(Lake) Rules Were Meant to be Broken.

[Veata Bane]

Again Veata had awoken from a dreamless sleep, restless and eager to do something. As she slipped through the castle's endless shadows in her animagus form of a cat, she had debated going into the Forbidden Forest. Curiousity had threatened to overwhelm her, but fear of the unknown had pushed her to the shadow of a great willow tree by the shore of the lake, where she knew no one inside the school would be able to see her. There she had gone back to her human form, pulling her wand and a few muffins out of her pocket.

Now Veata's gray eyes traced the ripples her wand made across the lakes surface as they caught the moonlight, reflecting the glow up onto the carved dragon that curled it's way around the wood of the wand, it's tail trailing up to the very tip. She glanced up to the castle, thin clouds trailing their way around the upper most towers. Only three lights were on, as far as V could see, which made sense, since the night was closing in around midnight.

V knew it was wrong for her to be out on the castle grounds so late at night, and it would probably earn her a week of detentions if she were caught, but it was so easy to slip in and out of the castle. The only place she could think right was here, under the willow tree, beside the moonlit lake. Plus, weren't rules just made so they could be broken?[/size][/color]

[Erys Grace]

From her perch upon a thick willow branch, the bengal cat had a good view of the approaching creature. Peering down at it with an unblinking, hazel stare, she watched it transform from a cat into a girl. Blinking with surprise, she realised it to be the one who had snapped at her earlier in the Great Hall. Veata. So she was an animagi as well, and by the looks of it, quite masterful of the ability. She hadn't planned on running into another animagi so soon after sneaking out of the school. Well well.. We both have little skeletons in our closets.. Erys thought to herself while in her animagi form, lightly pressing her paws against the cool bark. Night had come quickly, providing somewhat of a camoflauge for the sixth year student before she decided to make her grand entrance. It was now or never..

Launching effortlessly from the branch, Erys began to transform in mid-air, the process so smooth it was over in an instant. Easing her body into a fast flip, she would land safely on her feet, one hand on the ground to keep balance. Standing and turning to face Veata, she checked her pocket to make sure her wand still stuck out. Check. It was there. "Hello, Veata." Sneaking out was very popular at Hogwarts, she was guessing. Stretching with an absentminded yawn, Erys crossed her arms comfortably over her chest.

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[Veata Bane]

In one fluid motion Veata raised her wand to point at the form emerging from the tree. It was a surprise to have a cat jump from a tree and land as a girl, even if Veata could preform the same trick. Luckily, her only response to fear was to point her wand at the threat, and if necessary, preform a Killing Curse. Though, as Erys spoke, V knew it wouldn't come to a killing curse in this situation.

"I'd ask why you are out so late," V said in a cold voice as she lowered her wand. "But I don't really care."

She looked back out across the water, the moon reflected perfectly on it's unrippled surface. V reached out one hand and gently patted the grass next to her, gesturing Erys to sit down. The silence she left indicated that she wouldn't mind conversation, but enjoyed the silence of the night just as much.[/color][/size]

[Erys Grace]

"I snuck out, same as you." Erys replied casually, shrugging her shoulders. Taking Veata up on her offer, she gracefully sat, crossing her legs. Pressing her hands to the cool grass, she began to drum her fingernails against it; managing to keep the silence of the atmosphere intact. Many questions popped into her head, yet only a few were important enough to ask now. "So.. You're an animagi too?" Her surprise had diminished, leaving only curiosity in its wake. Not many had managed to withstain the pressure of retaining their human mind, but for those who could, it was a talent of awe. And beauty. Strange, for their animal forms to both resemble a cat.

Reaching up to run her fingers through her hair, Erys took a deep breath, wondering how Veata had mastered her form. Private tutor? The Animagi class at Hogwarts? Taught herself? Well, she would have to be extremely skilled to do the last one, which might not be that far from the truth.
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[Veata Bane]

Veata nodded at Erys' explanation, then flicked her head to get her hair out of her eyes. It would have been smarter of her to pin her hair back before she left, but she was too excited at the prospect of sneaking out to think of such a trivial thing. Curling her knees more towards her chest, she wrapped her slender arms around them.

