Searching for you ((Rachel and anyone))

[ksmilesallroundk]

Richard walked into the courtyard, trying to find Rachel. Or RB, he thought, smiling. They were such idiots, but he loved it. Rach was his best friend, and he really valued everything she said, and her opinion. It was because of RB that he had asked Trish out; and he couldn't be happier. Unable to spot Rachel, he sat down in disappointment on one of the seats. Pulling out his notebook, he began to write. He wrote about everything. He wrote about Rachel, their friendship and how much he loved her. He wrote about Trish and how much he was looking forward to seeing her again, and especially to their first date. He wrote about his little sisters and how much he missed them, and then he wrote about his parents, and how much he appreciated and loved them.

A few minutes had passed and Richard looked up from his book. he thought he could hear footsteps, so he quickly closed his notebook and looked up. He smiled.

[jess4ever]

Rachel wandered around, lost in thought. Humming an annoying tune to herself, she stepped into the courtyard, not looking where she was going. Unaware that there was a chair in front of her, Rachel tripped and squealed as she fell heavily. When she looked up, she saw Richard smiling at her. Standing up awkwardly, Rachel attempted to smile.
"Oh, hey, Richard, what are you doing here?" She asked, trying to sound nonchalent. Realising how she sounded, she dissolved into giggles.
"Sorry, CP. One thing you should know about me right now, that behind this classy exterior lies the heart of the clumsiest girl at Hogwarts," she said, grinning. Walking over to him, she sat down beside him.
"What are you up to?" Rachel asked curiously, noticing the notebook on his lap. Richard was an amazing writer, she had discovered, after he showed her one of his poems. Smiling up at him, she pushed a strand of hair behind her ear.
"What aer you working on? Can I see?"

[ksmilesallroundk]

Richard smiled as he saw Rachel trip, and welcomed her to sit down next to him. He opened his notebook to her. RB was one of the only people he let read his work; it was so private, and he hated being so exposed to people. It was probably because of his shyness. But he trusted Rachel, and valued her opinion.
"What do you think?" He asked, slightly timid. Richard generally hated critisicm of any kind, but he wanted Rach to express herself. He just hoped she liked it. He had written a poem inspired by her.

[jess4ever]

Rachel reached for the notebook, and for a few minutes was silent as she let the words wash over her. It was an amazing poem. It was about a girl, and Rachel instantly felt a connection to her. There was something other wordly about Richard's work, and Rachel felt herself believing each word, even though she knew it was fiction. It was beautiful. After she finished, she placed the book on her lap and glanced up at Richard.
"CP...I don't know what to say. It's exquisite. It's amazing. It makes me feel like I'm that girl. You have to publish this somewhere," she said sincerely, her brown eyes wide. Handing him back the book, she leant back on the seat.

"Hey, CP, I hear that you and Trish decided that it was time to get this thing off the ground," she said cheekily, punching him lightly in the arm. Rachel kept telling herself she wasn't jealous, but she couldn't help it. Even though Patrica had met Richard first, she was his best friend and as pathetic as it sounded, she didn't want him to have no more time for her. Rachel snapped out of her daydream, as she looked up at Richard.
"Tell me all, my dear. How did it happen?" She asked, biting her lip and grinning.

[ksmilesallroundk]

Richard stared at the ground self-consciously while Rachel read his work. Would she guess it was about her? When he heard her speak, he jerked his head up and looked at her. A shy smile crossed his lips and he sat up.
"You really like it? That means a lot, RB," he said, smiling broadly. He felt content; just knowing that Rach liked his work was enough to make his day. And it was ironic that she felt a connection with the girl. Richard laughed inwardly.

He watched her as she spoke, and frowned in concern when he noticed a strange look cross her face after she punched him.
"Rach, are you OK?" He asked. She had been so happy and then, as soon as she mentioned him and Trish, she had a strange expression.
"What's wrong?" Richard hated it when his friends were upset, and wanted to help in any way he could.

[jess4ever]

Rachel glanced up at Richard in surprise, unaware that he had been watching her face. She gave a broad smile and rolled her eyes.
"CP, I'm fine. I'm excited for you. You and Trish," she said, grinning sincerely. She put all of her past thoughts behind her and smiled once again. She was just being petty, that was all. Richard wasn't about to ditch her to be with Patrica, so she was worrying about nothing. A moment passed, and Rachel found herself staring at the ground. Lifting her chin, she stared at Richard in the eye as another moment passed.

"Seriously, Richard, I'm OK," Rachel said sincerely. And she was OK. Rachel was a bit possessive by nature, so it wasn't anything new. She just had to learn how to control it, and she would be fine. Pointing to Richard's notebook, and trying to change the subject, she gave him a sly grin.
"So, what else do you have in there that I can read?" She asked, nudging him gently.

