Warmth in the Dark.

[Artemis Jackson]

Having the honor of being appointed as a prefect always held the duties and the perfect facade of an ideal Hogwarts student. Artemis Jackson held the pressure of being a Slytherin prefect steadily and did not react when someone told her to be the best role model out there. The Heads can take care of those appearances, since they were the senior prefects after all. The only frequent help prefects gave were for the newest students in the castles; the youngest and most clueless ones, otherwise known as the first year students. The first year Slytherins were already getting a hang of the old castle and so were the other first years from their respective houses. The good thing about giving these young Slytherins help was that they simply thanked her and left her alone. Perhaps she was biased, but Artemis could not help but single out the young Slytherins for their acceptable behavior towards her. She did hope that the other first years grew up faster, just so their maturity will fully settle in and they will realize how rowdy they were. Artemis hated catching first years, or students from any year doing something prohibited. She was still getting used to the feeling of the ability to deduct house points and patrolling at night with someone.

Evening soon washed over their end of the earth and the sky was just a vast blanket of twinkling stars. The shadows of the trees loomed over, casting a known look to the whole castle. The evening air was cool and fresh just like any other evening. A subtle smell of misty dew wavered through the whole second floor of Hogwarts. Artemis buried her hands inside the pockets Slytherin robes she wore with the prefect badge of Slytherin pinned on it. Tonight, she needed to patrol with a Ravenclaw and she was not truly ecstatic about it. Artemis did hate roaming around the darkness but the comfort of knowing that another human being beside her decreased her initial worry. Whoever of the Ravenclaw prefects she was going to patrol with, Artemis did hope it was not someone fantastically boring. However, taking a swift recall on her life, Artemis thought that maybe she could use some silence even if there was a lace of awkwardness tangled in the air. Artemis knew that the bell that rang throughout the castle that indicated curfew would resonate soon and she was not eager to cringe because of the booming sound.

Her walk soon ended when she was faced with the entrance to the Prefects Common Room. The privilege of entering the room was greater than what she had thought before. Inside, the couches were comfortable and not only one single house color was painted across the walls of the room. Since it was the common room for all prefects, Artemis did not see sole Slytherin's colours all the time in it. Opening the entrance, she stepped inside to find that it was magnificently empty of any living thing. The young lady sighed and got a menthol candy from one of the bowls that the prefects had in case they were starving. She opened the wrapper up and noticed that the shape of the candy was trophy-like. Artemis popped it in her month carelessly and relished the feeling of a wavelike sense of mint slosh in her mouth. Her partner still wasn't present after a few seconds of waiting. Much to the impatient part of Artemis, she exited the common room and closed the opening quietly. The wall beside it was smoothly done, giving Artemis an appealing invitation to lean on it whilst waiting for the Ravenclaw. Because of her will to waste not much time, she made her mind up to wait outside, whilst melting the menthol candy in her mouth to give her something to do. A few first years scuttled swiftly, as they took in the appearance of the Slytherin prefect. The blonde bowed her head a little, letting her braided hair fall deeper. Now all she needed to do was wait for the partner assigned to her.
​

you decide what time it is <3 WARM BODIES!

 

[Yerik Rhys Price]

So this is how it feels to be alone, to be separated from the other students, being left and talked about. Yerik Rhys hated that feeling, although he was used to being alone, there are moments when he wishes to have an acquaintance. The longing made him restless, but before he could even focus on his social status, he needed to get straight to the his job as a prefect. For about a year now, he's been busy roaming around the corridors and checking if there are some students who likes to break the rules and for the past year he have only caught one or two. Mostly for the reason of roaming the reason after curfew, he didn't mind really. Sometimes he prefers to have a night shift for his prefect duties, since it less stressful. Also, he's too busy in the morning and afternoon; studying, going to class, practicing for Quidditch, editing the newspaper and such. Yerik Rhys is obviously a busy person, no wonder why he's social life is failing. Still he knew he could manage everything, even all at once. Tonight would like last night, patrolling and catching some sneaky students. He couldn't be bother by it, really. It's the same routine only every week means a different partner to roam around the corridor with. He knew that it would be the same like the last time, both would remain silent and soon they'll forget that they even walked by each others side. Pathetic, but it's how it is for the past months. The prefect wondered who will his partner be for this particular day. Entering the Prefects Common Room, Yerik made sure to leave his books back to his room and be ready for their patrolling this certain night. A couple of minutes later he arrived inside and waited for orders, which means he'll be wandering the school with a different prefect again.

