Day Dreaming ((Cira))

[Mary Evans]

In a cozy little corner of the student lounge sat a small girl with straight strawberry blond hair. She was flipping threw the pages of a book absentmindedly hardly even glancing at the words which had been carefully placed there. “When I want you in my arms, when I want you and all your charms; whenever I want you, all I have to do, is dream dream dream dream, I can make you mine, taste your lips of wine, any time, night or day; only trouble is, gee wiz, I'm dreamin' my life away” she sang softly to herself unconsciously with a silly little grin on her face that would tell anyone who cared to look over what she was thinking about. ‘Gosh I couldn’t concentrate today if my life depended on it. What in the world is the matter with me?’ Mary thought as yet another page was turned unread.

She then stretched her arms above her head and arched her back releasing the tension that had built up in the hour she had spent sitting there. Looking over at the clock Mary thought she should probably be getting down to the Slytherin common room. She refused to go down until it was absolutely necessary though; it was way to cold down there. The common room was always cold and drafty seeing as it was in the dungeons under the lake; but lately it had been ridiculous. Mary had to wear her winter cloak down there just so that she wouldn’t turn into an ice cube. In the cozy lounge though her emerald green winter cloak sat crumpled beside her completely forgotten.

Mary then gave up on the book and put it down beside her on the cloak. She slumped down in her seat, rested her head on the back of her chair and closed her eyes. She then continued singing quietly with the grin once again plastered to her face; and she didn’t care who noticed.

[keeley]

Cira had been stretched out on a couch near the fire for hours after classes that day. The first thing she did was to check her notebook in which she made little notations indicating her assignments.

She groaned as she glanced at it. "Two essays" she said great there goes four hours of potential reading time she thought to herself and smirked. She could just imagine what smart alec comment her brother would have made about that little thought. Her brother hated reading. He preferred sports- just like her Da- though Mum absolutely refused to allow him to get a broom. She thought sports played on broomsticks were highly dangerous.

She was scribbling away furiously writing down everything she knew on the subjects the essays were on. She normally got decent marks on homework and such other things which was surprising because she hardly paid attention in some certain classes. She looked over her work and grinned. Finally she was done! She shoved the parchments into her bag and picked up her book from the table behind her. She was about to begin reading when she faintly heard singing somewhere over in a corner. She looked up trying to find the source of the singing but it had stopped. Still she looked around and seconds later it began again. She spotted the 'culprit' leafing through pages of a book. Cira knew from the way the girl's eyes were unfocused that she really wasn't reading.

Cira got up from the couch and wandered over to the place where the girl sat. "Enjoying the book?" she asked with a smirk.

[Mary Evans]

Mind a mess and thoughts swirling around Mary heard a girl’s voice, which seemed to be directed at her. Opening her eyes Mary noticed someone standing over her. Mary blinked once or twice trying to comprehend the words that had emerged from the girl’s mouth. “Oh ya it’s a real page turner.” Mary said gesturing to the closed book sitting beside her as soon as her senses had returned. Looking around the common room she found where the girl had obviously come from judging by the unattended pile of schoolbooks. “And yourself?” she asked with a grin gesturing at the stack of books.

“Mary Evans” she said introducing herself to the girl holding out her hand. “I should probably be doing homework as well but… lets just say I'm incapable at the moment.” Mary said the grin back on her face. Mary then shook it off realising the girl probably doesn’t care the reason Mary had been singing if she had even heard it at all. “So… what are you doing still out at this hour?” Mary asked suddenly struck by the fact they were the only two left in the lounge. Looking out the window Mary saw a plethora of stars shining down on her and smiled at the beauty.

[keeley]

Cira laughs trying to think of what could possibly keep someone from focusing on a book. To her it seemed like an impossible thing but then again it's basically all she did in her free time others, she knew, weren't like her in that aspect.

"Oh yes... so much fun, those essays" Cira said bemused.

"Nice to meet you, I'm Cira McDowell" Cira says to the girl when she'd introduced herself as Mary then shook the hand held out to her. Cira then glanced at the stack of books and papers scattered around the couch she'd been sitting at when asked what she was doing up "It's those ridiculous essays... i wanted to get them out of the way. I've better things to do than writing a bunch of silly essays." she smirks, thinking to herself like reading... well at least i'll have time tomorrow night to do the reading i was planning on doing tonight. "What has you so preoccupied, may i ask?" Cira asks Mary, yet to think of a reason that such a thing might occur.

[Mary Evans]

Mary laughed as the girl commented on the joy that is essay writing; glad the girl understood sarcasm. Mary was blown away by the number of people who did not understand the subtle art that is sarcasm. The girl then introduced herself as Cira and explained that is was essays that had her out so late.