[ksmilesallroundk]

Richard watched Rachel suspiciously, but remained silent.
"OK, Rach," he said slowly, deciding to leave it alone. When she was ready, she would confide in him. Until then, he wouldn't pester her. Passing Rachel his notebook absentmindedly, he wondered what could be wrong. Was she having a hard time again? Rach didn't like "bothering" him of when she wasn't having a fun time in life, but Richard knew it hadn't been easy. He watched her carefully, trying to see if there was anything in her face to indicate what she was feeling.
"Do you see anything you like?" He asked, after a moment's pause. Please Rach, talk to me, he begged silently.

[jess4ever]

Rachel accepted the notebook gratefully, and began reading the first poem she came across, knowing that Richard was watching her. Why did she have to be best friends with someone who was so perceptive? It was her own fault for not concealing her emotions better. As soon as she had started letting people in and changing, she had lost the ability to keep herself detached. Now she was missing that talent. As she continued to read, she felt herself get lost in the story. It was an incredible poem, and she just had to keep reading. When she reached the last stanza, there were tears in her eyes. Wiping them away in embarrassment, she turned to Richard.
"CP, that poem...it's equisite. I'm a fan of your work," she said, trying to smile.
"Sorry, it was just so sad. When the Grandmother - if I don't stop I'll start crying," she said, laughing. As her tears cleared, she sat back and allowed herself to relax.
"You have real talent, CP. Don't waste it," she said softly, looking him in the eyes. And almost getting lost in them, as well.
"So, what are you going to do with this amazing talent?" She asked, in horror, trying to clear her thoughts. What was she doing? This was Richard! Before, it had just been an infatuation, one based purely on one meeting in the hall. Now he was with Patrica, and she was over him. They were friends. Nothing more. Rachel couldn't believe herself. This is what Richard got for trying to be her friend.

[ksmilesallroundk]

Richard watched Rachel in concern as she read his work, and wondered what she was thinking. Accepting her compliments with a smile, he couldn't help but feeling sad. What he would do to make Rachel smile properly again scared him, but all he wanted was for her, and Patrica, to be happy. Taking his notebook out of her hands, he leant forward and hugged her. Even after a few minutes he didn't let go. He wasn't going to until she pulled away. For now, he was just content holding her, trying to make her believe that he was there for her.

[jess4ever]

Rachel closed her eyes as she let herself be held by Richard. After a few minutes, she broke away, smiling.
"Thanks, I needed that," she said honestly. Of course, now she just more confused and felt even worse, but at least she knew he wouldn't hate her. Grinning she sat back in her seat.
"So, what are you doing for the rest of the day, CP?" She asked brightly, feeling genuine. It had been a long day, but she could overcome this. She'd faced worse things in her life. Rachel sighed as she stretched.
"Got anything planned?" She was about to ask him another question when she suddenly froze.

[ksmilesallroundk]

Richard smiled at Rachel, thankful he could comfort her somehow. He squeezed her hand and then listened as she talked, surprised at how she suddenly seemed brighter now. He wasn't sure why she was, but he wasn't complaining. Richard grinned at her, and then felt his smile drop. Rachel was staring in shock at something near the entrace of the courtyard, and Richard turned slowly to see what could've spooked her so much. When he saw, his jaw dropped.


((haha now someone needs to come and have a reason for scaring them lol))

[Hebe Bang-Bala R7]

((At your service, Richard...))

How could you mix love and hate and think it was okay? How? How could she do it herself? Hebe kicked at the step in front of her, and the suit of armour standing on the next one clanked a little further away from her. She glared at it and then turned on her heel, heading back exactly the same way as she'd come as she decided she'd rather retrace her steps than have to cope with new ones right now. It was jealousy, that was all. Jealousy of her cousin's life, happiness, bubbly and effortless energy. She hated the same thing that made Melody so endearing. The younger girl tended to make her rather more mellow and Hebe was gruffly obliging towards her, but at the same time every day of hell, and every day of indecision at whether putting up more of fight would just make things worse made her only more jealous of Melody's simple happiness. Was she just blind to the foibles of their grandmother? Did she just underestimate them? Would she ever understand if Hebe tried to communicate the truth to her - not that she ever would try to do that. That would be cruelty far beyond her grandmother requiring Hebe's presence and guidance every moment of the day was.

She squeezed her knuckles until they went white and glowered at everyone she passed. Some were so taken aback that they looked back at her as it occured to them quite how vicious the glance she'd just given them was, and Hebe felt their eyes on the back of her head. She carried on down the corridors regardless. What did she care? If they couldn't tell that she would have done it to anyone, it was their problem. As she pushed open the door to the courtyard and slammed it again before the wind did, she revelled in the wind that slapped her in the face and had the bushes swaying from side to side. The Courtyard was fairly protected so it wasn't the windiest place, but it was still exhilarating after the stuffiness of the indoors. She drew out her wand and conjured three balls of fire - cold fire - which she began to juggle with, or at least attempt to juggle with. She hadn't quite got the hang of it yet, and while the flames were entirely cold, they weren't the most responsive thing to juggle with. One of the balls of flame dropped to the ground, and was immediately extinguished from its false existence. It was on looking away from the other balls of fire as she dissolved the others into thin air too that she noticed two younger students staring at her. One of them was even open-mouthed, making him look much more stupid than was a credit to the Ravenclaw badge on his robes.

