In The Girls Dorm… ((Mack))

[Mary Evans]

Once again the dorm was consciously empty, surprise surprise, save for one short strawberry blond. It was six o’clock on a Wednesday night and Mary was sitting on her bed working on the latest Transfiguration homework. Her music was off for once and causing a very uncomfortable ringing in her ears which she forced herself to ignore. Mary was a multitasker no doubt but transfiguration was extremely hard this evening and Mary wanted to get it out of the way. The forest green hangings around her bed were wide open revealing the pile of books and a number of mismatched pincushions some of which still smelled of maple due to the fact they used to be pinecones. She had gotten past the changing part and was now perfecting changing their colours.

Throwing the pink one she just created up into the air Mary caught it and studies to make sure all the brown had left the surface. While looking down though she grimaced as she noticed a spot of maple syrup had gotten on her black jeans. Though that could be easily removed with a simple spell they would be forever tainted in Mary’s mind and so she decided just to change. Picking up a blue pair Mary realised they wouldn’t match her top but changed into them anyways before opening her closet looking for a new top.

She had removed a number of selections when the door opened and Mary heard someone enter. She glanced up startled “Oh, hey Mack” she said simply to the girl who had just entered while trying to calm her nerves. She was not used to such quiet and having the silence disturbed had startled her. Looking back down at the tops laid out over the books on her bed Mary contemplated what to wear.

[Mackenzie Holden]

Mack's hair swung as she moved. The blonde locks pulled into one group, so it was positioned on her head still and ready. In her work-out outfit, and ready to start, she looked at the wall. Her gaze steady, she imagined her fathers head. An evil smile appeared and Mack ran towards the wall. In one simple movement, she jumped up and swung her right foot around. Moments later, Mack heard a loud, 'thwack!' And a small pain surge through her foot. She sighed and hopped backward, wincing slighlty. She rubbed her foot and looked at the clock, "All good things come to an end." She muttered. Mack grabbed her bag, and left the room. Heading down towards the dungeons.

Mackenzie couldn't ask for a better house. Slytherin was by far the best. And she enjoyed being in Slytherin. She was acquainted with a few of her housemates, but not so much. Mack was a very outcasted girl. She was outcasted at home, and she was outcasted at school. She wasn't allowed to speak to Dix without being spoken to, Mack wasn't even allowed to speak to people Dix was acquainted with. Mack was used to it by now, but it didn't make school any easier. But, what place did Mack have in thinking about this? After all, wasn't Dix the one who 'showed her the ropes'? Mack snorted and shook her head as she entered the common room.

She sent a few nods to a few people then made her way up to the dorm room she shared with 5 other Slytherin girls. None she was best friends with, or even close friends. She just spoke to them. Mack opened the door and walked in to see Mary Evans, one of the girls she shared the dorm with, looking very puzzled over what shirt she should put on. Mack smiled, "Hey Mary. Having problems?" She greeted in return. Mack wasn't the girl to ask for fashion advice, that was Dix's thing.

[Mary Evans]

As Mack questioned if Mary was having problems she gave the other girl a smile. “Not problems per se… Its just… black or yellow?” she said indicating the two she had finally narrowed it down to. The options were a plain back tee-shirt that fit her perfectly and a sleeveless yellow top which was also custom made to fit her. Picking up the yellow one Mary stepped behind the divider, each girl had one for when changing, and began to put on the yellow one. “So what’s up Mack? Any plans for this evening?” she called over to the other girl in the room. She and Mary had never really gotten to know each other for some reason; Mack had always seemed somewhat withdrawn around the girls for some reason.

Mary was social though; she talked to most everyone. She wasn’t one of those people who ran around talking to chair and things of course but when there was a chance for conversation Mary wouldn’t usually say no. “McGonagall didn’t give us an easy task tonight eh? Have you done it yet? If not you may want to start soon lest you be up all night.” She continued to speak as she stepped out and looked in the mirror. Picking up her hairbrush Mary began removing the tangles so her hair fell perfectly straight at her sides once more.

[Mackenzie Holden]

Mack smiled and fell down onto her bed as Mary stepped behind the divider to change. Mack kicked off her shoes and put all her weight on the mattress, feeling herself in sink. When Mary asked about her plans for the evening, Mack sat up and shrugged although she was pretty sure Mary couldn't see it, "Probably nothing. I could read or draw. Usual night, I suppose. What about you, what are planning tonight?" Mack was pretty sure Mary had something planned. Mary was a girl that was the exact opposite of Mack. Outgoing and social, she was just...there. Mack wasn't.

Mack smirked at the thought of the homework she had finished, "Does McGonagall ever give us easy work? Tonight was rather harsh though, lucky I finished it before training." Mack replied as she pulled the hair holder out of her hair and let her blonde hair fall to her shoulders. When Mary stepped out, Mack blinked. Mack always thought yellow a rather bright color. Didn't say anything though, seeing as Mary was already brushing her hair. Mack stood up and raised her arms above her head, stretching the sore back muscles. Grabbing a pair of jeans and a black tank top and stepped behind her own divider. She quickly changed and then came out herself, "So..." She sighed and collapsed on her bed again.

