A Beautiful Day ((open))

[Harmony Chan H6]

Harmony smiled. A beautiful day to suit her currently peaceful emotions. The weather at Hogwarts was rarely ever this serene, the masses of puffy white clouds rippling through the infinite blue sky. With a contented sigh, Harmony laid back onto the dry grass beside the still Lake, and stared blankly up into the warm sun’s rays, her short black locks nestling underneath her head to aid as a comfortable pillow.

A happy smile quirked at her lips as she watched a lone red and black butterfly flickering dangerously close to her nose, and letting a small chuckle of laughter escape, frightened the poor little creature away. Harmony watched it go sadly, apologising silently for scaring it.

Harmony didn’t know why she had randomly decided to come down for a walk beside the Lake, but it was wonderfully peaceful, and it gave her a chance to collect her thoughts alone. Having already had an early breakfast, and knowing she didn’t have lessons till nine o’clock, she had wandered dreamily outside, the majority of her friends still sleeping soundly in their beds.

Even though she knew she had many long, difficult classes today, it didn’t seem to dent her soaring mood. It was true Harmony was usually a cheerful child, but she rarely felt like she was riding a high, like today. Waking up at six o’clock generally made her feel grouchier, not at peace!

However, Harmony wasn’t complaining. Savouring the cool breeze against her face, she was grateful for the sunny spell Hogwarts was currently experiencing. Because it was early January, the skies were frequently covered with stormy grey clouds containing rain just waiting to shower down upon the students. She was fed up of it, to be completely honest.

Harmony didn’t really like the rain. It wasn’t because she was against water as such, but more the overcast skies it brought, which made her feel gloomy and downcast. When the sun shone as brightly as it did today, her emotions rose with it, and she felt she could summon that hidden bravery and conquer anything that threw itself at her.

Thinking of rain reminded her of her sister. Ari had always loved rain; whenever the skies began pouring down mercilessly and everyone else ran inside to shield themselves, her elder sister would without hesitation step into the pitter patter of raindrops, relishing the touch of water on her skin. Harmony thought Ari strange during her childhood, and that hadn’t changed one bit as she had matured, but she still loved her.

With a fond smile, Harmony wondered what Ari was doing right now. No doubt the Gryffindor fourth year would be awake like her, being an early bird. She gave a soft giggle as her thoughts drifted inevitably to her cousin, Aurora. Ari’s best friend was definitely still asleep. Once, Harmony had been sent by her sister to wake Aurora up, because they were going to late for their first lesson and Ari couldn’t step into the Hufflepuff common room. Harmony had found her older cousin still fast asleep, having overslept by an hour and a half, and it had taken her a further ten minutes to awaken her. When Aurora had finally come to, and realised the time was indeed 9:15am, she had panicked, fallen over the bedpost, and rather seriously hurt her ankle.

Madame Pomfrey hadn’t been best pleased, to say the least.

Though the incident had been worrying for Harmony at the time, it was now amusing to look back on. Breathing another contented sigh, she shook herself out of her thoughts, and was suddenly alerted to a steady plod of footsteps approaching her, gradually gaining tempo as they walked. Someone was coming.

[Patrica Dawsinson S3]

Patricia was walking briskily past the trees to go down by the lake for peace. She couldn't stop thinking of Richard. What were they, after he did kiss her. Were they an Item or friends? "Whatever" She shrugged it off and didn't evan notice the girl sitting by the lake. She skipped down to the lake and sat down on the nice soft grass. She took her shoes of along with her socks and dipped her pale white feet into the cool lake.

She didn't care that it was cold, she loved the feal of it against her skin. Chills ran up her spine and she jerked from the cold. She smiled, then she the leaned back with her hands on ther grass and her feet in the water. She then looked down and her blonde curls fell in her face shined in the sun. She just smiled and enjoyed the moment.
Then she realsed herself and came back to reality. She noticed a girl. She has seen before but never cought her name.

Her smile finaly dropped as she looked at the girl a smirl and put her blonde hair behind her ears. "Who are you?" She asked rather rude mind you.

[Harmony Chan H6]

Harmony tensed the moment she had heard someone approaching. Oh well. She didn’t mind sharing. Wondering who it could be, she cocked her head sideways slightly, and caught sight of a familiar figure a little to her left. Slytherin, she was sure of that. And she was older. She watched as the blonde haired Slytherin dipped her feet with a smile into the Lake, then lie onto the grass like she was doing. Not wanting to intrude, Harmony swiftly glanced away and back at the sky again. Closing her eyes, she imagined herself floating on her broomstick, flying through the icy clouds high above…

Suddenly, a sharp voice broke through her thoughts, and Harmony blinkingly opened her eyes to see the Slytherin girl glaring at her. Realising she was addressing her personally, Harmony spoke up, but wondered what the she wanted with her. Though part of her was afraid of confrontation, she answered politely nonetheless, ignoring the fact that she looked like she could kill her. “I’m Harmony Chan, Hufflepuff, second year.” She stated with a small smile. “I’m sorry, I don’t know your name either. You’re in Slytherin, aren’t you?”

