Practice makes perfect ((Ariane))

[Sydney Rawson H6]

The clock struck one o' clock, as most Hogwarts students went off to lunch. Filling themselves up with an array of soups, salads, fruits, and sandwiches to tide them off till supper time. Sydney Rawson decided to take the extra time out to go to the courtyard. The first week of summer was not going so well. Some days dreadfully dreary, some a downpour of water, others gorgeous and sunny like rain never touched the earth ever before. Today was one of those good days. Sunny, barely a cloud in the sky, and best of all... Dry.

The courtyard was a very good place to seclude yourself. With the several walkways, high brushes, several flowerbeds, few dozen benches, who exactly knows who is behind any corner. this type of privacy was ideal to Sydney. She wasn't into secluding herself by any means. She just wanted to be alone when practicing. She understood what were her strengths and what were her weaknesses, her strengths were Potions, Defense, and Herbology. Her weaknesses were Divination and Transfiguration. Something about Divination sounded bazaar to her. She tired to read tea leaves, look in crystal balls, read clouds and stars, and test the wind patterns but nothing seemed actually solid evidence of powers or fortunes. Syd was always one to follow her gut feelings. If she felt like something was going to go wrong she listened to herself. She was quite the intuitive person but Divination just wasn't a subject she could make work. Also, Transfiguration was a bare for her to work through. She could follow through with an incantation, she was not having trouble with that but with the final details. Like when Professor McGonagall wanted the class to turn mice into snuffboxes. She could make the box but the whiskers and tail still appeared. Feeling flustered constantly, she could never calm herself down to achieve high marks in the class.

At the courtyard, Sydney wanted to try to perfect her style and those final details she always seemed to miss. Being a sixth year, this should come easy, but she wasn't perfect. Syd was determined to take out the time and finally figure out what she was doing wrong. Setting her bag down, Syd hummed to herself a few incantations she wanted to practice today. Placing a goblet, a book, a perfume bottle, and an apple on a lone bench she studied the object wondering what she wanted to turn them into. Several switching spells crossed her mind, as she singled out the apple. It barely had any detail, other than the red color, and the stem. But what did she want to turn it into. Her eyes traced the circular body and it clicked. "Circularenufo!" She pointed her wand to the apple with a flick as a yellow beam shot toward the apple. In place of the apple was found a green ball. Sydney could change color, because of course that was an obvious detail. Pleased with that, she picked it up. A shinny green sphere was about the size of her palm, rolled around in her palm. Inspecting the ball, it seemed good. The spell worked. But that was quite simple for a practice. An apple, something with barely any detail turned into a ball. Beginners work. Pleased, but not so proud, Syd tossed the ball into her bag and picked up the book. She studied the well over nine hundred page novel to see what she could do next.

[Ariane Chan]

((Set before Ariane’s mother dies.))

Ariane sent a withered glance up at the trail of blue, blue sky as her eyes rolled to the heavens. Could it be any more better, the weather? Sighing to herself, Ariane supposed that the lack of rain did mean one good thing: she could draw in peace outside. Even if it had rained, however, she could probably have used a spell to shelter herself from getting wet… though admittedly she wouldn’t have been able to hold that for long, especially with her concentration put into her artwork at one hundred percent. Tucking her box of materials under her arm securely, always ever protective about it, Ariane strolled languidly into the Courtyard, having just had a quick lunch. She never ate too much anyway, and she’d left Aurora and Harmony at the dining table, still gorging themselves on food. Well, Aurora was probably still at it. Ariane allowed a slight smirk to herself at the thought, before gazing around the Courtyard, bathed in warm afternoon sunlight. Observing the half empty area, she felt contented enough to stay here and draw. Ariane rarely allowed herself to enter the Courtyard with this intention. Most of her time spent outside was usually in the Grounds, rather than in these beautiful gardens. Firstly, she could more easily be distracted here, what with people milling around constantly… Secondly, Ariane felt less trapped in the Grounds, freer than being confined by flowers and trees here. And thirdly and most important of all, Ariane felt that the Grounds suited her better; much better than the neatly arranged, beautiful scenery of the Courtyard. Ariane was more like the wild Grounds, with grass sprouting everywhere in a messy array, the odd bit of beauty springing up in the most unexpected places. That was Ariane. Plus you never know what inspiration may come to mind, what with the Grounds offering such diverse opportunities.

