Monsoon Wings

When the owl came back, a letter clasped in its beak, Stamp gleefully opened the window and took the letter. He laid on his bed as he opened the letter. Oddly though, the reply was written in a different handwriting.

Hi my love,

I’ve forgiven you. But I am just not ready yet to meet you. Well, I guess I’m a bit scared. No, not scared because maybe you’ll attack my clothes and climb on top of me, but because you are big, black, hairy, and bald. Like a gorilla. Once you have successfully attempted a face surgery, I guess I’ll agree to see you again.

Please do not go mad and kill yourself after reading this letter (tombstones have grown expensive these days!).

You love, Juno

He reread the letter again, before crumpling it and let it fell onto the floor. He hugged his pillow and stared at the wall sadly. The glee that had lightened in his heart deflated like a balloon. He sighed.

*

There was a blizzard the next day, and Herbology class was cancelled. The heavy snow which dashed the windows was maddeningly strong; the wind howled and the trees complained as they shook and trembled in the swirling tune of the gush. The Gryffindors and Ravenclaws retreated to their respective common rooms.

Juno paused on her way to the Gryffindor tower, looking down at the grounds.

‘Come on, Juno,’ Olivia urged, who was already five feet in front of her. But then Olivia realized Juno was looking down at Stamp’s hut. Olivia walked near Juno and put an arm around her shoulder. ‘You still miss him?’ she asked.

Juno shook her head, ‘Just thinking how he is.’

‘Have you actually loved him?’ Olivia asked finally. This was a question she had always wanted to ask.

Juno hesitated. ‘Just a crush. I just thought he is cool. That’s all.’

Olivia beamed at her, a thoughtful expression on her face. She leaned against the wall, her back towards the harsh and fidgeting sky, separated from them by a glass window. Olivia sighed and took Juno’s hand, squeezing it. ‘You know, sometimes I envy you,’ Olivia said.

‘What?’ Juno chuckled, refusing to believe in those words. The meaning was sharper than it seemed to be.

Olivia sighed again, very deeply, looking at her shoes. When she finally raised her eyes, it was full of question and plea. ‘You won’t be together with Draco, won’t you?’

‘What do you mean?’ Juno’s chuckle faded away, to be replaced by knitted brows and a frown. There was fear in Olivia’s tone, like a girl afraid she might lose her teddy bear, something very beloved and precious.

‘I mean, you won’t date Draco, won’t you?’ Olivia made her meaning clear, staring at the jade eyes. She couldn’t help notice that those eyes seemed to hold a mystery, something secretive which is barred and protected by a very hard coat, painted a gleaming color of jade to conceal it. ‘You won’t, like, kiss him, right? We’re best friends, right?’

‘I won’t kiss him, Olivia,’ Juno said, letting heavy air escape her lips. Olivia smiled at her.

*

Saturday slowly crept by, fed by Juno’s impatience. Finally when it did arrive, she arrived a bit earlier than as promised in the dungeon four. She had brought some books, quills, and parchments. She took a seat and waited for Draco, and while doing that, she shuddered at the wonder of what she would do with him. For the first time, she felt awkward, and kept patting her hair.

What’s wrong with me?

She yawned, taking a short glance on her watch.

There was a tap on the window glass, and she groaned. There was an owl there, a letter clasped in its beak. Not again, Juno though miserably, slumping towards the window, gritting her teeth. However, she realized this owl was clean and bright, not the dirty ones Stamp used. The letter was also a formal letter—with a seal.

A Ministry of Magic seal.

She quickly took the letter and the owl swooped away into the blue sky.

It was addressed: Miss Juno Emily, Gryffindor, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardy, Contestant Number 210.

She grinned like an idiot as she ripped off the seal and, with the speed of a tiger, freed the single paper and read the contents.

To Miss Juno Emily, Contestant of the Magical Talent Contest Number 210, we are proud to inform you that you have passed the basic audition held on Sunday, the 5th of January last week. Attached to this letter is your permit pass card for the next audition, which is to be held at the 5th of February, same time, same avenue. Kindly take notice, if permit cards are lost or damaged, it is compulsory…

She had stopped reading mainly because of several reasons. Firstly, because the door opened and closed. Secondly, because Draco Malfoy came in, flustered and tousle-haired. Thirdly, because she had run to him, hugging him close, feeling his skin against hers, giving live from within, like the soft sands in the beach.

‘I did it!’ she screamed happily into his chest, then put her arms around his neck and jumped about. Reluctantly, because his arms had curled around her waist, he was jumping around as well. In the state of getting off the ground and landing on again and jumping off again, Draco couldn’t see what made her so happy, clinging to him. But he understood the moment he caught glance of the official paper clutched in her fist. He jumped voluntary, too. And he realized he was not annoyed anymore. Juno Emily could not annoy him anymore. She had brought smile to his face instead, and he was deeply pleased. They jumped and waltzed around the room, laughing merrily like drunkards. All the weights of life seemed to wear off, and flowers seemed to blossom.

They were stopped only when, in their hyperactivity, they bumped a table and fell across the floor. He fell on top of her, propped by both his arms. Their laughter stopped as they found something new, something beautiful and silent in each other’s eyes, something which had grown a small shoot and a leaf. Something nurturing. This had always been silent, waiting for its blossoming time.

He thought he could see light shining from her eyes. In the jade, he imagined green tropical trees which stood high, reaching for the sky, branching away forming an endless canopy which outlined the stairs to heaven. The freshness of the leaves, whistling in the soft amber melody of the wind. Funnily, and beautifully, he could see the reflection of his own blue-gray eyes, and they added up a fidgeting waterfall in the landscape, the water crystal blue, accompanied by the gray-white foam and bubbles.

Somehow, a hunger grew in his heart. He yearned to join his eyes to hers, to mold the wondrous tale they had spoken; to create an entirely new world. In their eyes.

Slowly, he brought his face close to hers.