[Forest] Fear. Horror Movies and the Boy

[Becky Dowell]

When you read horror stories, they usually start in a creepy location where you feel like no matter where you go, someone is watching you. The place doesnt feel safe, and though you know you turn on your heel and run for home, you dont. Like when you see horror films and you know you wouldnt go to check what that noise was, or stop and stand like a complete moron, you would run, and you wouldnt stop running until you were safe or couldnt run anymore. Though, you never really know what you would, or wouldnt do in those situations, when your eyes and judgement are clouded by that awful emotion known as fear.

Fear.

A simple four letter word, yet one people hate using. Some people love fear, some people dont. Some people say they love fear until they feel fear, then they dont like it so much. Your hearbeat increases and your heart feels like its about to pop right out of your chest. Your blood pumps and boils and rushes right to your head. Every sense seems to be increased, eyesight, hearing, smelling, everything. Your on edge and the emotion that grips you, fear, freezes you to your spot and there is absolutley nothing you can do about it. This is obviously the emotion Bex was feeling tonight.

Why on earth am I here? Bex thought as she trudged through the mud, pushing leaves out of her face, What sane person would be here? Since when did I become so bloomin' thick? She continued her thoughts as she tried to remember which way she had come. Though it was raining now, it hadnt when she came out, but now it was and was easily washing away her footprints. Bex was lost. No doubt about that. Wincing as a branch caught the top of her shoulder, she looked down. Luckily it wasnt bleeding, though there was a soft scratch now upon her skin.

Bex was shivering as she walked, pushing leaves from the branches away from her face. Wading, or she felt like she was, through the mud puddles, her hair now stuck to her face, thank god she wore waterproof makeup, that was all she could say. It had been a warm night when she had come out, so she hadnt brought a jacket with her. Im never going to find my way out of here! Bex thought despite herself, God, will they find me? What if a monster gets me, argh! What was that? Bex was panicking now, not only was she lost, but she was hearing things too, or maybe it was her imagination? Doing what she often yelled at people in horror movies for, standing still instead of running, Bex listened hard but didnt hear anything else so she continued on her quest to find the exit, find shelter and a nice hot chocolate. And Lex. Right now she wanted her Best Mate with her. Though even Lex wasnt stupid enough to come in here. Alone. At night. Way to creep yourself out Bex, well done!

As she walked further, Bex kept a sharp ear out for any signs of life, other than herself. Or any dead things. You never know when a Zombie might creep up on you, or a Vampire and try to make you one of their own. You've seen that movie right? The one with all the Zombies? Well Bex didnt intend on joining their ranks. Ever. Rotted flesh and fashion hells. Eugh. Bex figured she must have gone this way already, that chicken rock looked strangely familiar. Ive been walking in a bloody circle! She yelled inside her head as she spun around quickly to find herself colliding with someone, or something. Screaming rather loudly, Bex swung out at the person and whacked him hard on the chest, before jumping back in fright and almost falling over the chicken rock. As she allowed herself time to register what had happened, she realised who it was. Walking back over to him, she gave him another good thump on his chest, Bex, being smaller than Brad had to look up slightly at him, "Dont you do that!" She seethed, "I nearly died!"

[Brandon Rosenberg]

It was getting late, and the trio had decided to make a little mischief in the forest. It was like Brandon’s initiation ceremony. Brandon liked an adventure now and again, and it sure beat getting locked up in the dungeons on your own, naked and cold. That wouldn’t do wonders for your love life or social life would it? Still, he used to give new arrivals initiations at Durmstrang, so who was to say Hogwarts would be any different? He actually thought they would of given it him sooner rather than later.
“Hurry up Brad, the Prefects have just gone round the corner!”
“Alright alright i’m coming!” he said, pulling on his sneakers, hopping about the darkened room in a struggle. Soon after he pulled on his black hoodie and wrapped his black and navy striped scarf around his neck. It looked rather Ravenclaw like, however it was unintended. He had this scarf for years, infact Lexie had bought it for him in her first year of Hogwarts for his birthday. Probably because she was proud of being a Ravenclaw, so she sent him something similar to it. Still, she was a fashionista and even when she was 11 knew what looked good and what didn’t. Bless her little heart.

Jogging after Josh and Darren, he almost tripped over the mat in the common room but managed to balance himself in time before making a huge bang on the floor, smashing a nearby vase, and waking up the entire dorm. Pausing for a moment in a rather awkward position, he looked up at Josh and Darren as the just looked at him with raised eyebrows for almost ruining their entire plan.Brandon just looked back and gave a small sarcastic smile.
“It’s okay, I’ll be alright. Don’t worry guys, I’m fine, really” he said, straightening up and walking back over to them to follow them.

As they crept around the castle, not even daring to speak to one another in case their voices echoed down every corridor possible, they trod carefully with every step until they reached the doors to the courtyard. After that, they still didn’t speak as Josh and Darren both made a run for it down the lawns, past the lake and to the forest entrance.
By the time Brandon had realised they were running, he carefully shut the door and ran after them. Breathless, he doubled over for a moment and tried to speak.
“Whah, were...run. Huhhh” he managed before taking a deep breath.
“Why were we running?”
“The longer we took walking down to here, the more time a professor has to see us!”
“Oh, right. Of course” he said, dumbfounded.

They all began walking into the forest. Seeing Darren and Josh pull out their wands, he reached in his back pocket automatically for his. Patting it a little, he realised it wasn’t there. Looking down, he realised he hadn’t taken it from his other jacket from earlier in the day.
“Guys, I forgot my wand”
“Well done, dufus”
“Yeah well done stupid, how can you manage to forget your wand?”
“Err, Because i’m me?!”
“That solves it” Josh said bluntly. As Brandon gave him a set of narrowed eyes showing his disapproval, Josh just stuck his tongue out in retaliation. Soon after, Brandon’s foot made hard contact with Josh’s backside.
“Oww, what was that fo-“
“Josh, shut up a minute. I can hear something” he whispered frantically as he twisted his head so he could hear better. There was a clear rustling then a footstep or two. Concentrating on the noise he could here for a moment, he frowned a little. Turning his head back round to talk to his friends, they were gone. Gobsmacked, he turned around fully.

