The coat (Gaenor and others)

[stryderstalk]

Stryder Stalk entered the lounge in desperate need to find a place that would enable him to concentrate on his studies. Stryder held his Mastering Potions III, Herbology: The easy way, and The Joys and Pains of History of Magic, tightly in his arms as he searched desperately for an empty table.

Stryder normally would have sought out some comfort from the Common Room but lately he couldn't bare being in the noisy, bright colored room. Plus whenever he would put down his books and attempt reading someone would try to talk to him. Stryder can never turn down a conversation and would find himself using his books and materials as models of the Quidditch Pitch. The student lounge would be much better today.

Stryder's frumpy hair fell down over his brow as he dropped his books down on the table. He hadn't realized that a coat with the Slytherin crown was also accompanying him at the table with no owner. Stryder though, not paying attention, had placed his books on top of the coat wrinkling its sleeves.

Stryder sat down and opened his first book to find a comic book inside it. He was about to open it and become distracted from his work, when someone caught his attention.

"Hey you! What the bloody hell do you think you're doing?"

[gaenor]

Gaeron finished the transfiguration essay and picking up his wand tapped the paper his essay was on watching with satisfaction as the edges of the essay became straight lines and the small numbers stating the length of the essay rose from the parchment and floated in air before Gaeron for a moment. Gaenor allowed himself a small content smile as the essay was even a bit longer than was required. This should satisfy old McGonagall. Rolling the parchment up with lazy moves Gaeron stood and gathered his things before heading for his dormitory to put it away. As he had done quite a number of homework today that would become handy for NEWTs as well Gaeron was sure to make sure the parchment were safely deposited into his trunk at the end of his four-poster until he would need them. Gaeron placed all his books except potions next to the parchments before straightening up again and stretching lazily. He might as well do some revision for Potions NEWTs today as that was the subject he felt most insecure in. Most likely because he had bothered with it least.

Leaving the dormitory with quiet steps Gaenor headed towards the library taking a short-cut he knew through the dungeon that led him past the Student Lounge. Hearing shouting coming from inside Gaenor stopped and at a random burst of curiousity opened the door and stepped in. Upon seeing who were fighting Gaenor frowned and strode into the room with quick steps. Stepping between the two boys Gaenor fixed a stern glare on the Slytherin girl after noting the now wrinkled coat on a near-by chair. “Don’t forget your upbringing,” Gaeron warned the first year girl quietly holding her gaze sternly. The girl gazed at him for a few long minutes before nodding and taking her coat before leaving the student lounge in a lazy saunter. Gaenor sent the girl with his eyes for a moment deciding that the girl had definite potential even if she had picked an unworthy opponent for this fight.

Turning around Gaenor concentrate his glare on the boy now. Gryffindor by the looks of it. “While I understand it’s hard for you Gryffindors to use the tiny bit of brain that might – or might not – exist in that tiny skull do learn to not bother those to who you are inferior?” Gaeron asked before yawning and turning without even waiting for an answer. When he was already here, he might as well flip through the potions book he had along here before moving to the library. Looking coldly at two students who he didn’t know Gaeron secured himself an empty table. Sitting down next to it Gaeron made himself comfortable before flipping his book open.


((At least I hope that bolded sentence wasn't godmoded to come out of my mouth.))

[stryderstalk]

Stryder quickly dropped his comic book when the shrill of the first year's voice echoed through his ears. He turned around to see a grumpy and very upset girl. Stryder was about to say something when another guy stepped into the 'fight.'

“Don’t forget your upbringing” The new boy had said to the girl. Stryder studied the boy for a bit. He looked much much older than Stryder. Stryder could tell that he most be a ladies man because his hair was neatly combed back making him look like a gentleman. Compared to Stryder's appearance this guy was a model.

