Study Room

Twelve Cards  PV   Closed 

Saying that it had been a while since Elena had last had a birthday party could only be classed as a lie. Not even an understatement, just a blatant untruth, the girl had never had a birthday party in her life.

So she’d written a little list of all the people she enjoyed talking too: Bella, Ruby, Hugh, Elena, and even Professor Risa, and sent out a stack of happy looking invitations with silly little cutout stickers she’d found in an arts and crafts box hiding backstage at the Rehearsal Room. Granted, she hadn’t actually expected anyone other than Bella to join in the festivities, and so was extremely confused when almost all the invitations came back agreeing to come.

‘Is this what Griffith was meant about real friends?’ Elena thought to herself as she put the plate of sandwiches out, the house elves had decided that there was no way the girl was just serving cake and had showed up with a couple of plates of food earlier on. As well as some chairs that she was extremely thankful for, she hadn’t managed to think that far ahead.

The setup was finished, the guests were set to arrive soon, and so Elena sat down in one of the comfier chairs and curled up with a rather interesting book on dragons.

Twelve Cards  PV   Closed 

Twelve Cards  PV   Closed 

Elena was lost in one of the page illustrations, it was hard to read about stuff like dragons without getting distracted daydreaming, that's probably why she didn't immediately notice when Elena Jangleton entered the room. The blue haired girl managed not to jump when the Gryffindor spoke, Jones shut her book and beamed at the prefect.

The blue haired Elena had taken a liking to Jangleton, they'd only met once before in the trophy room, it was surprising how many other people liked the peace and quiet that less populated places could bring. That was another odd thing about this school, she'd made two friends by accidentally meeting while they were both looking for somewhere nice and quiet. Both of them were Gryffindors too, maybe it said something about the impulsive house's residents that some of their students had actively sought out the quietest places on campus, Jones assumed that their dorm-mates must be rather noisy, why else would you leave a tower that gorgeous?

Jones just had a deep hatred for her common room's location and interior decorating, seeing the giant squid was great and all, but there was such a thing as moonlight, and weather, and you know, the actual sun, that are nice to see from time to time.

"Hi Elena! Thanks so much for coming, I'm turning twelve today!" Jones closed her book and put it away in her backpack, "How are you doing today? How's prefecting going?"

Twelve Cards  PV   Closed 

Ruby approached the door to the room a little warily. She could hear voices inside, so someone was definitely here already. Fine – that was fine. She gently reminded herself that others would be here and that there was bound to be people she didn't know from those "others". Who else is coming? How many people will be there? Ruby wondered. She didn't know who Elena was friends with, but she liked the blue-haired girl enough to make an effort to be friendly to anyone Elena valued, despite anything Ruby might end up thinking about them.

Ruby had decided that she wanted to get Elena a gift. However, when she had started figuring out what she wanted this to be, she found that she didn't actually know a great deal about specifics of Elena's interests. Eventually, she decided to buy her two books and give her some of Ruby's own drawings/sketches. The second part was something that Ruby was a bit unsure about. She couldn't actually recall showing others her art, and didn't realize how good it actually was. Her sketchbook was full of various sketches and other drawings, ranging in skill level from bad to impressive bordering on stunning. Of course, this talent hadn't just come overnight. Ruby started to practice art more seriously around the age of 6, when she was alone a lot and got bored easily. Ever since then, it became one of her passions and her skills developed a lot, showing the incredible progress that she made over time.

The pieces Ruby had selected to give to Elena were some that she liked the best and thought were good, even if she didn't really have anything to compare it to. One was of a wolf, drawn with only a few basic pencils, so it was in shades of black and gray. It was incredibly detailed, and it really had two wolves. The left hand of the paper was taken up with the first image of the wolf. It appeared to be peaceful, majestic, and confident, yet the eyes seemed to show emotion – it seemed secretly scared and lonely. The right side of the page contained the second image, which was the same wolf but snarling, showing the vicious, dangerous side of itself. Ruby could connect pieces of this drawing to herself and greater themes or messages, but she just hoped that Elena would like it even half as much as Ruby did herself. These sketches were a part of her, every single one, in some way, and they meant a lot to her. Elena might not have known that Ruby hadn't shown anyone before, and she might not have known that giving some of these as a gift was monumental, in a way, but at least there was the possibility that she could appreciate the art.

