(Library) The Watcher

[Narcissus Drachen]

The shutters of the lofty, stained-glass windows were all locked, all aside one which Narcissus had opened to let in the moonlight. Pearl-grey clouds rushed across the sky, afraid of the evil forest that loomed under them, the trees like monster’s hands under children’s beds. At night there were supposed to be Things that watched, for hours, at the very edge of the haunted woods, whispers of intelligent eyes staring up at the windows of Hogwarts castle. Rumours were exchanged like very bad ideas, spies whose shadowed faces were so empty and frightening that Gryffindors closed their curtains at night. No one wanted to see them. No one except one.

In the windowsill Narcissus slept sitting up. One cheek was pressed against the glass pane and his long thin legs sprawled out in front of him like a child's. Trapped under his thumb in one palms lay his wand, wide awake and terrified, seeing in the trees outside what Narcissus hadn't.

He had wanted to see what really stalked Hogwarts on foggy nights, but as he had waited from this vantage point, smiling down at the curious young books that would appear on the floor to wait with him, Narcissus had seen his own reflection in the glass, hypnotised and sent to slumber by the startling attraction of it. Now he breathed slowly, eyes fluttering as he dreamed solely of himself, the sounds of someone approaching completely unheard by him.

[Erys Grace]

That person wasn't a person at all, at least not in this form. It was a bengal cat, elegantly striding throughout the library as if staking her territory. Only in this case, she was exploring the castle. Her castle. While very beautiful, it isn't easily intimidated and is very intelligent. Appearing to be sleek, it's coat is thick and luxurious, but doesn't shed. A near perfect match for Erys, personality wise. Only she was a bit more dangerous than the breed was supposed to be. Weaving around a pile of books, the feline paused its step to taste the air, noticing that it wasn't alone. The reason she preferred her animagus form at night was because nobody ever caught her. No prefect or teacher, anyway.

Confirming her suspicions Erys followed the scent towards an open window, where a boy was now resting. Approaching his sleeping form with an amused tilt of her head, she sprung gracefully onto the table next to him, meowing. It was the Slytherin she saw in Dragonology class earlier today, the one she hadn't been aquainted with. She knew not his name, or who he was. Nor why he was sleeping in the Library.

Thinking she'd wait for a bit before changing back, Erys tucked her back legs under her as she sat, watching him. Mrowling once more while trying to tell him to wake up, the cat stretched, scratching the wooden surface of the desk with a sharp claw. She had noticed the line between her and her animal was a little blurry, after purring once hit with a wave of extreme happiness. Sure, she was having a little trouble concentrating lately, but that wasn't a problem. The beast would always be under her control; the seventh year had too much experiance to lose it.
[/color]

[vicky]

Awaking abruptly Vicky brought a cooling palm to her feverish brow, groaning she slipped quietly out of her bed, havign a vivid imagination was all well and good but disturbing sleep was just plain annoying.

Half wanting to simply wander the corridors without a care in the world she realised that would simply end in utter disaster; being caught by a prefect or teacher wasn't high up on her list of priorties; that had already happend to her before, more than once with Heidi. So dressing quickly she mused over where she could hideout, she was far too restless to just stay here tucked up in her cosy bed, that was just boring. Who knew other daredevils could be about. So dressing in a short sleeved navy blue shirt and black trousers; to become a little less conspicuous, she quickly made her way out of the common room, promising the portrait she'd be back before dawn and wouldn't be caught.

It took a while to get to the library as she had to dodge the odd patrolling teacher and even a prefect on the prowl, but she made it unscathed, it had been close at times but Vicky wasn't completely unaccustomed to wandering the corridors at dusk.

Creeping into the library she headed straight for the restricted section knowing she could get in and out easily with a certain spell she knew rather well, but she was stopped in her tracks on seeing a cat gazing nonchalently at a boy, wondering what he was doing there and why the cat was so contented to just watch him sleep soundly she wandered over making no effort to be quiet now; she knew the cat would notice her presence instantly and the boy needed to be awoken. Standing over the boy she recognised him vaguely but couldn't place quite where, whispering into his ear she grinned at the cat and winked; "having a nice dream are we? Nothing too revealing I hope." If that didn't wake him that perhaps he was dead, should she check for a pulse?

