Location: Hogsmeade, Juniperâs Plant Care [abandoned building]
Time: Late afternoon
Notes: Already together, Quincy and Thalia are forced to cancel their budding romantic encounter due to the interruption of the acromantula.Â
Extra Notes:Â
Quincy couldnât help but smirk more as he heard her breath become slightly heavier. Thatâs when he felt Thaliaâs soft, small hand, reach around him, tangling into his sort hair, tugging it slightly. Closing his eyes, he began to kiss and suck at her neck, breathing heavier against the soft skin. Soft growling moans escaped his lips. As if he didnât want her bad enough already. Pulling her closer, pressing his body harder into her own, he listened to her words and smirked, pulling back so he could look at her, eyeing her little smile. âTrust me sweetheart, I have.â He smirked at her as he let his a finger brush lightly over the area his lips just left.
âOh, is that so Ms. Thalia? Iâm more observant then people give me credit for. Â Now youâve caught my attention. You better back up all that teasing.â His eyes scanned over her body that he could see from how they stood, his eyes mostly focusing on her breasts. âAs have I.â He gently loosened his grip oh so slightly so she could move a bit more easily, smirking as she pulled them closer by wrapping her arms around him. âGames are games after all. Iâm done with games. Iâm ready for business.â He noticed the small hint of lust in her every word and even laugh. The Slytherin boy had to admit, for being a Hufflepuff, she sure knew how to make him want her. As she slowly moved closer to him, his hands slid onto her hips, though he allowed his fingers to drift a bit further back.
When her lips met his own, he couldnât control himself anymore. Not that he had much control in the first place. Her lips were soft and oh so kissable. He deepened it, gently nipping at her bottom lip, his breath hitching lightly in his chest. Their feet soon began to move, their steps hurried, but cautious, as they blindly made their way around the building. They needed somewhere more private. Not that Quincy was concerned about being caught, just he would much rather not be interrupted. His back soon met the cold of the tin door to the abandoned building that they had been at the side of at some point moments ago. Shoving it open behind them, he pulled her in, letting it shut. Here they could do what they wanted and be as loud as they wanted and not worry about a soul finding them. Their kisses became more heated and frantic as they moved deeper into the now occupied building. Finally breaking away, his breath was heavy, body aching for more. They had to find somewhere for them.
As they wandered through the building, he couldnât resist her. Quincy had to kiss Thalia every now and then, feel her lips against his own. Finally they found the room with a couch. It was perfect. Â âPerfect.â The smirk playing on his lips seemed to even travel to his voice. Â Thaliaâs laugh sent a small shiver down his spine, soon feeling her lips pressing into his once more. As their lips danced together perfectly, he soon found the couch behind him, pulling her down with him, shoes and socks soon somewhere on the ground, unneeded. Sliding his hands onto her ass, Quincy pulled her to straddle his lap, his hands sliding up her body as he licked lightly at her lips. Right now he didnât care about anything in the world except one thing. The contact and feeling between their bodies.
Thalia Carmichael:
Each touch of skin on skin was electric, and, up until now, Thalia had been a clay doll. Quincy was bringing her back to life, giving her shivering breaths and a perfect setting , a perfect place, to let their bodies love, no matter how hollow it might be. Their hips aligned, giving Thalia the friction that her body craved. But she wasn't close enough. "Quincy," she murmured, the name falling like a sensual prayer from her lips. "How much do you care about these clothes?" A dark smirk peered at the edges of those lips that were fast approaching Quincy's.Â
She gave him a kiss, fast and deep, to help convince him to simply get rid of those things which were separating them. After all, they could simply be mended afterwards. If anyone had experience doing that, it would be Thalia. Slowly, she withdrew, knowing that Quincy might be stuck in a momentary daze from her attack. In that span of time, Thalia took it upon herself to remove her shirt, tearing it from the collar, popping off the little white buttons. They scattered with soft sounds on the ground as they landed and rolled, mingling with Thalia's laughter.
More than elated was she that now she finally had a surrogate, and a damn good one, for the person she had so desperately wanted. While Thalia was certain that this would be no romantic coming together - rather, it was likely to be a primal, rough tryst - it was what she craved. She didn't want to be treated like some idol. She didn't want to be cherished. She wanted the hole inside her heart and mind to be filled. But that was impossible so what did she do?
Thalia filled them with white-hot, impossibly, terribly blinding pleasure. And for awhile, they would keep up the facade of fulfillment. This one "session" could possibly leave her with that sort of unique after-glow for days. During that time of satedness, Thalia would whole-heartedly take it upon herself to rid any emotion that yearned for Erik. No matter, how it wanted him, be it as a friend or as a lover, or some sweet combination of the two, Thalia would tear it to sheds and burn whatever remained, until any thought of what could have been, what she had so very much wanted, was completely and devastatingly gone.Â
Now Quincy was fully coming to, his lips crashing against hers as she tore off his shirt and threw it to the floor to join hers. Breath coming ragged, Thalia yanked herself away to look at what had been revealed of her prize. And just as she had wanted to do with Erik, she began to bathe his chest in kisses, working her way down, lingering over his bellybutton before gently undoing the button and zipper of his pants and sliding them down with steady hands. She was predatory now, her lust-dulled eyes glinting like wet stones in the warm amber light around them. A grin curled upwards on her as she slowly slid Quincy's pants down and over his feet, letting them drop to the ground with an airy thud. Raising an eyebrow, Thalia stood and moved over towards Quincy's face, hips swaying. "Why don't you return the favor?"
Notes: Erik âaccidentallyâ runs into Thalia as she searches for a runaway piece of parchment.
Extra Notes:Â
Erik was glad to hear her say that she had nowhere else to be. The truth was, even if he had somewhere to be, heâd probably drop it for her. Lately, she was one of the only things that made him come out of his shell and let out his real personality. Maybe he didnât have to be a brooding asshole his whole life, at least while a girl like Thalia was around to make him grin like a fucking idiot. For some reason, while he knew he shouldnât like that, he did. He couldnât help it. Ever since theyâd started talking that night by the woods â he couldnât get her out of his head. It seemed like she liked him too but they were both staying back a few steps to avoid the reality of it all.