[Patrica Dawsinson S3]

Patricia rolled her eyes. and looked at the girl.

She was clearly an idiot. "No I just happen to wear a slytherins robe?" She said with sneer. "Dawsinson...Patricia." She stood up and looked at the girl. "Your a second year" she looked up at the sky with a chuckle. "You do know your gonna be eaten alive love." She said with a strangly akward smile.

[Harmony Chan H6]

Harmony nodded as she took in Patrica’s name and confirmed she was indeed in second year. When she heard her say she’d be eaten alive, she let out a quiet laugh, and responded with a grin, “Ha, yeah, I usually do get ‘eaten alive’… I can’t ever stand up for myself. But I live. If anyone tries to bully me, my sister tends to… take care of them. People usually think I’m kind of weird anyway. You probably think so.” Harmony shrugged, “I don’t really mind if people walk all over me. I’m used to it now…” a sad smile tugged at her lips, and suddenly she realised she was talking rather honestly about herself. “Oh, but anyway… um… I’d be this pathetic even if I was in your year, or any year above that.” she gave a wry grin, and pushed a strand of black out of her eyes, wondering if Patricia would call her pathetic too and leave her be because she was weird company. Yet again she was rambling nervously.

[Patrica Dawsinson S3]

Patricia smile "You are pathetic" she said with an evil sneer and walked over to her as if to charge. She then raised her hand High above as if to strike the girl, but then softly put her hand down on the girls shoulder, and looked at her with apromising smile.

"You need to stand up for yourself love...people are going to take advantage of you. I know trust me" She smiled then let it fall of her face. She looked up at the girl, arn't you in my History of magic class

[Harmony Chan H6]

Harmony was slightly surprised at Patrica’s kind words. Not that she doubted that Patrica was a kind person, but she had seemed as if she was about to hit her. If she had, Harmony knew she would have done nothing to defend herself, except perhaps throw her arms around herself in a feeble attempt of protection. Looking up at the older girl, she sent her a grateful smile, “Hm, yeah. I should, shouldn’t I? I trust you.”

Answering Patrica’s next question, Harmony nodded with a small smirk. “Yeah… As much as I like History of Magic… God, Professor Binns is so boring, don’t you think?” she gave a burst of quiet laughter at the thought of her history teacher, and wondered what he’d think if he heard her.

[Patrica Dawsinson S3]

Patricia smiled at the girl, she was a little odd. And she was well...below Patricia. But she was up to the standerds for Patricia not to hate her. "Yeah...I have had that man for three years. Believe me he will put you to sleep" She chuckled. "Sorry....about that day in class. I was a little rude mind you.....OK I wasn't rude I was down right a bloody b******." she said with her head low. smiling

((EDIT: Patrica, this is a PG-13 site. As such swearing must be kept to a minimum. If you find a word is censored, this is for a reason and misspelling it to be able to include it in a post will not be appreciated. Please take note of this and keep your posts PG-13 and swearing to a minimum with only mild language. Thanks - Ivy.))

[Harmony Chan H6]

Harmony grinned as she felt her inhibitions slowly fall away. Even though she usually felt extremely shy, the girl's bluntness and realism... made Harmony want to be herself. "Oh definitely. Don't worry about it. It’s fine. Just because you may have acted... 'like a bloody b******', and trust me, it wasn't that bad, it doesn't mean I can't like you! Every person has... well, different sides to them. It just depends who they trust to show those sides too." Harmony smiled, and decided to pluck up some courage and ask Patricia a slightly insane question. "So... would you consider taking me under your wing?" she sent the older girl a friendly wink, "Even though I'm 'pathetic' and am a Huffley Puff, I'd be honoured."

[Patrica Dawsinson S3]

Patricia laughed at the girl, SHe was rather odd, and Patrica then put her hands on her hips. "Your a huffely poofer love, and.....well....sure why not." She said then rolled her eyes and looked at the girl with smirk."But I am warning you" She raised an eyebrow. "I tend to be vary rather bit of a git myself at times, but I am trying this new thing.....it is called...it starts with a K.....um.. how you nice poeple say....kindness" She let out cute laugh while raising her eyes brows.

[Harmony Chan H6]

“Hm…” Harmony pondered for barely less than a second, and then a bright smile lit her face, as if a great idea had just occurred to her. “Hey, I’ll make you a deal. I’ll try and ‘improve’ your kindness in any way I can, and you can try and teach me to stand up for myself.” She smiled enthusiastically, a slightly challenging glint flashing in her usually calm eyes. “Are you up for it?”

[Patrica Dawsinson S3]

Patricia looked at the girl and began to rub her neck. "Um well......Quite quite love I like that plan. But I bet I need more help that you love" She said with a laugh.

