Playing Catch-Up (open)

[Alessandro Darko]

He wandered into the library at a half past noon. He wasn’t adhering to any specific schedule quite yet, as permitted by the headmistress to allow him ample time to get caught up in his studies. He had met with most all of his professors and they had reluctantly given him the make-up work as he requested. The responses he got from most of them were heartfelt and sorry to hear of his plight. He, however, dismissed all sympathy and insisted that he receive the material to get caught up. He had set his mind firmly on doing the make-up work so he wouldn’t be behind with his exams and what-not. He loathed the idea that he would re-enter classes without a clue on how to cast a proper charm, or which rune meant what.

It had been almost a week since meeting with the headmistress concerning his return. Every day that passed by, he waited for an owl to arrive with a letter detailing his scheduled punishment, but no owl would come. He wondered what horrible punishment she kept in store for a student that wandered off in the middle of the night, and breached cross-continental portkey laws. His story should hold strong, for he knew that most every portkey is registered by a member of the Dept. of Magical Transportation, however, he was sure that there weren’t restrictions guarding the spell portus and who casts it. Therefore, any witch or wizard had the ability to create a portkey at their disposal, whether it was legal or not. That would be his explanation if anyone decided to grill him on the fact that most portkeys are regulated by the ministry.

The library revived that old musty smell in his mind, sparking to life the memories of how he spent much of his time studying in there. Taking the first table available, he dropped his bag and cloak off on the chair, and made his way to the stacks, only to return with an armful of thick, leather-bound texts. He let the load drop onto the table with a somewhat loud thwap! and took a seat, immediately bringing out an inkwell and quill, and ample parchment for notes. Throwing open a book entitled “Wizarding Throughout the Ages” he went to work, reading up about the 1920’s and how certain spells become obsolete through modification of the times. As muggles advanced, so did the wizarding community.

He took a glance around the library as it seemed to be half-vacant, only a couple students minding their business here and there near the far end of the library, not really noticing that he was there. Good. Latley, he had been getting weird looks from people if seen in the corridors. He guessed that his disappearance caused people to think that he was gone and never coming back. He could only imagine what rumors were flying around. He didn’t think of himself as being very popular at all, in fact, he was only known because he would always answer in class and because the teachers would call on him by name. He looked back down at his book and continued to read, jotting interesting notes down here and there about how nosy muggles almost discovered the existence of magic.

[Niobe Blakes]

Today Niobe was in a good mood.

Her mother had sent her some books on potions and a promise for a trip out of the country later on next year. Of course, Niobe hadn't yet told her mother about the dreams or asked her about the story yet, but she figured it would all be in due time.

Her mother had also sent her a small packet of paperback books about herbology for Caitlin to look over. While Niobe knew that Caitlin wasn't a huge fan of herbology, she would need it for the future to become a healer. Niobe had promised her she'd inquire about it and her mother had not failed to deliver.

So now she was skipping a bit of lunch to go to the library and pick up some books on the possible countries she'd get to see in the following year. Perhaps even some language books, so she could get around when they went to visit.

While Niobe still looked a bit pale for her complexion and there were still small bags under her eyes from lack of sleep, she had a certain happy glow to her as she practically skipped down the hallways to the library. After classes she was going to find Caitlin and give her the bundle of books and hopefully be able to hang around her for a while. She definitely wanted to be friends with her.

It was pretty empty at this hour, which was fine with Niobe. Even though she was in a good mood, she didn't want to take too long with her search.

Something struck her as odd for a moment, a young man who was sitting at a table looked familiar to her, but she couldn't quite place it. Shrugging it off, she went on to look around.

After a few minutes and three books, Niobe found herself about to leave when she saw the boy again and she recgonized him.

Alessandro Darko. She didn't know him well, he was a year above her, but she had known that he had disappeared for a while. When had he returned? She had thought that perhaps he had withdrawn from Hogwarts for some unknown reason, she had not expected to ever see him again. Because she was in her good mood and also because she was starting to become a slightly more social person, she found herself gravitating towards him, tucking some stray strands of hair behind her ear as she bent down a bit, smiling at him.

"You're Mr. Darko aren't you?" she inquired "I'm terribly sorry to be so forward, it's just that I haven't seen you around, I thought you'd dropped. I'm Niobe Blakes, I'm a year below you and a fellow Ravenclaw." her smile became a little lopsided "Anyway, I don't want to bother you, you're obviously busy, but I just wanted to say that if you need help with anything to please let me know. I'm not a prefect or anything, but I know you've been gone for a while and catching up must be dreadful. Um...I'm pretty good with potions, charms, and I also know a bit about herbs if you need any help with those classes. Ah..." she was beginning to feel silly, for she knew she was starting to ramble "Well, like I said, I won't bother you anymore. I hope to see you around, and it's good to know you're staying here at Hogwarts." now feeling a bit embarrassed, she gave him a quick nod and turned to leave...