“Josh, Darren, where the heck are you two? Stop foolin’ around” he demanded, looking around quickly with narrowed eyes. Narrowing his eyes didn’t help much, but it was an automatic reaction to try and focus your vision on something. The dark didn’t help much either, but stupidly, he had left his wand in his other jeans pocket. Typical really for him to leave his wand behind when it was probably the situation he needed it most. Having a funny feeling the idiots had climbed a tree, he looked up into the nearest trees to see nothing but leaves. The moonlight helped looking up there, but it didn’t spread down enough to get better vision on the ground. Footsteps again. Gasping a little, he turned around to the direction where they were heard. Stepping onto a nearby rock to get a little more height, he scanned around. His vision still pretty much useless without his wand, he let himself slip off the rock and walked a couple of steps before standing still and waiting for the guys to get bored and come out from their hiding places.
Suddenly he felt something bump his back, and turning round quickly, greeted him with a swift punch in the chest, bending forwards a little at the impact, an ‘Oof’ escaped him before he had chance to see the culprit of the attack.
Beautiful Bex.

“You nearly died! You could of caught me on my irregular heartbeat and I could of dropped dead” he laughed.
“What are you doing out here on your own?”

[Becky Dowell]

"Yes, Doofus, I nearly died!" Bex said, rubbing her arms as the goosepimples crept up them. Whether out of shivering and being cold, or the fact she was clearly creeped out she didnt know. "Was I not clear or something?" Bex held her wand tightly in her right hand, the soft glow coming from the tip of it illuminated her, and Brandon. The rain was beating down hard upon them and Bex's heart was still pumping in her chest, threatening to burst free at any moment. "Im lost, Idiot." She said simply, "What? Does it look like im having any fun to you?" If he wasnt so cute, she would have crucified him for such a stupid question. How un-gentleman like was he anyway? Not even asking if she was alright first? Tsk.

A clap of thunder sounded overhead, and it was common knowledge to anyone who knew Bex, that she was terrified of thunder. "Ahh!" She gave a girlish scream and buckled to the floor, putting her arms protectivly over her head. This was a bad, bad situation. Bex was terrified, filthy, and stuck in a forest, lost, cold and craving a hot chocolate. Did she mention filthy? And the only thing she could think about was how much this was like that Muggle Horror Movie. Wrong Turn. Oh how she wished she had never watched that. Looking up into a tree, she saw herself pinned to it by some nasty looking sharp object. Shuddering, then almost jumping out of her skin once more when another clap of thunder rang over head, Bex jumped up and clung tightly to the tree. "Ihatethunder!" She half yelled so fast the words melded together. Looking over at Brad she whimpered, "Dont laugh, Its not my fault." She spoke in a quiet, almost unheard voice as her eyes fell to the floor.

Fear.
Certainly does some funny things to you.

At least there was one thing she didnt have to worry about. Bugs. Bex wasnt afraid of bugs. If theres a Spider around, Bex will go mad if she see's you kill it. Though of course, if its deadly and its spider or you, she completley understands. The only thing Bex doesnt like in millipedes and centipedes. Seriously, any need for all those legs, I think not. Eugh.

"Now would be a good time to be all comforty you know." Bex suggested as she clung onto the tree as if she was clinging onto her very exsistance. Her eyes met his as he just seemed to stand there, not doing anything. Hmph. Some gentlemen he was! She'd heard of rats with more manners than Brad had right now. Another clap of thunder was heard, followed almost instantly by lightening, "Oh no," Bex almost cried, "Its getting closer, Do something!" What she expected Brad to do, even she didnt know. Hearing a snap behind her, Beckii jumped from the tree and hid behind her chicken rock she had become so very friendly with. "Whatwasthat?" She gave a cry, her wand still in her hand though proving to be useless since Bex wasnt using it for anything other than a simple light. "You're the guy! Go see!" Bex said, "No actually dont! If you die then I'll be alone so dont go anywhere!" Bex shook her head, "And, you know. While we're on the subject, just..." Bex looked back to where the noise came from, "Dont die." Of course, none of them were going to die tonight, unless Bex died of fright of course. Why had she come out here tonight? Alone? In the rain? While it was thundering? To hide behind a rock shaped like a chicken and whimper? Bex wasnt a coward, she could be a nasty piece of work when you annoyed her. So why was she cowering right now?

"Braandoon!" Bex yelled as she thought she felt something tickle her neck. Jumping up from behind the rock, she ran over to the boy and clung onto his front. She buried her head in his chest, balling her fists on it too, while gripping his soaking wet shirt. She was trembling, though it was debateable whether it was due to being cold or due to the fear. Her heart was pounding, another clap of thunder and a burst of light illuminated the sky. Bex gave a sharp jump but tried not to move. Yes, she was frightened.

Brightside?
Brad was with her.

[Brandon Rosenberg]

The poor girl looked scared out of her wits. Whether she was shaking from the cold or her unmovable, very visible fear he was unsure. Her hair was still perfect even though it was dripping wet, and her makeup was unfazed by the raindrops trickling down her face. Strange though, to be so perfect still in such imperfect weather. He just stood there for a moment as she mumbled due to fright. Her mumblings became higher in pitch and quicker, and it took Brandon a while to figure out what she had actual just said before she said something else. From where Bex was standing, it probably looked like he was being an idiot and ignoring her, when it truth he was thinking of ways he could help. He had no wand, so pretty much every way he thought he could help her, like drying her, or even just drying her hair by conjuring a towel were out of the question. He knew Bex was obsessed with her hair, and she always liked it perfect. He felt pretty useless not even having a light.

