Mulling Over Some Thoughts

[Estrella Drage]

((oh, please pm me if you want to join, forgot to put that under the title. xP))

Estrella was in a rather chipper mood as she made her way up to the North Tower, a flounce in her step as she ascended the stairs, ignoring the burn in her calf muscles and not even grimacing at the impact the ascent made in her breathing as she reached the top. Her fingers curled over the edge of the open window, she allowed the fresh air to filter through her nostrils, the gentle breeze caressing her wavy hair. She could feel that the winter was going to be upon them soon, even though it was early autumn. It was odd how the seasons at the school had been reflected to meet those of the rest of the Eastern Hemisphere.

It seemed that nothing could obstruct her frame of mind today- she seemed to be doing well in her classes, she had made new friends and had begun talking to Kale again, and she hadn't heard anything from her family. She was quite lost in her own thought as she pulled out the ring that she had stolen off of her father during the summer, smirking at the cracked and shattered onyx that had once been set in the goblin made jewelery, having lost most of its former luster. She had half a mind to chuck it over the side and see if she could make it into the gardens, but she thought better of it, jamming it back in her pocket. Better to keep it as a trophy. She did not have any real intention of going anywhere today; she was quite happy just to loaf around and enjoy the pleasant weather.

 

[Yvan Petrov]

(Woo. I am back!)

Yvan sauntered up the steep staircase that led to the North Tower, immersed deep in thought. He needed to get away from the crowded boat and refresh his mind. His father was sure to be disappointed when word reached home that Cameron had been chosen for Durmstrang Champion instead of Yvan his oldest son. With a deep intake of the cool air, Yvan exhaled quickly, slouched and then continued climbing until he finally reached the top of the tower. He had expected it to be deserted, and was thrown a little off guard when his eyes settled on a female figure looming by the window.
Unsure of what to do, Yvan gave a little cough of 'ahem' to gather the person's attention. "Hi there," he intoned politely, smiling a little too broadly. "Mind if I joined you?"

 

[Estrella Drage]

Snapped out of her dreamlike state by an unexpected voice, she jumped a bit, turning to face a boy she did not recognize. Well, not well anyways- she slightly remembered him being with the Durmstrang crowd, but had virtually no idea who he was. He looked to be older; in her year perhaps, or maybe a sixth year? Feeling a flush of pink rush to the tips of her cheeks, she attempted to mask it with a pleasant smile. "Hello. No, I don't mind at all." She turned more towards the window, her expression polite. "I don't believe we've met before. Estrella Drage." She extended a slender hand to him, smiling broadly.

 

[Yvan Petrov]

Yvan was amused by Estrella's blushing. "Yvan Petrov." Taking her hand in his and giving it a gentle shake, Yvan beamed back at her. "I am in my fifth year. And you?" he asked, searching for conversation. Shaking back a lock of wavy hair from his eyes, he settled himself against one of the tower's stone pillars.

 

[Estrella Drage]

Pulling her hand away, Estrella beamed back at Yvan, nodding to him. "The same," she replied, glancing out of the window, inhaling the cold breeze with a small sigh. "Where are you from? I know Durmstrang is in Eastern europe but it seems like people of many regions go there." She still found it hard to believe that an American boy was attending there, but then, who was she to point her finger?

 

[Yvan Petrov]

"Russia. Although I am part German and Ukrainian too. What about you? Can't tell if you are from this school or the other Hogwarts though," he said thoughtfully.

 

[Estrella Drage]

Estrella smiled, replying, "Oh, I'm from this Hogwarts alright. Where am I from? That's really hard to say. I was born in England, was raised most of my life in the States and now I'm with my grandfather in Norway." She shrugged, a little embarrassed that she couldn't really say she was from any one place. "Where is Durmstrang exactly? I know it's in Eastern Europe but I can't even pinpoint a country."

 

[Yvan Petrov]

"Wow, that must be confusing. But Durmstrang, well it's in Scandinavia," Yvan replied. "It's smaller than Hogwarts, but we do have a castle too."

 

[Estrella Drage]

Estrella laughed. "Really?" Everyone else had not been able to give her a solid answer as to the country's location. "Well, I guess I was way off then. That's more like Northern Europe." Smirking, she added, "So, what do you Durmstrang folk do for fun anyway? I mean, there isn't too much to do around the castle except walk around." She hoped that the turn she had taken with the conversation wasn't incessantly boring, she knew that oftentimes she could jabber on forever.

 

[Yvan Petrov]

((Teh. That's just a guess. I read in Wiki that it's thought to be in Scandinavia so... yer. Thought it was the best I could go with. ))

"We have snowball fights, or otherwise duel. Quidditch is an exceptional game, if I were a fan of flying. Not too much fun though." Yvan thought back to all the nasty duels and agreed that it wasn't much fun at all.