But we didn’t always have to stick with the mould. Sometimes shifting, changing, once in a while, was good. Ariane resisted a large smile as she shuffled through the peaceful Courtyard, trying to spy a comfortable, secluded place for her to sit and draw. The Courtyard was indeed a beautiful place, and Ariane looked forward to drawing something in it. People, perhaps? Ariane frowned a little to herself. She had never been keen on putting humans to paper; not because she didn’t like drawing them, but because she felt criminal, stealing somebody’s face without permission and keeping it in her collection. Was it right, without them knowing? Ariane dismissed the thought as she suddenly spied a perfect spot for her to sit, and quickly made her way over. Nestled between many flowers, Ariane laid her box on the bench, the large tree overhead shadowing part of the area. Ariane was instantly reminded of her favourite position under the oak tree in the Grounds, and knew she had found the best place for her. She felt right at home. Settling herself gradually, Ariane grabbed a drawing board and clipped a fresh, blank piece of paper to it, an anticipating tingle running through her fingers. She always got that whenever she was about to start drawing, the love for the art coursing through her veins, through her mind.

Now that she was pretty much ready, Ariane needed to select something to draw. What? She glanced around carefully, observant eyes taking the scenery in with a blank expression. Most of what lay before her were flowers and trees, plants that sprouted from the gardens so vigilantly tendered. How often had Ariane painted those? Too often. They were the simplest thing to turn to with nothing else in mind to draw, and Ariane felt like doing something different. She would’ve turned to sketching animals, if only there had been any flittering around. Atalanta was no where in sight, of course, due to it being daytime. She was probably nestled in the Owlery, sleeping ready for the oncoming night. Dori, Harmony’s pet cat, was most likely in her dormitory, perhaps sleeping too. Ariane had always liked her as a subject; she had the brightest green eyes that peered at you curiously. Sighing in frustration, Ariane gave the Courtyard yet another sweeping gaze, hoping to find something she could use as a subject. Finally, her eye was attracted to a girl not too far away, diagonally across from her, sitting on a bench of her own. Ariane recognised her instantly; Sydney Rawson, a girl in the same house and year as her. As usual, Ariane hadn’t ever really spoken to her. She never really communicated with anyone save Harmony and Aurora. Sydney seemed to be reading a book on her lap, wand out on the ready. Realising her fellow classmate was probably practicing a spell, Ariane inwardly congratulated her on her hardworking attitude, before wondering if she could possibly draw her. She felt uncomfortable just doing it without her permission, but she somehow doubted that Sydney would allow her to do it if she asked. Wasn’t it slightly creepy, if one of her fellow students whom you’d never spoken to despite being in the same house and year for the past few years, suddenly came up to you and asked to draw you? Ariane almost snorted to herself.

But Ariane still needed to draw something. She had come out here to do just that, and she wasn’t going to leave empty handed. Ariane was determined the Courtyard would prove useful this one time she came here. And she felt a great urge to draw Sydney despite her fear of asking her, or drawing her without her permission. Ariane had long since drawn an actual person. The last time she had used Aurora as a model, and as much as Ariane really enjoyed drawing her best friend with that strange glint in those dark eyes, she really wanted to capture something else, something new. A new face with a different set of emotional eyes, a different nose and different lips. Ariane thought it over a moment, contemplating whether or not she actually go for Sydney. After all, there was nothing else available or interesting in sight, and she really didn’t want to lose this opportunity at drawing. She had been so up for it, and she still was. Ariane thought of Sydney’s personality, after many years of silently observing her fellow classmates. Sydney seemed the type that wouldn’t mind… Ariane hoped. She felt that she was a good judge of character, but Ariane knew she wasn’t always right. Yet she wasn’t the type to sit here and think things over, without any action. Sighing to herself, Ariane finally propped her drawing board against the bench and stood up stiffly, making her way slowly towards Sydney, absorbed in her book. Ariane was going to ask the girl, because she wouldn’t just draw her without her permission, and because Ariane was not the kind of girl who simply thought she wanted to do something, but wasn’t brave enough to do it. Approaching Sydney, Ariane attempted a slight smile, enough to rid her voice of being too cold and unfriendly. She wanted to do this in the most polite, most distant way as possible. This was a request, nothing more. “Sydney Rawson, right? Ariane Chan. I was wondering if you minded if I drew you.” Ariane gestured back at her materials lying neglected on the bench. “I’d really appreciate it if you would let me. But I also understand if you don’t want to.”