Stryder then drew his attention back towards the first year girl. She must have fallen into the boy's appearance spell. It seemed like days had passed when she finally came back to reality. Stryder watched her awkwardly as she took her coat from the table and left without saying a word. How did he do that? Stryder thought to himself. The girl was about to fight him, even though he could have taken her so easily, and this guy comes in, says a couple words, and she obeys him like no other. Stryder was impressed and a little intimidated. He couldn't figure out the mystery until he realized that the boy was wearing a slytherin coat himself.

“While I understand it’s hard for you Gryffindors to use the tiny bit of brain that might – or might not – exist in that tiny skull do learn to not bother those to who you are inferior?”

Stryder tightened his palms waiting to spring on the slytherin for disrespecting Gryffindor, but the boy had already sat down at a different table and started looking through his book. Stryder was going to ignore the whole situation but he wouldn't let it drop that easily. Stryder placed his books down and stood up walking towards the slytherin's table.

"Listen, I didn't need your help. I could have taken her on easily. And who do you think you are saying that Gryffindors don't have brains?"

Stryder wasn't sure what he was trying to do. The words just came out of his mouth. Stryder stood over the boys shoulder and waited for the ego driven boy to say something.

((Nah it was a free for all quote. You could have taken it anywhere if you wanted. That was the point of it.))

((Spell check isn't working so sorry if there's mistakes.))

[gaenor]

Gaenor flipped open his book taking the bookmark out from between it. He had been revising a little for Potions as well as other subjects yet he knew he still had plenty of work to do. Gaenor wasn’t stupid but he had to work to keep his grades up. A bothersome task even if Gaenor knew that it had to be done. A lot of work could be done by oneself as his grandfather had tutored Gaenor very well in casting hexes curses and protective spells Gaenor would still have to learn the basics of becoming a capable wizard here in school. Noticing that his thoughts had started to wonder around Gaenor frowned a little and started reading the paragraph about morphing potions once more.

The Gryffindor boy didn’t seem to be very happy about the way things had settled though. Gaenor bit back a sigh and finished reading the sentence before looking up at the boy standing before him. Gryffindors just had to raise a scandal out of everything, didn’t they? “Drama-drama-drama-drama. I don’t have the time to give you an audience today even if you remain standing before me,” Gaenor commented as he measured the boy before him from head to toe before looking him calmly into his eyes. Gaenor didn’t doubt the fact that he would have been able to win a first year in a duel. All third years could unless they were complete failures and a disgrace to the whole human kind. And Gaenor hadn’t stepped in for the boy, but rather to remind the first year her dignity and that this hothead wasn’t worth the trouble. And the boy just had to go and raise a big scandal out of it.

“You might have handled her just as easily with spells as I could handle you. I’m Gaenor Maydell and that’s all the reason I ned to state what I think as you standing before me and screaming about it all the proof you need to show that you are the classical hotheaded Gryffindor who doesn’t think before acting?” Gaenor gave the boy an almost fond smirk. He was in over his head and he didn’t even seem to understand it. Even if had would have gotten a jinx in Gaenor had simply had years practice on spells on him and would probably be able to cast spells he hadn’t even heard of. It was his luck that Gaenor didn’t take his impulsivity as an insult that would need to be punished. But he wouldn’t hesitate to use his wand on the boy should he decide to take things too far. Gazing at the younger boy calmly Gaenor tapped his finger-tips on the open page. “Now do you wish to throw yourself on the floor and throw a temper tantrum for me stating facts or are you done with wasting my NEWTs revision time?”

[stryderstalk]

He really needed to learn how to shut his mouth lately. He didn't want to get into a fight with anyone. Then again why was Stryder complaining about something stupid to a much taller, bigger, and older Slytherin? Stryder had no clue but there he was standing in front of the boy about to get jinxed.