He was sort of tired of doing that. He was tired of yet another thing to make his head spin off its axis. What Erik Stiles needed was someone to be real with, all the way. âCool, I donât got much to do either,â he admitted, pulling out a smoke and lighting it with his wand. He offered Thalia one, by impulse, and then stuffed the pack back into his robe pockets. âYou know, I get sick of being inside, honestly. We could just wander around or something. Off the beaten path.â He shrugged, leaving it with her again. It wasnât that he was incapable of making a decision but he wanted her to be comfortable and couldnât imagine anyone being that way around him.
âHave you ever walked around to the main gates?â he asked. He knew most everyone stuck to the area around the Forbidden Forest or the lake. He preferred his fun a bit more private however. Because of that, he knew a few nooks and crannies were there were cool things to see and do that most everyone was oblivious to. âNobody ever goes there. Thereâs a few animals and some cool plants. I stumbled on a screaming shrub once, I avoid those now,â he admitted, already leading them that way. It wasnât that he wanted to keep her away from other people, not entirely, it was simply that sometimes he wanted their moments to be theirs alone.
It wasnât a long walk but as they went he pointed out a few plants along the way that he knew, including one of the ingredients for his wolfsbane potion, which he stopped to pick. âOliver is a fucking riot and I love buying from him, but Iâd prefer not to rely on him if I can help it. It gets messy,â he said. He wondered if she realized how precious these conversations were, if she knew how much heâd come to trust her. Having someone aware of something as huge as the fact that you were a werewolf was something that couldnât be taken lightly. Not even by a guy who could pretend to be nonchalant about most anything else.
Thalia Carmichael:
Thalia grinned at him, even as he pulled out the cigarettes. She wasn't much for them, though when it came down too it, she'd never had much to do with them in the first place. When he offered her one, she declined, however, really not in the mood to try anything new. 'Well... I would try something with Erik, if I thought he'd go for it. We'll see.' Thalia ruffled his hair a bit, laughing, as he put them away. "Don't be offended though. I'm just not in a smoking sort of mood today." 'I like the way his hair feels, and it's the perfect length for playing with or pulling or just about anything. I wonder if he likes his hair pulled..?' She snorted at the thought, shaking her head a bit to clear her mind, airily apologizing.Â
Nodding in agreement, she smiled again. "I know how you feel. It's so stuffy and it feels like I'm watching paint dry. And those first years always babbling about so much...ugh. I get sick of it all. Were we like that?" She laughed again, happy to be out in the fresh air - now that her homework was done with - and even happier to be out and about with Erik. She focused again a moment later though, realizing she left his question unanswered. "Well, that sounds perfect, really. I could go for a nice walk." She grinned and pushed down the urge to ruffle his hair again, though with anyone else, she almost surely would have.
"I can't say I really have. It never occurred to me to go there," she answered, her smile growing. They were walking towards the empty area, away from all of the people. It was better than Thalia could have hoped for, already. "It makes sense. No one would really think to go out around there. Except you, of course." She pushed him haphazardly laughing, the sound bright and playful. "And they sound the perfect thing to avoid. Loud and obnoxious and they never shut up." Thalia sighed dramatically, another laugh bubbling up as they walked.
Their little excursion turned out to be one of Thalia's best afternoons, filled with carefree fun, simple, the exact thing every person dreams of. She learned a lot and laughed a lot, finding Erik to be a perfect mix of sarcasm, cynicism, and wit. She couldn't find a fault in the time they spent together, and that made her beyond happy, and definitely ready to take the next step in whatever seemed to be blooming between the two of them. So with a steadily increasing pace, Thalia moved closer to Erik, their touches - be it arms brushing against one another or Thalia poking the back of Erik's neck for laughs - becoming increasingly frequent. It caused a sort of tension, though not one inherently bad. In fact, it was just what Thalia was aiming for. 'By tonight, he'll be mine.' she thought, though still unable to grasp at just what that meant.
Thalia knew how to recreate, how to fabricate, the feelings of love and adoration, simple attention, but to gain it naturally was almost foreign to her. Erik gave her some shade of that, and it was fast becoming something she needed, even in so little time they'd spent together. She couldn't quite get a grip, however, on the permanency of what she actually needed. All she knew was sex and lies, to others and herself, and now that she had a chance at something more and something different, her mind still refused to fully accept it. So, she planned to go with what she knew. Sex and lies would be her allies for the evening, though in the back of her mind, she didn't want to lie, and she felt somewhere deep inside that maybe rushing into things would, for once, only leave her in more pain than before.
Location: Hogsmeade, Juniperâs Plant Care [abandoned building]
Time: Late afternoon
Notes: Already together, Quincy and Thalia are forced to cancel their budding romantic encounter due to the interruption of the acromantula.Â
Extra Notes:Â
Quincy turned yet another corner, his heart beating in his ears, a hunter hunting while also being hunted by its prey. It was Hogsmeade weekend, a weekend that the Slytherin boy normally despised. It was  always like a skipping record. Being dragged out with Candice, forced to watch her play dress up and force him into clothes he found rather uncomfortable, or just wandering outside, smoking cigarettes until it all ended. Not that he really minded being able to spend time away from Hogwarts and with his friend, but it was never changing. Not this time. It was different. Now Candice was off with other girls and Quincy was in the middle of a little game of cat and mouse with a girl he never thought he would. He didnât want to get caught in her little trap, but he knew he would catch her. He wanted the girl. Needed her. He always got what he wanted. Just now his eye was on a different prize then normal. A girl. A Hufflepuff. Thalia.
Never before had he really noticed or really payed attention to her. She was just another pretty girl in the crowd. Sure, he was mostly attracted to males, but that didnât mean every now and then a girl would catch his eye. It was a very rare happening, but it did happen. He always thought she was attractive, but he never considered approaching her. She was a Hufflepuff. Slytherins were never caught dead with such goody two shoes. He never thought she was that kind of girl. It was a pleasant surprise, one that he loved.
