[Hogsmeade] Sparking Attention ;; Rosalind

[Kolby Jefferson]

It had started raining around midnight and hadn't stopped since. The dropplets tattered against the windows making it sound and feel like Chinese Water Torture. Kolby had woken up to the horrid sound and hadn't been able to go back to sleep. He lay there in his bed for hours wishing to be in a place somewhere where it was hot all the time and rain wasn't an option. The little pitiful soft rain was gone within minutes, but it was followed by sleet, hail, and possibly snow in a few days. Kolby hated the snow, the cold, the crispy wind; that always made it feel dull outside and made the indoors too crowded and clausterphobic... condensed areas was never an option for Kolby.

The sky outside was a murky black and the clouds were rolling and booming with action. So far there hadn't been any lightning, but everyone around his dorm was still stirring in their sleep as if nothing was going on and the sun was shining like a happy day, but Kole knew better. He layed there snuggled up in all of his quilts and blankets that were piled over his body and tried to get at least an hour of shut-eye, but he was very unsuccessful. After lying there for the rest of the night, hoping that a tornado or worse a hurricane didn't start up. Once there was a slight peep of sunlight, Kolby was up in an instant ready for the day.

Dressed in some warm clothing and a few rain accessories, Kole was ready to be bombarded by a common room full of people. Full of students that he had never met and occasionally he might run into a friend or two that he had made in his few years he had been here. When he approached the condensed room that had already reached full capacity he left the portrait hole almost immediately. Sighing with relief Kolby stopped by the library and grabbed a book about Quidditch through the ages, the one book he had actually read, so he could get away from the world. It felt that there were so many students and Kolby had never realized that there were this many actually attending. The castle was so warm and humid, he had to get away.

Putting the book under his coat and pulling his hood over his freezing ears, while wrapping a scarf around his percing cold neck, Kolby made his way outside. Hogsmede it was! Sloshing through mud puddle after mud puddle, Kolby finally found the brick path that led down to the town. He found a bench with a cover over it and pulled out the book. Kole always wished he would have an oppurtunity to play quidditch, it was his dream, but he never felt he had the talent, or felt that it would be way to competitive for him. It was a dream and he planned for it to stay that way. Not thinking about it always made him feel better, but some how Kole always managed to find a way to be around quidditch anything without realizing it.

There he found himself sitting on a bench outside Hayne's Quidditch Supply and a quidditch book open to a random place in his lap. How could this happen?

[Rosalind Matthews]

The noise was unbearable she couldn't take it anymore but then what could she do? Rain was a part of life brought about by mother nature whenever she wanted a good laugh. Right about now she must be guffawing all over the place. Rosa just couldn't sleep the pitter patter of the drops against the window pane simply annoyed her. How she simply wished to get up from her bed and simply yell at it to stop. The sound always bothered her even when she was younger the parents thought it was funny and silly. Paige made fun of her often, so there would probably be some razzing tomorrow.

The time had come for her to finally fall asleep grumbling as she fell about the nasty wet stuff that interrupted peaceful dreams. Sleep didn't last long, the noise outside was louder if that could be believed. The storm picked up the wind beat against the window forcing her eyes to open once more. Sleep would be eluding her this night because try as she might to settle in and get comfortable the wind had other ideas.

Several hours passed when it seemed like the noise would never really end. The moment it did Rosa's eyes drooped and she was asleep too bad she was up in a few hours, with the sound of more tapping on the dorm room window. The owl wanted in, the girl the owl belonged to was fast asleep not being bothered by it at all. Rosa slid her legs across the bed while her feet hit the floor. Pushing up in one fluid motion shot her off the bed. Opening the window took seconds as the bird flew in Rosa thought it was time to get out. The sun or what could be seen of the sun was up now.

