Living muse ((Lenora))

[darien]

Dare rubbed his hair a couple of times before throwing the towel carelessly over one of the posts of his bed and slipping into a pair of comfortable khaki pants. Not bothering to search for anything else Dar merely pulled his white Hogwarts uniform blouse on not caring enough to button it up properly. Dare merely close 2 buttons on the blouse. He wasn’t going outside the common room so no professors could take points for it anyway. Even though students weren’t supposed to wear uniform anymore because it was nearing 9 o’clock anyway. At least Dare thought it might be nearing that time. He didn’t have any clock near his sight so he merely guessed. The time. But it was never too early to go and smile to a pretty girl and oh yes, Gryffindor house had plenty of pretty girls. Some not overly pretty girls too but all girls were special unique and deserved lots of loving attention and care. At a random thought Dare grabbed his Gryffindor tie along throwing it around his neck loosely as he left the empty dormitory to go and see who was in the common room today.

Rolling up his sleeves Dare stopped in the shadows on the staircase his blue eyes moving over the common room and the people in there quietly evaluating all of them. His eyes falling on the top of a blond head Dare smiled. He didn’t see who the girl was. Most truthfully it didn’t even matter but the girl seemed to be sitting alone. The lyrics of “Foxy lady” sounding from his lips again as he hummed the song Dare smiled and made his way over. He very well might not even know the girl but that was all the more reason for him to go over and introduce himself. Moving around the couch Dare seated himself on the coffee table in front of the girl whose hair he had noticed and smiled at her.

“Hello there, pretty girl. My schedule for today was already full yet I seem to have come to a little bit of a crisis. Care to help me out with it quickly?” Dare asked as he leaned forward to the girl and leaned his elbows on his knees while motioning the girl to come bit closer after he had caught her attention. Smiling openly at the girl Dare kept his eyes on the girl waiting for her to reply.

[Lenora Byers]

Lenora flicked off the WWW after tossing her transfiguration book across the room. It was pointless - she would never get it. Why bother trying? Why did Transfig OWLs have to be so hard? Why did fifth year have to be so hard? Gah fourth year had so not prepared her for this one. Honestly this was utter nonsense, how did they expect her to know this stuff by June? Muttering slightly Lenora got off her bed and got the book from the bed across from hers and repaired the few pages that had gotten damaged as they landed.

Placing the book gently in her backpack Lenora walked over to her vanity and brushed her hair - like she always did upon exiting the room. Just one of her odd little habits she supposed - brushing her hair before leaving. Lenora left her long blond hair down and placed some pale pink lip gloss on. A quick spin and giggle and Lenora went down the steps into the common room. It was crowdedish as curfew was drawing nearer and seeing as it was January Lenora was of course drawn to the fire; as was everyone else.

Lenora was still in her uniform from earlier that day because she had seen no point to changing so her legs were rather cold as she walked through the common room. She made a mental note that next time she wore her skirt not to go right from under the covers to the common room without changing again.

As she searched for somewhere warm to sit Lenora heard a cheesy line being said and rolled her eyes - Casanova would be rolling around in his grave. Turning to find the source Lenora spotted a barely decent Darien hitting on some poor girl who seemed completely undecided as to how to react. Laughing to herself Lenora made her way up behind him and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Now Darien, you know better than to harass random girls in the common room." Lenora chastised looking decidedly amused even though she barely knew the boy. They had been in classes together for five years of course but they had rarely spoken and Lenora knew him mainly through reputation.

[darien]

Dare kept a steady gaze at the girl who merely stared back at him with a blush rising to her cheeks from her neck. Before the girl could react a hand was placed on his shoulder and Dare whirled around already smiling up at the girl standing before her. “Please, you wound me, my dear muse! Only my crisp old grandfather calls me Darien. I will always be mere simple Dare for you.” Dare took hold of the hand the fellow 5th year hand knowing and raising it respectfully at his lips. He couldn’t recall the girls name for the life of him. Dare was awful with names. He could always recognize the face and maybe some hobby to go with it like this girls acting. But never did a name pop up. Acting was close enough however so the tender way of calling the girl her muse found it’s way easily and truthfully over Dare’s lips. His eyes never leaving Lenora’s face as he murmured softly and respectfully. “And while the Hogwarts uniform is restricting for some of us, you as always make honor to everything you wear, making the Hogwarts dress-code worthy of being worn on stages all around the world. But I must really disagree with you. This girl was no random girl. She was a highly respected Gryffindor and a charming young lady with who I would have been delighted to be acquintanced.”

