Some Good Ol' Fresh Air

[Athena Zhefarovich]

Athena Zhefarovich was glad that it was the Brightstone Weekend. Being an OWL student was more stressful than her brother and sister had described. It was one thing to hear what they said and another thing to experience it for herself. The Slytherin needed the fresh air and she was left the castle rather early, a light jacket on as she walked to the village. Her boots made little noise as her long legs carried her up the lane and to the park. She had plenty of pocket money to spend but wanted to remain outdoors rather than enter shop after shop. She also didn't really want to go shopping alone since everyone knew that it was much more fun when you had someone to shop with.

Stepping into the park, Athena decided to walk around for a bit. She didn't really want to sit, having enough of sitting when she was in class. The park was large and she didn't feel closed in or crowded even though there were other people inside in different sections of the park. The Slytherin prefect enjoyed the feel of the light breeze across her cheeks as she walked. Her hair blew slightly, but she didn't bother to tie it up or anything. She liked it free. Putting her hands in her pocket, the girl continued on her solitary stroll, her wand out as she occasionally summoned items to her that caught her interest.

 

[Warren Hewitt]

Warren, as is always the situation, had entered his current predicament due to foolishness, and an inability for (or careless disregard of) planning. He, as many of the other students at Hogwarts, had been excited for Brightstone weekend. Throughout the preceding week his imagination was a flurry with possible actions and adventures he could utilize the weekend for. However, while he was excited to leave the confines of Hogwarts campus, he never actually created plans. And as such, Warren found himself alone… And with nothing to do.

To fill the time he sat alone at Tākarokaro Park. He lied down in his muggle clothes on the grass of a large open field. His hands played with a pouch of Rune stones Warren had started the habit of carrying with him. He had been meaning to practice his fortunes, mostly to try and get the rune names and meanings in his head once and for all. He would look on at the crowd of passer-bys pick one out in particular, and perform a one stone draw, to see a vague interpretation of their future.

He had been surprisingly accurate (or so he assumed). When Warren watched a pregnant lady, he drew the stone Uruz (signifying a great change). When the young wizard looked at a toddler with his grandfather, Warren drew the stone Mannaz (signifying death and life and the process of existence). At the end result, it wasn’t as exciting as Warren imagined. In fact, he almost though it would be better to simply stare at people and make up there fortunes, or life stories… Either way.

However, he knew that simply making something up wouldn’t be anywhere near as useful for his future, and with a deep sigh Warren continued. At one point Warren noticed the Fifth year Slytherin student Athena walking along the street. He decided to draw for her fortune. He concentrated and put his right hand in the bag. He watched as she walked about, moving her wand about absently, possibly using spells based on the slight twitches of the objects in her path. However, Warren found it much harder to concentrate on what she was doing, as her hair blew softly behind her, making her look almost like a model. Her lips had the slightest upturn, as Warren imagined the breeze he was feeling must be tickling her exposed cheeks.

In a few moments he found that his hand was gripping one stone very tightly. He withdrew his hand from the black velvet bag, and looked at his stone. It was almost an H, however it had two diagonal connector bars instead of the on horizontal. “Huh, there’s something I didn’t expect?”

The stone was Hagalaz, and typically meant something unfortunate was about to happen. Warren didn’t want to keep thinking about the fellow fifth year, but he couldn’t concentrate on the other strangers. He found himself pre-occupied with the poor fortune for the acquaintance. “All right… I guess I should take action.” Warren lifted himself from his lazy pose on the lawn running over to Athena. He decided that, even though it was probably a bad idea, he’d keep her company…a the very least so that if some monster came in and attacked, he’d be able to… try and help?

“Hey Athena!” He said as he got close. “Mind if I join you?”

Out of Character:

Don't pay attention to the rune draw unless you want to role play a rabbid squirrel or something. It was drawn with the right hand, so it wasn't necessisarily predictive. Rather it could be just assumed as an experession for his own nervousness to preform magic off campus, or it could just be the magical push he needed to talk to Athena So ignore it if you'd like, or take it if you'd like.

 

[Athena Zhefarovich]

Athena had just found a chocolate frog card of Nicolas King, former Headmaster and current Auror. He was a pureblood according to the card. She watched the card with interest for a few minutes. The man seemed to be writing a very important letter or something. Then, he suddenly got up and left the card. "Enough of that." With a flick of her wrist, Athena tossed the card back onto the ground. She resumed walking, her wand still in hand in case she happened upon something else that might be amusing.