No one was around the common room suiting her, making her way to get some breakfast, A quick bite of eggs with some toast. A couple sips of coffee to get her going. Going where that happened to be the question. The school wasn't fun might as well be out. The weather wasn't much improved but then she really wanted to leave preferably so she didn't run into Paige. Getting a jacket, mittens, scarf and all the other layers needed so the cold didn't bother her Rosalind took off for the village. There were so many funny people there, witches with weirdly constructed ensembles they thought were muggle fashion. Wizards bantering about the latest Quidditch games. Ministry workers running around looking like they had important things to do. The village was certainly never boring.

Passing by the Quiddtich store a familiar figure sat all alone. Kolby Jefferson, a friend of hers in Gryffindor. "Must be a good book you're engrossed."

[Kolby Jefferson]

The people on the streets were sopping through mud puddles and their clocks and jeans were covered soaking wet water. The rain hadn't ceased and it seemed to only get worse! The thunder banged louder and harder in the sky each time, but there was no lighting. He hadn't seen on bolt of yellow electricity yet and that was saying something, because Kolby hadn't even read a word on the random page he turned to in his quidditch book. He only wondered why mother nature made such hideous things... whoever loved the rain was in some serous insanity! Kole just sat there with no care in the world. Rain was pointless, messy, dreary, and just plain stupid... nobody could do anything in it and it only made any sort of matter worse!

Kolby sat on the bench across the street from Hayne's Quidditch Supplies and just gazed out at the dark scenery that surrounded him. The bench was becoming damp on the sides that weren't covered by his backside. The forecast from the paper was right... it felt like freezing rain. He watched as the kids splashed and mother whipped them with not a nice word in mind... people running by like there lives would be over in a minutes, but had anybody actually stopped and really tried to enjoy rain? His mother used to tell him that it was like art, but sloppy, scribble-scrabble art like three year olds make was the only thing that ever came to mind. It wasn't peaceful like they make it out to be. Why would you want to meditate to rain? It would only get annoying after awhile and put your thoughts in a frenzy about why it wouldn't stop! Kole just didn't get it.

He sat there on the freezing cold bench watching people breath come out and slowly dissappear whenever his eyes wandered to the quidditch supply store across from him. He never went in there. It only made him feel sorry for himself or make him feel stupider for not signing up for the team. The sport was interesting, but probably better from the sidelines... he'd probably have a better chance at surviving that way. Sighing he stared closely at what was in the display cases outside. In one window was, of course, the newest broom ever made, but Kolby couldn't make out what model and he really didn't care. Just when he was about done thinking about the whole matter and familiar face came up and joked about how into the book he was.

Smiling Kolby looked up and saw Rosalind Matthews. She was a pretty girl with dark brown hair, kind of short, normal weight, and was a year younger than him. She was a Ravenclaw, but one of his good friends Emmalynn was a Ravenclaw and they seemed pretty cool. Kole had never really talked to Rosalind before, but normally found her in the library reading when he went in for a few brief seconds to find Arabelle or grab a quick book he probably wouldn't read. He noticed most of her friends to call her Rosa, but that didn't make since to him. Whatever she was a girl, and their friends didn't things way differently than his would ever do!

After coming back out of his "figure out who this is" stage he looked around to make sure she was talking to him and then back down at his book. Remembering what it was he laughed. "Yea... this about the seventh time i've checked it out... know it backwards and forwards!" Kolby said as he turned to face her. "What are you doing out of the castle in this weather?"

[Rosalind Matthews]

Rosalind was not standing in Hogsmeade outside the quidditch supply store in front of Kolby. The two were students at the school she was a year younger then him she thought thought wasn't really sure. They were friends but not like best friends. More like library buddies she was in there all the time and they talked from time to time he was nice, cute, and intelligent much more then she could say for a lot of guys. So when she saw him out here she thought why not go say hi.

Trying to get a better look at the book her was reading she craned her neck, the pictures seemed odd to her but from the little she cold make out it seemed like it might be a book on the sport of Quidditch. Learning quick here at Hogwarts she noticed that it was one of the most popular sports in the wizarding world. Conversations about the subject could last for hours and they could turn very heated very fast.