Letting go of the girls arm Dare glanced over his shoulder only to see the girl who had sat there previously mumble an apology before dashing away towards the girls dorms. Letting out a sigh Dare sent her with his eyes for a few moments before he returned his full attention to the girl before him now. One girl had left but there was no reason to be sad. Dare should rather be rejoicing that his company had not gotten any worse. Rather it had started to look even prettier as Lenora was most certainly one of the prettiest if not the ultimate beauty in Gryffindor. Dare’s smile widened a bit as he offered his hand to the beauty before him once again. “Come sit by me. And tell me to what do I own such a pleasure of having a living muse like yourself bless me with her company?”

[Lenora Byers]

Lenora rolled her eyes as Darien obviously tried to charm her by calling her his muse. He then insisted on her calling him Dare and she gave a little smirk. “As in rather than truth?” she asked with an eyebrow raised. She didn’t exactly say it in a mocking manor more just playful teasing and he went on to complement her outfit.

“Well if you have never meet her how do you know just how charming she is? Despite what you seem to think, Dare, not all girls are made of sugar and spice and everything nice and one of these days one will fall for you. And then what will you do? She will get jealous about all the others and make your life miserable.” Lenora answered with a giggle about his response about the girl who had now left.

Taking the proffered hand Lenora allowed herself to be led to the empty seat and flopped down on the couch across from Darien. “A living muse? Muse for what? Shall you sing me a song, Dare? Write me a poem? Do a little skit? She asked teasing his loose usage of the term muse as though it was supposed to make her swoon.

[darien]

Dare laughed easily. It wasn’t the first comment that he had received because of his nickname. Actually in some ways Dare had been chosen for two reasons. Dare sounded well and it was a shorter version of Darien. The second reason was a bit more curious. Dare liked being active, liked socializing and yes he liked doing dares to learn himself where his limitations lay. “Actions speak louder than words as the old saying goes.” Dare reminded Lenora was a wide smile and a wink while listening to her words. “And it’s the quiet shine n her eyes, the small smile and the movement of hand. All girls have that special soul in them and I refuse to believe any girl is not charming deep down. I simply refuse. And what could make me happier than bringing joy to such amazing personalities? A girl loving me? 3 already do. My mother and my two sisters. Would I dare to ask for anything more?”

Dare laughed easily along with Lenora while scratching his ear for a moment. “I’m afraid I’m not an writer, so the poem is difficult to do.” Dare turned his hand looking at the large bronze ring that covered his index finger about half-way from his knuckle. It was a big ring and heavy but it was handmade very well. The running fox and the two birds it had scared to flight were all very precisely and nicely done.
“Fortune rides like the sun on high
with the fox that makes the ravens fly.
Luck his soul, the lightning his eye,
He snatches the moons from out of the sky,” Dare quoted a short verse by Robert Jordan before turning his head. “I’m afrad I’m not good at skits either. Terribly untalented when compared to you muse. The only thing I can think of right now is my all time favourite Shakespeare.
To be, or not to be: that is the question:
Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,
Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,
And by opposing end them? To die: to sleep;
No more; and by a sleep to say we end
The heart-ache and the thousand natural shocks
That flesh is heir to, 'tis a consummation
Devoutly to be wish'd. To die, to sleep;
To sleep: perchance to dream: ay, there's the rub;
For in that sleep of death what dreams may come
When we have shuffled off this mortal coil,
Must give us pause: there's the respect
That makes calamity of so long life;
For who would bear the whips and scorns of time,
The oppressor's wrong, the proud man's contumely,
The pangs of despised love, the law's delay,
The insolence of office and the spurns
That patient merit of the unworthy takes,
When he himself might his quietus make
With a bare bodkin? who would fardels bear,
To grunt and sweat under a weary life,
But that the dread of something after death,
The undiscover'd country from whose bourn
No traveller returns, puzzles the will
And makes us rather bear those ills we have
Than fly to others that we know not of?
Thus conscience does make cowards of us all;
And thus the native hue of resolution
Is sicklied o'er with the pale cast of thought,
And enterprises of great pith and moment
With this regard their currents turn awry,
And lose the name of action. - Soft you now!
The fair Ophelia! Nymph, in thy orisons
Be all my sins remember'd.” Dare recited proudly with his head thrown a bit up and back and one of his hands holding up a red apple for a makeshift scull. Grinning Dare took a bite out of the juicy fruit. Chewing on the bite Dare stood from the table he had been sitting on and walked to the fire-place leaving the apple on it’s edge for a moment.

