Purity - Blog Posts

fawnsantlers

3 weeks ago

THE WHITE DOE

The white doe, surrounded only by the darkness. It's not even darkness, it's just the stark contrast of difference her skin makes to the naked eye. A pure being, probably being watched by the shadows lurking in the darkness. She wouldn't bat an eye. She knew it all too well, that when you shine so bright envy will strike.

She didn't protect herself. She knew it would be pointless. Instead she lied down into the cold comfort of the ground beneath her hooves.

Her old friend, the ground, the dirt and the grass. The only thing she long knew. She knew the sounds the ground would make when she walked, trotted or ran. The way the sound would bounce off between her hooves and the solid ground.

The sound that let her determine weather she was going in the right way or not.

For she was blind.

The only purity in the whole forest and she couldn't see it herself. It only made sense to me as I observed her. She wasn't scared.

She was used to this life. Being blind, being pure yet untouchable.

But we both knew it wouldn't last long. I could see them, she could hear them. No matter how fast she would be she didn't have the energy to run.

I sat there and watched as her head softly rested on the ground. She gave up. It was a long run. I've watched her for awhile and I've noticed she was aware of my presence.

We never spoke yet we went on so many advantures together. I could say I learned from her. Watching her graceful, fast steps. Her purity and kindness. She inspired me.

Because of her I'm kind today, kinder to myself.

Now I have to watch her die.

Could I save her? No, I couldn't.

Because I am one of them. The one she gave up from.

She changed my mind, I was hesitant to do anything to her. She was so beautiful.

On the other hand, my kind striked the moment her head laid down. It was over for her.

I saw her pale white skin turn to a nice shade of black as each one of them bit into her, consuming her, changing her. She became something I am, something I was always afraid of and something I secretly disliked.

Her eyes gained color and she gained sight. It was painful, but only for a short while, I promise.

I heard her screams no matter how much she tried to stay silent and not care about the pain. I saw those beautiful tears that quickly changed their color to a darker shade.

She was consumed completely.

I stepped out of my shadow, in shame, walking to her. It was time to meet my hero. I knew it was her. She changed but it's still her, I hoped.

That hope died quickly. She wasn't herself anymore. We ruined her. I ruined her.

She stood up and took a good look at us. Dark skin, short white tails and antlers as big as the sky.

I could see the confusion on her face.

Why would her own kind consume her?

Neville Longbottom

Oh my goodness Neville, while I connected with Hermione and Luna in love of books, wit, and oddities; my personal experiences always aligned more with Neville, which is why for the majority of the story I was disheartened to find him not having better luck. Regardless, Neville is the character that teaches us the most in the series showing us how words matter, you need to be your strongest supporter, you should do what’s right regardless of others, and how persistence can make all the difference.

“Stick and Stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me”

False. The constant pressure and negativity from his grandmother, Snape and peers held Neville back. Confidence, kindness, respect for different people’s strengths can make all the difference for the individual and for the world. We know all the example I could go thru, but we see as Neville begins to ignore the taunts of others that he continues to improve.

“If You Judge a Fish by Its Ability to Climb a Tree, It Will Live Its Whole Life Believing that It is Stupid”

It took some time, but Neville eventually found himself. While he wasn’t good at potions and his fear of McGonagall held him back in Transfiguration, his love of Herbology eventually led him to a dream career as a Professor who will be the new generations Lupin I’m sure. While he felt down on himself, he didn’t feel bad about what or whom he liked and sought out relationships that he deemed worthy. This success also comes from his showing of persistence (slug club, defeating Voldemort), while not in a zealous way, he constantly tries to better himself and handles rejection well, he also doesn’t give up; even at the end of the first year when Harry, Ron and Hermione say they’re going out he doesn’t let them pass, but vows to stay there blocking them off.

While there is a lot we learn from Neville, what I love the most is how he’s a pure, true, good guy. He’s strong, the ultimate underdog and this is also one of the ways I find myself linked, he’s very moral—always trying to do the right and respectable thing. Even as “a nobody”, he would stand up for others and put others ahead of himself as he told Harry to let him be killed to make sure Voldemort and other’s didn’t get what they want, he also wouldn’t give in during the final battle and showed loyalty and trust in Harry beyond the end. Side point with this, his care with his mother and children who have parents are disabled or impaired, it was beautiful and to show how his grandmother was the opposite was very crucial, she might not have known who her son was, but she recognized this sweet boy and I love how he cherishes the wrappers she gives him.

Neville is the character I have the most “what/if” about

What/If he was in Hufflepuff (added points in letting us know a Hufflepuff so it doesn’t have the reputation it does); he also would have had a better connection with Professor Sprout (if that's possible)

What/If he had been closer to Harry, Ron and Hermione earlier on. I get that they were the core 3, but they didn’t even hang out with him as much as I feel they should have, and even when they did it became: Harry, Ron, Hermione and Neville, Luna and Ginny.

Of course, the biggest, What/If is if Voldemort had chosen him instead of Harry, who would he have been? Harry would have been the same if he lived with his Aunt and Uncle, or just like James, if he ended up with Sirius (eck)