One Step Small at a Time ((Todd))

[Maryn Livley]

Maryn sighed leaving the Transfiguration Classroom. It had been a long day of classes. Maryn usually liked Transfiguration, but ever since she returned to Hogwarts, Maryn had liked the subject a lot less. She really didn’t know why she had the sudden change in interest level for the subject, but she did. Maryn held her books tight to her as she left the room. It had been a long, long class. Maryn let out a slight yawn. She had homework to do, yes, but Maryn decided that maybe taking a brief break before her homework would be a good idea. She made her way to the main staircases and started the slow journey to the Gyffindor Common Room entrance. Maybe she would take a trip to the lake. Yes, that seemed like a good idea. Maryn hadn’t gone outdoors yet since returning back to Hogwarts. No, she had stared out of the windows in awe of the lake, but she had not yet actually ventured outdoors except to go to some classes. Since Maryn had found out about her ill brother, Maryn discovered that staying indoors wasn’t a horrible thing, but now she was getting sick of the stuffiness. She was tired of feeling sorry for herself because her brother was sick and her friend was dead. Maryn needed to begin the slow process of healing and this was the time to start. Going outdoors would be the first step in the process. A small step, yes, but a step.

Maryn reached her dorm. She just needed to put her books up and change before she ventured out into the grounds. She dropped her book on the floor next to her bed. They made loud thump sound, but Mary ignored it. She instead walked over to the mirror. Her hair had fallen through out the day. With her wand, she preformed a few charms to put her hair back into a pony tail. Ever since Leon’s death, Maryn was different. She looked different, she acted different, she dressed different. Maryn was confused on who she was now, but it was just a process. It was a process in which Maryn would learn and she would eventually graduate from it. Maryn decided to leave her Gryffindor Robes on. She just took off her shoes and replaced them with flip flops. Then, Maryn slipped her wand into her pocket. She waved wearily at her owl Morgen in her cage and within seconds she was out of her dorm. Maryn didn’t yet know exactly what she was be doing outside, but for the moment she didn’t care so much. She just wanted to get out.

Maryn approached the Castle Entrance. She stared at the doors for a moment. Come on Maryn, just go out. You’re no baby. She urged herself, however that didn't work. She just stood there gaping at the doors. Suddenly, Maryn heard a large thud alone with a shriek from Peeves. Maryn turned and she knew the pesky gohst would be heading her way soon. With not another second to loose, Maryn opened the Castle Doors fast before she even had a moment to think about it. Light hit Maryns quare in the eyes, but after a moment of adjusting, Maryn felt fine. She took a few steps from the doors and looked around her. It felt so different and in that moment Maryn really did feel like a scared little first year. However, within minutes she had made her way to the lake. Maryn knew what she wanted to do now. The old Maryn would throw off her robes and jump in the water, but the present Maryn was more cautious than that. No, she simply slipped off her flip flops, sat down, and dipped her feet in the cool water. Maryn swayed them laisly back and forth. True, it wasn't that adventurous, but it was a step none the less. Maryn hummed calmly to herself as she moved her feet back and forth.

[todd]

Todd's head hurt and wanted to slow down, while the rest of his body was nearly about to burst with energy. He couldn't decide what he wanted to do. Go outside and run, stay inside and run, go find someone to talk to, go find someone to annoy, go find Peeves... anything! He just wanted to do something exciting, something with exhilaration and physical exertion. Todd loved feeling the strain on his muscles, the burning sensation after running that made him feel only too good afterward. He loved trying to go past his limits. Limits to Todd are mind-set, not body-set. He could do anything he wanted to if he really thought he could. Thrumming his fingers steadily against the window pane, Todd stared at the buzzing activity going on around him and below him in the Grounds. He wanted to be apart of something, but he didn't have any friends who could relate to this feeling. Todd really was alone when it came to this. He didn't mind though - in fact, it made him feel different. And to Todd, different was good.

Jumping up from his seat at the window, a thought transformed in his snail-paced brain while his legs dashed up the stairs and into the boys dorm. His bed was the messiest there. A pile of twisted sheets that were halfway on the floor and a clutter of objects underneath or around it. Todd never said he was a neat person. Diving into the pile of things, he searched for his football (soccer ball in America) and found it lurking in a dark corner under his bed. Stuffing it in the crook of his arm, Todd ran back down the stairs, only pausing to check he had his wand on him. For the idea he had was an interesting one. One that he had never tried before. It would make practicing as a muggle a whole lot easier, but he couldn't use magic until seventeen years of age, and that was a whole two years away! Ultimately it could only be done at Hogwarts. No problem. Todd grinned with excitement as he pushed open the heavy oak doors to the Grounds, letting them slam shut behind him.

As he was greeted with the cool breeze on his face and the blue sky, Todd's mind relaxed. The effect of school slowly wore off until he no longer felt it weighing down on him. His body, meanwhile, exploded with pent up energy. Throwing the ball on the ground, Todd immediately began dribbling it far out into the grounds. He knew that he was attracting quite a few stares since it was, after all, a muggle activity, but he no longer cared what other people thought of him. He could only think of going faster and faster, dribbling and keeping time with the ball. By the time he was far out near the lake, Todd stopped to catch his breath and over-view his plans. After a few moments of steady breathing, Todd enchanted the football to come back to him, no matter how hard he kicked it. Wondering how this would work out, Todd let his foot come in contact with the ball, arching it over to one of the willows. It came back, rather fast too. Reaching out, he caught it rather hard toward his stomach, but that didn't both him. His spell had worked!