Using his toes to push off his shoes Dare grinned and easily jumped on the low round coffee table and bowed to Lenora. “Yet your wish is my demand. Hufflepuffs do have some bright ideas. That guy with the frogs has done it I think. Will you dance with me muse?” Dare twirled once on the table before holding out his hand to Lenora in an invitation to dance as the words to Jimi Hendrix’s “Foxy lady” sounded from his lips yet again.
“You know you?re a cute little heartbreaker
Foxy
You know you?re a sweet little lovemaker
Foxy

I wanna take you home
I won?t do you no harm, no
You?ve got to be all mine, all mine
Ooh, foxy lady.”

[Lenora Byers]

Lenora rolled her eyes as Darien explained what made the girl so wonderful even though he had never spoken to him. Was he really so naïve? But then again, since when was she such a cynic? Perhaps he was right and she was wrong. Only time would tell she supposed. She actually laughed as he took her up on the skit. She rested her head in her hand while her elbow was on the armrest. Her thumb under her chin and her index finger going up the length of her face resting on her temple. An amused little smile played on her lips but that was all the indication she gave that she was even registering what he was doing.

She then watched him take off his shoes for some reason then jump on the table. Other people gave him queer glances as he began singing some very horrific song. She absolutely refused to take his hand as he sang it and just looked at him as though he was insane. “Perhaps a Hufflepuff did dance on the table to a derogatory song but I fear I cannot follow in those footsteps. Quite frankly that song, though I don’t know it, is beyond dumb and any girl not offended by those lyrics is not worthy of attention because she honestly has no self respect.” She said when he stopped. “If you will indulge me though.” she continued taking his hand and climbing up on the table too. She flicked her wand performing the same spell she had earlier that year in the common room with Melody and suddenly music began streaming around the room. This time it was Common People by Pulp and many people looked around trying to find the source.

[darien]

Dare laughed at Lenora’s face and words. “It’s Jimi Hendrix’s ‘Foxy lady’. The man was a genius. A muggle singer and very popular among muggles. My mom loves muggle music. And whatever you’d do you would never be undergraded. Whatever a muse decides to, she excels in it.” Dare winked lazily at Lenora a wide grin over his face. The other girl would have been a fun companion. Pretty and charming and nice. Yet Dare felt even happier about the company he had right now. And really who could blame if for it? Lenora was a witty and gorgeous and happy girl. What more could anyone ask for in a companion?

Dare grinned even wider as Lenora took his hand and climbed up to the table as well. Not caring the least bit about different eyes observing them curiously Dare made a fancy bow with one of his legs a bit forward and unbent. “You flatter me pretty muse.” It took a few moments for Dare to recognize the song Lenora had started. Dare couldn’t recall for his life who sang the song. Or what the song was titled. But he recognized the melody that started to play. And after a few moments Dare sang along. Sometimes a bit off tune but that did not disturb him. He had never been afraid of other people looking him and he had never been ashamed of sometimes doing mistakes either. Everyone made mistakes so why fret about them? Life would go on and the mishap would be forgotten by everyone soon enough.
“She came from Greece, she had a thirst for knowledge
She studied sculpture at Saint Martin's College
That's where I caught her eye.
She told me that her Dad was loaded
I said "In that case I'll have a rum and coca-cola"
She said "fine"
And in thirty seconds time she said,
"I want to live like common people
I want to do whatever common people do,
I want to sleep with common people
I want to sleep with common people like you"
Well what else could I do?
I said "I'll see what I can do".“
Dare hummed lazily smiling at Lenora happily. “I won’t pursue a career as a singer. But it’s fun. Music is a way to express yourself, almost become someone else for a while before you return to your own body and soul It’s amazing really how a few words and a few tones can influence a human heart that much.”

