Sitting by the Lake ((Cougar))

[Meyghan Gallagher R7]

Meyghan enjoyed the cold air and the crisp smell that winter brought along, and it was getting so close to her favorite time of the year that she had decided to go sit out by the lake and paint as many pictures as she could possibly get done. She wanted to paint the lake, and the trees, and the students and just pictures of everything. It was a season that inspired her. She loved to paint anything that came across her during this time of the year, even if it would mean that she would need new paints and brushes before she went home for the holidays.

Meyghan wondered what some of the other students would be doing for the holidays, and how many of them would be staying here at school. She felt sad for those that would have to stay at school, and that made her wonder why they had to stay there. But she decided not to focus on that, right now she needed a subject for her painting.

[Cougar Farmer R7]

Cougar sniffed the air and smelled something peculiar. He decided to look after what it could possibly be. Cougar wondered aimlessly for a while until he came upon an older girl who was painting. He stood looking at her before realizing he was in her way. He stepped to the side and around her to see what she was painting. Cougar personally thought it was very good, but that could have been because he could never draw even a three-dimensional cube. Although he was no good, that did not hinder his appreciation for great art or stop his occasional doodling. He watched as her hand seemed to fly across it as a scene of the lake began to come together. He wondered if someone could even think while making a work of art even half that good.

Cougar watched a while longer before remembering his manners. "Cougar Farmer is my name. I am a third-year Ravenclaw." Cougar said trusting out his hand before withdrawing it remembering that she was doing something. "That's amazing!" Cougar said softly really to his-self but nonetheless out loud. He had a bad tendency of dong that. His father used to call him crazy.

[Meyghan Gallagher R7]

Meyghan had noticed that the boy was walking toward her, but didn't expect him to actually stop. Most people walked past her, and never seemed to even notice that she was around. She looked up at the boy and smiled, " Meyghan, fifth year Ravenclaw. Nice to meet you Cougar." Meyghan never once took her brush off of the canvas that she was working on so dillengently. She knew what the lake looked like by heart, so she wasn't worried about messing up.

" Thanks, I do this a lot. It gives me time to think about things that don't seem to go right." She said quietly. Meyghan decided that she was at a good resting point and put down her brush. "So what brings you out to the lake on such a chilly day?" She asked Cougar.

[Cougar Farmer R7]

Cougar thought of how he doodles all the time, but he doesn't ever seem to get better. "Well, I was hoping to catch the last bit of warmth, and flowers and colors before Christmas, but I guess I was a bit late. So are you going home for the holidays?" Cougar asked. He thought of going home to his muggle home and his dad. He would squeeze every bit of information out of him till he practically lived his experiences. He would always try to convince hid dad that it was against rules to talk about it, saving him an hour of talking. Just then, a gust of wind him him causing him to step back and tuck his nose into his jacket. "Wow, maybe I should have worn a thicker jacket." Cougar again said using his out loud thinking.

[Meyghan Gallagher R7]

"Yeah, my dad has met this really special girl and I think he's going to invite her and her children for dinner. We always have a family holiday. Even my little brother will be home from school, even though he loves to stay at school and study. That means I'll get to do a lot of painting which I completely love to do." Meyghan said smiling thinking about the fact that the Cranes might come over to her home for holidays.

The breeze didn't bother Meyghan, she had brought a sweater, leather jacket, and a blanket. She always came ready for the cold. "Here, you can borrow my blanket if you would like. I mean we do have to go to the same common room, so we're bound to see each other again. You can also sit and watch me paint if you would like, I don't mind the company. I don't have many friends around here anyway." She said looking back down at her painting wishing the giant squid would surface so she could get it in there.

[Cougar Farmer R7]

Cougar thought of his own Christmas and thought of him and his dad sitting around warm by the fireplace, opening presents. Cougar would bet that somehow his dad would find a way to get Cougar something magical. After receiving the offer of her blanket, Cougar, after feeling the bitter cold, swallowed his pride and took it and wrapped up in it. Cougar also then, silently accepted her offer after settling his-self on the ground. "Have you met any new friends this year?" Cougar asked hoping to divert her attention from the friends she doesn't have to the ones she did. Sitting on the ground a few minuets caused his pants to get wet as it was a little damp, so he got up to continue their conversation and her painting.

[Meyghan Gallagher R7]

"A few, I managed to start a conversation with the house prefect, and have talked to a couple of Hufflepuffs. So a few. I'm not worried about having a lot of friends, but everyone should have at least one friend." Meyghan smiled thinking of that morning when she and Dana had met. That was a good picture that deserved to be painted. Meyghan could still remember every detail of the morning.