“Are you alright miss?” He smiled at her little squeeks of terror at the thunder. “I guessed you weren’t having much fun by the ‘rabbit caught in headlights’ look plastered all over face” he joked.
“And I know I’m an idiot, but what’s your excuse? I did come in here with two friends, but they seem to of disappeared and left me alone...in the dark...with no wand...and no memory of how the hell to get out of this place. Some friends huh?”

As she jumped again at the thunder and lightning, Brandon couldn’t help but laugh at her as she jumped behind a rock that looked strangely like a chicken.
“Who do you think I am? Zeus?!” he laughed, but soon stopped, knowing she wouldn’t appreciate him laughing at her fears. As he was about to walk over to her, she jumped again at a noise that was not thunder nor lightning, but it sounded like a twig snapping.
“Do you want me to go and look or not? Miss indecisive!” he smiled.
“I think the chances of us dying are very slim Bex, and by my rate of luck at the minute, it would only be me that died anyway, so you have nothing to worry about. Besides, you have a wand, do you want me to go wandering off into the dark, scary woods all by myself with no wand to light my way or protect me against all the monsters and ghoulies hidden deep within the labyrinth that is the forbidden forest!” he said in a creepy, old man’s accent, nearing her slowly with arms outstretched, and fingers wiggling at her as if he was about to jump her. He wasn’t scared of being in the woods in the dark, neither was he scared of thunder and lightning. What he was scared of however, was not having his wand incase something did decide it wanted fresh meat. The chances of him being ripped to shreds were minimal, but he had heard rumours a new girl died in the forest just a few months before, AND she had a wand.

He soon stopped mucking about when she was not hiding behind the rock anymore and was on his person, fists balled, and head buried into his chest. His hands indistinctively cradled her head into his chest for a moment before wrapping his unzipped hoodie sides around her as much as possible. They stood there for a moment in silence, Brandon unbelieving of the situation they were both in. Breaking his thoughts, he gave a cough, and let her go.
“Did you come in here alone, or was Lexie with you?” he asked. A silly question, but anything to break the silence, that he now had made awkward for himself.

Looking around, he looked for a bit more shelter under a large tree or something. The closest was a large oak tree nearby, so grabbing Bex’s wand free hand, he pulled her under it and sat her on a large rock next to him. It was a little dryer under here, but only just. Pausing for a moment, he unravelled his scarf and wrapped it around Bex’s neck. Quickly pulling off his hoodie, he placed it over her shoulders in attempt to keep her warm. Giving her a reassuring smile, he folded his arms over one another, leaning forward and placing his elbows on his thighs. Looking back at her after a minute of staring at the raindrops fall from the leaves in quick succession, he raised his eyebrow.
What a night this was turning out to be.

[Becky Dowell]

Bex looked scared out of her wits? She was more than scared out of her wits, if that was even possible. She knew how thunderstorms could be, and judging by the amount of rain, how hard it was coming down, and how close together the thunder and lightening was. This was going to be a pretty major storm. Just Beckii's luck to be caught outside in the damned thing. While Bex was rambling and making no attempt to even make heads nor tails of this situation, Brad was being even less useful than she was, if that was at all possible. Considering it was clear neither of them knew how to get out, and it seemed they would never find it in this storm, they should at least look for a cave or form of shelter. There had to be someplace. That would have been what Bex would have done if she wasnt so terrified. Bex was now dripping wet through and was convinced she looked like the back end of a beaver or a rat, something that wasnt very nice to look at anyway.

"Oh yeah, Im a peach doll thanks." Bex stated rather dryly, which was strange considering her soaked state. "Since when did I become a rabbi-ahhh!" Bex didnt quite finish that sentance as she fell backwards over a rock when more thunder hit. "Im a braindead oaf?" Bex asked as she pushed herself up, now grossly aware of herself being covered in even more filth. This was not how Bex had planned her night. What she wouldnt give for a warm fire and a good book. No, scrap that. Her bed. She really wanted her bed right now. As Bex tried to brush some of the dirt off herself, only to smear it and get it all over her hands, if this was any other situation, Bex would be having a hissy fit by now. "Wait!" Bex stammered, "You dont know how to get out!?" She questioned, now they were in trouble. Neither one knew how they got in, so how were they to know how they get out?

Bex thew a deathglare at Brad when he began to laugh at her, crouched behind her chicken rock which was strangly fitting for her right about now. She was certainly acting like a chicken, but even so, he should comfort her, not laugh. Isnt that was guys are meant to do? Or was she mistaken? "No, But I'm beginning to think your useless" Bex stated as she stuck out him, though almost bit it when she heard a twig snap. God, she wouldnt be doing this again in a hurry, that was for sure. "No!" Bex yelled, throwing her hand out to stop him, though pulling it back nearly as fast. "I dont want you to look. I dont wanna know what it is. What if its a werewolf or a vampire or a zombie or a crazed man or woman eating thing?" Bex looked back to where the sound came from and gave another small whimper, "I'm not indecisive! Im scared! Difference!"

"Dont say that!" Bex demanded when he said the chances of death were slim, "In horror movies the person who says that is always the first to die!" As he carried on speaking, Bex's eyes became slightly wider, "Brandon Rosenburg! Stop trying to scare me or you will be the one sat up with me all night!" Bex ran a hand over her dripping wet hair, though she regretted it almost instantly. He was right though, this place was like a labyrinth. Only darker and scarier. She always pictured Labyrinths to be like the one in the muggle movie with David Bowie in it, where she could talk to super cute worms. But oh no, here that meant trees and mud and werewolves and... Howl. Wolf. Not good. "Brandon," She said quietly, "Please lie to me and tell me that wasnt what I thought it was!"