[Lenora Byers]

Lenora sighed as Darien explained what the song was. Well at least he had not written something so derogatory himself, he simply supported it by singing it occasionally. She curtseyed formally when he bowed making her face unreadable and straight. She shook her head then & laughed a moment when he called her a muse once more. “How about this, I will concede to calling you Dare so long as you agree to call me Lenora?” She said slightly flattered by his calling her a muse but also a little uncomfortable with the compliment. Plus she would rather he use her name which assures that he knows who he is speaking to rather than some nickname that could be heaped upon any girl.

As the lyrics began Lenora danced with Dare and sang along energetically. She adored that song, it made her laugh. She liked the music that had come out of the boom of Brit Pop a few years prior, it often had so much energy to it. Not to mention it was home grown which is always a major plus.

Lenora couldn’t help but grin as Dare spoke about music and how it influenced him. That was exactly how she felt about her acting and her singing too though she much preferred acting. To Lenora there was nothing that made her feel more alive than begin on a stage in front of a crowd being her character, whether it be by speaking lines she knew by heart or improvising, it was just amazing. “I know just what you mean.” She said quietly, almost shy, which was quite odd for Lenora. She laughed then and seemed to regain her voice. “But your singing is fine, much better than some people who actually do want to be singers. Have you trained any? I am sure with the proper training you could sing as well as any.”

[darien]

Dare laughed as Lenora curtsied in reply to his bow. Dare was a generally happy person. Some might even say over-bearing at times. But it just who he was. He knew the horrors out in the real world. Who dind’t nowadays? He had lost one set of grand-parents because it as well so Dare knew that when the time came he would go into Auror-training and learn to help and protect and serve. But even unitl the time he could do that he could help. If Hogwarts forgot the sound of laughter and the worth of smiles, then Death Eaters and He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named had pretty much already won. So Dare didn’t mind acting goofy sometimes to cheer others up if only for a moment. He didn’t mind being taken for a fickle airhead sometimes either but it was much easier to be happy if the people you were with agreed and socialized with you. Lenora wa sa pretty girl and witty too and Dare could see some smiling faces as some others in the common room observed them.

„Lenora.“ Dare repeated with a grin as he wound his arms around Lenora’s waist and twirling her around in air for a moment with a wide grin before dropping an almost fatherly kiss on her fore-head and setting her feet back onto ground. Which at their case right now was the tabletop. There were girls with who you could play and those who tried to play with you for their own amusement. Deep inside Dare knew that Lenora wasn’t one of those girls. She was a muse, someone whose heart would be given only once to someone happy enough to be worthy of it, which stopped Dare from really trying to charm her over. Some girls Dare knew it wouldn’t be him but he could at least enjoy her company and admire her beauty until then?
„Ah, my lovely muse, your name is just as magical and has the same refreshing sound as a small mountain-spring on a warm summer day when you’re thirsty. How can I call you that constantly and therefore maybe have some of the sound wear off and grow so familiar it looses it’s magical glory, my muse?“ Galncing at Lenora’s face with wide smile and innocent eyes Dare bowed his head and correct himself. „Lenora.“

Much like a curious over-grown puppy Dare gazed at Lenora with a faint smile still present on his face as he listened attentively to her words. „Thank you. And no I haven’t gotten any practice. Only occasionally singing with such lovely company as I have know or at summers when I go out with uor yacht with my family or when we just go one some outings and sit around barbeque and sing and laugh and play ball.
However you move and talk so easily. Your whole being shows it as you are the perfect performer. And I think a small litlte birdie once sang into my ear that you have acted on a real big stage?“ Dare winked at Lenora at the end of his words, leaving the end of his speech hanging into air in a sort-of question about Lenora to tell more about it as Dare’s eyes shone even warmer as he had thought of his family.

[Lenora Byers]

Lenora laughed shaking her head as Dare talked about her name. “Well as much of a risk we are taking I would sill prefer you use my name to some silly nickname that has little relevance to my personality and can be bestowed upon any girl.”

