Warm Retreat ((Jasmine))

[Sapphire Phoenix R7]

Sapphire slid off her bed and placed her book on the bedside table. She didn't know where Zara had got to, but she didn't intend to find out either, since everyone needed their own space. She snuffed out the candles, and took her key to lock the room. She stepped out onto the corridor and locked the door behind her, looking down at the intricately patterned carpet. Maybe not her thing, but the owner of the castle certainly had taste. And better central heating than Hogwarts, too, for that matter. Not that the Ravenclaw Common Room was bad.

Sapphire made her way downstairs in an unhurried fashion. She checked her watch. A full two hours till she intended to go for tea. It was dark, considering the time of year, and today had not been the best of weather. But still, it was very pleasant. Sapphire wasn't sure which experience she would have preferred - going home for Christmas or Weinig Zug. But both were good, as far as she was concerned, and Weinig Zug would make a change.

Sapphire opened the door to one of the two lounges reserved especially for Hogwarts pupils. There weren't many people there, so most of them turned their heads towards her as she came in. Sapphire ignored it, and payed them very little attention. Curiosity was human nature. She took a seat in a very comfy armchair and sat there peacefully, her arms in her lap. Then, as if on an impulse, but really quite well thought through, Sapphire took out her wand and conjured some silver card. She put a charm on it so that periodically it lit up as if with coloured fairy lights indented into the card. Sapphire gazed at it for a while. Then she conjured up a piece of fresh holly and charmed it so that it stuck onto the card. She regarded her work, and became aware of someone else who was also doing so. She looked over her shoulder to see a fifth year Ravenclaw, who she knew by name as Jasmine Anderson, standing there. Sapphire gave her a questioning, but by no means hostile, smile. It would be good to have some company.

[anderson]

Jasmine lay in her bed with her kitten, Lilly, purring by her side. Jasmine sighed and she turned around in her bed and looked out the window. It was snowing lightly and harsh winds blew the castle almost trying to knock it to the ground. Jasmine was really bored now and she didn’t feel like reading. She than noticed her kitten and she scratched her behind the ears and smiled. She wished that she was back at home so she could see her beloved horses. Jasmine lived in a one story farm house in a three acre land that spread across almost endless. Jasmine sighed and she got up from her bed and grabbed her book, even know she didn’t feel like reading she could try too. She also pulled on her black cape and put her wand in the front pocket. She also grabbed her key and put it in her jean pocket and walked out of her room locking the door behind her.

As Jasmine walked down the long hallways with her cape flowing behind her she looking at her book. It was called "Charms of all sorts" and she had it for a while. Even know she loved potions she also loved the charms work as well. Jasmine than finally reached the wooden oak doors to the Hogwarts student lounge where everyone must hang out and escape from the cold. The castle was very warm and she loved Hogwarts but it was always so cold there and she always spent most of her time by the fireplace snuggled under covers and read her books or work on essays that needed to be tended too.

Jasmine walked into the brightly lit lounge and noticed that people stared at her at as she walked over towards the couch by the fire. Jasmine surged off the students and noticed a fourth year Ravenclaw named Sapphire Phoenix. She walked over towards the girl and stared at her as she charmed the wood making it light up the room even more. Jasmine smiled and took and sat down in an overstuffed chair that was next to girls. She than looked at her and smiled warmly, "Hello there what are trying to do?" Jasmine asked her and she than remembered that the girl might not know her. "Owe excuse me my names Jasmine Anderson a fith year Ravenclaw." Jasmine said extending her arm so the girl can shake it.

[Sapphire Phoenix R7]

Sapphire raised her eyebrows just slightly and smiled warmly at Jasmine. She'd always thought Jasmine very pretty, actually. Sapphire was pretty... in her own way, and Zara was stunning, but Sapphire had always admired Jasmine's looks. It was just personal taste, of course. "Yes, yes," she said, slightly distractedly, and shook Jasmine's hand, smiling, mainly to herself, although it came across as friendly. Everyone had their own way of introducing themselves. She knew that Jasmine must be fairly clever - after all she was a Ravenclaw - and by the looks of the book she held in her hand she was also fairly studious. "Sapphire Phoenix," Sapphire introduced herself, nodding, knowing that Jasmine being a Ravenclaw, she would probably already know Sapphire's name.

"As for what I was doing," Sapphire said, proffering the card for Jasmine to examine openly, "I was actually making a Christmas card. I was slightly bored and thought that I might as well occupy my time." Sapphire smiled at Jasmine and sat back in her chair again.
"How are you finding the break so far?" Sapphire asked. "Enjoyable?" She herself was actually finding it tolerable... well no, all right, she liked it. Maybe all the skiing wasn't her thing, but she had her Ski-Lite with her, so maybe she would give it a go eventually. For now, she was quite content to sit in the warmth. After all, she now had someone to talk to at least.