Once she was clung to him, she felt a little safer. Not much, but a little and that was enough for her right now. When he put his arms around her, Bex took a deep intake of breath, something which she seemed to be short on for a moment. She seemed to relax a little bit, she wasnt as tense as she was before. Though she was still shivering. Feeling softness and warmth, she realised he was wrapping his hoodie around her, trapping what little remained of their body heat inside it. His scent filled her nose, as did the scent of the forest too. It was strange, but somehow nice. Hearing him cough, she looked up at him as he let her go and realised the sort of situation they were both in just a few seconds before. Feeling a flush warm her pale and cold cheeks, Bex quickly looked away and shook her head to his question.
"No," She answered quietly, "Lex is smart, she wouldnt have come in here on a night like this." Or would that usually be the other way around, Lex would be here, and Bex wouldnt?

She tried to ignore the awkward and rather embarrassing silence that crept over them, not noticing Brad look around. Feeling a hand grab hers, she instinctivly pulled for a second, muttering a "Whaddyadewin'?" Through chattering teeth, though silently thanking him for finding somewhere halfway dry. She sat on the rock which was conviently right up against a tree. Pulling her legs up, she cuddled herself. Usually Lex and Bex would cuddle eachother if they were cold like best mates do, but seeing as how Lex wasnt here, Bex would have to make do with her legs. Feeling something snake around her neck, unexpectidly, Bex gave a small jump. Yes, she was jumpy but who could blame her? Next came Brads hoodie, that even though was too big for her and looked like she could wear it as a nightie, it looked pretty good on her. Strange, her best friends brothers clothes looking good on Bex. Flushing again as she thought of this, she looked down at the floor instead. "Thankyou" She said with a smile, her dark eyes looking to the floor, but her hair covering the side of her face so it was unlikely Brad would see it. "We should find somewhere dry, like a cave or something." Though adding quickly, "With no creatures though. Creatures bad."

[Brandon Rosenberg]

The rain was pouring harder now and the shelter which Brad had just lead them under wasn’t doing as much good as Brandon thought it would. The rain seemed to of changed direction and with this, it obviously made them wetter, If that was even possible of course. What a pair they were. Bex scared at every little noise, and hiding behind chicken rock, and Brandon who had come in with two friends, had lost them, forgotten his wand, and had somehow come across Beckii in the midst of all of this. He wondered for a moment if Josh and Darren somehow knew he liked Beckii, and somehow lead her into the forest too, with a hair accessory trail or something similar. The idea of course was so stupid, but Brandon’s mind tended to wander off a lot into the most random things. He still hadn’t figured out about the giant squid yet, and hoped he’d see it one day. It’s times like that, when you think you see a tentacle popping up out of the water, that you think you’re going mad.

Lifting his arm up, he pulled at a leaf, just for something to do, now that he had no hoodie to plunge his hands into the pockets. Another ingenious idea coming from Brandon Corey Rosenberg as he pulled, the captured water on the tree shook at the pressure and dropped on the stranded pair like someone had just dumped a bucket of water on them from above. As the mass of water hit, mainly Brad, he just sat there, arm still stretched upwards and his hair now flattened against his head, so much in fact that if he was blonde, he would look bald. As it covered his face, he seemed rather unimpressed with himself, and flicked his head back, so his hair was now slicked back, before he ran his fingers over it in attempt to tame his wet locks. Glancing at Beckii, he was just awaiting her laughter before he ended up tickling her for being so cheeky. As another few thunder claps passed over head, it did sound like it was nearing rather quickly, and this spot obviously wasn’t the best place to stay, nor the driest.

Brandon gave her a rather puzzled look.
“Don’t you mean Lex would normally be the one out here and you’d be in the library?” he said, flashing her a cheeky grin. By the looks of it, the pair of girls had swapped personalities for a night. It absolutely mind boggled him as to why Beckii would come in here alone, when she was scared of so many things in here.
“Me, useless? Of course I am. Pfft, you don’t know me very well by now Beckii Dowell do you?” he joked. As she threw her hand out to stop him walking away, not like he tried, he shook his head at her indecisiveness.

“Honestly woman. Between you and Lex, you two will be the death of me for sure. I just know it. You’ll pull some prank on me, or you, Missy, will give me another heart attack” his voice pitch raised up a notch as he exclaimed his prophecies of death to her.
“And do you really think any muggle horror film is real? Nothing like that is going to come after you. It’s the giant squid you need to worry about!” he said in an even higher voice than previously. Okay, so he was getting rather paranoid about that damn squid in the lake now. Honestly, what was the point of it? On his second day at Hogwarts it was being all mysterious and trying to scare him by popping a tentacle up. The thought of seeing it again mystified him, yet creeped him out as the same time. The day he sat there pretty much until it was time for bed, he had not seen it once, and he probably looked like a maniac asking people if there was a real life squid in there or if he was imagining it. Looking back at her, he raised his eyebrows.
“Don’t look at me like that! All I know is that it wasn’t waving at me, that’s for damn sure” he said, standing up and looking around.
“Alright, so are we gonna try and find a cave or what? Or do you want to stay and hug your chicken rock all night, because there’s no chance we’ll be able to get out of here tonight” he asked, beginning to walk off. Unsure of where he was going, but he was sure to stumble over something sooner or later. Literally of course.

[Becky Dowell]

The two of them sat underneath a tree, in the middle of the forest, with one wand between them, one jacket, in the middle of a huge thunderstorm completley lost. Can you get any more hopeless if you tried. Bex was a dab hand at cosmetic spells like drying your hair and straightening it, she had even been known to have the straighteners charmed, so while she was applying her makeup, her straighteners and brushs were doing all the hard work. Though, there was really no point in doing it now, as soon as she did, they would be drenched again anyway. Bex was soaked through to the bone and shivering, even with the added heat, though there was little, of Brad's jacket. She was sure she would wake up sniffling tomorrow. Hot cocoa and bed rest for Bex, Lex would make sure of that.

