Typical Winters Night ((Ariane))

[slythie]

Heidi descended the stone steps of the castle. It was a freezing night. Snow blew widely in the black sky and the wind howled like a lone wolf. “What a delightful night!” Heidi whispered to her eagle Aithne happily. Due to the bitter cold, the first year wore some dark, warm trousers and a black woollen jumper, topped with a heavy green coat and silver gloves. On her shoes rested some comfy black boots which kept her feet perfectly warm as well as looking great. A necklace clung to her neck, a silver snake with ruby-red eyes which glinted through the snow flurries.

Heidi walked slowly, relishing the sound of the crunch caused by the frosty snow beneath her boots. Wind whipped her scarlet hair around her face, and her dark green eyes watched every movement in the shadows- a school owl flitted through the trees, a mouse scampered along the frozen ground- nothing missed her watchful eyes. Once she had travelled for a few minutes her eagle become jaded, and with a tired hoot at her mistress and a peck on the ear, she flew off to the owlery, where food and warmth awaited her. Heidi rolled her eyes as her pet flew off- not loyal enough- yet. The eagle was young and would have to learn to stay with Heidi on her nightly trips to the lake. However, Heidi let the bird go, not wanting to loose the trust the two had together.

She carried on through the grounds, arriving at the deep lake with her ears pink from the snapping wind, and her fingers twisting upon each other in their silken silver coat. The water looked dark and eerie, the moonlight shining off it in sparkling rays, showing darting creatures beneath the surface. Heidi slowly wandered to the waters edge and sat down silently, just watching the lake as she had done for the past few months twice a week. She wasn’t sure why she did this- it just set her mind at rest and calmed her, as well as setting her thoughts and worries out clearly so she could see them all and ponder random things.

[ariana]

“I will see you in Platform 9 and ¾ when the holidays begin. Have a good evening, Father,” Ariane replied dutifully as her father kissed her cheek as they had reached sight of the Hogwarts castle. Her parents had taken Ariane out of school for the day so they could finish shopping and make sure all documents were properly done. “Enjoy the rest of your evening, Mother,” Ariane said letting her mother kiss her other cheek before stepping out of the carriage that pulled to moving once again taking her parents away. It was only now that Ariane shuddered lightly and glanced tiredly at her watch. It had been a long night, but at least she had a note to make sure she wouldn’t get into any trouble for being out after curfew. That squib Filch should be exterminated. He was an even bigger pest than the mudbloods in the school.

Pulling her long flowing cloak closer around her slim form Ariane started to walk down the lake-side to get back into the castle and perhaps soak up some warmth form the fireplace in the common room. It should at least be a little bit warmer than the weather was. Ariane’s eyes fell to a lone figure sitting by the lake side. Walking closer without any change in her stride Ariane recognized a fellow Slytherin 1st year at some distance. One she knew faintly by the family-name, but that was pretty much all she knew about her.
“Boswell,” Ariane greeted rather coldly. The weather was cold after all and it did NOT fare well with Ariane’s patience or temper. Cold eyes looked over the other girl as Ariane quietly assessed her and stored all information away somewhere in the back of her mind, “Insomniac a little? Be sure to not loose any points while running into that pest Filch on your way back to school.” Ariane drawled lazily while offering a nod and continuing to walk towards the girl reaching and passing her relatively uickly though her pace was under no conditions hurrying.

[slythie]

As Heidi sat on the cold, damp grass she felt rather than heard the Slytherin girl behind her, and imagined the cold eyes examining her with icy glares. She knew Ariane a little, though only by name and attitude. The girl was not without pride, Heidi believed, and held herself to show it. Without turning round Heidi replied to Ariane with a calm tone, though it had a small edge to it just to show she wasn't one to warm to another so fast.