[Sydney Rawson H6]

Crossing her right leg over her left, her light red hair fell past her eyes as she gazed into the school book. Wiggling her right ankle, she hummed to herself to make herself more comfortable with her actions. To be set in a spell, you must be confident. But to also be confident, you must have a clear mind. Yea, that seems difficult when you have tests soon to see if you can pass the school level but, Sydney was sure to do her best. She was a driven soul and that was another trait she took from her grandmother. Constantly being almost identical to her grandmother made her happy in the since, she really wasn't the only one in her family that fell into another house. Ravenclaw really was not for her in the least. Things just come so naturally to them. But to Sydney seemed to have a problem with focus. She was busy thinking of so many different things, some simple actions seemed like a trial for her. But all and all, at the end of the day, Sydney was independent and could definitely do things for herself. Which in turn made her content with her characteristic as a Gryffindor.

Turning the page in her book, she felt the nooks from the book's cover design set into the skin of her leg. Picking the book up slightly, she felt the imprints in her leg right above the knee. "Why does a book have to be so heavy, that it just has to make imprints on what ever it is on?!" Syd thought to herself as she took up from the bench. Turning another page in the book, she found a spell she favored. Placing the book aside on the bench, out of the line of fire, she moved the goblet forward. One of her younger years, her Transfiguration class did a spell on goblets, but Sydney was up for more of a challenge. Pulling her wand out of he pocket, she stood about three feet away from the silver, intricate, goblet. Pushing a strand of hair out of her face she gave a short grin, because she loved this idea. Taking a breath, she Begin."Applicafirato!" She shot with a quick flick, as the goblet rose about an inch off the solid cement bench and then placed itself on the bench a moment later. In place of the goblet was now a wooden jewelry box. Sydney let out a light squeal of excitement. she she clasped her hands to get at once. Pocketing her wand, she walked to the bench. Picking the wooden box up she studied it. The hinges worked! Inside there was to compartments, laced with twilight blue velvet. One compartment was open, and another closed. Lifting up a cover on the closed compartment, there were riveted lines for rings to be held. Smiling, Syd closed the box and studied the intricate wood carved design on the box's sides. Yes, it was the pushed design of the Goblet, from a change from Silver to Wood was a good feet coming from Sydney.

Holding the box in her right hand, she bend over and placed the box softly into postal bag her grandmother gave her, her first year. It was an enchanted bag in which it could carry anything and everything you dreamed of having with you. Of course, sometimes it was a bear to find certain objects if you needed them quickly, but it was quite handy due to the fact that it barely weighed a thing. It was a tan messenger bag with rose color plaid patches on it. Yes, it looked quite worn and tattered but it was perfect for Sydney's eclectic style. After rummaging thought it for almost 40 seconds, Syd pulled out her Transfiguration book again. She now placed it on open room beside her on the bench, to save herself from the markings. Opening to chapter Fifty seven, she started to read where she left off. Her hands began to filter through her hair as she found herself pulling her long red locks into a low ponytail. Humming again, her eyes scanned the book quickly. A friendly voice spoke a few feet away. Syd Saved her reading spot with her finger as she looked up.

Arian Chan stood in front of her with a sketch book in hand. She introduced herself along with quick a peculiar question following. It can quite fast so Sydney tilted her said slightly with a smile soon to follow. "Hey, I know you are." Sydney giggled slightly. "I've been going to classes with you for six years now." Sydney finished with a smile. Placing her book mark on the page her finger was saving, she closed her book beside her. Turning to Arian, Syd answered the question. "Actually, I wouldn't mind it." Syd paused as she looked at the sketch book in hand. "I used to draw. But I seemed to actually lose my muse. But, why draw me?" Sydney questioned. Being asked to be drawn isn't a question most people get asked, but Sydney really did not mind. It was simply, they were in a courtyard with so much more to draw, why Syd?

