Time Alone ((Zeak))

[alexandra]

With a roll of her brown eyes, Alexandra slammed her trunk closed. The day had just begun, but no light shown in the dungeon dormatory and the candles gave barely enough light to sort through one's things. She had spent the good part of that morning fumbling through her things, trying to find her favorite gray sweater, but was finding no luck. The soft light from the lone candle beside her bed wasn't, by far, enough. With a cry of frustration, Alexandra seized her wand, mumbling the incantation lumos. Light erupted from the end of her wand, drowning the room with more than enough light. A satisfyed grin spread across her face as she dove once again into her large trunk.

Leaving the dormatory, wearing her favorite gray sweater and black slacks, Alexandra made her way, directly, to the library. She hated homework more than anything, but her procrastination had to stop by tomorrow or Snape was most definatly going to fail her. As she walked, she pulled her long brown hair into a pony tail, while imagining what she would look like with black hair. These thoughts occupied her mind the entire way to the library.

Apon entering the large, quiet room, she pulled her scrolls and ink from her bag and found a secluded table to work. She settled down with her quill, ink, and essay, ready to do some work.

Of course, the need to finish the essay wasn't as overpowering as the boredom that comes with homework. Within minutes, Alexandra's mind was wandering. Her eyes drifted from the scroll in front of her to the other tables, where students were also working. She sighed, trying to forced herself to work.

[Zeak Nitesh G2]

Zeak's stick tapped quietly in the hall, though the sound was list within the much larger sound of swarming kids that had invaded the hall. Zeak hugged the wall like he always did when the corridor was busy. It was much harder for him to navigate when it was busy. The constant noise messed with his sense of direction, his sensitive ears seemed to pick up every last noise and blast it into his ear drum. So he chose to stay against the wall, he bumped into less people there, and if his sense of direction was messed with, he could always follow the wall. Today though, he wasn't going to far though, he merely needed to get to the library today. DADA was perhaps one of his worst classes. Not only did DADA require a lot of essays, and studying, but it also required a lot of physical exams and works. A lot of having to identify creatures by physical markings, or defend yourself or using the correct hex against the correct creature. All of this was hard on Zeak since he couldn't see any of this and usually ended up missing his target, or not being able to see the defining characteristic, and of course, the teachers cut him no slack.

Finally he reached the door to the library. Slipping in and shutting the door behind him he immediately sighed as the sound died away and his ears stopped throbbing in pain. Letting his ears adjust to the new volume Zeak scanned the room for any sound. Like usual the library was rather quiet. He could hear a few footsteps here and there, and the scratching of quills on parchment. Moving quietly through the room Zeak found a table that appeared empty. No sound of life came from it, and he didn't sense another presence. Slipping his bag onto one of the chairs he moved away and entered the aisles of shelfs. Running his fingers over the plaques on the shelfs he soon found the aisle he was looking for. Dark creatures and their history.

Stepping into the aisle his fingers slowly began to run over the spines of the book and the lettering, hoping to find exactly what he was looking for. This took him longer than most students, since they could simply read and find their book. He could always ask the librarian, but he preferred to do it himself. It took longer, but he didn't feel so helpless. He stopped and paused at a certain book and reran his fingers over the lettering to confirm himself. Werewolves, Common Sightings and Ways to Repel. Bingo! Grabbing the book and sliding it off the shelf he moved back to the table. Setting the book down on the table he was about to take his seat when a new presence struck him. Someone was sitting at the table now? Probably had taken a seat while he was looking for the book. Zeak cocked his head to the side slightly. "Is someone there?"

[alexandra]

The library was a sanctuary for Alexandra. She loved the quiet. It was her refuge when she was stressed or had something on her mind that wouldn't leave her alone until she thought hard about it. The library was perfect for that and Alexandra came her often for that very purpose. The only problem that ever occurred was when she needed to study. The library being her favorite place, apart from the lake, she usually came here for her studies. The problem was this: she never wanted to work! Her thoughts constantly wandered here. It was nearly impossible to concentrate on school work. This was rather ironic, of course, seeing as libraries were most commonly used for homework and such.

Countless sighs came from the Slytherin as she sit there, doing her best to concentrate, although it was nearly impossible for her. After a bit she realized she was reading the same line over and over. This not only frustrated her, but caused her to drift from the boring subject of potions. Her eyes wandered about, watching the other students. Just then a boy entered the library. Alexandra found her eyes follow the boy as he walked toward her table. He walked oddly, his eyes fixed ahead, not focused. He held a long stick, which he bounced about as he walked. Waves of confusion swept through Alexandra. Having never seen a blind person before, she couldn't understand what was wrong with him. He was obviously a first year, but why did he walk like that? Was there something wrong with him? Mentally?

