[HP] The Tweed River flows

It is not the first time for me to come to the Scottish Highlands, but every time I come, I will be shocked by the scenery here.

The desolate and lonely wilderness is as vast as the sky, and the icy streams rush and jump among the rugged hills.The stubborn heather is like a purple smoke, covering the barren land where only moss can grow.If the Tweed Valley is an idyllic song of ease and leisure, then this place is as vicissitudes and beauty as an epic.I often stand alone in the open fields for a long time, not because there is any special scenery in this lonely place that can be admired for a long time, but because I feel that there is some kind of ancient spiritual power hidden in this primitive wasteland, which can make people feel Forget yourself and feel abundant peace.

After asking my mother to borrow a crown but failed, I simply packed up and came to Syl's home in the northern highlands.

I arrived many days earlier than the agreed date, and the wedding is still in the process of intense preparations.Searle expressed surprise and welcome at my arrival, while complaining that I came too early-she didn't have time for me.Although I offered to help, Searle's mother disagreed.

"Honey, you are a guest invited by Lai Syl, how can you let the guests handle these trivial matters?" Mrs. Smith said firmly, and once again declined my help.

Searle's mother was a very capable person.Like all people in the highland area, he has rosy cheeks and a tall figure. He has a straightforward and enthusiastic personality and is capable in his work. Besides taking care of the four children, he is also a pharmacist in Searle's father's medicine shop.

While Searle's mother and sisters were beaming and busy, I wandered about with nothing to do, like a ghost hovering at the edge of the world.If it is normal, I will definitely feel very guilty and insist on providing some help within my ability.But this time, I'm just glad that Syl and her sisters are so busy that I can wander aimlessly in the village alone, sorting out the confusion of emotions and thoughts of late.

Syl was getting married and I was alone.

Somehow, I started to miss spending time with Paris, his voice, his smile, everything about him.He seemed like a reassuring friend, but it seemed like more than that.I became easily indulged in my own world, sometimes I would suddenly laugh out loud, and sometimes I would suddenly darken my face in boredom, no matter how inconspicuous the details could remind me of him.Night after night, I lay in bed with fragments of memories in my mind, tossing and turning all night long.

What is wrong with me?In the past ten years, I have never felt so restless.Does this mean that I like him?Fidgeting is the performance of liking someone?

Time flew by when I was struggling and depressed.As the wedding day approached, the previously sparsely populated highland village became unusually lively.

The wedding was held on a sunny afternoon, and the weather was rare and sunny and warm in September.The dresses for the bridesmaids were very simple. After I finished dressing, I went to help Syl.

Searle's gown was not pure white, but a soft ivory that glowed creamy in the sun.The collar is relatively high, and some classical patterns are decorated on the chest.The sleeves fan out below the elbows and drop to the waist for aesthetics and cool Scottish autumn winds.I walked behind Searle, took the headband from her hand, and carefully braided the pale gold ribbon into the braid.

"Your hair is a little red," I said, brushing the ends of it.

"It's always been like this, did you just find out?" Syl blinked at me in the mirror.I smiled back, but my mind was on other things.

"What's the matter? Helena, you don't look well."

"Small things. It's your big day, don't worry about me."

"How can it not be worrying? You have been absent-minded for many days, don't think I can't see it. You have been avoiding me these days, and I have no chance to find you," Syl's voice showed a trace of worry, "We Didn't you say there will be no more secrets? Is there anything you can't tell me?"

My heart was hot, and I suddenly felt a little moved.Slowly weaving the last strand of golden ribbon into her hair. "I can't tell... maybe it's a little sad to see that you're getting married and my 'one' doesn't know where it is yet," I said self-deprecatingly.

Syl looked at me with her gentle but discerning eyes, and after a few seconds asked, "Have you fallen for someone, Helena?"

I bit my lip, remained silent for a moment, and asked, "I like it, what kind of feeling is it?"

"It seems true," she smiled knowingly, "Can you tell me who that lucky guy is? Is it our classmate?"

"Don't think about it," I felt a little hot on my face, "answer the question quickly."

"You tell me who it is first!"

"I asked you first!—Searle, don't laugh!"

