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Hᴇᴀᴛʜᴇʀ reread the note as she walked along the edge of the lake. A duel? And apparently, hers was with a girl named Michelle. She didn't recall ever meeting a Michelle type of person, so this would be new for her. Plus, it would be her first duel since... Did those count, though? No, surely not. Dueling Club, however, did give her a bit of an advantage over other, less-experienced duelers. Oh yes, this would be loads of fun. Fun? The word was still foreign to her. As her heeled boot stepped across the grass, a hand reached up and ruffled the short blonde hair that was also new to the girl. Well, nearly short, for one long strand hung down on one side. A mistake that she had not bothered to try to fix. She liked it that way. It was different, and different was what she had been going for. Thin as a rail, the Hufflepuff watched her shadow as she walked. It was thinner than she was, even. Meals found themselves to not be a priority, thus the girl hardly ate, and even then only enough to keep her alive and functioning. The Voice had told her that no one would care for her the way she was, so she had set out to change who she was. As of now, she felt accomplished in that goal. Dark makeup hid the drowsy bags that hung just below her eyes, piercing blue irises shown beneath the black. They spotted something, a person, a head of white hair- no, make that two heads, both with white hair. Ronyo, her fellow Chimera and Beater, stood with a girl that was strangely familiar. She approached them. "Hey, Ronyo. I got your note-" Heather paused, staring at the girl who also had snowy locks. It was her, from the shack. A flashback filled her mind as the real world went dark. Herself, sitting in the chair, bonding by chains of the strongest steel, struggling and calling for help. An urge to fight, a want for revenge, and a thirst for battle. Then, out of nowhere, a flash of white and a sense of heat on her wrists and ankles. Freedom! Then, she left without another word, the girl and herself. She had not even asked for her name... Back to reality, Heather blinked out of her memories. "Y-You. It's you. You... Do you know who I am?" she stuttered. No. There was no way. This Michelle had rescued a girl with long, thick, blonde hair and a strong will. Now, she was not that girl. She was completely and utterly a different person. A new individual. While in doubt and thought, a loud caw could be heard from overhead. A fiery bird of orange, gold, and crimson circled the group of students and landed on the shoulder of the Hufflepuff. Sehza watched these other humans, curious as to their reactions of her owner's new appearance. Two pairs of steady eyes stared, and awaited any sort of response.
{ooc: #1 in link}

⊰Third Year ⊰Hufflepuff ⊱Chaser ⊱
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Dhyl walked up the side of the lake, looking at the letter in his hand. He looked up to see the small crowd gathered in a clearing. He walked over to them, eyes narrowed. He didn't seem all to happy about this event. "Hey, what is this? Why are we dueling?" He directed his questions at Ronyo, who was the one to send him the letter. He looked over to see Heather, hair chopped off. Dhyl cocked a brow, looking at her. "Nice haircut Hawthorn."

⊰Third Year ⊰Hufflepuff ⊱Chaser ⊱
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Dhyl whipped his head around to look at the redhead. Why was he being an arse again? All he had done is complement Heather, and now he was condemned? "What the 'ell do you mean, Aldred? I amn't allowed to speak any longer? I don't believe ever have asking you, or am I wrong, again?" It was starting to annoy him, no one caring about him. It wasn't like he didn't hate the breakup, he just knew she needed to end. He had figured she wouldn't be able to say the words needed, so he did. Most of them weren't entirely true, but he had said them. Now he was played as the villain, but they never asked how it felt. Everyone cared about her feelings, but no one had said anything but harsh words to him. Dhyl didn't know what to say or do, particularly since he was slated to duel later. He walked a little bit away, sitting alone in a patch of grass. His thoughts were spinning, but as his father always said, "If you can't be civil to a lady, you're no more than dirt." He glared out over the water, a rather blank expression on his face. He didn't know what to say or do without feeling like he had either given up or become a prat. He decided he simply wouldn't speak. No one wanted to hear him anyway, so why even bother.

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❝ I know I just need to try, no matter the result. Try again and again, until I get it right. ❞

Hᴇᴀᴛʜᴇʀ blinked at the snowy haired girl. A compliment? From her? To her? That seemed a bit off, but just as she opened her mouth to question it, Dhylan appeared. He took one look at her and raised his eyebrow in either question or sarcasm, commenting on her haircut. Again, Heather took a breath and prepared to speak her mind, tell him to bugger off and leave her alone, when another person showed up. Marina, her fellow Chimera in the year just below her own. Even this Slytherin was protecting her, in her own way. What? Heather didn't find that she was anything worth protecting with kind comments. Dhylan and Marina went at each other for a moment or two, Eretria joining the group in the midst of it all. The Hufflepuff did agree that in an insult contest, the Slytherin fourth year would surely be victorious. Belle, the Slytherin Seeker, appeared out of the shadows seemingly and agreed with the girl's thoughts of Eretria. Finally, another Hufflepuff that wasn't Dhyl showed up to the gathering. Jane complimented her as well, and by this time, Heather was beginning to grow a bit sheepish, a hand reaching up and running through the short blonde locks. Now, Ronyo spoke, after hugging her. Heather blinked. "Uhh... Thanks, I guess. Just don't... touch me so much." she said, barely a whisper. While the older Chimera explained their dueling processes, Sam joined them as well as Chase and Sun, and... William. The fourth year's sharp eyes glared the older Hufflepuff down. 'How dare he show his face here. After leaving me to handle the team by myself? That little... ugh!' Now annoyed and irritated, Heather glanced to the Ravenclaw in attendance for a mere moment before turning back to Michelle. "So, you versus me. Let's get started, shall we?" she asked, a playful smirk dancing it's way across her features. A hand reached into her back pocket and pulled out a wand of cedar. Sehza, not wanting to be in the way, cawed and flew over to a nearby tree, perching herself in it's branches and prepared to heal any damage that happened to be caused that day by the dueling students.
{ooc: #1 in link}