Sariss Ravon

Ah, how good it was that the weekend had finally arrived! Somehow it was always hard to get back on track after a holiday, no matter how short, and the Christmas holidays sure had been gloriously devoid of school work. After that, everything had started up again with breath-taking speed. Classes and mentoring and studying up on that elusive stupefying charm that Sariss had halfways mastered now... and the Occlumency lessons that involved disrupting a lesson (which Sariss would be doing in her Transfiguration class soon) and getting more social.

The Slytherin had started the 'more-social' mission with the spell practising already. If she was supposed to make a friend, she might as well pick someone who was already more than an acquaintance. Kalina Match had been hovering about the club for a few years now, organising a lot of things, so Sariss had already been familiar with her name. And the previous year, Sariss had given her a hedgehog to comfort her and to say sorry for kicking her out of the tournament. Anyway, Kalina had been Sariss' top choice, just because she was a familiar face and always nice and friendly, and that made her someone whom Sariss liked having around. She had always had fun when she had duelled with the Hufflepuff, and the pillow fight that had begun the spell practice had been very fun too. It was true what they said: 'If you want to have a good time, you should make sure that you bring along a Badger.'

And so it had happened that Sariss had asked Kalina if she wanted to come to Hogsmeade, and then Sariss had run into several others (did they all sense that Sariss had to become more social and was actually beginning to like the thought?) and had asked them to tag along. Monica, Dusky, Dawn... Sariss didn't even quite remember who all had said they'd come to Hogsmeade too. It was amazing, all the enthusiasm with which they said yes. They must actually like her, even though they didn't know Sariss very well apart from a few duels here and there.

The Slytherin was amazed by that. Even Jenna had agreed to come. It seemed that Sariss had mainly run into prefects. Well, after all, they were the ones that she saw the most. Prefects and duelling addicts. And several of the prefects qualified for the latter as well.

Alas, in a nutshell: It would be a nice group of people who would soon be flocking into the Three Broomsticks and babble and gossip about the latest scandals at Hogwarts and about exam worries and nice or obnoxious new and old teachers. Sariss told herself that it would surely be fun. It would be something new. She hadn't done anything like that in a very long time, having been too devoted to her studies. But now that she had pruned her schedule a little, she had time for off-schedule things like this one. Well, semi-off-schedule. It was a task, but one that she intended to enjoy. Carrington was right. Sariss had been a little bit of a loner recently. It was time to become more social.

The Slytherin sat down at a nicely large table that was only waiting for the group of girls to arrive one by one. Some of them were probably skipping into one or the other of the shops for a minute before heading into the Three Broomsticks. Candy supplies and prank items were usually at an all-time low at the castle when a Hogsmeade weekend was scheduled.

The girl took a deep breath and smiled in anticipation of the butterbeer, pumpkin pasties and just plain ordinary conversation among a few teenage students.

Jenna James

Jenna took a deep breath as she looked at the door to the Three Broomsticks. Why had she agreed to come? More importantly.. why had she been asked?

With a frown, Jenna contemplated her possibilities. She had no idea why the black haired Slytherin had asked her to lunch in Hogsmeade. Perhaps it was some class project... conquer a foe. Or something similar. Who knows what they taught in those weird electives Ravon seemed so wrapped up in. However, if she dared try anything like a tarot reading, Jenna would simply turn around and run saunter quickly the other way.

Now, perhaps the more important question, why had she accepted?
What had she been doing when Ravon had asked her.... Oh yes, she had been returning to the commonroom after eating a quick meal in the Great Hall. She had been eating a lot less lately. Mostly because the events at the Slytherin table, where she sat, frequently caused her to lose her appetite. Jenna really only had two good friends at Hogwarts, both of them were seventh year Slytherins and both of them were currently infatuated with eachother.

Jenna grimaced at her own reflection in the glass panel of the door. It seemed her two best friends no longer had time for her, and were rather wrapped up in themselves. Although... wasn't she doing the same thing by throwing herself a lovely pity party? Being wrapped up in herself? Merlin's Beard Jenna! Get over it. It was bound to happen sooner or later. Yes indeed, Jenna often found herself alone. Although, it had never really bothered her as much as it had lately.