"Ariane. How nice to meet you out here on this cold night. Yes, my mind is a little disturbed tonight, so I have come out here to relax. I would have company, though my eagle has not learnt loyalty to its fullest extent just yet and has left me to flee for warmer areas." She paused to cough slightly, before continuing. "That irrational squib? Oh no, his irksome cat he loves so much has gone missing. I don't expect him to be thinking about missing students at this moment in time. And yourself? Why are you not in the castle?"Only now did she turn, her unfathomable emerlad eyes shining as she in turn looked Ariane's slight figure over, not really caring about the answer the girl gave. After a moment she smiled a slight smile, to show she wasn't completely cold to fellow Slytherins. As she spoke several shadows flitted through the trees around the lake, and Heidi listened as the hisses and yowls of two cats followed her small speech, and she guessed a fight was taking place. Some student would wake up the next morning with a molested cat upon their duvet, she thought with an odd smile.

[ariana]

“It most certainly is cold,” Ariane replied stopping and turning herself halfway as Heidi had decided to engage in a conversation. She would be polite enough to at least figure out what the girl was worth… if not anything else, “And I don’t think I asked for the reason you are out here, did I?” Ariane was careful to keep her face blank. The dark night-time assisted her in that task as Ariane sneered mentally. An owl? Who on earth kept owls for company? There were simply birds who were kept around as long as they could do their work properly, no more no less. This girl seemed to have some rather strange priorities.

“And I also think that if I feel that you need to know what business kept me out until now, then I will be the one to tell you myself,” Ariane replied rather icily, not liking the tactless nosiness into her own private business. This most certainly wasn’t a good sign… where were people with proper upbringing these days? They seemed scarce even in Slytherin unfortunately, “And there are other people whose too close surveillance might prove bothersome.” Not bothering to say anything else – hopefully the girl could draw her own conclusions from that remark – Ariane waited to see if Heidi would do any other social mistakes or would she have enough grace to make the bad first-impression fade from Ariane’s mind.

[slythie]

Heidi replied to Ariane’s first remark with a cold tone. “And I don’t think I asked you to tell me what to say. I merely told you my business out here because I felt it would be nice to show kindness to you, as clearly not many people do.” She felt the statement to be true- the girl before her seemed so cold inside, and Heidi felt she never had any fun. “And I asked what business you had out here just as a passing question. I must say, Ariane, you do take everything far to seriously. Have you ever had any fun in your life? Ever smiled other than from spite?” Heidi doubted it very much. To her, Ariane seemed like a stone, not letting anything show and so, so cold. She doubted the girl had any real friends, and felt she only ‘rated’ people on their upbringing. Someone like that must have had a hard childhood, thought Heidi.

As the thought passed her mind, a cat flew out from the trees, leaving a path of dripping blood. The feline stoped nearby, looking around in fright before licking it's wounds with a few tiny cries. Sighing, Heidi took out her wand and pointed it at the cat, murmuring ‘Ferula’ under her breath. It was a simple spell her mother had taught her, lest she or another close to her came to be harmed. From her wand came several black bandages which wrapped themselves around the cats main wound, upon it's paw.

[ariana]

Ariane smirked at Heidi. What? Was she trying to make a statement now? Not speaking up while there were others… was she afraid of looking like a fool? Though it isn’t very difficult to accomplish that task while you try to just throw out insults that aren’t thought through. People not showing kindness to her – really, she has the little angel of her parents. All Fathers friends always smiled and asked how she was doing and never was she left alone or not paid attention to by her parents. All her questions were always answered and explained and she could always turn to her parents to help. Ariane would always obey her parents but that was out of her own choice, as her parents did know best. A knowledge she had learned through trial and error over a couple of years, besides it did not bear well with Father if his orders were denied. Besides all that could be explained would be explained over time.

