(Lake) Lake by star light and a hopeful flash

[Sarie Thimble]

Sarie looked out over the lake. She love this place. She had her sliver arrow laying in front of her. It glinted with its finished polish. "I wounder if Ian would realize its the same one?" She felt her cheeks blush, she had a really bad crush on Ian since they had met. She looked up remembering it was only two months ago they had both been sitting here talking. She missed him.

She took her gaze from broom and looked over the lake again. She loved the lake because it made her think of home. She loved her family's lake side manor but she wished see her Phoenix. She loved those birds the scarlet and gold feathers she had only seen one once. She wished could see one again. Sarie saw something reflected in the water. She looked up nothing. She sighed.

[Dax Simmons]

Dax was settling down into his new job, although he still found it hard to sleep at night, his mind wandered to thoughts of Loren and wishing he was with her. Trying to ignore that fact that he would not be seeing Loren until Christmas Dax tried to focus on his duties, and tonight was his time to go and hunt for people who maybe out of bed.
He was not planning on punishing anyone, he did not have that power as Keeper of Keys but he knew that many students (like he used to do) find it amusing to go out for late night walks when the castle is at its most dangerous.

And it was on this particular night that Dax spotted someone down by the lake, simply sitting there with a broomstick by them. Feeling curious and the want to have some form of social contact with other people then the scary looking creatures that were inside the ground mans hut Dax changed his direction and headed down towards them.

“That is a nice broomstick. I used to have one just like it….that was until I misjudged hitting a bludger and it broke the stupid thing in half.”

Dax turned to look, at what he now recognised to be a female Gryffindor and a wide grin filled his face.

[Sarie Thimble]

Sarie turned to see a person. She remember being a 7th year last year. He had been in Hufflepuff but she didn't know his name. "Really thats bites. It was a gift from a friend so I really want to take care of it. I'm Sarie, Sarie thimble. Good to meet you. So you work here now? Your where a 7th year last year right?" She asked.

[Dax Simmons]

Dax wondered over and sat down on the cold grass next to her. Turning his head Dax smiled away as she introduced herself as Sarie Thimble, the name rang a bell with him, most likely he had heard someone mention her in passing conversation. As she asked about him Dax nodded her head and his cheeks turned a small hint of red.

“Well actually I was the Defence Against the Dark Arts apprentice lat year. I really can not leave this place can I.” Dax gave a soft chuckle and scratched the side of his face nervously. “Dax Simmons Huff…no wait Keeper of Keys. Yep they knew they could not get rid of me so they gave me the keys to the bloody place.”

Reaching out Dax held out his hand for Sarie to shake, it seemed to be the only thing he could think of doing and it had to be so formal. But he guessed he was now an employee of the school and should act like a responsible adult…..not that he was.

[Sarie Thimble]

Sarie shook Dax's hand. "Glad to meet you. So you took over after Professor Potter took History of magic." Sarie was glad to meet one of the staff. "So do you see creatures arond all the time." Sarie was the adventurous tpye she woundered the school for hours at a time.

She looked up to the sky wishing the flash would come back. SHe wanted to know if it really was a phoniex or if she was just daydeaming to much.

[Dax Simmons]

Shaking Sarie’s hand a warm smile spread across Dax’s face, for some reason in the past he would have been too nervous to even talk to someone else in fear of what Loren would say, but now Loren was not here, she was in London it was like another lease of life for him. Dax actually felt comfortable in the presence of other people. Letting go of her hand Dax looked out over the moon lit lake only turning away to look at the Gryffindor as she mentioned something about the staff and animals that he dealt with.

“Yes Professor Potter left everything in rather good order so I had very little do at first although I believe I will need t wondering around the forest to get to know my way around and get to know the creatures that live in there. “

Dax gave a soft chuckle and looked over towards the tall, rather daunting trees that made up the forbidden forest. It was not that Dax lacked bravery, when he was face to face with a situation he liked to think he could deal with things rather well, but it was the summoning of the courage that he lacked. As he turned to face Saire it suddenly clicked with him that she actually seemed rather interested in the whole prospect of meeting the creatures. Filled with a sudden surge of excitement Dax tried to act as casual as possible but he could not help but let a jovial tone slip in.

“ You could come with me if you like? That is when I do eventually enter the forest to see everything is in order. It would be nice to have some company.”

[Sarie Thimble]

Sarie's eyes lit with joy. "Really! You don't mind." She had been in the forset once. It wasn't a very happy memory but still. She had become more daring over the summer. "Have you ever seen a threastal?" Sarie was in love with those lizard like horses they where gentle beings.

She looked at the forest in a daze. She would be safe and she really wanted to go. What if a phoniex lived there. That was hopeful thinking but still. She felt a breeze.