It was nights like these Bex wished she had never become a witch, not that it was a choice but nevermind. Of course she never told anyone about these doubts, as they never occured often and Bex loved being a witch. It made her feel all powerful over those stupid muggle boys who think they have a right to touch her. Bex turned to say something to Brad, but instead found herself watching as he picked a leaf of the tree, any moron would know what the result of that would have been, but Brad wasnt any moron, no, Brad was Brad. He defined moron sometimes. Or loser. Either way. Though Bex thought he was cool, amongst many other things she wouldnt tell him, or Lex, or anyone. Rules. As the water hit them, though Bex only got a few splashed of it, she couldnt help but laugh at his now, even more drenched state. Maybe this wouldnt turn out to be the worst night ever, just a really bad one which Lex will have to help put right no doubt. "You absolute loser, Brad." Bex laughed before looking away.

"I dont live in the Library you know!" Bex snapped half mindedly. Though, glancing down she shrugged her shoulders before wiping a rather wet strand of hair from her eyes. "I just dont want to fail so I go there a lot." Raising her eyebrows, she looked at Brad, "Lex is clearly smarter than both of us, as its me sat here not her."
In all fairness, Bex wasnt usually as jumpy as she was tonight. Though the fact thunderstorms were her worst fear, every other fear seemed to be magnified ten fold by it. So she wasnt that brave, hell if she was she'd have been a Gryffindor, not a Ravenclaw. Not that the house personalities meant anything these days. Bex was sure the hat just placed people where it wanted, not where it thought best for the students anymore.
"I know you well enough Brandon Rosenburg."

"Hey!" Bex said in a high pitched squeel, playfully punching him on the arm though it had no effect at all as her punch just slid off him cause of the two being drenched. "You're not all sunshine and daisies either you know." Bex looked away at the word Prank, and her's and Lex's idea of what to do to Brad for April Fools came rushing back. "Me? Give you a heartattack?" Bex asked, "How is that even possible?"
"Like the Squid can get to the forest dimwhit" She retaliated, still, Horror Movies scared Bex and she wouldnt watch them alone. She usually watched them with Lex and screamed at all the jumpy parts. Bex was a right little girl, everyone knew it. Though annoy her and you will more than likely regret it. "And how do you know horror movies aint real? Every fiction has to start with some kind of fact. Even if its tiny. Besides, what about Inferi?" Bex asked, "They're corpses that Dark Wizards control, how do you know a dark wizard isnt planning on attacking us with a whole bunch of Inferi! And you know, already dead so quite hard to kill." So Bex's imagination was quite wild. She could always think of stupid things, it was quite surprising she was so smart, considering she was so stupid too. "How do you know it wasnt?" Bex looked at Brad, her face questioning, "I've heard that the Squid has been known to shake hands with people" Furrowed brow, "Or tentacle. Whichever."

Bex stood up, cradeling her arms around herself and nodded slightly. Finding a cave in this storm would be a brilliant idea. "Well hot chocolate is out of the question then." She said, pulling Brad up and linking her arms though his in an attempt to keep them both slightly warmer. "Cave hunting it is then."

[Brandon Rosenberg]

Okay, this situation wasn’t exactly the best one Brandon had ever been in. He could think of better things to be doing than stuck in a forest with no wand, and soaking to the bone with rain. Of course the up side was that Beckii was with him, even if she was being a drama queen. He had never known anybody as scared of as many things as she was, yet the most common fear being spiders, was what she loved. A rather strange girl indeed, but all her fears made her cute when she went all girly. It was a secret that he liked her, nobody knew, but he wasn’t the best at hiding his emotions so he was pleased that he’d not blurted it out or something by now. His sister Lexie, and Bex were like beauty scene queens, and they knew pretty much every trick in the book for vanity charms, like charms for hair, makeup, and little handy tips to keep themselves pristine and looking great constantly. Brandon can never recall seeing the pair without makeup or looking a mess, or even with a single hair out of place. Even though they looked after themselves, there was something about them that was not vain. Maybe it was because they weren’t reapplying things every 5 minutes, or constantly looking in the mirror. True, the girls were the epitome of vain, but at least they didn’t act like complete bitches to top it off. Maybe that was why Brandon disliked these typical ‘Beautiful girls’. Sure they were gorgeous, but boy did they have sour personalities to match.

As Brandon began to sniffle, he knew he would end up with a bad cold tomorrow and a runny nose. Heck, he may even go into the girls dorm and lie with Bex and Lex and get taken care of by his dear, healthy, not soaking, wand prepared and warm sister. She would more than likely take pity on Bex but not Brandon. He would have some serious puppy eyes to pull then she would.
Now he had stupidly soaked himself more so, he just gave a sigh before giving a sniff up , unsure of whether it was rain or snot dripping from the end of his nose, he just sat there for a moment. Realising he was wearing a white t shirt with a muggle band on it. Obviously it had become slightly see-through and had begun clinging to him dramatically. Giving a small chuckle, he turned his head slightly to Beckii.

“I think I win the wet t-shirt competition Bex, don’t you? Pity though” he grinned, knowing she would probably hit him in retaliation for his cheeky remark.

Many names Brad was known as, but the most he had been called had been ‘Loser’. It was fair enough, he was a loser, but a cool loser. Yes, very contradictory, but so was Brad. A bundle of a mixture of personality traits all rolled into one. He was happy the way he was, and being stupid sometimes made him Brad. Like pulling down the leaf for instance, he knew the consequences of what would happen, but he did it anyway, it was like a compulsive thing. If he got something in his mind, he had to do it. He couldn’t stop himself. As another lightning bolt was seen above them, he flinched himself a little. The unexpected light was strange because there had been no thunder before it to warn them.

“Really? I was under the impression you’d made a little nest in between the books and everything!”
“Tell me Bex, do you regurgitate your food for your young?” he said cheekily. Every time he had tried to find her since his arrival, she was in the Library, or heading for their. It was like the girl was possessed. Still, he liked to go in there too, just not as much as Beckii did.