Ariane laughed at Heidi’s face with real amusement while looking at her with almost pity. “And you must have lived a very shielded life. Have you felt the need of a hug? Ever desired to hear one approving or praising word from your family? Or wanted to actually have the reason to laugh or have fun so badly, that to make life bearable for yourself you try to make yourself believe everyone else shares your own pitiful little worries?” Ariane eyed the cat who had burst out of the bushes coldly as the other cat appeared a moment later, this one who came now clearly the victor. Recognizing it as one of the 5th year Slytherin’s cat, Ariane smiled and bowing lightly let her hand glide down the back of the victorious cat, in a half-congratulation for showing the other cat it’s place.
“Curing the cat? When the victor is a Slytherin. Wonder what it does tell about you and your priorities...” Ariane drawled out with amusement still flickering in her eyes as she laughed at the girl in her mind. Really, there was a thin line between being able to read people and trying to make your own problems seem lesser by trying to convince yourself that the other person had the same problems as you, but on a far larger scale.

[slythie]

Heidi listened to Ariane carefully. She shook her head, smiling a little. “Hugs? If I feel the need of a hug I can get it, though I have never felt it. Hugs are pointless, and for Hufflepuff filth, not proud Slytherins.” Tucking a thin whisp of red hair behind her ear Heidi then spoke again. Ariane just wouldn’t give up, she thought. The girl must be terribly insecure to want to put everyone down. “Approving or praising words come my way often, thank you, though I can clearly see that you seem to grovel for them as they come. No- I am not saying you do not get them, as I can indeed see you at least have honour and pride for your line. But you seem to expect them, from what I know of you.”

Heidi didn’t know the girl very well, though could tell that what she had said about her honour was true as she got to know her. As the conquering cat stepped from the shadows and Ariane retorted to Heidi about curing the loser, she narrowed her eyes. “My priorities are for my house and family.” She indicated to the cat. “I like cats.” She spoke simply. “Even though this one isn’t a Slytherin, I believe it fought bravely enough and although I have no care for the owner, I do for cats. Have you a problem with that, Ariane?” She spoke simply again as the cat ran off, and went to sit beside the lake once more. The cold struck her bones and she wondered for a moment why she was out there. She did not wish to argue with Ariane but as she looked out to the silvery waters she saw ripples echoing across the lake and smiled slowly. Overhead an owl flew, wings wide and huge, and was closely followed by an eagle-looking creature. Heidi felt a small pang as she wished her own eagle was with her.
((Sorry sorry sorry it’s so late and short!))

[ariana]

Ariane laughed. She simply laughed at Heidi’s face at her last statement. “Hugs are pointless? Oh, really now? Care to explain why? If hugs are so pointless, then how do your parents greet each-other or yourself when the school-year is over? Have you never stroked the head of an owl aftr it has properly delivered a letter or a parcel? That’s pretty much the same sign of affection as a hug is,” Ariane drawled out lazily her eyes still holding an amused spark. Oh, her parents did offer light hugs when Father came home from work. Really, humans were social animals who needed company. Didn’t this girl really understand how much power it gave you to understand such simple gestures? Ariane laughed with real mirth as the girl continued to ramble on about Ariane groveling and not being appreciated. Did she really try to make herself appear bigger and better while groaning endlessly about every little aspect of life? “Appearantly the point of SLytherins has evaded you. Have you ever read that small quote in the common room? Or perhaps in Slytherin you'll make your real friends, Those cunning folk use any means To achieve their ends.’ Being cunning means that you can use Hufflepuffs weapons and strength against them. Slytherin isn’t about sulking and not trusting anyone. It’s Slytehrin that gives you true friends and it’s Slytehrin that teaches you to control yourself and work win even if the lowest cards are dealt for you.”

Letting out on more ring of laughter Ariane eyed Heidi carelessly. Slytherin was the house to give you friends. Friends that would go through everything or you, friends who would organize a jail-break or start a war in your protection. Surely, not everyone was trustworthy. Some people were groveling idiots who didn’t understand such values. Or the values of smiles and hugs. Strong people had wills, weak ones only dreamed. You couldn’t become friends with everyone, because most people would double-cross you. Yet Slytherin sorted out the very strongest who would create an invincible group from where you had to select the friends you would gain. Obviously Heidi wasn’t made of the material that Ariane would ever consider as someone worth her attention.
“I don’t,” came Ariane’s just as simple reply as the girl started to justify herself about disliking cats, while she eyed her coolly, now only observing the other girl for personal amusement, “The negative sides outweigh the positive features of cats for me.” Ariane smirked making a flowing gesture that made her cloak move accordingly as she made a mocking half-bow: “Are you finished with telling your sob-stories to the lake? Or are you going to run after it to make sure it’s delicate spirit won’t be disturbed by a falling snow-flake? Just so that someone might actually pay attention? Oh wait, were you trying to make a point just there and prove your superiority?”