"I'm just so happy," she agreed, but still couldn't stop laughing, "I never thought that there is finally a boy that our Helena can fancy. It's so rare!"

"Please..."

"Then let me think about it..." Xier held his chin and began to think seriously, "Well...it's really a hard feeling...it's just...it's very comfortable and reassuring, and the time spent together is very good Hurry up, it's very hard not to be together. It's like a puzzle. Before you meet him, you don't feel like you're missing anything, but afterward you feel like the world is more complete. There's a voice somewhere telling you that this person That's right."

Comfort, peace of mind, time flies, puzzles... I recited these words silently in my heart, as if I wanted to memorize them all, matching each one with the vague shadow in my heart.

"Who the hell is that?" Seeing that I didn't respond, Syl held me back and asked relentlessly, "How long have you known each other? Does anyone else know? If you don't tell me first, I will be very disappointed, Helena!"

"Not long, actually we don't know each other very well," I lied, "and it's someone you don't know."

"I don't believe it! Did he confess his love to you?"

I was silent, just shook my head slowly.The atmosphere became a little delicate in an instant.

"Then does he like you?" Searle asked cautiously.

I felt a "thump" in my heart.Yes or no?I can't answer such a simple question.

"I do not know."

Syl's eyes became a little complicated, and when he was about to say something, the outside suddenly became noisy.Immediately afterwards, Searle's little sister Anne suddenly opened the door and ran in, the wreath on her head almost fell off in half.

"Mom asked if you are ready? The guests are almost here," she said hurriedly, with the other hand trying to help the wreath to its original position.

"I'll come, Anne," Syl pulled her to him, moved his fingers quickly, untied the ribbon and fastened it again, "tell her we're ready, and we're going down right away."

"When it's all over, remember to tell me everything from beginning to end," she said in a tone of no doubt, and immediately stood up, taking my arm.Right now, there are far more important things than my emotional life.

I smiled to reassure her, "Don't think too much, I will tell you everything after the wedding is over."

Music sounded all around, and the door opened in response to the sound. I took a deep breath and guided Syl out slowly.The red and white roses along the passageway bloom one by one, leading to the altar.Countless glances moved with us, a mix of wonder, praise and small sobs.Although I know that these voices and gazes do not belong to me, I am still extremely relieved.I stopped not far from the altar, as far as I could go with her.The groom is already standing before the altar.Syl lifted the hem of the skirt slightly, and walked alone along the aisle covered with flowers, her eyes fixed on the person beside the altar, her face shone with happiness.

I watched her back silently, feeling a little dazed for a moment.The person in front of me is so beautiful, so beautiful that I can't even believe that the person in front of me is the Sylvia I have always known.In my heart, she has never been considered a beautiful girl, and she will only be covered by my light around me.But this moment is different.Happiness made her so radiant, she became the center of the whole world in an instant, and made others willingly set off her brilliance and envy her happiness.

The master of ceremonies at the wedding read the vows word by word, and I have long lost his voice.Immersed in the wonderful music, my vision also became a little blurred.

I don't know when, who is standing at the other end of the altar, waiting for me?

After the ceremony is the ball.The bride and groom first slid onto the dance floor amid the sound of everyone's blessings, and then more and more people joined in.I watched Syl and her husband dancing in the middle of the dance floor with a little envy, then silently withdrew from the crowd, and sat down at a table in a corner with few people.

Looking at the joyous crowd, for some reason, my heart could not be infected by the warm atmosphere at all, and another irrelevant memory even inexplicably appeared in my mind-the funeral of my grandmother.Although I was young at that time, I still remember the suffocating black and the solemn and grand pomp.The scenes of funerals and weddings overlap, as sharp as ice and fire.The same people who gather together for an important moment, the former are well-known important figures and countless social celebrities, but the latter are just neighbors living in the same village and relatives and friends who came from afar friend.There are no prominent titles, no outstanding achievements, but the faces of the guests are filled with such vivid and fresh joy, and they all send their wishes with smiles from the heart.But the group of people at my grandmother's funeral, with different purposes and the same sadness, performed routine condolences to the deceased who didn't even know their full name.