They had never actually interacted with each other until about a week ago. She began to drop little subtle hints that she had her eye on him. From the way she would brush past him in the corridors. The way she let her shirt fall just a hint lower to give him a teasingly slight peak at her cleavage underneath. All the way to the way that he would look up at where she sat at lunch and she would make perfect eye contact while licking the icing off a cupcake slowly, her eyes almost telling him that she knew he wished it was him. He did and he wouldnât even deny it. He wanted her and now was the day he would have her.
All throughout the day, they chased each other. He would be following her and moments later she would suddenly be chasing him. It was quiet entertaining. Though no matter how entertaining, he wanted it to end. Games were games. He wanted to get down to business. Feel his body against her own. Skin touching. He needed to have her and he was going to make damn sure he would have her. Now was the opportune moment. The sun was setting. The air getting cold around them. He was going to win this and now. He turned several corners and rather quickly, knowing he could shake her. Glancing behind him, a smirk played on his lips when he saw he was successful. It was time to end this. Looking around, he spotted a figure moving off in the distance near an abandoned building. It had to be her. Just had to. Quickly walking to the building, he stood around the corner, smirking more as her shadow got closer and closer.
Sure enough, the figure came into light, screaming in surprise at how close they were. âFound you.â He mumbled under his breath. Thali began to run, her sweet laughter leaving her parted lips as she did, though she wasnât very fast. Quincyâs steps grew faster, reaching out with his strong arms, wrapping her in them, pulling her body to his and close. âYes I did.â He chuckled as he pressed his body into herâs, holding her tightly, letting the feel of her pressed against him bring a new feeling to his senses.
âOh, I think you know what I want.â He mumbled in a low voice, pulling her closer, his lips smirking more, the smirk reaching into his green eyes. Her smile made him crave more. Leaning down slightly, he used his nose to move her hair just enough for his lips to gently kiss and nip at her neck oh so lightly and teasingly. âIâve seen the things youâve been doing this past week Thalia. Its not nice to tease you know? I want you and I want you now.â He spoke into her neck, making sure she could feel his lips brushing against her soft skin with each and every word.
Thalia Carmichael:
Thalia's heavy catch-up breathing changed, still heavy, but somehow more feathery, flitting in and out of her as Quincy's rough lips played at the warm skin of her neck. His words made everything stand out, seem brighter. The world was sharp and clear, but all Thalia wanted was exactly what Quincy wanted too. One hand reached up and back, sliding past Quincy's shoulder and onto the back of his neck, pulling into his hairline. Her fingers massaged the skin there, gently pulling at his hair when he spoke into her throat, as she felt those words down throughout her body. "Have you now?" she murmured, eyes closed, still smiling.
"I'm glad you have. I've been wanting you for awhile now, Quincy. Good thing you catch on fast, Slytherin." She chuckled, knowing the strange sensation it would cause under Quincy's lips, something for both of them to enjoy. "I've had fun." Thalia turned in his grasp, their bodied still pressed close, her arms now around him. "But every game must end. I think we both share that sentiment right about now." She laughed, though there was a lusty edge to its lightness. Her hands traveled up his back, curling over his shoulders. As she pulled herself towards Quincy, tantalizingly slow, she half-wished that Erik could see her now and regret what he had done. She felt a split second of guilt and had a momentary pause in her ascent, but then shoved all thought of Erik away, determined to make this time her best, ever.
Finally, she finished her upwards journey, in a moment of absolute perfection their lips melded together in a kiss of passion. It was a lover's kiss, deep and silken, fueled by a fire that consumed them both. Time sped up around them as they drunkenly staggered back into the building, Quincy's back banging open the tin door, leading them into the dusty warm depths of the abandoned place. Here, no one would hear whatever sounds they made, not even their mingling screams, as their were sure to be. Their kissing grew more frantic as they made their way further back, the door clanging shut, sealing them into their new self-made paradise. They broke away for a hasty observation, looking for a place to support their bodies, other than the dusty wooden floor beneath their feet.
They kissed sporadically as they searched, each kiss sending Thalia into a wave of bliss. They ended up in what must have been the break room, once upon a time. There was a counter against one wall, a table, an empty cabinet,and, most importantly, a large couch, the perfect size for them. Laughing, Thalia sealed her lips against his once more, and moments later, they fell onto the couch, already scrambling to removed their shoes and socks. Golden light spilled into the dusky room, perfecting the moment, though its beauty was ignored by the two in the room. For now, Thalia's perfection was Quincy, and he was all she would focus on for however long some time to come, she was sure.
Location: Hogsmeade, Juniper's Plant Care [abandoned building]
Time: Late afternoon
Notes: Already together, Quincy and Thalia are forced to cancel their budding romantic encounter due to the interruption of the acromantula.Â
Extra Notes: Apparently, my spellcheck thought that "acromantula" was supposed to be "unromantic" and I am dying now.
It was the best Hogsmeade Weekend thus far Thalia realized as she ducked behind a building, brightly tingling shivered running up and down her legs, her spine, powering the sparkling smile her lips revealed. She held back a laugh, knowing that she was the prey this time. She didn't want to be caught in his trap, just like he didn't want to be caught in hers. Their game of cat-and-mouse was thrilling, finally coming to a head after the days of being played. Finally, Thalia felt like she might get that released, those emotions, that she so desperately craved.
For over a week now - since Erik's rejection - Thalia had been hunting. Hunting for people who could give her the love, the affection, and the caring that Thalia had thought Erik would give her. When he had ripped that hope from her, it had sent Thalia into a downwards spiral, and to bring herself out of the painful free-fall, she needed someone, anyone, to give her those ever-so-necessary feelings, no matter if they only existed in her mind. Thalia didn't care if she was being used anymore. She hadn't for a long time, really, but it was much worse now, that nonchalance. If she could recreate the feelings, it was good enough for her.