"So what about your holiday? Do you think it will be a good holiday, or do you think we will hear of more attacks somewhere?" Meyghan didn't mean to change the subject but she really didn't want to talk about friends much longer.

((not being able to think of much myself))

[Cougar Farmer R7]

"I don't know, I just have a bad feeling. I do believe something will happen." Cougar said. He didn't mean to make anyone uneasy, but that was his personal feeling he hated discussing it with other people because they always either dis-agree or called him crazy. Then, Cougar tossed around the topic in his head of maybe he really is crazy, but kept on with the conversation. "What about you? what do you think?"

[Meyghan Gallagher R7]

"I'm not really sure." Meyghan said thoughtfully. " I mean, I hope there aren't any more attacks, but no one can know for sure." Meyghan looked out at the lake, she didn't understand why everyone was always so afraid. She felt that Death Eaters were just like her or any other witch or wizard. They could be killed too.

"So do you like to draw?" Meyghan realized that she was just making small talk, but it was nice to have someone to talk to. It didn't come around that often, and when presented with the opportunity, Meyghan tended to take it as it came.

[Cougar Farmer R7]

Cougar listened to her point of view. Cougar hastily replied without thinking "I don't mean that everyone should be or is afraid, but they should be cautious. I mean for example what if You-Know-Who was to somehow appear here right now. I'd like to have some adults that are more skilled here to save us, because to be frank I believe I couldn't handle him, or even one of his death minions." Cougar sighed. He could continue on this subject but the truth was he rode the fence because he didn't know what to think. He always went for the opposite side of the story. He looked over the water pondering what he really would do if He was to pop up here.

He got bored quick, but just in time, Meyghan asked if he liked to draw. "I like to doodle I couldn't draw a circle to save my life, but it's fun. I get lucky every now and then, and someone will be able to make out what I'm attempting. I'd love to be able to paint like so," Cougar said gesturing toward her work, which was getting better by the moment," but it would take an act of God." Cougar finished thinking of his latest doodles.

[Meyghan Gallagher R7]

"I started out just doodling. I have a lot of scrapbooks at home filled with parchments that are covered in nothing but doodles. I think drawing is hereditary in my family though, my dad says I draw like my mom did." Meyghan said smiling at the thought of her being able to do anything like her mom used to.

Meyghan didn't let the thought of her mom sadden her. She had gotten used to the fact that her mom wasn't around anymore, and that it was no one's fault. Meyghan's lack of fear of death had grown with her, as she had learned more about her own mother's passing. "Doodles can sometimes turn into great works of art. Just don't get discouraged. Keep doodling, there's a chance that it might work out to a great work of art."Meyghan loved giving advice about drawing and doodling.

"So what's your favorite thing about the school?" Meyghan realized that she was asking a lot of questions, but how else did one get to know someone new. " I hope all of my questions aren't bothersome." She said with a half a smile.

[Cougar Farmer R7]

Cougar thought of him-self gotting better at doodling. He imagined his worst becoming the Mona Lisa. He giggled a little out loud. He sat a minutes listening to er than replied,"Oh, no, not at all. I'm enjoying the company. Oh, and as for school, ugh, probably performing magic again and seeing and meeting new friends." It was true he did miss seeing new people every day. That would have never happened at his dad's often. He did also miss the magic very much. He already loved being able to do the slightest spell every here and there. It was much more freedom."What about you, what do you miss? The landscape?" Cougar asked trying to figure her out.

[Meyghan Gallagher R7]

Meyghan sighed at the question. It really wasn't something she had to think about. She knew the most important thing that she would miss, her mother's memory. Being in Hogwart's made her think of her mum, and being a Ravenclaw made that memory much more special. "I think I'll miss everything. The friends, food, landscape, and the memories. I won't have to miss the magic. My dad will do plenty of that getting ready for the holidays. I don't think I will miss the classes much. But I'll miss everything about this place." She said thoughtfully.

Meyghan looked down at her drawing. It was almost complete. She thought for a moment and knew exactly what she was going to do with it. She hurried to try to finish it. As she got it done, she pulled out her wand, muttered a few words over the painting, and tapped it with her wand. Signing her name to the bottom, she turned toward Cougar, "Here, take this home with you. I can do more from memory later. It's enchanted so that the sound of the water will be able to be heard. You can keep it or give it to someone as a present if you would like." She said smiling. Meyghan loved sharing her artwork. It was something she knew her mother would have wanted her to do.