The rain was picking up again, grabbing the hood of her jacket she thew it over her head. Her hair was getting wet and if she didn't protect it she would stand there looking like a puffy poodle that just wouldn't do. Now she tried to figure out what lead her out here in this rain. People were walking faster up and down the streets now trying to get away to somewhere dry. Probably a good idea right about now since the mud puddles were growing around the streets by the second.

Didn't make sense why either one of them should be out there. Staring down at Kolby and his book. Eyes trying to see once more this book that held the boys attention. He told her it was a book he checked out often. Of course Rose being a reader could totally understand that. Then he asked what she was doing out there in the rain. "You know what I have no idea I hate the rain, then again the castle sometimes feel stuffy you know plus I didn't really want to run into my sister." Not going into detail why she went on. "Why don't we go somewhere else get a drink or something. Anyplace has got to be better and warmer then this. What do you say, first drink is on me."

[Kolby Jefferson]

There they were wet, cold, and he watched Rosalind shiver a few times. He felt terrible that she was standing and he was sitting, but he debated offering her a seat next to him, but her butt would probably freeze off since the rain had already soaked the sides of it. Going against that idea he just glanced down at his book and watched people go by. They didn't look as if they really had lives. Just sleep, eat, work, see family... and repeat. What type of life was that? It wasn't one in Kolby's opinion. He felt that they weren't going after their dreams, but just settling for the least. That got him to thinking that maybe he was doing the same thing, by not trying out for the Quidditch Team. He might make a good player, who knew? He had never tried before?

Not bothering for her answer he just went ahead asked very bluntly,"As you stand there and watch the people go by do they look happy? Like they love their job and their families and can't wait to go to work or make it home?" Kole sighed. Did anyone understand or even think the way his did? "It just seems that everyone settles for the least they can do. Like cutting corners?" He felt stupid for just talking. He closed his book and stared to the quiddich store across the way. Maybe he should try walking in there. It would quench his curiousity and he could finally say he did it. Just for his own satisfaction.

Coming out from his own little feel-sorry-for-himself mood and looked at Rosalind. She began to answer his first question saying that she hated the rain. That was one of the only things he caught from her whole answer. She hated the rain... well then they could definetely become friends! Yes they could who better? And she went on to say the castle felt stuffy and she didn't want to run into her little sister. Kolby knew all about younger siblings. He had a little sister and a little brother and they made life hell for him, but he loved them the same! "Yea I know exactly what you mean... i'm very clausterphobic, so during days like today I try to stay away from crowds... and on the little siblings thing I got two of the little devils..." Kolby said and smiled down on his book.

Breathing a sigh of relief he stared down at his hands and they were turning purple. He hated crowds and people in groups in general, but maybe it was time for him to warm up. "You know what-" He stopped, thought for a second on what he was getting himself into, and went on,"-i'll take you up on that drink offer." Laughing he stood up. "Lead the way... where to?"

[Rosalind Matthews]

Wind began to blow harder and faster, rain was flying in all directions. Hitting her in the face, splashing her clothes. So maybe this was a bad idea, refuge in the library didn't seem such a bad idea at the moment. The castle was just too stuffy so outside had to be better, but this rain maybe if they could simply go somewhere else. Hoping he would agree Rosa waited for his answer but instead of getting the answer she wanted she got a whole new set of questions. Suddenly he was concerned with the people walking around the village.

He was curious to know if they seemed happy. Before Rosa bothered to look in their direction her eyes darted to Kolby. What was going on in that head? No rhyme or reason to the inquiry but yet she turned her head back to the people glancing at them trying to see if they did look happy. "I don't know I suppose their content enough with the way their lives are. Don't you have to be a little bit just to get through the day. If they were truly unhappy I don't see a reason for them to even really get out of bed in the morning." That was the stance she took but why he wanted to know that had her even more curious.