"Yeah," she said slowly, licking her lips before going on. "I'm an animagus. My dad taught me when I was pretty young. It's an old family tradition."

She cut off there, looking at Erys out of the corner of her eye, silently hoping the girl wouldn't become interested in her family. V really didn't feel like explaining why her father was locked behind bars, and watched over by Dementors. What a disgrace to the family name, torturing in killing your own innocent wife. Again, V wondered why he hadn't desposed of her too. Again, she wondered if it had been right to turn him in. Again, she slipped into her own mind, the foundations of which quaked with unstable emotions and past regrets.[/color][/size]

[Erys Grace]

Erys nodded, listening raptly to Veata while staring directly into her eyes. It was just how she was, the kind of person always interested to know what you were saying, who would look right at you and really take it in. Unless she didn't like you. Glancing up at the moon after her aquaintance had finished speaking, Erys thought it best to explain how she trained for her ability as well. "My father hired a tutor." Her eyes fell at his mention, tiny hints as to how well their relationship was. Which happened to be not good. Horrible. Practically nonexistant, if she hadn't became an animagi. Taking the hint that Veata didn't want to talk about her family, Erys closed her mouth, not probing her any further. Had nobody else snuck out of the castle? This would be way more fun if some Hufflepuffer showed up.

Stretching her arms out only to rest them on her knees, Erys glanced at the water of the lake, wondering how large and glossy her eyes might be. They were probably still amber, never green unless angered and ready to fight.
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[Veata Bane]

Veata kept eye contact easily with the girl. Somehow, they were alike, despite the fact that both their animagi forms were felines. They both felt uncomfortable talking about their families, or their pasts. They both yearned to be in the same Hogwarts house. Somehow their personalities fit together snugly, like long-lost puzzle pieces.

"That's interesting," she resorted to saying, since there wasn't much else to may without probing slightly too far. "Kinda weird, we take cat form, both of us."

She smiled in one conrner of her mouth, something it felt like she hadn't done in forever. It was good to be around someone fimilar to her, it brought out a comfortable feeling inside her, and eased her defenses. It made her forget about all the reasons she had stayed away from other people, and made her happy.

[Erys Grace]

Erys nodded, remembering how shocked she was to find another animagus around. Especially another who took the form of a cat. "It is wierd." She instantly cracked a grin, linking her fingers together to flip her hands over and push out, stretching. Nobody could find out about this. "Veata, we cant tell anybody. Apparently we're supposed to be seventeen to get registered with the Ministry." Her name was already logged in, thanks to that tutor of hers, and all the money her father spent. Which brought up another question: was Veata as well? She must, if it was an age-old tradition in her family. Answer present, good. Not breathing a word of it to anybody but themselves was fine with her; they were both on common grounds right now, and had equally impressive talents to hide. Keeping hush hush about it was fine with her.

"I suppose we were exceptions." Erys added, cutting off the problem talk for now. Veata would have her own opinion on the matter, and she was all for it. She hated making all the decisions.

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[Veata Bane]

Veata's face contorted with distaste. She looked over to Erys with a 'you're a bloody idiot' expression, one crimson eyebrow lifted higher than the other. Sure, she got along really well with Erys, but something about her just drove V insane. Like her habit of stating the obvious, as if Veata didn't know Slytherin was the best house and that they weren't legal animagi until they were seventeen. Annoyance thundered through V' veins quickly, causing her cheeks to redden slightly.

"Of course we can't tell anyone," she spat, her voice almost hissing when she pronounced the s in 'course'. "I'm not just going to bounce around like some blonde haired bimbo, screaming, 'Look everyone, Erys and I are animagi, and we're both cats! That makes us best friends!' I've been keeping this a secret since I was eight years old," Veata said, thinking to herself there were other secrets she was keeping too.[/color]

[Erys Grace]

Erys narrowed her eyes, her fists tightening despite her abundance of self-control. "Im just reminding you, because earlier today-" She cut her sentance off, figuring Veata wouldn't be happy that she had asked two girls if there was an animagi class. There was, and they figured her to be just curious about it, but the Ministry woman might've heard bits and pieces. "-I was questioned by a Ministry Enforcer who happened by." They're everywhere, crawling the school and its grounds like bees on honey. It unsettled her somewhat, remembering that it hadn't always been like this. Her mother had told her those very words, but at the time she hadn't understood it. But now..