[Dax Simmons]

Dax stared on with joy as he watched the happiness explode over the girls face. He would never have guessed that such a simple suggestion could mean so much to someone, but yet it was not everyday you got to walk into the forest without having to worry about getting into trouble. As the excitement continued to build in Sarie she asked if he had ever seen any Thestrals, and he found himself following her gaze towards the forest.

“I am not sure with it is good thing that I have not. From what I have read and heard they are amazing creatures, but I have also had the good fortune never to witness the death of anyone.”

Dax frowned slightly as he looked over at the Gryffindor, she was so young, and in Dax’s mind she should be innocent but by the way she was talking she had witnessed the death of someone meaning she would be able to see the creatures. Unease slowly spread over Dax and the nosey part of him wanted to learn more and ask questions while the other did not want to force the girl to have to re live bad memories.

“But I am sure we can go hunting for some when we go into the forest. I bet they will be more then happy to make an appearance and tease the new Keeper of Keys because he can not see them.”

Folding his arms in a fake pout Dax tried to keep the act up by not laughing, although found it extremely hard and gave in to the smile that was breaking out across his face.

[Sarie Thimble]

Sarie alomost jumped for joy. Then she saw the look on his face. "Is it the threastal thing. Lots of people see death all the time, but all death isn't sad. I watched my grampa die. It was a happy death. He had a long life and was ready to fall sleep and never wake up. He told me that right before I said good night and he died. He was happy." She finshed her story. She looked at Dax hoping she didn't freak him out.

[Dax Simmons]

Dax broke out of his fake pout and listened closely to Sarie’s story about her Grandfathers death. It was always sad when a family member to die, but the way she had explained it showed wisdom that was beyond her years. Nodding his head in agreement Dax gave a small smile as he thought about it more, he had not been there when his grandparents had died and at the time he was pleased as he knew it would have been too painful for him, but yet the idea of being able to say his last goodbye would always be nice.

“Your right, I suppose there is the right kind of seeing death it is just you normally only hear about the terrible ones. I saw my goldfish die while I was eating my dinner once when I was 5 do you think that counts?”

Dax gave a soft chuckle wondering if he really should laugh at things like that. He did love that goldfish. Frowning slightly at this thought Dax looked at the forest one more time and shot up off the grass and turned to face Sarie holding out his hand to help her up.

“Why don’t we go and see? If you still want to come along, I understand if you do not the forest is dark and….”

Dax broke off into quite mumbling hoping that Sarie would take up his offer, it would be nice for some company and a small adventure to go with it was always tempting.

[Sarie Thimble]

"I'm not scared of the forest." She laughed. "I'm not so sure about the gold fish but we can try." She took his hand and hoped up. She wasn't the shy little first year any more. "Lets go!" She laughed again.

[Dax Simmons]

A wide smile spread across Dax’s face when Sarie took hold of his hand and pulled herself off the floor. For the first time in taking up this post he was about to do something that was worthwhile, that even though he would be acting mainly on the sociable side he would also be doing something towards his job. When her voice rang out around them commanding to move on Dax nodded at her and stared to walk off towards the forest.

“We must not get split up if something happened to you then not only would I never be able to forgive myself it would be my job on the line as well.”

Looking over his shoulder as he walked Dax gave Sarie a small wink before turning back focusing on where he was going, although absentmindedly he found himself patting his pockets making sure that he did have his wand handy. You never know when you may need it in the forest and with a second year to protect he most certainly needed to be quick at drawing it.

[Sarie Thimble]

Sarie nodded at Dax. "Don't worry I'm not about to run off in the forest." She was ready but still remembering her last time it didn't go over very well and she had met a ghost. "Also don't worry about your job I wouldn't put that at stake." She smiled. She couldn't wait go off and explore.

[Dax Simmons]

To say Dax was relived to hear Sarie say she would not run off would be an understatement . His heart stopped beating at ludicrous fast and he was able to breath properly. He really did panic at stupid things, and would run away at the slightest chance of danger if he was by himself, but around others he felt like he needed to act tougher then he was. But he was glad he was with a Gryffindor, all be it a second year their bravery would help push him through it and Sarie seemed to be no expectation.

“I am glad to hear it. I would hate to have to walk up to Loren and tell her I had been fired as I managed to put a Gryffindor in mortal peril in my first week.”

With a soft chuckle Dax moved closer to the forest, he could hear the trees rustling in the wind and the distant howls of the creatures. He did not know what sound a Thestrals made if any, he guessed he would have to relay on Sarie to find them all. With a small sigh he pulled out his wand and whispered ‘lumos’ letting the small beam of light shine from the end and light the patch of darkness around them as they slowly headed into the forest.

[Sarie Thimble]

Sarie followed Dax's example. "Lumos" She heard distant howls of the creatures. "That doesn't sound like them hey do more like a call a bird from the stone age. I don't know what that was."

She looked around hoping it wasn't a werewolf. Not that she didn't mind them but she rather not meet one of them in the forest. "Who's Loren? I you don't mind me asking.