Aquamarine

[Nerine Styx]

It was a hard thing, to be separated from your twin for the first time in your life. Nerine was lucky enough to have the occasional class with Achlys, and they spent every moment they could outside of the common room and in each other's presence to compensate for the lost proximity, but it was still quite the blow. Fortunately they were both resourceful and independent girls; they may have preferred each other's company above all others, but they knew they could get by without the other- they just didn't want to.
Nerine was testing her autonomy by heading to the lake to gather water plants that caught her attention. She had been interested in herbology for years before Hogwarts, and her sister's interest in potions neatly facilitated their collaboration. Now she was working only for herself, and it was simultaneously troubling and freeing.

She started at the rock pools on the far side of the lake, away from the castle, wand nearby in case any of the more daring creatures decided to swim up and harass her. Only various species of underwater lichens grew in the pools, so she collected a few samples and moved on to begin the slow wading into the dark lake. The eleven year old Slytherin didn't mind the icy water, so she forwent a wetsuit and remained in a simple black leotard and flip flops to protect her feet from the rocks. Nerine knelt in the shallows up to her waist and there she remained, combing through the edges of the kelp and marine fungi. Ten minutes of blissful harvesting went by before rippling in her peripheral vision disturbed her concentration. She looked out across the lake, then turned at the sound of footsteps on the shore behind her.​

 

[Sione Kyle]

Sione Kyle did not want to be at this school. He wanted to be at home, learning about the ocean and everything it had to offer. The mysteries of it still remained. Sione was only somewhat happy about the lake that was there. There might be some creatures that lived there, but that was about it. Sione made his way down to the lake without any sort of Gryffindor wearing. He wore his muggle clothing down to the lake. He did not want to have any sort of school pride right now. He hated the place so much, he did not want any sort of memory of it right now. Sione made his way through the castle, unable to really find his way around. The young Gryffindor finally made it outside since he asked a portrait for some help. Sione felt that this place was too big, since his family often had smaller homes. That was all he remembered. He did wonder how Stefan and Natia were doing while the three of the oldest were at this school for some reason. He did miss the ocean and the waves. Sione sighed as he continued his walk down toward the lake.

The Gryffindor finally made it to the lake, and it seemed like someone else had his idea firmly implanted in their mind. Sione was muttering under his breath in his native tongue, before seeing the girl, someone he remembered from sorting. She had a twin sister, but could not remember who was who. The two looked alike but they were separated. Sione sighed before he took off his shoes, and placed them by the shore, before stepping in. It made him feel more at home than anything, and he did not want to interrupt the other girl from doing whatever it was she was doing.​

 

[Nerine Styx]

Nerine was content to ignore the boy until he, too, walked into the water. He was close enough to talk to if she wished it, but far enough away to ignore politely if she didn't. The latter seemed more enticing currently, as today had been an exercise in independence, and company didn't do to forward that goal. The Gryffindor boy (she remembered) didn't seem to want company, either- he sighed when he noticed her, and she hunched her shoulders a little and angled her body away from him.

After many quiet minutes of harvesting, the boy was still wading and she was still harvesting, and Nerine was wondering whether he actually had a purpose here. She deigned to look over and found him exactly where she'd left him, having travelled in a semicircle around him to get the best samples. Quietly gathering her courage, Nerine asked "What are you looking for?" in dulcet tones.​

 

[Sione Kyle]

Sione closed his eyes and imagined that he was at home, sitting on the boat with his feet in the water. It brought him some peace that he needed, but it was short lived when he heard a voice, something that he felt sounded too sweet, but he did not want to say that. He opened his brown eyes and saw the same girl that seemed to be looking for something before now talking to him. He did not expect anyone to say anything to him, so it was hard for him to answer her. Plus, it wasn't like he was looking for anything. Or, perhaps he was.

"A reminder," Sione started, his Samoan accent coming into play. Okay, maybe he needed to go into detail. What sort of reminder, she would ask. Surely, she would. "A reminder... of what the ocean feels like. I'm....home sick." Sione finally found the correct word for it. After all, he did not talk much but to his youngest sister. Cristian tried to pry some words from him, but Sione had been bitter toward them since he was forced to this forsaken school.​