As the song ended and Dare commented on her acting Lenora hopped of the coffee table and re-took the seat she had abandoned before their dance. “Well I think you are going a little overboard in your praise but thank you. And yes I did perform on a large stage – in front of a real audience too this summer. A big production of Romeo and Juliet. I was astonished they actually allowed me in it considering a lot of the practices were during the school year and I was here. A muggle performance by the way. I'm half and half magical on my mum’s side – was raised in the muggle world for the most part except for a few time savers like the floo network and we have a WWN alongside our normal radio.” Lenora babbled happily. “So what about you’re upraising Dare? What’s your family like? What part of the UK are you from?”

[darien]

Lenora laughed. Maybe she didn’t fully understand and she most certainly didn’t agree. But laughter was a good sign. It meant that there was still hope for her to accept. Because Dare really had the worst memory for names. She even called his own sisters by nicknames. But that was all good. He always remembered a small almost insignificant detail so the nicknames he called people were always the correct ones and they were always original. “I promise that I will never bestow your name to any other girl. You are and will always be the only one I call muse in my life. I kind of hope I’ll be the only one calling you muse as well, Lenora. Kind of makes me feel special.”
Dare listened curiously as Lenora spoke of her acting noticing that it really did mean a lot to her. “Juliet? Why, my fair maiden, I feel unworthy now. Tell me something. From where do you take the courage to go up to the stage before all those gleaming eyes in the audience who all look at you grading your hair and body and voice and movements and outfit and well everything about you actually. I have heard about the suggestion to image all the audience naked. But just think about it. There maybe some fat guy you wouldn’t want to see naked anyway in the audience and in the end such an imagination can scar you for life so that you can never find it in you to perform again. So what gives you the inspiration to go and act, my muse?”

“Must have been interesting to be brought up with all the onuses of a muggle within your reach as well. I’m a pureblooded brat myself, so I don’t really know much about it. As for my upbringing there isn’t too much to tell. Both dad and the light of my life, my mom, work but they spend most of their time at home so I get to see them all I wish. My angel, my older sister, graduated last year and is now in the middle of specialized studies right now. My younger brother and my fairy, my little sister, are yet to come to Hogwarts. We have grounds and a house near Newport. Every year when Hogwarts ends the whole family goes on a sailing trip with the Silver Sparrow. I love them all.” Dare smiled fondly as he spoke of his family. His family was his best friends and Dare would give his life for each and every member of his family.
“Have you ever gone sailing? When a sleep white boat obeys your slightest touch on the steering wheel and some birds soaring high above you tell you of the wonders of the world and the salty wind on your face as the sun warms your body makes you feel alive and free. The feeling can’t be described if you haven’t experienced it yourself. At that moment you can really be free and true to yourself without any outside influences.
But, my muse, I’m afraid I’m boring you with my own life. Tell me more about a play? I’m sure it was a real success? Any chance for me to still see it? And from where do such vibrant personalities like yourself come from? Where was the world blessed enough to see you for the first time after your birth?”

[Lenora Byers]

Lenora sighed, not unhappily but not quite content either. “Trust me Dare, you will forever be the only one to call me their muse. And I will trust that it’s a personal nickname I suppose.” Lenora was not quite sure why she was giving in so easily but it was only a nickname anyways, nothing to get worked up about in the first place.

She laughed again as Dare made a big thing of her being Juliet. “Actually, I said I was in ‘Romeo and Juliet’ not that I was Juliet. I mean, I was, but I hadn’t told you that.” She joked sticking out her tongue. “As for how I do it, well how could I not? I love it. I love the audience I love the lights, the costumes, the hair, the characters, the stage. I am too excited to be too nervous, though a little bout of nerves is actually helpful. Personally, I don’t picture the audience at all, though. Honestly, I get too into my performance and as much as I love the audience I really only notice them at the beginning and end of each act. I cannot imagine what I would do if I could not act. Sing I suppose but even still that’s onstage so doesn’t quite answer your query. I suppose I just love the stage. Surely someone as eager for attention as you are, Dare, can understand being comfortable in front of crowds.” Lenora teased.

