(Lake) Admiration

[Charlie Peers]

A moth fluttered about lazily, fluttering without a care between the intertwinings of a thick bush, until escaping the spindly branches and finding the free air. Keeping to the shadows it ignored the busy ants scampering throughout the bush antenna sweeping from side to side in search for luckless unwary prey to wander into their midst. As a small roach ventured unwittingly to near the entrance to their nest, a dozen soldiers advanced threateningly upon it; giving no quarter they lept upon the roach and as the circle of life willed it; the ants were victorious and took their bloodied prey within their nest to feast.

Charlie squirmed in discomfort on seeing that, her face turning a sour green of disgust, and feeling an urge to wash all of a sudden. Pinpricks were imagined as she feared hundreds of ants crawling about her skin. Raising onto her haunches she smiled down at a small unthreatening ladybird that happily began crawling up her leg. Charlie blew lightly upon it, and the ladybird flew off into the distance. Trying to focus upon the moth once more, she found it after a few moments of fruitless search, daring to venture out of the shadows, into the bright light of day. Flittering about wildly for a few precariosu moments it seemed quite petrified and quickly decided against an early death at the hands of bird out to feed its young. Landing upon the ground the moth twitched sensing danger once again, and finding it as the guarding ants swept from beneath their rock once more. Taking pity upon the moth Charlie held out her forefinger steadily to it, with extreme caution so as not to damage its delicate wings she allowed it to hop onto her finger; thinking it simply continued up a slight rise. Cheared of their prey the ants returned to their home; contented that it was safe once more.

The moth quickly took flight once again; daring to venture out into the big wide world. Hoping it would survive Charlie's attention shifted to the vastness of the lake itself, absorbing the slow lapping of the shining gentle waves against the sides. As the water gleamed she knew just beneath the surface it lay murky and generally filthy, but the radiant light emphasised its beauty; playing tricks upon the mind. That's what she would claim for her own looks, exaggerated outrageously, yet in reality sat beneath the eaves of small copse of trees; just a half-dozen Mountain Ash heralding the greatness of the Forbidden Forest itself, light dappled through the overhanging branches, casting her half in welcomed shade from the heat, illuminating her bronzing, but really more burning, arms.

Happily viewing the scenery Charlie didn't hear the approaching footfalls until they were upon her, "oh hello," she called cheerily not taking her eyes off the lake and absentmindedly patting the earth beside her, no matter who it was surely they wouldn't mind sitting awhile absorbing the grandeur of the scenery?

[belisma]

Bella had been trying to sneak up on the girl, who had been interested in the workings of ants at the time her feet had started moving in her direction. But halfway there, the girl, lifting a moth into the air for it to flutter away into the afternoon sky. Then, Bella began to worry that, with lack of something else to be absorbed into, the girl would notice her. Heart pounding in her chest, she continued on anyway, enjoying the slight thrill of sneaking up the way she was.

"Oooh damn!" she hard herself say as the girl said hello, then, her cheeks flushing in embarrassment, she tried again. "I mean, hello to you too."

Skipping forward now, not bothering to try to step between tiny sticks and lighten her footfalls, she lifted her hair up with her hands, letting it fall again as a breez e came, carrying her light curls backward, like a flowergirl holding the trail of the bride's gown. She didn't really know whyshe was about to talk to a female, since she detested most she met, but she decided to give it a try.

The lake was beautiful today, the late-day sun reflecting off it's surface like a gigantic mirror set there by God just so the sun could admire her beauty before she settled down to rest for the evening. Clouding drifting in and out of the scene were only slightly disformed by the tiny breeze that danced across the surface of the lake. Admiring the beauty that the water had created by reflecting the sky, Bella sat down next to the girl, noting that she was wearing Hufflepuff robes. Bella had always been jealous of the Hufflepuffers, they seemed to have unlimited patience, and almost never lost their temper.

"Beautiful day, isn't it?"

[Oliver Turner]

Oliver was strolling along the Lake, exploring a bit as he had recently transferred from Durmstrang, and all of this was new to him. He noticed another Hufflepuff, seemingly fascinated with the surrounding nature. He was about to come up to her, when he noticed what looked like a Gryffindor, coming up behind her. Was she attempting to sneak up? Oliver continued watching from afar.

The girl obviously had her 'plans' foiled when the Hufflepuff looked up and greeted her. Soon they began making small conversation. Ol didn't have any friends, or even many acquaintances because he was new. But he was determined to make some, so, he began to walk stiffly towards the two girls.