The second drawing was a human, a dancing female. The dancer had her hair loose and was drawn in the air, apparently mid-leap. She wore an outfit that made it clear that she was a ballet dancer. This drawing reminded Ruby of when she took ballet classes for a little while when she was very young, and a professional ballet performance she went to see once. The final drawing was of another human girl – a teenager – this time from a back view. The rest of the picture was an explosion of color. It incorporated parts of nature and the elements that clearly seemed to be wielded by the girl. There was a roaring fire, lightning striking nearby earth, a vine and other similar plants curling and snaking up around the girl's body, orbs of water in a pattern, and more.

Ruby stared at the package in her hand that contained these things one more time and then walked into the room. Ruby had her hair in a fishtail braid, and she wore dark blue jeans and a long, olive-green cardigan with a pristine white shirt underneath and a long golden necklace (like in this picture but without the bag and watch).

When Ruby entered the room, she was straight-backed and had the same air about her, as always. This air that she gave off was one of sharp intelligence, confidence (yet not necessarily arrogance), sophistication, and something else – passion, power, ambition, or all three. She was extremely analytical and observant, with a good memory and the apparent need to calculate as much as possible. The first thing she did after she walked in the room was look around and absorb all the details with the one long glance. This included the girl who was talking to the other Slytherin first year. Time to analyze… where to start, where to start… Ruby pondered.

After a moment’s contemplation, she decided to delay the analyzing for once and speak first. “Hi, Elena!” she said to her friend, making sure that there was a break in the conversation and that she had been noticed before she spoke. Of course, she didn't know that the other girl's name was Elena too, but she glanced at the stranger and directed her a friendly smile anyway. Ruby had become a master at acting and deceiving, but it didn't require a huge amount of effort to attempt to be friendly to Elena's friend. It could benefit Ruby, too, which was always a good incentive for her to do something. She waited briefly for a reply.

Twelve Cards  PV   Closed 

Twelve Cards  PV   Closed 

The Slytherins were streaming on in, and Elena had a moment of realisation that she had pretty much no close friends in Hufflepuff and no friends at all in Ravenclaw. Which was almost funny, it looks like she attracted adventurers and artists more than anyone else.

Elena grinned and got up. Ruby had the same calculating posture and curious eyes which had drawn Jones to her the first time. Her presence was somehow calming, and Elena had thought Professor Risa might like her, “Hi Ruby! Thanks so much for coming. I’m happy to see you!”

As soon as Elena had finished greeting Ruby, Min-seo walked in with her usual shy but composed aura. Elena liked the Korean girl quite a lot, and beamed at her, happy to see she came.

“Hi Min-seo! I’m so glad you came. Ruby, Min-seo, this is Elena Jangleton. She’s awesome, you’ll probably like her.” Elena gestured to the tables, “The house elves decided we’d starve if we tried to feed ourselves, so they made some sandwiches and there’s cake for later. I managed to get the comfy chairs in as well. So that’s pretty cool! It looks like we’re just waiting on Hugh, Bella, and Risa. Rorie might come too but I’m noy sure, and Ana’s got something on today so she can’t make it.”

Twelve Cards  PV   Closed 

Aoi's Outfit

Twelve Cards  PV   Closed 

Twelve Cards  PV   Closed 

Shoot, shoot, shoot, shoot,...
Too late, he was sooo late. Of course he forgot the time, who needed watches anyway? Time? Just a silly construct, not at all useful... Being in a bit of a hurry, his mind left little creativity to his chosen attire. He had simply jumped out of bed where he had been napping underneath the pile of clothes stacked where his pillows used to be. Shirt untucked and buttoned up all wrong, two different kind of socks graced his feet as his shoes where still dangling around his neck whilst hanging on their tied laces.

He leaped down two steps at a time from the dormitory and managed to almost fall at least three times until he reached the common room door. His arms were still flailing all around him as he was trying to figure out how his red sweater had managed to get itself wrapped up the way it was. As the sleep ridden boy wriggled the red piece of cloth over his head, he bumped into a gryff or two while crawling through the portrait. The young scruffy looking kid took a halt after his little exit and allowed himself to put on his shoes with ease. With a quick jump on the stairsdownwards, he continued his journey as he swung his robes over his shoulders.

Oh boy, oh boy. I must be so late by now. He ran through the many halls of the castle as he tried to get toi the first floor as quick as his feet could get him passed the crowded hallways. Eventually he managed to reach the dark wooden door that opened up to the study room. Heavily out of breath, he let his hands drop to his knees as he bent over whilst grasping for short breaths of air. "Okhaayhh.. Hhhere I chhome..."

