Colorful World ((Ariel))

[Caleb Donnelly S7]

Caleb pulled at the school robes as he stepped out into the fading autumn sun. The black absorbed the light quickly warming his body. As much as he liked black sometimes he thought that white was a better color. Of course then his mind would wrap around the concept of white and black not being colors. White being all colors and black being the absence of color. So in reality did Caleb prefer the absence of all color or did he prefer all colors? It was a true paradox, one that he didn't care to explore any deeper that day so he just pulled off the robe and threw it down beside the tree. He smoothed out his school uniform and undid the Slytherin green tie around his neck, throwing that down on top of his robes. He rolled up the sleeves of the white button up shirt and sat down against the tree.

The glistening sun reflected off of the surface of the lake. The ripples dancing the sunlight around the water. He squinted against it and sighed. Fall had come so quickly this year, at least it seemed like it had. Maybe everything was just flying by him. He was always so busy and with the lack of sleep he had been getting everything was playing on his nerves. He leaned his head back against the bark of the tree and stared up into the dying leaves. The red leaves stared down at him threatening to fall away from the tree and drown him in the color. Caleb sighed again. Color. His mind was back on color. How was it that color seemed to drown his senses? Every where he looked he was bombarded with the different shades.

Caleb closed his eyes letting the absence of color fill his mind. Why he found comfort in darkness he didn't know? Of course he didn't know much about why he did a lot of things he did. But black seemed to be something that just described him. It wasn't in the way that he was rebellious, he was, but he was not, what some cultures referred to as, a goth. He didn't openly rebel against his parents, well not a lot. He had had a few confrontations with them, but none of them had resulted in anything involving static. He had usually just given up. He picked his battles carefully and none of the ones with his parents had been ones that were worth fighting.

Within the darkness of Caleb's eyes he watched the nightmares run through his mind. The ones that had plagued him for the last 10 years. The clear images of these nightmares made him sick and he found himself seeking counsel from the bright sunlight. His eyes flicked open and the light bombarded his brain, burning its way through his retinas, letting his mind right the world around him. He sighed and then turned at the sound of leaves crunching. His eyes drifted up to a girl with fire red hair. She was familiar to him, but Caleb didn't know her. He nodded his head at the girl, knowing that ignoring her and hopping she went away would be rude and impolite.

[ariel]

It was a beautiful day. Usually Ariel preferred to stay inside and read, but today she simply couldn't resist the sunlight that poured on to her pale parchment, making the ink words dance. So she had wandered outside, book carefully cradled in her arms. It seemed she never went anywhere without a book of some sort; a Charms book, an enjoyment book, or a book that was utterly boring but gave her some background knowledge in a class. Knowledge was good; Ariel basked in knowledge. She needed it to know that the world still held some rationality. Without it, she would be lost and frightened. So she clung to knowledge more than most ever cared to. She knew what it felt like to be both lost and frightened and Ariel never wanted to feel that way again.

She was reading a book she had never read before: Treasure Island. It was truly an unusual sight. Ariel almost always stuck to books she knew because she loved digging deeper into the story, scanning the whole character's personality and their reasoning behind actions, trying to find hidden hints between the lines that the author so cunningly put there. Peter Pan was her all-time favorite - she simply couldn't get enough of it. She knew exactly what was going to happen, why it was happening, and how the characters would respond. She knew the book back to front, front to back, middle to back to front and so on. She could recite her favorite parts as if the book was laid out in front of her. She simply adored that book. It wasn't just because of what it held inside though. Ariel loved it for what it had brought. The charm bracelet dangling on her wrist was what it had brought. A very special gift that Ariel treasured.

The Grounds proved to be rather vacant. Human-kind seemed to be getting lazier and lazier, and magic surely didn't help much. Clucking her tongue in disapproval, Ariel made her way down the path and toward the lake, which was reflecting the glorious sunlight in much brighter shades that blinded. Shading her eyes with a hand, Ariel went toward a tree who's leaves seemed to hold all different shades of color. Oranges and reds, greens and brown. A truly beautiful sight. Some were already falling down though, as Fall was moving fast in progress, and they didn't seem to quite match the lush green grass. But as Ariel circled the tree, she found that this spot was indeed taken by some boy. He seemed to be around Ariel's age, though for the life of her she couldn't remember his name. He didn't appear too overjoyed to see her, however, not that she could blame him.