[Narcissus Drachen]

Narcissus was dreaming of watching himself sleep. He was sat – or crouched, rather – on the broad table near the window, observing a beautiful boy dozing in the moonlight, his limbs arranged neatly like a mythological god draped over an ottoman. Narcissus’s fingernails were dug into the handsome wood beneath him. In his throat he could feel a happy vibration that made him strangely content… and was that a tail curled around his feet? ‘Wake up!’ He suddenly said to the boy. It came out as a high Mrrrrow!

Soft words and breath of girls tickled his ear and the tail popped out of existence, his head tearing off the foreign shoulders and whirling across the room so fast he worried he was about to break through glass like a bullet through water, out into the night and into the eyes of the Empty Ones…

Narcissus was once again that beautiful boy. He was awake and painfully stiff, his right foot trapped under his left so that it was terribly dead. ‘Revealing? I wouldn’t possibly know,’ He replied without opening his eyes, although he knew what she – whoever she may be – meant. He opened his eyes slowly to look at her, blonde hair silver in the room, skin like fresh milk. It was a shame Narcissus was a vegan. ‘I'm not as crass as I look, you see.’

Something moved beyond the moonlight and Narcissus sat up, his pretty eyes finding an exotic cat, its coat belonging to rich women’s gloves. ‘So it was you!’ He said cryptically, swinging his legs off the windowsill and standing up next to the familiar Ravenclaw called Vicky, one hand poised on his hip. 'How long have you watched me sleep?' He said to both of them accussingly, for no cat had ever had eyes like that.

[Erys Grace]

The cat seemed to laugh silently, her jaws parted and her shoulders bobbing. Her eyes, a curious brown, blinked at the boy. Why sir, I am just a cat. I watch who I please, I go where I want. She seemed to say, before yawning lazily. How he could tell what she was, Erys didn't know. He was sharp, thats for sure. He didn't know of her being an animagus already, so.. He must have a sixth sense, like she did. Felines were very tuned into that kind of thing. Why had he spoken something about it being her? Aw, was he having dreams about her? ugh.

Closing her eyes to focus, Erys smoothly transformed into her former self, legs dangling off the edge of the table. "I was prowling the Library when I smelt something." She replied casually, shrugging her shoulders before strengthening her posture. Then again, she didn't have to justify herself to him. Being Slytherin like herself, he should know that already. He looked like he was having a pleasant dream, so the seventh year hadn't bothered waking him. "Relax, I haven't been watching you for more than a minute." Erys added, rolling her eyes. Men were so suspicious sometimes.

Flashing the girl one of those questioning looks, she rested her palms on her knees, waiting for some kind of introduction. Come now, dont be rude. If you're going to wake people up, you should at least tell them who you are.[/color]

[vicky]

Giggling with pretty reckless abandon as the boy woke, she shook her head at what he said wanting to curb her retort but finding it had already fled her lips; "yeah...right a guy wouldn't possibly know?" Standing back to allow him space to stretch, something she found invaluable on waking herself, she stood with hands on hips arching an eyebrow at him.

"We shall see," she stated deciding she would try hard not to simply chuck him along with Slytherins and stereotype him overly. Moonlight softly dappled both their features as Vicky looked without constraint or nervousness at him, trying to place where she had met him before; Dragonology that was it. "So you're no more handsome in the moonlight" she murmured under her breath not quite realising nor partcularly caring that she had spoken her thoughts aloud.

Grinning at his question she answered with a gesture towards the cat as it transformed into it's human form, slightly taken aback she didn't let it show overly, a simple flicker of her eyes was all that let her surprise slip, "I've only just got here, but she's been watching you for ages I think. I thought it best to wake you, even though you looked so peaceful, as I overheard Professor Fagin say he might stumble down here later for patrolling, he'll likely be too drunk to move so we needn't worry overly though." She made up the excuse having not really heard Fagin at all, but she was curious as to why this boy was in the library at this hour and sleeping of all things, perhaps the question was clear in her look but she wouldn't be too blunt and come straight out with it.