He heard the Gryffindor mention something about a beautiful day, and Oliver smiled faintly at them both - he was rubbish at introductions, always a bit shy. "Hi," he said, rather quietly. "I'm new here, transferred from Durmstrang...thought I'd come and introduce myself..." he trailed off, realizing this wasn't the best introduction he could've come up with. "I'm Oliver Turner, by the way."

[Charlie Peers]

Mouth opening slightly in a gorm look verging on a pout, Charlie's eyes flickered towards the girl joining her. Thrilled that she was contented to just view the lake too she remained gazing upon it's radiance until for awhile suddenly saying "oh sorry, next time I'm sure you'll scare me, in fact if you tried right now I'd be scared." With a faint smile she added "I dunno why but the expected things make me jump as much as unexpected." Turning to assess the girl with a critical eye that had been absorbing every minute detail of the lake, it now focused upon the girl as Charlie's swung her legs around to face her, drawing her knees up and smiling at the newcomer.

About to comment that the lake's raw energy of the turbulent water combined with the light reflecting from it, truelly was an awe inspiring sight she fell forwards in fright as a boy's quiet voice spoke into her ear. Yelping in a squealish way she shouted "jumping jellyfish," and visibly shook a moment as she looked up at the boy, putting a hand to her heart wheezing, "yikes, I can honestly say I've never been so petrified, well cats scare me actually, and they jump right onto my shoulder, but at least they don't speak." She smiled gesturing for her fellow hufflepuff to sit and join them, grinning wheeled about to make space, forming a triangle for the trio to talk in.

"Oh it's kinda cool you got me," she added thinking the boy might feel bad for scaring her. "So hiya Olly Wolly."
Seeing his expression she explained with a shrug of her slim shoulders, "always do that, but the nickname doesn't tend to stick."

Laughing she said, "funny that, you try to scare me yet Olly here manages it without trying to." Grinning she slapped her knee, finding the irony quite hilarious. Suddenly becoming serious Charlie finished "Durmstrang eh? Cool, bet that was pretty awesome really, didn't get expelled did you?" She joked unaware that she could easily cause offense with such a comment. "It's an even more beautiful day with you pair arriving." She added randomly in belated answer to the ethereal looking, blond Gryffindor.

[Oliver Turner]

Oliver jumped back a bit when the Hufflepuff shouted something that sounded like 'Jumping jellyfish', but he was too shocked to completely process what it was she said. Immediately feeling bad for scaring her, he heard her say something about how cats scared her, but at least they didn't speak. Scratching the back of his head, Ol realized that his fellow Hufflepuff must've noticed the sorry look upon his face, as she motioned for him to sit down by making room.

"Olly Wolly?" he asked, raising an eyebrow, but at the same time feeling rather relieved she wasn't angry with him for scaring her. "I've never heard that one," he mused, taking a seat. He was still talking quietly, a habit he couldn't seem to shake.

"I suppose it is sort of funny," he agreed with the Hufflepuff, still not knowing her name. He looked to the Gryffindor and gave her a small smile.

"Oh, Durmstrang," he said, a distant look on his face. "No - I didn't get expelled," he added quickly. "But if I hadn't left earlier than I did, perhaps I would've been..." he trailed off once again, another bad habit of his. Oliver 'lived in his head' a lot, usually drawn back to his own thoughts even when talking to others. For once, though, he felt appreciated, something that was rare at Durmstrang. "It's a tough school...I didn't fit in that well," he spoke again. "But enough about me, could you tell me your names?" Ol asked them both politely.

[akira]

{ About any further spelling mistakes when she speaks.. It will be like that because she has difficulty pronouncing the letter 'r', and most large English words. Shes really Japanese. ^^; }

This place, mysterious as it was foreign, intrigued and confused her. She couldn't fit in, and a part of her didn't want to. Why Akira's parents moved to this new world, she would never know. And the bitter rivalries at this school! People cursed at eachother, attacking viciously with words and wands, instead of talking things out peacefully. Her mother had told her of these magical sticks, used instead of beautiful fans like in Japan.. Strange, she had thought at first. These 'wands' might seem more conveniant, but Akira was sure she would be unable to use them. Everyone she had encountered asked her which house she was in, frowning at her difficulty with the word's pronunciation. Being Japanese, the oriental witch couldn't say the letter r, always having to replace it with the letter l. They.. They all laughed at me. Akira thought, her lips parted in a small 'o' shape. That was at first, now it was a little easier, but she still fell into her old habits now and then. Remembering this with sorrowful eyes, she looked to the ground, pretending to be fascinated with a fallen leaf while trying not to tear up. She had to be strong for her family, for they must be as confused as she was.