Hopefully, someone who isn't obsess with that gossip magazine that's been spreading or it's the end of him again. How he loathes such magazine, he always wonders of what will the headmistress to about that disgusting gossip magazine. Who ever wrote it, needs to get a life. Seriously. Groaning in his head, Yerik Rhys stood in the middle of the room and waited for his partner. Only this time, he was taken back when he saw a blonde wearing Slytherin robes. "Now, that never usually happens." he murmured under his breath. Usually it was him who would arrive the common room early, well a new partner must mean a new adventure. It's obvious that she's his new partner, "Great, another blonde." he thought as he waited for her to notice her. Time's passing by and he couldn't afford to be noticed after a minute or two. "Hey. I'm guessing you're the partner who's been assigned to patrol me?" the sixth year asked still standing on his feet. Slowly, he took a few steps towards the girl and glanced at her face. She looked new, not new new but new as in she must be a fifth year prefect. "Delightful." he thought. Since this would be his first time patrolling with a fifth year, especially who's female. How he hoped she isn't like those nasty poisoned-tongue Slytherins he met before. Although Yerik Rhys loved the company of Slytherins, females makes him uncomfortable especially when they're staring. The last thing he need is some girl telling him that he's a pedophile, rapist or something imbecile which he is't one. With another glance, he noticed the girl to be rather pretty faced, like she isn't one of those snotty looking Slytherins he had met. Take for example his fellow prefect and sixth year, Athena Zhefarovich. He doesn't have any problems with her, it's just she could try to smile more.

Then it hit him, this would be the first time for Yerik to encounter such blonde, though he had seen him one time during their SDA meeting a year ago. He didn't even notice her during their prefect meeting a few months ago, since he's too busy ignoring everyone rather than the other prefects would ignore him. Another glance made him realize that she isn't unfamiliar at all. Quidditch. He had seen her during their quidditch games before, the blonde being a keeper of Slytherin. How convenient, now they could talk about that during their patrol together, that is if she'll let him talk to her. It's either she'll do all the talk or she'll ignore his presence just like what the rest ladies did to him. Although guys were more comfortable to talk to except for some, it's always refreshing to talk to a new face. Waiting for her reaction and answer, Yerik Rhys looked around the common room it there are any students inside. Luckily, it was only him and her. No one to look at him, no one to judge him. Paranoia seems to be bother him to lately.

'tis lame. *shrugs shoulders*

 

[Artemis Jackson]

The candy was melting and without any surprise, so was her patience.

It was not melting. No, not literally. That any normal person could figure out. Rather it was thinning as the seconds casually ticked by. She was pretty nervous, since this was one of the few patrols she had. Plus, the suspense in wanting to know who her partner was killing her slowly. Was he in her year? Did he even know her? Okay well, maybe he did. They were fellow prefects after all. Was that person even a female? All those questions swarmed her mind as she played with the candy in her mouth. She knew, however, that that person was to be a Ravenclaw. She needed something to occupy her time whilst she waited. The candy was not enough to distract her from thoughts that were unsettling. Artemis pushed herself up from the wall and saw a blur of a person and she could not make out his features easily. The passerby was a male, definitely a male, and he entered the common room without even bothering to look at his side. Artemis saw the prefect badge pinned on him and his sight drew in answers that she expected. It was a boy, a Ravenclaw for sure and he looked of the studious type. She watched as her partner got inside the common room and sighed loudly. Artemis would have to make an appearance. Not that she minded though. They just needed to get this over with anyway.

When she went inside, the first thing she felt was that for sure, she was not alone hence the presence of the prefect she was assigned to. Second was that he was a male. Third was that she remembered him being talked about in the infamous gossip magazine. It happened a few issues ago and well she did hope that he was coping well. The sound of his voice filled the room as he spoke to her and she acknowledged him through eye contact. "Patrol with you," she repeated and cocked her head to the side as she looked at him properly. "Yeah. Artemis Jackson." Her response was laced with casualness, as if she did not really mind who she was assigned to. She about to run a hand through her hair as a sign of the faint restlessness she was containing yet she stopped before she could even do it, remembering that her hair was bloody braided. She felt that she should say something and just to ease whatever awkwardness surrounded them, she went over to the trash bin and threw the wrapper of the menthol candy she had already melted. "I was waiting outside you know. Just beside the common room." The prefect paused for some dramatic effect and turned to look at him squarely in the eye. "But apparently you didn't, er, see me." She shrugged as if it did not matter (really it didn't, Artemis just wanted to say something) and showed off a small smile without bearing her teeth.