As she said he wasn’t all sunshine and daisies, he promptly stood up, handing on hips, and chest puffed out, pretending to be offended. Great, here comes another one of his impressions.
“Oh no, you did not just say that! I am all sunshine and daisies, your just jealous” he said in a camp voice, accompanied by the 3 clicks with his fingers in a ‘nuh huh girlfriend’ kinda way. As she mentioned inferi, he just rolled his eyes at her and her ways of thinking. He continued with his camp voice.
“And I thought I was dramatic and had an insane imagination...” He stopped his impression.
“I’m quite aware the squid is in water Bex, I was just referring to the eight tentacled water beastie” he shuddered again at the thought of it. Like a big Kraken. Was he getting scared of a squid? I think so!
“Shake hands? Well it can bloody well keep well away from my hands. I’m keeping them tentacle free thank you very much!” he began to say as they wandered off in search of a cave. This was going to be a long night. As he trudged through the now very muddy forest floor, he grabbed onto random branches for balance, and started getting further and deeper into the forest without Bex.

“Bex, hurry up for god sake before the inferi get you”

[Becky Dowell]

Asides from the splash of the rain in the ever expanding mud puddles which were no good at all for Bex's suade boots, the only other sound she could hear was the sound of Brad's sniffles. Bex was doing well to control hers, however sniffling was the last thing on her mind. She just wanted to be in a dry place by a nice fire. Actually she wouldnt even care if she was inside the castle, in the middle of the Dungeons, surrounded by Slytherins. And everyone knew how Bex felt about Slytherins. She really didnt like them, any of them. To be honest, Bex didnt like people who acted like a Slytherin. Which most girls who thought they were something acted like. True, Bex was very vain. Bex was pretty and she knew she was, but she didnt flaunt it. So she used cosmetic spells to get rid of zits and blemishes and to help her in the morning if she was too tired. Though that was simply being recreational. She liked to look after herself and there was nothing wrong with going for the whole haul.

"You what?" Bex asked, she hadnt been paying much attention, and the weather had certainly dampened Bex's spirit which Bex didnt even think was possible. Laughing as she realised what he said, she tried not to look too long at the fact his shirt was clinging to his body and she could see pretty much all the top half of him. "I agree, I think you do." Though as he said Pity, Bex laughed, taking a swing and slapping him slightly across the head. "Oh I dont know. I think it wouldnt be as good for me if I was winning."

It didnt matter what people thought of you. Bex never payed attention to what people thought of her, the way she saw it was if people talked about her, gossiped or whatever, then it meant they had to talk about someone else to make their dull pathetic lives just that little bit more interesting, while making the 'loser' just that tad bit more famous within the school. Nobody could really pinpoint Bex's personality, as soon as you thought you knew her, she would do something completley Un-Bex like and surprise you. Though Bex was who she was, and she didnt really mind what others said. She would quite happily walk down a corridor of Slytherins and have "mudblood" yelled at her. The way she saw it was, the Slytherins had been paying attention to her to know such an intimate detail about her life. It wasnt as though she hid it, but they must have listened and done their research on her to know so much about her.

"No" Bex smirked, "I hadnt quite gotten around to that yet. Everytime I went to make one, someone interrupted me with a question or something."
"My young?" Bex said, feeling a little paranoid she placed her hands over her stomache and looked down at it. It was a stupid comment for Brad to come out with, he, of all people knew, Bex was paranoid about her weight. Not that she needed to be. It wasnt as though she put weight on anyway, she had an exceptionally fast metabolism and tended to lose more weight then gain it. "What on earth do you mean by that?" She asked, and narrowed her eyes, throwing a look worthy of a Slytherin. "Seriously Brandon, I thought with you having a sister like Lex, and a close friend like me you would know better then to poke fun about a girls weight!" She gave a rather haughty 'hmph' sound and looked away from him. She was touchy on the subject, and he knew she was. It wasnt as though it was her fault, she barely even noticed the flash of light across the sky.

Turning to look at him as he spoke in a camp voice, a fire still burning in her eyes, he watched as he made a complete idiot out of himself.
"Jealous?" Bex raised an eyebrow, "Of you?" She scoffed, "I do not think so. I'd be more jealous of a flobberworm than of you." Then, adding even cheekier, "My my Brad, careful I'm beginning to think you are gay you do those impressions ever so well."
"Theres nothing wrong with a dramatic imagination." Bex whined, "It makes life less boring anyway." She listened as he spoke about the squid, it seemed to Bex as though he was afraid of a fish. As long as you stayed out of the water, or away from the lake it couldnt hurt you, and as she stated it had been known to be friendly on occasion. Though not very often, it still could be if it wanted to be. "But why refer to it when it couldnt possibly be in the Forest? The chances of that are a million to one and even by the off chance it was, without being in water it couldnt do anything and it would dry out and die." Being serious she added, "And you know as well as I do, even if you did not like it you wouldnt let the poor beast die without trying to help it, would you?" Bex laughed when he continued, god, he could be as bad as Bex sometimes. It was strange how she felt like she had too much in common with her best mates brother, and yet never feeling that sort of connection with anybody else. She had to remind herself in times like these he was off limits, especially to Bex. "Well you could form some kind of truce im sure."

The two of thm began to walk, whether deeper in or further out Bex couldnt say. Brad was infront of her, yet she was the one with the light, you would have thought Brad wouldnt have walked off without her. He seemed to be less and less gentleman like the more the night wore on. Looking up as he yelled back to her, Bex could have cursed him then and there for what he said. "Brad!" She yelled, "So not funny!" Though wasting no time, she jumped up and ran so she was level with him, slipping her arm once more through his and holding onto him for the pure comfort of safety, the two began to walk into the blackness. The light of her wand only reaching so far. A forked piece of lighting shot down not ten feet from them, Bex never screamed so loud, however, it was completley drowed out even to her ears as the crash and crack sounded, causing the tree infront of them to burst into flames, the rain water only aggrivating it, not helping as it began to spead quickly. She knew she couldnt let fear control her right now as the fire was rapidly spreading around them. "Aguamenti!" Bex yelled and pointed her wand at the burning tree. It put out the top of the fire, but the bottom was still very much fire like. "Aguamenti!" She yelled yet again as a jet of water, powerful enough to knock over a fully grown werewolf shot from her wand and hit the tree full force, stopping the flames before they had a chance to spread. Well, she officially hated lightening now after seeing that.

