Stars & Maps → Ashley Godfrey

[Tiffany Lestrange]

Tiffany was settled in on the floor of the Hogwarts Observatory, top story. The overhead view was wide-open, letting in the cool but comfortable evening air while the two Slytherin girls pored over the empty maps & pages in front of them. Spread out on the floor were various assignment sheets, long scrolls, several broken quills & pots of ink. Being paired up for a nighttime assignment with Ashley Godfrey couldn't have sounded better to Tiffany, as if meant she wasn't stuck with someone talkative (she hated those), rude (those even more), or an idiot (the absolute worst). The two of them hadn't said much to one another in the last ten minutes or so, instead taking a bit of time to concentrate on double-checking the work that they'd done so far.

Tiffany broke the silence, first. Tilting her head back to look upward, out of the tower & into the sky above, her eyes travelled the length of a particular cluster & trail of stars, her hand planted firmly on the matching illustration in the open textbook on her lap.

"Is that Cassiopeia?" she asked, her voice hoarse from being quiet for so long. She looked back down at the textbook again curiously, tracing the constelation with her fingertip before looking up at the sky once more & turning her head curiously, wondering if it were another constellation in disguise, or maybe even nothing at all. Her mother had told her the story of Cassiopeia when she was extremely little - it was a wonder that she still even remembered it at all.

[Ashley Godfrey]

Ashley who was far more focused on her maps then on the other girl next to her fully aware that Tiffany wasn't one for talking and wanting to get their work done looked up quickly when she was spoken to "pardon?" she asked softly with a small smile on her features. 

[Tiffany Lestrange]

"Cassiopeia." Tiffany repeated, more sure of herself, now. She lowered her gaze from the sky to look at the blonde girl instead, eyes fixed in a blank sort of stare. She hated how the other girl didn't even seem tired - if anything she just looked relaxed, her features & hair & clothing & makeup all the same as it had been throughout the day, whereas Tiffany had simply started out looking tired, & now looked even more exhausted. She raised one slender hand to gesture up out the rooftop, the fresh black varnish on her nails didn't have a single chip in it yet, a clear sign that she hadn't been at home. The only time she ever looked that worse for wear was when she'd had a chance to put stress on herself - which only happened at home, usually. Chipped nails, split lip, fresh bruises, the works. At school it was just the usual - dark circles beneath her eyes, a dead sort of stare to her features. No one at school ever left her with cuts and bruises and scars. Those were things she brought back with her from home.

[Ashley Godfrey]

Ashley looked at the constellation then nodded and smiled "oh right yeah it is" she glanced at the girl then cocked her head to the side curiously the dark haired girl watched her with a confusing expression and Ashley could not help but wonder what was going on in her mind "everything ok Tiffany?" Ashley asked shyly. 

[Tiffany Lestrange]

"My m-" she went quiet."My aunt used to tell us Greek Mythos." she said after a moment, surprised that the lie came so naturally to her, nodding slowly. She watched the blonde for a moment when she was sure that she wasn't looking, before turning her view back up to the sky again. The stars made her homesick.

[Ashley Godfrey]

Ashley glanced over at Tiffany then smiled curiously catching her as she looked away "everything ok?"  she asked softly with a curious and a sweet grin on her face. 

[Tiffany Lestrange]

The brunette was quiet for a moment, before turning to the blonde & giving her a reassuring look, not a smile, but more or less just tightening her mouth a little with a small nod. It was the closest she'd get. 

"Are you nearly finished? It's too warm up here." she said - it was true, even though it wasn't a particularly hot night, the observatory tower was always a little muggy, it always felt too humid for comfort. "We can finish the rest in the common room. Or no, you're probably tired, aren't you?" It was so easy for Tiff to forget about sleep.

[Ashley Godfrey]

Ashley smiled an shook her head " no that is fine I am not even tired we can finish in the common room" she picked up her things and headed for the door with a sweet smile "or we could go by the lake there is a place I always go to for homework "

[Tiffany Lestrange]

"The lake is fine." Tiff replied. The common room might have, ugh, people there. It was getting quite late, but they did have permission to be out, at least for a little while longer. The fresh air wasn't giving her the usual lightheadedness that she sometimes got from it, so she decided to take advantage of it. The squid was often out at night, too, sometimes a hint of a tentacle could be seen if you were paying close enough attention. She'd never been in the water, herself, though, and never planned to.

[Ashley Godfrey]

Ashley smiled  brightly and placed her maps and quills into her purse that was charmed to hold much more than it appeared it could "soooo" Ashley glanced over at Tiffany trying to think of something to talk about as the pair of girls awkwardly made their way from the Astronomy tower to the  lake "my uncle told me you were at his house the other day?" she questioned innocently 

[Tiffany Lestrange]

"He did?" she glanced up sharply. If everything between her & Broderick ended up with Ashley, and everything between her & Ashley ended up with Broderick, she'd have to watch her steps a little more carefully, now. "I - Rowle was helping me with something." she said after a moment, scratching at the back of her head & sighing. She'd need a shower after sweating outside in the humidity, but she hated the school's showers. She wished she could just go home. 

[Ashley Godfrey]

Ashley nodded "that is what he said" she eyed Tiffany for a moment curiously then looked over to the quidditch pitch as then walked down the grounds towards the lake. She paused for a moment and stared as she through she saw a translucent figure pass the entrance, blinking in confusion she shook her head and figured she had just been seeing things because Charlotte had recently told her she ha seen a ghost on said pitch "Anyway I-..I was wondering if you knew when Soleus would be coming back?" Ashley asked with a tiny half-smile, she wasn't in love with him but she did miss him and worry when he was away especially now if Tiffany was a death eater it was obvious that Soleus was. 

[Tiffany Lestrange]

Relief washed over her in a massive wave, & she followed Ashley's gaze out toward the pitch, eyes high up toward the goal posts. She hadn't been to a single game that year, & didn't plan on changing that. If she never stepped foot inside that pitch again, she'd be happy.

Ashley's question about Soleus made her insides tighten in jealousy. She knew Ashley was probably just worried for him, but she felt a sharp surge of protective possessiveness pass over her at his mention. Her little brother. Her concern. She thought poutily, but managed to snap herself out of it enough to muster a vague reply. "When he's finished. Could be days, could be weeks. He sometimes keeps in touch." she said instead,  glancing at the other girl. In the rare instance that Soleus did decide to contact her while away, would she even tell Ashley? 

[Ashley Godfrey]

"oh" Ashley looked a little uncomfortable with the idea assuming that this would be a regular occurrence for her that she was always beginning to deal with when it came to her father "well if you do talk to him I-" she blushed and cut herself off shaking her head "nevermind I was just wondering is all" she forced a sheepish smile and shrugged bashfully shuffling her feet.

[Tiffany Lestrange]

She looked at the girl openly, an unforgiving, unblinking stare. Not cruel or cold, but unwavering. "I don't know if he will." she said after a moment, looking away so she could watch where she was walking. Her coordination had been less than catlike, lately, thanks to the lack of sleep. Ophelia had been right, she needed to figure out a way to get some proper rest or she wouldn't be useful to anyone. 

"Besides, it's usually not me that he needs to talk to." she regretted the words as soon as they left her mouth. The Bode/Godfrey clan might have now known her affiliation with the Death Eaters, but they still didn't know, couldn't know about her parents. Not until it was sure that they weren't threats. "I mean, we're not the same rank." she clarified, clearing her throat. "I'm not his top concern right now, he's busy."