 

[Estrella Drage]

((haha, it's totally cool. Scandinavia= h43r: anyway. ))

What is it with Durmstrang boys and not liking flying? Estrella wondered to herself. Perhaps the cold weather was not appealing to fly in? Smirking, she added, "Just a spectator, huh? I prefer to fly myself. If our teams would kick off, I'm supposed to be playing as Keeper for Ravenclaw." Cocking her head to the side, she inquired, "Dueling? Do Durmstrang have a club for that or something? We used to have one but I don't know what happened with it." As far as the dueling club was concerned Estrella was not exactly sure why enthusiasm had perished for it and the function itself had fizzled out.

 

[Yvan Petrov]

"Keeper, eh? Well when you have a game, I'll make sure to keep an eye out for you while spectating. As for dueling... we do not necessarily have a club, people just have a knack for picking fights. Of course it is not permitted by the professors, but we have ways of not getting caught."

 

[Estrella Drage]

Estrella laughed. "If a game ever picks up, that is. The game is fun but it's really hard to get teams in this school." She smirked at him. "Do they actually- hurt each other?" She raised an eyebrow. "There haven't been many fights including spells here from what I remember-" And to think of it, she had been in at least one of them.

 

[Yvan Petrov]

"Sometimes. I had a friend once who had to be sent to Göta Canal, which is the main wizarding hospital in our parts. Only saw him till the year after that. And I swear, he never seemed right again; literally shrieks when a wand is pointed at him. Poor guy." Yvan remembered how that incident put him off dueling.

 

[Estrella Drage]

"Wow," Estrella stated incredulously, listening to what Yvan had to say. "We've had students die before," she murmured, "Although that was always off grounds. I don't think anyone here has ever had to be sent to St. Mungo's, that's our wizarding hospital." She frowned a bit. "It's too bad that people have to hurt each other. It sucks all the fun out of a good, honest duel."

 

[Yvan Petrov]

"I agree. Sort of takes out the fun and replaces it with fear for your own neck. So you guys have never had bad incidents when students broke out into duels?" he asked, curious.

 

[Estrella Drage]

Estrella frowned a bit. "Nothing too serious- you'll have little scuffles here and there, someone gets a bloody nose or their tongue stuck to the roof of their mouth or whatnot- but for the most part the only duels we have are regulated by the Defence professor." She resolved that things were not so exciting around here.

 

[Yvan Petrov]

"Either you're professors are really strict, or the people here are just too goodie good to break more rules." Yvan laughed. He did not mean to make fun of the students at Hogwarts New Zealand. He was just thinking aloud, one could say. "If the staff are tough though, then I think our Head Mistress would pay a lot to get them to teach at Durmstrang."

 

[Estrella Drage]

Estrella laughed, flashing her pearly whites at Yvan. Although she had come up here for solitude it was always nice to have someone new to shoot the bull with. "Goodie goodie? I wouldn't say that- maybe us prefects are just too mean." She winked at him, chuckling. "Nah, I don't think they're really strict. Unless you count Manteia. I wouldn't want to get on his bad side-" She shook her head, pretty sure that he would not know who any of the professors were. "He's the Arithmancy Professor- really good at the subject, awesome teacher- though I think he intimidates the hell out of just about everyone." She had thought that the teachers were all like that at Durmstrang- but she had been too quick too assume, it seemed.

 

[Yvan Petrov]

"Are you a prefect?" he asked Estrella, curious. "This Professor sounds like an intriguing character," he said smiling. Yvan did not know many intimidating people, only a hand full of the professors at Durmstrang were, but not enough to perfectly discipline the whole school population.

 

[Estrella Drage]

Estrella tapped her badge with a smirk, hoping she was not coming off as too proud. "Indeed, I am. Ravenclaw fifth year prefect. Do you guys have prefects in your school?" She smiled, glad that she had found someone from Durmstrang who was so willing to converse. Some of them had come off as downright unfriendly. "Oh, he is an intriguing character, alright. Scares the living heck out of most. I've gotten over the intimidation- overall I think he's a fantastic teacher." She obviously had a lot of respect for Professor Manteia, although she was fibbing a bit. He still did intimidate her. She and the others she attended school with knew well enough not to toe the line with him.

 

[Yvan Petrov]

"Well congratulations on that," Yvan said with a smile. "We do, but only seventh years can be prefects." Listening to Estrella talk about this Professor Manteia made him too, intrigued by their character. Yet not enough to want to meet him, however. "I don't think I'd be made prefect, honestly. I guess I've already got a bad reputation for being very mischievous."

 

[Estrella Drage]

((Oh jeebus, I apologize for not replying to this sooner. Got uber busy and totally forgot about this.))

"Really? I think at Hogwarts Scotland you have to be a fifth year to be prefect- although that may have changed," Estrella replied, smirking. "I think since my year was the highest that the school had at the time we were appointed as prefects in third year- and I think it's just sticking now and becoming tradition. Why do they wait so long to have prefects? Is it because the population is smaller?" Her small was smile as she looked back to him, hoping that she wasn't asking too many questions. The Ravenclaw girl did not socialize a lot but when she did it took her long before she stopped blabbing. "You? Mishievious? I don't know if I see it." Chuckling a bit, she added, "I got into a few things myself when I was younger- but you never know. Maybe you could be in a few years!"