She slowly walked to the door, obviously taking her time with every step. It was nice exposing a cool façade in front of someone she did not really know. She felt sort of protected. They were going to patrol the whole castle and well, being civil was just a good start. "Let's go?" Artemis asked, the English accent naturally woven in her voice. Artemis got her Fir wand from the inside pocket of her school robes and uttered the Lumos charm. She then halted as she was just beside the door, to see if the Ravenclaw would ever come closer so that they could patrol for this evening.
​

 

[Yerik Rhys Price]

There were certain things that were just universal facts. The sky was always blue. Except when it was kind of grey, but that was when it was cloudy, so maybe it didn't count. Also apparently it was more like purple but kind of looked blue. Anyway, the grass was always green. Except when it wasn't, like when it got dry and brown in the fall and winter. Looking around, his pair of dark blue eyes took in the room again. His slender fingers reached up and massaged his temples gingerly. The rest of the world was once again inconveniencing him and he just couldn't have that. Blondes. He knew that he would never get along with them, for reason he could list down forever. Yerik Rhys didn't hate blondes but he didn't like them much either, walking around like they knew what they were doing or didn't care if they did not. It bothered him now that he's going to patrol with a blonde. Pity. The prefect wasn't really asking for her name, so in return Yerik felt the need to introduce himself too. "Yerik Rhys Price." he stated firmly then looked away. With the angst of the blonde, he didn't mind to be rather blunt today. As a matter of fact, he would prefer to patrol with anyone, he'll even take Athena right now. Then again, they would only patrol for a couple of hours then it'll be over than a blink of an eye. Though Yerik desperately wanted this to be a friendly claw, a social claw, it was impossible to feel anything but frustration at the moment.

Mentally berating himself once more, Yerik Rhys left the room and followed the blonde. It is predictable that she'll be the 'blonde' from now one, he didn't want to call her by her name for reasons he can state later on. The scent of ink and parchment and the blonde hit him as he saw her waiting for him. Needless to say, Yerik Rhys took the lead and wandered off the corridors. Hopefully there aren't any prankster or rule breakers out tonight, he wanted to do his task and get over it. The sixth year refused to look at the blonde as side by side they roamed around, together he held his wand in front of him and looked out for students who're still awake. Minutes passed and the corridors remained silent and empty, only the the prefects were present. In hindsight, the raven supposed have been paying more attention to where he was walking. He stopped for a while and finally checked if the blonde was still there, and yes. The blonde named Artemis Jackson is still there, the silence of the place made it feel all awkward again, like the hush of the wind made it more odd for him. As much as he was used to silence, he hated it that he was here with a blond who seems to be cocky and serious of her patrolling, Yerik Rhys on the other hand took patrolling seriously but he never dared to take it so seriously to hinder the excitement of it. At least that's what he thought at the moment, he continued to take a step further and pointing his want.

It is indeed dark, dark enough to be confuse if there's a Professor roaming around like them or a student out of bed. Inhaling some air, he decided to answer the blondes sentiment a while back. "Apparently, I didn't see you beside the common room, Ms. Jackson." he replied with a coy smile before returning back to his first priority. Then suddenly, he heard footsteps, quiet and slow. Obviously a cat, he didn't bother to look further into it as he saw a shadow of a hairy feline passing by them. "Just like last week, the same cat, the same floor." he said to himself as he watched the cat leave them.

 

[Artemis Jackson]

A dimly lit hallway awaited them silently and an eerie silence settled itself in between them. There was like a barrier in the middle, but it was weak and terribly fragile. It was only up to them whether to break the barrier of silence or not. Artemis was content at the moment for the tranquility, instead of trying to ignite a conversation that would have holes of awkwardness. She walked slower than Yerik's pace, which placed her almost a step behind him. It would be better to not be too close or he would probably suspect something. Like she was scared or something similarly weird. Instead of only focusing on the silence and any odd movement, she mentally pronounced the name of the boy beside her. "What a peculiar name," she mused inside her head. It was peculiar but unnecessarily a bad one. The light on the tip of her wand swirled in her vision, making her squint as they turned to a corridor that had almost no lighting at all. As a person she was never keen to explore such blackness although as a prefect, her responsibility was to do so. She just could not abandon that part of being a prefect - she knew that she needed to get used to this. All of the packages that it included, like him. She glanced at him momentarily, trying to make out how what his expression was in the dark. He looked serious which was normal for their situation. It was only right that they took this seriously, but not too much that it stirred the serene silence to be an uncomfortable one.