Maybe the weather was having even more of an effect on people. He sort of came back to reality and appeared to answer her earlier questions. She giggled when he said that he had two little devil siblings. "Yeah maybe they'd like to meet my little devil sibling."

Another gust of wind went by them and she shivered violently. Much as she enjoyed his company there was no way she could last out here much longer. About to tell him she'd see him later it turned out she didn't need to he agreed. "Oh that's wonderful, I'd enjoy some butterbeer and the Three Broomsticks does have the best." Turning around she started to walk over there in a real hurry because it was way too cold. Hopefully he was coming too better to drink together then alone.

[Kolby Jefferson]

The wind whipped at his face and this was the last straw. Standing alone on the street he watched Rosalind as she made her way through the busy streets of the small town. He glanced in all directions looking for the Three Broomsticks and figured it to be the direction that she had headed off too. Oddly enough that sounded reasonable, so he jogged for her and shouted,"Gee... wait up!" It looked like she had slowed her pace, or Kolby had just ran faster either way he caught up to her. She really was desperate to get inside the warm air and he didn't want to admit it he was too. He walked a little ways with Rosalind by his side then after a few minutes they came to big wood doors with a sign above it saying The Three Broomsticks. He opened the door for her and put his hand out in a you-first sort of way.

Kolby followed her inside and took a seat up by the bar. As he waited for Rosalind to pick a seat he ordered two butterbeers; one for him and one for her. The bartender slid them over to him and he placed one in front of the seat on his right side forcing her to sit there. He laughed at her remark about the devil siblings. "Yea they'd like that. Were all two years apart... what about yours?" Kolby asked. Learning about family was always important in friendships.

The rain pitter pattered against the cobblestones and the window panes. Nothing was more annoying than that noise! He rubbed his temples waiting for it stop, but he only recieved a few booms of rolling thunder from the damn clouds above! Lovely he thought. As Kole tried to focus on something else he just got to thinking that the girl sitting next to him probably thought of him as an idiot who just spits out random questions about random people walking down the street. It was strange he guessed, but he just wanted to know if anyone else thought like he did. "Sorry if I freaked you out with my random questions... I sort of do that occasionally, so you can be on the look out." Kole said out of the blue. His face turned a shade of red, but turned white when the door opened and the crispy wind came inside.

He set his book on the bar table next to his butterbeer. He took a sip and the warm liquid made his whole feel numb and like it was in heaven. Why hadn't he thought of this. The bar wasn't as crowded as he figured it would be. Probably because people were at work, because it was quite early in the morning. He had forgotten how early he had gotten up 'cause the rain. It's amazing what thunderstorms and bad weather can do to a person.

[Rosalind Matthews]

Maybe she was being rude by simply just walking away from him the way she did but it was cold and rainy. You would have to be a fool to stand there or sit there as the case maybe. No inside somewhere was better. Then she started to think of how nice a butterbeer would taste. Her parents allowed them to have some once in a blue moon at home but not often. The taste was simply delicious this made it her habit to have one each and every time she was out here. Walking fast she had almost forgotten about Kolby until he asked her to wait up. Again she wasn't trying to be mean or anything but she didn't stop walking just slowed down until he finally caught up.

When they finally reached the doors to the pub he acted like a total sweetie and held open the door for her. Walking through the warmth was the first thing to hit her. Instantly the cold from outside seemed to vanish and she was already feeling so much more comfortable. They walked to the bar Rosa wondering where she should sit while Kolby took a seat at the bar. He ordered them two butterbeers when they came he put one bottle next to his on the counter making her decision for her. She didn't care she was planning to sit next to him anyway she just didn't know which stool she wanted left or right. Sitting down she took off her gloves so she could handle the bottle properly. Taking a sip the first sip was like heaven. Now not only was she warm on the outside but on the inside too. "Man I love this stuff" she said happily. Then she went on about the sibling thing they were talking about. "Oh Paige is only a year younger than me. She thinks she's older sometimes forgets who she's speaking to but I live with it. Two years apart you say not too bad. Are they here at school with you.?" It was an obvious follow up question.