"Enjoying the view?" she asked, her dark eyes flickering toward the vibrant display of lights on the lake. Little ripples splashed against the shore, making a sound that was pleasing to Ariel's ears. She closed her eyes for just a moment, letting it take her away to a far away place, before opening them again and staring at the boy. She took in his appearance in one swift scan, but what her eyes couldn't help but notice was the robes and tie lying in a messy pile at his side. Slytherin green could be seen there, as green as the grass on which it laid. Ariel frowned; she wasn't particular fond of Slytherins. But since she had already started a conversation, she figured it would be too obnoxious to just walk away. "That's a nice little laundry pile you've created for yourself," she noted rather dryly, but a smile played across her face all the same. She was bored, driven outside only for the sunshine, so perhaps she could both pester this boy for some amusement and watch the sunset's display of color.

[Caleb Donnelly S7]

Caleb cocked an eyebrow up at the red head. Was he enjoying the view? That was a good question and one that he couldn't really answer. As far as he was concerned it was much to bright for such a day like this, especially since he had been up all night. Of course that wasn't anything new. He just sighed. "Sure. I always did like to be blinded by the intense sunlight," he said rather sarcastically. He closed his eyes again and returned his attention to the back of his eyelids. The images of his nightmares bombarded his brain once again and he found himself reluctantly opening them. The sunlight once again burning into his brain. He noticed the girl was still there and couldn't help but turn to her in annoyance. But it vanished quickly with what came out of her mouth. His eyes glanced down to his robe and tie.

Caleb cracked a small smile before leaning his head back against the tree looking up at the girl. "Hey, at least I do my laundry unlike some Slytherins I know," he said. He knew several of those kind of students that waited months before getting their laundry taken away and cleaned. It wouldn't be so bad if they knew some good cleaning spells, but none of them did. Caleb ran a hand through his hair. "Caleb Donnelly," he said politely. Introductions were some of the most important things in any kind of conversation even if the conversation turned into some kind of battle.

Caleb's eyes fell on the book in the girl's hand. Another girl with another book. What was it with Caleb and always running into girls that were reading or about to read? His eyes scanned the title and he nodded in surprise. "Treasure Island, good book," he said with another small nod. He had read it at one time. It was one of those 'required' reading things his parents had made him do as a kid. He had read a lot of books, but none had really interested him the way that The Count of Monte Cristo had. It was a classic book and he enjoyed the whole revenge thing. Of course Treasure Island was about pirates and that was always good. He looked up at her. "Like it so far?"

[ariel]

Ariel shifted her weight to the other foot, frowning at his rather childish comment. Blinded? She looked back out at the lake. Sure, it was bright, but it wasn't that terrible to complain about it. "I suppose it's a change from the dreary dungeons you Slytherins like so much," she mused, her eyes roving his face. It was no secret that the Slytherin common room was located somewhere in the dungeons, nor that the Gryffindors could be found in one of the towers. Hufflepuff common room was a tad harder, but Ariel had a hunch that it was somewhere near the kitchen. "You really don't know beauty when it's right in front of you, do you?" she asked in a far more serious tone. Slytherins always had trouble seeing the good aspects of things. They'd much rather fuss over things that weren't nearly as important or could be easily over-looked, such as how bright it was. How many more sunsets would he have at Hogwarts like this? Who knew. This could be the only one. That was the beauty of it all, for everything was unique.

