After Class ((Harmony))

[anishi211]

Anishi drags herself to the nearest couch in the student's lounge. The day has been long and she was glad that school time was over.

"What a day! I think Professor Snape hates me, I've never written so many notes nor being picked to answer all of his questions in my life! Does one really have to put so much effort into making one potion?"

She sinks into the couch and basks on the warmth of the fire on the fireplace. Whether Snape disliked her or not, she's not going to let that bother her, because right now she wants to simply enjoy her free time.

Anishi opens her knapp sack and checks on Teni, her guinea pig. She takes some pellets from her robe pocket and gives a couple of morsels to the little brown rodent as it squeaks in delight.

"I need to go to Diagon Alley this weekend and buy you a nice little cage, little girl. I'm afraid I can't carry you around too long, I thought I lost you when that jerk Malfoy kicked my knapp sack."

The little rodent, not knowing what it's master just said, gave her another happy squeak for the pellets. Anishi giggles at the guinea pig's cute remark. Anishi begins to pet her guinea pig as she relaxes and stares into the deep flames of the fireplace.

[Harmony Chan H6]

After all her lessons had finished, Harmony rushed to the Student Lounge once again, which was gradually becoming her usual work area, and was like a second common room. The reason for Harmony's hurry was because she had promised to go and see Professor Sprout later about her Herbology essay, but before she could do that, she had to make the corrections first! Thankfully there wasn't much to change and rewrite, but it would definitely take some time. Sighing with annoyance, Harmony plopped into her usual seat by the glowing fire, throwing her bag to one side by her feet; she savoured the warmth emitting endlessly with a contented smile, and proceeded to spread her work onto the table, setting out her quill and ink carefully. Okay, this wouldn't take too long; Harmony knew that. If she concentrated hard enough, this would be over in a flash. Although thoughts of having to return to the student lounge later to write that other essay for Charms, Harmony merely rolled her eyes and pushed it out of her already clogged-up mind. She'd worry about that later. Harmony seriously needed to take a break.

Harmony had been sitting for about a quarter of an hour in hardworking silence, the scratch of her quill the only distinct sound, when she noticed a younger Ravenclaw girl make her way in and plop onto the couch with a gloomy expression. Harmony wondered if she was all right, and observed she seemed to be of oriental background. Harmony watched with fascination as the girl fed what appeared to be a guinea pig hiding in her bag, and suppressed a smile at the cuteness of the animal, reminding her instantly of her own pet, Dori. Harmony barely caught what the girl was saying, but heard something about Professor Snape, hate, and potion. Hiding another rising smirk, Harmony turned her head back to her almost finished refined Herbology essay, understanding completely how the younger girl felt. She didn't particularly like Professor Snape either.

However, before Harmony could re-immerse herself once again in the world of magical plants, she heard some more conversation coming from the Ravenclaw girl, who appeared to be chatting to her pet guinea pig with a smile, talking about cages and Malfoy. Harmony gave a frown at the sentence, and began to wonder why this girl was carrying her poor guinea pig around in the first place; weren't pets meant to stay in the dormitories or wander outside? Well, a guinea pig so small could barely leave their owner's room, as they would easily be lost, trampled or starved with no food available. Cocking her head to one side in curiosity, Harmony stared at this strange little first year, wondering if she should enquire, though a little too shy to ask.

[anishi211]

As she took Teni out from the knapp sack and placing her on her lap, Anishi felt the girl’s stare and turned to her direction and gave her a friendly smile. Judging from the colors of her robes she’s a Hufflepuff, probably a year older and also of Asian heritage. Anishi guessed from the papers on her lap that she’s trying to edit some kind of essay assignment. Anishi hoped that she wasn’t bothering her, she seemed to be working very hard on her assignment since Anishi came by and sat next to her.

Before saying a word she didn’t notice that Teni had already crawled away from her lap and sniffled its way towards the girl. Anishi, thinking that Teni might chew off a piece of her assignment paper or scare the Hufflepuff girl, she reached after the little rodent carefully, but quickly. Embarrassed, she brought the guinea pig back to it’s knapp sack. After a little squeak from the rodent, Anishi turned to the girl with an apologetic look.

“I’m so sorry about that. I hope she didn’t startle you, she tends to wander a lot and sometimes frighten people.”