In his pressuring himself to reach his destination he gave the door a push with a little too much force. Causing it to swing open with a loud bang. Which in turn made Hugh jolt up in a mix of utter shock and embarrassment. Cringing by the sound of the door's collison with the wall, he slowly shuffled inside. Oh yeah suuure. We'll be fine. No one's hurt yet. Just recover...

He brandished one of his famous smirks and simply flashed his fingerguns at all present. "Helloooooowe there" Finishing off with some clicking sound effects as he fired off some imaginary shots. Why on earth he had even agreed to this was now a fading memory as his desire to run all the way back kept on growing...

Twelve Cards  PV   Closed 

Twelve Cards  PV   Closed 

Even though Elena had gotten a letter back saying that Professor Risa was coming, she was still a bit surprised when she actually did. She beamed at the professor, “Hello Professor Risa! I’m so glad you came! Welcome to the party.”

Elena smiled and took the gift, “Thank you so much Professor!”

“A birthday song? I’ve never had one of those before.” Jones strolled over to the table and put the gift next to Jangleton’s, “What would-”

Before she could finish her sentence the door banged open and a flustered, confused, and shocked looking Hugh Lowe was standing in the doorway, with mismatched socks, an untucked shirt, and his hair sticking up at every angle. He shuffled inside a little looking embarrassed before attempting to recover. Elena was barely successful at stopping herself from laughing so she took a second to collect herself before strolling over.

“Hi there Charming, You make quite the entrance.” Elena stopped short of him and wondered for a moment if a hug was necessary. She decided against it, and gave him a huge grin instead.

“You okay?” She said quietly enough that only he could hear, “You look like you fell down the stairs a few times, I brought my first aid kit if you need it.”

Twelve Cards  PV   Closed 

Ruby looked at the other girls, finishing her previous analyzes and saving the information. Ah, social situations. Some people found them awkward, but Ruby thrived in them. With her abilities to act and lie, she could cover up awkwardness if she ever felt any, and she could still act in a friendly way even if she didn't feel it. Social situations, especially ones involving multiple others, allowed her to find out more information, whether the others just talked between themselves or whether she talked too. Of course, there were some people she genuinely liked. Elena Jones was one of them, and she was glad to call the girl her friend. “I'm happy to see you too,” she replied with a smile. She remembered that she was still holding the bag containing the gifts, so she handed it to Elena. “I'm not sure where to put this, but this is for you. It's not much, I'm sorry.”

When she was done speaking, she observed the other Elena – a Gryffindor. Okay, that was fine. She got along pretty well with most of the Gryffindors she had bothered speaking to, and she didn't really think that a house should stop her from being friends with a perfectly good person. She watched Min-seo and this Elena shake hands and she decided to wait before she would introduce herself too. She was glad of this decision when an older female – definitely a teacher – walked in and started speaking to the Elena they had all come for. Well, Elena certainly seems to have a good amount of close friends… As Ruby watched all the interactions and the kind and friendly smiles and attitudes, Ruby wondered why Elena wanted to be her friend when she had all these people.

The next person who came in was a boy. She knew that was Hugh, then, since it had seemed to be the only male name Elena had listed when she said who they were waiting for. Ruby almost wrinkled her nose at his appearance. He had clearly thrown something random on and hadn't even made sure to make simple things, such as his socks, match. His hair was messy too, and he was out of breath. Judging from his lack of breath and the rapid, heavy footsteps that she had heard coming from the hallway as the boy was approaching, it was easy for Ruby to deduce that he had run here. He had clearly had a lack of time or forgot about it, but at least he was here. Ruby wondered what he was like and wished that he would speak more. At least he smirked and said hello. He could be a fun person, then, possibly. After all, not quite everything could be determined by a person's appearance, although it sure said a lot about them.

When everyone seemed to have stopped speaking, at least for the moment, Ruby decided to finally introduce herself to everyone here – well, those she didn't know. She gave a nod to Min-seo and a smile in Elena Jones's direction. “Hi, everyone. I'm Ruby Cazares, a Slytherin first year, and it's a pleasure to meet you all,” she said courteously. She deliberately kept her tone and body posture confident but friendly, yet she was very careful not to reveal too much or anything beyond what she wanted to show currently. With a group of people like this, especially when you knew some and not others, you always had to be careful.