Nobody could tell which house she was unless they asked; Akira didn't wear the Hogwarts' uniform like everybody else. Due to the posibility of becoming completely overwhelmed, the headmaster had granted her leniance in wearing her last school's dress code, a loose kimono. Not the kind the Geisha wore, for that would take time and many layers of expensive fabric. This one only had two layers, one underdress and a loose kimono overtop. Often found wearing beautiful jewelery in her hair, Akira was prone to wearing the color red, with gold accents. It was the color of her house, but besides that, it went well with her complexion.

Fanning herself quietly, she had abandoned the castle to walk by the lake. The sound of trickling water had always comforted her. Akira hadn't any intentions to run into a trio of students, let alone find conflicting houses interacting kindly with eachother. So not everyone here is mean spirited. She realised with a small, thoughtful 'hm'. Closing her fan but keeping it locked within her tiny fingers, the delicate-appearing fifth year approached them humbly. "I am.. Sorry, but, you do not mind me joining the.. Speaking?" Crinkling her forehead with concentration, Akira corrected herself with difficulty. "Convehsaytion." Bowing slightly, she dipped her head in greeting, offering a polite smile. Many pupils at the school had found this way of saying hello wierd, but it was how she was raised.

[/color]

[Oliver Turner]

Oliver looked up at the new arrival, as he had been fiddling with his wand. She seemed soft-spoken, but sounded...Asian? Ol thought about it, he hadn't really been around any Asians in Hogwarts that wore traditional clothing. Living in Scotland, he never saw many Asian people at all. But was she a professor? Usually everyone wore their house robes. She looked to young to be a professor. Maybe it was tradition.

He gave her a small smile, still sticking to his shy attitude, and moved over a bit, making enough room for her to sit comfortably. "Of course you can join in..." he said quietly. "What's your name? Mine's Oliver...Oliver Turner," the Hufflepuff addressed her, sticking out his hand for a hand shake.

((I think it's great her character is so unique.))

[akira]

{ Thanks! :3 }

Her kimono wasn't the most traditional one around, only including two layers and being tied looser than normal, but it was still the dress code where she had lived before. It was pretty and unique, for nobody at Hogwarts wore it. Somehow, that fact alone made her feel a little more special than the taunts of the Slytherins did. Smiling softly at the boy, she paused, watching his outstretched hand for a moment as if wondering what he wanted from her. Then recalling the English norm of greeting another with a handshake, she reached her palm out to clasp it with his, shaking delicately. "I am Akira Miyagi, a fifth yeah Gyffin- Gryffindor." She greeted happily, glad her accent impediment hadn't ruined the mood entirely. "Hello Olivah." It was a little cute, how the girl pronounced his name. Of course, there was also a chance he might find it annoying, though Oliver seemed really nice. And vahry hand.. Handsome. Akira thought to herself, being too shy to actually say it out loud. Plus, it wasn't the norm for people here to mention it at first meeting. Apparently it was a more romantic phrase, meant for couples only. Strange, in Japan they were more open about their and other's beauty.

"What is you both's names?" Akira questioned softly, her lips carrying hints of a lingering smile. They were very nice to eachother, perhaps to her, as well. Watching the girls for a moment, she sat gracefully beside Oliver, bowing her head gratefully. "Thank yu foa being so nice to me. I have been teased many time by the Slythen." Slytherin bullies, of course. "They do not know me.." Something that had confused her from the start, was the house of Slytherin. They taunted without even getting to know the person, who really didn't deserve to be treated this way. Why must they be so cruel?

[/color]

[belisma]

Bella was slightly overwhelmed by having two girls around her, so, instead of acknowledging the females as they asked for her name, she turnd to Oliver, sticking out a pale hand to shake with him. "I'm Belisma Miu." This way, she felt much more comfortable, paying less attention to the girls, and trying not to look their way. Maybe, if they did this all the time, she could actually have some female friends. She longed for that, but her jealousy of other girls often prevented it. So far though, this encounter was going really well.

Turning to the asian girl, she felt a familiar prickle of envy rolling up her spine, trying to tap into her brain. Instead, she ignored it, and smiled as best she could. God, she's beautiful, Bella thought, desperately searched for a flaw in her. Then she spoke, and slightly satisfied that Akira wasn't perfect, her envy started to subside. "Yeah, those Slytherins can get nasty," she said, reaching out to pat Akira on the shoulder, but recoiling at the last second. Awkwardly, she set her hand in her lap, hastily speaking again. "If you ever have any trouble, Gryffindor is there to help you. We won't make fun of you."

