Quiet Escape [Millie]

[lovelylayla]

The months leading up to Christmas break were always so hectic, most students running around getting their holiday plans in order, others trying to finish last minute term papers and cramming for tests before they returned home. Many ― if not all ― of the students who were staying at Hogwarts for the holidays slowed down during the last few weeks, Layla was one of these students. Lately she had begun spending a good deal of time in the library, to escape from the craziness of the pre-holiday buzz.

Even though both she and her father were pureblooded, Layla had read many Muggle books and stories. Her aunt Katie had married a muggleborn wizard who would often babysit her when her dad was busy doing Auror stuff. To this day she really didn’t know much about what Aurors did; all she knew was that whatever it was took time away from her storytime. At least it did before she learned how to read. Since Sheldon was muggleborn, he would often read Muggle stories to Layla. Many of them were typical Muggle bedtime stories, Cinderella, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Little Red Riding Hood, etc., but as Layla got older he started telling her more complex stories. One of her favorites was the tale of Scheherazade, she even named her owl Scheherazade (but she really just calls her Sherrie).

Because of all the stories she read over the years, Layla often spent time in the library reading the Muggle books she brought from home. Today, she sat on one of the more comfortable library chairs, engrossed in a Sherlock Holmes novel. Usually, she became so absorbed in her books that she was completely oblivious to everything and everyone around her. But for some reason, today she noticed a shy-looking girl sit down, nose deep in a book. She looked up briefly and nodded in greeting. “Hello... I don’t think we’ve met. I’m Layla.” Her usual friendly smile spreading across her face as she held her hand out to shake.

[Millie Croft]

Millie was dreading Christmas, it was simply more time she had to spend with her family. Understand she loved them dearly but the pressures that came with being their daughter became too much at times. It was part of the reason she loved Hogwarts so much, here she could relax and be herself...up until a point of course. There were some things she wouldn't dare to let her friends know about her, the arranged marriage and her sexuality being the main ones.

Her thoughts quickly drifted to the girl she'd met at the Hufflepuff party and a smile spread over her face, causing her to look up from the floor. Charity was definitely something else, Millie felt a little daft though since having developed a slight crush on the blonde. Chances were if Charity found out she wouldn't bother speaking to Millie again. Shaking her head she sighed quietly, readjusted the bag on her shoulder and stepped into the library, not bothering to look around her as she found herself a quiet little table.

Pulling out a book she lay it out on the table in front of her and flipped it open, oblivous to her surrounding until a voice caught her attention, forcing her to look up. She shot a small smile at the girl she hadn't realized she was sat close to, and with a small nod of her head reached out and shook the hand she had outstretched in greeting. "I'm Millie, Ravenclaw...your Gryffindor right? I think I've seen you in the Great Hall." she said with a smile, tucking her hair back behind her ear.