[anderson]

Jasmine smiled as the girl introduced herself as Sapphire Phoenix. She liked the name Sapphire it also meant beauty like the name Jasmine. She than noticed the last name and she looked up at the girl, "Are you related to Zara Phoenix? Sorry to ask that but I barley know anyone around here. I am always so shy but I am learning to get out of my shell and meet new people." Jasmine said and she looked at the Christmas card that Sapphire was making. She thought it was really beautiful and the person who would receive it will love it. "Well your card is really pretty." Jasmine said smiling once again brightly.

Jasmine than turned her attention to the big dusty orange book that lay on her lap in front of her. She opened it up to the first page and started to read. The first chapter was on charms about stunning people. There was the common spell "Stupefy" that stunned the person right away. Jasmine smiled and she pushed her brown hair out of her face and continued to read the book it was really getting quite interesting to her. Jasmine than realized that the girl asked her how was her trip so far. She looked up from the book and nodded her head in response, "Its alright I guess what about you Sapphire how is to trip so far for you?" Jasmine asked continuing to look up at the girl and smiling warmly.

[Sapphire Phoenix R7]

Sapphire looked inquisitively at Jasmine. Another person who knew her sister, and would automatically compare her to the much superior red-head. "Yes, I'm her twin," Sapphire said, smiling. "Why, how do you know her?" Sapphire asked, merely out of politeness, and to try to keep a conversation going, since it didn't particularly interest her. She thought about what Jasmine had said about being shy. In fifth year you shouldn't really be that. You'd had plenty of time to resolve the issue. Sapphire had never been shy, just unwilling to make much conversation.
"You don't come across as it," Sapphire told Jasmine, truthfully. In fact, she hadn't made all that many first impressions of the fifth year, which was unsual.

Sapphire glanced at the book, following Jasmine's gaze. She looked away, knowing that in that case she was free to also do something else aside the conversation. She continued to construct cards out of nowhere, varying the decorations from time to time. Sometimes it was holly, sometimes a very miniature Christmas tree, sometimes a tiny star that gave out a glow and a little heat as well.
"The trip so far for me..." Sapphire replied, "has been uneventful, but it's been quite good really, and I think it ought to get better as we go along and get to do more stuff." She smiled at Jasmine, not sure where to take the conversation. After all, she didn't know the fifth year all that well.

[anderson]

As Jasmine continued to smile at the girl she than asked her why she new Zara. "To tell you the truth she doesn’t know me but I heard of her name a few times in some people conversation." Jasmine said looking at Sapphire intently. The only difference between them was that Zara had red hair and a little more freckles than Sapphire had. Jasmine smiled once again as she said that she wasn’t that shy. "Well to tell you the truth I am really shy but I am really trying hard not to be but at times I do get a little un easy and speak in a really low tone." Jasmine said as her smile went down a bit. She sighed and returned to her book. Sapphire was entertaining herself by making the pretty Christmas cards.

As she finished the last word of the sentence she turned her head at Sapphire and tried to maintain the conversation between them. She thought about what to ask her that would refer to her twin sister. "Yes it is quite uneventful right now but as the days go on many great things will happen." Jasmine said as her smile returned to her face. She always loved to smile at people it was her way of saying that she was there and that she wonted to be friends. Jasmine than closed her book and set it back in her Ravenclaw colored shoulder bag. She than took out her wand and then a notebook lifted into the air and a pencil. Jasmine started to think of an idea for Christmas presents. "I love this time of the year and I always write a song and send it to Lena and she always shows everyone at the Dinner and then it’s put up on the bulletin board so everyone can read it." Jasmine said with a smile. She had a creative side and she used it by writing songs and singing.

[Sapphire Phoenix R7]

Sapphire smiled slightly at Jasmine, turning her head sideways and giving her her full attention. She wondered a little who 'Lena' was but did not enquire, as it might well be taken as rude. Still, it did seem a little pointless for Jasmine to have referred to someone who Sapphire did not know the first thing about. It could be her mother, it could be her sister, it could be her aunt, her grandmother, her great-aunt, any other number of relations, or a friend somewhere. Or something else. Never mind. The trail of thought was also pointless. It showed that Sapphire was a little bored. She often got like this over Christmas. She used to get excited when she was little, but now that was gone, and perhaps she was just at a bit of a loose end not being at home. It shouldn't be that way. She'd have to do something tomorrow. Something more exciting.
'Yes, go skiing and break your neck by skiing into a tree and off the slope, perhaps?' she enquired cynically of herself.

