Enjoying the Sun (Open)

[user1991]

Being inside was one of Zayne's least favorite things in the world. Not being able to see the sun or feel the fresh air on his skin made him feel a bit too confined. So of course it would make sense that his least favorite subject in the world was potions. Being confined in a dungeon, breathing the same air that everyone else was breathing... it was this reason that Zayne was usually given homework after every lesson. He was unable to concentrate on very well his class work when feeling so boxed in, despite his memory. The homework would be easy, of course; done outside at the top of the astronomy tower where he could think freely.

His dislike of enclosed spaces was also something that made it very unfortunate to be a Hufflepuff. With his houses' dorms built mostly underground, Zayne found that his home away from home was usually more stifling than homey, which was how most of his house mates felt about their burrow. He'd heard that Ravenclaw dorms were built at the top of a tower with huge picture windows that let in the sky. It sounded perfect, but he supposed that being brainy meant more than being able to store information. Studying was never really his thing, and he doubted he would have ever fit in with a bunch of bookworms... no matter how cool their dorm was.

It was because of these reasons that Zayne found himself wandering about outside at any time he could spare it. Classes hadn't officially started yet, and he was making sure to enjoy the remainder of his break to its fullest, getting in as much air as he could before being locked inside by school. And this was the perfect day for some sun and the beautiful scents of the garden. The sky was a deep, rich azure with the sun beginning to glide through it's decent from the sky. Large, fluffy white clouds roamed across the backdrop, reminding Zayne of cottony glaciers floating in the sea.

It was this thought that started it. Zayne stopped moving, his head tilted back, unruly blond hair falling loosely down his neck and lower back as he gazed upward. How long he stood there, he wasn't sure. It was several moments to be sure, since when he finally came to and he blinked his eyes they were quite dried out. He blinked several more times, trying to reestablish some moisture and looked around almost dazedly. There had been a sound out of the ordinary that brought him out of his state, and he glanced around, looking for the cause.

[scarlettcooper]

Scarlett stumbled her way across the grounds. Her arms were overflowing with new books, robes, and a random assortment of other supplies that she'd just bought. Every few steps she had to stop and readjust her grip. It was becoming quite taxing on her nerves. Furthermore, she still was uncertain on just exactly how to get to the Gryffindor common room. She merely recalled stairs. Lots and lots of stairs.

She closed her eyes and groaned at the thought of trying to make her way up dozens of staircases with all of those belongings. Too late she realized that closing her eyes was a very poor choice. Scarlett felt something starting to slip from her grasp. She attempted to hold onto it, but only managed to knock more out of place. With an aggravating thump, all her belongings dropped to the ground.

Scarlett let out a restrained, frustrated, and mangled shriek. Pausing, she took a deep, calming breath. As tempted as she was to either leave her stuff there on the ground or to kick it around mercilessly, she knew it would be foolish. With a sigh, she bent down and began to pick up her scattered belongings.

[user1991]

((I took a little liberty with your books if that's alright. Since you're character is a fifth year I assumed your books would reflect that. Let me know if you want me to change it ))

It took Zayne a few moments to really come back to himself after he'd heard the sound, which he'd finally identified as something dropping onto the ground. Glancing around in the direction of the noise, he noticed a girl seeming to stumble under the weight of several school supplies. What she was doing with so much stuff outside he had no idea. Didn't the house elves usually bring that stuff up to the rooms? Was she lost?

The sudden frustrated cry from the girl as her arms were emptied on the ground brought Zayne completely out of his mind and spurred him into action. Not pausing to think anymore about the why, he immediately moved toward her at a quick pace, intending to assist her in any way he could. Bending down once he was close enough to pick up one of the new fifth year books, Defensive Magical Theory by Wilbert Slinkhard, and a couple of dropped quills, Zayne looked up and flashed a friendly smile at the girl.

"Gotta watch these things. They like to escape if you're not paying attention." Zayne chuckled a little and grabbed a stack of papers, placing them neatly in a pile on top of the book in his arms. "Of course if you're like me, you just like dropping stuff. Makes things more interesting. Wait," Zayne glanced up, an obviously mock horrified look on his face. "Is that what you're doing? Am I ruining your fun by picking your things up? Dang, I'm such an idiot!" Zayne slapped his forehead with an exaggerated sigh, then peaked out from in between his fingers at the girl with a crooked grin. "I didn't ruin everything, did I?"

[scarlettcooper]

((OOC: No problem, that's good.))

As Scarlett reached for a quill, she saw another hand do the same. Slightly startled, she stopped and looked up into the face of a boy who looked to be close to her age. He flashed her a friendly smile. "Gotta watch these things. They like to escape if you're not paying attention," he told her with a chuckle.