Her lip curled with disdain, at the thought of how much drama this possible friend might dish out in the future. She wasn't one for it unless she was the cause, or taking part in it against some unsuspecting Hufflepuffer. At least Hogwarts wouldn't be as boring with her around, that fact instantly smoothing out her frown. If Veata wanted to be angry about it, then she could be her guest. For Erys, it was just another peaceful night.

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[ivanthatcher]

Ivan awoke with a gasp. Around him, there were bushes, and below him there seemed to be grass. He checked himself. Clothes? Yes, okay, he still had his robes. Though they seemed to almost be in shreds... Wands? Check. In my pockets. Books? Uncheck, he left them by his bed before I fell asleep... and then woke up here. In the bushes. He began to sit up, and heard voices nearby. Both were female.

'These must be the people who took me out of my bed!' Ivan thought. 'But what do they want with me...?' Gathering his courage, he resolved to find out exactly what had happened to him. He reached into his robe's pockets, drew out his short willow wand in his left hand, his long birch one in his right, and stood up fully. The two women seemed to be talking about the Ministry...

"Hey!" He yelled, pointing his wands accusingly, half-consumed by the bushes around him. "What the bleeding 'ell did you do to me!"

[Veata Bane]

She heard the movement. Sharp senses awakened extreme caution within her. What had he heard? In one sleek movement, Veata was to her feet, her wand aimed directly at the boy's face. It only took a second of thought. She didn't know what he had heard, and she didn't want him to think he had the upper hand with it. Within heartbeats of him screaming something she didn't quite catch, she opened her lips and whispered "Incendio".

All around the boy, the bushes ingulfed in flame. The flickering light burned bright in the darkness of what must have been early morning by then, and the shining light burned into her pupils. Narrowing her eyes and hissing, she felt slightly bad about nearly lighting him on fire, but she dismissed that. Her secrets were in danger of being revealed.

"Who are you?" she growled, her voice sounding more feline than human. She hoped he was crapping his pants right now.[/font]

[ivanthatcher]

As the red-haired girl ignited the bushes around him, his eyes widened in fear. These were definitely skilled women... and something more... a fuzzy memory again of their voices drifted into his mind from the fog of sleep-grogginess... Animagi?

And then he snapped himself back to the crisis at hand. In one of his books, hadn't there been a spell about water jets? No, no, she asked a question. Better answer it. But as his mouth opened, all that came out was a squeak. Ivan cleared his throat and tried again.

"I-Ivan Thatcher. My name is Ivan Thatcher." He suddenly felt all his courage coming back to him as he gripped the wands in his hands tighter. What was that water spell? Aqua-somethin'. "Who are you? You're not old enough to be teachers or Ministry workers, so you must be students. And this whole meeting is bad news for you if you get reported." Wait, student Animagi? It was crazy, but not impossible.

The flames were licking at his robes as his mind whirred, completely disconnected from his mouth. Agua... yeah, with a 'g'... it was on the tip of his tongue now... just a little longer and he'd have it.

[Erys Grace]

{ Eliot, keep the posting order. It wasn't your turn. }

Erys stood, whirling around to face the eavesdropper with eyes like emerald flame; the color they turned when she was seriously pissed off. If he heard or seen anything he shouldn't have.. Grinding her teeth together, she narrowed her eyes as the bush lit on fire. Getting a better look at him now she thought him to be a student at Hogwarts, and judging by how young he appeared, thirteen. Unless he had altered himself, which was a serious offence at this school. "Veata! You could have lit him on fire!" Erys hissed, whipping her wand out and pointing it at the bush, "Aguamenti!" At once, a jet-like stream of cold water burst from the tip of her wand, hitting the boy and the flaming bush to extinguish them both. Once the spell diminished, the bush and the messy boy were both soaking, and probably furious. You should be thankful I put you out. Erys thought angrily, keeping her wand directed straight at him.

"I suggest you forget what you heard." If he wanted to keep his tongue unknotted, then he'd shut up about it.

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[ivanthatcher]

(( Oh! I didn't know there was an order. I thought it was an action-reaction thing. This makes it Veata's turn now, then?))