Taking her next sip of butterbeer Kolby started to talk but instead of answering the question she asked he went on about the question he asked earlier. Rosa started to wonder if he was a little odd. That question was well out of her mind, it did seem odd at the time but she knew some people had minds that worked differently. Watching him after he spoke she saw him blush then watched his normal color return almost instantly. Yes an odd one but still interesting. "A question is a question it didn't really phase me people think about all kinds of things. No harm done." Winking she went back to her drink contemplating whether or not he was just nervous.

[Kolby Jefferson]

There Kolby sat next to Rosalind in the Three Broomsticks with a glass of butterbeer in front of each of them. He began to reconcile whether this was good idea or not. Mingling with students from other houses. His long time family friend Arabelle was actually a Gryffindor, so that made it easy. Kole wasn't the best at making friends. Most of his guy friends that he barely ever spoke to were the ones he shared a dorm with. Occasionally someone will start talking to him in the library, that was the case with Rosalind, in the hallway, or during a class and it was only instinct to be polite and respond. That was how he met Emmalynn Barkley. She is almost in all of his classes and for some reason are always paired together, so they just got to talking, but she was one of his only out-of-house friend.

He glanced to his right to see if Rosalind was still sitting there or had left, because he is such a boring person to be around. Kolby wasn't the most outgoing, but he tried very hard to be friendly. Before he could make out that she had stayed Kolby already knew because when she sipped her butterbeer she made a remark about how much she loved it. Kole couldn't agree more, it was the perfect drink for summer or winter. The rain beat against the small building a little harder and few more people came into the bar bringing in watery, squeaky rain boots with them. Rain should be forbidden on Earth and life in general!

The subject was back on his family and wonderful younger siblings. Apparently her sister was here at Hogwarts just a year younger than herself and when Kole thought hard enough he remembered a girl that slightly looked like her in a way and believed that the two of them were in the same house. "That's neat, yes my brother and sister are here too, but I don't see them very often." He snickered. His siblings and he made an agreement that while here they wouldn't talk to each other, but live their own lives, they never really got along that well. "My brother is a fourth year and to be honest I don't remember what house and my sister a second year and I believe she's a fiesty Slytherin, but couldn't be sure... I don't see them much..." He stopped there. Talking about his brother and sister made him wish he never would have made that pact, but what is done is done.

Kolby watched Rosalind as she sipped her butterbeer. He could tell she was enjoying it, like she didn't get the maginificent treat alll the time, which there was nothing wrong with that. After he blurted out his other out of the blue questions she replied with a simple phrase of questions are just questions and pretty much that he hadn't freaked her out. Good! Kole was just so relieved. Maybe when they had become better friends they could discuss his weird thoughts... after all she was a Ravenclaw and they were supposed to be smart. He took a gulp of his butterbeer and sighed... "So..."

[Rosalind Matthews]

Rosa didn't know a lot of people, most of the time she kept to herself and read up on all the different subjects in the school. Paige was pretty much her only confidant and most of the time they were at each other's throat. So to find someone else to talk to was a real nice change of pace. Kolby was acting a bit weird but who was she to judge people found her weird all the time. They were having an ok time having their drinks and such.

People continued to walk in the room every time the door opened she would get a shot of the cold air before the door closed again. A few times this happened she shivered she hated cold, she hated wet. When she was older moving to a dry climate was a must. Long ago she heard of this place in the U.S, named Arizona and it was supposed to be hot and humid there. Perhaps that's where her new home would be the less rain the better for her.

"Oh yeah you're brother is a fourth year then? My sister's a fourth yeah in Hufflepuff, but you say you don't remember what house he's in." Again something odd, granted her and Paige weren't the best of friends but she knew what house her sister was in. Maybe they were really estranged. Something she didn't think would happened to her and Paige, despite the fighting they loved each other deep down. Not her business so she didn't mention it again. His younger sister was a Slytherin. "Slytherin huh, that must be tough. They're not the nicest people the lot from that house so I've heard, haven't really met one yet so I don't know for sure. I guess its odd how relatives get sorted into different houses, personalties are so different despite your relations. My cousin is a professor at the school he was in Hufflepuff he's actually head of it now." Yes she hadn't really seen much of cousin Will but did hear he got that promotion Paige was all ecstatic, she really did like him.