Jenna pulled open the door to the Three Broomsticks and looked around for the familiar head of pulled back black hair she knew to be Ravon's with the realization of why she had accepted. The simple truth was, Jenna was lonely. By nature she tended to be reclusive at school because of the grand age difference between herself and the younger years, as well as her grand dislike of incompetence. She had also learned, for the most part, if one lets people stick around him/her for too long... a person would tend to get attached. And as sure as the sun shined in the morning, when that happened, they would leave or run away**.

Coming up to the table which could house no other than the infamous Sariss, Jenna drawled sarcastically, "I believe you were expecting me, although I can't imagine why," she smiled slightly and sat down at one of the chairs around the table. She noticed with a hint of alarm that Sariss had chosen a rather large table for them... Hmm... this could abode trouble... she thought and tried to mask her surprise.

((**- Usually arms flailing and screaming for escape))

Kalina Match

Kalina Match hardly felt the cold permeate through her outer robes as she made her way down the road that would lead her into Hogsmeade. She was properly bundled against the chill, her Hufflepuff scarf wrapped snugly about her neck, plus sheer excitement at the prospect of today’s outing was enough for her not to really pay attention to anything as minor as the weather. It probably could have been raining cats and dogs and she wouldn’t have minded for today was the day she had promised to meet Sariss Ravon.

They had planned to meet at the Three Broomsticks after that fun practice duel they had the other day. It still made Kalina laugh every time she remembered it...pillows flying everywhere and that closet! Oh she really hoped she was around when some unsuspecting person opened it.

Still smiling over the memory Kalina entered the pub with building anticipation for a nice mug of Butterbeer and some fun conversation with Sariss, whom she was enjoying getting to know better. For a long time she admired the older girl, who wouldn’t if you were as interested in Dueling as this young Hufflepuff was. Then after last year’s Tournament, where Sariss had soundly beaten her (no surprise in that) Kalina had been touched by the gift that the Prefect had made to her, the most adorable baby hedgehog ever! Even now Tiddlywinks slept, curled up and warm within her robe pocket. She would take her out later to say hello to Sariss and Thorny.

After pausing for a moment just inside the entrance as her eyes adjusted to the dimmer lighting she spotted the long, dark haired braid that could only belong to one person. Ah, and she’s not alone she noted as she made her way across the room to where Sariss sat with Jenna James. At this point the little Hufflepuff felt a little bit intimidated. Jenna was a 7th Year, a Prefect and like Kalina, a Quiddy co-captain as well but Jenna had a superior way about her that was well...intimidating. Their interactions had been limited to the pitch and an occasional duel when Kalina was still wet behind the ears. Ha! Who was she kidding, she was still very wet and had lots to learn undoubtedly.

Well best put a good foot forward she decided as she slipped into a chair beside Sariss and began to unwrap herself of her scarf and her outer robes. In the process of divesting herself of her layers she mumbled out a cheery “Hello Sariss...Jenna! Hope I haven’t been keeping you to long. Didn’t realize how long it would take me to make it down here” she explained. She had made very few trips into Hogsmeade and never really paid attention to the distance before.

Once free she sat back and relaxed. Noticing the extra seats she looked at Sariss expectantly and asked hopefully, "More people coming?" More the merrier thought Kalina because it would help make the conversation more fun.

Sariss Ravon

Sariss sat and waited, wondering how long she could sit all by herself (the lump in her pocket didn't really count as company) at that fairly large table until the other people in this establishment would be beginning to throw her the one or the other odd look. Probably not for much longer. She just knew that she'd start to squirm and feel uncomfortable. Plus, she was getting bored...

Ah, finally! A familiar face was approaching the table that Sariss was sitting at--and the rest of the girl's body was there too! "Expecting you? I didn't think you'd show up. Waiting for you? More like," Sariss answered, glad that she didn't have all this space all to herself anymore.

