fire had now turned to look at the pair, a look of horror on their faces as if they were going to run away if a fight started out.

"Oh relax, all hufflepuff's, remember?" she said to them, rolling her eyes. They seem to of forgotten that hufflepuff's were fair and didn't try to pick fights. They all seemed to relax then and put their attention back onto the warm fire. Ali was still sure that their ears were focused on Hallie and her however.

[Hallie Hestand]

The room was now hotter than ever, but it was freezing cold outside. She guessed weather could change instantly... Hallie yawned and grabbed a book and started fanning herself with it. Throwing off her blanket, Hal felt a burst of air. It felt much much better. She laid the book down on the table and a few thoughts popped into her head. Hallie wondered if Alicia only thought of herself superior because she was part of the Kennedy family or if she thought herself better than everyone else at all? Maybe Ali just wanted to be liked, but that was no problem. Hal glanced around the room and pretty much everyone in the room stared at her as if she was some kind of angel from Heaven. Ha! Hallie knew better, but what if she only told herself that? Shouldn't she be happy if Ali came from a good family that loves her and sticks together. Hallie never had that kind of love, so maybe she just didn't understand it.

Sighing, Hallie looked up to see that Alicia was still standing there. "Well, maybe it is a Christmas list and I just haven't added your name yet... who knows..." Hallie said. She couldn't possibly tell Ali the real reason they were there. That was just make her look like some low-life idiot. Hallie watched as Alicia glared at her and then took a seat closer to the fire. Smirking Hallie wondered why she was being so secretative about it. She wrote it and shouldn't care what others think, but she did. I guess being sorted into Hufflepuff made her feel worthless, so she wants power. Ugh!!! It was so difficult to make up her mind.

Then a bit of sympathy rolled into action when Alicia spilled. Hallie felt so bad. So Ali didn't really want to be rude, or maybe wasn't it was just the way Hal saw her. How could she be this way. "I'm really sorry, I never really understood you, so I guess I just always wanted to be better!" Hallie gulped,"And I can understand if you want to make me look terrible to the human body!"

Hallie laughed at Alicia's remark. Pretty funny, most Hufflepuff's do act like that. All retarted and stiff, but Hallie wasn't afraid of a fight, but she didn't want one either! Maybe if Ali and herself could work it out they could become good friends? Just maybe!

[Alicia Kennedy]

Alicia smirked and looked around the room before her eyes set back upon Hallie. A christmas list after christmas? Now she knew she was lying. Either that or she was extremely efficient and was writing it for the next christmas, but Ali bet that she would of lost that list by then.
"Like I believe that. Christmas has passed, so that means it is a hitlist" she smirked before flopping down in the chair sideways so her legs were over the arm of the chair. Giving a big sigh as the flopping on the chair made her lose a ghast of air, she tilted her head back and stared at the ceiling for a minute in silence.

Although she was silent, she was thinking of all the things and times that her and Hallie had spoken before, trying to find the trigger for their rather sour friendship. Was it something she said without realising? Something she'd done? Something she'd not done? All this thinking in such a hot room was making her sweat and giving her a minor headache.

Then Hallie piped up as if answering her thoughts and Ali jumped slightly and picked herself up so she was now sat cross-legged in the chair, leaning forward and listening to Hallie.
"Better? Than me!? What's there to be better about?!" she said, wrinkling her nose in confusion. Was this girl on something? Ali looked around her to check Hallie was actually talking to her before frowning in confusion.
"I don't really understand what you're saying, Hallie".

It was then that she realised that the chocolate for her sister would be melting in this boiling room and Ali jumped up from the chair holding up a finger to Hallie.
"Hold that thought, i'll be right back. Got a delivery to make" she said quickly as she ran over to her coat, pulled out the chocolate and ran out the common room as quick as she could with no shoes on. Ali ran quickly up the two flights of stairs before getting stopped by them changing direction. She ran up another, down another set and then back up two more again before reaching the gryffindor common room and asking the portrait to get the attention of Brooke.

And with that, the fat lady sung. Ali promptly covered her ears from the screeching tune of the lady and waited for what it seemed like ages until a few gryffindor's poked their heads from the portrait.
"Hey, will you get Brooke for me?" Ali asked, her face scrunched up as the portrait continued to warble before another student told her to shut her piehole. The boy disappeared and Brooke soon stepped out.
"You have it, great. Thanks Ali" Brooke said taking the chocolate and disappearing back into the common room before Ali had chance to ask for the money or to say anything.

"You're welcome" she said sarcastically before sighing and flicking her blonde curls from her face as she walked down the steps again and back to the den of Hufflepuff.
Pushing open the door after giving the password she went to sit back near Hattie again and sighed.
"Alright...continue" she smiled.

[Hallie Hestand]

Hallie watched Alicia from the corner of her eye. She seemed pretty normal and she couldn't get over the fact of not being able to figure out why she hated her so much or why she didn't think of her as a princess like everyone else. Just so complicated. Hal reached both hands up and began to rub her temples to ease the migrane from forming. Then she noticed Ali smirk. Great now the girl thought she was funny... this wasn't a time for humor. Then an expression hit Hal's face. Duh! How could she be so stupid? Christmas was over... please say Alicia hadn't figured that out. What was she going to say now? 'Er yea I am a stalker and plan to kill every person on this list! But for some odd reason I forgot to put you on here...' Hallie smirked at the idea, but didn't think Ali would find it very funny and if anyone else heard she could be expelled. So Hal crossed it out from her idea list in her head.

"Right. Now i'm some freaky person who wants all of these people killed? Why is that your first thought? Oh right-" Hallie stopped and changed her voice to a bit more high pitched,"'This is Hal's so it must be a hitlist, you know she's so weird and crazy!'" Hallie changed voices again and continued,"Is that what you think of me? What have I done to get this reputation?" Hallie sighed and began to wonder 'Why did she have this reputation?', but nothing came to mind.

Hal watched as Alicia flopped into a chair sitting sideways and then manuevering to a normal position. She squirmed in her chair for the next crazy question or explanation she would have to give. Of course why was she going through this torture? She didn't deserve it, so why waste her time? Hal didn't know and didn't plan to find out. Then it came. Of course Ali didn't understand. She put it as plain as day... what was their not to understand? She had a perfect family, love, protection, happiness... ugh did she really not know?

"Well it's hard for me to talk about, but it's just that i've never really had a family. My dad worked for an American circus as a clown and never came home, so when I was three they got divorced. I never met my father! My mother and I never got along real well and when I was five we pretty much blew our relationship. After my ninth birthday she was diagnosed with some sort of Cancer and died about a month afterward. I was sent to live with my aunt who I had never met here in London, but it was all so new to me. I have no siblings and not many cousins, so your family just looks picture perfect to me!" Hallie said as quickly as she could. It was the best explanation she had. Trying not to look silly, Hal turned her head away from Ali and wiped a few tears. She didn't want to look so desperate to get that out, so she continued to gaze away.

Before Hallie and Alicia were done discussing the matter, Ali jumped up and left real quick. Apparently she had to do something for a family member, just a quick guess. When Alicia left Hal got up and went to her dorm. In a hurry to get back before Ali returned she opened a scrapbook she had been making and gazed all the pictures. She very rarely looked happy, but overall it wasn't the best life. Hallie prefered Hogwarts much more. Hal didn't want to get caught up in any emotions, so she darted back to the chair and pretended to be working on homework when Ali returned.

Ali ran in and took her seat again. Asked her to continue, but Hallie just stared at her with an expression of 'I'm finished'. She hoped Alicia had caught at least a few words of what she had said.