Her silver eyes rose as she heard someone running towards her and calling her name. Her eyes widened slightly as she saw that it was a fellow fifth year, one she had never uttered a word to. She would have been surprised about him knowing her name, but they were both prefects now so she knew his name as well. It did not make them friends though. Stopping in her tracks so he wouldn't run into her, Athena looked around to see if anyone else she knew was around. She did not know Warren well at all.

Yes. I do mind, she thought to herself. That was how she really wanted to respond to him. She didn't make it a habit of befriending Hufflepuffs. Her cousin, Hades, was the only exception because he certainly didn't behave like a 'Puff. "It's a public park. I can hardly stop you, Warren" she stated in her quiet voice. Turning on her heel, she continued walking. Looking up as she heard a particularly loud chirp, the teenager spotted a brightly colored bird building a nest. The silver eyed girl turned her eyes back to the road and then turned to see if Warren had followed. She was a bit curious as to why he wanted to join her. "What were you doing?" she asked, though she was sure she was going to regret making conversation. Until he had run up to her, Athena had not noticed him in the park, though she wasn't looking for anyone.

Out of Character:

I think having someone not pureblooded speaking to her would be unfortunate enough for her

 

[Warren Hewitt]

“That’s cold.” Warren said with a bit of a chuckle in his voice. “It’s alright, my families from Canada, I can handle the cold.” He smiled, hoping that she would… you know… lighten up a bit. However, she really didn’t stop at all. And during one of Warren’s blinks it was almost as if she bolted. Warren looked about and noticed her keeping that quick breezy pace. He hurried himself along and tried to catch up with her.

Now, any person with half a mind would probably take the hint. Athena clearly wasn’t that into talking to Warren. However, Warren really only had a quarter of a functioning mind, especially when it came to picking up social cues. In fact, at this point it truly did just seem like Athena was playing hard to get. If she just kept the normal, basic friendli-ness of most hufflepuffs and extroverted Gryfindors, than he probably wouldn't have thought anythign at all. But the stark contrast in her behavoir to his female friend's behavoir made him sure, ABSOLUTELY SURE, that she was into him.

“All right, I got this” he thought to himself as he caught up. Warren relaxed his posture starting to get into a strut. He was too into himself to notice the brightly coloured bird, or the nest. “I didn’t realize how into me she would be.” He thought when she turned and made eye contact. “Well… She is kinda cute.”

“So…” He sighed. After a slightly awkward pause, he followed up with “What’s up?”

The line was really lame, and Warren was furious at himself for not thinking of a better one. However, he really couldn’t think to say anything other than, “Where would you like to slither-in?” Which seemed a tad to forward for the girl.

Out of Character:

I figured this might be a hilarious plot twist, espically if she really dislikes the non-pure bloods so much

 

[Athena Zhefarovich]

Athena had only heard a glimpse of his comment about Canada and the cold as she had continued at her pace. She allowed herself a small smirk, pleased that he had taken the hint, or at least she thought he had until she had turned around to see that he was following after her. As she waited in front of him for him to say something, anything so she could move on Athena gave him a look as if to say ‘Weeell.’ The Slytherin girl really would have much rather been alone so she certainly wasn’t going to make this easy on Warren, who seemed to think it ok to impose himself on her solitary walk.

If only her cousin, Hades, were around, she was certain that he would be able to scare Warren off. They were Hufflepuffs together so she was certain that they knew each other much more than she knew Warren. She didn't spot his tall figure or that of any of her other cousins either. Athena sighed, a sign of her impatience as she waited for him to say something.

When he finally spoke, Athena felt like busting out in laughter. All of that build-up. All of it was for those three simple words. Athena stared at the Hufflepuff for a moment, her face a mask of indifference before she shook her head and rolled her eyes. That’s the best he can come up with?, the Slytherin thought to herself. Of course it is…he’s no pure-blood, she continued, hoping that when she was finally allowed to date that the pure-blooded guys who tried to date her had better pick-up lines than that. “Umm…the sky” she replied, figuring that his lame query deserved an equally lame answer. The teenager didn’t know him well enough to speak of anything concerning her personal life.

“Is that why you came running over to me?” she asked, her head cocking slightly to the side. Part of her sort of hoped that was the case as she would easily be able to continue with her walk. Surely, he had to be embarrassed that that was the best he could come up with. The other part of her was curious to know why he’d been running towards her just a moment ago and hoping it was for something far, far more important than to give her some lame-o pick up line.