[RC. Room] A Bookworm's Woes

[Loren Hayes]

Loren placed another log in the grate, the roaring fire leaping to a new height as she did so. The sun had just gone down outside and the sky a deep blue smeared with grey, a single star flickering hopefully. The common room had been mysteriously empty for most of the day, and so Loren had taken the opportunity to rummage through the many books that were forever scattered predictably around the Ravenclaw common room, leafing through spell books looking for new curses and charms. Of course, most of those that had not been cleaned up by the house elves were stand level text books left by younger years, and Loren had regretfully retired to the softest armchair she could find, unfortunately not blessed with any new knowledge.

Loren realised that that would always the curse of the bookworm - whatever you came across, it was highly likely you had already read it.

There was the sound of boots on stone suddenly, and Loren sat up, her eyes flicking from one staircase to another, seeking out whoever had decided to at last emerge and offer her some company...

[Russell Parkhurst]

Russell jumped down the stairs as he always did and made a spectacular entrance into the common room. He struck a hero pose, holding three books under one arm, then looked around to see if anyone else was around. He was hoping not, that way he could read in peace, but he saw a familiar face in an armchair looking straight at him.

"Well, a good evening is in order," he said bowing low. As he rose he dropped his books but quickly caught them before they hit the floor. After that display he looked at Loren and smiled his crooked smile. "Hi," he said walking to and adjacent armchair, putting the pile on his lap. "Found anything interesting to read yet?" he asked curiously, "I always found my own books to be better then the ones people left lying around here."

[Loren Hayes]

Loren beamed happily as she realised it was Russell. 'Well at last - someone I can talk to!' she said in exaggeration. 'I've been sitting in here all day practically with not a soul.' She was pleased to see him sit down in a nearby arm chair, the handsome collection of volumes set comfortably on his lap.

'I've read most of them years ago,' she said, waving her hand dismissively at the untidy mountain on the main table. 'You'd think people in this house would appreciate something a little more advanced than Basic Charms and Their Origins.' she said with a distasteful wrinkle of her nose.

She realised that she was complaining a little too much and did not want to scare Russell off back to his dormitory. Pulling her feet up onto the cushions and resting her chin on the arm rest, Loren peered at Russell curiously. 'And what have you been up to? Those look particularly interesting...' she said, looking once again at the books on his knee.

[Russell Parkhurst]

Russell shot Loren his crooked smile and nodded, "Particularly," he assured her. He ran his fingers over the spines of his books then made a funny decisive sound in the back of his throat. He took out the middle book and stretched over to Loren. "Here," he said, his face oddly straight, "try it, you might like it." As she took it Rus opened the book on top by his bookmark and began reading.

[Loren Hayes]

Loren leaned forward and took the book into her hands. She examined the cover to find that no title was indented into the leather binding. She could see that it was old and well used, and took care in tracing her fingers down the creases in the spine. The edges of the pages were gold but blotched, and flipping it open she found the parchment was stiff and yellowed.

This was how Loren loved her books.

Gently she turned to the very first page where the title of perfectly printed in arching green letters. A Second Revision of Ancient World Love Potions. Loren inspected the second page and found that it was the twentieth edition of a text written almost three thousand years ago. 'Love Potions?' she gave a cheeky smile at Russell, raising one eyebrow. 'Is there something I should know about you, Mr Parkhurst...?'

[Russell Parkhurst]

Russell looked up from his book, a cheeky smile on his face. "Well, you're a girl and a ravenclaw," he said, "so if all that is true, you clearly enjoy new thinks and making potions and it's a rare find so I thought you might welcome the opportunity to read something new." Rus hoped that that would get him into the clear. He had obviously taken the wrong book, many had been recovered because they were so old.

[Loren Hayes]

Loren looked back down at the book, a lock of hair falling into her face, hiding the smirk that was getting increasingly wider. She felt silly suddenly that she could not tell if Russell was oblivious to his own charm, or if he was play a very good game with her. Of course, as far he had been nothing but a gentleman and decided to quickly let it drop. She despised giggling school girls and did not want to become one of them. 'Thank you. It looks very interesting.' She said a little too formally.

She opened to the middle of the book and pressed down, flattening the pages so as to scan them in the fire light. Her eyes rested upon a concoction for capturing the hearts of werewolves, but she suddenly did not feel very much like reading.

She looked at Russell who was once again immersed in whatever text he was reading, and she suddenly felt very lonely again.

[Russell Parkhurst]

Russell thought that Loren was being very curt with him. He had not expected that from such a sensible girl. He decided to ignore it as a slip of the tongue. He carried on reading but soon was interrupted by the sensation of being watched. He looked up at Loren with a smile and noticed the book was closed. He frowned for a second then said, "you're not the love potions type, are you?"

[Loren Hayes]

Loren realised she had been staring at him and quickly looked away into the fire, pretending she had been doing no such thing. 'Oh believe me - I think they're lots of fun. You can play a good few practical jokes on your enemies with a decent Love Potion... I suppose I just haven't made any enemies lately.' She laughed. 'What else are Love Potions good for other than humiliating nasty people?' She mused.

She set the book down respectfully on the low table before the fireplace and stood up, stretching her arms in the air. 'I hope I'm not disturbing you, Russ. If you want to read I can pipe down...'

[Russell Parkhurst]

Rus shook his head and set his books on the seat next to him. "Nope," he said decisively, "I'm happy to just concentrate on you. You seem very distracted, is all. Anything you want to talk about?" She seemed to want to talk but also not to. This confliction Rus was afraid was his own fault and he would have to remedy it. "Come on, spill the beans, I can tell you want to say something. So what is it?"

[Loren Hayes]

Loren laughed, thankful that he was finally talking to her properly. She was not afraid to admit that she adored any sort of attention. 'Nothing's wrong,' she chuckled reassuringly. 'I'm just a little - I don't know - restless.' She crossed her arms, smiling sheepishly as she paced across the room. She was wide awake and bored, and wanted nothing more than for Russell to suggest an adventure. He did indeed seem far too calm a person to want to play games, but since when had she ever compromised for anybody else?

[Russell Parkhurst]

Russell raised his eye brows. "Restless, ay?" he asked slowly, "sounds like you need an adventure (if that's even the right word) of sorts. What about a trip to the dungeons or how's a delightful flying session around the forest sound?" Russell slouched in his seat, spreading his leg apart, and locked his fingers across his chest. "Up to you really to decide but I'm up for anything at this point. "The Mat-Makers will have to wait."

[Loren Hayes]

Loren clasped her hands together at his suggestions. 'The forest sounds pretty fun - especially at this time of night. All the nocturnal beasts will be out,' she said eagerly, very much a fan of Care of Magical Creatures. Loren was already in her pajamas, but a pair of slippers and a warm coat would suffice.

Whipping out her wand, the sixth year summon her required clothing and broomstick simultaneously. 'Come on then, get a move on!' Loren reached over and grabbed Russell's wrist, yanking him up out of his seat, a happy grin on her face.

[Russell Parkhurst]

Russell had never seen Loren this excited (possibly because he had not known her for very long but at this point that had nothing to do with it). Russell stood up when he was pulled and looked down at his brand new sneakers. "I'm just going to change my shoes quickly, give me two minutes." And with that he disappeared up the stairs and too his dorm room.

Exactly two minutes later, Russell appeared at the foot of the stairs carrying his broom and two overcoats. He handed one to Loren. "Just in case!" he said, winking. He pulled his coat on, holding his broom between his legs. "Well let's do this!" he said taking in a deep breath. He mounted his broom and looked expectedly at Loren to follow him, out a high window into the fresh night air.

((and off to the forest we go...))