Anishi takes a quick peek at her knapp sack, to make sure that Teni wasn’t attempting to escape again, but it seems that the rodent was gnawing it’s pellets again. Relieved, Anishi turned her focus to the older girl next to her. “I believe that we haven’t met yet. Anishi Zalendire, I’m a first year.” Anishi gave her a kind smile as she took out her hand, and as she did that her sleeves rolled back a bit to reveal a part of her arm being covered with a couple of small bruises, scratches and some bandages from Madam Pomfrey’s. Anishi wasn’t aware of what her arm was revealing.

‘I just hope that I’m not bothering her studying space.’ Anishi said behind her head.

[Harmony Chan H6]

Harmony had been doing a rather splendid job at ignoring all other distractions, that was, until a scuffling and scurry of tiny little paws drew her away successfully from underwater magical plants. Glancing upwards and blinking repeatedly, Harmony stared in utter surprise when she saw the Ravenclaw's little guinea pig tottering cutely towards her, sniffing its pink nose in the air along the way. Harmony gave a wide smile as she watched it, and was about to collect it up carefully in case it ran off and the younger girl would lose it, but she grabbed it in time with an apologetic grin, placing the small animal back into its holdings. The guinea pig chewed contently on its food, and Harmony turned with a forgiving smile in answer to the Ravenclaw's voice. "Oh, no problem, I thought it was quite funny really. Distracted me from this Herbology..." Harmony indicted her now-finished paper lying before her with a wry smile, feeling less shy at this girl's openness and friendly grin. "I love animals; I have a pet cat myself, called Dori... She's actually called Midori, meaning the colour green in Japanese, but I usually call her Dori, or sometimes Mido..." Harmony trailed off, and realised she was babbling incessantly again. Flushing a little, she gestured with a coy smile at the obviously hungry guinea pig, "So, what's this little one called?"

"Oh, nice to meet you." Harmony nodded politely and introduced herself also. My, this was a friendly and bold first year! So different from herself... "I'm in second year... Hufflepuff, obviously!" Harmony gave a short laugh, tucking her hair behind her ears as she fingered her robes. "Don't worry about it. I've just finished my essay anyway... I was only correcting some of my old mistakes. How is first year going? Are you enjoying it?" Harmony remembered with a twinkle in her eyes, recalling her old memories of the first time she had entered Hogwarts. Her glance wandered from Anishi's face slightly, and caught sight of her battered and bruised arm. With a concerned gasp, Harmony stared at it openly and pointed with an anxious voice, "Goodness, what happened there? Are you all right?"

((Wow, great improvement, Anishi! I'm really pleased with your progress! Keep it up! And just ask me if you have any questions.))

[anishi211]

Anishi was pleased to know that the Hufflepuff student wasn’t bothered from her studies. Before answering her question about the guinea pig’s name, Anishi smiles to herself of her cat being named after a Japanese word meaning “green.” Probably the cat has green eyes, or green fur. Anishi softly giggles at the cute thought.

“Her name is Teni.” Anishi says as she softly pats her knapp sack, causing Teni to squeak playfully. “I got her name from the word “ten” also a Japanese word meaning “ground” or “earth.” The reason is because whenever I place her on a forest background, she can be barely seen. And the “I” is just to make it sound like a girl’s name.”

Harmony seemed to be kind and easygoing. Before she could answer her question about how she’s enjoying her first year at Hogwarts, Harmony quickly pointed at Anishi’s scars and bruises on her arms. It startled Anishi for a quick second but recovered.

“Oh, those!” Anishi looks at her minor injuries and also checks the one on the side of her head.

“Let’s just say that Professor Hootch’s broomsticks have issues with students who are afraid of heights.” She gives Harmony a reassuring smile. “It’s nothing too bad, really. At least it didn’t launch me at some strange forest full of trolls or something.”

[Harmony Chan H6]

“Oh really?” Harmony smiled at Teni’s cute name, nodding knowledgably, whereas in fact the only Japanese knowledge she knew was scarce. She had obtained a little from Aurora trying to immerse her in manga and anime from Japan, and the numbers one to ten Harmony had finally mastered after a rather long period of time. She wondered whether Anishi was Japanese herself, and judging from her name, she seemed to be. “So, Anishi, are you Japanese?” Harmony asked curiously, glad to be away from Herbology notes for now. Talking to random people could be shy and difficult, but it was also like a breath of fresh air after a long period of studying. Just letting go and chatting seemed like the perfect remedy to boredom and hard work, even though this was someone Harmony had just met and felt wary of for now. The girl was very nice though, and Harmony was grateful Anishi was the louder of them, therefore she could generally take over the conversation without batting an eyelid. “Teni is a very cute name.” Harmony continued with the same expression, smiling fondly at the guinea pig.