Sitting upon a table in a relaxed fashion she grinned at the girl, "oh I'm Vicky, I remember seeing you both in Dragonology now, pleased to meet you properly now." Looking from one to another Vicky smiled, relatively happy to have company here when she had expected none, maybe they were more daring than first glance showed; just like her.

[Narcissus Drachen]

Narcissus raised his chin as the cat changed shape, the short furry limbs stretching into arms and legs, claws into fingernails. He smiled, for the fangs probably remained. ‘How wonderful and illegal.’ He declared enthusiastically, slipping his wand into the back of his belt and adjusting the sleeves of his shirt. ‘I suppose if I’m going to fall asleep in a public place I can hardly get defensive of people staring. It’s touching that you thought it appropriate to sit and watch over me though!’

Narcissus’s glossy fringe clung to his eyelashes. He raised his hand to his face, brushing his forehead across his fingers rather than the other way around. He turned his back of Erys now, the transformation still in his mind, and glowered at Vicky, very unimpressed by her quip on his appearance. ‘I’m offended but unconvinced, Victoria.’ He replied, disinterested in whether or not Vicky was really an abbreviation. ‘You’re a tease, I agree, but shall we get on with finding out about me?’

He spun to look at Erys, gentle bite replaced with vivacious grin. ‘I’m Narcissus. Are we best friends yet?’

[Erys Grace]

Erys needn't add in that she was perfectly legal, registered and everything, since it was better for her Slytherin reputation. Nodding her head with exaggerated enthusiasm, her eyes sparkled wildly. "Oh yes, very." Rolling her eyes again with a small smile this time, the seventh year shrugged. "I found it odd for a student to sleep in the library, seeing as its the least acceptable place aside from the bottom of the lake to rest in." The only top side being it was less wet here, than down in the water.

Glaring at the Ravenclaw, Erys crossed her arms over her chest. Insulting her head of house, was she? Well, that calls for a smack on the wrist, if she did say so herself. Fagin wasn't that bad, even though he did teach muggle studies. "I was not here for ages, Victoria." She sneered, continuing, "Didn't I just say I've only been here for a minute?" God, some people really needed to work on their hearing. Flicking her wrist as if to say 'yeah yeah, nice to meet you, whatever' Erys arched an eyebrow at how self-obsessed the boy was.

Mimicking his grin with a hint of sarcasm, she added, "I'm Erys, and no we are not." Laughing now, the Slytherin shook her head, amused. "It'll take a lot more than two short meetings to be best friends, Narcissus." Such an odd name, wasn't it Greek? She remembered something about a Narcissus way back in history being renowned for his beauty. Pretty vain, too. Didn't he stare at his reflection in a lake until he died of starvation? Well that sucked.[/color]

[Narcissus Drachen]

Dear Erys, sharp and bright like a knife. ‘Oh, but you look at me enough.’ Narcissus's ring glinted on his finger.

Fat black clouds floated in front of the moon and the three of them were washed in darkness, even Vicky’s gossamer locks turning charcoal under the cloak of rain clouds. Erys must have titled her head for two eyes reflected like beacons, her feline qualities more pronounced in her human form than was professional. Narcissus grinned at her in the dark, more devilish and calculating than he ever allowed when anyone could truly see his angel face, and he wondered if Erys was more animal than she realised.

[vicky]

Maybe setting aside her natural prejudices was too soon, as Narcissus as she found his name to be, was simply sinking low to them. Not only the Slytherin stereotype of complete arrogance but that was coupled with a boyish attitude of being full of himself; how lovely. The strange thing was that she was oddly attracted to that, there was something about his complete self-assurance, so long as he didn't cross the line into being completely self-absorbed.

Rolling her eyes more discreetly than she would normally, as she didn't want him to get aggressive of course, somehow she doubted he would quite go that extreme, unless he jealously guarded some sort of secret and that was his reason for sleeping here? Vicky's vivid imagination was getting the better of her, her heart running away without her head as she invented more fantastical stories of the boy; clearly they couldn't be true, could they?

"Don't flatter yourself so, it really isn't a good quality in anybody," retorted Vicky not in an overly offensive way butmore like stating a fact, true she found his mannerisms a little offputting but she wouldn't show it. You could tell she didn't hang around with Slytherins often or for very long.