‘Hmm… how do I explain why I am so distracted?’ Mary thought at the girl’s question. “Well… it’s the same reason as any girl who sits around grinning like a fool, singing sappy songs, and not doing a thing. There’s this boy of course… Oh you don’t wanna hear this; never mind. Forget I mentioned it. So… tell me about yourself?” Mary said with a grin and a slight blush on her cheeks. She hated it when people asked her that and she felt sort of guilty asking herself but she didn’t want to start blabbering to this stranger who probably doesn’t even care and she couldn’t think of anything else to say.

[keeley]

Cira smiled "No actually i don't mind one bit... i'm a pretty good listener and besides i might actually learn something about you if you don't mind telling me." Cira says, "Though, if you are uncomfortable revealing something so personal as that to a total stranger then i wouldn't mind telling you a bit about myself. I understand." Cira says thinking back to several times where she'd felt quite uncomfortable in similar situations... only none of them had anything to do with boys. She hadn't become too interested in boys yet most likely because she was always too interested in books to pay too much attention to those around her. She'd finally realized that the guys in the books she read weren't realistic all the time and that she needed to stop expecting to find a guy like them.

[Mary Evans]

Cira mentioned being a good listener and that she didn’t mind if Mary told her about the boy that was keeping her so distracted. “No I'm not uncomfortable talking about it. If you really want to hear then…” Mary said with a grin. “Well it may just be nothing… its likely nothing. I suppose you should know that I am a major flirt and so I don’t often take things like this seriously and guys know that. So this may just be nothing but… well… it just seemed… different this time.” Mary said pausing every once and awhile trying to sort out what to say next, trying not to stumble over her own words. “Have you ever felt that? Where you are doing something so normal and so mundane but there is something about it that makes it feel different somehow… like special?”<br>
Mary then sat there for a bit collecting her thoughts again with her eyes closed. “From the very beginning it was different though, it wasn’t just me. Couldn’t have been…” she said not finishing her thought. When Mary got into moods like this and topics like this she rarely finished her thoughts; often to the dismay of those she’s talking to. “Its not that guys don’t usually flirt back or anything, but the way he did it, it was so cute. A lot of things he didn’t even do on purpose and it just made me laugh. When he says or does things I laugh and find it cute but in the back of my mind I know were it anyone else I wouldn’t care or would even be annoyed… Oh I don’t know.” Mary finished looking at Cira remembering she was babbling to a complete stranger.

“Why don’t you tell me about yourself.” Mary said to her with a smile. “Its not that I mind sharing but I don’t think I have enough comprehensive thoughts to share.” She said with a small laugh being completely honest.

[keeley]

Cira listened with a look of rapt attention on her face as this girl talked about this guy who apparently held a very dear spot in her heart maybe not intentionally and possibly not aware yet of her feelings for him. But it was wonderful all the same at least to Cira it all seemed so... impossible for her. She wished she knew a guy-- a real guy-- that made her feel such things as this.

Cira screwed up her face in thought not sure what exactly she could tell about herself that was even remotely interesting. She decided to go with the basic facts about her and her family- that seemed easy enough.

Wow I'm terrible with small talk... but i suppose that's the price i pay for not spending more time with people. Cira thought but said aloud "Hmmm, well, i have two brothers and one sister... they're all younger than me. The oldest of the two boys is probably the most annoying and he knows what to do to set me off." Cira chuckles to herself "He's the total opposite of me when it comes to interests so we're constantly making snide remarks to each other about such things." Cira trys to think of anything else but wasn't really sure what the girl wanted to know "Anything else you had in mind that you wanted to know about me?"

[Mary Evans]

Mary rested her head back and began humming “Dream” from the Everly brothers, the song she had been singing before, as she listened to Cira talk about her family. She had begun by talking about her siblings and Mary smiled thinking of Kris, her brother. “I bet you have no idea how lucky you are to have siblings. I have always wanted a brother but instead I got nothing. I have two parents who wont even allow me to have a pet beyond an owl because they are practical. Kris Graas is the closest I have to a brother but its not the same you know? Although I do still love him to pieces.” Mary said with a slight laugh.

Cira asked what else Mary wanted to know about her and Mary had to think for a minute. She never knew how to answer that question either. “Well… what are your hobbies? What's your favourite kind of music? Books? I love historical fiction and fantasy. Not that you could tell by how intently I was concentrating on that one though eh?” Mary asked giggling again gesturing to the book beside her. She couldn’t help it, she felt great.

[keeley]

Cira noticed the girl was singing again- or humming- but this made her think "Do you usually sing a lot or is it just your state of mind?" she asked then addressed Mary's comment on siblings "Yes, i feel very lucky to have my sister, though not so much about one of my brothers."