“Drama-drama-drama-drama. I don’t have the time to give you an audience today even if you remain standing before me,”

Stryder looked at him. The Slytherin was right. Stryder didn't have time for drama either. He needed to study. Well actually Stryder knew his material well enough to pass. Stryder could have been drawing though, but no he was trying to pick a fight that he knew he would lose. Stryder knew it had to do with the letter he had received. He was just sitting in the Great Hall talking with his friends when Slate had arrived carrying a letter. Stryder thought nothing of it. It was probably his aunt wanting to hear from him. Everything was fine until he saw the waxed seal: JS as a snake. It was his father. The bastard, he hadn't talked to Stryder in over five years and then one day he just randomely writes to him.

Stryder,
Hope you're having fun at Hogwarts. I ruled that school when I attended. Then again I wouldn't be surprised if you were the lowest of the low. You should be ashamed of yourself. To think a Stalk in Gryffindor. Well I won't be surprised when I found out that you have been killed by a Death Eater. Your sister Cecilia is at Hogwarts. She's a first year, Slytherin of course. She will be keeping an eye on you.
Jake Stalk.

Stryder had destroyed the letter as soon as he read it. He couldn't belive it. He looked down at the boy's Slytherin badge wishing he could rip it to threads because it reminded him of his fater.

“You might have handled her just as easily with spells as I could handle you. I’m Gaenor Maydell and that’s all the reason I ned to state what I think as you standing before me and screaming about it all the proof you need to show that you are the classical hotheaded Gryffindor who doesn’t think before acting?”

Stryder would have reacted. There he goes again insulting Gryffindor just like his father. His father probably would have liked this boy, as long as he was a pureblood. Stryder didn't do anything though, he stood there watching Gaenor tap his fingers on his books waiting for Stryder to hex him.

“Now do you wish to throw yourself on the floor and throw a temper tantrum for me stating facts or are you done with wasting my NEWTs revision time?”

"I'm Stryder Stalk." And with that Stryder walked back to his table with his head up high. He must have looked quite odd to Gaenor. Stryder really didn't care though. He grabbed his books and instead of walking out the doors walked towards Gaenor's table once more. Stryder looked at him and then dropped his books right next to his. Stryder sat down.

"When are NEWTs?"

[gaenor]

Gaenor knew he should study. And he even had half a mind to do just that. But. At the same time he didn’t especially want to open his books again either. It was a loose-loose situation. And this ickle Gryffindor before him just might be an interesting experiment psychologically. What would it take for him to loose his cool? A little bit of temptation? A little bit of scratching his nerves? Gaenor just kept his eyes steadily on the boy waiting for a reaction. Any kind of a reaction as one was bound to come. Even walking away would be a reaction. Which was exactly what the boy did after a moment. “I don’t recall myself asking who you are,” Gaenor replied with a raised eye-brow watching the boy walk away. Maybe he had enough brains not to try to attack someone older than him. Or maybe he was just smart enough to know now to get into a verbal argument with a Slytherin.

The last name had caught Gaenor’s interest none the less. Stalk. Purebloods as far as Gaenor could remember. His grand-father didn’t like them. Meaning they were either boring people with less of a backbone than a jellyfish – and that was already saying something as jellyfish don’t have backbones – or they were connected to he-who-must-not-be-named. At least those two were the most likeliest options that jumped to Gaenor’s mind. He just wished he would find out why his grand-father was so against he-who-must-not-be-named. Grand-father hated all things muggle and despised those who married muggles. No muggle-born had ever raised feet over the Maydell household, no matter how influential. In that way grand-fathers views were rather similar to what he-who-must-not-be-named fought for. Yet grand-father hated Him even worse than muggleborns. Gaenor had often tried to learn more about this phenomen, but grand-father didn’t really tolerate being questioned so he had never really learned anything the least bit useful.

Gaenor looked up again at a thudand observed coldly how the Stalk-kid sat down in the armchair next to the one Gaenor himself was occupying. Turning his head Gaenor eyed his books on the table next to his for a moment before smirking towards the boy. “NEWT tests are held in the end of 7th year. Where is the Gryffindor house going to, if even this small piece of information hasn’t been able to penetrate your skulls. Then again, looking at Gryffindor’s point standings – it’s rather obvious too,” Gaenor smirked at the boy and opened his potions book at where his bookmarker was situated. Morphing potions Gaenor discovered with a lay glance towards the open pages of his book before he leaned back in his chair and stretched himself with pleasure for a moment. “I didn’t invite you to sit down either as I have no desire for your company. Doubt you’d even provide any entertainment.”