"I was only kidding, why get so flustered?" Vicky grinned at Erys plainly trying to dispell the tension that mounted and subsided so suddenly. As Narcissus continued with his strange manner Vicky shared a look with Erys that only girls could manage, one that said 'why's he so full of himself?'

As an even greater darkness ascended upon the assembled Vicky couldn't help but shiver, not through fear particularly, though it did factor, but the cold, she was beginning to regret not bringing more suitable clothing along, a cosy fleece though not so fashionable as the shirt she sported would have kept her much warmer; she'd learn though.

Laughing Vicky looked between noticing ther glances between them both, grinning she stated "No looking at someone tends to suggest you fancy them, you two aren't just sharing eye contact, it's more than that, gazing at each other when the other isn't looking." A mischeveous grin could easily have surfaced but Vicky kept her look of complete innocence, she was testing the two, but they weren't to know it, perhaps they would even find love together but somehow Vicky doubted it.

Knowing a look of purest venom was likely to surface in Erys' eyes Vicky added with palms upraised in a peaceful gesture, "I could be wrong of course, but I've seen far stranger couples."

[Erys Grace]

"I was intrigued, nothing more." Erys dismissed the issue with a wave of her hand, smoothing out her expression. She was very keen, watching people and observing them. It was true about the intrigued thing, she had been curious, as happened with the all the students new to her eyes. Perhaps not all, but most, since not everyone sparked her interest. Catching the look from Victoria, she shrugged her shoulders in responce, grinning. Arrogance and vanity weren't reserved for only the Slytherin guys, you know. There were many of them stuck in different houses, especially Ravenclaw and Gryffindor. Having not met many from Hufflepuff, Erys couldn't make a judgement just yet.

"I'm seeing somebody." She replied evenly, though her voice was tart. Her eyes flashed a dangerous green, the color they turned when she was beginning to get ticked. Erys didn't have to explain herself, all they needed to know was she sort of had a boyfriend. No, hes not imaginary. Joshua Rivas, look him up. They hadn't made anything official, but she knew for sure she had a crush on him. He hadn't confessed how he felt or anything, but.. It was best not to flirt with anybody else. She didn't really flirt anyway, it was lame.

What he suspected was correct. Erys was unlike any other animagus, often using her feline attributes to her advantage. Like the enhanced senses, not to mention the unique 'sixth' one that cats possessed. If seriously angered by someone, instead of slapping them if it was a girl, the seventh year lengthened her fingernails into claws and slashed them. She was like Catwoman, with the speed and the reflexes. When you thought about it, it was pretty cool so long as she didn't lose control.[/color]

[vicky]

Remarking the shrugging shoulders and momentary grin in response to her simple look Vicky smiled back not caring if Narcissus knew they shared unspoken communication, a certain facial expression was sufficient for detail, Vicky could tell really that there was little between Narcissus and Erys but probing had been necessary for her to be more certain. She even expected Erys' standards to be higher, not that Narcissus wasn't fine in his own little way, he most assuredly wasn't her cup of tea. For her standards were ridiculously high, nigh on unachievable.

Glancing at Erys she shared another knowing look as if to say 'yeah I know all lads are similar irrespective of houses'. For she herself thought that, sure some were definitely nicer than others, but they shared one thing in common, a lack of feeling and tuning towards others emotions; especially a woman's.

"Oh are you?" She reinforced with clear enthusiasm "don't worry I shan't pry," for she had taken careful note of Erys' look, those expressions spoke for themselves.

"But do I know him?" She asked without meaning to, her curiousity was really getting the better of her, as it so often did. "No doesn't matter," she added with a grin nearly forgetting about poor Narcissus for wanting to know, not the gossip as such, but what good events were taking place for Erys. "What is he like though? Not like Narcissus I presume?" She laughed smiling at Narcissus to confirm she meant it only jokingly.

Vicky knew she may have overstepped the imaginary mark and injured the Slytherins deep pride, but that was their look-out not hers, if they allowed such trivialities to govern them then life would end up as one long drag.

