Closed Sleepy Dragon

[Gaia Athanasiou]

Gaia had only had one class today and since that'd wrapped up ages ago she'd taken Clover and made her way up to the Student Lounge. Feeling like getting out of the dungeon's for a bit could be a smart choice she'd chosen the student lounge because while it wasn't as quiet as the library it also was far less busy than the great hall at this time. Her miniature dragon was napping on the table in front of her as Gaia had her sketchbook sprawled on her lap.

This sketchbook was entirely dedicated to drawings of Clover. Kid you not, every single page was just a drawing of the miniature Welsh green currently napping on the table. It also had perhaps some of the best drawings Gaia had ever drawn if she said so herself. Having the dragon right in front of her at the moment of drawing made it that much easier to add every single detail one could imagine and Gaia was proud of them. "You just really love sleep, don't you?" The Slytherin spoke quietly as she leaned closer to look at Clover who was practically snoring at this point, if you could even call it that.

 

[Ares Zephyr]

Ares felt as though the time he'd been away from Hogwarts had disrupted his flow. Now he wasn't really sure if he was coming or going, making it even harder for him to concentrate. He'd been allowed to come back after his parents realised unhappy it was at another school, but what was to say they wouldn't just do it again? It meant that Ares wasn't really committed to getting involved with anything he could lose again.

As a result, Ares found himself more often in his own company, or at least making himself laugh if nothing else. Did he mind that most people in the school seemed not to get on with him? Not really, that just meant he had less Christmas cards to write at the end of the year. Those that actually liked him like Marina and Juniper were the ones that he could trust and rely on. Entering the Student Lounge, Ares was seeking out his classmates when he found one he knew didn't really care for him. Alas, Ares was bored, so he approached.

He was about to make a comment about her hair when the Gryffindor noticed the tiny Welsh Green Dragon on the table in front of Gaia. He stopped a few feet away, watching it move slowly as though posing for a photo. Maybe Gaia didn't know much about dragons, because this one wasn't especially known for its desire to sleep. "Make it do the roar," he asked as politely as he could. He edged a little closer still, wondering if it would be as distinctive as they said.

Made me think of this..

 

[Gaia Athanasiou]

No matter how long she'd had the little dragon, it still amazed her. The beauty of it and the fact that she had her own dragon. No matter if it was just a miniature one that was little more than an animated figurine, but it was hers and she was beautiful. Gaia was deep in her adoration, when suddenly she heard the all too familiar and grating sound of her classmates voice. Reluctantly the Slytherin peeled her eyes off the form on the table and towards the voice, to reveal the very Gryffindor she knew she'd find.

Taking a deep breath in Gaia reminded herself she was trying to be nicer this year. That she'd dyed her hair and was trying a whole new approach on everything. Besides Ares hadn't started off on a rude comment, he'd actually made quite a funny request. Glancing at Clover, that rolled to her stomach and started stretching with what could only be described as a small squawk, she gestured at the dragon. "I don't think she does commands but if you scratch her head she might sing for you." Gaia stated, scooping the little fella up onto her palm. She wouldn't let Ares hold Clover but maybe if she held her he could give a little scratch... if he asked nicely.

 

[Ares Zephyr]

Ares didn't even look at Gaia because his eyes were fixed on the small creature in front of her. He couldn't help but scoff at the idea that the dragon couldn't listen to commands though, because clearly that just meant the Slytherin had never bothered to try. As Gaia picked up the dragon, Ares came closer still, perching on the edge of a chair beside her so that he could get a better look.

"Dragons don't sing," he told her, expecting she should have known that if she'd read about them properly. "They roar to mark their territory, or show their dominance." Ares didn't know what Gaia was feeding the dragon but he was pretty sure he could get it to roar if he had something to lure it with. "You see these muscles here," Ares pointed gently to the muscles down the dragons neck, "these contract when they're about to roar, that's how you know it's going to happen." It meant you could prepare for it too, or move out of the way if they were a real fire breather. "Your dragon has to trust you if it's going to listen to you," he added, not once tearing his eyes away. Maybe it trusted Gaia enough to sleep a lot around her, or maybe that just meant this dragon hadn't really ever needed to protect itself. "How do you train it?"