How would grandma feel if she knew that her funeral was so grand?After so many years, such a thought still makes me feel a little sad, and at the same time, I feel more envy for Searle from the bottom of my heart.Wealth and status can make people alienated and false, and they can't even express their emotions freely.

"Excuse me, is this Miss Ravenclaw?"

When I was thinking wildly, a sudden voice interrupted my thoughts.As soon as I looked up, I saw two strangers standing in front of me. One of them was a middle-aged man with a bald head who was looking at me anxiously, as if he was the one who just spoke.

"Yes. Is there anything wrong?"

"Niece of Lady Rowena Ravenclaw of Hogwarts?"

I frowned, but nodded anyway.

The man exclaimed, shaking his hands and spilling all the wine in the glass. "Oh yes—I'm sorry," he bent down awkwardly to clean up the wine stains, and he was so excited that he couldn't finish his words. "It's an honor, an honor..." He kept repeating, turning his head to another companion behind him Said, "Unbelievable... Ravenclaw's niece came to Old Smith's daughter's wedding! I thought he was bragging when he told me, but it turned out to be true!" He looked back at me eagerly, and then She lowered her head in embarrassment, as if she didn't know what to say next, "Nan-that--do you usually have much contact with Ms. Ravenclaw? Can you see each other often?"

"No," I said dryly.

"Oh..." A burst of disappointment flashed, "It's not surprising, it's not strange... Ms. Ravenclaw is too busy with her affairs, and it's normal not to have time to be close to her family," he muttered to himself as if to excuse my mother, and then Changed the question again, "Then what is she like in normal times? I have read several of her works, and I always thought that the one who could complete such a great work must be a highly respected and knowledgeable master, but I didn't expect it to be a young and beautiful woman. Ms. Ravenclaw, has Madam Ravenclaw spent all her time studying academically to stay celibate?" He babbled on, oblivious to my displeasure.

"Maybe," I said impatiently, turning to leave.

"La—Miss Ravenclaw, please forgive me!" he said in a panic, and nervously took out his handkerchief to wipe the sweat from his forehead, "I didn't mean to offend, nor did I mean to pry into your aunt's private affairs. I was just very I admire her but have no chance to meet her, and I feel very honored to meet her relatives."

"Excuse me, I want to verify whether the portrait of her circulating outside is true? Frankly speaking, I think people nowadays are a little apotheosis of Aunt Ling." At this time, his companion spoke in an unfriendly tone , "I'm curious, is that crown really as powerful as it is rumored to be—"

"It's rude to say that!" The somewhat bald middle-aged man said angrily, "How can you have such doubts for no reason? I have told you countless times, today you can prove it yourself! This is Lavin Ms. Claw's niece, she has seen Ms. Ravenclaw herself anyway, and she must have seen the diadem with her own eyes. Her words can definitely offset your doubts!"

The two of them looked at me at the same time, one looked earnestly seeking support, the other looked arrogant and provocative.

"Have you finished asking?" I said coldly, suppressing my anger, "Whether she is beautiful or ugly, single or married, whether the crown is powerful or exaggerated...does it have anything to do with you?" And their astonished eyes, walked away.

Crown, mother.

Mother, crown.

Are these two things the only thing people care about when Ravenclaw is mentioned?Does it mean that as long as one gets involved with Rowena, one will never be able to get out of her halo?Is it true that as long as I bear her surname, I will always be just an insignificant accessory?

I'm tired of this, tired of everything that has to do with my mother.She is shining in the eyes of the world, but she brings me an inescapable shadow.

I was so busy with chores that I never found a chance to talk to her about Paris. After the wedding, Searle, who became Mrs. Campbell, had to follow her husband to the South for a short-term honeymoon trip.I had no longer any reason to stay here, but with great reluctance I set off back to the Tweed Valley.

I still remember Searle's comforting words when we said goodbye, and I also remember her enthusiastic invitation to visit me in her new home, but unfortunately this beautiful promise never came true.Life is always full of surprises and accidents, but sometimes it is the right one waiting around the corner, and sometimes it is the god of death holding a sickle.

No one expected that that year was the penultimate year of my life.