Scarlett smiled and resumed gathering her things. "Of course if you're like me, you just like dropping stuff," the boy continued. "Makes things more interesting. Wait." Scarlett stopped and looked up at him to see a look of mock horror dancing on his face. "Is that what you're doing?" he asked. "Am I ruining your fun by picking your things up? Dang, I'm such an idiot!" He smacked his forehead and sighed dramatically. "I didn't ruin everything, did I?" he checked, peaking out at her from behind his fingers with a grin.

Scarlett laughed. "Don't worry - I've always thought dropping stuff was funner with someone to share it with anyway," she joked back. They last of the supplies having been gathered up by the two, she rose to her feet. Awkwardly and carefully shifting everything into her left arm, she held out her right. "I'm Scarlett Cooper. Gryffindor fifth year, although this is my first year here," she introduced herself. "Thanks for helping me with my things," she added with a grateful smile.

[user1991]

Zayne chuckled softly at the girl's joke and handed over his pile of her belongings. He watched her shift it around, trying to get a good hold on it before she introduced herself. His assumption that she was in fifth year had been right, but he'd been wrong about her house. Scarlett was friendly and smiled easily, but was just a little clumsy and it made Zayne think that maybe she was in his own house. He assumed she was new since he hadn't seen her around before, maybe a transfer student or something. His assumption was again confirmed when she said it was her first year. Zayne was all too eager to help her out.

"It may as well be my first year here with all the socializing I do, but I'm in fifth year too. Hufflepuff." Zayne smiled proudly, as if there was nothing in the world better than being in Hufflepuff. He didn't really acknowledge Scarlett's thanks for his assistance, instead pushing on with the conversation. "So did you transfer here, or just sprout your wings a little late?" Zayne had seen many new students arrive at Hogwarts for many different reasons. He was curious to learn about Scarlett's story, and maybe help her find where she was going in the process.

[scarlettcooper]

Scarlett's smile faltered as their conversation steered toward her past. "I transferred," she told him. "I was attending a school in America. My family just moved to England this summer."

Eager to change the subject, she turned the conversation back to him. "So, you're a fifth year too. Maybe we'll have some classes together," she chatted. "And you're in Hufflepuff. That's the nice bunch, right? I'm still not certain I have the house characteristics down. I'm certain I don't have the layout of this school down," she rambled with a small laugh. "Oh," she realized suddenly, "you didn't tell me your name."

Relieved that the conversation had now been deterred from her past, she returned to her comfortable self. This boy seemed very nice. She was enjoying talking to him, but she wasn't nearly ready to be bringing up the past just yet.

[user1991]

Zayne's eyes opened slightly wider when Scarlett said that she'd transfered from a school in America. He had been sure that he was right when he told his parents about the possibility of a school not so far from home, but they'd insisted that they did all the research and he knew his folks; the one thing they never did half-assed was research. Of course, he'd never really done his own research when he knew he should have. The fact was, he didn't really care. Down the street or thousnds of miles away, as long as he was gone it didn't matter.

So he'd bought it and packed up for England. Now this obviously American girl was confirming his doubts. Wow, they really must have wanted me gone, Zayne thought, a slight twinge of the old pain worming it's way into his heart. He shrugged it off quickly though, realizing he was missing half of what this girl was saying. Clicking his mind into rewind, he caught up on what she'd been saying. Moved this summer; Hufflepuffs are nice; Don't get the houses or layout yet; Name...

"Oh!" Zayne smacked his forehead, remembering that she indeed introduced herself, and he'd just passed over giving her his name. "I'm sorry, my head... heh, well um... my name is Zayne!" He stuck his hand out and cracked a huge smile, the other hand reaching behind his head to sort of clutch his neck almost automatically. "Zayne Holden. I'm kind of a scatter brain sometimes, but once I remember where I am I can keep up. Hufflepuffs are the nice lot, usually. We got a couple of bad eggs, but we usually tell people they're Slytherins." Zayne grinned again, then realizing she probably didn't understand that last bit he added, "Oh, they're the pushy snotty type. Not that I don't think they're good in their own way. Never seen a bunch better at DADA."

[scarlettcooper]

Scarlett laughed as she shook his hand. "Nice meeting you, Zayne," she commented. She paused for a moment, clearly trying to recall something. "Slytherin...I think my house hates theirs, is that right?" she checked. "Sometimes I just feel like there's so much to remember. All the staircases in this school...I will start to remember my way around here eventually, right?"

All those staircases and hallways and door and whatnot were enough to give someone a headache. Scarlett had never had too much difficulty remembering her way around places, but she'd never been in a place with quite as complicated a layout. I wonder if that's why my parents sent me here, she mused. Getting around here takes so much energy that I'd have no choice but to eat.

She didn't want to think about that. Not now. She was starting fresh. Hurriedly, she turned her attention back to Zayne. Zayne Holden. Fifth year. Hufflepuff. The nice group, she repeated, hoping it would help her at least get those things memorized. At least they were less complicated than the stairs.

