[Lake] Thinking of You ((open))

[Ashlee Van Dort]

<sup>Ashlee sat out on the grass, staring at the misty lake. She thought about all the things that have happened since the last time she was at Hogwarts. She closed her eyes and tried to remember the man she fell in love with not so long ago. The handsome, smart, caring, and gentle man that stole her heart the moment he laid eyes on her.

She sighed as she laid down and stared up at the vanilla sky. She remembered his laugh, the way his eyes sparkled when he spoke, and most of all, she remembered his touch and the way it would linger even after he was gone.

She turned her head towards the castle and the images of him now scared her. He looked so scared, and sick, she thought to herself, It isn't him anymore.

Ashlee closed her eyes and fought back the tears as the wind blew suddenly though the three above her, making her jump. Ashlee calmed herself and shook her head, wondering why time could be so cruel to her.</sup>

[Russell Parkhurst]

Russell strolled along the shore of the lake, hands in his pockets and head ketp down. He had too many things rolling around in his mind at the moment for any peace of mind. He had come to the lake to find come clarity.

Instead, he found a Hufflepuff sitting by her lonesome looking rather upset and sad. Russell decided to take his mind off his own problems he would go find out what the matter was. He walked towards her and when he was a few feet away, he asked, "may I join you?"

He sat next to her and leaned his arms on his knees. "It's difficult," he began, lifting his head and looking at the lake, "being alone." He said nothing more, but simply looked out over the calm lake, it's crystal surface gleaming like the sky it reflected.

[Prof Octavious Everritt]

Leigh appeared from the treeline, moving like a silent ghost. He had felt something while with Shiela, and knowing the feeling he moved quickly, reaching the lake within moments. He saw down on the shoreline the figure of her, his eyes widening as a smile appeared on his face, but soon he saw someone else there and his smile faded, before he felt his heart racing quickly.

Looking away in pain, he stepped away slowly, fearing the worst that could've happened. He disappeared whence he came, if anyone saw him they would've believed he was a ghostly image of a lost and broken man.

[Ashlee Van Dort]

<sup>Ashlee sat up and looked at the Ravenclaw boy, "You're never really alone. It only feels that way sometimes," she replied to his statement. "If I were truly alone, I would feel empty inside, but I don't," she said more to herself than to the boy.

Ashlee turned her head to the treeline and gave a faint smile towards the haunting trees. She knew he was there only moments before. The connection she shared with him was stronger than he knew.

Ashlee sighed and layed back down, "The lake usually seems so peaceful, but there's always this feeling I get when I'm here," she looked at the Ravenclaw, "What brings you here?" she asked, hoping to not seem nosy.</sup>

[Russell Parkhurst]

Russell followed her gaze to the treeline and wondered what she was looking at. It seemed strange to him that someone that seemed to be in such termoil could look at life with such a level-headed outlook. This passed through his mind as he pondered her cryptic response.

... but there's always this feeling I get when I'm here ...

Cryptic, he thought again, but understanding a need to be cryptic he pondered her question. It wasn't fair that he had to think of such things, he was meant to be enjoying his last year at Hogwarts not fussing over the feelings of others, an activity he had never taken part in.

Running a hand through his hair, Russell sighed. "Many stories, many secrets," he cryptically replied, "but honestly, there are times when I wish Father had sent me to Drumstrang." He hung his head between his legs and locked his hands over his neck. I just don't know what to do!

[Ashlee Van Dort]

<sup>Ashlee turned her head so she could look at the boy, "I don't understand why you would want to be at such a cold dark place. Unless of course," she looked away, "That was how you were feeling." Ashlee sighed and sat up.

She placed her hands on her lap and took a breath, "Trust me, Hogwarts isn't as bad as you might think it is, it has its moments, both good and bad, and sometimes you want to get away. Take it from someone who got away and ended up coming back. Whether or not you wanted your father to send you to Durmstrang, Hogwarts will always feel like home."

She didn't know how to explain it, but she was hoping she was doing ok, "I've seen what the world has come to, both here at Hogwarts and everywhere else. Trust me, everything is worse out there than it is here. Out there, you'll find even more stories and secrets and none of them you'll want to know or hear. I think that maybe, you need to get away for a week or so and actually find that out for yourself. I know I can tell you what it's like out there, but I can't actually give you the reality of it unless you experience it for yourself. I know I probably sound mad or crazy, or maybe I don't make sense, but trust me. You'll learn that there are a lot of poeple here at Hogwarts that care about you."

With that Ashlee laid back down and stared at the clouds, remembering her time of need.</sup>

[Russell Parkhurst]

Russell snorted a laugh, sarcastic and forced. "Yes, well I did get away," he said, "for quite sometime and then when I came back I realised why I had left in the first place. I know that people here enjoy having me around but some, it would seem, like me a little too much."

He sighed and looked over the calm water and thought about how he was to resolve his issues. This hufflepuff didn't understand, no one did. Rus laughed out loud and thought, I'm beginning to sound like my sister!

He ran a hand though his hair and realised that he had approached this young lady for her problems. He looked to her again. She was lying down and seemed to be in her own world. "You don't seem to be having the best time either." He looked away from her again, before adding, "anything you'd like to share?"