[slythie]

Heidi’s eyebrows raised as Ariane stated her parents hugging. “I have just my mother, no father. Would be pretty hard for my parents to hug each-other if one is buried, I think. And for me, though this may not apply to you I agree, I believe the affection I give to Aithne isn’t similar to a hug. However, I suppose I did speak a little wrongly. My mother does often send hugs my way, and I do not dislike the embrace; just don’t often take too much comfort out of it. I don’t find it a big point in my life right now.” For Heidi, Ariane was beginning to get annoying, this constant talk with coldness and slight disbelief. Sighing, Heidi answered the other Slytherin’s next comment with a bored expression. “Thank you for reciting the quote that is well known in my mind, of course I have read it.” It was true- Heidi thought the spidery quote in the Slytherin area a great passage and no matter how many times she read it, always smiled on doing so. As Ariane talked about Slytherin not being about sulking, Heidi let out a small smile. Finally, someone noticed too! She nodded, a little pleased. “I agree with that one-hundered percent. I hate those Slytherins who go round sulking, with no pride at all. Hiding in shadows is not a way to show your honour for being in the best house!” Heidi nodded as Ariane talked a bit more on the meaning of Slytherin. She agreed with Ariane, who seemed to be speaking the words straight from Heidi’s own mind.

Her views changed as Ariane’s talk changed with it. The girl seemed to be looking for a verbal fight, though Heidi couldn’t be bothered to talk with great length like the Slytherin. Heidi wondered what her ‘I don’t’ part was too. Thinking back to what she had said, she remembered asking the Slytherin if she had a problem with Heidi’s liking for the feline creatures. Yet again Heidi listened to Ariane’s finishing little speech. “My sob-stories? I was merely admiring the scenery, and thinking a little of Aithne.” With another sigh she continued. “Why do you have such a need to talk back all the time, to make yourself appear verbally better than another? Hopeless.” Heidi said, wondering about what she said. She didn’t doubt that Ariane would come up with another riddle to make her talk seem stupid and immature.

[ariana]

Ariane shrugged not really caring about Heidi’s parents. So her father was dead. Boo-Hoo, big deal. One more orphan who tried to make life the one who had been unjust and therefore blame all the mistakes she personally did on that. Did the girl really think she cared? Why didn’t her mother die with her husband like it was proper for a loyal pureblood? Ariane fixed a small crease from her cloak as the wind moved it a bit smoothing the rich fabric with her gloved fingers. “Really now?” Ariane asked with clear disinterest visible on her face as she arched a sardonic eye-brow, “You know the quote, yet you don’t behave by it. Being a Slytherin isn’t just a choice, it’s a priviledge and a life-style. The same reason why I’m original stock, while you appear to be carbon copy bland trying to be something more.”
((The quote about the priviledge is from Mary. The one about life-style from Dawn.))

Ariane sneered and nodded lazily. This girl didn’t know how to behave, her insults weren’t thought through and they were shockingly raw. Clearly someone below the class and lever of Ariane herself. And someone not worth socializing. Well, it saved Ariane the trouble of paying attention to the girl in the future. “Did I ask? Enjoy freezing,” Ariane remarked coldly as she turned and without a backwards glance glided over the clean snow towards the castle doors and the inviting warmth of it leaving the other girl to her brooding.

((I heard that you wanted me to post, so here it is. However as Ariane has been made inactive for my own reasons, then she had to take her leave.))