Sapphire blinked and looked back at Jasmine. She had said something, and now it was Sapphire's turn. That was the general way these things went.
"So I take it you're creative then?" Sapphire asked, and immediately was plagued by the Latin for it. 'Surely', she heard her teacher saying, 'expecting the answer yes'. She frowned. She was definitely a bit bored today, if she'd started thinking about Latin. "Are you musical?" she asked, hoping that Jasmine would for goodness sake just tell the truth and not try to be modest. If Jasmine was musical, maybe they shared a similar interest.

[anderson]

Jasmine than look up from her people that was in the air in front of her. She looked at Sapphire confused look and she than notice that she didn’t know who Lena was. "Owe I am so sorry Lena my adopted mother." Jasmine said with a smile and reading what she wrote down on the paper. She wished that Vanessa was there because she was a much better writer than she was. Vanessa is one of Jasmine many new friends, she is a Hufflepuff fifth year and she is also musical talent. Jasmine sighed and the paper than magical crumbled up and throw itself in a near by trash can. Why was it hard to write a love song to someone you like? Why couldn’t it just come out and turn out perfect than the bunch of bulb she wrote.

Jasmine than pushed back her dark brown hair and looked up at Sapphire and tired to smile. "Yes I love to sing and write songs but since Christmas is around the corner I been like mad women trying to get the presents and see is Midnight is alright." Jasmine said resting her chin on her hand and sighing deeply. She had just met someone who she really could have an intelligent conversation with. He also shared the same interest as her but he was just a year older. Jasmine sighed yet again and looked up at Sapphire and smiled, "What about you are you into music and singing?" Jasmine asked as her eyes lit up.

[Sapphire Phoenix R7]

Sapphire nodded slightly, interested to know whether Jasmine was someone who watched others closely and was for that reason able to ascertain some of their thoughts without knowing them well. Sapphire could do this with people she didn't know, but once she got to know them, was not quite as good.

Sapphire looked at Jasmine inquisitively, trying to think of a reply to what she had just said. She always considered her response. For this reason she rarely offended anyone, but some people would maybe prefer it if she was more spontaneous. Sapphire wondered if this was the reason she was rarely able to get a close friend. Probably the person, besides Zara, who she was closest to would be Phoebe. Sapphire did not enquire who Midnight was. Probably a cat. Sapphire merely had an owl, quite a handsome one too.

"Well..." she said. "Yes, I'm into music too. I play the viola, and I sing a bit." She smiled, having emphasized the 'bit'. She didn't always find that she had the confidence to sing to her full capacity. She was aware that she had a nice voice, but to reveal it to others... Sapphire was much more comfortable when she was able to hide behind her viola, but she always admired those able to do otherwise.

"You write your own songs?" Sapphire asked, picking up on something Jasmine had said earlier. "Wow, you must be good. Especially if you sing them too." Sapphire smiled at Jasmine, easing herself a little and letting a little flash of the humourous her very few knew through.

[anderson]

Jasmine listen to what Sapphire had to say about music. She didn’t play any instruments because she was always busy teaching horseback riding lessons or going to near by or far away shows. Jasmine and her horse Midnight Light have taken first place in many shows and they are very well known for winning over all. "The Viola sounds hard to play and I am sure you have a great voice." Jasmine said with a smile and turning to the paper that hand in the air she sighed and her quill picked up and started to write. Jasmine hummed lightly to herself and waited to the inspiration to hit her. But at the moment nothing seemed to work. She sighed and her note book went back her shoulder bag along with her quill and Jasmine took out her potions book and opened it up and started to read. Even know this was vacation she still read she already finished her Care of Magical creature’s book and she wonted to start on Potions. Jasmine loved potions allot and was pretty good at the subject.

Just then Sapphire was a little shocked that she wrote her own songs and must be good at singer as well. Jasmine tilted her head towards the girl and smiled. "Not exactly Vanessa Link helps me edit it because she has more of a creative mind for song writing than me." Jasmine said turning back to her book and reading. She didn’t won’t the girl to think she would rather read than talk to her but the book was getting so good at the second.

[Sapphire Phoenix R7]

Sapphire smiled quietly, not saying anything to contradict Jasmine. It was annoying when you were contradicted. Especially when you were fairly sure you were right. Sapphire knew that pretty well, and so tried not to inflict it upon other people.

Sapphire saw that Jasmine had returned to her book, and did not press the conversation. She did seem fairly quiet. But not shy, really. Sapphire was fairly quiet too, and it didn't make her particularly bored to not always be saying something. She returned to conjuring up cards out of thin air, and quietly summoned a pen and inkpot from her room. It made its way to her by a roundabout route, due to the door to the room being shut, and arrived about ten minutes later. The Enchanted Castle was big.

