42. SILENCIO
Cameron Caddock

The train ride to Hogwarts had been one big anxiety ridden moment. The boat rides across the Black Lake moments of anticipation. Her Sorting.... terrifying. Equally as terrifying was her first impression of the Gryffindor house table and the glare she had received from a visiting Durmstrang student. The first year had been shaking like a nervous leaf until she had appeared. The seventh year prefect who had taken Kurumi's humble offering of cookies and enchanted them; not only showing the purple-eyed youngest her first glimmer of magic, but also providing her with the first moment of relief and belonging since learns she was a witch.

Now, sitting silently in the common room literally unable to speak as she observed the older girl's movements with wonder and admiration, Kurumi vowed that one day she would become a person like Cam and pay it forward with same acts of kindness the prefect had bestowed upon her.

Growing a bit drowsy from the night's excitement, Kurumi began to fall asleep right where she sat by the fireplace. In the next instant, she felt her tired body being lift up off the sofa as the very same prefect carried her away to bed.