"Hear is a list of the people you should stay away from... Well one... Cherokee, two........well there is no two but you definatly need to stay away from the 5th 6th or 7th years. Especially the tall one with blonde hair. He is not very nice" She said shaking her head. "At least those are the poeple in my house" she said looking up at the girl

[Harmony Chan H6]

((By the way, Patrica, is your name "PatrICA" or "PatriCIA"? I'm getting slightly confused because your username is "Patrica Dawsinson", but you called yourself "Patricia"! Sorry for asking in the middle of a post, but I don't want to get it wrong. )

“Thanks,” Harmony smiled wryly, “But I tend to stay away from most people… Plus I don’t think I know who you’re talking about…” She gave a frown as Patrica listed a number of people she had never heard of. “Cherokee… What a different name.” She suddenly realised what she was doing. She was talking (in an almost friendly manner) to a Slytherin girl who was older than her. Wow. She never talked to anybody, especially not Slytherins, and barely was she this open with others. Perhaps it was just because Patrica ironically made her feel comfortable about it. Or perhaps it was because of the wonderful weather; she still felt like she was riding a high. Hiding her contented surprise at herself, she made a mental note not to mention her encounter with Patrica to Ari; she'd probably kill her and Patrica in the process, knowing her overprotective sister... Quickly ignoring that fact, Harmony hoped that as the future progressed, she would do more of what she was doing now. Just talking to someone else whom she barely knew like nothing else in the world mattered.

"Hey, you know, the best way to 'learn' how to be kind is... well..." Harmony mused for a second, but when the word hit her mind, she wondered if it was really the best thing to say to Patrica. Cautiously, she decided just to go for it. Today was a day of taking chances, right? "...love." Harmony finally uttered softly, looking down at her shoes, "Not that I would know much about love between a guy and a girl, or maybe between girls and girls, and boys and boys, but... it tends to do things to you... Trust me." She smiled, then decided to ask, even though it was none of her business, "So... Do you have anyone you might like... in that kind of way? I know it's nothing to do with me, but I think if you do, they're the person that will be able to help you best, not me."

[Patrica Dawsinson S3]

(whatever i spell it originaly Patrica but when i use spell check it was spells Patricia))

Patricia smiled at the thought of her sister beating her up....adn froze when Harmony uttered the word "love" She bit her lip rushing her fingers throught her blonde hair.

"Um well......I do like someone.... HIs name is Richard. He is in Ravenclaw" Patricia gulped she couldn't believe she just said that to her. To this Hufflepuff first year or second, The only person that Knows about Richard is Rachel.

"Oh my merlin, please tell anyone that he is a Ravenclaw i will get my arse kicked for sure" SHe said with worrie

[Harmony Chan H6]

Harmony hadn’t expected an answer from Patrica, but when she replied, she gave a surprised blink as she digested the boy’s name. “Richard… Hm, that doesn’t ring any bells… Ravenclaw, huh? Clever guy.” She gave a little smile at the thought of the older Slytherin with her crush. Harmony almost felt envious that Patrica had somebody in her life. A part of her felt a little sad that she didn’t feel that way about anyone and vice versa, but that would happen when the time came… She would be patient until then.

Brushing away thoughts of self-misery, Harmony caught sight of Patrica’s slightly worried face, and bit her lip in thought, thinking that maybe she wanted her to keep this a secret. With a reassuring grin, she spoke up again, “Don’t worry, Patrica, I won’t tell anyone about him, if you don’t want me to. I’m good at keeping secrets. It’s your business anyway.”

Suddenly a glint caught Harmony’s eye. For one split second, it reminded her of Quidditch when the snitch was flying around, the shimmering sunlight flashing off its golden coating. Realising she was staring at her watch, she noticed the time, and gave a loud gasp of panic, “Whoops, it’s pretty late already! Well, sorry Patrica, I’ve got to go, I’ve got Ancient Runes next, and I don’t want to be late. I’m not even ready yet!” Rushing to her feet immediately, she gave her robes a quick brush to get rid of the strands of grass sticking to her, and mentally went over in her mind what she needed for the next lesson as she waved goodbye hastily to the Slytherin, “Well, see you round, Patrica. Good luck with that Richard of yours. It was nice talking to you. Bye!” With that, Harmony ran back to the castle, a bright smile on her face. Well, it’d been a fabulous start to the day. Hopefully it’d progress further in the right direction.

((Completed thread.))

[Patrica Dawsinson S3]

Patricia's eyes went wide at when she herd the time "Oh My Merlin" She shreiked. "i'm gonna be late for Potions" she grabed her hair with her hands. "well it was nice meeting you... maybe I'll see you around But I better go quick or Snape will take away more points from my house" she laughed and waved goodbye to the girl and ran with in a split seconmd she was gone.