[stryderstalk]

Stryder didn't know exactly why he had asked when NEWT's were, he knew that, who didn't know that? but he had nothing better to say. Though it would make Stryder look like a moron but oh well. It was better than "How are you liking your classes?"

“NEWT tests are held in the end of 7th year. Where is the Gryffindor house going to, if even this small piece of information hasn’t been able to penetrate your skulls. Then again, looking at Gryffindor’s point standings – it’s rather obvious too,”

Stryder knew that he should have said something else. He was just trying to be nice to Geanor but he obviousily didn't want to have a Gryffindor friend.

“I didn’t invite you to sit down either as I have no desire for your company. Doubt you’d even provide any entertainment.”

"I don't intend to give you any entertainment."

Stryder wasn't sure why he was even still talking to Gaenor. He was starting to really get annoyed with his wise crack comments. Stryder wanted to leave but the same time he felt no need to. Though Gaenor had a harsh tongue he wasn't a threat to Stryder.

[gaenor]

The boy just didn’t take a hint. And Gaenor hadn’t even hinted really, but rather told strait out that he didn’t want the younger boy to stick by. Yet the boy had the gall to sit down next to him and make small-talk. Not that he was very talented at the skill. Gaenor snapped his book closed and looked at the boy for a moment, clearly evaluating him. He could do what the boy and other students in the student lounge clearly expected him to do and hex the boy. Who would have stopped him? Yet Gaenor didn’t like to fulfill people’s assumptions about him. So he let his wand stay in it’s place as he looked the boy over calculating out the best way to approach him. He would humour the boy until he would know clearly where to hit to break the boy and get rid of him for good. Everyone could be broken if tempted with the right thing at the right time. Or threatened with the right thing at the right time.

His classes? A clumsy way to start the conversation so Gaenor arched an eye-brow even as he replied with a rather neutral tone: “I like some more, some less. And you amuse me with you mere presence.” Gaenor turned himself so that he could freely look at the boy. He had a weird name, but then again a lot wizards had weird names. Gaenor’s own couldn’t be called the most regular either. And even while the boy could have been the offspring of some eccentric muggle, Gaenor rather believed that one or both of his parents were magical folk. The boy didn’t look very good o probably not the wealthiest family however. “A mind puzzle. Why does a meager second or third year Gryffindor approach a seventh year Slytherin?” Gaenor asked before smirking at the boy as he started to answer his own question, “There’s always the possibility of a dare, as you guys always seem to be trying to look for opportunities to show your courage or the lack of common sense. But we can most likely cross that idea out as you were here alone. SO what are you trying to gain? Impress someone? The question is who? And what makes you think I would be willing to help that cause?”

[stryderstalk]

He could leave any moment. Stryder was surprised that he had stayed this long. He wasn't afraid of Geanor, not even close to that. Stryder knew though that he was a seventh year and could hex Stryder any second. The hex could hurt but Stryder wasn't afraid of that, if he wanted he could try to block it, though it probably wouldn't work. Stryder didn't want to be caught in a duel. His prefects would kill him if Stryder lost points for Gryffindor. They were already way behind all the other houses as it was and the prefects would kill him if he caused it to go down any further.

Stryder watched as Gaenor shut his book and glared at him. Stryder was really starting to bug him. I wonder if he's a pureblood. His family might know mine. Stryder wouldn't be surprised at all but then again he didn't seem interested when Stryder said his last name was Stalk. Stalk is well known with other purebloods. Jake had made Stalk into a good name and if you were a well known pureblood you would have heard of the Stalks. Stryder doubted that Geanor was pure, probably mixed if anything.