Twelve Cards  PV   Closed 

Interaction with @Elena Jones and @Hugh Lowe

A Second Year Slytherin teared through the halls of Hogwarts, headed towards the study room. She bumped into students as she ran, stopping for a split second to offer an out of breath apology before she ran off again. While some might think that she was running from something from the speed of the girl, she was really running to something.

To what? A birthday party for a girl she hadn't known more than a few months, but considered one of her closest friends at Hogwarts - if not her closest. While she had received the invitation with a lot of time to spare beforehand, she was still late. Choosing to lose herself within a book instead of getting ready for the party, she had overestimated how much time she had and ended up with five minutes to get ready. And she hadn't even wrapped the present yet.

The present was clutched in her small hand tightly, badly wrapped with a few rips from its adventure through the halls of Hogwarts. And it hadn't even looked that good before she started her sprint. Let's just say Isabella Hills was not gifted in the wrapping department. Still, nothing could be done about it now - so there was no point in worrying about it. It was the thought that counted after all, right? Not how nicely wrapped the present was.

The present was something Isabella had debated over for a week now. She didn't know what exactly she could give the younger girl. She had wanted to give her something that meant something. By the time last night had rolled around, it was an understatement to say she was freaking out about it.

But the idea had come to her in the middle of the night as she ran through in her head what she would give Elena. She didn't understand how she could of been so stupid as to not of thought of it sooner.

Just a few days ago on her birthday, Elena had been the only one to see her and bring her a gift. She had sought her out and found her sulking down by the lake, and then turned her day from a cloudy one, to one where the sun shone down on her - making her happy once more. The sun on that day had been none other than the girl that had sought her out on a day she didn't want to be found. And Isabella wanted to do something to repay the younger of the pair.

So she had found the first photo they had taken together, off an old camera that had once belonged to her mother. They had taken it on her birthday, as a way to remember it. The day of her birthday, she had developed it in a special potion that she had brought along to school at her mothers suggestion. And, much to her surprise. the picture moved. She had stuck it in a draw in her dorm, digging it out this morning. She had replaced a picture of her family in her only frame with that picture and decided to give it to the girl.

She loved that photo, but there would be more to come. By the end of Hogwarts, they would have an album of photos she could have. So what was one photo sacrificed to her closest friend at Hogwarts?

Reaching the door to the study room, she didn't even break and ran into the door, skidding to a stop inside the room when the door opened. Out of breath and breathing heavily, her face split into a smile as she caught site of the Slytherin she was here for.

Running forward once more, she flung her arms around Elena - pulling the younger girl into a hug and interrupting whatever conversation she had just been having with a boy who looked as though her had just done what she had done. "Elena! Hi! Happy birthday! I brought you a present, but it kind of got a tiny bit ripped cos I ran the whole way here. Not that it looked any better before."

Letting go of the poor girl, she held out the less than pretty present to Elena. You could see the corner of the wooden frame she had put the present in sticking out of the wrapping paper, but - thank Merlin - not any of the actual present. Turning around, she faced the boy Elena had been talking to before and smiled at him as she spoke."Were you late too? I'm sorry if I interrupted you two before. I'm Isabella, Isabella Hills. But you can call me Bella."

Twelve Cards  PV   Closed 

"I'm fiiiine." He waved Elena's caring intentions away like a cloud of smoke. Though he was still breathing heavily, wheezing as his chest ran up and down. He eyed the crowd and wasn't exactly sure how to approach the "masses". A professor and a bunch of girls. Hugh had this particular feeling he was not going to leave this room alive. As he didn't want to discourage Elena he gave her a friendly smile in reassurance.

Another girl popped up behind him and adressed him. "I was, aye. I'm afraid the beds are a little too comfy here." His scottish accent really rolled out with that line. "At least we both got here ey?" He winked and tried to pull of his most convincing smirk. Attempting to not seem out of place. He placed his hands in his pocket and slowly walked forward. Wandering a bit along the side of the room. Being tall usually meant he'd have a better perspective on events from the edges. Dead center and he'd be overwhelmed. The thought alone brought shivers to his spine.

Maybe it'd be nice, he wasn't really one to judge beforehand. But he liked to joke about things going sour to himself. His feet had found their way to a table with some cookies. Instead of just going for the one, the boy figured he might as well take two at once. Stuffing one in his mouth and holding the other ready in his other hand. He stood there staring at the others whilst devouring one cookie after the other. The dull look on his face wasn't one of boredom. Those cookies were bloody good.

Twelve Cards  PV   Closed