She was still a girl, though, and she did have standards. So, she hunted - and finally landed her sights on none other than the boy with the bad attitude, the enigma, the heartachingly lovely Quincy Hallison. Something about his dark demeanor, his similar but altogether differences from Erik, attracted her. Thalia was sure that he would make the perfect lover. The thing that practically drug her to him, however, was the fact of how few girls he slept with. She felt that if she managed to have him, it would be something of an accomplishment. It would symbolize that she wasn't as worthless as she felt these days. If she could get Quincy Hallison to sleep with her, then surely it could cure the longing to have the same with Erik.
Quincy had taken the bait four days earlier, and since then, it had been a nearly constant game of one-after-the-other, each trying to subtly seduce the other, to trap them. For Thalia, this slow seduction rather than simply doing the deed and getting it over that much faster, was exactly what she needed. It distracted her, gave her a purpose and goals. It was perfect. Now, in Hogsmeade, everything was completing its arc. Though she was a bit sad to kiss the game goodbye, the celebration of its ending was sure to blindingly beautiful.
All throughout the day, all throughout Hogsmeade, they had stalked one another. Thalia had started it, and soon, Quincy was playing too. It was getting later in the afternoon now, the sun turning more orange than white-gold, the air slowly getting colder. It made Thalia's heart race, this atmosphere. Again, this perfection, this immaculate distraction. Now, Thalia hid behind the side of an old abandoned building on the outskirts of Hogsmeade. She had lost Quincy a few streets down, managing to cast a spell that made so that she left no tracks anywhere. Hearing nothing but the buzzing silence of emptiness, Thalia took a deep breath and peeked around the corner of the building...
And screamed. Quincy was not but two feet away, a dark grin on his face. Backpedaling, Thalia turned and ran, laughter now freeing itself from her lungs. She didn't run fast enough, however, as within moments, she felt hands on her waist, pulling her back into a hard body. She gasped, looking up at Quincy. "You got me!" she said, her voice breathless and surprised. She hadn't expected him to capture her; rather, she'd thought it would be the other way around. They were standing still now, Quincy still holding her to him, their frozen airs mingling as it lifted from their bodies, slowing as they caught their breath. "So what do you want as your prize?"
The words were saucy, but conveyed the truth of Thalia's mind; he could take what he wanted, how he wanted to do it. Thalia was his now, for the night, for however long. At the time, Thalia couldn't think of a single thing better, after she shoved away the thought of herself and Erik instead. 'Now is not the time to think of him.' she told herself, instead deciding to lose her thoughts to emotions. Specifically, the ones she got from staring into Quincy's smirking eyes, or at his lips which mirrored that look. She smiled in anticipation.
Notes: Erik âaccidentallyâ runs into Thalia as she searches for a runaway piece of parchment.
Extra Notes: Time for me to haul bootay and get this mission accomplished. Poor Thalia. And Erik. All the love.
The truth was, Erik was looking for Thalia. He didnât want to be entirely transparent about it, especially since he had next to no idea where he stood with her. He just needed to see her. Heâd been thinking about her a lot lately and the times theyâd spent together. His head was going crazy and he just needed to see how things were. Somewhere casual and possibly where he was even sober, although those moments were few and far between anymore. So he was glad to see that the blonde girl was nearby, even if she was chasing after a paper.
He sped up to meet her, watching and grinning as she dive bombed after her paper and then mended it back together. âNice save,â he teased, reaching out a hand to offer to help her out. He shot her a fresh grin, unable to stop himself as he helped her to her feet. âSo whatâs the paper?â he asked, just trying to make small talk and not look like he was jumping to spend time with her. âHomework?â He let go of her hand as she stood up, although he didnât really want to. However it wasnât going to make him look nonchalant to show affection to her when they werenât even together.
âWhere were you headed anyway?â he asked, getting into step beside her. âMaybe I could keep you company?â he offered, tugging at the sleeves of his coat in an anxious manner. There was something about her that made him more aware of his own presence, the way he walked or the way he talked or the way he just existed. It was unnerving but he didnât want it to stop. He sort of liked this new feeling of change that pulsed through him when Thalia was around.
Thalia Carmichael:
Thalia laughed breathlessly, her lungs not yet entirely full of that oxygen, which still felt freezing as it flowed into her. "Thanks," she muttered, shaking brittle grass from her tangled hair as she took Erik's hand, pulling herself up. Dusting off her clothes, Thalia was able to hide a faint, unfamiliar blush that had crept onto her cheeks at the sight of Erik's grin, the feel of his hand around hers. 'What's wrong with you, Thalia? You're acting like some silly third year, blushing about this sort of thing. What's so special about Erik? Just because he's nicer to you than most guys, more polite, and despite drinking a lot, he seems so...amazing. And you know a secret that could destroy his entire life. He didn't entrust it to me in his right mind, and yet, he doesn't seem upset or fearful of me. He treats me normally, almost, and yet...not. He's almost flustered, sometimes. Just like me, it's vice versa for us.'
Looking back up, she laughed, her cheeks cooled by then. "Yeah, homework. Care of Magical Creatures essay on the muscular and bone structure of hippogriffs. Fun, fun." She rolled her eyes, a laugh on her lips. "It's really not something I would care to rewrite." That was entirely true, seeing as she'd spent most of her evening the day beforehand writing it up, and the day before that doing the rough drafts. Today had been the finishing touches, and had she lost the precious parchment on which it was written, not even one of Erik's sweet, shy smiles could bring her back from what would surely be a destructively stormy mood. 'Wait... What?'
Erik was beside her as she let the startling thought pass, and Thalia took a moment to compose herself. "Well, now that I've pretty much got this "little" assignment done and over with, I've got nowhere in particular to head to," she admitted, shrugging as she looked him over, hoping her wouldn't notice - or if he did, that he wouldn't mind. It was simply that there was something about Erik that greatly attracted Thalia to him. Refusing to believe that it was merely his essence, who he was and what she knew, Thalia was always searching for something physical that struck that chord with her. He was almost perfect, really, even when he had those cuts and scratches, and the dark circles under his eyes were nearly painful to look at.