Surprisingly she actually wanted both Slytherins to open up a little, and share their cooped up feelings, it would likely help them much more than her as she often shared her innermost desires and fears with others. Perhaps she had to go first. "I met a nice guy over the holidays, but he wasn't quite right, do you know what I mean?" Perhaps they didn't, or else refused to accept that they knew precisely what she meant.

[Narcissus Drachen]

Narcissus tipped his head back and gave a drawn out sigh, arching his back. ‘Oh, I’m clearly no match for the sleuth. And I’m such a sl’ut for mind readers too...’ he said with laboured sarcasm, passing between the two of them to fall into a winged armchair. There was more than one cat in the room and Narcissus was affronted, disappointed he was once again the one mistaken to have the attraction. It wasn’t only girls and the gods under the floorboards who knew how to push buttons. These two thought they were shiny diamonds to him. He only looked long enough to see himself shining back. ‘I love school girl jokes but that was so tactless, Victoria.’ He said sympathetically, hooking one knee over the arm of the chair. ‘I would’ve been seething if you’d be a little more covert about it. All you’ve done is insult my intelligence.’

The moon returned unwelcomingly and rocked the shadows, sneers on all their faces. Narcissus scrutinized Vicky and gave a low, obvious tut. She mocked him so happily! ‘Why don’t you let me go back to sleep? I don’t think I want to give you anymore attention.’

[Echo Keir]

Echo slipped silently into the library, her bare feet soundless on the floor as she stole through shelves of books towards... something. She wasn't entirely sure what it was, but something between her shoulder blades was itching, telling her she needed to be in the library, nearly out of it, under it, between it... Why do I feel so weird? she questioned herself mentally before reaching the complete opposite side of the vast room.

The sound of brash, frusterated, haughty voices reached her ears, so she was none too surprised when her gaze fell upon... "Narcissus, we meet again," her voice was dry and slightly raspy from the lack of use, and lack of sleep. She coughed, gently bit the inside of her cheek to whet her throat. She could feel the tension between this group of... comrades? No, that was definatly not the word, but this gathering of people. She saw the overplayed blase posture of a Slytherin girl with whom she was not acquainted, and the exuberant yet pretentious stand of a lovely young Ravenclaw. And, of course, the narcissist himself, playing up to his name quite well.

She smirked, Time to have a little fun... she thought to herself bemusedly. "Can't say it's not a pleasure running into you again," she said, giving the slytherin boy a sly smile as she walked past him, pulling a chair away from the table upon which the other two girls were both sitting Are they connected at the hip? she wondered passively as she turned her chair so that the back was facing this unusual crowd. She pulled one leg underneath her, leaning so that her arms crossed over the top of the chair, her chin resting upon the pedestal they created. “So this is why I couldn’t get to sleep… teen angst seeps through the walls, dearies. So, what’s the topic of interest this evening?”

[Erys Grace]

Staring blankly at Victoria, Erys felt a dull surprise at how girly that sounded. Sure, she was a female as much as the next chick, but she hadn't met anybody who talked so much. Wondering which question was worthy enough for an answer, she decided to close her mouth anyway, seeing as most of them weren't and she was getting particularily bored. Victoria was walking on thin ice, and she knew it.

"It matters to me." She corrected the Ravenclaw, narrowing her eyes. Though it might not to Victoria, Joshua was the closest person to her aside from Veata. "His name is Joshua Rivas, and hes pretty awesome." Well that summed it up well, if she did say so herself. Unfortunately the girl had pried, which the seventh year really disliked. Her intentions were.. Neutral, perhaps, unless she had been meaning to taunt Narcissus. How rude. Afterall, Erys hadn't been trying to insult her fellow housemate at all. She was indeed seeing somebody, and could go drag him from the Slytherin common room if they needed physical proof.

Snapping her head in the direction of the newcomer, Erys scrutinized her for a moment, her lips parting in a smirk. This one lusts after you. She thought gleefully, biting her lip to contain a laughter that might alert the night watch. Her feline's sense was very perceptive lately, though it was often misinterpreted due to lack of sleep. Only deep into the night, when she felt tired. Other times Erys was just fine. Interrupting the urge with a graceful yawn, the animagus stretched, tempted instead to curl up and sleep as a cat right there. [/color]