[Mary Evans]

Mary was pretty surprised when Mack said she had no plans… not that Mary had any herself but she had expected to be the only one. “Nah I was just thinking of hanging out here… don't really feel like the bother of going anyplace and am not really in the mood to talk anyone from the male species so the common room is out as well… Unless you want to be alone… But ya I was just thinking of relaxing maybe read a bit; boring stuff.” She said nonchalantly.

“I think she may have given us something easy on the first day by accident.” Mary said with a giggle about McGonagall; it was true that transfiguration was a rather completed art. “Training for what? I didn’t know you were an athlete.” Mary asked realising just how little she knew of this girl she had been sharing a room with for near three years.

As Mack went and got changed Mary flicked her wand at her WWN Radio but set it to a wizarding station unsure of how Mack felt of muggle rock. “You mind?” She asked sitting down on her own books. Mary began sorting through her books singing along to The Weird Sisters thinking of how distraught she was when they came to Hogwarts and she wasn’t allowed to see them. She wished they had at least given a concert of some sort for the younger students who weren’t allowed at the ball.

[Mackenzie Holden]

Mack was slightly surprised by what Mary was saying, she didn't have plans? Huh. Mack was dumbstruck, "You really have nothing planned?" She asked, sitting up again. Something was sticking in between her fingers. Mack sniffed and sneezed, "Eh, maple." Mack walked into the bathroom and washed off the stickiness. She leaned against the doorframe and watched as Mary turned on the radio. The Weird Sisters, Mack didn't have anything against them but, she wasn't a large fan. She perferred muggle rock music, but didn't say anything in case Mary was against muggles.

"Naw, don't mind. And, training. I do self-defense. I'm a bit rusty and I need to brush up on a few things before I head back home for a bit." Mack answered her question as she made her way over to her bed. She sat down next to her bed, and pulled up a loose floorboard. This is where she kept all her things. Her diaries, pictures, sacred items. No one would look in the floorboards. It was all safe and secure down there. Mack pulled out a notebook and a pencil, stood up, kicked the floorboard back in place and laid down on her bed, her feet crossed and up in the air.

[Mary Evans]

Mack seemed somewhat surprised Mary has no plans and Mary was once again reminded by how little they knew of each other. She got up from her bed and flicked her wand at the clothes, which then replaced themselves in the closet. That complete she began rifling through the trunk at the end of her bed; it had to be in there somewhere. She listened as Mack talked about needing to brush up on her self-defence before heading home. “Why? You got a trainer or something waiting for you? Will be disappointed if you haven’t practiced?” she asked while bent over her trunk.

“Ah ha! Got cha” she exclaimed removing the board game she had been searching for. It was a muggle game of Truth or Dare where they had put dares and questions and things to ask each other but it had been enchanted so the most relevant questions to that person would be the most likely ones picked up; a great get to know it. Mary loved that it was personal but because it used the original muggle questions it wasn’t getting too far into each others business. Tossing the game on Mack’s bed before her Mary looked up at her with a raised eyebrow. “Care for a game?” she asked.

[Mackenzie Holden]

Mack looked up from her notebook. She put the end of the pen in her mouth and chewed on it. Thinking. It was then Mary spoke, asking her about her training. It was a passing question, so Mack didn't put much thought into it. She took the pen out of her mouth, "You could say that. Though it is a bit more complicated then that." She answered with a wave of her hand, dismissing the topic. When she bent over the notebook, Mary exclaimed again; causing Mack to look up in interest.

"Truth or dare? How can I resist?" Mack asked, she shoved aside her notebook and sat up. Making some room for the game to be set up, "They made a board game out of this? Last time I remember playing truth or dare it was without a board game and with words." Mack smirked at the muggle invention and looked to Mary.

[Mary Evans]

Mary was glad when Mack expressed a fondness for Truth or Dare. “This is actually based on that game. But see instead of just throwing out questions this has preset ones written on cards; doesn’t tend to poke and prod as much. But this game has been enchanted so the most relevant cards come to the top… best of both worlds so to speak. You get questions already made so they can't press a subject or get too personal, use names and things, but your questions aren’t totally off the marker either. You want to pick first? You pick a card and ask me the question on it… I pick truth; it’s harder.” She said while setting the game up on Mack’s bed and sitting on the foot.

[Mackenzie Holden]

Mack rested her chin in her hands and propped her elbows up on her pillow, which she had pulled from the top of the bed to the bottom. Her blue eyes followed Mary as she set up the game, Mack listened to the difference between the muggle board game and the magical board game. It seemed more appealing with the magical works in it, "Okay, much better than I thought it would be." Mack commented. She took her chin out of her hands and leaned on her elbows, reaching to grab a truth card. She smiled as she read it to herself and then read it aloud, "Who was your first major crush?" Mack smiled as she placed the card back down, "Okay you heard the card thing-a-ma-jig. Who was your first major crush?" She was enjoying this game to the fullest; knowing full well that this would come back to her.