 

[Gaia Athanasiou]

Gaia felt instantly on guard when Ares got closer. Her interactions with the boy had hardly been ever positive. She watched as Clover too just blinked at Ares, not sure what to make of the situation. As soon as he began talking though Gaia was reminded of exactly why her guard had gone up around her. He was ridiculing her, she'd said singing simply because what came out of such a small one was hardly a roar and even if it was it'd been beautiful as any song to her but who was he to understand. Gaia pulled her dragon closer to her chest and glared at Ares.

"If you are here to mansplain things I already know to me you can leave." She stated, her voice void of any warmth that may have seeped into it in her foolish attempt of new approach at everything. Clearly Ares wasn't worth the effort because the half a year away had done very little to his arrogance. "Go on, leave then." She gestured with her free hand towards the door. She had no time for anyone to ridicule the way she spoke about Dragons, her mum did that enough because in her mum's eyes they were nothing but violent beasts. Holding clover close to her chest was the only thing keeping Gaia from turning to insults which she was trying not to do as much. Insulting others wasn't what she wanted to do, even if it was someone like Ares.

 

[Ares Zephyr]

Ares was caught off guard by Gaia's response, finally glancing to look at her properly. "If you already knew, then you should use the right language," he told her, dropping his eyes once more to the dragon in her hand. He had no idea what he'd done wrong, after all he'd just been trying to educate her this time. Surely someone who owned a dragon needed to know these things, and if she cared about animals as much as she said she did, wouldn't she find it interesting to listen to? "I think you just feel bad because you didn't know, and how could someone like me, be someone like you actually take advice from?" he smiled, mostly to himself. "The thing about animals, Gaia, is that they come first." It was the one thing he could agree on, that when there was a room full of creatures or humans, Ares knew where he'd rather be. "You can pretend to know everything you want to other humans, but your creatures will know whether or not you're lying, and for their sake I hope your ego isn't too big." Even someone as confident as Ares knew that when it came to animals, it was worth putting that aside.

 

[Gaia Athanasiou]

Gaia hated Ares, she really did. It wasn't as much about not wanting to take advice on things it was the way he presented things always. Like he was better than others that really annoyed Gaia and what was it to him if she spoke about the roar as singing. Was it really that deep for Ares. "It is not that someone like me would refuse to take advice from someone like you." She started, her eyes steady on the wall opposite of her. "What's it to you how I describe their roar " she made sure to use the proper language this time. "I would never take a pet that I did not know how to care for or how to train and it insults me you'd think I'd ever do such thing. It is a responsibility one should never take lightly." They were living, breathing beings too. "I am not saying I know everything, but I know enough. I have read every book I could find at our home library and most ones I could find at the school about dragons and how to care for them. Some of them I have read multiple times, but thank you for your concern." She didn't know why she felt like she needed to explain and justify herself right now, but it was this burning sensation in her chest, that if she did not justify and explain it all, she was scared would burn a hole through her.

 

[Ares Zephyr]

"Yeah okay, whatever. You've clearly already decided so what's the point," Ares crossed his arms over his chest, sitting back in his chair and rolling his neck. If Gaia was going to go down the rabbit hole of hatred then that was on her. He'd only tried to help and he wasn't going to be the one suffering if the Slytherin chose not to listen to him. He debated clarifying the importance of a roar vs singing, but in truth he was sure Gaia would find out herself the hard way if nothing else. She wasn't his responsibility and if anything it just meant he was going to pass their Care of Magical Creatures class with a higher grade. "Oh you've read every book in your home library? Well then, you must have it all up your sleeve." Ares smiled, although he felt bad for little dragon.

 

[Gaia Athanasiou]

Just keep breathing and don't even glance at his aggravating face, Gaia kept telling herself. If she pretended he didn't exist then he'd just disappear, right?

Wrong because apparently Ares just loved to be all up in other people's business and did not know when his presence was not wanted. She did not need his help. She did not need anything from him and she wasn't going to let him get under her skin. "Is that all?" She turned to look at him finally. She wasn't angry or sad or even hurt by the way he mocked the fact she'd learn from books. She didn't care about his opinion on her because he didn't matter to her. He didn't matter at all. "Or would you mind leaving us alone?" The brunette figured it wouldn't hurt to request he disappear again, perhaps he'd not heard it earlier but she was done with him.