“I like some more, some less. And you amuse me with you mere presence.”

Stryder nodded, at least he was talking to him. Then again Stryder had to keep in mind that this boy most likely hung out with the likes of Draco Malfoy and his gang. Nastiest group of Slytherins. Stryder's father knew the Malfoys but wasn't a good friend of theirs. Stryder's dad wished he could have been but it never happend. Good thing to. Stryder wouldn't want to know Draco Malfoy at all.

“A mind puzzle. Why does a meager second or third year Gryffindor approach a seventh year Slytherin?”

Stryder opened his mouth about to talk when Gaenor answered himself. Stryder just sat and watched him blabber on.

“There’s always the possibility of a dare, as you guys always seem to be trying to look for opportunities to show your courage or the lack of common sense. But we can most likely cross that idea out as you were here alone. SO what are you trying to gain? Impress someone? The question is who? And what makes you think I would be willing to help that cause?”

"Well your right it wasn't a dare. It would be a lame dare anyways. I'm not trying to impress anyone either. I couldn't tell you why I'm here. I'm just here trying to talk to you."

He sure is full of himself. Me trying to impress someone by talking to him? What is this guy thinking. Stryder knew that that wasn't the best answer to give. Slytherins liked to be right. If Stryder wanted to please Gaenor he would have admitted that he wanted to bask in the lights of such a great seventh year for all the seventh years in Gryffindor were horrid and Stryder was waiting all his three years to meet one that was worthy to talk to. Nope. Stryder wouldn't go that far. He was after all a Gryffindor.

[gaenor]

Gaenor sent an almost pitying look at Stryderas the boy still insisted to sticking around. Was he really so shunned by everyone in his own house and age-group that even the company of a clearly hostile older Slytherin was better than that? And people thought the Slytherin house was bad. The truth was – Sltyerhins took care of their own. When had two Slytherins been caught fighting in public? There were fights and arguments and plenty of both. Yet they all took place in private. If you really thought about it Slytherin displayed the most united face to the rest of the world and these connections you made at school stuck with you so Slytherins treaded very carefully in social matters. “Really now, you aren’t trying to impress anyone? And here I thought you were trying to impress me with being able to sit here and annoy me? Whether you are quite ready to admit it or not you want something,” Gaenor stated with quiet confidence in his voice before turning his eyes towards the ceiling of the room.

“Stryder Stalk. A Gryffindor. Maybe even a pureblood traitor from a pureblooded family? So ashamed of yourself you’re trying to get the correct relations none the less? You picked the wrong person for that, boy,” Gaenor smirked at Stryder his eyes flashing with a threat towards the younger boy, “Grandfather quite despises your father for some reason. I’m sure you’d be in for a good whipping once your father hears of this.” Grandfather wasn’t much for social gatherings, yet there were duties to fulfill. So Gaenor still had a quite clear view of who his grandfather liked, who he could tolerate and who he couldn’t. And while the two got along and didn’t at the same time – Gaenor would back up his grandfather, even if he didn’t most likely know half of the story behind the sorrow in grandfather’s eyes that caused him to act the way he did. Even Gaenor’s old nanny didn’t tell him of what had happened all those years ago when grandfather had stopped supporting he-who-must-not-be-named. And Gaenor was sure his uncle’s death had quite a lot to do with this, even if the man had been a Death Eater. He had died before being imprisoned however so it was a very quiet deal known only to the family and the aurors at that time as it had never risen into a big deal. Yet there was tension in the air but this was not the time to get lost in pieces of family-history so Gaenor lowered his eyes towards the younger boy once again.

[stryderstalk]

Their conversation was just getting worse and worse by the minute. Stryder had a feeling that Gaenor had talents in insulting people because Stryder couldn't think of any comebacks for the seventh. Stryder could have said some sly remarks everynow and then but he was pretty sure that Gaenor would have matched him with another one. It was as if they were dueling with words and Stryder was losing, especially after what Gaenor said now.