Her hand twitched as she repressed the urge to reach out and rest her hand on his cheek. It was something she would have done with most anyone who looked a little haggard or just tired, but the Erik, it seemed almost as if she shouldn't. Like it might ruin some intricate balance. So, she sighed and smiled, tilting her head, her hair shining as the wintry bright sunlight beamed off of it. "Is there anywhere you'd like to go? I'd really like to stay outside, but if you could think of somewhere nice in the castle, I'm really open to that too." Her smile widened. It was true, partially. The untrue part was the specifics. Thalia figured that as long as she was with Erik at all, it would be hard for her to find anything wrong with anywhere they chose to go.
Notes: Erik "accidentally" runs into Thalia as she searches for a runaway piece of parchment.
Extra Notes: It's abnormally short, but it does the job.
Thalia:
Drawing her coat tighter around her, Thalia ran with the wind, her hair tangling and swirling all around her as she went. Her breath coming in freezing little puffs, she chased her homework across the crisp brown grass of the Hogwarts grounds. She had been busy finishing up her essay for Care of Magical Creatures - a front-and-back assignment on the bone and muscular structure of hippogriffs - when a gust of wind had snatched the parchment from her little table, sending it flying across the pavilion and off onto the grounds themselves.Â
Praying that the hard-worked upon paper would find itself in the lake, Thalia ran faster, determined to catch it. Finally, with a grand tumble on the ground, Thalia fully tackled the paper, effectively tearing it into three pieces. With a weighted sigh, she sat up, gathering the pieces and with a tight hold, mended them to be as if the had never been torn. Thalia smiled and laughed, mentally congratulating herself. She folded up the precious essay into a nice little square, tucking it into her pocket and patting it for good luck.Â
Before she could get up, Thalia felt that already chilly temperature drop as a shadow fell over her. Twisting back, Thalia saw a pair of be-slacked legs and rather nice shoes. Smiling already, the familiar scent of the person washing over her, Thalia's eyes traveled up to see the face of Erik Stiles, his hand already beginning to outstretch and help her up.
Location: Ravenclaw common room; Great Hall; courtyard.
Time: Morning; evening; around dinner time.
Notes: Scout chooses to avoid the breakfast madness but is still caught by the effects, and though lacking the usually high strung anxiety, wants answers.
Extra Notes:Â
As soon as the humming began, Scout cursed himself for not looking around, checking the area, before he had sat down. Sure, he could have easily gotten himself together and left, left a found a new place, and have been done with it before anything even began, but something made him feel like maybe, just maybe, he ought to stick around. The humming was obviously intentional, and he wondered for a moment if he, or she, wanted to speak to him. âOf course they do. Itâd be silly if they were just trying to bother me.â He sighed and turned, wand drawn and light illuminating the immediate area of the dark courtyard.
âHullo?â he called, standing and taking a step forward. He spotted a form and turned the light toward it, and located a girl. He approached and, as he did so, reached up and pulled a torch closer down so that he could see them. It had gotten significantly darker, so he was a little confused for a moment as to how she was working, until he spotted the small lamp of light. âYouâre not the only one capable of making light,â he told himself snappishly, the tone coming from the distaste he still felt from being around someone when he longed to be alone. âOh, but maybe they have answers.âÂ
Scout cleared his throat, hand in pocket and wand hanging unneeded at his side. âAhâŚâ he paused and thought of what there even was to say. Nothing really seemed to come to mind, other than blatantly asking her straightforwardly if she knew what was going on around the school. As his resolve and confidence convinced him to ask, he realized he recognized her, though only by name despite a faint recollection of reputation. âGood. Thatâll help communication, I guess.â
âThalia Carmichael,â he said softly. âWeâre not exactly acquaintances, but itâs nice to see you, I do suppose. I see I must have disrupted your studies. I apologize, for I didnât seem to realize that someone else was out here trying to get away from the masses and their confusions. Speaking of which â and forgive me for being so atrociously forward here, Iâm sorry if itâs rude â but do you have any clue as to what is going around the school? I donât know if itâs something being controlled or if anyone is even aware of anything, but Iâve noticed so much wrong with everyone andâŚyes.â He sighed and looked at her hopefully.
Thalia:
The figure paused, and, satisfied that they knew of her presence, Thalia stopped her humming. She waited now for them to speak, or maybe do nothing. Maybe they would simply sit down and ignore her. If that ended up being the case, then she would simply go about her business, or perhaps even more somewhere else. There was no need for her to be a bother to anyone, especially a stranger. âThey could have just wanted to be alone for awhile. I wonder if theyâve been affected by this odd madness the school seems to be in at the moment? Maybe they came to simply sort themselves out.â
It was shown to be a boy, as the figure grew closer, their features slowly, slightly being illuminated by the light of the torch lamp nearby. He was handsome, in her opinion, and he carried himself well. She smiled a bit, shaking her head over her girlish thoughts. He greeted her, and as she continued to look the stranger over, she noted that his wand was at the ready. Thalia almost laughed aloud. âHello,â she responded, her voice friendly and warm. There was an awkward lapse after that, neither one sure what to say. Thalia decided to simply wait for his next move.
He was fully visible to her now, features and all. He was a Ravenclaw boy, tall, with fine blonde hair slicked back. Thaliaâs stomach lurched slightly in a way that was faintly familiar, and very disturbing to her. âNo... I wouldnât dare try and so much as flirt with him, not even to speak of  anything further.â she told herself, getting a firm grip on her body and her thoughts. Leaving the feeling behind, she continued on, trying to see if she recognized him. There was something slight niggling in the back of her mind, but it wasnât enough for her to go on. But a slight look of recognition  crossed his face, and she knew that he had beat her to it.