[Mary Evans]

Mary relaxed as Mack choose the first card; a relatively simple question was given. This was one Mary had to think about though… who was her first major crush? She had always had crushes but what was the first one she considered serious? “Well… I was one of those kids that would run around at five picking who I would marry so… there is an abundance of crushes there to choose from. My first real one though would have to be someone I had real conversations with; not just played silly little games. So I guess that makes Tom the lucky winner… Summer after my first year at Hogwarts I came home only to find that my parents had made some new friends while I was away and so I meet their son who is our age but goes to some other school I don't even remember. But the whole summer we talked like non-stop about… everything. Nothing serious for a long time though and that’s why I liked him; it was all a game. And we were so alike it was sometimes scary… and he had some of the funniest lines. Finally when we did start talking about serious things though we had reached that annoying friends stage… So then it all became serious and no fun so… when the games stopped so did our communications and I haven’t talked to him easily since…” she confessed ending rather weakly.

Not wanting to dwell on it though Mary looked down at the cards. “Your turn. Truth or Dare?” she asked while the deck re-stacked itself under her hovering hand, bringing Mack’s weak points to the top. Everyone knew Mary’s weakness was boys… now she was curious as to what would be Mack’s.

[Mackenzie Holden]

Mack had never really liked someone before so she couldn't relate to what Mary was talking about. The closest she had gotten to a person, emotionally, would be her martial arts trainer. And they were even distant and cold. Never talked. Even if Mack would like her trainer, which would be wrong and disgusting, she probably still couldn't relate. So as Mary talked, Mack listened, clealry fascinated. Then it was Mack's turn to pick truth or dare.

Mack wasn't a dare devil so she picked, "Truth." Her voice was solid and confident, she didnt' think these cards would get too personal. Mild questions such as "who was your first major crush?" didn't make Mack want to fall over and die. She wasn't afraid of the questions that asked stupid silly teenage things. It was the much more larger stuff that made Mack cringe, too many dark secrets to want to reveal over a small game of truth or dare. She looked at Mary, waiting for her to draw the card and to read the question. While she was waiting though, she leaned over the edge of her bed and pulled out a box, uncapped the lid and pulled out two waterbottles. A light pink liquid was in it, it was a mild version of the tonic she had given her sister for her allnighters. It wasn't anything bad, just a refreshment. Mack knew better than to put something bad in her drinks. She pushed the box back under, and offered a bottle to Mary, "I call it...well, nothing really." She said with a smile.

[Mary Evans]

The cards stopped as Mack said truth and Mary reached for the nearest card. As she picked it up Mack handed her a bottle containing pink liquid and explained that she hadn’t named it. Mary accepted and took a drink as she lifted the card. It was sweet; tasted like strawberries, her favourite fruit. “Yummy. You create this yourself? What's in it?” She said with a smile before reading the question out loud to Mack, “What was your most awkward moment?” Mary asked with a cocked eyebrow before placing the card back down on the stack so it could be swept up in the shuffle once more.

[Mackenzie Holden]

Mack smiled, "Strawberries, and some other things. I am thinking about marketing it...in the muggle world of course, wouldn't want to be known for selling a muggle product in the wizarding world." She answered, tilting the bottle to the right slightly so she could look at her work. Mack smiled again and took another drink, listening to the question. Most awkward moment. That was going to be hard, she wasn't sure of her most awkward moment...there were a lot of things that had happened to her, but none that would qualify as most awkward. She finally chose one that was fresh in her mind. She took one more drink and looked at Mary.

"I was at home, and my parents were having one of their infamous parties. There were a lot of Dixie's friends there and none of mine, so I was planning on just staying in my room the whole night. Well, I was in my room most the night, until I needed something to drink. So I walked down to the kitchen, through the crowd, and got a water. When I re-entered my room, it wasn't as empty as I had left it. I sort of walked in on someone...I just stood there...it was very very awkward." Mack answered, laughter escaping her lips. Now that she thought of it, it was more funny than awkward. She remembered how she had just stood there...and now she was laughing about it. Mack took a drink of the strawberry drink and looked at Mary, "Your turn!" She said with happiness.

[Mary Evans]

Mack told Mary about her plans of marketing the drink and Mary simply smiled at her and drank herself. She had no idea what such ambition was like… She had ambition of course, everything Slytherin did by requirement... but what Mary coveted was attention and power. Money she had and saw no use to all the effort of marketing a product in the muggle world; but it wasn’t her doing it so it wasn’t worth the perusal of that conversation at that exact moment.

“Oh yes one of those parties… I know exactly. I wish my mother would allow me to hide away during them… I am never allowed though; its bad manners. As if people come to see me anyways…” Mary said while listening to Mack talking about finding her room occupied upon her return. “What do you mean not as empty? That is awful manners for someone to leave the hosting area during a party. Your parents allow such disgraceful behaviour in their house? Well I never…” She said aghast.

“I think I will go with a dare this time; just for the fun of it.” Mary replied when Mack mentioned Mary’s turn had come round once more. She hoped she wouldn’t have to do anything too awful… but dares were always amusing if you were secure enough not to become abashed.