Turning to Oliver, the Veela smiled with truer intent. Why was it that she was so much more comfortable with men? Oh well. Tucking a piece of hair behind her ear, she took a breath to speak. "You're welcome to come to Gryffindors if you ever need it too, Oliver. Welcome to Hogwarts, both of you." [/font]

[Charlie Peers]

As Oliver explained his heritage Charlie listened with rapt attention her eyes glazing slightly as her vivid imagination kicked in and displayed a gothic hallway with Oliver pushed roughly aside by large brutes, she couldn't imagine him feeling comfortable there at all, if the stereotypical Durmstrang student was as she feared.

"I can't imagine you getting expelled, you look more of a gentleman than a tough mean spirited boy," Charlie commented easily, not complimenting purposefully but giving freely still. "So we're the lucky ones for getting you here now." She grinned at Oliver hazel eyes drifting towards the ensnaring gleam of the lake. Fazing out of the conversation momentarily she looked all around as another student joined their little gathering, "oh hello," she greeted with an inclination of her head and a bright toothy smile.

"Pleasure to meet you Akira," Charlie purposefully articulated her name, making sure it sounded exactly how she pronounced it, "such a lovely name," she murmured half to herself, "kinda makes me wish mine was more unique." Admiring the textures and beautiful material of what Akira was wearing she knew it jarringly clashed with her own shabby robes, even the Hufflepuff emblem was beginning to peel off, which reminded her she would have to glue it back somehow, the sleeves were becoming increasily shorter as she began to outgrow all her clothes with a swift growth spurt she was currently experiencing.

"Charlie," she supplied promptly with a grin, that widened to a full smile as she said, "you look wonderful in that dress, well that's what we'd call it here, I'm such it's called something much nicer and more exotic though." Charlie spoke excitedly completely unaware that her swift speech, though very articulate and correct would doubtless prove difficult for Akira to keep up with. "It really suits you." She finished tearing her eyes from examining the curious fabric further.

"Sadly people tend to stick to prejudices," she commented wryly quite oblivious to prominent language barriers, "I don't know why, it just seems stupid to me, we're all human after all." She spoke softly whilst picking a single blade of grass and twirling it expertly between her fingers, little did Charlie know a half veela was sat right in front of her.

Watching the dizzying flight of a crazed fly buzzing about their heads Charlie listened as Belisma, as she soon found her name to be, spoke hastily, seemingly on edge. Looking curiously at her a moment she wondered why she refused to make eye contact at all, well only with Oliver, realising only then that Oliver was a rather handsome boy, she just didn't notice such things, she didn't come to the obvious conclusion that most in her position would; a crush, for only love between friends particularly entered her mind, unless it was a fairytale of course.

"You'll enjoy it here I'm sure, most of us are nice really." She stated with certainty her focus shifting to ants crawling about on a moss covered stone, half hidden beneath the bush she was tempted to lie up against. "There are always the exceptions that prove the rule, like that Slytherin over there," she said pointed absently at a crooked nosed boy glaring and storming away from his companions to make a scene.

"I just let any nasty insults wash over me like the tide." Charlie shrugged her shoulders indifferently, smiling at her assembled companions.

[Oliver Turner]

"Oh...well, at Durmstrang they have strange reasons for expulsion," Oliver replied to his fellow Hufflepuff with a grim expression, not wanting to explain further.

He withdrew his hand from Akira's after they shook. Ol grinned a little at how she pronounced his name. He looked at the new arrival again, this time noticing her striking features, having not seen many like her before.

"A fifth year like me, are you?" Oliver said after she explained what house she was in. He gave a small frown as she explained about Slytherin teasing her. He hadn't seen much of the house since he'd arrived, but he knew that they could be a nasty bunch at times, and his mind wondered back to Durmstrang for a minute.

Abruptly called back out of his memories when the white-blonde Gryffindor had introduced herself, looking at him. He shook her hand, wondering why she was making minimal eye-contact with the two girls. Belisma had a different air about her as well. "Thanks," he said, grateful for people that were friendly to him.

Then he Hufflepuff girl said her name as she addressed Akira. *Charlie, hm?* Oliver thought absently, picking up his wand once again and rolling it between his fingers, looking up only when Charlie pointed out the ill-tempered Slytherin. He looked down again, letting his mind wonder to the histories of the people he was with, namely Akira...but there was always more time to find out about them.