(You can stop her if you want, or let her leave, it's up to you )

[Kerridon Paradox]

Returning some books to the library, Kerridon had inevitably got slowed down by noticing a book that might be interesting, and so his intention to return to the Ravenclaw common room immediately after returning them had been dashed. Although the library was much quieter, it was more difficult to watch what was going on around him. Even if his allegiance had technically changed, he still had the issue of reporting back to Dark Phoenix on the general goings on around the school. The common room was a much better place for picking up gossip, while appearing to pay no attention, than the library.

There was also the advantage that D'rorah was sometimes in the common room as well. Although he knew he couldn't leave his gaze on her any more than he might do normally, nor could he even focus his thoughts on her, it was good to just see she was nearby despite the distance they had to keep up. The barriers in his mind refusing to allow him to ponder the subject further in case of anyone listening into his thoughts, he turned his attention back to the book in his hand, taking a few steps in the direction of a nearby table but pausing when he heard a voice... a mention of 'Mr Darko'. That had been one rumour he had certainly picked up in the last week or so. Alessandro, one of the lightfighters who had supposedly died when falling off the tower, had somehow come back from the dead and had returned to Hogwarts.

He stayed by the bookshelf, wanting to see what might come of this encounter. He could feign casual interest in what had happened to Alessandro if one of them spotted him there. Had Niobe not been there he might have risked enquiring what had actually happened to the boy, but as far as he knew she had nothing to do with either side in the Shadow Wars and showing any sign that he knew anything about it could be risky. So instead he stayed quiet for now, waiting to see what Alessandro would say. If nothing else, he could at least report back to Dark Phoenix how the school body was reacting to his return.

[Alessandro Darko]

(OOC: Ravenclaw, Party of 3? SO sorry guys for the delay, I sorta forgot about this thread!)

He was jotting down notes now about the Wizengamot. A total of 50 wizards and witches are present, known as the Interrogators. They sit above the main chair in the center adorned with magical restraints, and view the trial from the judges balcony. ...The judge is known as the Chief Warlock, and is usually the Minister of Magic himself, though, Albus Dumbledore, previous Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry once held this position... He wrote in his neat, print-cursive handwriting. He was just about to move on to reading about the court proceedings of the first full-Wizengamot trial for a minor in violation of "Underage Sorcery" as a voice rang out in his silent atmosphere, causing him to drop his quill and turn his head immediately at the sound.

His eyes focused on a feminine youth; dark-skinned, and had precocious good looks albeit looking a bit tired, and she was rambling. He was speechless to say the least, as this younger Ravenclaw proceeded to introduce herself and offer him assistance. Her face was familiar, and he was sure he had seen her around school before. The fact that they were in the same House was influential in that aspect as the common room was probably the most frequent place he may have seen her. Why she had cared so greatly to show him such an affable display of interest was unclear to him. The two had never really spoken before, but, again the fact that he had disappeared suddenly overnight kicked in again. Oh...right, He thought as he straightened up in his seat to look at her full on now. ...I died, didn't I... He thought dispassionately as he cleared his throat readying his vocal chords for speech.

"I won't be needing any assistance with classwork, but thank you though. Niobe, is it?" The way it came out sounded a bit haughty, but he was a Ravenclaw for a reason, and he was pretty much on top of his academics under normal conditions. He just needed the time to catch up to everyone else. Luckily for him, he liked to read ahead of what they were learning in class so he was at least a bit learned on future subjects. "No need to hurry off...if you have a moment?" He reached his hand out in a gesture as if to halt her and then indicated the chair to his right if she wanted to sit down. On second thought, he may ask her for some small assistance in Potions, for it was no secret amongst his peers that he was absolutely dreadful in that class. The thought of him receiving a "Troll" in that class was absolutely unacceptable.

[Niobe Blakes]

Nodding, she felt a bit silly having talked his ear off, but he didn't seem annoyed or bothered by this fact. She gave him a small nod when he said her name in confirmation and sat down when he bade her to.

"Um...?" she asked a bit hesitently, unsure of what to say or do. Yes, she had known Alessandro Darko, but by name only, same as the other upper classmen. He had expected him to be too busy to deal with her, yet that didn't seem to be the case.

She let the question falter, unsure of what to ask. Did he want something? Did he want to talk? She wasn't sure, since he had said he didn't need her help. A bit embarrassing, but Alessandro Darko had always held good grades and he was a Ravenclaw afterall. The fact that she had even offered when she was below him in grades was probably rather pompus of her.

"Ah, well, I'm not busy at the moment..." she decided to say "Is there something you wanted to discuss?"

