What we are... (Ivy - and anyone else)

[aislinnfindlow]

Aislinn's thoughts drifted slowly through her mind as she twirled a strand of her blonde hair around her finger and released it, only to watch the curl unwind and fall back into place. Her blue eyes twinkled but not so much with amusement, more with a sense of sadness. She had been sitting on the corner of a couch in the middle of the common room watching several of her Hufflepuff peers scurry around and chatter with each other with excitement, yet she was not included in it. Maybe it was because of her occasional demeanor, maybe it was because she distanced herself from them. But maybe she didn't want them to give up on her, no, she wanted them to keep trying.

A small sigh escaped her lips while her thoughts started to speed up and began to move so fast they were almost incomprehensible. The only way to prove that they were truly interested in becoming her friend was to push them away; because if they truly cared for her they would not stop trying. She knew this was a lot to ask of her fellow classmates but this was just the way she was wired, and it's not like she never tried to change. Aislinn shifted slightly and folded a leg under her as she tried to focus on anything but her sudden surge of lonliness.

[Ivy Tunstall]

Ivy looked out of the window, to the flurry of snow that was falling outside. Although spring was now visible, there had been a real cold spell throughout February and it had lasted into March. Ivy hoped that this would be the last snowfall until December - she was ready for something new. A new season, a fresh start. She could certainly do with one. She sighed slightly, taking her hands away from the cold, high windowsill where they were placed and turned around, leaning against the wall, which was also rather cold. She walked across the room, restless. She was trying to work out a purpose in life.

Ivy listened in to the conversation of a few first years. They seemed to be stuck with some charms homework, and that was something she was happy to help them with. She explained the answer to them. They stared at her as though she were a little weird, but wrote the answer down and seemed to have understood. She smiled slightly awkwardly, before moving on. A girl sitting on her own caught her eye. She recognised her as Aislinn, a fellow Hufflepuff third year girl, so one with whom she shared a dormitory with, actually, but a Hufflepuff who she didn't know particularly well. She walked over slightly hesitantly, before smiling as she sat down on a couch next to where Aislinn was sitting.

"Hey Aislinn," she said, smiling slightly uncertainly. She didn't know her fellow third year very well, although she obviously knew her to a certain extent. Not enough for them really to have had any proper chats. She hoped she might be able to change that though, because she had thought she sensed a touch of what she was feeling in the girl - maybe a bit of... isolation. And Ivy didn't like feeling isolated, so she presumed that Aislinn didn't either.

[aislinnfindlow]

"Oh," Aislinn snapped out of her daze and rapidly tried to recall the name of her dorm-mate as she greeted the girl with a nervous smile. "Uh, hello there, Ivy."

She stretched her back out and sat up higher on the couch with a small smirk at the enjoyment that she actually remembered the girl's name. Aislinn knew she should have known it like the back of her hand but she never really talked to anyone in her dormitory. At least Ivy had remembered hers which was rather surprising but Aislinn couldn't help but feel a little happy at the fact that Ivy knew who she was. Still she had to see if Ivy just wanted something or was genuinely interested in having a conversation, so she replied with little emotion, "a little chilly today, yeah? So how are you?"

[Ivy Tunstall]

Ivy smiled, a little puzzled frown spreading over her face at the same time. Aislinn seemed a little uncomfortable, which Ivy didn't care for. She felt that she would have to work this conversation now, and not give up on it, so that Aislinn didn't feel that Ivy really couldn't be bothered or something like that. She looked sideways at her companion, wondering what she could say. The problem was that she hardly knew her, and Aislinn didn't seem particularly willing to talk. But Ivy was determined to talk to her right now.

"Mmm... it is chilly today," Ivy concurred. "Hopefully it'll warm up next week though." She smiled at Aislinn. "I'm fine, thank you, if a little tired now." She hesitated, but was unable to think of anything much to say. "How about you?" she asked, eventually, forced to admit defeat. "Have you been busy working all day or have you found time to do other things?" She realised that she didn't know very much about her companion at all. Her personality, or even any of her hobbies. This was why Ivy generally didn't go making newish acquaintances - she wasn't very good at it.

[aislinnfindlow]

"Yeah, I really hope it warms up," Aislinn's voice was a little louder and she paused a moment after noticing Ivy's almost hidden frown. Her thoughts began to run wildly through her head in attempt to figure out the reason behind the frown and then realized that maybe she wasn't coming off in a friendly manner. She drew in a long breath before pulling her thoughts together and smiled slightly. "Um, actually, I was working on a Potions essay but I decided to take a little break. I don't really enjoy the subject, so I'd say it was a well needed break. What about you - do you enjoy Potions? If you're doing well in the course maybe we could study together or something of the sorts. I do struggle with the class."

Aislinn fought her urge to withdraw from Ivy knowing that she was attempting to befriend her, or so she hoped. Lately Aislinn hadn't spoken with very many people and her friends were close to none; plus Ivy seemed to be a kind person. She'd have tto be to approach someone who hasn't said a word to her the entire time they've been sharing the dormitory. "Sorry, sometimes I can talk too much and ask a lot of questions. Please don't be put off by it."

[Ivy Tunstall]

Ivy smiled again as she got a slightly warmer response from Aislinn this time, which seemed as though her fellow Hufflepuff was prepared to talk. She hesitated for a bit, thinking over what exactly she should say about Potions. It was certainly not her favourite subject. Evidently her hesitation was interpreted in a different way by Aislinn, as she said something about talking too much. Ivy looked up and hastened to quell that thought.
"I don't mind at all," she said. "I'd rather someone else did the talking, I'm not very good at it." She grinned at Aislinn, hoping that she was seeming friendly enough. Ivy had become very withdrawn, and it was time she started coming out of her shell. Opening up.

"I'm afraid I'm not very good at Potions though." she admitted. "I try, but I'm not all that good and I don't really like it. Which Potions essay are you doing? Didn't the Professor set us two? I've done the first one, but I'd be glad to work with you on the second if you want." She fiddled with her bobble on her wrist, which she had pulled out of her hair while she was standing by the window, leaving her hair loose and long. She tucked a piece that was annoying her behind her ear, and forced herself to leave the bobble alone, because that was the way that she was showing her inner frustration at not being able to just show people that she wanted to be a good friend to them automatically.

[aislinnfindlow]

Aislinn smiled at Ivy's response and was thankful that she didn't think that she was a rambler which, of course, she could be at times. After a moment she shrugged before beginning to speak, "no, no, I was talking about the first one. I can procrastinate horribly sometimes, you know? Especially in Potions."

Again Aislinn smiled but this time it was a great big deal larger than the first. She unfolded her leg from under her and stretched her long legs for a moment before folding it back under. Her eyes twittered about the room for a few moments before focusing intently on Ivy. At that moment Aislinn knew that Ivy would be a wonderful friend to have and was glad she had approached her. "Where do you reside over the summer holiday? Is it far?"