She nodded at his rather elegant little speech, smiling still and waved away his apologies, seeing no need for them. However, she felt that her own one way in order.. âI... I am sorry, but I donât know your name,â she admitted bluntly, but kindly. âYou do seem rather familiar, though.â She nodded and bit and tucked her hair behind her ears as she thought. âSo there is something going on around here. I thought so. Everyone seemed off, somehow, but I couldnât place it.â She frowned a bit, biting her lip. âI do remember a little something, however. Itâs so small, but it seems almost like itâs from only this morning. Oh, it so...upsetting.â She sighed and ran her fingers through her hair, grateful that she had decided not to put it up in a bun. âBut I believe someone - a teacher, maybe - told me that...that there has been something...some..thing... Potion! Yes!â She grinned and bobbed her head, the memory returning in full now.
âMy first class teacher said that someone had slipped a potion into the morning pumpkin juice. Anyone who drank it has been... Oh. Weâve been altered. We arenât ourselves.â Thalia frowned again, feeling a deep-seated disturbance in her mind and heart. âHow terrible.â she murmured to herself, turning her head and staring blankly at her work. âThen who am I? I am my body, but my spirit is changed. And whatâs worse, I canât remember who I was before! This is awful! Does anyone know, for sure who they are today?â
Location: Ravenclaw common room; Great Hall; courtyard.
Time: Morning; evening; around dinner time.
Notes: Scout chooses to avoid the breakfast madness but is still caught by the effects, and though lacking the usually high strung anxiety, wants answers.
Extra Notes:
Scout had awoken that morning feeling fundamentally off, but that was usual these days. She had noticed something felt lighter, but that whatever it happened to be was also being beat down by anxiety she had felt ever since that night when she had spoken to Kate. She had also happened to see Brandon a time or two in between, and once spoken to Alexandra in the hall. Though she wouldnât ever have really put the things together, it was these instances of simple hellos, a smile from someone across the way, and just knowing she was being positively acknowledge that were causing her to feel less weighted and perhaps happier. The anxiety was a chronic thing, though, and it came from fear of rejection and of ruining these tentative establishments of hopeful company that seemed to be popping up everywhere. It was too good to be true, and though she had awoken the past few days with hope in her heart, she felt a roll of anxiety each time she stepped out of her dorm, and a spike of unnerving fear when she spotted the familiar letter on her bedside table.
This particular day, she had sat on the edge of the bed and tried to avoid giving herself a headache. Finally, she closed her eyes and pulled her hair up into a ponytail, then shoved the letter to the ground, letting it fall behind the bedside table. Her eyes closed, lashes dusting across her the darkened skin beneath. She exhaled. âIâm going to have a nice day today, Iâm going to try to⌠To ignore whatever pain Iâve got. I canâtâŚâ Scout shook her head and stood up, eyes opening and the tears that were forming seeming to disperse. That felt good, knowing the crying was avoided and that she could at least stop that.
She dressed quickly today, having already laid out her clothes the night before. Pretty Ravenclaw blue in her tie and cloak made her smile as she adjusted the collar and slipped on her shoes. For Scout, being able to dress the way her inner self dictated was one of the many freedoms of Hogwarts that she couldnât begin to properly express. Running her hands through her hair, here, wasnât always a sign of uncontrollable stress, but perhaps her just enjoying the fact that she had lovely, long locks to enjoy.Â
Exiting the dorm room, and then the Ravenclaw common room, she found herself pausing in the corridor near the Great Hall. Here, she tried to decide if she felt like going to breakfast or not. She knew that if she did decide to go, she would end up being there only long enough to grab a piece of fruit and some juice, perhaps if that much, and then return to her dorm. She did that most mornings when she felt like eating, mostly because she didnât like being around all the people in the Hall, or because she had other things to accomplish before the day officially started. As far as Scout was concerned, the day didnât start until after breakfast, or at least technically.
After deliberation, she took a deep breath and decided to brave her antisociality head on in order to get, at least, some juice to carry back with her to her studies. She walked quickly and purposefully into the Hall and was out in less time than expected, goblet in hand that she planned to return at dinner. âIâll start with those charts I still havenât begun to map out,â she decided as she walked. She felt a tightness building up in her chest as she thought of the work undone, even if it hadnât been officially assigned and she was working ahead. The fear of failing at that accomplishment, of being behind and letting herself down was overbearing. She took a deep gulp of the pumpkin juice to try distracting her nerves. It tasted funny, but she disregarded it and entered the common room.
Scoutâs day after that morning went by easily, almost enjoyably as she came to realize upon entering the common room. She was feeling peculiar, that was for sure, but it didnât seem like sickness and she couldnât bring herself to really worry much about it. After all, she had a strong feeling of hope that maybe, just maybe, she could finish the charts from earlier before midnight. It was a small hope, but she was holding fast to it as she ascended the stairs to the dorm rooms and ducked into her own. Here, she noticed the goblet from that morning on her bedside table and made another mental note to carry it to dinner when she went. With that, she sat in the chair in the corner with the charts and a quill, and set to focusing.
When the charts had been completed less than thirty minutes later, she was overcome with a tiredness. It took a few more minutes, but in ten or so, she was fast asleep. Her mind, unlike in her usually unconscious state, wasnât running rampant with horrible dreams and depressing imagery. Instead, it was a decidedly peaceful slumber. There were very little images, as it turned out, and mostly just sounds. Something akin to water moving, or perhaps just a liquid sloshing around in something - maybe glass, possibly not. When it came to an end, it did so by fading away with the soft sound of dripping, then nothing.
Scoutâs eyes opened as the dream concluded and sleep faded away. Standing up, something felt completely different. Maybe it was the uncomfortable sensations of the feet, maybe it was the mental vertigo, or the strange sensation that begged to be acknowledged as something being wrong. Looking down, Scout couldnât help but gasp, eyes widening as well. âWhaâŚwhat is this.â The words were quiet, almost inaudible, though no one was around to hear them anyway. âHeels. Heels? Really? A skirt. Heels and a skirt. What the hell!â Taking in the sight of the clothes, the uncomfortable feeling of being in them and disliking it, he couldnât stop the confusion and sunk down into the chair.