[Ariane Chan]

((I'm sorry this is so short in comparison; I couldn't think of what else to write. *sweatdrop*))

Ariane could see Sydney was the friendly type, with a big welcoming smile that grew to laughter about the names business. She was beginning to feel disgruntled, like this had been a bad idea, asking Sydney, until the Gryffindor said she didn’t mind, causing the slightest of a smile to stretch onto Ariane’s face. Sydney didn’t seem to freaked out, which was good. “Thanks.” Ariane acknowledged quietly, before turning around. “I’ll be sitting over there…” She pointed with a finger at her selected spot, which wasn’t far away from where she was standing. “You don’t have to pose. Just be yourself. I can work like that. If I need anything, you can hear me from here.” Instructions explained, Ariane was about to make her way back to her seat to begin the drawing, when Sydney’s voice drew her back again. “Um… yeah. Art is… good.” Ariane’s smile was becoming slightly strained from the effort, but her enthusiasm for the topic was genuine. Sydney’s next question caught Ariane off guard though, and in surprise, she regarded her classmate thoughtfully, before answering the enquiry. “Honestly? I don’t know. Because you attracted my attention the most.” Ariane let herself shrug carelessly, hoping this didn’t sound too offensive. “I’ve drawn most of the things in the Courtyard before,” she continued, gesturing around at their surroundings, “And I wanted a change from plants and nature. It’s been a long time since I’ve drawn people, and you seemed the best subject.” Ariane’s explanation came to an abrupt end as her eyes shifted nervously to anywhere but Sydney’s face. “Um… hope you don’t mind.” Ariane wasn’t usually the nervous type, but she felt if anything embarrassed, having to ask Sydney like this, and being questioned about it. Her cold front was fading, or failing, as she would put it.

“I’m going to… go start the drawing.” Ariane declared quickly, before turning away and walking back to her seat. Relieved to be away from Sydney’s questioning and scrutiny, Ariane relaxed herself into her usual art mood, and proceeded to prop her blank canvas on her lap again. Leaning over, she opened her art box gingerly, eyes lighting up at the sight of the several different materials before her. Ariane certainly felt very lucky. She wondered which medium she should use today, and found herself not particularly minding. Looking up at where Sydney still was, practicing her spells, Ariane decided she might as well ask her classmate which materials she wanted to be drawn in, as thanks for letting her draw her. Personally, Ariane would hate anyone putting her face on paper, especially without her permission. It made her uncomfortable to be defined so permanently like that, and she’d hate to think that anyone could keep her picture and at times, see it without her realising. Ariane had always been a very private, sheltered person. “Sydney,” Ariane called, catching the girl’s attention, “do you have any preferences to what medium I should draw you in?” Ariane suddenly realised how itching she was to get started with this piece of artwork. The tingle in her fingers told her this would be an exciting one, and it had been just so long since she had drawn, never mind having used a person as a subject. Ariane couldn’t wait to get going on that red hair of Sydney’s, could already imagine the hues and shades she would entwine together. Art was her way of expression, and Ariane needed to express herself. Now.

[Sydney Rawson H6]

(( Oh my, Don't worry about it at all! What you wrote was awesome as is. I don't expect a novel ever time. Just what ever you want to write is perfect. It's never a problem! ))


Ariane began to walk away before she stopped at answer Sydney's question. Nodding as she answered in full, Syd's eyes fell to the stone walkway at Ariane's feet. Watching her walk away Syd reveled how when she used to draw. It actually used to be her forte, but something wasn't there anymore. Her muse, as you would say, left her. She wasn't much for drawing people. She of course, attempted but never was quite satisfied with her work. An old friend of hers helped her along her way. Broke her out of her shell, and opened her mind to things she would never have thought of alone, only when she was with him. Sydney's eyes traced the castle's outline. Up the aged stone wall, falling over shingle after broken edged shingle finally to a long landing. Sydney's eyes began to fill with tears as she reminisced about one night with her muse. They met in the courtyards and talked for hours about anything and everything. He was quite insightful; opened her eyes to new arisings. The plants, the animals, people's lives, people's physical reactions, the stars. Sydney took a short gasp of breath in as she remembered their long discussion about the stars. It was a gorgeous night. One of the darkest spring night's Syd ever was a part of at Hogwarts, and of course the two were playing outside. They some how climbed up to the landing on the roof and laid there to converse about the stars. Syd learned so much that night, and found someone she truly cared for, let alone, found someone she would let herself care for. Someone worth all of her strong emotion. Someone who could handle her at her good times and bad. She found a best friend. Kamron.