Cira thought a bit on what and how she might answer these new inqueries about her life. "Well of course, my passion is reading. I mean i'd probably read just about any book i lay eyes on... not to mention everything that has words on it, i'll read it aloud. It annoys the heck outta my brother but i really don't mean to do it- it's sort of an unconcious thing. Hmmm... I'd say my favorite books would have to be Muggle fiction, fantasy borderline scifi .... it sort of depends on your definition of sci fi... i'm not into all the alien type stuff but a lot of the other types of sci fi are pretty cool. My favorite books would have to be Trickster's Queen and Gathering Blue .... and probably Messenger as well."

"And about my hobbies i think all i do is read and write... but i also love horseback riding... it's absolutely beautiful back home to go riding it's pretty open out there." Cira says

[Mary Evans]

Mary all of a sudden realised she was humming again as Cira questioned her motives. “Oh sorry. Yes its just… the mood” Mary said with another of those silly little grins that kept creeping onto her face. “Not that I don’t usually sing… but definitely not this much.” She explained feeling a blush creep onto her face but forcing it not to show. Sure she didn’t mind if people knew she was happy and had a serious crush; but she did not want to show how much it was affecting her too much.

Cira then answered her question about hobbies talking about her favourite books. “Yes I know just what you mean about the reading everything; normally I will read anything put in front of me. I don't read out loud though, always been worried that I'm genna stumble over a word in front of someone.” Mary said with a grin. “I know just what you mean about the sci-fi thing though; I don't like all that alien stuff either but some fantasy that I do like some people would likely classify as sci-fi. I have never read those though; my favourite books would have to be ‘The Hobbit’ and ‘Uther’ they are fantastic.”<br>
Cira then mentioned that she rode horses. “Hey Jasmine is big into horses, have you meet her? I have never ridden in fact, my mother looks down on it because not only is it ‘inappropriate for ladies’ but it is also ‘a predominantly muggle past time’; ergo it’s a waste of time according to her. She even had them take it out of the curriculum when I was in finishing school. I do love horses though they are so cute. But I don't know much about them.” Mary said.

[keeley]

Cira laughs "Yes i know what you mean about singing. I sing sometimes... but when i'm in the mood i'll be singing constantly for a while and nothing can get me to stop. It's quite amusing actually. I'm not the best of singers in my opinion, though you're not bad at all... much better than me." Cira throws in with a smile

"Oo!" Cira says excitedly "Ahhh Tolkien..." she laughs "I'm quite familiar with his writing... though i must say the the trilogy and the Silmarillion could best the Hobbit anyday. Have you ever read any books by Orson Scott Card or Tamora Pierce? Their books are very captivating as well."

"No, i have not met this Jasmine. I don't break free from my bookish worlds long enough to really get out and meet people." Cira laughs at herself "Now i sound like a geek... oh well, i suppose i am to a certain degree. But anyway... i think that's how i got started riding was my mother. She'd take me out riding every morning until i was about seven years old when she finally let me go riding on my own. Her mother did the same for her. And, well, as she herself is a muggle-born witch, that's mostly what she did as a kid as she didn't grow up around Quidditch and such things which is why she absolutely hates the idea of Quidditch. My father though... she gets very nervous about him as he works in the Magical Games and Sports section of the ministry of magic. He loves Quidditch." Cira says then realizes she was babbling on about her family whom this girl probably didn't care to hear this much about.

[Mary Evans]

Mary ginned as the girl was familiar with Tolkien. “I actually preferred ‘The Hobbit’ to the trilogy, but I have yet to read ‘The Silmarillion’.” Mary said. “No I haven’t read either of those authors though I am afraid. Have you read Jack Whyte though? He is great, historical fiction; he’s a muggle. He writes about King Arthur and took all the magic out of it, its quite clever how he wrote off Merlin’s magic. He would have to be my favourite author.”<br>
Cira spoke about her riding and her parents, which lead to Quidditch. “Oh I adore Quidditch. Do you play? I do on the Slytherin team. I'm not that good though, kept losing the Quaffle against Ravenclaw.” Mary said with a pout.

“Your family sounds really nice though.” She said thinking of her family, a demanding mother and emotionally absent father. She then smiled wide as she thought of Kris and Dana though. “Do you have any sibling? I always wanted an older brother, but unfortunately I'm technically an only child. My best friends Kris Graas and Dana Coran are like family to me though. It was amazing how fast we bonded. I meet Dana last year, which got me talking to Kris. He’s like an older brother to me and I couldn’t imagine life without him.” Mary babbled.