[Brandon Rosenberg]

As the time slowly went by, Brandon longed more and more just to be inside, warm, spread out on the Ravenclaw common room sofa so neither Lexie or Beckii could sit there, and just generally annoy the pair by throwing random things at them every so often. It was a bonus when he got something in the girls’ hair. Last time he sat and threw stuff at them, it so happened to be baked beans. Lexie soon threw him a swift punch in the arm and a face full of bird poop from the ‘Avis’ hex . He was not impressed when one almost pooped in his mouth. It was a good job he could get it all out before potions class that was half an hour later. He hadn’t been there that long but he already knew not to mess about with Professor Vance. The guy never seemed to have a right side, both sides were wrong. He still had to get her back for that, but what he would give for his wand right now, or even a change of clothes. Heck, even a map would be good!

Slytherins. Not the nicest bunch Brandon had ever come across. There were a few slimy characters themselves in Durmstrang, but putting them all in one group was just lethal. However, he had met a girl in slytherin in the dungeons just the day before the incident that Beckii and himself had gotten themselves into. She was a strange one. He had helped unhinge her from shackles that she said slytherins did to her. He was unsure whether it was a joke, or even a trick, but someone things were okay, and she didn’t seem much like a slytherin at all. Still, she must of had slytherin in her somewhere for the sorting hat to place her in there.

“I’m sure you would look better than me...not that i’m thinking about it or anything!” he said pulling a rather straight face. He was unsure why he mentioned the wet t-shirt in the first place, or why he just said what he did. She was sure to think that he was thinking about her like half naked or something now. Come to think of it....NO, bad Brandon Corey Rosenberg. Right now he would slap himself, but then she’d definitely think he was thinking of things.

Beckii was a cool girl. She was popular material, that was for sure, but unlike those popular girls who tried so hard to be popular, she didn’t have to try. Like those girls who were the whorey types, or were ‘the bitches’ she wasn’t. Sometimes she was too nice for her own good though, and there had been times where Brandon had seen her get talked to or treated like a piece of troll snot. Sometimes he intervened, others he didn’t because Lex had been there to give them a piece of her mind, and a hex or two. The rest of the times Beckii did it herself. It was cute though, to see a girl act like a girl, it made Brandon feel like he should protect her. Of course, he wouldn’t dream of doing it all the time. The girl could probably handle herself better than he could! Besides, some girls didn’t like other people to fight their battles for them, he only joined in when necessary. For a while beforehand, he was the shoulder to cry on. The one she ran too while Lexie was swearing all sorts of profanities at them and attacking them with hexes and herself. It felt good that he knew Bex wanted to come to him for comfort, and he felt wanted. Scrap that, he felt needed, even if it was only for a few brief moments.

His face soon changed into a look of despair. The girl thought she was fat. How women’s brains worked most of the time really perplexed him.
“Bex, I didn’t mean...Sorry. You know I didn’t mean that. Your perfec-..fine the way you are” in search of a change of subject, it was times like these he would begin to sweat. Touchy subjects like this with girls were always awkward.
“I happen to think flobberworms are cute. You know you do to!” he said with a cheeky wink. The squid. Urgh, ugly, eight tentacles slimy giant beast. Not exactly the scariest thing to mention, nor in the middle of a forest. It was true, the squid wouldn’t get here without dying.
“Maybe it’s a good thing I’m in here then. At least I’m away from the slimy thing...in fact, maybe I should stay away from the lake for a while, at least for a week or so” he said with shifty eyes, as if the squid would break its barriers of the lake and come chasing after him, sliding in between the trees and grabbing him and sucking his head off for badmouthing him.

As he began to walk, Beckii soon caught up after his shouts of inferi chasing her through the woods. Feeling her link her arm in his, he gave her a smile and slowed down. He only walked off to wind her up, but maybe it wasn’t the best place to tease her. Within seconds, hell broke loose and a fire started. Wandless, and feeling less manly than ever, all he could do was stamp at the small fires that had dropped to the ground, and attempt not to set himself of fire, while Bex dealt with the majority of it. After she had finished, he grinned, and over dramatized the stamps on the ground. Grunting, he turned to her;

“Don’t worry Bex, I got it”

[Becky Dowell]

Well Bex had spent enough time in Hogwarts to know wanting, longing and wishing never helped. You had to make the best of what hand was given to you, and though it seemed Bex and Brad had been dealt a very small hand, and a unhelpful one at that, they had to make the best of it. It didnt help the fact Bex knew right about this time, she would be curled up on the sofa in front of the fire, with a good book and a mug of chocolate, and tonight it seemed that she would be curled up in the corner of some dingy cave, with no chocolate and no book. Not to mention they still had to find this cave, and then find their way out tomorrow. Giving a sigh, she moved the soaked ends of her hair from her face. Bex wouldnt even mind somehow getting lost and ending up in the Slytherin Common Room seemed like a fairly good idea right now. Of course, once there she would probably prefer to be in the Forest. No win no win situation.

Beckii had only ever attended Hogwarts so she had never experianced any other schools. Nor had she met anyone from any other schools, apart from the transfer students like Brad and Max. Bex got along with both of them, but nobody's friendship would compare to Beckii's and Lexie's. The two girls were perfect opposites of one another, it was half the reason they got on so well. If they were both too similar it wouldnt work and Beckii and Lexie would end up arguing more than once. Luckily, their first and last argument had been last year over who got to buy the hair bow with a scull on it. Of course, Bex being obsessed with hair won that argument and still sported the bow proudly. Of course, she let Lex borrow it.