The two sat in silence for a while. That could be cool or it could be awkward, right now it was kind of feeling awkward. Rosa looked around the room wondering what the others were up to, what they were talking about. Her eyes picked up words here and there like nasty weather, good ale, school's gone mad. Then Kolby's voice cut her listening in short. "So" he said. Rosalind didn't know what to talk about. Conversation starting not her kind of thing. After thinking about it a bit she said "So you're into quidditch huh, I don't know anything about the game at all wanna school me?"

[Kolby Jefferson]

This felt so awkward! Kolby didn't know what in the world he was doing here. It was amazing what the rain and thunderstorms alone had challenged him or made him do. This wasn't working, maybe trying to make friends with her was a bad idea. Apparently he wasn't cut out to be a friendly beast that everyone loved. A boy can only dream. As Kole glanced around on occasion he only felt more and more like the scenery around him. He would look up at Rosalind's face and it looked just as creeped out at him as he was hisself. There was a reason he never talked about his past, siblings, favorite pastimes, or the random questions that popped into his head. People just didn't understand them and that made him look like an idiot!

It had been silent between the two for awhile. Saying something to break the silence would be great, but what to say was the problem. It looked and sounded as if Rosalind wasn't that great at starting conversations or they would be in one already and it wasn't Kole's speciality either. Sometimes it made Kolby so bitter whenever he listened to people talk about their perfect little families that loved each other and still talked. He was so jealous of their lives. Kolby had zoned out whenever Rosalind started talking all good things about her sister, but felt rude, so he began to listen again.

Apparently Paige Matthews, Rosalind's younger sister, was in the same year as his brother, but probably not in the same house, but who knew aparently he didn't and Rosalind didn't seem to know or care that much. She started mentioning how tough it was to have a sibling in Slytherin. Kolby wouldn't know though, since he hadn't talked to his sister in a few months and when he did see her they never really talked about school. Then she went on to say how sad it was that siblings got split into seperate houses. Kolby couldn't have agreed more. Maybe his life would have been different if his siblings were still in contact. "I guess it is pretty hard to have her in Slytherin, when I do see her and talk to her she never seems that bad, but I guess the sorting hat knows best..." Kolby muttered and then looked down. He was so ashamed at what his sister and brother had done. "It's a long story on why my brother and sisters and I aren't in contact anymore, but I would do anything to have a long and meaningful conversation with them again! I really do miss them."

Kolby sighed and took a sip of his butterbeer. Rosalind hadn't said anything and Kole wasn't sure if that was supposed to be a good or a bad sign, but at the moment he didn't care much, he just was reminicsing the good times his family had had together. Rosalind went on to talk about her cousin was one of the Professsors and Kole couldn't help, but be happy for her. "That must be great, you know getting to see him all the time!" Kolby smiled up at her. She was one of the luckiest people he knew and it made him feel better to know that someone in this world lived a good life.

A few minutes after Kolby had muttered "so" to get a conversation started she went off into the world of quidditch. She stopped at the beginning though, because she didn't know much about it. That was when Kole came in. She asked him if he would tell her about it and that wasn't a problem. "Yea sure... anything exact you want to know?"

[Rosalind Matthews]

Rosalind hadn't felt this weird in well ever actually. Running into Kolby seemed great she thought they could get out of the rain and have a cool time chatting, but it seemed neither one was really good with the witty repartee. Lots of times they sat there in silence or simply answered each others questions without much feeling. Now and then she'd see some kind of weird emotion creep up on his face when they spoke of family but other than that it was like they were two complete strangers sitting there with naught much in common.