Hebe wasted no time in approaching them, her eyes full of the icy flame she'd been juggling with. "What, 'ave you never seen someone in a bad mood before?" she asked, her a dangerous edge creeping into her voice that she tried to shove out of it at the same time as she got going with her anger, making her voice crack a little as she launched into her next words. "You got nowt better to do 'n sit there and gape with thy mouths open wider 'n a bloody great crack in t'earth? Why d'you not jus' go back ter gapin' at one another instead an' be done with it? I dunnot know, for sure, what you're doing talkin' to each other anyhow," she continued, having caught sight of the girl's Slytherin badge, "fer it's all bound to end unhappily. You lot, your house," she said, addressing Rachel, "you're all t'same in the end, no matter what ruddy good intentions you may have in t'beginning. You might think you're 'different', you 'aren't going to fall into that trap', but someone'll persuade you in the end that Slytherins are t'only people 'oo'll ever do you an ounce o' good an' that Mudbloods are the scourge of the Earth. An' that anything they even touch is worthless. Just one touch." She held out a finger to illustrate her point. "An' 'e'll" (she jestured at Richard distractedly) "become jus' as worthless jus' as easily. You'll leave 'im feelin' hurt and abandoned when 'e's not even done a thing wrong. I've seen it wit' a girl in me own year, and one in the year below too. People older'n her persuading her of the 'true' path she should take. An' you'll be jus' the same - heck, you'll even do it to someone else. It's no use thinking you're different. If you care enough about 'im, stop toying wit' 'im now before you become too small-minded to think he even has a heart anymore."

[ksmilesallroundk]

((thanks! haha))

Richard shut his mouth quickly as the grl approached them, and watched in horror as she began to rip into Rachel. He felt himself become indignant, and stood up quickly.
"Now see here," he began sternly, only allowing a tiny bit of anger into his voice. It would not be productive to cause a scene, but he had to defend his best friend.
"Rachel is the sweetest, kindest person, and you have no right to speak to her that way. Especially since you don't know her, or me for that matter. She has been through so much more than you have, and you owe her an apology," he finished, glaring at the girl. Richard usually hated to raise his voice, and was aghast that he was speaking to someone in such a fashion, but he also wouldn't stand for this girl to deliberately hurt Rachel. Not when she had done nothing wrong. And especially not when she had just gone through one of the roughest experiences he could imagine. Rachel had only confided in him slightly, but from what he could tell, she had not had it easy. And just when she was beginning to feel better again, this girl wanders along and tells her that she is wasting her time.

Richard continued to glare at the girl, his only movement was squeezing Rachel's hand momentarily.
"Well..are you going to say anything?" He asked after a moment.

[jess4ever]

Rachel felt her jaw clench, and she glared indignantly at the girl before her. She watched silently as Richard defended her and himself, and then stood up also.
"Thankyou Richard," she said quietly before walking up to the new girl. She stared her in the eye, and then walked closer so they were almost touching.
"Until you know me or my life, don't you ever, ever, speak that way to me, or my friend, again, or there will be hell to pay," Rachel said quietly, intentionally not sounding malicious. She was not scared of this older Ravenclaw, merely bemused that she thought she could speak to not only a Slytherin, but Rachel, like that.

Widening her eyes, Rachel took a step back in horror. This wasn't what she was meant to be doing. In an effort to change she had softened herself, and yet here, at the first sign of conflict, she turned into a smug, arrogant Slytherin again. Rachel bit her lip.
"I'm sorry. I really shouldn't have said that," she said nervously, unsure of what to do. Should she ask the girl's name? Should she be friendly? Rachel felt overwhelmed as a hundred different possiblities ran through her mind of how to act. How were good, honest people supposed to handle themselves in these situations? She cast a look at Richard, and gave him a weak smile.
"Uh, what's your name?" She asked suddenly, trying to cover up her apprehension, knowing she sounded flustered. Was it socially acceptable to ask the girl's name after she had just insulted them? Rachel didn't know, but she figured it couldn't hurt to ask.
"I'm Rachel Mason, and this is Richard. Uh, as you know, he's a Ravenclaw and I'm a Slytherin, and we're both third years. What about you?" She babbled, grimacing slightly at the idiocy of what she was saying. She sounded like a first year Hufflepuff who was trying too hard to impress an older student. Rachel sighed in defeat, accepting that she still had a lot to learn, and then sat back down on the seat.
"Or you could just tell us why you were making fireballs. They were a bit fearsome, but looked really cool," she said calmly, giving the strange girl a friendly yet humble smile.