[akira]

Pretending not to notice the instant recoil, as if touching her was to touch poison, Akira's eyes fell. "Thank yu." She murmured quickly, taking a closer look at Belisma to try and figure out her difficulty when it came to other woman. Such pale beauty! She reminds me of.. The oriental witch's eyes widened, as her round lips parted to speak, "Oh mai! You Veela, hai?" Clapping her hands softly together, a smile once more returned to her face. No wonder she had trouble comforting her, Veela weren't exactly civil amongst the same gender. But at least this girl was making an effort, which made Akira feel a little better about being alone at this school. Hopefully if she hung out around people who spoke frequent English, she would pick it up and understand it more.

Bowing softly after being complimented by the pretty Charlie girl, Akira smiled radiantly, "Many thank yu's. It is called Kimono." She could not find the answers in herself, why some were jealous of her. They didn't have any troubles speaking their language, or move to a strange world and live there for the rest of their life. It never dawned to the fifth year that she was extremely beautiful. Her mother pointed it out often, but she had never taken it to heart. She didn't want to be envied, afterall.. All she wished for was a friend.

Perking some at the mention of 'exception's, her eyes travelled to where the Hufflepuff pointed. That boy was this.. Exception? Ah, she meant he wasn't prejudiced like many others! That was a relief. Brought back to the current conversation by the nice looking boy, (for she found it wierd when girls called boys hot, when they weren't running a temperature) Akira nodded gently. "I am fifth year, yes." Again, proud of herself for saying that correctly, her face brightened considerably. Watching the boy twirl his wand between his fingers, her lips scrunched up in thought. "May I see that, Olivah?" She asked, curious as to how they performed magic while using a stick instead of a fan. "You use magic with this, hai?"

[/color]

[Oliver Turner]

Mouth hanging open with slight shock, Oliver looked back to Belisma as Akira exclaimed something about her being a Veela. *That would make sense,* he thought, surprised. The only places he had seen Veela's were in pictures. He knew next to nothing about them or how they acted though. Realizing he would feel uncomfortable if someone kept staring at him with an expression of shock (and, perhaps, something else) he focused once again on his hand & wand.

Looking to Akira as she asked to see his wand, he held it out to her slowly. 'Hai' must mean something along the lines of 'yes'...the way this girl was using it. "Uh, yeah, don't you?" he asked, sort of surprised that she had asked. Quickly, he remembered that she wasn't accustomed to this culture. "I mean...do you use anything else?" Oliver added.

[belisma]

When she heard that word, it was like walls of protection around her began to crumble. Veela. It caused a shiver to roll up her spine, as she turned, open mouthed to stare at Akira. Her mouth moved, but no sound came out. How did she know? her mind screamed, rage engulfing the lingering surprise. Why did she have to announce it? Her hands clenched into fists, she looked away from the oriental girl, finding it hard to keep her control while looking at that perfectly pale complexion, that was complimented so well by her painted lips.

Don't think about it, she screamed in her head, shutting her eyes. Just don't think about it... Let it go... Inhaling deeply, she fought the firey anger blossoming in her like a phoenix, born from the ashes. Exhale. Well, at least what she was doing was helping, even if she looked like a freak in front of the other students. She opened her eyes, but not daring to look back at Akira, stared out across the lake. "Yes, I'm half Veela."[/font]

[akira]

Taking the wand gingerly from his hand, Akira studied it wonderously, shaking her head when he asked her if she used it. "I do not use a wand, Olivah. I use a fan." Running her fingers along the side of the wood, the oriental witch took one last curious look at it before handing it back to him. Deciding to show him her beautiful fan, (seen in her signature picture) Akira smiled, slapping it open with one flick of her wrist and extending it out to him. The cores of Chimaera blood were contained in each of the larger pieces of wood at each end of the fan.

Instantly regretting saying Veela out loud, Akira bowed her head quickly, completely forgetting how to say sorry in English and just spouting it out in Japanese, "Gomennasai, Belisma. I take you did not wish for me to speak it out in the air?" Truly sorry, the fifth year could almost taste the surprise and anger emmanating from the beautiful witch. It was terrifying, but she kept her face calm. "Please.. Forgive me." Akira was very knowledgable about animals, so it was no wonder she could tell the Gryffindor girl was a Veela. The way she spoke, avoided touching girls.. Her gorgeous appearance. She had found it strange when the Hufflepuffs didn't notice.

Once Belisma calmed down - hopefully - Akira was perfectly fine to show them a demonstration with her fan. Not a dance, if that was what they were thinking, but some magic. English spells werent a problem really, it was just the language that confused her.

[/color]