[Alessandro Darko]

"Niobe..." He began as he leaned in closer at the table. "I haven't been away for a great length of time," He said, feeling like a complete liar as it (for him) had been a whole year in his time. "But I just wanted to check with a fellow classmate...someone I could trust. You seem like a particularly trustworthy girl, Ravenclaw, going places in life eh?" He spoke softly, his eyes dead-set on the younger girl's. He wasn't trying to be dramatic, it just happened to seem like he was about to divulge some horrible secret or unleash all hell upon her by revealing that the Headmistress was Bog-Snargling Glurdleskletch from Zanthrax Nine waiting to take over the entire universe. No, wait, wrong series continuity completely...

"Niobe, what I mean to ask is...have you noticed anything...'funny' going on lately?" He asked, his tone dropping a notch so his voice was a touch quieter as he gave a surreptitious glance around him.

[Niobe Blakes]

The younger girl blinked at him and slowly felt herself moving backwards as he leaned forwards, not used to having people so close to her. It was instinctive, so when she realized it and knew that he was simply seeking to keep the conversation private, she forced herself to lean forward again, although she found herself unable to look at him.

"Strange?" she repeated, unsure of how to answer. She felt herself moving to clutch at her necklace. Besides her own nightmares, which D'rorah was helping her with, she couldn't think of anything else strange...well...

"I...I suppose so." she said, still unable to look at him due to her natural ability to be rather shy. It seemed that every student she spoke to lately had some sort of overcasting shadow in their lives, making them seem more dark and depressed. But she wasn't sure if she should say that out loud. It could very well not be what he wanted to know, it seemed that he was looking for her to say something very specific and she had a feeling that in this, she would probably fail him.

Niobe normally tried to stay away from people's personal lives. It meant that she was out of the rumor mill half of the time. Unfortunately for Alessandro, it also meant that she probably didn't have the answers he sought. She felt a bit disappointed in herself, she had genuinely wanted to help the boy.

"Um...just little things..." she said "Students seeming more depressed...uh...strange things have been going on with me I suppose, but you'd find that uninteresting I think." she recalled Caitlin and D'rorah, how the two of them seemed to have this underlying gloom about them, as if the world were on their shoulders. "But I don't really interact with many people so...I'm sorry."

[Alessandro Darko]

(ooc: I think that we ought to wrap this up b/c we have progressed in our other threads too far. lol. not sure what else to do here.)

Alessandro nodded as Niobe seemed to have noticed that the students had been coming off as a bit more depressed, and dismal. The dementors were getting stronger, that was certain. The negative energy-cesspool that was fermenting in the Forbidden Forest was growing and he himself had taken into account the expressions of most of the student body-- even some of the teachers. Attempts had been made though, as it was clear as day. Teachers have been trying to make light of certain situations and encourage their students to travel together. The enchanted ceiling in the great hall was charmed to look always sunny, with beautiful, white, fluffy, cumulonimbus clouds that were shaped like bunnies and birds, and other small woodland creatures that were deemed "cute".

He had heard from Colin MacDougalson that detentions were reduced now to a bit of lines and they were sent off. No more late-night sessions at the game keeper's hut, nor excursions into the forest-- those he missed, but it had been a very long time since he had received a detention, with Dylan and Gat as he recalled, so it didn't really matter anyway.

"I've noticed the same thing...it's very strange isn't it...like you would think that Hogwarts would be enough to keep out the doom and gloom that the dementors purvey...they must be getting stronger..." He mumbled as he looked around him. He kept getting a sneaking suspicion that they were being watched.

"But yes, I did find that Gulliver Pokeby was a little too verbose when explaining that an Augurey merely foretold an onset of rain, not death. A highly over-rated book, in my opinion." He said, raising his voice as he straightened up and began to pack his bag with the many books along the table's surface.

[Niobe Blakes]

((That's cool))

Niobe nodded at Alessandro as his voice grew louder, although her mind was running at that constant speed that she was accustomed to.

Why was this boy so concerned? It was strange that he even noticed it, he had been gone for so long. Then again, maybe that was the reason why he did. But for what purpose would that matter? Simple curiousity? It didn't seem like it. His expression had been serious, determined.

Did he know something she didn't? Was there an actual reason for the students' behavior? It made her wonder what his motives and plans could possibly be.

When she saw him packing up, she took that as her cue to depart.

"Well," she whispered "If you need me for anything, please let me know. I'll continue to keep an eye out for you." It wasn't much of an offer, but perhaps if he knew what was going on, he could tell her more about her dreams "I might...have some more information for you that could be helpful."

She let out a startled sound "Oh! I'm so sorry, I'm running late. We'll have to finish this discussion later, but I have some other books by someone I think you'll appreciate better." she flashed a smile at him.

Perhaps she could tell him about her crazy dreams.