“Lovely family and sailing… It all sounds a bit too… perfect? Cliché maybe? If you don’t mind me saying so. I mean I love my family but… I love my life too much I cannot imagine not fighting with Aaron, my brother, or going on family sailing trips. I think it would all be so quaint it would make me sick. No offence of course…” Lenora was quick to add looking down realising maybe her true thoughts on what Dare had said were maybe not what she should have said. Quickly trying to recover she went back to what he had asked her. “No, I cannot say I have gone sailing. As for the play it did do quite well, ran around the end of August for a short time and then some in September and October on weekends but I fear it’s over. I will make sure to let you know when I am in anything else so you can come see, though. In fact, I will be in another show with the same company this summer because it was such a success. I asked for a smaller part though, because it was honestly so much work and with OWLs this year I just cannot give the same kind of dedication to it as I did last year. We were sold out a number of times and filled quite well the rest of the time, though, with R and J so…

“As for my birth, I was born in London. When we’re not in school my family live in the suburbs just outside London now. It’s actually quite convenient considering we have the floo network to bring us quickly into the city but it’s the suburbs so it’s still safe for me to go out at night with my muggle friends and things.” Lenora explained happily.

[darien]

Dare grinned, feeling glad that Lenora didn’t seem to mind the nickname. Dare had nicknames for absolutely everyone. Why? Because he could never remember the real names. He just had a very-very-very bad memory for names. But the nicknames he put usually were what came to his mind when he talked to a person. It connected with the face and the personality behind so those Dare could remember. He took pride in having never used the same nickname for two different people. So there was a hint of pride in his voice as he replied to Lenora: “You will always be the only one I’ll call muse. I can promise you that.” His expression however changed a little as Dare shook his head towards Lenora with a bright smile. “But, muse, how could I have even thought anything other than having you as Juliet? It’s natural. You are a very pretty girl, even you have to admit that, and you are talented. The passion with which you speak of the theatre betrays that. So it just seemed to fit. I couldn’t really guess you were playing the part of Romeo, could I? Well I could, but that would have been very unlikely.”

Dare thought that he understood Lenora. There were some things you just felt you needed to do. Some things you almost seemed born to do. Dare wasn’t exactly sure whether he believed in destiny or not. He believed that he could determine his own path of life for the most part. Yet sometimes there were small things and details that made him wonder if there actually was something looking after everyone? Some guardian angel or destiny? “I do think I know what you mean. There are things you just can’t deny yourself from doing,” Dare agreed with Lenora, not arguing with her last statement. While Dare didn’t hunt for attention every minute of his time awake he did most certain enjoy attention. Especially good attention. It was just part of who he was and until this hurt someone Dare didn’t see a reason why he should try to suppress his nature and try to change.

Lenora’s words got her laughing again in no time. Dare was no stranger to family quarrels and there were more times than he could remember when he had argued with his mother as to when he should be back home or with his sisters as to who could use the bathroom first or whether or not his younger brother could borrow his broom or pretty much anything. “Cliché? Perhaps. But it’s kind of hard for me to fight with my siblings when my younger sister and brother are yet to young to come to Hogwarts and my older sister has already graduated. We just don’t see each other often enough to get onto our nerves and the sailing trip is right after I return form Hogwarts. My parents will be happy the kids are together, my younger siblings are happy to see me and my older sister again, we are glad to have a break from studying. For the 3 days when we sail we are too glad to be back at home to fight. The rest of the summer there are naturally countless small and big disagreements. But first meetings after school is over aren’t shadowed by them. We are far from being perfect, but we still stick together which is what makes us a family,” Dare replied. He hadn’t wanted to make it sound as if everything was always perfect from him. Far from it. But he had a point too. It was hard to fight with his family, when none of it’s other members were around at Hogwarts.

“London suburb? It sounds fascinating. I must admit that I have been to muggle London only one and then I went to Westminster Abbey with my older sister and father. But that’s pretty much the most contact I come to with muggles. They are fascinating for me, all the devices they have created to live comfortably, but I suppose I haven’t taken the time to familiarize myself more properly with their life-styles just yet,” Dare replied with some curiousity. He took muggle studies and was genuinely interested in their lives, but he just didn’t have occasions in his ever-day life where he could observe or socialize with muggles.