She pulled a face as he mentioned that some Slytherins didn't do their laundry. "That's just gross. Disgusting!" she exclaimed, her mouth ajar. She instantly went back to average Ariel as she realized why it would be that some Slytherins didn't do laundry for weeks on end. "That really proves how lazy you Slytherins can be. Do they wait for those poor House Elves to come pick up their clothes off the ground because they simply refuse to do a bit of work? That really is disgusting." She paused, before adding, "Either that or you Slytherins really lack good personal hygiene." Ariel smiled as he introduced himself politely. She was surprised that he was being so formal with her - usually Slytherins were the ones to jump up and notice all your faults, whether it be blood or House. This one was different though; more calm. She acknowledged that and respected it more than she'd ever imagined respecting some Slytherin. "Ariel Dahl," she replied, a smile still present. It was true, she was enjoying herself, with something other than her books.

Speaking of books, Caleb spotted the one she was holding and commented on it. He seemed surprised, just as Ariel was. A Slytherin knowing about Treasure Island? What has the world come to? "You know it?" she asked, raising her brows. She took the book up in her arms in front of her and stroked the binding fondly. "I'm rather enjoying it. The pirates are my favorite. They're just so very interesting. And... well, I mean, I always like connecting characters in books to people in real life... Pirates too don't wash their clothes for months at a time. Amazing how that works out." She noted with sarcasm. She looked down at the cover of the book and then back at Caleb, before smiling uncertainly. "Well? Are you going to invite me to sit, or do you expect me to stand around this whole time?"

[Caleb Donnelly S7]

Caleb raised an eyebrow at her statement. Yeah, the Slytherin dormitory was in the dungeons but that didn't necessarily make it dreary. The place suited Caleb much more than the brightly lit grounds did at the moment, but with the first years running a muck in the common room it was quite annoying to actually set foot in the place. He knew he hadn't acted that way as a first year and so why did this younger generation have to. Quite annoying really. Caleb smirked at the girl. He didn't know what beauty was now? He licked his lips before he answered her, probably, rhetorical question. "I know what beauty is. Beauty is that great book you've never read. It's that perfect sunset that's never been seen. It's the sound of rain tapping on a tin roof where no ears can hear it. It's the soft touch from someone you love that you've never felt. It's the taste of sweet chocolate on your tongue that you've yet to try. It's the soft moonlight reflecting off the lake late at night where no soul can see. You see, I know what beauty is, I just haven't found it yet," Caleb said with a small sad smile playing across his lips. On a normal bases Caleb wouldn't have said anything, but this girl seemed to think he was just like all other Slytherins and that was something Caleb couldn't let stand. Sure he was in Slytherin, but that didn't make him one of the thick skulled idiots. He was one of the few that were respectful to all. A true Slytherin. Not one so caught up in blood that he lost his dignity around those that weren't like him.

Caleb's reserve changed when the girl's words hit his ears. He laughed heartily at the comment. "You seem to associate a lot with Slytherins don't you? First you tell me I don't know what beauty is and now you claim I'm lazy. Not very polite of you I must say. Not all Slytherins are lazy like that and most Slytherins do their laundry on a regular bases. I was just talking of the few that don't. And yes, some wait until the house elves pick them up, but I assure you I am not one of them. I care little for house elves. I find it easier to get things myself than to have one wait on me hand and foot, but alas I am one of the few Slytherins who have that opinion. Almost everyone I know has a personal house elf that does their bidding. Definitely not my thing," Caleb smirked. He nodded his head politely at her as she introduced herself. "A pleasure to meet you Miss Dahl."

"Yes I know it," Caleb smiled. It was obvious she thought he was a halfwit. "And just for the record, I may be in Slytherin, but don't be shocked to find out that I am intelligent and cunning. What I lack in social skills I make up for in wits, so please take a seat, Miss Dahl, as you already seem to want to continue our conversation." Caleb gestured to the grass beside him as he leaned his head back against the tree. "As for pirates. There is a difference between them and us Slytherins...what that difference is I'll have to get back to you on that, I can't seem to think of a difference." Caleb smirked. Of course pirates and Slytherins weren't alike, but it was the principal of the matter and Caleb knew that similarities did exist between the two. Instead Caleb turned to look at Ariel and changed the subject. "Now Miss Dahl, you can't possibly think that all Slytherins are bad can you? I mean you've known me for all of 5 minutes now and have I at any time treated you unfairly?"