Rosa almost downed her whole butterbeer. It was either sit and drink or be bored not talking so she chose the first. Once the drink was gone though she didn't know what she was going to do probably by another one since she wasn't ready to head back up to the school. He commented on how nice it was that her cousin taught there. "Yeah Will is a good guy haven't seen him much he's a busy man as they say. Plus he's more Paige's ideal then mine we don't have much in common really." Rosa liked him but he and Paige seemed to get along much better.

The estrangement between him and his family didn't seem to sit well with him. It seemed like he missed them but it also seemed as if the topic was a sensitive one so despite having a lot of questions she kept them to herself. Not every family was perfect and things happen in life. Except when it came to academics Rosa was a very understanding person by nature. Last sip of butterbeer gone the girl behind the counter asked if she wanted another and Rosa shook her head paying for the first two while she was at it.

As she waited for the new bottle they conversation did go on this time about Quidditch. Kolby wondered if there was anything she wanted to know. "I don't know a thing except they use different kinds of balls and the game is played up in the air. After that nothing. So I guess the general basics would really help. Don't want to look like a total idiot when I'm in the stands." Maybe that would loosen him up a bit he seemed to enjoy the game talking about it might make him a bit more relaxed around her.

[Kolby Jefferson]

The rain was rat-a-tat-tapping against the window panes again. Kolby wasn't sure what in Hell was the matter with him this morning, but he certaintly wasn't being himself. His usual self wouldn't just sit here at a bar with a random girl he'd seen a few times in the Library and leave her hanging with no conversation going. What was going on, Kole had no idea. He glanced around and tried to regain his normality, but it wasn't working. He had to get away, take a breath, something... He felt like everyone was breathing down his neck and he wasn't even in a condensed area. Maybe his fear of clausterphobia was getting worse and as it worsened the spaces he didn't mind being in were closing in on him as he thought. Shaking his a head a bit to try and get the thought out of his mind, he abruptly got up. "Excuse me for a sec..." Kolby said rushed as he walked toward the restrooms. Pushing open the door, Kolby breathed in the new scent of the disgusting bathrooms that suprisingly weren't that clean. He washed his hands, and left. Taking a quick sip of water from one of the fountains he returned to Rosalind.

Kolby took his seat next to her and noticed her getting some money out for the butterbeers. He grabbed her hand to stop her from continuing to get the money out. "Hey I could never let a lady pay for my drinks... change of plans... there both on me," Kole said paying the lady for his drink, her drink, and her next one. Watching as the lady handed her a new bottle, he asked for a new refreshing one for himself. He turned and smiled at Rosalind. "So you want to know a little about Quidditch... the basics you say... well even though i'm not on the team I know a bit, maybe too much!" Laughing he listened to her as she let him in on exactly how much she knew and she was right... it wasn't exactly what he would call anything... muggles probably knew that that exisisted.

He moved his book over to her and gestured for her to take a look at it. "While I explain feel free to flip through it, you are a book person I take it... I have found that one most helpful." Grinning again Kolby found a good spot to start. "So as you know Quidditch is played with three different types of balls. The Quaffle which is the lightest and slowest ball it doesn't not fly by itself. It is passed by the players. Next are the bludgers; two people on each team beat these balls back and forth making sure they don't hit any of their teammates. Last is the snitch. It is lightining fast and golden like the sun. One player on both teams is after the snitch and that is there only goal throughout the whole game. Whoever catches the snitch first... wins!" Kolby stopped to breath and rambled on a bit, smiling at times that he loved, exaggerating on certain events... and so on. He loved Quidditch and it felt good to know she wanted to learn more about it.

Taking a sip of his butterbeer he took a long gulp and set it back down on the table. He never realized how much he actually knew about Quidditch. It was a bit scary if you thought about it. It just got Kolby back to thinking on why he never had the guts to try out for the team. "So any other questions?" Kole asked.