The silence gradually metamorphosed into an awkward one. Occasionally, Artemis lowered her wand hand. There were no students and no professors to tell them something. Her brain again went to thinking about who this Ravenclaw prefect really was. She knew him from Quidditch mostly, since he was one of the Beaters. Other than that, the details that she was knowledgeable of did not greatly matter anymore. He was studious if she observed him correctly and he was once part of that gossip magazine. She frowned when she thought of that piece of crap, feeling down because it talked about its subjects in a rude manner. Her Gryffindor friend knew that feeling very well. She continuously kept her silence to herself and looked at anything but him. It would be too awkward to even start anything out of the blue. However her partner spoke for the first time in their patrol! His voice rang in her ears, even as it faded in the blackness of night. She stared at him casually as she tried to formulate an answer to his response that he should have spoken of earlier. "Indeed you did not," Artemis affirmed. She thought that it was a really weird topic starter - topic starter or not though, it was downright weird. "Although it does not matter," she ended, a shrug coming off her delicate shoulders.

A cat appeared in her sights and she saw its ear twitch as it walked past by. She smirked at how observant he was - that he remembered he saw a cat last week on the exact same floor. Her lips twitched with amusement at how he quickly recalled that useless piece of information. "For you to juggle Quidditch and your studies, I'm surprised that you still remember the cat," said Artemis conversationally. As a fifth year focusing on her OWLs too much, Artemis did not even pay attention to her birthday anymore! Knowing all the information for each class she took was essential and her number one priority. It stressed her out she had to admit, but there was nothing to do but to only focus. She wondered if this guy was up for a conversation. Well even if he was not, Artemis willed herself to do it to reduce the familiar awkwardness. "About Quidditch... You're part of Ravenclaw's team yeah? Did you ever join the recent match?" For her part, she thought it was a good start for a civil discussion. Having only the mute darkness around them did not help at all.
​

 

[Yerik Rhys Price]

Darkness, by literal definition, is the partial or total absence of light. It bears a synonym which is "obscurity." This means, by definition of course, "The state of being unknown." Yerik Rhys found himself walking down a corridor laced with darkness and obscurity. Well, obscurity for most. The raven had little trouble seeing in the dark. He spent most of his days in the castle, keeping himself from darkness's most painful of opposites. He continued on through the halls that lorded over him like they were so much better than he was. He had to admire that in good architecture. Many things had so much personality that one couldn't notice until they saw it in the dark. The boy turned the corner and immediately turned his head away. It dawned on him that people with a fear of the dark weren't necessarily scared of the darkness itself, but rather what hid inside it. The prefect face the other prefect for a while, wondering if she felt irritated that he isn't much of a talker. Indeed he is not. The sixth year could talk and start a conversation but he decided to minimize everything, he didn't want to repeat his mistake the last time he and another prefect patrolling. Yerik suggested a topic to be discussed and the prefect ignored him the whole time, talk about embarrassing and annoying. So, for today he decided to set his mind to keep everything to himself and hope that this would end soon. Though he couldn't do that today, when Artemis Jackson keeps on blurting out words and starts to ask questions.

The person he is would answer and smile, so he did. He smiled though he tried his best to still minimize his words and reactions towards the girl, "It's not a big deal." he replied, as his Scottish, English accent lacing in. Yerik Rhys continued to roam around the floor and wondered if any students were still up, mostly some would wake up and look for food. Surprisingly, it's only him and the blonde and perhaps the cat who loves to wander around the castle freely during night time. Perhaps the owner let's his or her cat wander, so the student could sleep in piece. He for one didn't liked cat, he didn't hated it but birds did and that it irritated him whenever there are cats around to torment the birds. Months by now, he could have his aviary finished, that is if he's father wish would happen. Just maybe. Okay, so they made it to the end of the corridor. That was good. Could they make it a little bit further or was that it for tonight? Another question was thrown to him and Yerik looked at the blonde once more, "Yes, certainly." he answered, shortly. There was no need to prolong his answer, since he knew that the girl was waiting for more. "..and I actually saw you before, during the games." he continued on. Maybe there was a need to prolong his answer, just so he could explain himself.

There was something inside of him that wanted to actually talk to her, though half of him wanted to stop. He was struggling to be judged and to gain a new friend. "You're the Slytherin Keeper, right?" asking an obvious question seems pathetic but it's the only one he can ask for now since he's mind seems to be preoccupied with both patrolling and talking or rather sharing details about one another. Speaking of Quidditch, it made him worry a little that he would be the one to host the try-outs next year. Yerik Rhys being this years co-captain mean he'll be the captain next year for two semesters, with Sara graduating it mean he'll be on the spot for responsibility, also they would be in need of a new great seeker. Then another issue to be discussed and released with Hogwarts Monthly, next year would surely be busy for the prefect.