Slowly, he came to the conclusion that something had happened, someone must have dressed him this way, perhaps while he was asleep, for there was no way heâd have dressed himself in such a manner. He stood up and shook his head, then went to the wardrobe to find some proper clothes. He was horrified to find only more girlâs clothing. Blouses, skirts, embroidered jumpers, and the bottom shelf was lined with heels. Not a single pair of mens trousers, no flat shoes to be seen, nothing. He rifled through the very top and found only hair clips, stockings, and horrifying underthings. He stumbled back, confused now more than ever.Â
He looked around the dorm, becoming aware now that he was in the girlsâ. It was stunning, and he had no recollection of how he got there. âSurely I didnât end up here of my own accordâŚâ But there was no other option to be found and his head was beginning to throb from the perplexity he felt. Scout was almost to the point of breaking when he noticed a glimmer of blue under the bed. With a small yelp of happiness, he began walking toward the trunk under the bed, recognizing it as his own. He pulled it out with a little struggle, mostly from trying to crouch down in the damnable heels. He flopped down onto the ground, ran a finger over the engraved âC. Scout Ford,â wretched it open, then proceeded to search frantically for his clothes, his shoes, his anything that wasnât feminine, girly, and obviously not his own.
At the bottom, he found what he was looking for. Or, at least some fraction of it. A pair of good trousers, Ravenclaw blue cardigan, white shirt, and striped tie. Below that he found charcoal grey socks and a pair of shiny black shoes. âLooks like theyâve not even be wornâŚâ he thought with a frown as he set everything aside. He found a slip of paper at the bottom and a small vial of buttery yellow liquid. Curious but madly driven eyes scanned the paper, reading the words carefully scripted in his own handwriting. âSerum shrinks hair; use sparingly; use incantation to stop at proper length.â He flipped it over and read the spell, things beginning to seem familiar. Had he done this to himself before? He couldnât be sure, but was now more than keenly aware of the hair that reached well past his shoulders in long, tousled, curling waves.
Scout tiptoed across the room and locked the door, then quickly replaced the girlâs wear with his own clothes. He felt so much better instantly, though something deep in the pit of his stomach feltâŚwrong. He dismissed it and set to work on the hair, hands shaking. It wasnât so much that he didnât consider the hair masculine enough, but rather that he didnât consider it his personal style at all. He couldnât remember how he usually went about styling it, which was odd, but he refused to believe even for a moment that it wasnât proper, short, and all business.
Soon enough, Scout was standing in the bathroom before the mirror, carefully combing back a strand of shortened hair with a borrowed comb, using borrowed styling gel. He set the comb down carefully and closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. Opening them, he took in his appearance and was pleased. He felt comfortable in the clothes, he felt comfortable with his hair, with the horrendous makeup he had been sporting washed away, and with himself being presentable, not as some girl in heels and makeup, but as a boy, and one who took pride in his appearance.Â
With that taken care of, he had deep concern in finding out what was going on. The boy heâd borrowed the comb from tried to say something about a potion, but he had ended up giving up on communicating and gone to go chase a paper airplane someone had thrown. The entire common room seemed to be a little off, being louder than usual and full of more of what Scout identified as havoc. It was pleasant though, to a degree, and much more energetic that usual. He hadnât found a straight answer and now wondered if anyone outside of Ravenclaw could help. With set determination, that was where he was now headed to find.
It was entering the Great Hall that he found himself aware it was dinner time, everyone was convened there, and that the entire school was beyond help. Standing in the doorway, Scout watched the demeanor of each House individually as a collective. The differences were a little disconcerting. Ravenclaw was louder, Slytherin seemed more integrated, Hufflepuff as well, and Gryffindor definitely wasnât as rambunctious as he remembered. His memory, though, didnât seem as sharp, and while faces were familiar, the names held little to no meaning to him.
He chose to enter, to grab a roll of bread, and to exit. With quick steps, with curious glances at everyone else, he did just that and exited back into the hall. âAnswers⌠Answers can wait, I suppose. Unless someone is out here. Iâd be open to that. Maybe. It really just depends on if theyâve got answers worth hearing.â He sighed and took a bit of the bread, not finding it appetizing in the slightest but needing something to do as he walked down the darkening hallway.Â
âWhat on earth has happened here..?â he thought as he ducked out into a courtyard. Met by the cool breeze, he hoped it would clear his head a little, clear the confusion he felt, and perhaps allow him to make some conclusions on the change that the whole school had found itself under. He sat down on a bench, sighing.Â
Thalia:
Thalia's whole day had been one oddity after the next. That itching sensation of shifting within herself, her semi-traumatic "meeting" with Remy, her...everything. Classes had suddenly become more interesting, and looking back at her old notes, Thalia found herself astounded at what sad shape her whole school career seemed to be in. While she made decent grades, from looking back at her progress reports, her notes were sparse and rudimentary at best. So the entirety of her day had been spent redoing everything she could, be it notes, the order of her room, or even her wardrobe.
She spent hours with each of her teachers, getting summarized notes of everything they had covered from the beginning of the year, much to their delight. She when straight from that task to her bedroom, where she immediately threw herself wholeheartedly into organizing and straightening it all up. Her mind would occasionally call on her to question why everything was so wrong and out of place to begin with, but to save herself from going mad, she simply shook them away with a sigh. Once her room was neat as could be, she tackled the challenge of her confusing wardrobe. She took out anything and everything that could be construed as promiscuous or overly alluring, placing them in boxes under her bed, to be eventually taken home and then properly disposed of.Â
So it was that Thalia was left with a spic-and-span room, school notes and wardrobe exactly to her liking, and her homework undone. Thalia sat at her desk, staring at the one last task left to do. Her stomach growled, but even now, as she began to stop her work, her own mind caught up with her, the nagging feeling returning. It ate away her want to socialize with anyone, even her own Housemates. After a quiet battle in her muddle mind, Thalia picked up what she would need to complete her assignments and put them in her bag, slipping it onto her shoulder and heading off to the Great Hall.