Sapphire caught her pen, which was a shiny navy blue colour, and set it down on a nearby hard surface. She began to write greetings on the little stack of cards, using calligraphy which she had taught herself using a set once. She had had plenty of hours in which to do these things, after all. As she wrote, she started to hum the tune to 'The Rocking Carol'. It was an old Czechoslavakian tune, and one that she found very peaceful. She wasn't really aware of the gentle sound that she was making, and was allowing her thoughts to drift a little.

[anderson]

Jasmine continued to read the book the lay in her arms. Her eyes not leaving the pages at all. It was getting very interesting but she noticed the silence and wondered if she should say anything. It was always like her to never let the conversation down. As she continued to read and turn the pages of her book she wondered what the say. She barley knew the girl to actly call her friend maybe she should get to know her more they could be good friends. But it wasn’t like Jasmine to but into people life’s and ask them to talk about it. She than held the book tight in her hands as she finished the last chapter. The book the closed itself lightly and flew back into her bag.

Jasmine than crossed her legs and looked at the Christmas cards Sapphire was making. They really looked beautiful in her option. "You cards really look good." Jasmine said finally breaking the silence. She than continued to look at the cards and picked out her favorite. It was a picture of a Christmas tree with a bright star on it. Jasmine eyes twinkled as she looked at it. She than looked up at Sapphire and smiled brightly at her.

[Sapphire Phoenix R7]

Sapphire eyed the card that Jasmine had picked out. She picked it up and turned it over absentmindedly.
"Thank you," she said, in response to Jasmine's compliment. "The results of an idle brain." She smiled warmly at Jasmine and turned the card over again. Interesting that Jasmine had picked out that one. The Christmas tree shape was made out of pine wood, and it smelt of spruce, due to a magical infusion. Sapphire had coloured it a sparkly green, and it had on it some miniature gold tinsel, a few miniature baubles and a star that emitted light. The baubles were glass. Sapphire placed the card back in the pile.

"I think I'd better stop now or I'll make too many," Sapphire said, smiling at Jasmine in her own unique, amused way. She thought for a moment, listening to the tick-tock of the grandfather clock that stood behind her, and then, in a flurry of movement, she picked up the pile of cards and put them into her little, plain blue shoulder bag.

"Are you any good at skiing?" Sapphire asked Jasmine, seemingly out of the blue, but really because Sapphire was back along the trail of thought about going skiing herself.

[anderson]

Jasmine laughed softly as Sapphire piled the card into her shoulder bag. But you couldn’t have enough Christmas cards. Back at home where she normally went for Christmas she and Lena will make the kids do a contest. It was called Santa Clause horse dress up and the kids dressed up the horses as angels, Mrs. Clause, and Santa and see which horse was the best dressed. It was always hard for Jasmine to pick because most of the horses look prefect and darling. Jasmine sighed as she remembered back at home. She really missed her horses but she was glad she did go on the trip and met great new people.

Jasmine turned her attention towards the Grand Father clock behind Sapphire. She listened to it tick and she started to hum a tone. It was one of her own songs that almost had the same melody as the clock. As Jasmine hazel eyes looked at the clock she started to think about the Quidditch and she felt her stomach turn into a knot. She had just made the reserve team as Keeper and it was always a 50/50 chance if she got to play. With a sigh she turned towards Sapphire and smiled, "I don’t ski I snow board.... yes it’s quite different I like the speed and it helps me with my balance when I horseback ride." Jasmine said turning to the fire and watching it flicker. "Do you like to ski?”<br>

[Sapphire Phoenix R7]

Sapphire looked at Jasmine in an offhand fashion. Not another thing she was going to be expected to try! Snowboarding, as well as skiing. What else? Ah yes, ice skating. She was probably going to fall over doing that a lot, and she should put a protective bubble round her fingers so some other skater didn't slice them off. Sapphire was always afraid of that happening. Sapphire had been ice-skating before, and had even been quite good at it in her youth, but she didn't think that it was something that stayed with you, like for example learning how to ride a bike. Not that that was even purported to stay with you anymore. Life was complicated sometimes, Sapphire reflected with a sigh.

"No," Sapphire replied to Jasmine with a smile, "I have absolutely no idea how to ski. I think it'll be speed enough for me." She smiled again. Snowboarding - what were the chances of you hurting yourself when you were doing that as opposed to skiing? Surely it had to be higher. Well, Sapphire would probably hurt herself doing any sport. Too much exertion. She didn't know how or why Zara put the necessary effort in. Quidditch wasn't bad, but Sapphire only watched that, and she didn't know the game very well. Basically, she found sport boring. Which was why she could do with another topic of conversation. Since she probably couldn't match Jasmine with enough information to have an interesting conversation for either of them. Oh well. She would leave it up to Jasmine. She smiled at the older girl, wondering how much time there was left until tea.