The boy neared her table, seeming to think she was not there. As he set down his bag at one of the chairs, Alexandra finally understood. He was blind! She smiled at herself, wondering how she could be so dense. The boy then proceeded to the book shelves. Alexandra, her homework already forgotten, watched as he searched for his book by feeling along the spines. Curiosity and intrigue came over the girl as she watched the blind boy. It took him forever, it seemed, just to find the right book. She nearly ready to jump up and give him the stupid book, but he found it with a look of triumph breaking his concentrated face into a joyous grin. Alexandra felt herself smile along with him.

He then made his way back to his seat, Alexandra watching curiously. He set down the book on the table, nearly on her own essay, which with a jolt Alexandra realized she still needed to finish. Sudden annoyance hit her and she sighed, surprising the boy just as he was about to sit. She looked up at him as he seemed confused.

"Is someone there?" The boy asked, his face showing his emotions as if she were reading them in a book. A sudden thought of ignoring the boy's question made Alexandra hesitate. Should she not say anything? See how long it would take him to figure out she were there? Alexandra toyed with the thought for a few seconds, pondering if it would be amusing. Finally, she rolled her eyes, deciding not to.

"Yes," she said, her habit of saying as little as possible causing her not to elaborate, though her tone clearly showed her annoyance for being disturbed.

[Zeak Nitesh G2]

Zeak had begun to feel stupid. There was no answer coming to his question, could that mean he was talking to no one? Wouldn't be the first time that he had spoken to nothing, feeling as if something actually had been there. Each time this made him feel really stupid and it really brought his disability to light for him. Getting ready to shift his bag and have a seat he didn't expect an answer, so when he actually did hear one it made him jump. "Woa! Oh! uhh.." Zeak's tongue twisted into knots as he fumbled for words in his moment of surprise and shock. Zeak's ears were highly sensitive, they caught on to the tone of people quite well. Even though this girl had spoken only one word he could hardly miss the annoyance in her tone. Could it be that this girl had been sitting here the whole time, and he had merely missed her the first time cause he had been concentrating on finding his own book. Or could it be that he set his book down on something she was doing? Or maybe the girl just wanted to be alone. Zeak figured it was probably one, if not all, of those things.

Subconsciously he began to slowly slide his book away from the girl. Still his tongue seemed to have trouble forming the words that his brain was sending. "I...I'm sorry. I didn't see.....err... Notice you there. Completely my fault." He should have been paying more attention to his book for he had reached the end of the table. The book slipped off and fell to the floor with a rather loud Thud. "Oh gosh." Zeak muttered and quickly dropped to his knees and began to paw around for the fallen book. Finding it quickly he shot back up into a standing position. "Again. I'm sorry for intruding." He sighed, this had been the most empty table in the room.

He scratched his head. "Um, would....Would you mind if I sat here?" He asked hugging the book to his chest. "All the other tables appear to be rather full. I wont bother you. I promise. I just need to get this essay done." He chuckled a little when he realized he was dangerously on the verge of rambling. Something he did when he was nervous and surprised. Before more words could spill out of his mouth he shut it with a resounding Click and awaited the girls response.

[alexandra]

Alexandra spent a lot of her time observing other people. It was her habit, as was speaking very little. She was mysterious and quiet person. This boy amused, puzzled, and created a curiosity in her that she hadn't felt before. She watched as the boy fumbled about in his surprise at being spoken to. His cheeks turned crimson in his shock and embarrassment. She continued to remain silent as the boy tried to find his words, without much success.

With an amused look mixed with curiosity on her pale face, Alexandra leaned back, crossing her arms in front of her chest, waiting for the boy to finish or even start what it was he wanted to say. He began to pull the book away from her, as if he were embarrassed for even having put it there and continued with his bumbling words. Just then, he pulled the book too far and it crashed to the floor with a loud thud!, attracting a few surprised looks from the other students. Alexandra continued to watch the boy, however, not caring that the entire library's eyes were on her and the embarrassed boy.

The blind boy dropped on all fours, searching for the book. He found it within seconds and was instantly on his feet. He sighed, a strange look crossing his face. Alexandra couldn't decide if it was desperation or another form of embarrassment. Then, he asked if he could sit there. A laugh escaped Alexandra, her amusement reaching it's peak. She smiled, pondering the subject and, although the Slytherin in her told her to tell him off and send him away, she was too curious. She bit her lip, as she often did, and laughed again.

"OK," She allowed her amusement and curiosity into her voice, wondering if the boy could pick up emotions in people's words. Her curiosity was becoming too much and she wished she could stay and test the boy, but the thoughts of her unfinished essay intruded and she bit her lip once again.

[Zeak Nitesh G2]

Zeak bit his lip as he awaited for an answer from the girl. The one thing he hated about being blind at this school is he was never sure of who was who. Slytherin's of the school never really treated him that well. Most first years had the ability to spot one and avoid them, but Zeak didn't have that kind of luck. He never knew who was a Slytherin until he was already locked in conversation with them, and by than it was to late. Suddenly this girl began to laugh and Zeak felt his heart sink. It looked like he was about to be sent off to find another seat. He didn't mind that all to much, he just hopped she'd let him off easily. He began to reach for his bag, just in case he needed to make a fast escape, when to his surprise, the girl spoke one word. Ok. At first Zeak had no idea what this meant, than he suddenly realized it was the answer to his question. He smiled. "Thanks." He said happily and moved his bag and took a seat.

