[center][img]http://txt-dynamic.static.1001fonts.net/txt/dHRmLjcyLjE4YzllYy5USGx6ZEhKaElGTmpZVzFoYm1SbGNnLCwuMQAAAAAAAAAA/scriptina.regular.png[/img]
[img]http://36.media.tumblr.com/637f17286a88d438d73a0ceabde93305/tumblr_nw8ws4up941uegks3o6_500.jpg[/img][/center]

Ice blue met steel gray as the door to the compartment opened and Lystra tore her eyes from the window, focusing her gaze on the boy that had entered. Based upon his attire, he was apparently not from around here, as he wore the robes to a different school. Lystra wore her own house robe, but it was open so her [url=http://picture-cdn.wheretoget.it/xqj0po-l-610x610-sweater-dark+orange-black+boots-white+collared+shirt-dark+orange+pants-beige+sweater-combat+boots-pants-shoes-winter-wool-oversized-big-brown+sweater-comfy-winter+sweater-oversized.jpg]casual attire was visible underneath[/url]. He had asked her if he could sit with her after flashing a smile that didn't seem to reach his eyes, the little detail causing Lystra to hesitate only a moment before answering.

[color=skyblue]"If you must, go ahead and sit."[/color] she answered, gesturing with her hand to the seat across from her. Her tone was distant, as usual, and she turned away from him then, crossing her left leg over her right before resuming her gaze out the window. Lystra quickly disregarded the presence of the boy as she started to go over some spells in her head and which wand movements correlated with each. At Hogwarts, Lystra was known for her sharp mind and sharp tongue and it caused people to stray away from her. She needed to keep that image up during this year, as it was of utmost importance for her. She didn't just want to be the smartest witch in Ravenclaw anymore.

She wanted to be the smartest witch in the entire school. And she was close to achieving her goal, she knew it. A mischievous grin slowly made its way onto her features as she thought about it. Though her talents resided heavily in Transfiguration, by no means did that mean she wasn't skilled in every other aspect of magic. When it came to DADA, she fell short since she refused to use the standard ways of dueling, and instead use her Transfiguration Magic spells to fight. It proved to be good in some cases, but with her talents in Conjuration lacking, she couldn't perform at her best just yet and thus, her results were inconsistant. She'd lost just as many duels as she'd won, and this year she was going to turn all of that around. 

[i]"Promise me you'll try and make some friends this year."[/i]

The sudden flash of her mother's voice in her mind surprised her as the memory of a conversation they'd shared came to the forefront of her mind. Lystra sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. She didn't care if she had friends, but she'd forgotten her promise to her mother.

[i]"You can be the strongest witch in the world... but what's the point if you don't have anyone around you to enjoy the gift of magic with you?"[/i]

[color=skyblue]"Whatever..."[/color] she mumbled softly.

Lystra's gaze fell to her lap as she thought about her mother's words. Could she really turn it all around and undo so many years of pushing everyone away? She'd always only focused on her art... on her magic, and now she was supposed to try and make friends? They were a waste of time.

[i]"We all have a limited time on this Earth, Lystra. You nearly lost your life, and it could happen again at any moment. You need to take the time and think, my daughter. Think about this: When your time runs out, and all that's left of you is a memory in the back of someone's mind, what do you want them to remember about you?"[/i]

The sad thing was... her mother was right. This entire time, she thought that if she worked hard, she would get noticed by her peers for being just as amazing as her elder brothers, but It didn't end up working out that way though. No one in the school particularly cared for her. She'd unknowingly put up a wall that was impenetrable before she knew she was doing it, and now she had no one. If she would have died that day...who would have spared a moment to grieve for her?

Lystra had all but forgotten the presence of the boy who sat in the compartment with her. As an overwhelming feeling of sadness and regret washed over her, she just continued to stare at her hands in her lap. The image of her sketch flashed in her mind and she found herself feeling torn. The emotions she had been holding in ever since that day were starting to rise up within her and she felt the tightening in her chest as they did.

[color=skyblue]"This is all so stupid... "[/color] she mumbled out loud, bringing a hand up to wipe a traitor tear that threatened to slide down her cheek. 

She wasn't sure if she could change... but the least she could do was try, right?