[keeley]

Cira screws up her face trying to remember if she'd read anything written by the man Mary'd just mentioned. "Hmmm... not that i can remember. I have read a King Arthur story or two... one of them being I Am Morgan Le Fey... The mists of avalon and such things as that... quite an interesting perspective, i must say"

Cira laughed when asked if she played Quidditch "God, no! I think my mother would have a heart attack if i did." Cira said still laughing "No... she'd have a heart attack if i ever got on a broom though i do watch many games. My father gets us tickets to the World Cup whenever he can since he works in the department that organizes the whole event."

"Three siblings in fact." Cira says when asked if she had any, "One, my sister, i absolutely adore-and she absolutely adores me. But my brother who is just a few years younger than me, he's a pain.... we have absolutely nothing in common and he enjoys very much annoying me."

[Mary Evans]

Mary was shocked at Cira adamant objection to her playing Quidditch. She laughed though as Cira mentioned that it was because of her mother. “Yes you see that is exactly why I joined the team. I was brought up with my mother telling me that it’s not a game for ladies and forbidding me to play. And so because she bothered me so much last summer I tried out for the team when I got back to Hogwarts.” Mary said with a chuckle remembering the howler she received over that one.

Cira then talked about her siblings and Mary wished she could really understand what that bond must be like. She laughed once again as Cira mentioned her how she and her brother were polar opposites and he loved to annoy her. “I bet you still love him though.” She said with a smile. “So what houses are your siblings in?” Mary asked. “Wait do they even go to Hogwarts? I should probably ask first.”<br>

[keeley]

Cira laughed "Well that would be neat to do except i'm sure Mum would blame it on Da and then she'd get quite angry with him... nobody wants Mum angry with them, that's for sure. I'd feel real guilty if my da got the brunt of the anger all because of me... especially since he'd have nothing to do with my decision."

Cira thought on what Mary said DID she still love her brother? Well of course... then aloud she said "I suppose i do... if anyone were to hurt my brother whether it be emotionally or physically, i think i'd have to kill them." Cira laughed then to show that she wouldn't really kill someone for that reason. "Well maybe I'd just hurt them really bad but they'd regret the day they ever laid a hand on my brother."

"Nah, they're all younger than me but next year my brother will be coming to Hogwarts... i'm dreading it" she says then mutters "sorta"

[Mary Evans]

Mary laughed as Cira mentioned physically hurting anybody who would dare hurt her brother. Now there was a concept Mary definitely understood, she could be very protective of anyone who she considered a true friend. Cira then explained that her siblings aren’t in Hogwarts because they are younger. “Oh… gotcha” Mary said. “Do you miss them then? I mean I know I dread going home to my parents… but some people like their family right?” she said with a playful grin her mind still everywhere but starting to focus due to the conversation.

((Its short and its horrible I know… I am just so lacking in inspiration lately it’s insane sorry ))

[keeley]

Cira takes a moment to think about her question. It was a difficult one to answer "Well... yes--and no. My first year here i was terribly homesick. I still do get pangs of homesickness everyonce in a while. But not as often as i used to. See, I miss my family mostly because I'm away from them... i'm sure that if i was living with them i would not be very eager for summer. But living away from them i really miss some of my father's cooking and in a wierd way i miss the banter between me and my brother. I'd have to say the thing i miss the most is my sister. She is such a sweetie... and she looks up to me. I sorta miss that you know? But then sometimes that can get annoying and i also think of how evil my brothers can be and i don't quite miss it as much." Cira laughs then realizing she was just babbling.

((that's okay i have days like that ALL the time...believe me lol))

[Mary Evans]

Mary listened as Cira talked about her family. Not having the slightest idea what to say Mary simply nodded at the places she felt it was appropriate. She stared into the slowly dying fire with a small smile. She certainly was not a pyromaniac but she did enjoy the fire and the way it seemed to dance. That in mind she turned to Cira. “Have you heard about that new club in Hogsmead? The Inferno? It’s having its grand opening this weekend; you should come. Dana and Kris’ cousin owns it and they say his clubs in France are huge. Certainly worth checking out don't you think?” she said with a smile.

[keeley]

((hehe i'll bet that grand opening is over with now... oh well... sorry i haven't posted in a while... i haven't been feeling very creative at all for the longest time... until now! woot my creativeness is back! *does a little jig*))

Cira was greatly surprised to hear those words come from Mary's mouth... was she kidding?? Cira?? being invited... seriously invited... to a party/club?! she almost had a heart attack. In all of her days at Hogwarts people wrote her off as an outcast... someone to be ignored or excluded. "Seriously? you're asking ME if I would like to go? This isn't like some terrible practical joke is it??" Cira says then looks around furtively just waiting for some of her friends to pop out from behind the couches and chairs and yell "GOTCHA!" when nothing happened she looked back at Mary "As long as it's not some joke, I'd be glad to come... i mean i've never been invited to anything of the sort in my life."