“Ah.” Harmony nodded knowingly (this time she definitely knew the basis of Anishi’s words), her face grave though a small smile tilted at her lips. “I understand what you’re saying. It’s not easy to fly if you’re afraid of heights.” Harmony commented sympathetically, and wondered how she’d feel if she was scared of heights. She’d be unable to feel the surge of rocketing through the skies, the adrenaline coursing through veins that ran like fire. No proper participation during flying lessons, feeling left out and stupid. And no chance to play for her house, like she was doing so now, being a very happy (though often apprehensive) Chaser, along with Ivy Tunstall and Nokomis Astarra in fifth year. She had only recently joined the squad, and had been settling in quite well, despite her age. Harmony had yet to play her first game, but most of her could barely wait. “I’m on the Hufflepuff team, and only just enlisted. I love flying, but it can be awfully dangerous…” Harmony offered a knowing smile, very glad she didn’t have any bruises at the moment to put on display and compare with Anishi’s rather huge ones.

“You mean Madam Hooch?” Harmony laughed with mirth at Anishi’s mistake. Harmony couldn’t blame her though, since she was only a first year. Her blunder was funny anyway. “Have you been to see Madam Pomfrey in the Hospital Wing about those injuries?” Harmony gestured with a now worried expression at Anishi’s cuts, and was glad that she seemed overall fine. Harmony smiled in return at Anishi’s friendly nature, and laughed at the comments concerning trolls. “There are some very nice and bold people out here.” Harmony thought to herself with a hidden smile, rather surprised she hadn’t noticed this simple fact beforehand. “I was so convinced I didn’t judge people that I forgot everyone has a bad and a good side of them. I assumed that we had evil parts of us and that was all I’ve focused on. I never stopped to think that everyone still has goodness within too.”

[anishi211]

“Yes, I am Japanese. But I’m actually half, because my father is English.” Anishi says as she relaxes her tensed body, knowing that the conversation is going rather smoothly even though she had only meet Harmony for the first time.

Anishi has seen her around the school and even in class. She believed to have probably seen Harmony in her History of Magic class. ‘This must’ve been the girl that was threatened by that high nosed 3rd year Slytherin.’ Anishi says to herself as she mentally gave a negative approval of that Slytherin’s action as she also regrets for not standing up for Harmony during that time. Now that she’s getting used to being in a magical-like atmosphere, despite her muggle up-bringing, she can stand up for herself and for others without the worry of being shot at by a opposing student’s wand, since it was against the school rules.

Anishi gives off a giggle of Harmony’s answer to Teni’s name. “Thank you.”

She leans her head against the couch and looks up the ceiling in small wonder. “Yeah, it is kind of hard handling a broomstick when you’re scared. But don’t get me wrong! I love flying, especially with my father who flies a small plane as a hobby. It’s just that I’m not accustomed to something that doesn’t have a seat and something around me to keep me from falling while in the air. Someday I’d like to try out for this quidditch game, it reminds me of my favorite sport hockey, but this looks more intriguing.” Anishi looks away from the ceiling to Harmony. “Since you’re already a pro compared to me, do you think you can teach me some?” She says as she leans with bright eyes.

“Ohh! Oops!” Anishi says as she covers her coyness with her long dark hair. “Yeah, Madam Hooch. Just give me at least half the year and I’ll remember the teachers here!”

She raises her hand to move her long hair away from her face after recovering quickly from her bashfulness and places it behind her ears as she straightens out her indigo head band by tightening the knots and promptly making sure the small metallic plate with a small inscription on it is still on her sash-like headband.

“I’d tell her to teach me how to help me control myself on the broomstick or how to play quidditch, but I don’t think all of her yelling will help me improve very much!”

Anishi listens carefully as she listens to Harmony’s concern about her visiting the hospital wing. “I did, but I only asked for a small roll of bandages and a couple of gauzes. But I don’t know about my injuries internal-wise. I don’t feel dizzy or anything, I just hurt after being dragged into the bushes, that’s all. I’m just eternally grateful that I didn’t meet the same fate as Neville Longbottom when he first mounted a broomstick.”

After answering Harmony’s question and laughing together, Anishi carefully studies the girl before her while in a short pause. ‘She seems happy, yet suprised! I’m glad to have met someone with such a friendly caliber as hers!’ She was very easy to talk to and laugh with. ‘For the first time I feel I can say anything without being given a blank expression telling me I were psychotic! Mom was right about giving people positivity even though you’ve never met before...God, please bless her soul.’ Anishi thought to herself with a pleased aspect.