Setting the book back down on the table he lifted his gaze to wards the girl, though he could not see her. She seemed rather odd to him. Her tone had shifted to something like amusement. As if she was enjoying just watching him. Not to mention that she hadn't spoken more than two words to him yet. Most people had at least spoken a full sentence to him by now. Pulling out his wand Zeak tapped the book in front of him and performed the first spell he had learned at Hogwarts. It changed the lettering of the book into Braille for him so that he could read it. He reached into his bag and began to pull out all the things he would need for his essay.

He remembered the girl in front and could not register any sound of her writing anything or even moving. Was she just staring at him than? Zeak felt a bit uncomfortable at the tension and needed desperately to break. "My names Zeak. Zeak Nitesh." He said sticking out his hand and hoping she would take it. "Whats yours?"

[alexandra]

The boy was instantly happy when she told him he could sit, he sat down, turning to the book he had taken so long to find, and then he did something that puzzled and heightened Alexandra's curiosity even more. With a flick of his wand, the pages in the book transformed into small dots. She felt confusion sweep over her as she sat up, looking at the pages with narrowed eyes. The words were still there, but there were small bumps over the words. The boy then continued to get out his things, but Alexandra was still studying the curious bumps on the pages.

The boy then paused, seeming to look uncomfortable for some reason and Alexandra suddenly understood. He couldn't see, but he could hear much better than anyone. His lack of sight seemed to make up with better hearing and he could probably tell that she wasn't writing or moving too much. She smiled, her amusement and curiosity causing her to remain even more still, wondering what he would do.

Instead of becoming more uncomfortable, he introduced himself, Alexandra sighed. She hated this. Meeting someone always seemed so revealing. Once you told someone your name, it was too late to ignore them and you officially "knew" that person. She stared at Zeak's hand, wondering if she should take it. After a few moments, she knew it wouldn't hurt. He was only a first year and, although he was a Gryffindor, he made her curious and she couldn't help but want to know more about him. So she extended her arm, took his hand, and shook it softly.

"Alexandra," she said and took back her hand, finally looking down at her essay and pulling it closer to her.

[Zeak Nitesh G2]

Zeak's hand hovered there for a moment. He wondered if she was going to respond and take his hand. Or if he would just remain seated here, looking like an idiot for a while. To his surprise though she took his hand and gave him her name. Alexandra, a nice name. He withdrew his hand when she let it go and he heard a small scrapping sound. Like someone sliding parchment. So the girl was here doing homework. He couldn't help but chuckle though, this brought the total number of words that this girl had spoken up to the three. Rather odd for someone at this school. Most student's couldn't wait to spill everything about their day, Zeak was a little like that too, but this girl was different, and Zeak respected that. Figuring if the girl wanted to speak more she would he turned to his essay instead. Running his finger along the braille he began to scan the pages of the book for the information he needed.

He knew it was a library, yet the silence was beating into him savagely. This girl sparked his curiosity, much like he had sparked hers no doubt. Her beginning tone had merely screamed Slytherin, but her actions spoke otherwise. Zeak was usually pretty quick at placing people, but this girl pulled the shroud over his eyes quite well. He wrote a few lines on his piece of parchment and than turned back to his book, than wrote some more. A few minutes passed before he couldn't take the silence much more. Though he had promised this girl he wouldn't bother her, he had to find out more about her. "Not much of a talker are you?" He said before he could bite his own tongue.

[alexandra]

It was a bit hard to concentrate on her boring essay, when a very interesting (though slightly annoying) boy was reading the bumps on the paper again. As she dipped the quill into the black ink and began to write her essay, she couldn't help but glance over at the boy. His hands continued to feel the bumps, which curiously formed words. She couldn't exactly wrap her mind around the idea of learning the code. She assumed it would take years, considering how many words there are in the English language. Then again, maybe it is English and the letters are only replaced? That seemed it would make more sense. This thought caused her to nod to herself, the idea registering.

Alexandra felt herself torn between the two activities before her. Watching the boy read the curious script on the pages and her own boring essay. The difference in the excitement seemed to push her more to watching the boy than writing. At a time when she was writing some lines on her parchment roll, the boy's voice broke the sacred silence between them with a very annoying and obvious observation. She sighed, looking up at the boy, who's attention was now pointed directly at her. His eyes didn't look at her, of course, but it was obvious who he was speaking to. She felt her annoyment grow. His question was so obvious it was bordering on silly. She knew he was trying to make conversation, but as anyone could tell, she wasn't very fond of conversation. In fact, she nearly hated talking causaly with people. There was only one person who she enjoyed speaking with and this first year wasn't him.

"No." She said shortly, scanning her essay and hoping the promise he had just made to her was registering through his head.