“Stryder Stalk. A Gryffindor. Maybe even a pureblood traitor from a pureblooded family? So ashamed of yourself you’re trying to get the correct relations none the less? You picked the wrong person for that, boy,”

Stryder was shocked. How did he know that he was a pureblood traitor. Stryder knew that "Stalk" was well known in other pureblood families but Stryder wasn't sure that Geanor was a pureblood. What did he say his last name was. Maydell? If Stryder had been asked when he was younger if he could tell if Maydell was a pureblood name or not, he would have been able to answer. Stryder now barely could remember a few pureblood names let alone if Maydell was one of them.

“Grandfather quite despises your father for some reason. I’m sure you’d be in for a good whipping once your father hears of this.”

This helped Stryder a little bit but not much. His Grandfather knew Jake and Claudia. Then agian that could mean anything, especially if he didn't like them. Mr. Maydell could be an auror that don't like the Stalks due to the killings. He could be a Death Eater who doesn't like the Stalks due to their muggle way of killing. It could be anything but the point was that somehow Geanor's grandfather knew all about his family.

"It seems like your grandfather and I have something in common then."

Stryder said looking at Geanor with harsh eyes. Perhaps this would tick him off a bit. Stryder was thinking about leaving but know he was curious as to what Geanor knew about the Stalks. Stryder had only met a few people who recognized his last name. Or if they asked if he was related to the pureblood Stalks he would say that he wasn't and that he had never heard of them before. Today though he knew that he couldn't lie about his "Stalk" blood to Geanor. I mean how many Stryder Stalk's are there in order to have two of them? Geanor definitly wouldn't fall for it.

[gaenor]

Gaenor observed the boy with a lazy smirk chuckling a little as the boy glared at him. “Is that look supposed to scare me?” Gaenor asked with a cold glance towards the boy before opening his book again showing clearly that he wasn’t phased the least bit. Really now, Gaenor was a Slytherin and the members of his house could be eerily spooky if they wanted to. Gaenor could too if he put his mind to it, but this guy clearly wasn’t worth the effort. He posed no threat at all to Gaenor even if he was flirting with the last of Gaenor’s nerves today with his lack of understanding that he wasn’t wanted here. Was it really that hard to understand? Gaenor did try to tell it to the boy with quite simple words, yet he wasn’t getting it.

“Doubt you’d ever hold anything to my grandfather. And it only shows your lack of manners that you wave your families trouble in the air for anyone to hear like this. There isn’t much shameful things you could to ad I’m quite sure your parents don’t deserve that. They are family so shaming them will only shame yourself,” Gaenor stated quite calmly glancing at the boy over the edge of his book laid open in his lap. Trouble in the paradise of home, eh? This was a bit of information Gaenor stored away in the back of his mind. He might enver need this piece of information, but who knew when he had to tempt or threaten Stryder to what Gaenor wanted him to do. For the big part teamwork for Gaenor was people doing what he wanted. He did give some people the credit of listening to their advice, but those were rare cases. At most cases Gaenor preferred to decide things himself. Which was exactly why he opened his mouth again: “So I ask one more time why you don’t get the hint that you aren’t wanted and insist on flirting with my last nerves still tolerating you?”

[stryderstalk]

That was it. Stryder couldn't stand this Slytherins ego anymore. He thought he was so much better than him, well he wasn't. Stryder could have been a Slytherin easily. Stryder thought about it, if he had lived with his parents and became a Slytherin he would be respected by all of them for his high status, even Gaenor. He wondered how many other families Gaenor's dear grandfather despised, probably a few from Slytherin, possibly even Gaenor's friends. Stryder couldn't help but smile. He looked up at Geanor and then stood up.

"You're right. I have better things to do than talk to a stuck up Slyterin like yourself."

Stryder turned around and started walking out of the Student Lounge with his stuff in his arms. He would go back to his dorm and tell Drew all about this guy, that is if he didn't get hexed on the way out.