Syd found herself smiling at the thought of this dear friend, as she let her head slowly fall to look at the ground. Her feet kicked a few rocks across the stone walkway as she still reminisced of the two together. Goosebumps found their way onto the back of her neck as she remembered his face. A pleasant, masculine, compassionate, intellectual smiled back at her in her memory. Shaking her head she fell out of her long lost love memory and back into the real world. Tugging at her pony tail, she let the hair loose down the shoulders. The breeze was causing her goosebumps, she continuously told herself, as she tried to warm herself up. Looking up she watched as her fellow Gryffindor got situated on an opposing bench. Opening a box of materials, it looked like, Syd saw her look up. Not wanting to make a situation awkward, she darted her eyes away toward the book now opened next to her. Ariane spoke up, as Syd looked at her and shrugged. "Ah... Honestly, I don't mind. Anything really..."Sydney answered. Maybe Ariane had a forte, She didn't feel it was her place to choose and limit the materials. She wanted the drawing to turn out good, Why would Syd make specific limiting orders?

Looking up at Ariane, it seemed like she was getting comfortable awhile away. Glancing around, Sydney realized she was way off task from why she even came outside to begin with. Flushing the thoughts of Kamron, and Ariane away Syd turned the page t see what she should do for the perfume bottle. It container was heart shaped glass, riveted, with a scarlet and amethyst separated liquid inside. Changing a liquid into something else was difficult without making a mess. It seemed to be a problem of hers in class. Turning the page, she skimmed titles to see if anything caught her eye.

[Ariane Chan]

((Thank you for your understanding! ))

Ariane watched Sydney silently for a while, observing how the Gryffindor’s expression changed from cheerful to thoughtful. Wondering what had brought on the sudden change, Ariane shifted a little in her seat, trying to find a comfortable position. It seemed Sydney was reminiscing about something, and Ariane hoped she hadn’t brought on bad memories for her fellow classmate. Ariane didn’t like to cause trouble for people who didn’t deserve it. But she found that the expression on Sydney’s face was so… emotional… It was perfect for the drawing. Her eyes were glazed over, like she was lost in another world, and Ariane wished she would be able to copy that onto paper. The art world had endless boundaries, and Ariane wished to break as many as possible. She watched again as Sydney proceeded to let her red hair down, letting it fall into a smooth cascade along her back. Sydney would make a fantastic subject.

Tilting her head to one side, Ariane wondered what medium Sydney would look best in. “Hm… Maybe I’ll do a few…” Ariane found herself saying quietly when Sydney said she didn’t mind, looking down at the materials before her. Her fingers trembled a little as they ran along the several shades of pencil she had, before stopping on a normal lead HB pencil. “I think I’ll do a simple pencil sketch first, Sydney,” Ariane started saying again, picking up the said object and holding it up to observe its sharpness. Nope, it didn’t need sharpening. She proceeded to extract her rubber and smudge guard, propped beneath her right palm. “I might do another pencil sketch if I finish this one quickly… They are quite simple and fast. I can do a different pose or something, then use a different material to go over the pencil… Maybe colour pencil, or watercolour… Paint, even.” Ariane found herself rambling about the art materials, so into the different mediums she could try and experiment with. It was wonderful to have this stuff at her disposal. Ariane was sure Sydney would look great in a pencil sketch, the shades of the face, the tones and the curves, but she was also dying to bring out the colour of Sydney’s magnificent hair, that shone so beautifully against the sunshine. Ariane liked manipulating the unlike textures for her own needs, found each a completely different challenge in her fingers.

Ariane set to work without another word as she put pencil to paper. Looking up every now and again, she started to sketch Sydney’s face, now trained upon a perfume bottle from the looks of it. Ariane decided to omit everything but Sydney, and forget about the background too. That would probably look best for this pencil drawing. However, Ariane was sure she’d keep the background foliage with her next painting if she managed to get to it in time. The forest green against her copper red would be a wonderful piece of art. She wasn’t one to rush her art though, because the result was never as good; drawing was about letting yourself fall into the feeling, get lost in the beauty of it all, not trying to get it done in a set time period. However, Ariane was adamant she do two versions of her classmate, and drew with more determination than ever. Watching Sydney read her Transfiguration book silently, Ariane managed to outline her classmate’s face before starting on the basic details of the eyes, mouth and nose.