[user1991]

"Yeah," Zayne said with a half laugh in response to Scarlett's worried question. "It takes a bit, but you'll get it. 'Coupla my Ravie friends said they made a map back in first year to try and help them. It was so thick... like, in a folder ya know? They each had a copy and it had a bunch of sheets that they would flip back and forth between depending on what area of the castle they were in. They put a bunch of enchantments and stuff on it to help them with directions and shortest ways from point A to B. It was pretty ingenious, I guess. I could never read the darn thing." Zayne seemed to kind of trail off a bit, looking at his hands as if he were trying to read the map at that exact moment. Then he blinked a few times, coming back to himself and looked back up at Scarlett with a dazed grin.

"Uh, so yeah, eventually you'll even get to know the pattern for the moving staircases. Once you've been here long enough, you either figure it out or end up late to classes every day. But don't you worry," Zayne said, puffing out his chest and striking a super-hereoy pose. "I will help you! I gotta admit, though," Zayne continued without a pause, letting the air out and slumping back to his original posture. "It's still kinda funny to watch some of the more mentally impaired Slytherins get caught going the wrong way."

[scarlettcooper]

Scarlett laughed. "Thank you so much," she gushed. "And that map sounds pretty amazing. Is it possible to see this entire school? Even being here the full seven years? Not necessarily be in every room, but travel through every corridor...climb every staircase...see every doorway." Suddenly feeling slightly silly, she shrugged. "I don't know," she muttered.

There's no such thing as a stupid- Scarlett quickly interrupted her therapist's echo. "What's a Ravie?" she asked abruptly. Backtracking, she added, "You said some Ravie friends made that map. They must've been awfully talented to make such a thing." She shook her head. "Sometimes I wonder what I'm even doing here. In Defense Against the Dark Arts, for example, I can't seem to do a thing. I've gotten good marks in Charms all four years, yet I've hardly managed a simple 'expelliarmus' after five years." She chuckled slightly. "It makes me wonder sometimes if being half-blood only gives me half magical ability," she remarked.

[user1991]

Zayne scratched his head a little when Scarlett asked if they had the entire castle mapped. He wasn't sure, to be honest. He recalled his friend mentioning that he still had some blank places on the map where there should be something, but they could never figure out what it was no matter how long they searched. He guessed that there were probably many placed they had yet to explore, and most likely they wouldn't be able to get it all down buy seventh year. He suddenly seemed a little more interested in just how they were coming with it.

Scarlett pulled Zayne back out of his mind with her second question. He almost slapped his head again, having forgotten once again that she was new to the school. Then she voiced her concerns, and Zayne smiled a little. He remembered being in almost the same boat when he'd first arrived at Hogwarts. No idea what was going on, no idea what kind of world he was getting into, and almost completely alone. Deciding that he was going to make sure Scarlett didn't have the same experience he had, he smiled brightly at her and lightly patted her shoulder.

"Don't you worry. I'm a muggle-born and I'm at about the same level. I wonder all the time if my magic is less potent than some pure-bloods, but then I find my place and just go to town. I have yet to meet someone who can heal quite as well as I can." Zayne puffed out his chest a little and assumed a haughty posture. "Because I am so bloody awesome. And all you have to do is find your thing. Once you do, you'll blow everyone else out of the water."

[scarlettcooper]

Scarlett contemplated her joking 'half the magical ability' comment. What if such a thing was true? Well, for one, it certain would explain her utter failure in Defense Against the Dark Arts. Other than that though, it would be absolutely horrible. She knew what her therapist would say, but she didn't want to listen. She also knew what her therapist would say to that.

She was brought out of her worries, however, upon feeling Zayne lightly patting her shoulder. She shook herself out of her thoughts and saw him smiling. As she listened to his reassuring words, she realized that she actually was feeling more reassured. Of course such a thing would be silly. Blood had nothing to do with magical ability. She should know better.

He surprised her as he revealed he'd had similar thoughts. "I wonder all the time if my magic is less potent than some pure-bloods, but then I find my place and just go to town," he told her. I wonder where my place is, she mused. He continued, "I have yet to meet someone who can heal quite as well as I can."

Scarlett smiled at his changed stance. "Well, now, if I ever need healing, I know exactly who to turn to," she declared.

As he assured her once again that she just needs to find her niche, Scarlett felt strangely uplifted. For the first time in a while, she didn't bring about any pointless negative counterarguments in her mind. She felt determined. Zayne was right - all she needed was to find where she belonged.

Scarlett smiled. "Thank you, Zayne. You've truly helped me," she told him. It sounded fun - seeking her place in life. A new joy spread through her. It was almost an absolute joy. She hadn't felt like that in quite some time. Her smiled widened into a full out grin. "You know, it's quite appropriate that I'll be searching for my niche while I'm here, since I'm constantly searching for where it is in the castle I need to get to," she remarked with a laugh.

It was a nice feeling. For once she wasn't trying to block out thoughts from her therapist. In fact, she wasn't hearing any of those words at all. It felt so freeing. If things would stay this way as long as she was pursuing her forte...well, then she was even more determined to begin her search.