On her way, Thalia avoided people as best she could, not feeling shy, but simply wanting to not be bothered with any more worrisome occurrences. Speaking to Remy earlier had been more than enough to suite her taste of mystery for the day. Once she reached the grand doors to the Hall, Thalia paused for a moment, considering skipping dinner completely and just going straight out to do her homework. But she quickly rejected this thought, knowing that she would need something to eat so that she could do her best at her work.
Thalia slipped in and grabbed a plate, filling it with simple fare and grabbing an iced bottle of water from a large bowl before leaving and hurriedly striding away. It had been loud and rather chaotic in the Hall, with seemingly every student acting oddly. Some ate nothing and stared out into space, with others moved rather robotically, and others yet speaking simply too loudly for their conversation. It was all very strange, and Thalia just didn't have the stomach for it this particular night. Making her way outside, Thalia held her food close, hoping it didn't grow cold before she got a chance to sit and get herself situated.
Walking through the side columns of a courtyard, Thalia sat down on a bench, blowing out a slow, heavy sigh. She set her plate and bottle to the side and her bag on the ground, transfiguring the bush behind her into a table, which she lifted and set in from of her. After about two minutes more, Thalia had her dinner and her work properly set up before her, and she let herself smile proudly at her work. Shaking a bit of tiredness from herself, Thalia ate a bit of the food before setting to work, the lamp nearby casting a gentle light over everything.Â
Not too much time had passed, though she couldn't be sure, before the sound of footfall caught Thalias' attention. Setting her quill down on the wooden table, Thalia stretched out, looking over her shoulder at the same time at the approaching figure. She could easily tell that it was a student, as they drew closer, and that they were most definitely wrapped up in their own thoughts. 'I wonder what would bring someone else out here? I mean, I have a reason, but what are the odds?' She smiled to herself and continued watching, realizing that she was rather glad for the short break. The person - a Ravenclaw boy - sat down with a sigh, much as she had some time earlier.
She didn't want to shock or scare them, but Thalia decided that she would have to get their attention anyhow. So, after a moment of deliberation, she went back to her work, humming just a little louder than as normal, hoping that this would be enough to catch the boys' attention peacefully. 'If he's a Ravenclaw, maybe I could convince him to help me out with my homework.' she thought, staring at the Potions work in front of her.
Notes: As she slowly slips into her new personality, Thalia runs into Remy, triggering something yet to be discovered between them.
Extra Notes:
Rifling through her own clothes trunk was an odd, almost miserable experience. Everything was nice enough in quality, but so much of it was soâŚscandalous. Yes, there were pretty, proper sweaters and pants and the like, but other things were so short at the hemline, or took such a dip towards the bust, that Thalia really was blushing red. 'Are these things really mine?' she wondered, shaking her head and sighing worriedly. But even as she thought this, something nagged at her. Memories tugged forward, faint, faded, but still there. Intimate moments with many, being close, being loose, being whatever the hell she wanted to be and being loved for it.
Thalia nearly gasped. She fell back onto her bed, clutching her head, eyes wide. She was two in one, and it was tearing her mind apart already. But after a minute, the memories settled, and Thalia could breathe again. She blinked and fell back on her back, staring up at the ceiling above. 'My name is Thalia Carmichael. I am a 7th year Hufflepuff. Thalia Carmichael, who can turn into a digiscoping warbler, a little bird, and who likesâŚwhoâŚlikes⌠What do I like?' This revelation, the fact that she could not remember almost anything about herself, about who she was, was so much more than startling. Thalia very nearly whimpered, and tears of frightened despair began to well up in her eyes. 'I recognize myself, but I don't know about myself! How is this possible? How did this happen? How is this even possible?!' She sobbed, turning over and stifling the noise in her soft grey cover.
She began to think furiously, trying to recover some facts about herself. She remembered her parents and their faces, their name, she remembered them entirely. It brought a small measure of comfort, and one that was bolstered by the memory of her friends. However, thinking of her friends brought up more memories of that strange, sensual sort, so Thalia was forced to quickly block them out. When that storm had passed, she hesitantly began to review her friends, what she knew of them. Any memories that surfaced were growing fainter and fainter, dimmer by the second. Slowly, it was getting easier to think about them. Now, as Thalia still thought of the very idea of such loose morals, such an open body, she found herself horrified. Her morals now were stronger than ever, and the last thing Thalia felt that she would ever do was to make love to any person at all. After all, she was in no long-term relationship, though she seemed to have had one with a boy named Parker Dale, a Ravenclaw.
Thalia sat up, wiping away any tears that remained. She stood and meandered over to the clothes trunk, rummaging through it and looking for something nice and proper to wear. When she was changed out of her robes and into these nice, modest clothes, Thalia left her dorm. She remembered her schedule and her teachers, and knew that there were no classes to be had at the moment- not for about two and a half hours. So, she tentatively left her room, walking out into the hall, wondering who she might see and what they might trigger. But she encountered no one, and found herself outside of the dormitories and into the common room in no time at all. Thalia did not linger here, however, as she saw a few people that brought fresher memories to her mind, ones that she had to reject if she were to hold on to her very personality, her morals, herself.
So, she went out into the hall, breathing quickly and shakily, trying to abandon the memories and thoughts that simply could not be her own. Even as she thought, Thalia came to her senses, realizing who she was entirely, though it seemed to chafe bit, as if it weren't entirely her own. But she shook away such thought. They were preposterous, impossible, and she refused to let them poison her mind. Thalia walked away, with no real direction, only wanting to find something or someone that could help her. Preferably a teacher, but if it was a student or, even better, an old friend, then that might as well be good enough for her. So with quick, light steps, Thalia traversed the castle. But everyone seemed to be in class, or busy doing something else. No one could - or would - help her. And so it was that with growing distress and frustration that Thalia smacked into another student - the one time she hadn't been looking for one, she had found one. Thalia looked up, her eyes were apologetic and almost scared in their upset for a moment, before surprise bloomed there instead. Tilting her head, she asked the simple, but confused, question that explained her surprise.
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