[Harmony Chan H6]

“Oh really now?” Harmony cocked her head to one side. Half Japanese and half English, how interesting! Harmony was sure she had a younger cousin who was half English and half Chinese, though she had never met her before. This was because according to her mother, Uncle Edward (Harmony’s father’s younger brother) had married a muggle Englishwoman, and together they had had a daughter whose name Harmony didn’t even know. When the Chan family had migrated to America together (this had happened when Harmony was two years old), Edward’s wife refused to go with him, and ran away with their baby daughter. From what Harmony could decipher, her cousin would probably be two years younger than her, in Year 6 right now. Wondering if she’d ever meet her and if the girl would retain any magical powers like she had done so, Harmony drew herself back to the present with a smile as Anishi continued. “Must be interesting being half and half.” Harmony was grateful that she had inherited her father’s magical hereditary even though she didn’t like him very much. Thank goodness she never saw him anymore…

“Oh, your father flies aeroplanes? How exciting!” Harmony asked in wonderment, thinking how her own father was just a boring old businessman, and a rather stingy and nasty one at that… Mr Chan had always led a rather boring life filled mainly with work. Even though she didn’t loathe her father quite as much as her sister did, Harmony harboured some dislike against him for sure… A part of her just wouldn’t let herself hate the man though. Whatever he had done in his life to her, Ari and her mother, Harmony knew he was her father at the end of the day. And that seemed to mean something within her. With a little envy Harmony wondered if Anishi ever got to fly in aeroplanes too; that’d be such a good opportunity. However, Harmony had Quidditch now, which was simply exhilarating. She just loved to get up there into the skies and feel as free as a bird. No worries, no pain, no nothing. Just the simple joy of soaring between the clouds. “Hockey, huh?” Harmony made an amused, but cringey face with a groan, “I don’t like hockey much – you’re right, Quidditch is so much more… fascinating, especially since I was brought up in the muggle world. I’m not particularly sporty, but I do like and am quite good at some games, and Quidditch is one of them. I think hockey scares me quite a bit! I think it’s too dangerous…” Harmony gave a burst of laughter and shook her head, “This is ironic, since Quidditch is… probably even more dangerous than hockey, but… Hm, I dunno. The feel of the wind and flying through the air is indescribable. I’m sure you’ll get used to it.” She sent Anishi an assuring smile, and nodded enthusiastically. “I’d love to help you out sometime. How about next Tuesday morning? Are you free then? I need to stuff in some practise anyway, and it’ll be perfect for me. It’ll be fun.” Harmony grinned at the thought, pleased at this arrangement.

Harmony laughed at Anishi’s embarrassed face, feeling understanding sympathy for the younger girl rise knowing that feeling shy wasn’t the best emotion in the world, and tried to reassure her, “Don’t worry about getting the teachers’ names wrong. Honestly, most of them don’t mind… aside from Professor Snape, and I’m sure everyone remembers his name because he’s so scary.” Harmony gave a false shudder with a smile. “You’ll settle down soon, I’m sure.” She laughed at Anishi’s comments concerning Madam Hooch, remembering her own first flying lesson. It had been daunting, and Harmony had refused to actually mount her broomstick. However, after hitching herself very apprehensively on it whilst everyone else was already in the air (albeit swerving unstably), Harmony found that she had a natural affinity with flying. Although at first she was extremely afraid and couldn’t go too fast, her control of the broom was excellent, and she soon grew fond of the sport. Nowadays she whizzed around with happy confidence. “I found Madam Hooch quite frightening too.” Harmony admitted with a wry grin, “And flying for me was difficult to come to terms too… especially since I never knew it existed before. It was baffling, really. But you’ll gain the control of it soon, most people just take time with it. Don’t feel put out just yet.”

Chuckling again at the Ravenclaw’s words, Harmony found Anishi was quite entertaining. She wasn’t trying to be funny, but her words were light-hearted, and that made Harmony feel secure and comfortable with her. “Well, it’s good to see you’re not seriously hurt. I’ve heard and seen worse, to be honest.” Harmony grimaced as memories floated into her mind, but cast them away swiftly. “What’s your favourite subject so far then?” she questioned Anishi curiously, wondering if she was so far enjoying Hogwarts. It appeared Anishi was indeed taking well to school life – much better than Harmony had anyway. With a sardonic smile, Harmony recalled how homesick she had been, how the magic had completely bewildered her. At least Ari had been there to guide her. Smiling softly, Harmony wondered if she’d ever be able to repay her older sister, who was forever beside her, leading her. She really was eternally grateful.

((Dead thread.))