"You must be thinking about it to say it Brandon," Bex said, looking at him slyly, "And as much as I love you, I do not like the idea of you thinking about me in a wet t-shirt, so knock it off!" Bex was only joking with him, you could tell from the amusement in her voice she meant nothing by it. Bex was looking at Brad with suspicion written in her heavily makeupped eyes. If he wanted, Beckii would lend a hand willingly to slap him.

Beckii never asked for popularity, nor did she work hard or be any different than who she was to keep it. She didnt have to, because she was always just herself, and never tried to be anyone, or anything she wasnt, this gave her a better standing then those girls who walked with their chest puffed out, showing their cleavage and throwing themselves at anything with a pulse. Eugh, Bex would never dream of doing anything like that. Throwing themselves at a guy there was nothing lower.

It was true, there were times when Beckii was too nice for her own good. Though she knew her limits and when someone pushed her too far, she would make them sorry for it. Though, since Bex wasnt the fighting kind of girl, she was more peaceful, it was Lex who did the sticking up while Beckii used to go and talk to Brad. There were times when one of the two tried to intervene and Bex would happily throw a Hex their way to stop them from meddling, of course, her Hex's towards Lex and Brad never connected. There was a time when Beckii used to go to Brandon when she needed someone to talk to, or someone to tell her everything would be okay. When she was first called a Mudblood it stung and Bex went straight to Brandon who hugged her and stroked her hair. He was a great friend to her, and he always would be.

Bex looked at him and was about to laugh, but she heard the word that sounded strangely like perfect. That was something Brad never said. Though the two were close, Brad had never said to Bex or Lex they were perfect, it was strange and Bex didnt quite know what to say.
"I know, Brad, I know!" Bex said with a smile, meaning she knew he didnt think she was fat. She seemed to go lost in her thoughts and the flobberworms comment passed without an answer. Her mind had a question, one she didnt want to ask herself, let alone him, though being pulled from her thoughts she looked at Brad. "Well if your that terrified of it, and you like the lake." Bex began, "Wouldnt it be wise to learn about it? At least that way you will be prepared if it ever does rear its slimy head."

It seemed like the two of them had been walking for ages, and once the fire was put out, they began again. Bex would laugh when she was in cave, right now that was all she wanted. She was cold, and tired and wanted her bed. She couldnt believe she had to camp out on a stone floor which would more than likely make her wake up stiff due to the cold floor. "Can we please find a cave?" Her tone was almost pleading, she felt a little weak if she was honest, this whole experiance had been emotionally draining for her. Not to mention the screams, running, jumping and putting otu fire had pysically drained her too. "Carry me!" She laughed as the two of them weaved in and out of trees.

[Brandon Rosenberg]

Closing his eyes, he thought of the warmth of a nice cup of tea, and a nice cheese sandwich and what good it would do for him. Brandon was mad on cheese sandwiches and tea; there was no better combination in his eyes. Breathing in, he could swear he could smell the sandwich as if it was right in front of him, but opening his eyes soon confirmed that there was no platter of sandwiches before him. Pouting a little in disappointment, he looked around as he continued walking with Beckii still attached to his arm. How badly he wanted to slide his hand down and for his fingers to entwine into hers. Maybe if he did it would bring them both more comfort, but nerves got the better of him, and so he just pulled his arm closer to his body, giving Beckii a small sense of comfort, or at least he hoped it would. Even if it didn’t, at least it would keep her arm a little warmer.

It was insane on how well Lexie and Beckii got on. They were the closest pair of friends Brandon had ever known, and it was rare you saw one without the other. The girls were so similar yet completely opposite, which by looking at them, you wouldn’t think they were so dissimilar to one another, but once you got to know them, Lexie was the mad one, and Beckii would be considered as the more sensible one. Lexie was one who would jump off high places and take loads of risks, whereas Beckii was the more clever one. She knew pretty much everything, and of course was so extremely beautiful it hurt. Lexie would do well in Quidditch and Brandon had always asked her if she was interested. She was, but she was unsure if she would be good enough. Still, Brandon new one day that she would try-out and because of her recklessness she would do well within Quidditch. She was also such a potions boffin, and she was pretty much a specialist on the subject. Quite strange really, seems as though she was never really seen with a study book in her hands.
Giving a sigh and looking up to the sky, rain dripped into Brandon’s eyes, making him blink quickly and rub at his eyes.
“Bad idea, I swear that’s probably got acid in it” he said, biting his lip as the rain stung his eyes.
“I wasn’t thinking it, I promise!” he exclaimed. Oh god, now she was going to think he was some sort of pervert or something. However, a look of surprise spread across his face as the hand of Beckii he thought would soon collide with his face didn’t. Strange. Attempting to make it look like he wasn’t thinking about it, he quickly spoke up again.
“Besides, you wouldn’t mind seeing me in a wet t-shirt again would you?” he smirked, nudging her gently with his elbow. Of course he was joking and was trying to get the attention away from her in a wet shirt.

Like Beckii, Brandon could sometimes be too nice for his own good. Although, he always knew when people were taking the mickey and soon put a stop to it. Although this didn’t happen very often as Brandon always made sure people knew where they stood in places like that.

As Beckii said it would be wise to study about the giant squid, Brandon’s hand raised to his chin and he began to stroke it, his beard scratching softly against his fingers.
“Hmm, I think your right there Bex. See, you’re not just a pretty face after all!” he joked.
“Yes we’ll find a cave, as soon as we- found one!” he grimaced as his foot stamped into a huge stone. Letting go of Bex, he clutched at his foot and hopped about biting his lip in pain. After a moment passed, he let go and began to hobble.
“Okay, that hurt!”
“Ladies first” he said pointing to the entrance of the cave.