Todd repeated the exercise over and over again, until he soon found his back facing the lake. It seemed that the more he kicked it, the faster the ball came back. It was like a game to see how fast he could keep it going. Kicking, and kicking, and kicking. Todd kicked it especially hard and it went way up high in the air, only to come back toward him so fast, it frightened him. It was aiming at his head, what else could he do but duck? Which was what he did. Diving under it, the ball was going at such a speed it couldn't stop, thus it ended up in the lake with a huge splash. Jumping up, Todd started to run toward the lake, only to find the ball coming back at him, this time aiming appropriately at his chest. There was only one problem. A girl about his age who was dipping her feet in the water was in the way. The ball came speeding toward her, oblivious that it would have to go through her to get to Todd. "Look out!" he shouted, waving his arms frantically, trying to warn the girl before the ball got to her.

((Sorry for the delay. ))

[Maryn Livley]

Maryn peered over the edge of the murky waters. She would give anything to jump in. She wanted too, but her body wouldn't let her. She just kept looking at the icy waters, but the water was too dark to see past a few feet. How Maryn wished she had the strength to touch the lake floor, but she didn't. Not for the moment, no. Maybe in a few months, Maryn would have her strength back. She arched an eyebrow at a little minnow she saw swimming for her feet. Maryn laughed as the minnow began swimming around her foot and tickling her ever so slightly. However, Maryn was a naturall tickleish person so she couldn't help but laugh. Maryn actually giggled for a moment at the little fish. However, with one forgetful movement of her foot, the fish was gone. It swam away in the deep murky waters destined to never be seen by Maryn's eyes ever again. Maryn frowned for a brief moment before she realized she was frowning because a fish left her. Then, she shrugged her shoulders and let out a sigh. Maryn looked up to the few clouds in the sky. She let a slight breeze move her pony tail as she glared into the clouds. She felt good. For the moment, Maryn felt free. Free of Nathan. Free of Leon.

Whoosh. Slash. Look Out! "Huh?" Maryn exclaimed hearing someone scream at her too look out. She turned her shoulder and saw a boy not too much older than Maryn herself. He seemed to be staring at something in the lake. Maryn turned abck towards the lake when she noticed that ball was coming back out of the water. What was the matter with that thing anyways. Everything would have been fine if there wasn't one slight problem. Maryn was right in the path the ball was travelling. "Agg!" Maryn exclaimed as she saw the ball moving. No time to think. Maryn tried to roll over on her side and duck her head down to avoid contact with the ball. It was a good idea. Umm, but it did have a flaw. Maryn was too close to the lake. When she tried to roll over sideways, Maryn lost her balance. What could she say? Maryn wasn't flexible nor did she had any balance. Besides, the lake was too close and Maryn had to act fast or she would get hit by that ball. Within moments, Maryn found herself in the icy waters of the Black Lake. This was the same lake that she had wanted to jump in for minutes now. When Maryn hit the water, all she could do was lie stunned. She just stayed there for a moment. Maybe this was a good thing.

After a moment, Maryn turned around in the water and came to the surface. She took a high pitched gasp for air as she had been under the water for longer than she anticipated. Maryn treaded water as she took more breaths she was tired now. However, now that Maryn was in the water, she wasn't about to just get out. This is what she had needed. Maryn smiled. This is exactly what she needed to bring her into the lake. That ball nearly hitting her is exactly what Maryn needed. Maryn smiled as she arched her back and did a little fish like dump as she plunged her head into thee waters again. She was now determined to touch the bottom. Maryn had done it before. She knew she could do it, but this time was different. She was proving to herself that she could get better. Things could get better and things could change. Maryn could help them get better. She could! Maryn was the master of her own fate. And the question that remained was, was Maryn just going to sit and hate life or wa she going to take that big splash.

Maryn swam deep into the water. She kept going father down. She knew the dake was very deep in place. And she knew of the creatures that inhabited it, but Maryn didn't care. Atleast not for the moment. Maryn just wanted to break free from the shell Leon's death had put her in. She wanted to let go of it forever. Finally, Maryn smiled as she reached the bottem. She touched the dirt ever so softly with her hand. For a moment, Maryn wondered if the giant squid which lived in the lake was anywhere near, but she let that thought go. Maryn then turned around and made the journey up to the surface. She needed to breath. Sooner rather than later. Maryn finnally hit the surface. She swam over to the edge of the lake breathing heavily. She was drentched, but Maryn didn;t care. She merely smiled. She just stared at the lake without looking up. Maryn didn't even know where the boy who's football fade her hit the lake waters was nearby. She didn't even have a real chance to look at him or remember who he was. Even though Maryn wasn't looking up to tell, she spoke. "I'm glad that ball didn't hit me." She said nearly laughing and still smiling. Even though Maryn was completely drentched, she didn't care. Maryn just smiled letting the water droplet drop from her. She smiled at the waters.