Mere moments later, a Hufflepuff, wrapped up like an onion slipped into a chair next to Sariss, and at closer inspection, after having peeled herself and shed several layers of clothing, Kalina Match appeared, and judging from a lump in her pocket that was insignificantly smaller than the one that was breathing regularly in Sariss' pocket, it must be a certain hedgehog.

"Hello, Kalina," the Slytherin said in greeting and smiled at the Hufflepuff.

"More people coming?"

"I hope so... I asked Monica and Dawn and Dusky... and they all said they'd come if they could make it. So let's hope that they will come," Sariss trailed off, all of a sudden doubting slightly that all of them would come. The excitement of Hogsmeade weekends was beginning to wear off considerably among the higher years' students, and Sariss herself had forgotten about them more than once and had been wondering why the common room had been quiet enough to allow for studying there.

"How is little 'Winks these days?" the Slytherin asked and indicated the slightly moving ball in Kalina's pocket that could only be the hedgehog.

Kalina Match

“Oh! Tiddlywinks” exclaimed the unwrapped Hufflepuff as she gingerly slipped her hand into her pocket. Hedgehogs did take a bit of careful handling. She gently scooped up her sleeping, little pet and pulled her out into the light. The tiny hedgehog yawned hugely and blinked its dark eyes in confusion, probably wondering where Kalina had dragged her off to now.

The hedgehog gave the air a tentative sniff as if to test for the wayward hex, which was what she was used to due to the amount of time the Hufflepuff tended to spend in the Dueling Chamber. This place smelled distinctly different, even better somehow...was there food nearby?

“I think she’s doing fine...though she doesn’t seem to be growing much” Kalina couldn’t help but express her worry. “I know Thorny is still very small, do you think that’s just how they are?” she asked curiously as she set Tiddlywinks in her lap where she was content to curl up once again.

Kalina flushed when she realized her bad manners and she turned to Jenna with an apologetic look. “Sorry, I get carried away when it comes to my pet” she explained with a little smile as she leaned back in her chair. “Please forgive me” she said contritely even though she knew she probably didn’t have the power to stop but she would try harder once her worry was put at rest.

Rysa Evans

Oooooo, how long had it been since she was in Hogsmeade? She didn't exactly know, but it had been longer than she could remember. How dreadful was that? I mean, Rysa was in her prime years and youth was radiating from her form... *coughes* Okay, so not really, but sometimes if she thought about it, imagined how the time seemed to be flying by without her doing anything. Wait, those two aren't really coherent thoughts... But who said being rational was a requirement? It could be an option, as long as no harm was done, yeah? And thank Merlin that it was.

Slightly skipping and trying not to be noticed on the road (because she was quite old, or so she thought to herself now that she was in her sixth year, and maybe she needed to be less figety and be more ladylike.... and no one would think a lady would skip instead of walk...), she halted in front of the Three Broomsticks and blinked her eyes a few times. Hmm. It really smelled good... The butterbeers and cookies and most of all, hot chocolates were allllll inside the door, she could tell.
"Mm... Maybe I could go in and see if I know anyone well enough to join them for a bit.... although I don't really know many people but if I don't find any I could just get a cup of something warm before I went back to Hogwarts."
Mumbling to herself she stomped a few times at the door to get rid of the snow from her boots and opened the door to survey the room.

And aha! There was Sarissy! Without a second of hesitation, Rysa almost rushed to where she was at the speed of an apparating witch. Usually Rysa was the sort to wonder if it'd be okay to join people and would try to ask for a permission before she even went over, but gosh! This was Sarissy!!!
"Sarissy! Morning! I mean, aftenoon? Hehehe!!"
Squeaking with her now-crescent-eyes-due-to-grinning, she looked around and greeted other students as well.
"Ooooo! Kalina! How are you!? And... Er... Hello, Jenna."
Her apparent hyperness sort of died, and if anyone had seen her hands, they were sort of clutching her robes, slightly. Rysa wasn't sure if she was (still) afraid of Jenna James, the Slytherin seventh year or not. She didn't seem to look that bad in the last few years. Yeah... but letting go of a grudge was so hard to do sometimes. :P