[Rosalind Matthews]

All things considered Rosa was trying her best to make conversation with Kolby, trying to act like a normal girl instead of the bookworm her sister teased her about being. No matter how hard she tried though things were simply weird between them and Rosa couldn't figure out why. Other times in the library he seemed perfectly friendly, and normal. Today this Kolby didn't seem quite right and she had no clue why. Just then he said he had to leave for a second her eyes followed as he went into the rest rooms.

Rosa shook her head and the bar tender girl came over to her asking if he was ok. In all honesty Rosa didn't know so she shrugged her shoulders "Don't really know, maybe he's ill or something" the girl nodded shuffling off to tend to the man a few stools away the one who seemed to have had too many drinks for so early in the day. Nothing for her to do since Kolby was away so again she downed more butterbeer thinking of being in the dry castle, nestled in her favorite corner of the library reading a book about transfiguration gaining more and more knowledge of magic.

Kolby came back out looking in better spirits. As Rosa went to pay for the drinks he stopped her, and then found it in him to say what she had to call one of the most sexist statements she had heard in some time. "I could never let a lady pay for my drinks" that had to be her hearing playing tricks on her. Yes, that was it. No, unfortunately it wasn't he went on to pay the new bottle she had was about to slip from her hands. Boys were so infuriating, the male species in general. Girls couldn't pay for drinks like it was insulting to their poor male pride or something. In this day and age for pity's sake. Rosa had to turn her face a minute because she knew she looked pissed. Even the bar girl gave her a quick look of commiseration.

When the anger cooled she turned to face him trying her best to put that ridiculous incident behind them. One day she would bring it up to him teach him the error of his ways. They were on safer ground discussing the game quidditch surely nothing offense there. He moved his book closer to her and she took a look watching all the picture move. Even now the sight of moving pictures amused her especially when they got mad at being viewed and stalked off like big babies. She'd laugh and laugh making them reappear to find out what was so funny.

They discussed the different kinds of balls, quaffles the lightest of the bunch, bludgers that had to beaten back and forth, then the small snitch that seemed to be the most important ball of all both teams wanted to catch it but it was fast and hard to catch. First to catch the tiny little ball wins. But what did it matter about the tiny little ball? Maybe since it was the hardest to catch. Who knew sports things always confused her. "OK this will probably sound silly but if there are so many balls why is it the team wins if one person catches the little shiny one. I don't get it."

[Kolby Jefferson]

This was the most awkward thing. Kolby had never understood his mother, or his sister, or any other girl he had ever incountered, but Rosalind had to be the craziest one. He could never know what they wanted, when they wanted it, or why they wanted it. He had watched so many movies in such with romance and he watched the men seduce the ladies and stuff, but none of their little techniques worked on real girls... they were just to complicated. Sighing Kolby took a drink of his new butterbeer and watched as Rosalind's face cringed up and she looked away. He didn't know why. She now got to keep a lot more money to herself. It was like she was ungreateful or something. Kole decided not to push the matter any further. Someday he would ask what he did wrong, but right now they weren't that great of friends yet... maybe asking Arabelle would help. He noted that for his agenda.

The subject on family had finally retreated and Kolby was more than glad for that. Talking about his mom, dad, and siblings was just so hard on him, because of the stupid things they had done in the past. They were always happy and loving before the magic thing happened, but even with it he always wanted to be close to them, but apparently life went another direction.

Kolby was so much more comfortable discussing the topic Quidditch. He knew about it and didn't have any background to the subject. He was so excited and it made him giddy inside to look up and see Rosalind sort of in a way, enthralled, by what he was saying. He loved it when people listened to what he had to say and was respectful enough to care. Smiling to hisself he put an ear out and heard her next question.

It was a funny little question, but he had to think hard for the answer. "Well... that's a good question! I'm not exactly really sure." Kolby admitted. Now he was back to the self-pity track. He didn't know the answer and felt abseloutely retarted, but whatever he helped the best he could. Grinning he asked,"So... how many games have you gone too?"