 

[Ares Zephyr]

The third year shrugged, a smirk still on his face. "You tell me? Are you ready to be educated?" It wasn't Ares that wasn't willing to have a proper conversation and if the Slytherin was going to deny herself knowledge on what to look out for regarding her own pet, that was on her. The Gryffindor made no attempt to move either. "I'd rather not. You're welcome to leave if you have somewhere better to be," he doubted it. "But I have no reason to leave and besides, I'm studying." He pulled out half a crumpled note from his pocket, unravelling it to reveal a few scribbles from his Defence class. "There's no need to be rude to someone trying to help you Gaia."

 

[Gaia Athanasiou]

Gaia just raised one eyebrow at Ares. So he'd tried to help her... when she'd not even asked for it and for all he knew wouldn't even need it? She'd had the dragon long enough to know her body language. "Fine stay, but I don't need your help so we can both do our own things," She began, placing Clover down in her lap where the little dragon just decided to crawl up to her shoulder to perch there. To her utter joy Clover had chosen the shoulder that was not facing the Gryffindor. As she should. "In silence," she added with a polite, tight, smile before focusing back on the sketch in her lap making sure Ares wouldn't get a peek at it.

 

[Ares Zephyr]

Ares shrugged, it didn't bother him either way what the Slytherin did, but it was telling that she didn't leave either, despite having the opportunity. Maybe there was hope for her yet. She'd have to learn one way or another but for now he was happy keeping his information to himself. He watched as the dragon decided to curl up on Gaia's shoulder, and the third year continued to say nothing but instead just observe. It was more rewarding to focus on than exploring his Boggart.

 

[Gaia Athanasiou]

Gaia wasn't staying because she wanted to, no she wanted to actually leave but it was all about the principle and right now? Right now the principle was to not back down and not let Ares affect her, so instead she continued on her sketch adding some minor details before reaching next to her for the coloured pencils she'd gotten from Nia for her last birthday. Gaia started to colour in the darker green parts first all the while her dragon was sniffing the air around them and at times, her brown hair. The silence was a welcome companion and for once Gaia didn't absolutely detest being in Ares' company and maybe that was because he was silent, but she'd take it.

 

[Ares Zephyr]

Was Gaia really going to just blank him entirely? Maybe she was a youngest sibling too. The Gryffindor thought this was siddenly becoming a matter of principle but with three older sisters he was capable and willing to accept the challenge. He continued to watch the baby dragon, occasionally dropping his eyes to try to peek at Gaia's drawing, although the angle she was sat at made that very difficult. He didn't say a word as the girl doodled, nor did he make another attempt to do his "homework".

 

[Gaia Athanasiou]

Gaia was very aware she was all but being stared at occasionally, or more like her dragon was, but she tried not to let it bother her. Focusing on her piece of art made it just a little easier. Her hair was up in a messy bun, held together by two pencils, much like she often had it if she was just hanging around the school. Unfortunately that hairstyle came with its disadvantages, such as the little stray pieces that kept falling on the Slytherin's face and made her huff them away every now and then. Her brows pulled together as she looked at the drawing, something was off but she wasn't quite sure what. Mutely the third year showed the drawing to her dragon who just blinked at it and then huffed making Gaia smile.

 

[Ares Zephyr]

It took every muscle in Ares's face not to roll his eyes as Gaia smiled at the dragon, who had seemingly judged her drawing. That Welsh Green had no idea what it was looking at, it was merely responding to the fact it had something non threatening in its face. Gaia was in her own fantasy land, creating a narrative for herself that didn't actually exist. Maybe that's what she needed to entertain her, but it certainly wasn't the case for the Gryffindor. He was much more interested in the real reason creatures worked the way they did, watching what made them tick, learning how they'd react. Ares hadn't spent much time alone with any single member of his family, but those he had he'd been watching his dad at work, their evenings turning into late nights over numerous bits of parchment from around the world.

 

[Gaia Athanasiou]

Gaia's smile was short lived as she turned her head back to the drawing from the dragon on her shoulder. Looking at the drawing she narrowed her eyes, tilting her head a little, trying to get a different angle. If she looked at it from different angle maybe she'd figure out what was missing. Ignoring the Gryffindor still staring their way was easy but it still annoyed her that he was staring at her dragon and had had the audacity to assume he knew of anything better than her. She wasn't saying he probably didn't know better than her on some things but he also didn't know a first thing about her, they'd never been friends and he didn't know her. That brought the fact he didn't know a single thing about how much about dragons she knew and of their care. It finally hit her what was missing and Gaia began her search for the right coloured pencil.