Quote:
Originally Posted by
princess of*hp* 
"I..." Theodore attempted to find the right words to explain the mix of homesickness for New York, yet admiration for his new home. "I try not to think about home... or, the States, too much. I don't like being homesick. But... here, it's hard to even think about the fun, amazing things back in the U.S. when the U.K. has just as many cool places." Sighing deeply as a few images came back to him, from the Empire State Building to his quaint home back across the Brooklyn Bridge, the Ravenclaw tried to shake his memories from his mind.
Theodore couldn't help but smirk at her teasing smile and her minor self-deprecation, which reminded him of himself. It seemed that this encounter wasn't just serving to soothe Ellie's worried mind, but his own as well. Good karma, maybe?
As Ellie commented on Hogwarts, marveling at it's beauty just as Theo did, he narrowed his eyes as he peered far across the courtyard, a stretch of green, and to a large, gnarled tree that lay near the forest. "I definitely hope I can enjoy it as much as I can until I graduate next term. And don't worry, haha, I don't tire of people easily. It's usually the other way around. However..." His blue eyes remained locked on the tree in the distance, which oddly enough, looked like a boxer ready to step into the ring. "That bit of... vegetation over there, that tree in the distance?" Unclasping his hands, he pointed with one finger at the Whomping Willow. "It gives me the creeps. I can see it from the window of the boys' dormitory and it always looks... scary, I guess?" A quick thought flashed across his mind: what if she laughed at him for being frightened of a harmless tree? His middle name should have been 'anxiety.'
Ellie listened as he explained about his homesickness. Getting more comfy, she turned sideways to face him and pulled her feet up on the bench so she could hug her knees. Ellie half smiled and decided to steer him away from thinking about the States. It seemed to just add to the homesick aspect.
"Yeah, the U.K. has quite a lot to see. Have you done much sight-seeing while you've been here?" She asked, tilting her head slightly. Her mood seemed to had changed drastically from earlier.
Wow, graduation next term for him. And for her it would only be two years away. It seemed crazy that she had been there for almost four years already. Ellie didn't necessarily consider herself a boring person. But she was just... Average. Just Average Ellie. But as long as Theo didn't tire of people easily, maybe Ellie wouldn't be bored and lonely this term.
Ellie followed his gaze to the scraggly, yet quite intimidating tree in the distance.
"Ah, the Whomping Willow." Ellie said with an understanding nod. Yeah, what a tree. Charming.
"I know what you mean. That thing attacked my ankle last year." She lifted up the hem of her jeans and showed the scar on her right ankle. See that? Proof.
She could sue. Ellie shrugged.
"I guess you just have to know how far away to stand and you'll live." It wasn't an irrational fear; that tree was indeed creepy.